{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bowers Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":15.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":814076,"projectId":9618382,"letterContent":"Students were so thrilled to use the new garden shears to cut flowers for a project. They also used the shears to trim a trumpet vine and to utilize the vine in making a mini floral wreath. The smiles on their faces and the many thank yous for letting them cut flowers for their art project were amazing! \r\n\r\nWe were also able to use the carts and wheelbarrow to fill our new planting bed with beautiful compost. The students really enjoy digging in soil and enjoy gardening so much!\r\n\r\nThank you donators for your kindness, generosity, and thoughtful contributions to our garden program. We are very grateful for your donation. The students are enjoying the materials every day! Thank you from all of our hard working hands.","fullyFundedDate":1757549722426,"projectUrl":"project/help-keep-garden-classes-growing/9618382/","projectTitle":"Help Keep Garden Classes Growing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mallison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp814076_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458884686910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cmallison"},{"teacherId":8145859,"projectId":9718948,"letterContent":"Thank you again for helping get new books into the hands of all of the students at this school. These new books will help make this elementary school library better by keeping students interested and excited about reading. When new books are added to the library, students are more likely to find books that match their interests, whether they enjoy adventure, fantasy, animals, or learning about real people. New books can also reflect current topics and diverse perspectives, helping students see themselves in the stories they read and learn about others. This increased variety encourages more students to visit the library and develop positive reading habits at a young age.\r\n\r\nIn addition, new books support learning by providing updated information and age-appropriate challenges. As school subjects change and improve, libraries need books that match what students are learning in the classroom. New nonfiction books can explain science, history, and technology in clearer and more engaging ways than older materials. By offering these fresh resources, the library becomes a stronger place for learning, creativity, and curiosity.","fullyFundedDate":1762267610238,"projectUrl":"project/library-books-for-entire-elementary/9718948/","projectTitle":"Library Books for Entire Elementary","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williamson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8145859_orig.jpg?crop=1386,1386,x110,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697046193684","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8145859"},{"teacherId":8930401,"projectId":8763056,"letterContent":"Our resources are being used every single day. My students sit very comfortable on the big blue carpet daily while listening to stories and singing finger play songs during circle time. They use the pillows to lie down on the floor while reading books or just for resting on.\r\nWhen my students first saw the carpet they ran to it and rolled around.saying how soft it was. They even pretended that the carpet was the ocean. I'm hoping to add a comfy couch and some more pillows to make our reading area a little more cozy.","fullyFundedDate":1726771882398,"projectUrl":"project/soft-and-comfy/8763056/","projectTitle":"Soft and Comfy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Perez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8930401_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699503613685","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8930401"},{"teacherId":8930401,"projectId":8486528,"letterContent":"My students have been creating beautiful and interesting art projects with all of our new resources in our Art Area. We ripped up pieces of different colored construction paper and used glue to create very colorful collages that brightened up our classroom.\r\nWhen the students first saw all the new resources in the Art Area their eyes lit up with excitement. They went straight into action creating their own little projects using different items. Our Art Area is a hit in our classroom, so it's always important to keep it full and add new items every so often.\r\nOur next project is to create a live wall that's focused on Winter. The children will be adding different art activities that have to do with winter animals and weather.","fullyFundedDate":1726709068258,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-with-creative-minds/8486528/","projectTitle":"Little Hands With Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Perez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8930401_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699503613685","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8930401"},{"teacherId":8145859,"projectId":9332869,"letterContent":"The new books you donated towards are a really big deal for everyone at Bowers. Thank you! When students walk into their school library and see shelves filled with colorful, brand new stories, it gets them excited about reading. The variety of books and topics helps every student find a book they can connect with, which makes them more likely to check it out and enjoy it. It's like a fresh start for the library, encouraging a love for reading from the very first day.\r\n\r\nBeyond just the fun of new stories, these books help students learn and grow in important ways. Some of the new additions include titles that support what students are learning in their classrooms. For example, if a class is studying different cultures, the library can have new books that show different traditions and perspectives from around the world. This makes learning more interesting and hands-on. The new books also helps teachers because they can use them as resources to make their lessons more engaging and effective. A well-stocked library becomes a powerful tool that helps students do better in all their subjects.