{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dr Charles Drew Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":60.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1492770,"projectId":9175201,"letterContent":"Each day as we studied the beginnings of American independence, I donned the tricorne hat that was part of our DonorsChoose materials. The students knew then that we were going back in time. If I forget the hat, a chorus of little voices would remind me. \"Aren't we continuing the story? I want to know what happens next!\"\r\n\r\nThe replica of the Constitution allowed the students to see the bold signatures of the men we studied. (We also studied influential women of the time period.) When we used the quills to write our own names on parchment, the students added flourishes just like the founding fathers had done.\r\n\r\nThank you very much for you contribution to our learning. Having realia truly makes history come alive. My students and I appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1742685504517,"projectUrl":"project/american-independence-comes-alive/9175201/","projectTitle":"American Independence Comes Alive!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ahmed-Morton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1492770"},{"teacherId":1492770,"projectId":9303541,"letterContent":"The human body materials were a huge hit with my students! Their eyes lit up as we opened the packet of x-ray films. I put the films in our windows for the duration of the unit. The students asked so many excellent questions about bones and joints. The x-rays sparked so much learning!\r\n\r\nWhen we used the clay to make our own bones, the students referred to the x-rays and sculpted realistic shapes. They even considered the joints and formed the ends of the bones accordingly. \r\n\r\nThank you for your contributions to our learning. So far, we have only used the human body materials. I can't wait to use the habitat materials! I feel certain that they will also make our learning come alive. Your generosity is much appreciated by me and my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755728075052,"projectUrl":"project/human-body-and-habitats/9303541/","projectTitle":"Human Body and Habitats","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ahmed-Morton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1492770"},{"teacherId":10241781,"projectId":9682355,"letterContent":"My students and I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for your incredibly generous and heartfelt donations. The arrival of the gel printing plates, the vibrant block printing ink, and your essential monetary contributions have brought a wave of excitement and new possibilities into our classroom. Your support directly impacts the resources and experiences we can offer our students, turning lessons into engaging, hands-on artistic adventures. We are truly fortunate to have such committed members of our community investing in the creativity and education of our young artists.\r\n\r\nThe new supplies were put to use almost immediately! Our students were absolutely thrilled to use the gel plates and inks to celebrate International Dot Day. Watching their faces light up as they experimented with texture, color, and design was truly rewarding. The ease of use and professional quality of the materials allowed every student to create complex and beautiful printed 'dots', fostering a sense of accomplishment and deepening their understanding of printmaking. This experience would not have been possible without your foresight and kindness in providing these wonderful tools.\r\n\r\nWe are already looking forward to incorporating the gel printing plates and block printing ink into our curriculum for the rest of the year. From creating unique monoprints and patterned textiles to exploring relief printing techniques, these new resources will open up countless opportunities for future projects and advanced artistic exploration. Thank you once again for empowering our students with the tools they need to express themselves and discover the joy of art. Your donations will inspire creativity in our classroom for many years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1757515077825,"projectUrl":"project/dot-day-printmaking/9682355/","projectTitle":"Dot Day Printmaking","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Turner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10241781_orig.png?crop=1487,1487,x132,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764806853297","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10241781"},{"teacherId":8907541,"projectId":9671124,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project to help update our selection of books on financial literacy to include more relevant and engaging materials. Financial literacy is critical for success and the information in these books has already started to help our readers develop a foundation for sound financial decisions in their future. \r\n\r\nTo ensure that readers are able to easily find and access the books, we've displayed them together in a clear book bin. The books are attracting lots of reader interest! So far the favorites seem to be the books I Am Money and Emergency Quarters. Others have been used by teachers to support concepts introduced during classroom instruction.\r\n\r\nHaving updated books available on financial literacy has definitely reignited reader interest in this important topic. Thank you again for helping to make this happen!","fullyFundedDate":1757022644539,"projectUrl":"project/focus-on-financial-literacy/9671124/","projectTitle":"Focus on Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tecler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-tecler"},{"teacherId":10346108,"projectId":9893369,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of STEM toys for our kindergarten classroom. Your support means more than you know. These hands-on materials give our young learners the chance to explore, build, and discover in ways that spark curiosity and confidence. With these tools, students can experiment freely, solve problems collaboratively, and develop early skills that build a strong foundation for future learning.