{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Chester Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10237207,"projectId":9673849,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project! Because of your generosity, our math intervention room now has a bright and welcoming rug that transforms our small-group learning corner into a calm, comfortable space where students in grades K-5 can thrive. The first time students saw the carpet, their eyes widened. One student said, \"It looks like the ocean!\"\r\n\r\nThe carpet has already begun to make a meaningful difference. Students settle onto the soft, defined space ready to focus, explore math manipulative, and engage in hands-on math center games without distractions. For many of our learners, especially those who need additional support, having a cozy, structured environment helps them feel safe, confident, and eager to participate.\r\n\r\nYour gift didn't just add a carpet--it created a true math \"home base.\" It encourages collaboration, reduces anxiety, and helps students stay engaged during small-group\r\nlessons. Every day, children walk into our intervention room with smiles, excited to\r\nlearn in a space that feels special and just for them. \r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us build an environment where\r\nall learners can grow. Your kindness will impact their confidence and achievement all year long.","fullyFundedDate":1757539194410,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-and-calming-carpet-for-math-cor/9673849/","projectTitle":"Colorful and Calming Carpet for Math Corner!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cabral","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10237207_orig.jpg?crop=576,576,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756821242117","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10237207"},{"teacherId":4538301,"projectId":9471541,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students at Chester Elementary School, I want to extend our sincerest gratitude for your generous donation to our project, \"Hands-on Math Tools.\" Thanks to your generous donations we received hands on math tools and a Teachers Pay Teacher gift card to purchase math materials. \r\n\r\nWe have already begun using the Splash multiplication game, Target math game, color tiles, and centimeter cubes! It has been wonderful to see the 'aha!' moments as students build numbers to add or represent a multiplication problem. \r\n\r\nYour contribution is not just a monetary gift; it is an investment in the future success and intellectual curiosity of my students. You are helping to shape a generation of confident mathematical thinkers.\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in my students and supporting innovative education.","fullyFundedDate":1757548775106,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-math-tools/9471541/","projectTitle":"Hands on Math Tools!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hamaoui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4538301_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1499825929508","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshamaoui"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":9329440,"letterContent":"Kindergarten is a transformational year. They come in and they don't know how to express their ideas in the written form. They leave writing paragraphs! The first step when learning to write is...coloring! The students have enjoyed the coloring especially the multicultural crayons. They can now create art pieces that represent themselves and feel seen and heard. \r\nWe have been using the glue sticks for learning activities as well as for fun. The students love having all these resources at their finger tips!","fullyFundedDate":1754436083201,"projectUrl":"project/visually-expressing-our-learning/9329440/","projectTitle":"Visually Expressing Our Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":9329579,"letterContent":"Your donation has helped my students manage their time and help them regulate their feelings. The visual timers have helped answer the age old question \"How much longer?\"\r\nStudents love the timers so much that they actually ask me to set them so that they know how long they have to complete their work.\r\nThe speaker is so much louder than the ones on my computer. It has truly been a game changer. Did I mention that it lights up and changes color?! The kids love seeing it glow and it seems to have a very calming affect on the class.","fullyFundedDate":1753626425622,"projectUrl":"project/time-to-learn/9329579/","projectTitle":"Time to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":9329519,"letterContent":"Thank you for the headphones. Your generous donation, I have enough headphones to help all the classroom teachers offer headphones to students who do not have the resources to buy them. Students love the colorful choices and love to decorate them and make them their own. \r\nThey are fully ready for learning on their specialized learning instruction, coding, and making projects on-line. In kindergarten, students have started the basics of coding and have just finished their iReady diagnostic. They are beginning to embark on their own tailored learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1752758448159,"projectUrl":"project/hook-us-up-with-heaphones/9329519/","projectTitle":"Hook Us Up with Heaphones!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":9329706,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation. Because of you, our classroom was ready for kindergarten. So far, we have celebrated three birthdays this year. The students proudly wore their birthday crowns and bracelets the entire school day. Now, all the other students anxiously anticipate their special day when they get to wear a crown too.\r\nThe students love the dry erase markers. They have been learning to trace their names and the dry erase has offers the class a more eco-friendly way for them to practice writing. They also use the markers to play games over and over again.","fullyFundedDate":1752540372062,"projectUrl":"project/welcome-to-kindergarten/9329706/","projectTitle":"Welcome to Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"},{"teacherId":6497959,"projectId":9269136,"letterContent":"I can not thank you enough for your support in funding these tables for my STEAM classroom! Having tables instead of desks has completely transformed the environment within my classroom! Students are able to work together much easier, especially my youngest students because they can move closer together at these tables without being limited by the bars of the desk. We have also gained so much more time for learning and creativity thanks to these tables! With less spills due to the tables being sturdy and even (not shaky and different heights) students can focus on what matters not cleaning up spills!","fullyFundedDate":1746580686342,"projectUrl":"project/lets-create-and-collaborate/9269136/","projectTitle":"Let's Create and Collaborate!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicholson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6497959_orig.jpg?crop=622,622,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569687330111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6497959"},{"teacherId":9496942,"projectId":8988360,"letterContent":"When our students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up—literally and figuratively! The light-up table instantly became the centerpiece of curiosity. Students began experimenting with layering tissue paper, colorful cardstock, and even plastic bags to create glowing mosaics and shadow art. They tested how different colors overlapped to make new hues, explored transparency versus opacity, and proudly displayed their light-based creations for the class to see. The sense of wonder was immediate, and the collaboration came naturally as they shared techniques and ideas.