{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bicentennial Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":23.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10038055,"projectId":9391891,"letterContent":"TouchChat is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app that helps children communicate when they cannot use their natural voice to produce words or language orally. This may include a child who has a significant speech disorder such as apraxia, or children who are having difficulty developing language, such as children with autism. \r\n\r\nTouchChat is typically loaded onto a an ipad, and children use it to generate spoken messages by choosing words, phrases or symbols to express their needs, wants, ideas, and opinions. Once the message is created, the child taps the bar at the top of the screen and the app speaks the full sentence out loud. The vocabulary and setup up of the program can be changed, so that children who are just beginning to learn TouchChat can have just a few pictures on the screen to choose from when they first begin to use it. As their skills with the program develop, more extensive vocabulary options are loaded, so that children can expand their communication to beyond just expressing wants and needs. Children can introduce themselves, talk about their families, tell stories, and have engaging conversations with their peers during snack time. \r\n\r\nUp until this summer, I had never used TouchChat. When I learned last June that my position at school was changing, I wanted to be prepared by learning the AAC programs that my students use. I wanted to start the school year proficient in using TouchChat, so that I could begin enhancing my student's communication immediately. I could not have done this without your help! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for contributing to my project, and making an impact on my students' ability to communicate. My favorite moment so far this school year has been using TouchChat with a kindergarten student as we played with dinosaurs together. Instead of silently playing and listening to me talk, this student was able to describe what his dinosaurs were doing, what they eat, what was going to happen next, and engage in back and forth dialogue with me during our play activity. He is already starting to use TouchChat with his peers, and seeing him develop friendships in the classroom is just the beginning.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your donation!","fullyFundedDate":1753285884845,"projectUrl":"project/i-need-to-learn-touchchat/9391891/","projectTitle":"I need to learn TouchChat!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10038055_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749074154973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10038055"},{"teacherId":10038055,"projectId":9363396,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing to my project to purchase an iPad!\r\n\r\nThis iPad is being used with TouchChat, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app designed for students with limited verbal communication skills. TouchChat gives children a voice when they're unable to use spoken language, whether due to speech disorders like apraxia or developmental conditions such as autism.\r\n\r\nWith TouchChat, students can tap on words, symbols, or phrases to build messages, which are then spoken aloud by the app. The interface is customizable, allowing beginners to start with just a few visual choices, and then gradually expanding to include more vocabulary as their communication skills grow. This enables students not only to express basic needs and wants, but also to share stories, ask questions, introduce themselves, and participate in meaningful conversations with peers.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments this school year was using TouchChat with a kindergarten student during a dinosaur play activity. Instead of silently listening, he used the iPad to describe what his dinosaurs were doing, what they ate, and what might happen next. We were able to have a back-and-forth conversation—his excitement was contagious! It's just the beginning of his communication journey.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping make this possible. Your support is truly making a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1747785818151,"projectUrl":"project/my-nonverbal-students-have-a-lot-to-say/9363396/","projectTitle":"My nonverbal students have a lot to say!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10038055_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749074154973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10038055"},{"teacherId":4460135,"projectId":9184840,"letterContent":"My students and I thank you for helping us to created the most amazing sensory room. We now have access to a variety of sensory materials that help us to regulate our emotions and get our bodies ready to learn. Our light area is a calming corner where we can look at the light cube and touch the colorful wall tiles. The interactive wall dinosaur is great for fine motor activities. The body sock helps to provide the sensory input we need. \r\n\r\nEach day, my students use all these tools to prepare themselves for school. When they arrive each morning, they take time to access our new sensory room. We also have time built into our days to teach them how these tools can help. Our goal is to tach our students well enough so that they can independently access these strategies before the need them. \r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate your support and what you have done to provide us with all the tools we need to be successful at school.","fullyFundedDate":1744903347209,"projectUrl":"project/a-sensory-journey/9184840/","projectTitle":"A Sensory Journey","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4460135"},{"teacherId":2437290,"projectId":9119392,"letterContent":"Thank you!! This rug has had such an incredible impact on my classroom community and on the students that are in my classroom! Students now have specific spots to sit on. There is finally a place for everyone in my classroom to sit contributing to students' ability to learn successfully. What's more, students are very proud and excited about the classroom rug. This rug has not only contributed to the classroom community-- it has also contributed to students' ability to learn.\r\n\r\nThe rug is used throughout the bulk of my day and now each child has a place to go during each lesson where he or she can see. The stone rug creates a calming and Zen environment, where students are able to learn effectively. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for contributing to my classroom! I cannot even think of the words to truly express the level of my gratitude. This rug has made my classroom an inviting place to learn and an exciting place to teach. Thank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1741057275446,"projectUrl":"project/calming-classroom-carpet/9119392/","projectTitle":"Calming Classroom Carpet","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Graven","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-graven"},{"teacherId":4460135,"projectId":9182624,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff in our classroom, I am writing to express our gratitude for the incredibly generous donations. The students in our classroom often require special resources in order to attend to learning activities and to make connections between what they are taught and the real world around them. We are excited to share how your donation has made a difference in our classroom in such a short time. \r\n\r\nThe craft materials have been put to use in creating crafts to support our learning about plants and flowers. We used the glitter and glue, along with freshly picked flowers from our playground, to create artwork. Hands on learning activities help to keep our students engaged and learning. \r\n\r\nTechnology is so important in our school and the iPads make it so much more interesting and exciting for our students. We use them to access videos to support our learning of functional sight words so my students can learn safety. We also use apps to work on handwriting and math. Having access to a touch screen removes the frustration of using a mouse, and allows students greater independence while learning. \r\n\r\nYour donations have helped make a significant impact on our students learning and development. Thank you again for your kindness and generosity. Your support is essential to our classroom and we're deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1745198583149,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-success/9182624/","projectTitle":"Tools for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4460135"},{"teacherId":8103454,"projectId":9119376,"letterContent":"Thank you!! This rug has had such an incredible impact on my classroom community and on the students that are in my classroom! Students now have specific spots to sit on . There is finally a place for everyone in my classroom to sit contributing to students' ability to learn successfully. What's more, students are very proud and excited about the classroom rug. This rug has not only contributed to the classroom community-- it has also contributed to students' ability to learn.\r\n\r\nThe rug is used throughout the bulk of my day and now each child has a place to go during each lesson where he or she can see. The black and white colors create a calming and Zen environment, where students are able to learn effectively. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for contributing to my classroom! I cannot even think of the words to truly express the level of my gratitude. This rug has made my classroom an inviting place to learn and an exciting place to teach. Thank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1741711740882,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-classroom-carpet-for-learning/9119376/","projectTitle":"Cozy Classroom Carpet for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dempsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8103454_orig.jpg?crop=271,271,x194,y168&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632920310641","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8103454"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_42866","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":481,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":16,"percentAsian":26,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":50,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":76.3,"schoolId":42866,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bicentennial Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bicentennial Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-hampshire/school-administrative-unit-42/bicentennial-elementary-school/42866"}