\r\n\r\nAlready, our students are excited and eager to dive in. The STEM toys inspire creative thinking and encourage children to try new ideas, make mistakes, and try again—an essential part of learning at this age. Your kindness is helping us create an engaging, joyful classroom where every child has the opportunity to grow, explore, and shine. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference.","fullyFundedDate":1763597308239,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-minds-stem-toys-for-fu/9893369/","projectTitle":"\"Building Bright Minds: STEM Toys for Future Innovators\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moradel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10346108_orig.png?crop=1024,1024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762571322324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmoradel"},{"teacherId":10346108,"projectId":9905092,"letterContent":"How are you and your students using the new resources?\r\nWe're using the neon art supplies to bring our STEM projects to life. Students use the bright colors to highlight key steps in their designs, label parts of their models, and make their projects engaging.\r\n\r\nHow did your students react when they first saw the materials?\r\nThey were instantly excited. Many students said the colors made their work feel \"scientific and fun,\" and they were eager to start designing right away.\r\n\r\nWhat are the next steps for your students?\r\nNext, students will use the neon supplies to create illustrated models, sketching their ideas, recording data, and color-coding their engineering process in a bright, engaging way.","fullyFundedDate":1763586596339,"projectUrl":"project/the-world-is-a-carousel-of-color/9905092/","projectTitle":"The World Is a Carousel of Color","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moradel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10346108_orig.png?crop=1024,1024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762571322324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmoradel"},{"teacherId":10346108,"projectId":9890896,"letterContent":"How are you and your students using the new resources? Share a specific classroom project or moment.\r\nThe spinning sensory chairs have quickly become an essential part of our classroom's daily routines. We use them as a regulated movement break for students with ADHD and autism who benefit from vestibular input to help calm their bodies and refocus their attention. During independent work time, students who need sensory support are able to take a short turn in the chair to reset before returning to academic tasks. One memorable moment was watching a student who normally struggles with transitions use the chair for a brief spin, smile, take a deep breath, and then independently move on to the next activity with ease something that rarely happens without significant adult support.\r\n\r\nHow did your students react when they first saw the materials?\r\nThey were immediately excited and curious! Many of our students lit up with big smiles and asked if they could try the chairs right away. For several students with sensory needs, you could visibly see their bodies relax as they realized these new chairs were something designed just for them. The sense of comfort, anticipation, and joy was clear from the moment they entered the room.\r\n\r\nWhat are the next steps for your students on a current classroom lesson or project?\r\nOur next steps involve helping students learn to independently identify when they need a sensory break and use the spinning chairs as part of their self-regulation strategies. We are also integrating the chairs into our social-emotional lessons, teaching students how to advocate for their needs and understand how movement supports focus, emotional control, and task engagement. These chairs are already enhancing our learning environment, and we're excited to continue building routines that promote independence, calm, and readiness to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1763393411607,"projectUrl":"project/spin-to-shine-enhancing-focus-and-balan/9890896/","projectTitle":"Spin to Shine: Enhancing Focus and Balance Through Sensory Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moradel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10346108_orig.png?crop=1024,1024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762571322324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmoradel"},{"teacherId":8907541,"projectId":9816847,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project for our school's community of readers! These books have been flying off of our shelves into teacher and reader hands. \r\n\r\nTeachers have been using books like Jack and the Beanstalk and Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale to support classroom instruction. Readers have been devouring the new titles about mythology and magical creatures. The Dragon Girls books have been especially popular, with readers gasping with excitement when they first saw the new books. They've been in heavy rotation since they arrived! The beautiful sprayed edges of The Gate, The Girl and the Dragon have also caught the attention of several readers. I have a feeling this will be a new reader favorite.\r\n\r\nYour support in bringing these new, engaging books to our school is greatly appreciated. It is making a difference for so many readers!","fullyFundedDate":1760710981032,"projectUrl":"project/mythology-magical-creatures-and-more/9816847/","projectTitle":"Mythology, Magical Creatures and More!