{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dawes Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":43.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8342159,"projectId":9391430,"letterContent":"We are so grateful and excited to report that the new Dollhouse is a big hit in our Pre-K classroom. Students were so excited to explore and interact with all the new furniture and pieces. Students love their dollhouse for creative and imaginative play. It has helped with their social skills, language development, and fine motor skills. Our young learners noticed the new house right away! They couldn't wait to explore it and find new ways to learn how to create new worlds using their imaginations!","fullyFundedDate":1749169718647,"projectUrl":"project/a-dollhouse-for-pre-k/9391430/","projectTitle":"A Dollhouse for Pre-K!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8342159_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646097667864","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8342159"},{"teacherId":4333011,"projectId":10139617,"letterContent":"Due to your amazing generosity, our cast of Oompa Loompas looked FABULOUS! \r\nThrough the team effort of student costume assistants and our main cast, audiences were transported to a world of imagination in Wonka's chocolate factory. As their music cued, cast and guests alike brightened with excitement and humor to see the Oompa Loompas sing about life's lessons. Thank you all! \r\n\r\nOur next steps will be putting on another amazing production for the 2026-2027 school year, so please stay tuned! We will be looking for more all stars to help us spread a little magic.","fullyFundedDate":1776169776794,"projectUrl":"project/sweetening-the-stage-the-oompa-loompa-w/10139617/","projectTitle":"Sweetening the Stage: The Oompa Loompa Wardrobe Project","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. M.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4333011_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1488833838064","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-murray216"},{"teacherId":7508499,"projectId":7208297,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous gift to our students. They have been so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to use this ink to make new crafts, use teacher-made materials, and have a beautifully decorated classroom with visuals that make their learning environment not only look even nicer than before, but be as functional as possible for them as little learners. We could not be more excited to be able to use the gracious gifts you have given us in order to fully immerse our students into their learning!","fullyFundedDate":1683662063757,"projectUrl":"project/our-ink-was-gone-in-a-blink/7208297/","projectTitle":"Our Ink Was Gone in a Blink!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Haley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7508499_orig.jpg?crop=1125,1124,x0,y123&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1787170969466","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mshaleysroom"},{"teacherId":11879,"projectId":10205783,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. It's because of individuals like you that my students have the opportunity to fully embrace the wonders of science. I'm deeply committed to ensuring my students genuinely grasp the topics presented to them, and the most effective way to achieve this is through hands-on science lessons. Your generous donation has ignited a newfound passion for science in my students, and for that, I'm truly thankful.\r\n\r\nMy ultimate goal is to provide my students with the tools they need to thrive and excel in this fast-paced world. To do so, I strive to make science education hands-on, but I require more resources to make it possible. As an educator, I aim to empower my students for future success by immersing them in educational experiences that foster lifelong learning, critical thinking, and personal growth. I firmly believe that by instilling a love for science in my students, they are more likely to pursue careers in this remarkable field, knowing that opportunities in STEM can open countless doors for a lifetime.\r\n\r\nI take my responsibility as an educator seriously, and I am dedicated to offering my students every exciting opportunity to explore the world of STEM. My ongoing quest for materials and resources is driven by my commitment to their growth and success. I wholeheartedly credit wonderful donors like you for helping me become the teacher I am today. Thank you for your invaluable support.","fullyFundedDate":1778774327605,"projectUrl":"project/unplugged-engineering/10205783/","projectTitle":"Unplugged Engineering","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Abuhabsah-Ghusein","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp11879_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510528974050","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-abuhabsah"},{"teacherId":2045760,"projectId":10183974,"letterContent":"am filled with gratitude as I write to thank you for your generous support of our classroom through DonorsChoose. Because of your kindness, my First Grade students now have access to high-quality books that align with the UFLI Foundations program—resources that are already making a meaningful difference in their early literacy journey.\r\n\r\nThese books are more than just materials; they are tools that help build strong foundational reading skills, boost confidence, and spark a love for learning at an early age. For many of my students, these will be some of the first books they can successfully read on their own, and that sense of accomplishment is truly priceless.