{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bigfork Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":51.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2115430,"projectId":9564778,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous contribution toward bringing Kanoodle, Rush Hour, and Sudoku into our second grade classroom. Your support means so much to our students and to me as their teacher. These games will soon become a valuable part of our learning environment, and we are truly looking forward to the opportunities they will create for our young mathematicians.\r\n\r\nSecond graders are at a wonderful stage where they are discovering what it means to make sense of problems, try different ideas, and stick with challenges. These games will help us nurture that mindset. Once they arrive, they will be used as an extension tool during math time and as a free choice option that gives students meaningful practice while still having fun.\r\n\r\nKanoodle will give students the chance to explore spatial reasoning in a hands-on way. Many students who may feel unsure during traditional seatwork thrive when they can touch and manipulate pieces. I am excited to see how Kanoodle helps students develop confidence while they plan, experiment, and adjust their thinking.\r\n\r\nRush Hour is a game that naturally promotes logical reasoning. Students love the idea of moving the cars to free the main piece, and it encourages them to think several steps ahead. I know this game will spark collaboration and rich conversations as students share strategies, test out ideas, and learn from one another.\r\n\r\nSudoku will support students as they learn to look for patterns and use deductive reasoning. Even in a simplified format, it challenges them to slow down and think carefully about their choices. Many students enjoy puzzles during quiet times, and I am looking forward to offering Sudoku as an option that strengthens important mathematical habits.\r\n\r\nBeyond the academic benefits, these games will help build our classroom community. Students learn so much by working together and supporting one another. When they tackle a challenging puzzle or puzzle board, they practice patience, communication, and perseverance. These experiences help them understand that challenge is a natural part of learning and that it is something to embrace rather than avoid.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting parts of receiving these games will be watching students shift their thinking about what it means to be successful in math. Instead of focusing only on answers, they will focus on the process. They will learn that good mathematicians try new ideas, think creatively, and learn from mistakes. These are skills that will serve them well far into the future.\r\n\r\nYour generosity will make these moments possible. It sends a powerful message to students that their learning matters and that there are people who believe in their potential. Knowing that others care about their success helps students feel valued and supported, and that motivation carries through their entire day.\r\n\r\nOnce the games are in our classroom, they will be part of our weekly routines. Students will use them during math rotations, small-group instruction, and free choice times. They will become tools that spark curiosity, build confidence, and encourage kids to see themselves as capable problem solvers.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our classroom. Your kindness will have a lasting impact on our students and the way they view themselves as learners. We cannot wait to begin using these games and watching our second graders grow through play, challenge, and discovery.","fullyFundedDate":1764731728920,"projectUrl":"project/increasing-mathematical-practices-in-2nd/9564778/","projectTitle":"Increasing Mathematical Practices in 2nd Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fausett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2115430_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466274823120","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fausettamanda"},{"teacherId":2115430,"projectId":9553687,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and kindness! Because of your donations of chapstick, hair clips, socks, hair bows, body wipes, deodorant, and deodorant wipes, our Care Carts are fully stocked and ready to meet students' everyday needs.\r\n\r\nThese small but meaningful items make a big difference in helping students feel cared for and confident at school. One story that truly captures this impact involves a middle school student who came to class trying to hide a self-inflicted haircut, missing chunks and all. With a few supplies from the Care Cart, staff were able to help him style his hair, restoring his confidence and turning his day around.\r\n\r\nMoments like these remind us that care goes far beyond the classroom. The items you provided help students feel comfortable, supported, and ready to focus on learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for being such an important part of this effort to care for kids in our community. Your thoughtfulness continues to make a difference one student at a time.","fullyFundedDate":1755745313079,"projectUrl":"project/care-closet-items/9553687/","projectTitle":"Care Closet Items","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fausett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2115430_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466274823120","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fausettamanda"},{"teacherId":2115430,"projectId":8921634,"letterContent":"On behalf of Bigfork Schools, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution through DonorsChoose. Thanks to your support, we were able to provide essential care items—lotion, Vaseline, Q-tips, and petroleum jelly—to those who needed them most.