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tecler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-tecler"},{"teacherId":8907541,"projectId":9666227,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project for our school's makerspace program. The materials from this project have helped us to add additional activities to our Makerspace Mondays based on student requests.\r\nButton making has become one of the most popular makerspace activities. Students love designing their own creative buttons, then being able to show them off to others. The building materials have been used by lots of makerspace visitors to create a variety of structures. They've had a lot of fun trying different ways to use the notched craft sticks and the craft stick connectors!\r\nThe cardstock has also been an invaluable resource. It has been used to make signs with activity prompts or directions and also for activities themselves. One recent favorite was using cardstock circles with flat glass stones to make faux \"amber\" as part of our Dino-vember activities.\r\nThank you again for helping us to bring a variety of materials to our makerspace to encourage engaging activities that help students problem solve, collaborate, and create.","fullyFundedDate":1757532538446,"projectUrl":"project/more-materials-for-making-magic-on-maker/9666227/","projectTitle":"More Materials for Making Magic on Makerspace Mondays!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tecler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-tecler"},{"teacherId":10346108,"projectId":9883969,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Our new classroom addition has already made such a difference. The students were so excited, and one even said, \"This makes me want to learn!\" Your kindness has created a space that inspires curiosity, comfort, and joy every single day.\r\n\r\nEvery morning, the students walk in with smiles and enthusiasm, ready to start their day. The new materials and setup have transformed our room into a place where learning feels special and engaging. It's incredible to see how a change in our environment has sparked new motivation and confidence in each child.\r\n\r\nThis project has also made teaching more joyful and effective. Having a space that supports both focus and creativity allows me to better meet every student's needs. The energy in our classroom has shifted, it's brighter, calmer, and filled with excitement for what's next.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1762824373602,"projectUrl":"project/we-gather-here-a-place-for-little-learn/9883969/","projectTitle":"We Gather Here: A Place for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moradel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10346108_orig.png?crop=1024,1024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762571322324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmoradel"},{"teacherId":3531174,"projectId":9298461,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of sensory materials to our special education classroom. Your support has made a tremendous difference in creating a more engaging, inclusive, and calming learning environment for our students.\r\n\r\nThe sensory items you provided—such as fidget tools, textured materials, spinning seat, and kinetic sand—have become an important part of our daily routines. They help our students regulate their emotions, improve focus, and participate more fully in learning activities. It has been amazing to see the smiles on their faces as they explore and use these new materials.\r\n\r\nYour kindness and thoughtfulness truly demonstrate the power of community support in education. Thank you for helping us nurture each child's unique strengths and needs. We are deeply appreciative of your generosity and the positive impact it has on our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1747332273186,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-materials/9298461/","projectTitle":"Sensory Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Emily Cullather","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3531174_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746370644038","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3531174"},{"teacherId":8907541,"projectId":9730139,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project for our school community! Ever since students got their first taste of button/pin making during our Dot Day celebration, they've been hungry for more. The supplies in this project have allowed us to make button making a regular part of our Makerspace Monday activities. The buttons have been a great way for students to express their creativity and individuality. The large buttons are the perfect quick \"canvas\" for artwork. Having the large circle cutter is great! We can use it to make buttons from different color paper (not just plain white!) and even use pages we salvage from damaged books to make buttons. I see some Dog Man buttons in our future! Thank you again for helping to bring button making magic to our school's makerspace program.","fullyFundedDate":1759101070334,"projectUrl":"project/button-making-in-the-makerspace/9730139/","projectTitle":"Button Making in the Makerspace","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tecler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-tecler"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_56201","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":485,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":65,"percentAsian":10,"percentBlack":46,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":39.4,"schoolId":56201,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dr Charles Drew Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dr Charles Drew Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/montgomery-county-public-schools/dr-charles-drew-elementary-school/56201"}