{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"James P. Lee Early Childhood Learning Center","outOfStateSupporters":33.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8365161,"projectId":9934413,"letterContent":"The new dramatic play toys are a total hit! When the kids first walked in and saw the kitchen set and the cleaning toys—like the little coffee machine and mop—the room was just buzzing. One of my students, who usually likes to stick to himself, went straight for the mop and started \"cleaning up\" the whole area. Another student jumped right in with the play appliances, and before I knew it, they were actually working together to host a pretend dinner party. It was such a great moment to see them sharing and talking so naturally, especially since social skills can be a bit of a hurdle for our little learners!\r\n\r\nRight now, we're using everything to turn our play center into a mini \"home\" where the kids can practice their daily routines. They're having a blast learning using the new kitchen tools and figuring out how to use the cleaning tools the right way. To them, it's not just play—it's a chance to feel like a \"big kid\" who's totally capable! I've noticed that having these \"just-like-home\" toys really helps my students feel more comfortable and confident when they're trying to talk to their friends or work through little problems together.\r\n\r\nNext up, we're going to use these toys for different themes in our classroom. We're going to practice what it's like to work in a restaurant or a grocery store, using the kitchen gear and food to learn about different jobs. This is going to help our students build up their vocabulary and see how everyone helps each other out. Thank you so much for giving us the tools to unlock their imaginations—it's made a world of difference in how they play and learn!\r\n\r\nWith a ton of gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1765650040211,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-imagination-dramatic-play-for/9934413/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Imagination: Dramatic Play for Every Learner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trinity","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8365161_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758310023462","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-trinity"},{"teacherId":8365161,"projectId":9763300,"letterContent":"\"The Sensory Survival Kit\" has brought so much calm and focus to our classroom! When the kids first saw the new light covers and the bins full of fidgets, you could hear a huge \"whoa\" go across the room. You could feel the calm in the room! Since then, everyone's been much more settled during our circle times. They love using their new hand fidgets to stay \"ready to learn\" while we read stories or do our circle routine.\r\n\r\nRight now, we're using all these tools in our \"Safe Place\" in our room. The kids are learning to figure out when their bodies feel a bit too \"wiggly\" and which tool—like a squishy ball or a stretchy strip—can help them get back to a \"just right\" feeling. Just the other day during play time, a student went and took a break on their own to calm their body. It was so cool to see them taking charge of what they need to stay focused while they were busy cutting and gluing!\r\n\r\nNext up, we're going to use teach how to use these tools when we have big emotions. We're practicing how to match our sensory toys to our different feelings, which helps the kids build a toolkit for staying calm that they can use forever. Your support has given my students exactly what they need to feel safe and happy at school. Thank you so much for providing the \"survival kit\" that turned our classroom into such a cozy place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1764120109328,"projectUrl":"project/the-sensory-survival-kit-tools-for-regu/9763300/","projectTitle":"The Sensory Survival Kit: Tools for Regulation and Readiness","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trinity","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8365161_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758310023462","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-trinity"},{"teacherId":8365161,"projectId":9734337,"letterContent":"The new light table toys have totally brought our classroom to life! When the kids first saw the bins full of colorful blocks, fun shapes, and glowing letters, the whole room was filled with \"oohs\" and \"aahs.\" Honestly, their faces lit up just as much as the table did! One of my students, who usually has a really hard time sitting still, was completely hooked by the clear building blocks. He spent almost twenty minutes—which is a huge record for him—carefully stacking them to see how the light changed as his tower got taller. It was such a great moment of pure, focused discovery, and it really shows how much these tools help my students get excited about learning.\r\n\r\nRight now, we're using all these cool resources to turn our light table into a little hub for building and color mixing. The kids are having a blast using the glowing blocks and color paddles to build roads and shapes while also experimenting with color. Since everything glows, they're way more into it than they would be with regular classroom toys! It's been a fantastic way for them to learn about cause and effect while working on their motor skills and hand-eye coordination.\r\n\r\nNext up, we're going to use these tools to explore our nature unit. We'll be using the colored overlays to check out all the tiny details of things we find outdoors. Your support has given my students the perfect set of tools to explore the world in a way that works for their specific sensory needs. Thank you so much for making our classroom such a vibrant and fun place to be!","fullyFundedDate":1763645011775,"projectUrl":"project/glowing-minds-growing-learners/9734337/","projectTitle":"Glowing Minds, Growing Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trinity","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8365161_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758310023462","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-trinity"},{"teacherId":8365161,"projectId":9733917,"letterContent":"The new light table has been a total game-changer for our classroom! As soon as we set it up in our sensory corner, my little ones were absolutely hooked. One of my students, who usually has a really hard time settling in and switching between activities, walked right up to the glowing surface and just looked so peaceful. It was such a sweet moment! Since then, the table has definitely become the most popular spot in the room. We even did a fun color-mixing activity with some clear shapes lately, and the kids were so excited to see how blue and yellow turned into green right before their eyes.