\r\n\r\nFinally, these new books help build a strong sense of community and connection. When a school invests in its library, it sends a message that reading and learning are valued. Students can talk to their friends about the books they're reading, sharing what they like and getting recommendations. As the librarian, I also use the new books as read-alouds, bringing students together over shared stories. This creates a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged to read and explore, making the library a central and beloved part of the school.","fullyFundedDate":1753373045155,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-school-library/9332869/","projectTitle":"Books For School Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williamson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8145859_orig.jpg?crop=1386,1386,x110,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697046193684","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8145859"},{"teacherId":9274042,"projectId":8882295,"letterContent":"Our classroom greatly appreciates being able ot see themselves reflected in their book choices. Seeing oneself as the hero or heroine in the books we read is having a postive impact. I see increased self-esteem and the appreciation that each one of us can be that hero in a book.\r\n\r\nYour donation is helping shape the future readers and leaders in this world. Small things like knowing each of us can write our own stories and be the leading actors in our stories, helps shape what children perceive as possible. Small changes like having books that showcase a variety of cultural and ethnic diversity helps move the needle in terms of access and hope. \r\n\r\nThanks for showing my students that anything is possible in books and life.","fullyFundedDate":1733182800717,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-a-diverse-library/8882295/","projectTitle":"We Need a Diverse Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jenpeak"},{"teacherId":8145859,"projectId":9003504,"letterContent":"Classes here at Bowers Elementary School visit their school library once a week for a 30-45 minute session. Students can also visit the school library during their recess and lunch time.\r\n\r\nA well-stocked elementary school library plays a crucial role in fostering a lifelong love of reading, and a key component of this is ensuring the collection reflects the diverse interests of the student body. By actively seeking out and acquiring books that align with specific student passions, I hope to transform the library from a mere repository of texts into a vibrant hub of exploration and discovery. This approach not only increases student engagement but also validates their individual curiosities, demonstrating that learning is a personalized and empowering experience.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, incorporating books that cater to specific interests, or that have specifically been requested by students, can have a profound impact on literacy development. When children are given the opportunity to read about topics they genuinely care about, they are more likely to be motivated to tackle challenging vocabulary, persevere through longer texts, and develop a deeper comprehension of the material. This, in turn, cultivates a positive association with reading, establishing a foundation for academic success and intellectual growth that extends far beyond the elementary school years.","fullyFundedDate":1736969177669,"projectUrl":"project/new-library-books-for-title-i-elementary/9003504/","projectTitle":"New Library Books for Title I Elementary School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williamson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8145859_orig.jpg?crop=1386,1386,x110,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697046193684","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8145859"},{"teacherId":814076,"projectId":8833398,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to refresh our classroom library books. Students have been so excited to read the new books. They have been trying out new books series and sharing what they like about them. This has provided more resources for students to read and pinpoint character traits for our current reading unit. \r\n\r\nMany students are even reading with a partner and having discussions about the book. This is a great lead into our book club unit! Students are engaged during independent reading time and are quick to find a book versus perusing for a long time. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity and kindness. Our students are very thankful for your help.","fullyFundedDate":1728084654001,"projectUrl":"project/refreshing-reading-resources/8833398/","projectTitle":"Refreshing Reading Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mallison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp814076_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458884686910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cmallison"},{"teacherId":6877017,"projectId":8945784,"letterContent":"Thank you SO much for helping to fund our Donors Choose project! Your contribution went towards getting two scooter boards for each of our 23 TK classrooms, so that all 500 four-year-old students in our district can enjoy this exciting outdoor activity with many physical benefits.\r\n\r\nI have heard so much positive feedback about this terrific outdoor tool from all the teachers. The students have been very excited to use them during recess, free choice, and outdoor play time. And not only are the scooter boards fun, but they give students another terrific way to exercise which is critical for children's physical health and mental wellbeing. I have seen the scooter boards in action this past month and can also vouch for how much they love them! I even saw one class using them indoors during a rainy day recess - what a great way to help get a lot of movement on a usually restrictive indoor day!\r\n\r\nYou and Donors Choose helped us get these into all every TK classroom in the district, and we are so appreciative. Our next steps will be trying to get this wonderful exercise tool into the standard list of outdoor TK supplies so that all future classrooms also get to benefit from scooter boards.\r\n\r\nMany thanks for helping this new grade level find a way to meet the needs of our youngest learners. We greatly appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness!","fullyFundedDate":1736969177617,"projectUrl":"project/scootin-around-in-tk/8945784/","projectTitle":"Scootin' Around in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maureen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6877017"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4961","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":242,"numTeachers":10,"percentFrplEligible":59,"percentAsian":26,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":53,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"24.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":84.4,"schoolId":4961,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bowers Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bowers Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/santa-clara-unified-school-district/bowers-elementary-school/4961"}