{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Carmel Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5699894,"projectId":10533258,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to our classroom, that will also benefit the entire school! \r\n\r\nOur two new umbrellas for the picnic tables have arrived! Unfortunately, after waiting two months, our original order was canceled, and we had to reorder them. Although we are excited to have them, we will need to wait until spring to put them to use. Once the weather warms up, these umbrellas will provide much-needed shade for our outdoor learning space. Students will be able to enjoy lessons, reading, writing, science investigations, and collaborative activities outside while staying protected from the sun. We can't wait to make our picnic tables an even more comfortable and inviting place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1788288094472,"projectUrl":"project/take-learning-outside/10533258/","projectTitle":"Take Learning Outside!","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":10703951,"letterContent":"Our students are so grateful for the snacks, Bluetooth keyboards for our iPads, and new books! The snacks help keep our students fueled and focused throughout the school day, while the keyboards make it easier for them to type, practice their writing skills, and share their learning using technology. One of the most exciting parts of this project was adding new books to our classroom library, especially books by one of our favorite authors, Chris Van Allsburg! His stories are always a hit with our students, and we love exploring his imaginative illustrations, making predictions, and discussing the mysteries and surprises hidden in his books. These new resources will continue to support our learning in so many ways, from building stronger writers to growing our love of reading. Thank you to our generous donors for helping make these opportunities possible for our students. Your support makes a real difference in our classroom, and we appreciate you helping us create an engaging, well-stocked space where our students can learn, grow, and discover new things every day!","fullyFundedDate":1790962824985,"projectUrl":"project/read-write-grow-resources-for-third/10703951/","projectTitle":"Read, Write & Grow: Resources for Third Grade Learners","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":10650800,"letterContent":"Our new lamps and remote-controlled plugs have made our classroom feel so much cozier and more welcoming! My students and I have never been big fans of the \"big light,\" so being able to use softer lighting throughout the day has made a wonderful difference in our classroom environment. The students were excited to see the new lamps and loved being able to help create a space that feels comfortable and inviting. We spend so much of our day reading, writing, learning, and collaborating, and having a calm atmosphere helps make our classroom a place where students feel happy and ready to learn. We are so grateful to our donors for helping us make this small but meaningful change! As we continue through the school year, we will use our cozy classroom space for independent reading, partner work, writing conferences, and whole-group lessons. Thank you for helping make our classroom a place where students love to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1790962718076,"projectUrl":"project/light-up-our-learning/10650800/","projectTitle":"Light Up Our Learning!","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":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"}],"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"}