{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Explorer Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7198777,"projectId":9748078,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our students are not just reading more, they are reading better, thinking more deeply, and seeing themselves as real readers.\r\n\r\nMany of our donors love books (we do, too!), but teaching reading involves much more than simply turning pages. The new texts you've provided allow us to explicitly teach essential skills such as:\r\n\r\nComprehension strategies – making predictions, asking meaningful questions, summarizing key ideas, and drawing conclusions using evidence from the text.\r\n\r\nVocabulary development – exploring rich, academic language in context rather than isolated word lists.\r\n\r\nCritical thinking – analyzing characters' motivations, comparing themes across texts, and identifying author's purpose.\r\n\r\nFluency and expression – practicing pacing, tone, and confidence when reading aloud.\r\n\r\nMaking connections – connecting texts to students' own lives, current events, and other books they've read.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and collaborative. You might see students gathered in small groups discussing a character's choices, annotating passages with sticky notes, or participating in lively read-aloud conversations. Some students curl up independently with a book that matches their interests, while others work with partners to tackle more challenging texts. There's excitement in the room because students now have access to books that feel relevant and meaningful to them.\r\n\r\nSeveral students in particular have truly blossomed. One student who previously struggled to stay engaged has become one of our most enthusiastic participants, eagerly volunteering to read aloud and share insights. Another student, who rarely saw themselves reflected in books before, lit up when they found a character who shared similar experiences. That connection sparked deeper conversations and stronger comprehension than we had seen before.\r\n\r\nYour support has transformed reading from an assignment into an experience. Our students are building skills, confidence, and a genuine love of literature and that is a gift that will last far beyond this school year.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our readers.","fullyFundedDate":1759827650476,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-the-city-of-ember-to-life-in-ou/9748078/","projectTitle":"Bringing The City of Ember to Life in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beamon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7198777"},{"teacherId":8813569,"projectId":9697730,"letterContent":"We have been able to completely transform our storage space, and honestly, it has made such a difference. My office is quite small, and before this project it felt crowded with large racks overflowing with winter gear, stacked boxes, and very little structure. When a student needed boots or snow pants, staff often had to dig through piles trying to find the right size. During busy transitions (especially right before recess) that could feel rushed and stressful for everyone involved.\r\n\r\nNow, with the new cabinets, container baskets, and label maker, everything has a clear and organized home. Boots, snow pants, and hygiene items are neatly sorted and easy to access. Staff can quickly grab what a student needs without losing valuable time searching. That means less chaos, less stress, and more time focused on students and learning. It may seem like a simple change, but it has truly improved the flow of our day.\r\n\r\nOne of the things I appreciate most is that these materials are not consumable. The cabinets and organizational tools will serve our students for years to come. This wasn't just a quick fix, it was a long-term investment into a sustainable system that will continue to support future students each winter.\r\n\r\nPutting everything together was also a special experience. We partnered with high school students from the National Honor Society (NHS) and turned the cabinet assembly into a service project. They volunteered their time to build and install everything. Many of them attended our elementary school when they were younger, so it felt like such a meaningful full-circle moment. They were able to give back to the very place that once supported them, while also earning volunteer hours before graduation.\r\n\r\nWhen our students first saw the finished cabinets, their reactions were priceless. Several of them said it looked like \"Amazon pickup lockers\" because everything was so neat and clean. They were genuinely impressed with how different the space looked.\r\n\r\nMany students asked, \"Can we please help fill them?\" They were eager to organize the boots and snow pants and make it look just right. Their excitement showed real pride and ownership. It wasn't just new storage to them, it was something they felt connected to and proud of.\r\n\r\nTeachers and staff noticed the difference right away too. Comments like, \"We really needed these,\" and \"This is going to make it so much easier when we're rushing to and from recess,\" have already proven true. The new system has made transitions smoother and more efficient, and it allows us to meet students' needs quickly and with dignity.\r\n\r\nAt the heart of this project is something bigger. We want our students to take pride in their school. A positive school climate includes clean, organized spaces that reflect care and respect. During the winter months especially, with snowy boots and bulky gear filling the hallways, things can quickly feel messy. When our environment feels chaotic, it affects how we feel in it.\r\n\r\nBecause of this momentum, we are now building on these efforts by improving other shared spaces, including our cafeteria and lost and found areas. Students are helping organize and maintain these spaces, learning compassion, teamwork, and responsibility along the way. They are seeing firsthand how working together can make our school more welcoming and functional for everyone.\r\n\r\nThis donation strengthened far more than our storage system—it strengthened our sense of community, pride, and shared responsibility.","fullyFundedDate":1762818260375,"projectUrl":"project/warm-hearts-basic-needs-supply-closet/9697730/","projectTitle":"Warm Hearts Basic Needs Supply Closet","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cheyenne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8813569_orig.jpg?crop=819,819,x484,y559&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757358602131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kpsexplorer"},{"teacherId":8191964,"projectId":10078451,"letterContent":"Our headphones have come in and the students are so excited about them. The headphones that we have now all work and will help the students when they are on the computers. The headphones have a microphones on them so students will be able to use them for text to speech features. This will help them in their every day learning and take the burden off of trying to write down their thoughts. \r\nWith these headphones my students will have an easier time taking standardized computer assessments. Our old headphones were in very poor shape and it led to extra anxiety during testing times. These new headphones are perfect and we will never have to second guess if they are going to work or not. \r\nThank you so much for your generosity in donating to my project and our school. Being a low income school and teaching special education makes it hard to get the necessary supplies for my students. Your donation impacts the students in ways I could not do on my own.","fullyFundedDate":1770067427616,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-testing/10078451/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Testing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bonzheim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8191964_orig.jpg?crop=1421,1421,x1239,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1638203268590","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8191964"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_59948","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":556,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":11,"percentBlack":25,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"20.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":81.3,"schoolId":59948,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Explorer Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Explorer Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/kentwood-public-school-district/explorer-elementary-school/59948"}
Join the 107 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Explorer Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Caledonia, Michigan that is part of Kentwood Public School District.
It serves 556 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 20.6:1.
Its teachers have had 24 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
50%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Explorer Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 12, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Explorer Elementary School
$10,161
raised using DonorsChoose
24
projects
funded
11
teachers
funded
107
donors
3
projects
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
9
projects for
books
Explorer Elementary School has received support from
87 individuals from Michigan and
20 individuals out-of-state.
