{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Carmel Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6292080,"projectId":10253540,"letterContent":"The wireless keyboards have already made such a positive impact on my second grade students! We have been using them with Typing.com to practice important beginning keyboarding skills, and my students are becoming more comfortable and confident using a physical keyboard.\r\n\r\nBefore receiving the keyboards, students primarily used the touchscreen keyboards on their iPads. Now, they are learning how to locate keys, use both hands, and develop proper typing habits. They are incredibly excited when it is time to practice typing, and I have already seen growth in their speed, accuracy, and independence.\r\n\r\nThe keyboards have also made it much easier for students to transfer their new skills to their classroom writing. As they become more fluent typists, they can spend less time searching for letters and more time focusing on getting their ideas onto the screen.\r\n\r\nThese keyboards will continue to be used throughout the school year for writing, keyboarding practice, and other digital learning activities. Thank you for giving my students a resource that is helping them build technology skills they will use for many years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1779028166003,"projectUrl":"project/building-strong-writers-with-wireless-ke/10253540/","projectTitle":"Building Strong Writers with Wireless Keyboards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Farnham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6292080"},{"teacherId":8432304,"projectId":10181845,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my first grade classroom! Your donation allowed me to provide my students with important writing supplies, including dry erase markers, pencils, and colored cardstock. These materials will be used every day as my students practice writing, spelling, editing, and expressing their ideas. The colored cardstock will also allow students to create and publish their own books, giving them the opportunity to see their writing become something they can be proud of and share with others. \r\n\r\nThank you again for helping my classroom. Your generosity helps make writing more engaging and meaningful for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1779981640340,"projectUrl":"project/book-writing-supplies/10181845/","projectTitle":"Book Writing Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432304_orig.jpg?crop=848,848,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651160467413","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8432304"},{"teacherId":8432304,"projectId":10161591,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom! Because of your support, I was able to provide my first grade students with a brand new classroom rug. This cozy space gives students a comfortable place to gather, build friendships, share ideas, read, and participate in learning together. It encourages collaboration, helps students feel a sense of belonging, and creates a warm, welcoming environment where they can feel safe, connected, and excited to learn each day. \r\n\r\nThank you again! Your generosity truly makes a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1774551740256,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-rug/10161591/","projectTitle":"Classroom Rug","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432304_orig.jpg?crop=848,848,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651160467413","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8432304"},{"teacherId":8953424,"projectId":10273024,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom and for helping us bring a new classroom rug into our learning space! Your donation has made such a meaningful difference in our classroom, and I am so excited to share how we are already putting this special space to use.\r\n\r\nAs a kindergarten teacher, I have quickly learned that some of the most important learning happens when children are given the opportunity to learn together. Kindergarten students are constantly learning how to be part of a community, to share space, take turns, listen to one another, solve problems, work together, and celebrate each other's successes. Having a large, comfortable, and inviting rug has given us a place where we can do all of those things.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite examples is the activity pictured here. My students worked together to build Mat Man using wooden pieces right on our new rug. Mat Man is an important part of our handwriting curriculum and is used to help children learn how to draw a person with realistic body parts and details. It may look like a simple activity, but for my kindergarteners, it is so much more! They are practicing body awareness, vocabulary, fine motor skills, visual-spatial skills, and drawing skills while also learning to collaborate with their classmates.\r\n\r\nThe rug gave us the space to spread out all of our Mat Man pieces and allowed several children to work together comfortably. They had conversations about where each piece belonged, helped one another find pieces, and made decisions as a group. I loved watching them learn from one another and seeing their excitement as their Mat Man creations came together. It was a wonderful reminder that learning does not always have to happen sitting at a desk or working independently. Sometimes the best learning happens when children are on the floor, working side-by-side, talking, laughing, creating, and figuring things out together.\r\n\r\nOur rug has quickly become one of the most special places in our classroom. We use it for morning meetings, whole-group lessons, read alouds, movement activities, learning games, partner activities, and hands-on projects. It has also become a place where my students can simply be together and build friendships. During play and learning activities, they have a comfortable space to interact with one another, practice social skills, and develop a sense of belonging.