\r\n\r\nYour support helps create an engaging, structured, and joyful learning environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed. Thank you for believing in my students and for investing in their future. Your generosity will have a lasting impact on their growth as readers and learners.","fullyFundedDate":1778251793526,"projectUrl":"project/launching-little-readers-ufli-decodable/10183974/","projectTitle":"Launching Little Readers: UFLI Decodable Books for First Grade Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marassa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2045760_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450326515341","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cmarassa"},{"teacherId":8072139,"projectId":7926561,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing Mo Willems' books into our first-grade classroom! Your generosity has filled our library with so much joy, laughter, and excitement. I'm thrilled to share how these books are transforming our daily learning environment and helping my young readers flourish!\r\nWhile Mo Willems' stories are famously funny, as an educator, I love them because they are masterclasses in foundational literacy. For adults, reading comes automatically, but for first graders, reading is a complex puzzle. These texts allow us to teach several essential skills such as learning to read with fluency and expression, learning empathy, kindness and friendship through Piggie and Gerald's experiences, and bring that social emotional learning in the classroom.\r\nBecause of your support, independent reading time has completely transformed! In our classroom, reading isn't a quiet, passive activity; it is animated, collaborative, and full of life.\r\nDuring buddy reading, you will often see two first graders holding an Elephant & Piggie book between them, splitting the roles—one child reads Piggie's dialogue, and the other reads Gerald's. They act out the scenes, giggling together as they practice sight words and repetitive phrases. These books have given my students the confidence to step up from listening to read-alouds to taking the driver's seat in their own reading journeys.\r\nThese books have had a magical impact across our entire room, but particularly on our emergent readers and English Language Learners. For students who previously felt intimidated by pages full of dense text, Mo Willems' high-frequency words, clever repetition, and expressive illustrations offer the perfect \"just-right\" scaffold. One of my quietest students, who used to hesitate when picking up a book, now proudly marches over to the library to grab Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! or Waiting Is Not Easy! She can confidently decode the text, match her voice to the character's feelings, and share a laugh with a classmate. Seeing that spark of confidence ignite in a child who used to struggle is the greatest gift a teacher could ask for.\r\nYour support did far more than just put paper and ink on our shelves—you built confidence, fostered a love for storytelling, and created a classroom community built around the joy of reading. Thank you for believing in my students!","fullyFundedDate":1701541662081,"projectUrl":"project/more-mo-willems/7926561/","projectTitle":"More Mo Willems!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murphy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8072139"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9235066,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am now catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1746452785810,"projectUrl":"project/let-it-go-our-musical-needs-costumes/9235066/","projectTitle":"Let It Go! Our Musical Needs Costumes!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9319868,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am back to teaching now at a new school and catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1747184789064,"projectUrl":"project/our-beautiful-drawings-need-sharpies-to/9319868/","projectTitle":"Our Beautiful Drawings Need Sharpies to Pop!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9069439,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am back to teaching now at a new school and catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1745969389656,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-for-great-kids/9069439/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels for Great Kids!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9161898,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am now catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1742943366324,"projectUrl":"project/let-it-go-please-donate-to-our-school-m/9161898/","projectTitle":"Let it Go! Please Donate to our School Musical!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9047791,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am back to teaching now at a new school and catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1742903379703,"projectUrl":"project/paint-brushes-to-last-us-the-rest-of-the/9047791/","projectTitle":"Paint Brushes To Last Us the Rest of the Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"},{"teacherId":1923369,"projectId":9144502,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for this message coming to you late. I took a year off of teaching to stay at home with my kids. I am back to teaching now at a new school and catching up on past Donors choose projects that were funded. \r\nThank you so much for donating to my Art Room. It's donors like you that make a big difference to a classroom for our kids. The students love Art, and a big part of that is being able to do exciting projects. I do my best to keep them inspired and motivated while developing fine motor skills.\r\nI hope you're having a great summer,","fullyFundedDate":1742903379581,"projectUrl":"project/lets-stick-together/9144502/","projectTitle":"Let's Stick Together!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1923369_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569244980140","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1923369"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5480","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":924,"numTeachers":53,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":81,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":56.4,"schoolId":5480,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dawes Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dawes Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/dawes-elementary-school/5480"}