\r\n\r\nSince receiving these resources, our students have used them to bring learning to life in hands-on, creative ways. The light table inspired an exploration of color mixing and storytelling—students designed \"stained glass\" backdrops for short shadow plays, then performed their scenes for classmates. These projects allowed them to practice communication and collaboration while weaving in lessons on science (light and color), art, and literacy. For many, this was their first time seeing their ideas transform into something so dynamic and interactive. \r\n\r\nOur next step is to integrate them into a unit on design and storytelling, where students will create interactive displays and performances to share with families. The skills they're developing—creativity, teamwork, persistence, and the confidence to share their work—are invaluable. Thanks to your generosity, our students are not just learning; they're exploring, imagining, and connecting with content in a way that feels meaningful and magical every day.","fullyFundedDate":1735658178736,"projectUrl":"project/creative-and-kind-caboodle/8988360/","projectTitle":"Creative and Kind Caboodle","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maffuccio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9496942_orig.png?crop=1014,1014,x0,y101&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753113239296","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/chesterelementaryschool"},{"teacherId":6497959,"projectId":9052536,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my students! They were so excited to be able to show their creativity through clay! \r\n\r\nThe first and second graders created clay ice cream pops which they loved adding details to! Students added sprinkles, strawberries and many even added faces to them! Second grade had a blast when they found a tray of glitter on my counter (left over from a different class's project) asking if they could add \"edible glitter sprinkles\" to their projects and in honor of student choice and voice, they were able to add as many glitter sprinkles as their hearts desired! \r\n\r\nMy 3rd grade class had planned their personified pop tarts and we had everything from soccer themed to cookie monster pop tarts! Students spent time drawing their ideas and then used different clay techniques to bring their ideas to life with the model magic clay. They used both critical thinking and creativity as they realized that some of their drawn designs would have to be changed or adapted because creating certain things with clay was more challenging than they anticipated. \r\n\r\nFourth and fifth grade used the clay to make choice projects where students made all sorts of creations, from beach scenes with crabs, flowers and summer sweets! 5th grade was then surprised with the opportunity to make mini clay Starbucks drinks with the \r\n\r\nThe end of this school year was difficult for many students, especially our 5th graders, so ending the year with these clay projects bought such joy to every single one of them and I can not thank you enough for helping to bring them that joy and creative expression!","fullyFundedDate":1741375346287,"projectUrl":"project/hooray-its-time-to-use-clay/9052536/","projectTitle":"Hooray! It's Time to Use CLAY!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicholson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6497959_orig.jpg?crop=622,622,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569687330111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6497959"},{"teacherId":6497959,"projectId":8917815,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing this incredible learning experience to my students! My 3rd graders absolutely loved learning how to code with micro:bits! One student even exclaimed that \"This is just like what we do in scratch [a computer based coding program] but real!\". We started using some of the lessons micro:bit provides like coding their name to appear across the micro:bit screen and creating a beating heart animation. The main project that we did as a class was coding our micro:bits to act like a pedometer increasing the number on the screen with every walking motion. Students learned the code to make this happen then had a blast walking and running around the gym to see how many steps they could register on their device! Students also learned to create a rock paper scissors game with their micro:bit. This was such a hands on and engaging way to teach coding without just being on a screen and I am so appreciative that you were able to provide my students with this experience!","fullyFundedDate":1735402054052,"projectUrl":"project/bring-coding-to-life-with-microbits/8917815/","projectTitle":"Bring Coding to Life with micro:bits!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicholson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6497959_orig.jpg?crop=622,622,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569687330111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6497959"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":8910895,"letterContent":"The support table has been so crucial to the tier two supports that enable our most vulnerable students develop their foundational academic skills. Students are thriving because they have an opportunity to receive in the moment feedback from staff. We can help clarify misconceptions and celebrate successes with students as they happen. The students' confidence in the work and willingness to take chances in their learning has increased dramatically. One student told me \"It is okay because I can do hard things.\"\r\nThank you for helping us build up the classroom and kids.","fullyFundedDate":1735658199059,"projectUrl":"project/student-support-table/8910895/","projectTitle":"Student Support Table","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"},{"teacherId":3177033,"projectId":8724722,"letterContent":"The items from this project have been a game changer! Kids who have been struggling with their pencil grasp have improved their handwriting skills and empowered them to share their ideas in the written form. Students who have the case of the wiggles are able to move in a way that allows them to meet their needs while keeping them focused on their academic task. We have put the fidgets in the calm down are and distributed them to children who need a little extra to pay attention. The kids have described the items as \"so cool\" and they can't get enough of them. Thank you so much for your gift!","fullyFundedDate":1735658172810,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-and-sensory-minds/8724722/","projectTitle":"Little Hands and Sensory Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Therrien","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3177033_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470531248784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/therrien"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60963","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":114,"numTeachers":11,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":96,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":69.8,"schoolId":60963,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Chester Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Chester Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/gateway-regional-school-district/chester-elementary-school/60963"}