{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Benignus Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6576769,"projectId":10371896,"letterContent":"This project has brought new opportunities for our students to build important skills through the joy of music and books. In our classroom, books are much more than something we read—they are tools for building communication, vocabulary, listening skills, attention, social-emotional skills, and understanding of the world around us. The new books give us engaging, age-appropriate ways to practice identifying pictures and objects, learning new words, answering questions, making choices, taking turns, and connecting stories to our own experiences. Music adds another layer of learning by encouraging students to listen, imitate sounds and movements, follow directions, and participate together.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks a little different for every student. Some students listen and look at the pictures, while others point to familiar objects, turn pages, make sounds, answer questions, or help retell parts of a story. We celebrate every form of participation because each interaction is a step toward greater communication and independence. Our students especially enjoy books with bright pictures, familiar themes, and opportunities to interact with the story. For some of our students, simply choosing a book and sitting down to participate is a major accomplishment. These materials have helped us make learning feel fun, meaningful, and accessible while building skills our students can use throughout their school day and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1786541626349,"projectUrl":"project/building-big-skills-through-music-and-bo/10371896/","projectTitle":"Building Big Skills Through Music and Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hardee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6576769_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689022784471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6576769"},{"teacherId":6576769,"projectId":9212865,"letterContent":"My students have been so excited to explore the new materials for our \"Keep It Safe: Sensory Edition\" project! The hands-on resources have made safety lessons more engaging and meaningful for our young learners. Instead of simply hearing about safety rules, students can touch, explore, sort, match, and practice concepts in a way that makes the learning easier to understand and remember.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been watching students become excited to participate in safety activities that might otherwise feel difficult or overwhelming. Through guided sensory play and pretend scenarios, students are practicing following directions, making safe choices, communicating their needs, and identifying what they should do in different situations. These activities also provide opportunities to work on fine motor skills, problem-solving, and independence.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue incorporating the materials into classroom lessons and real-life safety practice. We will build on what students have learned by practicing additional safety routines and connecting them to everyday situations at school and at home. I am so grateful to our donors for helping make these important lessons hands-on, engaging, and accessible for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1746786198957,"projectUrl":"project/keep-it-safe-sensory-edition/9212865/","projectTitle":"Keep it Safe: Sensory Edition","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hardee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6576769_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689022784471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6576769"},{"teacherId":6576769,"projectId":9391792,"letterContent":"Our new sensory materials have quickly become a favorite part of our classroom! My students were excited to explore the new textures, tools, and manipulatives, and each student has found something that captures their attention. During sensory activities, students practice scooping, pouring, transferring, sorting, and using both hands together—all while building important fine motor, communication, and social skills.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been watching students who may need extra encouragement to participate become excited to independently explore the sensory bin. What may look like simple play is actually giving them opportunities to make choices, follow directions, practice sharing materials, and engage with their classmates.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue rotating materials and creating themed sensory experiences that connect to our classroom lessons. We will use the bin to reinforce concepts such as colors, shapes, numbers, letters, animals, and seasonal themes. With continued exploration, my students will build confidence, independence, and a love of learning through hands-on experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1750774651842,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-bin-upgrade/9391792/","projectTitle":"Sensory Bin Upgrade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hardee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6576769_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689022784471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6576769"},{"teacherId":6576769,"projectId":7438810,"letterContent":"Our new sensory items and fidget tools have quickly become an important part of our classroom routine. Students are using these resources during small group instruction, independent work, and sensory breaks to help them stay calm, focused, and ready to learn. One special moment was seeing a student who normally struggles to stay engaged use a sensory tool appropriately and remain focused during an entire lesson for the first time this year.\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they were beyond excited! Many immediately wanted to explore the different textures, movement options, and calming tools. More importantly, they felt seen and supported knowing their classroom now has resources designed to help meet their individual needs.\r\nThese materials will continue to support our students as we work on self-regulation, communication, and participation in classroom activities. Our next steps include helping students learn which tools work best for them independently and building routines where they can appropriately access sensory supports throughout the school day. These resources are helping create a classroom environment where every student can feel safe, successful, and ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1692971083743,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-items-and-fidget-toys-for-specia/7438810/","projectTitle":"Sensory Items and Fidget Toys for Special Education Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hardee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6576769_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689022784471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6576769"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_24290","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":733,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":30,"percentAsian":12,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":37,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.0,"schoolId":24290,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Benignus Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Benignus Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/klein-independent-school-district/benignus-elementary-school/24290"}