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the rug has helped make our classroom feel warm, welcoming, and inviting. I want my students to walk into our classroom each morning and feel that it is a place where they belong, a place where they are safe to try, make mistakes, ask questions, be creative, and learn alongside others. Your generosity has helped create that environment.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and in their classroom experience. Your support has given us a space where learning can happen in so many different ways, and where a simple activity like building Mat Man can turn into an opportunity to learn, collaborate, communicate, and build our classroom community.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity. Thank you for helping make our kindergarten classroom a more comfortable, joyful, and connected place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1782329547679,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-create-the-heart-of-our-classroo/10273024/","projectTitle":"Help Us Create the Heart of Our Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wheeler-Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8953424_orig.png?crop=100,100,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778597258157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8953424"},{"teacherId":9711473,"projectId":10201602,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding an area rug for my third grade classroom! I am truly grateful for your support and for the opportunity to provide my students with a classroom environment that is comfortable, welcoming, and designed to help them learn and grow. Your donation may seem like a simple addition to our classroom, but it will make a meaningful difference in the everyday experiences of my students.\r\nThe area rug will give my students a special place to gather together as a classroom community. Throughout the school year, there will be many opportunities for us to come together on the rug for read-alouds, class discussions, morning meetings, mini-lessons, partner activities, and celebrations.\r\nThank you for helping me create a warm, welcoming, and community-centered classroom where my students can learn, grow, and feel that they truly belong. Your kindness means so much to me and to my students, and we are incredibly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1778375995877,"projectUrl":"project/community-environment-builder/10201602/","projectTitle":"Community Environment Builder","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ostrander","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9711473_orig.jpg?crop=925,925,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724781057935","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9711473"},{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10387113,"letterContent":"My students have been so excited about our new books! These texts introduce important skills like identifying theme, making text-to-text connections, building vocabulary, and strengthening reading comprehension. They also help students explore different genres and discover stories that spark their curiosity.\r\n\r\nReading is an important part of our day. Students read independently, share recommendations, and discuss characters, lessons, and connections. Our new organization resources make it easier for students to find books and classroom materials, helping them become more independent learners.\r\n\r\nStudents who love graphic novels, funny stories, and adventures have especially enjoyed exploring our new shelves! It has been wonderful to see reluctant readers become excited about reading when they find a book they love. Thank you for helping create a classroom where every child can grow as a reader!","fullyFundedDate":1787278739253,"projectUrl":"project/filling-our-shelves-organizing-our-clas/10387113/","projectTitle":"Filling Our Shelves, Organizing Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5699894_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1550940098912","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mdalton3"},{"teacherId":9711473,"projectId":10241738,"letterContent":"The new rug has created a cozy, welcoming space where students can gather and enjoy books together. Reading in our classroom is now more comfortable and engaging, encouraging students to slow down, discuss stories, build vocabulary, and make connections. Students who may struggle to sit at a desk especially enjoy curling up on the rug with a book and sharing their thinking with classmates. The rug has also given us a special place for read-alouds, partner reading, and whole-group discussions. It has helped make reading feel like a shared experience and a joyful part of our day!","fullyFundedDate":1782329547515,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library-books/10241738/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ostrander","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9711473_orig.jpg?crop=925,925,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724781057935","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9711473"},{"teacherId":7241975,"projectId":10256083,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my DonorsChoose project and investing in my students! Your generosity has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom. The organizational carts have helped us create a more structured and welcoming learning space where students can quickly find the materials they need. This may seem like a small change, but it has made a big difference in our daily routines by saving valuable instructional time and helping students become more independent and prepared to learn.