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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Stepien from Newark, NJ is requesting flexible seating through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Stepien is requesting

Classroom Calm Down & Zen Corner

Help me give my students a peaceful and pleasant corner in the classroom where they can take a step away from the classroom to focus on themselves and their own emotions.

  • $622 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Stepien for his next project!

Help Mr. Stepien

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Stepien for his next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Project

My students have been virtual for a year and a half prior to this school year. I have a classroom of 28 low-income students that are often packed in crowded spaces despite the pandemic. Within this group I have a large amount of stressed and anxious students. All of us, including the teachers, are struggling with our mental health after the pandemic. Students struggle focusing if they are sitting in a classroom anxious, stressed, and worrying about their mental health. Students are still struggling to adjust to in-person learning after so much time out. We need a place for our students to destress and have a minute of self-care.

Our Zen Corner will allow students to have a corner to reset when their anxiety and stress get in the way of their education.

We plan to create a corner space where students do not only reset, but students can visit as a positive incentive. Our project promotes mental health, allowing students to focus on our lessons and understand the New Jersey standards as needed.

I am requesting bean bag chairs for students, and occasionally teachers, to sit and rest for the time they are in our Zen Corner. The students will have a variety of fidgets to use and posters for motivation and resetting. I will fill our corner bookshelves with self-care books from our classroom library, and coloring books I have already purchased. The rest of the items are items that will allow me to create the space: zen waterfall, circle rug, lava lamp, and other small decorations. This will be a space that everyone in our class could use for everyone's benefit!

Mr. Stepien South Street Elementary School Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mr. Stepien

Newark, NJ View local requests

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

28 students impacted 14donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Stepien is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Big Joe Milano Kid's Beanbag Chair Pink Passion Smartmax • Amazon Business $36.00 2 $72.00
Big Joe Milano Beanbag Chair Mint Plush • Amazon Business $63.58 1 $63.58
Casual Home 4-Shelf Corner Folding Bookcase, Natural • Amazon Business $52.59 1 $52.59
Big Joe Milano Beanbag Chair Kid's Sapphire Smartmax • Amazon Business $36.00 1 $36.00
Indoor Water Fountain With LED Lights- Lighted Waterfall Tabletop Fountain With Stone Wall and Soothing Sound for Office and Home Décor By Pure Garden • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
JILPAK Plush Pillow Throw Pillow, Removable Fluffy Animal Dolls, Soft Animals Doll Toy Pillow, Gifts Plush Cotton Stuffed Animals Pillow for Girls Kids, Sofa Chair Decorative Pillow, 8 Cute Dinosaur • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
Magicteam Sound Machines White Noise Machine with 20 Non Looping Natural Soothing Sounds and Memory Function 32 Levels of Volume Powered by AC or USB and Sleep Sound Timer Therapy for Baby Kids Adults • Amazon Business $23.99 1 $23.99
Lamp 2700 Lava, 14.5-inches, White Wax & The Original Slinky Walking Spring Toy, Metal Slinky, Fidget Toys, Party Favors and Gifts, Toys for 5 Year Old Girls and Boys, by Just Play • Amazon Business $23.58 1 $23.58
Mini Japanese Desktop Zen Garden Sea Life,A Day at The Ocean,Desktop Sandbox for Meditation and Relaxation,Sand Tray Play Kit for Kids, Adults, Office • Amazon Business $19.99 1 $19.99
Chair Bands for Kids with Fidgety Feet – Improve Focus Flexible Seating Fidget Bands for Classroom Chairs School Desk Bands for Students with Autism, ADHD, SPD (10 Pack) • Amazon Business $19.98 1 $19.98
FiGoal 52 PCS Sensory Fidget Toys Set with Storage Box, Mini Poppet Figit Toys for Adults Kids ADHD, Birthday Party Favors ,Classroom, Goodie Bag Fillers • Amazon Business $16.95 1 $16.95
Among Plush Toys 6 Pcs Crewmate Astronaut Stuffed Plushie, Imposters Game Figures with Squeak for Game Fans and Children（Dark Color） • Amazon Business $15.99 1 $15.99
42 Pcs Anxiety Sensory Stickers Kit Includes 36 Fidget Textured Strips, 6 Keychain Textured Strips Toys Tactile Rough Calm Stickers Anti Stress Sensory Textured Strips for Tension (Rainbow Style) • Amazon Business $15.99 1 $15.99
Carson Dellosa Calming Strategies Bulletin Board Set—Calming Strategies and Mood Charts for Social Emotional Learning, Homeschool or Classroom Decor (7 pc) • Amazon Business $14.99 1 $14.99
OCATO Squishies Mochi Squishy Toys 40pcs Party Favors for Kids Mini Squishy Kawaii Mochi Animal Squishies Cat Unicorn Squishy Mini Squeeze Stress Relief Toys for Kids Adults Treasure Box Toys, Random • Amazon Business $14.44 1 $14.44
Comarkis Soft Round Area Rug for Bedroom,4 ft Blue Circle Rug for Nursery Room,Fluffy Carpet for Kids Room,Shaggy Floor Mat for Living Room,Furry Area Rug for Baby,Teen Room Decor for Girls Boys • Amazon Business $13.99 1 $13.99
Teacher Created Resources Small Sand Timers Combo, Pack of 8 (TCR20697) • Amazon Business $10.87 1 $10.87
Tea Lights, 24 Pack Battery Tea Lights Flameless LED Tea Lights Candles Battery Powered Fake Candles 100 Hours for Wedding Party Holidays Home Decoration Outdoor (Warm Yellow) • Amazon Business $9.99 1 $9.99
Purple & Pink Liquid Motion Bubbler • Amazon Business $5.99 1 $5.99

Materials cost

$490.89

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$7.36

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$528.25

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$93.22

Total project goal

$621.47

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $621.47

14 Donors

-$611.47

Donations toward project cost

-$528.25

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$83.22

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$10.00

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Stepien and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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