\r\n\r\nYour kindness and generosity have made a meaningful impact, ensuring comfort and care for our students/community members. These supplies may seem small, but they make a world of difference in daily routines and personal well-being.\r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate your commitment to making a positive change, and we are so grateful to have donors like you who believe in our mission. Thank you for being a part of this important project and for making a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1731002165013,"projectUrl":"project/dry-winters-need-soothing-lotion/8921634/","projectTitle":"Dry Winters Need Soothing Lotion","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fausett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2115430_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466274823120","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fausettamanda"},{"teacherId":9788565,"projectId":8851705,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the donors who have generously supported our STEM initiatives. Your contributions have had an incredible impact on our students, allowing them to engage in hands-on learning and develop crucial skills like collaboration and critical thinking. These opportunities are helping them grow as problem solvers and team players, which will benefit them for years to come. We are so grateful for your investment in their futures and for giving them the tools they need to succeed.\r\n\r\n Additionally, we are extremely appreciative of the storage containers you provided. They have been invaluable in keeping our activities organized and accessible, ensuring that everything is in its place for smooth and efficient learning experiences. One of the students' favorite tools is the whisper phones. They absolutely love being able to practice reading aloud without disrupting their classmates, creating a more focused and supportive learning environment. Thank you once again for your generosity and commitment to enhancing our students' educational experiences!","fullyFundedDate":1732636760621,"projectUrl":"project/first-grade-math-and-stem-bins-update/8851705/","projectTitle":"First Grade Math and Stem Bins Update","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gustavson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9788565"},{"teacherId":9792249,"projectId":8857075,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous donations of books, materials, and resources that support cultural and physical inclusion for all of my students. \r\n\r\nWith the pop-its, I was able to integrate some of my high-needs students in our general curriculum. They were able to use the pop-its to identify relevant numbers and letters and share their thinking. The ten-frame pop-its have been a wonderful mathematical resource as well. Students are able to use them to subitize and identify amounts with addition and subtraction problems. \r\n\r\nThe books we received support our Indian Education for All standards in Montana. Instead of a few distinct IEFA lessons throughout the year, we are able to integrate the IEFA concepts into our daily reading and writing. This creates a class culture of understanding and acceptance of different communities and values. The books are directly relevant to our reading, writing, and IEFA standards. We have enjoyed reading them all!\r\n\r\nOur class is so grateful for your generous donation. We appreciate all the learning support these materials and your generosity have given.","fullyFundedDate":1730733517739,"projectUrl":"project/iefa-and-decodable-instruction/8857075/","projectTitle":"IEFA and Decodable Instruction","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ahles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9792249"},{"teacherId":9752039,"projectId":8815874,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation! It was such a wonderful sight to see the looks on the students' faces when I showed them the new materials that were gifted to our school. They were overjoyed to find out that there were people, other than those around them, who cared about their learning and wanted to invest in their academic future.\r\n\r\nThe students are able to continue working on their literacy skills. They love using the whisper phones to read quietly to themselves. They can monitor their accuracy and their fluency. The whisper phones force the students to speak softly which means they can read quietly without disturbing other students in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThe students enjoy using the new whiteboards and markers. They are able to break words down into their sounds, identify the letter(s) that match those sounds and write the words on their boards. They really like reading the new books too. There's just something about opening up a book for the first time! The books are nonfiction which allows the students to learn new facts while reading text at their skill level.","fullyFundedDate":1727647764374,"projectUrl":"project/student-literacy-project/8815874/","projectTitle":"Student Literacy Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kallenberger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9752039"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_78401","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":445,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":34,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":93,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":48.7,"schoolId":78401,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bigfork Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bigfork Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/montana/bigfork-school-district-38/bigfork-elementary-school/78401"}