{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dirksen Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":811959,"projectId":9926276,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us get our project funded . My students were so excited for the boxes to arrive and examine the new books. This year, our Pre‑K students are beginning their journey as readers, thinkers, and budding scientists and this project helped a lot . These books are more than just pages and pictures to my students . They opened they imagination and allowed them to experience nature in close interactions. . Their vibrant photographs, simple nonfiction text, and engaging facts opened the door to real‑world science in a way that feels exciting and accessible for young children. When our students flip through these books, they aren't just looking at animals or weather or space—they're discovering how the world works.\r\nFor many of our students, this was their first experience with nonfiction reading. These books helped them learn to observe closely, ask questions, compare ideas, make predictions, and explore with confidence. They sparked conversations, inspired hands‑on investigations, and encourage world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1764367315425,"projectUrl":"project/curious-kids-a-nat-geo-book-adventure/9926276/","projectTitle":"Curious Kids: A Nat Geo Book Adventure, Wild About Science!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp811959_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757879689199","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/811959"},{"teacherId":8638280,"projectId":9856586,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous materials provided by our donors. As I reflect on my teaching practice, I recognize how deeply these resources impact both my instruction and my students' learning. The supplies have already begun to transform our classroom environment—making lessons more engaging, supporting hands-on exploration, and helping students feel valued and excited to learn. Your contributions do more than fill shelves; they expand possibilities, strengthen equity, and remind me that our work in education is a shared effort. Thank you for your support of our classroom community and for helping me create meaningful learning experiences for every student.","fullyFundedDate":1766858545874,"projectUrl":"project/establish-a-safe-fair-and-equitable-en/9856586/","projectTitle":"Establish a Safe, Fair, and Equitable Environment.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8638280_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722975027960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anelly-williams"},{"teacherId":10180678,"projectId":9605515,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for being a part of our 'Kindness For All\" project. We are so incredibly grateful for your generous support of our project. Because of your contribution we were able to share kindness and care in our classroom. Your kindness didn`t just help the project financially, it was an example of kindness and care-it rippled out to touch many young lives. It`s small moments of connection like this that build a strong community. My students enjoyed the treats, shared gifts and made beautiful cards to each other showing that everyone matters in the classroom. Thank you for being the fuel behind this movement.","fullyFundedDate":1765322832569,"projectUrl":"project/kindness-for-all/9605515/","projectTitle":"Kindness For All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Galstyan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10180678"},{"teacherId":8722106,"projectId":9547780,"letterContent":"I want to first and foremost thank you for your donation to my Cooking in Pre-K project! Not only am I thankful but also my students are as well. We have had so much fun cooking with each other and I cannot wait to continue cooking with these students this year and future students to come. My class has used the cutting boards and knives to cut different fruits and vegetables, the hot griddle to make chocolate chip pancakes and the hot plate and pots to create numerous different meals together. \r\nMy students look forward to our cooking day each week. They have been open to exploring new kinds of foods, beginning to use and understanding new vocabulary we have used while cooking, connecting our weekly letter to different dishes we make together in the classroom and so much more!\r\nAll of this is because of wonderful people like you that believe in and support teachers like me on DonorsChoose.","fullyFundedDate":1761051951216,"projectUrl":"project/cooking-in-prek/9547780/","projectTitle":"Cooking in PreK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lorenz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8722106_orig.jpg?crop=1980,1980,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1663955348531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8722106"},{"teacherId":8638280,"projectId":9527801,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous materials provided by our donors. As I reflect on my teaching practice, I recognize how deeply these resources impact both my instruction and my students' learning. Your contributions do more than fill shelves; they expand possibilities, strengthen equity, and remind me that our work in education is a shared effort. Thank you for your support of our classroom community and for helping me create meaningful learning experiences for every student.","fullyFundedDate":1764636607836,"projectUrl":"project/make-back-to-school-fun-for-all/9527801/","projectTitle":"Make Back To School Fun For All!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8638280_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722975027960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anelly-williams"},{"teacherId":8638280,"projectId":9766944,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous materials provided by our donors. As I reflect on my teaching practice, I recognize how deeply these resources impact both my instruction and my students' learning. The supplies have already begun to transform our classroom environment—making lessons more engaging, supporting hands-on exploration, and helping students feel valued and excited to learn. Your contributions do more than fill shelves; they expand possibilities, strengthen equity, and remind me that our work in education is a shared effort. Thank you for believing in our classroom community and for helping me create meaningful learning experiences for every student. My students appreciate these games and materials. These materials will motivate them and encourage them to work collaboratively, and they will also build listening skills.","fullyFundedDate":1764598839477,"projectUrl":"project/culturally-fair-environment-for-all/9766944/","projectTitle":"Culturally Fair Environment For All!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8638280_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722975027960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anelly-williams"},{"teacherId":8638280,"projectId":9727820,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous materials provided by our donors. As I reflect on my teaching practice, I recognize how deeply these resources impact both my instruction and my students' learning. The supplies have already begun to transform our classroom environment—making lessons more engaging, supporting hands-on exploration, and helping students feel valued and excited to learn. Your contributions do more than fill shelves; they expand possibilities, strengthen equity, and remind me that our work in education is a shared effort. Thank you for believing in our classroom community and for helping me create meaningful learning experiences for every student. My students appreciate these games and materials. These games will motivate them and encourage them to work collaboratively, and they will also build listening skills.","fullyFundedDate":1764598837893,"projectUrl":"project/equity-for-all/9727820/","projectTitle":"Equity For All!