\r\nMy students were especially excited to discover the hands-on phonics materials, including the vowel, blends, and digraph magnet games and activities. During small-group and one on one reading intervention, students have been able to use these resources to practice identifying and working with important phonics patterns in a way that feels more like a game than a lesson. It has been wonderful to see students become more engaged and willing to take risks as they practice skills that can sometimes feel challenging. We will continue using these resources throughout the year as we strengthen foundational reading skills and build toward greater confidence and independence as readers. The consumable supplies will also allow us to continue practicing, creating, and learning all year long. Thank you for helping me provide my students with the tools, organization, and engaging learning experiences they need to grow and thrive!","fullyFundedDate":1785861768567,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-young-learners-with-tools-tha/10256083/","projectTitle":"Supporting Young Learners with Tools That Matter","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jackson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7241975_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1777857421187","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/aejackson"},{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10387084,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much for your thoughtful donations! My students will be thrilled to return to a classroom stocked with fresh supplies! The Sharpies, glue sticks, markers, notebooks, tape, and other materials will give them the tools they need to create, write, and complete hands-on projects throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nAs we begin the year, these supplies will help me provide engaging learning experiences without worrying about running out of essential materials. Students will use them for writing activities, creative projects, and collaborative work as they build confidence and develop new skills.","fullyFundedDate":1785862083187,"projectUrl":"project/a-fresh-start-for-a-new-school-year/10387084/","projectTitle":"A Fresh Start for a New School Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5699894_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1550940098912","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mdalton3"},{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10366503,"letterContent":"My students will be excited to return to a classroom that is more organized and ready for learning! The new pencil sharpener, storage supplies, Post-it notes, and tabs will help us keep our materials accessible and our classroom routines running smoothly from the very first day.\r\n\r\nThese resources will support students as they organize their work, mark important information, and take ownership of their learning. As we begin the year, we will focus on building strong routines and creating a classroom environment where students can feel prepared, confident, and successful.","fullyFundedDate":1784395456023,"projectUrl":"project/organized-spaces-successful-students/10366503/","projectTitle":"Organized Spaces, Successful Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5699894_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1550940098912","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mdalton3"},{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10436414,"letterContent":"My students will be so excited to see the new games, STEM activities, and coloring supplies when we return to school! During inside recess, they will have opportunities to play games, build with STEM materials, and create artwork with friends. These resources will make rainy days more enjoyable while encouraging teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nAs we begin the new school year, students will use these materials to practice collaboration, perseverance, and creativity. The games and STEM activities will give them meaningful ways to learn and work together, while the coloring supplies will provide a relaxing creative outlet.","fullyFundedDate":1786807941461,"projectUrl":"project/the-ultimate-indoor-recess-refresh/10436414/","projectTitle":"The Ultimate Indoor Recess Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5699894_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1550940098912","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mdalton3"},{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10161831,"letterContent":"Thank you all again for your donation to my classroom! These new books will support my third graders as they become authors themselves. The children's books, including Eric Carle and other familiar patterned stories, will serve as mentor texts during a writing unit where students will study how authors use repetition, patterns, word choice, illustrations, and engaging story structures. Students will then use what they notice to create their own books designed for younger readers. I am especially excited for them to see that the books they read can inspire them to become writers and share their own stories with others.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an opportunity to enjoy stories while also learning from the choices authors make. The new high interest books, like Dog Man and Captain Underpants, will give students fresh, well loved options for independent reading and help keep them excited about reading. I am looking forward to seeing students become more confident readers and writers as they explore these new texts. Most of all, I can't wait to see the pride on their faces when they create books of their own to share with younger students!","fullyFundedDate":1782329547153,"projectUrl":"project/mentor-texts-for-curriculum/10161831/","projectTitle":"Mentor Texts for Curriculum","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dalton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5699894_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1550940098912","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mdalton3"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65521","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":152,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":39,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":98,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":0,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"9.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":65.5,"schoolId":65521,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Carmel Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Carmel Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/rsu-87-msad-23/carmel-elementary-school/65521"}