\r\n\r\nRight now, the students are using the table to work on their motor skills and thinking, but the best part is that it feels like total play to them. For my kids with sensory needs, that bright light really helps them stay focused on what they're doing for much longer than usual. We've also been using clear, colorful blocks to build for our transportation unit in class. The light creates paths for the cars and trucks they play with to create challenges and opportunities to grow during play.\r\n\r\nNext up, we're going to bring the light table into our science lessons! We're planning to look at x-rays and leaf samples so the kids can see how plants and animals are put together. It's such a great way for our group to learn about big science ideas in a hands-on way that actually makes sense to them. Thank you so much for your support—you've truly helped bring a brand-new spark of curiosity to our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1764266263730,"projectUrl":"project/a-brighter-way-to-learn-light-table-for/9733917/","projectTitle":"A Brighter Way to Learn: Light Table for Our Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trinity","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8365161_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758310023462","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-trinity"},{"teacherId":8387254,"projectId":9914152,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in supporting our special education preschool. Because of you, our playground is now filled with new toys that invite movement, imagination, and joy. Your kindness has transformed our outdoor space into a place where every child can explore, play, and learn in ways that meet their unique needs.\r\n\r\nFor our students, play is more than fun—it's an essential part of how they develop communication, motor skills, social connections, and confidence. The playground toys you helped provide are already making a difference, giving our children more opportunities to practice skills, take risks safely, and experience the pure happiness of play alongside their peers.","fullyFundedDate":1767202999698,"projectUrl":"project/outdoor-exploration/9914152/","projectTitle":"Outdoor Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pierce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8387254"},{"teacherId":9021201,"projectId":9919979,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to PNC Grow up! for fully funding our classroom Book Project. Your generous support has allowed my students to enjoy a wonderful collection of board books that are already making a meaningful impact in our daily learning.\r\n\r\nThe books you provided—including the If You Give a Mouse series, construction and vehicle-themed books, and classic favorites like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom—have quickly become classroom favorites. These materials support early literacy, language development, and engagement, especially for young learners who benefit from repetition and hands-on interaction.\r\n\r\nHaving multiple copies has been especially valuable, as it allows each student to hold a book and actively participate during read-aloud time. This has increased attention, enthusiasm, and comprehension for many of my students.\r\n\r\nThank you for your generosity and for supporting early childhood education. Your commitment to literacy and learning has made a lasting difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764003191829,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-ready-for-books/9919979/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Ready for Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ribeiro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9021201"},{"teacherId":9021201,"projectId":9709930,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Colorful STEM project! Because of your generosity, my students now have access to engaging, hands-on materials that are already making a meaningful difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe colorful mirror foam building blocks, wooden building blocks, rainbow sets, color viewers, and super-safe mirrors have quickly become some of our most loved learning tools. They invite exploration, creativity, and problem-solving in a way that feels like play—yet builds critical early STEM skills such as spatial awareness, cause-and-effect, and fine motor development.\r\n\r\nOne of my students especially adores the color viewers and mirrors so much that she tries to take them with her everywhere—even to the playground! This gave us a wonderful opportunity to introduce a new self-regulation strategy: a \"wait\" bin. She now knows that when she returns, her favorite materials will be waiting for her. This has helped her practice patience, transitions, and emotional regulation in a positive, supportive way.\r\n\r\nThese materials are not only fun—they are helping my students learn how to explore, problem-solve, and manage emotions in developmentally appropriate ways. Your kindness has truly enriched our classroom and created joyful learning moments every single day.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping make our classroom a place where curiosity and learning can thrive!","fullyFundedDate":1760664329518,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-reflections-early-stem-play/9709930/","projectTitle":"Colorful Reflections: Early STEM Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ribeiro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9021201"},{"teacherId":8360781,"projectId":9913085,"letterContent":"How does someone express their gratitude for donations made to classroom of students you have never met? We LOVE our new books!!! We love our new Brown Bear, Brown Bear interactive books. We actually already had 1 well loved copy but it was so loved we now have 3 copies on the book to be enjoyed along with the felt manipulatives to accompany the book.