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And speaking of school, it starts soon for districts across southwestern Connecticut, but many teachers are already back in their classrooms getting things ready for their students. News Connecticut's Marissa Alter tagged along with one Norwalk teacher as she prepares for the new school year. These are gonna go to the next classrooms for Silver Mine Elementary School teacher Bianca Rivera. This is folk tales. Setting up her classroom is a family affair. They all come in every year to help me. Those extra hands are especially needed this time. Work on the building kept the school closed until today, delaying Rivera's typical start. Yes, we had to rent a U-Haul to move me in today. Rivera is in her 26th year as a teacher in Connecticut public schools. It's her second at Silver Mine where she helms a third grade class. This is a very unique program. It's a dual language program so students get 50% of the day in English and 50% of the day immersed in Spanish, she says she's always wanted to be a teacher in part because her mom was a paraeducator. I love working with the children. I love working with the families. I love having an impact on student lives. Getting her room ready is a big part of that. We want to have the environment set that when the kids walk in, it's that magical place for them. We want to be ready and say welcome to the classroom. Rivera started planning last winter by posting on DonorsChoose, a nonprofit funding site that helps teachers get the resources they need. We're always putting in our own money, but DonorsChoose really helps to do the bulk of that. This year she's requested a new laptop along with classroom basics. Pencils, glue sticks, scissors, notebooks. Here's one that Rivera's students kept for Betty, the classroom's emotional support guinea pig. Good old Betty Betty won't be arriving until the kids do Monday, but until then, Rivera and her family will be hard at work. I definitely feel that each year is a brand new opportunity for students to start fresh, for teachers to start fresh, so every year is a golden opportunity for me and the students in Norwalk, Marissa Alter, News 12, Connecticut. Love that and we hope it's a great school year and News S2 is partnering with nonprofit DonorsChoose to help teachers who are raising money for their classroom this back to school season. To help support your local schools, go to newsTwelve.com/d donorschoose to make a donation to the classroom of your choice.

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Trenton Public school districts and others across New Jersey are gearing up to start a new school year. That means teachers are putting final touches on classrooms. News 12 New Jersey's Jill Croce catches up with a teacher to hear about her story. Trenton's ninth grade academy has teacher Melanie Higginbotham back on staff as a level 3 English as a second language teacher for the 2025-226 school year. From the first look you can tell this isn't your average classroom. She's also ahead of the curve when it comes to set up you would think students arrived this week. I'll be back at the end of the month to fully set up, but when students walk in, I definitely want them to feel welcomed. That's number one, and that's why I have the flags because they represent their countries where they where they're from. From the second you enter the doors of classroom 204, it's impossible to feel anything. A sense of inclusivity and good vibes. I want my students to come in the room and make them feel like they're they're welcomed and make them feel comfortable, you know they come in here and they take their shoes off and that tells me they feel like they're home. Most of what you see adding to the atmosphere in her classroom is thanks to DonorsChoose an online nonprofit that allows people to donate to a teacher's request for supplies or experience. The massage. Chair wouldn't be possible without the resource and that was actually a mental health project, but she has also used the platform for winter coats and food, although the school, you know, provide breakfast and lunch, but just having the snacks in between, you know, it's really helpful. She'll continue to use DonorsChoose for the classroom experience but is now also using it for opportunities to help her learn more Spanish. Intra and Joe Croci, News 12, New Jersey. News 12 is partnering with the nonprofit DonorsChoose. The goal is to help teachers who are raising money for their classrooms this year. To help support your local schools, go to News Twelve.com/donorsChoose to make a donation to the classroom of your choice.

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Back as we head to Kingsbridge Heights, where a physical education teacher at PS 95 is giving his students more resources with the help of a nonprofit platform. News Twelve's Estefania Salinas has the story. There's nothing about the faca teacher found his purpose through his students and became the coach of Storm's softball team after losing his sister and beating stomach cancer, he's now helping kids to learn to never give up. It just hit me like this is an opportunity to show them that there's another way to keep showing up for his team. Coach Acosta turns to Donor Choo, a nonprofit that helps teachers share what their students in classrooms need and gives people a chance to chip in. Go to projects. They'll show what life projects you have. His recent project was fully funded and the school sports teams got new sweaters. You can see how happy these kids were. It was just a very nice feeling of getting them and I would like to thank Elsa because without her we wouldn't have these hoodies. Elsa was a major donor for this project and the Storm softball team. Just gave me the sweatshirt, so ladies, does that make you part of the team? Yes, OK. You feel like you're part of the team when you give through donor's shoes from helmets to bats to nets, Koha Coo is making sure his players have what they need and next on the list, uniforms. For the first time in 8 years we're gonna create a new Donutshos project. To get this new team some new uniforms, these girls are hoping to be the first to wear the new uniforms when they head to the state championships in Kingsbridge Heights, Estefania Salinas New Bronx. What a wonderful inspiration those kids are lucky to have him in their corner. News 12 is partnering with DonorsChoose to help teachers who are raising money for their classrooms. So to help support your local schools, head on over to News Twelve.com/ DonorsChoose to make a donation to the classroom of your choice.

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Help a local classroom in support of News 12's “Back To School" Giving Page.

More Stories

Bianca Rivera, Silvermine Elementary School in Norwalk

Melanie Higginbotham, 9th Grade Academy in Trenton

Chris Acastio, PS 95 Sheila Mencher

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