{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"El Valor Cicero Head Start","outOfStateSupporters":42.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9565443,"projectId":10136884,"letterContent":"Thank you, DonorsChoose and our generous donors, for bringing new books into our preschool classroom! We added books to our library and throughout our play areas, encouraging students to pick them up, explore the pictures, and connect books with their play.\r\n\r\nStudents especially enjoy discovering how a butterfly develops from an egg into a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and finally a butterfly. These books helped introduce new vocabulary and the order of the life cycle while encouraging curiosity and early literacy skills. Your support has made books more accessible and helped us inspire a love of reading and learning!","fullyFundedDate":1774963802086,"projectUrl":"project/the-magic-of-reading/10136884/","projectTitle":"The Magic of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9565443"},{"teacherId":9565443,"projectId":10138375,"letterContent":"Thank you to DonorsChoose and our generous donors for making this project possible. Your support gave our preschool students the opportunity to explore gardening through hands-on learning. We planted milkweed seeds in pots inside our classroom and watched them grow from tiny seeds into plants that will provide food for monarch caterpillars. This experience helped students understand how plants grow and why caring for them is important. The gardening toys also brought our lessons into the dramatic play area, where students practiced the potting process through pretend play while building their vocabulary, creativity, and cooperation skills.\r\n\r\nThese materials have created fun opportunities for our students to connect classroom learning with the natural world. Planting real seeds and exploring the gardening toys helped make the growing process easier for young learners to understand. We also used the binoculars during our walks around the school to observe the plants and insects. Thank you for making this project possible.","fullyFundedDate":1774963871415,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-the-outdoors/10138375/","projectTitle":"Exploring the Outdoors","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9565443"},{"teacherId":9859438,"projectId":9982129,"letterContent":"This project brought the life cycle of monarch butterflies to life for my Pre-K students. The butterfly cage allowed the children to safely observe the caterpillars, chrysalises, and emerging butterflies up close each day. Using the supplies provided through this project, the children also participated in a variety of hands-on activities, including creating their own models of the different stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle. These activities gave them opportunities to use art materials, practice new vocabulary, make observations, ask questions, and connect what they were creating to the real butterflies growing in our classroom. We ended our study with a special butterfly release parade with our families, making the experience even more memorable. Thank you for giving my students the materials and opportunity to experience science in such an exciting and meaningful way!","fullyFundedDate":1774963835783,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-the-magic-of-monarch-bu/9982129/","projectTitle":"Learning Through the Magic of Monarch Butterflies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yolanda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9859438"},{"teacherId":9526629,"projectId":10352807,"letterContent":"Our new classroom resources are making a meaningful difference in our daily learning experiences. My students are using the supplies for art projects, early writing practice, small-group activities, science explorations, and hands-on learning centers.\r\n\r\nOne special moment was watching the students begin a classroom project where they could use different materials to create, draw, and share their ideas. They were excited to choose their own supplies and proudly show their finished work to their classmates. Their excitement reminded me how important it is to give young children the opportunity to explore and create independently.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, they were immediately curious and excited. They wanted to open everything, touch the materials, and start using them right away! Having these supplies available has helped make our classroom more engaging and inviting.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue using these resources during our current classroom lessons and projects. Students will have opportunities to practice early literacy and math skills, explore science concepts, create artwork, and work collaboratively with their classmates. We are excited to continue learning, creating, and growing together! Thank you so much for everything!!.","fullyFundedDate":1785329573080,"projectUrl":"project/essential-classroom-supplies-for-a-succe/10352807/","projectTitle":"Essential Classroom Supplies for a Successful School Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Carrillo Garrido","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9526629"},{"teacherId":9565443,"projectId":10138439,"letterContent":"As a Head Start teacher, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to our preschool classroom. Thank you for thinking of our students and providing us with wonderful learning materials that will support hands-on experiences throughout this school year and the next. Your kindness has made a meaningful impact on our classroom, and I truly appreciate your support in helping create a positive and engaging learning environment for our young learners.\r\n\r\nThe excitement began the moment the large brown box arrived in our classroom. My students immediately noticed it and became very curious. They gathered around the box with big smiles and excited voices, asking, \"Teacher, what's inside?\" They eagerly shared their guesses about what the surprise could be. I smiled and told them, \"It's a surprise! We will open it together during circle time.\" Throughout the morning, they continued talking about the mystery box and could hardly wait until it was time to open it.\r\n\r\nWhen circle time finally arrived, everyone sat together on the carpet with excitement written across their faces. As I opened the box, I heard an immediate chorus of \"wow!\" from the children. Their eyes grew wide as they discovered all of the materials inside. Watching their excitement and heard their joyful reactions.