\r\n\r\nThis month we are studying Arctic animals and are so thankful for the Polar Bear, Polar Bear set we have so all 6 students can hold a book in their hand and interact as we read aloud at circle time. We also have the felt pieces to make the book come alive and we have really enjoyed using them this week as we read and retell the story. \r\n\r\nI wish you could see the joy in our kids faces as we read and enjoy a good book. You have given us that gift. \r\nThank YOU!!","fullyFundedDate":1763858294014,"projectUrl":"project/for-the-love-of-reading/9913085/","projectTitle":"For the LOVE of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8360781_orig.jpg?crop=613,613,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682987015002","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8360781"},{"teacherId":8360781,"projectId":9883543,"letterContent":"We LOVE our new Magna Tile toys. ALL of the students are super excited to have our new building materials. So many of my students LOVE animals and we now have 2 sets of each set (Farm, Safari, Arctic). We are currently using our Arctic animal sets as we are doing a study of Arctic animals and reading Polar Bear, Polar Bear. \r\n\r\nWe have had the best time opening up the new magna tiles and practicing the animal sounds and names as we build with them. \r\n\r\nYou also donated 6 new magnetic train bases and for many of the kids building trains for the animals to ride in is their favorite part of the building. \r\n\r\nI am thrilled to have these new Magna Tiles for our light table. The kids are thrilled.","fullyFundedDate":1763600206175,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-building/9883543/","projectTitle":"Little Hands Building","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8360781_orig.jpg?crop=613,613,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682987015002","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8360781"},{"teacherId":9240465,"projectId":9564404,"letterContent":"Our classroom project Puzzlemania has been a wonderful addition to our puzzle library. Our students love puzzles, they are a huge part of our everyday activities. We always have puzzles out in our room, we try to tie them to our monthly theme. We also use puzzles to help with fine motor and visual motor skills.\r\nPuzzles are also just fun. They are colorful, tactile and interesting. Kids are just drawn to them. We have a table set up with puzzles in the room at all times. Puzzles are a great way to encourage social interaction and collaboration as well.\r\nWhen the packages began arriving the kids were so excited as I opened the boxes and showed them all the new puzzles we were receiving. The alphabet and number puzzles are a big favorite and very popular with everyone.\r\nWe can't thank you enough for your generosity, these puzzles will be well loved and played with for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1758806342455,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-puzzlemania/9564404/","projectTitle":"Preschool Puzzlemania","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Feeley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9240465_orig.jpg?crop=531,531,x15,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736894447692","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9240465"},{"teacherId":8360781,"projectId":9201087,"letterContent":"We are in full swing back at school. My young preschoolers with Special Needs love to take breaks and be in small spaces. I think these small spaces help them feel safe. \r\n\r\nDaily we see our kids choosing to take a break in the cozy cube. An adult will go over with them and assess if they need alone time or if they need an adult to help them regulate. If they need alone time the cube is a perfect place for them to escape the classroom hustle and bustle and find time to regulate.\r\n\r\nI am so thankful that this cube was donated to our room. It is one of our most valuable tools in the room.\r\n\r\nThank you for loving my special little learners.","fullyFundedDate":1746785894446,"projectUrl":"project/reading-cozy-cube-to-help-preschool-st/9201087/","projectTitle":"Reading \"Cozy Cube\" to Help Preschool Students Self Regulate","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8360781_orig.jpg?crop=613,613,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1682987015002","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8360781"},{"teacherId":9021201,"projectId":9359166,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom with these essential supplies! Your generosity provided gloves we use daily to care for each of our students—something so simple, yet so vital to keeping everyone safe and healthy throughout the year.\r\n\r\nThe dry erase markers have been a big hit too! Our students love using them for early writing and art on the whiteboard, and they help our teachers and paraprofessionals stay organized each day. The index card stickers have made a wonderful difference as well—labeling shelves and bins so every child can find what they need and build independence.\r\n\r\nYour kindness touches every part of our day, and we're so grateful for your support in helping our special needs preschool students learn and grow in a safe, organized, and happy space.","fullyFundedDate":1755388735104,"projectUrl":"project/essentials-for-a-safe-engaging-pre-k-sp/9359166/","projectTitle":"Essentials for a Safe, Engaging Pre-K Special Education Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ribeiro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9021201"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_42243","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":411,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":33,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":44,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":28,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":66.1,"schoolId":42243,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about James P. Lee Early Childhood Learning Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"James P. Lee Early Childhood Learning Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/paradise-valley-unified-school-district/arrowhead-elementary-school/42243"}