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8638280_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722975027960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anelly-williams"},{"teacherId":10180678,"projectId":9853799,"letterContent":"Thank you sincerely for your generous donation for our \"Home Home Sweet Homework\" math project. Your contribution has made a meaningful difference in our students` learning.\r\nBecause of your funding, students have now access to structured, engaging homework materials that strengthen their understanding of key math concepts. We are already seeing improvements in their problem-solving skills, accuracy, and confidence. Many students who once struggle are now completing assignments more independently and showing greater enthusiasm for math.\r\nYour generosity is helping our students build a strong foundation that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to their success.","fullyFundedDate":1763606414320,"projectUrl":"project/home-home-sweet-homework/9853799/","projectTitle":"Home Home Sweet Homework","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Galstyan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10180678"},{"teacherId":811959,"projectId":9700853,"letterContent":"Thank you for taking the time to learn about our classroom project. My little learners love our new clean, colorful alphabet carpet—a cozy gathering place where we sing songs, learn letters, and build the early literacy skills that set the foundation for lifelong learning. When we received the carpet , the students were very happy , clapping their hands and could not wait so see it on the floor. Once it was on the floor , children were eager to sit on it and read books and talk to each other. Some of the children were touching the carpet and expressing how soft it is.\r\n In our classroom, our new carpet carpet is more than just a rug. It is the heart of our daily routine—a welcoming spot where children from many different backgrounds come together, build friendships, and grow as a community of learners. It supports everything from morning meetings to hands-on literacy activities, helping students feel connected, safe, and ready to learn. It is amazing to see the happiness on our student's faces when we gather on the carpet each morning. \r\n Our new alphabet carpet transformed our space. It gave students a bright, inviting, and safe area to gather each day—supporting their early literacy development, encouraging collaboration, and enhancing their overall engagement in learning.\r\n\r\n Thank you for supporting teachers, students, and joyful classrooms.","fullyFundedDate":1758822320359,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-learning-to-life-with-an-alphab/9700853/","projectTitle":"Bringing Learning to Life With an Alphabet Carpet","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp811959_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757879689199","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/811959"},{"teacherId":10180678,"projectId":9670676,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our reading project \"Books Talk\". Books talk to us when we need a friend, books talk to us when we need to learn , books talk to us when we feel sad or lonely, books always talk. All we need is to open it and they will open the world for us. We don`t know this until someone tells us about it. Dear friends,\r\nBecause of your contribution, our students have access to engaging books and meaningful reading activities that truly make a difference in their learning.\r\n Your funding has already had a powerful impact on their reading skills. Students are reading more frequently, showing greater confidence , and demonstrating stronger comprehension as they participate in discussions and project-based activities. Many of them are now exploring new genres, improving vocabulary, and developing deeper love for reading.\r\n We are grateful for your commitment to helping our students grow. Your generosity is opening doors, inspiring curiosity , and giving them the tools they need to become successful, lifelong readers.\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1760667063182,"projectUrl":"project/books-talk/9670676/","projectTitle":"Books Talk","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Galstyan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10180678"},{"teacherId":329559,"projectId":9536893,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has become a place where students collaborate, communicate, and build community—regardless of the languages they speak. The new resources you provided have become a central part of our daily learning.\r\n\r\nStudents use the Legos, Magna-Tiles, stackable art rocks, memory games, origami, and Spirograph sets during structured peer-collaboration time. One of my favorite moments that stood out for me was when the students were using Legos and Magna-Tiles to build towers, then tested them out with a makeshift shaking platform to see which would withstand the shakes. What stood out wasn't the final product, but how they communicated—using gestures, shared laughter, and problem-solving as a team. It was so joyous to witness!\r\n\r\nWhen the boxes first arrived, the room filled with excitement. Students hovered around the materials, picking everything up, asking questions, and planning what they wanted to build or create together. Many said things like, \"We get to use these today?\" and \"Can we start now?\" Their enthusiasm hasn't faded—these materials truly feel special to them. They absolutely love using them together with their peers!\r\n\r\nYour generous donations have made it possible for my student to continue strengthening their connections through using teamwork and creativity skills while expressing who they are and learning about one another. Thank you again for investing not just in materials, but in relationships, belonging, and joy in our classroom. Your support is making a real difference every single day","fullyFundedDate":1756997166128,"projectUrl":"project/collaborative-creative-play-with-centers/9536893/","projectTitle":"Collaborative Creative Play with Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rowland","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp329559_orig.jpg?crop=2695,2695,x506,y887&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754750085241","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/se-rowland"},{"teacherId":10172475,"projectId":9582361,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The children enjoy taking down some dead bushes and can't wait to put out our planters with some bulbs for the spring. I hope you all know how import this project is to me. I have some children that have special things going on in their world and to watch them dig in the dirt and prepare the ground for a beautiful addition to our school. They can't wait to see how everything will turn out . We have more children in the club so we have 30 kiddos which is for two of us.","fullyFundedDate":1758222500113,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-garden-after-school-club/9582361/","projectTitle":"Learning to Garden After School Club","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Denise","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10172475"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5315","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1210,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":21,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":64,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":9,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"31.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.0,"schoolId":5315,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dirksen Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dirksen Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/dirksen-elementary-school/5315"}