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite activities was using the new plant pots to begin a classroom planting experience. The children took turns filling each pot with dirt. Each child carefully held a seed in their tiny hands before placing it into the soil and gently covering it. They proudly watered their pots and were excited to help care for them every day.\r\n\r\nThe books quickly became favorites during our story time. The engaging stories about bugs and butterflies captured the children's attention from beginning to end. These books have sparked meaningful conversations about nature, insects, life cycles, and the world around us. I have added the books to our classroom library as well as other learning areas so the children can continue exploring them throughout the day. \r\n\r\nEvery item has become a valuable part of our classroom. I know these materials will continue to be used often throughout this school year and the following year. I am incredibly grateful for your support and the difference you have made in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1774963858027,"projectUrl":"project/learning-about-natures-beauty/10138439/","projectTitle":"Learning about Nature's Beauty","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9565443"},{"teacherId":9859438,"projectId":9718073,"letterContent":"Our classroom would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your thoughtful and meaningful contributions to our classroom. Because of your generosity, our children were able to engage in a rich, hands-on learning experience centered around music, creativity, and exploration. Your support truly made a difference in bringing learning to life in a joyful and memorable way.\r\n\r\nWith the materials you provided, our students explored the exciting world of musical instruments through creative expression and play. Using simple items such as paper plates and foam stickers, the children designed and created their very own tambourines. They were filled with pride as they decorated their instruments and then used them to explore rhythm, sound, and movement. In addition, the children used plastic spoons to construct maracas, discovering how different materials can produce unique sounds. These activities not only encouraged creativity but also helped build an early understanding of music concepts such as beat and tempo.\r\n\r\nYour donation also supported language development in our classroom. With the use of the laminator, we created a vibrant and durable vocabulary word wall focused on musical instruments and related concepts. This resource has become an essential part of our daily learning, helping children connect words with images and experiences. It has encouraged meaningful conversations, expanded their vocabulary, and supported early literacy skills in a fun and engaging way.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, the dry erase boards, markers, and erasers you provided gave students the opportunity to express their learning in a flexible and interactive format. Children used these tools to draw and represent different instruments they had learned about, from drums to guitars. This allowed them to practice recalling information, develop fine motor skills, and share their ideas confidently with peers and teachers.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, your generosity helped foster a love of learning. The children were excited, engaged, and eager to participate each day. They learned not only about musical instruments but also about creativity, self-expression, and collaboration. These are experiences that will stay with them and continue to inspire their growth.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and supporting their educational journey. Your kindness and generosity have made a lasting impact on our classroom, and we are truly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1765984179111,"projectUrl":"project/moving-grooving-and-making-music-in-pr/9718073/","projectTitle":"Moving, Grooving, and Making Music in Pre-K!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yolanda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9859438"},{"teacherId":9565443,"projectId":9120402,"letterContent":"We were running out of paper, and I am happy we got this project funded. My students have been using their creative minds to make art. My students have been painting, coloring, drawing, writing their names, and cutting. My student saw the paper, and one student said, \"wow its pretty. The color is bright.\" And my student was right, this paper was bright. We used to have darker colors, but these colors are bright. Right away, we used this paper, placing a photo of the student, and then they decorated the hair; it looked amazing. Thank you for funding this, and I hope I get the chance for more projects in the future.","fullyFundedDate":1746786187235,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-construction-paper/9120402/","projectTitle":"Colorful Construction Paper","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9565443"},{"teacherId":9565443,"projectId":9208982,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation,\r\nWe are grateful for the new material provided in our classroom. My students were very pleased with the new toys for the different areas inside our classroom. My students receive ocean animals for the water table, cubes for the table toys, transparent blocks, and empty containers for storing art supplies. The moment they saw all the new toys right away, they wanted to play with them. It brought more encouragement to play in those areas. Students seek more in playing with the water table and table toys. I want to continue bringing exciting material into my classroom, new project and activities.","fullyFundedDate":1746785862410,"projectUrl":"project/bright-stars/9208982/","projectTitle":"Bright Stars!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9565443"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_126425","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":88,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"US Census Data for the surrounding geographic area","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"Census ZCTA","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":57.5,"schoolId":126425,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about El Valor Cicero Head Start on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"El Valor Cicero Head Start","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/office-of-head-start/el-valor-cicero-head-start/126425"}