{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Forrestal Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":38.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8890347,"projectId":9350539,"letterContent":"The new headphones have made a tremendous difference in our classroom! Before this project, students often struggled to focus during online learning activities like Lexia, ST Math, and district assessments. Now, each student can work in a quiet, distraction-free environment, allowing them to concentrate and truly engage in their personalized learning.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students has been having their own set of high-quality headphones that fit comfortably and actually block out background noise. They're thrilled to use them during independent rotations and love being able to hear every detail in their reading and math programs.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who once struggled to stay on task during computer time are now completing lessons with ease and confidence. One student told me, \"I can finally hear Lexia without all the talking!\"—a simple change that has had a significant impact on learning outcomes.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our classroom feels calmer, more productive, and better equipped for digital learning success!","fullyFundedDate":1755736944268,"projectUrl":"project/helping-every-voice-be-heard-headphones/9350539/","projectTitle":"Helping Every Voice Be Heard: Headphones for Focused Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Goebel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8890347_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x195,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1670362216661","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goebel"},{"teacherId":8890347,"projectId":9085073,"letterContent":"Our Whiteboard Table in Action!\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous support, our new whiteboard table has become one of the most loved spots in our classroom. My students use it daily during small-group reading and math rotations to brainstorm, solve word problems, and share their thoughts in real-time. It is incredible to see how quickly they jump in to collaborate, dry-erase markers in hand, discussing strategies and showing their work for everyone to see.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the table, their eyes lit up. Several said, \"Wait, we can write on this?\" and immediately started testing it out. It quickly turned into a hub of creativity and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments came during a recent math lesson on multiplication arrays. Students worked in pairs to draw and compare arrays right on the table surface, erasing and revising as they explained their reasoning. The room was buzzing with engagement and teamwork.\r\n\r\nNext, we will be using the table to plan our upcoming writing pieces. Students will map out story ideas, sketch plot diagrams, and jot character traits directly onto the surface before transferring them into their notebooks. The whiteboard table has truly transformed how we collaborate and learn together. Thank you for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1746785922540,"projectUrl":"project/write-it-out-a-whiteboard-table-for-act/9085073/","projectTitle":"Write It Out: A Whiteboard Table for Active Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Goebel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8890347_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x195,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1670362216661","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goebel"},{"teacherId":9544835,"projectId":9358569,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us get new small group reading materials! We've already been putting them to good use, and the kids are loving them.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the books and resources during our small group reading and phonics time. Just the other day, a group of students worked together sounding out words and clapping out syllables. One of my favorite moments was hearing a student proudly read a new word all by themselves and then giggle with delight when their friends cheered them on. When the materials first arrived, the kids were so excited—they couldn't wait to explore everything! It really made reading feel special, like a little adventure they got to share.\r\n\r\nWe'll keep using these materials to strengthen phonemic skills—listening for sounds, blending them, and connecting them to words in stories—so students can build a strong foundation for reading. \r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible. You've brought a lot of joy (and some very big smiles) into our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1748554157935,"projectUrl":"project/reading-takes-flight-in-small-groups/9358569/","projectTitle":"Reading Takes Flight in Small Groups","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sinclaire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9544835_orig.jpg?crop=1828,1828,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715395446908","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sinclaire"},{"teacherId":9544835,"projectId":9014296,"letterContent":"In our kindergarten classroom, reading is a joyful, interactive experience rooted in curiosity and connection. Thanks to these wonderful new books, my students are not just learning to read—they're discovering themselves as readers.\r\n\r\nEach text we explore helps introduce foundational skills like identifying story elements (characters, setting, problem, and solution), making predictions, and learning to retell events in sequence. These books also support print awareness, phonemic recognition, and vocabulary growth, often through repetition, rhyme, and rich illustrations that invite conversation and engagement.\r\n\r\nReading in our room often looks like this: a group of students curled up with books during quiet reading time, partner reading with finger tracking, or a whole-class read-aloud with lively discussion. We ask questions like, \"Why do you think the character felt that way?\" or \"What do you think will happen next?\" These texts are springboards for both academic growth and social-emotional learning.\r\n\r\nThese books are more than stories—they're tools for confidence, connection, and critical thinking. We are so grateful to our donors for helping us build a classroom library that sparks imagination and meets our students where they are.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us read!","fullyFundedDate":1743217035561,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-bright-future-one-book-at-a/9014296/","projectTitle":"Building a Bright Future, One Book at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sinclaire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9544835_orig.jpg?crop=1828,1828,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715395446908","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sinclaire"},{"teacherId":9544835,"projectId":8940962,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity in supporting our project, \"Bright Minds at Work: Exploring Science with Light and Wonder.\" Your contribution made it possible for our classroom to receive a light table and a variety of engaging supplies that have truly transformed our learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhen the light table arrived, the students could hardly contain their excitement. Their eyes widened in wonder as we set it up and turned it on for the first time. They immediately started exploring the manipulatives that came with it. \r\n\r\nWe've been using the light table for a range of activities. One of the highlights was a project on mixing colors. The students experimented with color paddles, layering them to discover how primary colors blend into secondary ones. They were amazed when they saw colors like purple and orange appear right before their eyes.\r\n\r\nThe light table has also become a cornerstone for building fine motor skills and creativity. Students use it to trace letters, explore geometric patterns, and create intricate designs using translucent shapes. It has provided an inclusive, hands-on way for all students to engage with the curriculum, including those who thrive with tactile and visual learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly brought light and wonder into our classroom. You've given my students opportunities to learn in ways that are engaging, memorable, and fun. Thank you for being a part of their journey and for helping make these magical moments possible.","fullyFundedDate":1733248148317,"projectUrl":"project/bright-minds-at-work-exploring-science/8940962/","projectTitle":"Bright Minds at Work: Exploring Science with Light and Wonder!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sinclaire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9544835_orig.jpg?crop=1828,1828,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715395446908","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sinclaire"},{"teacherId":9544835,"projectId":8578450,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has been transformed into a dynamic and engaging space where students can learn and thrive. The new flexible seating options have quickly become a favorite among my students, who love choosing seating that helps them focus and stay comfortable. Whether it's wobble stools for active learners or floor cushions for group reading, these resources have made a huge difference. \r\n\r\nThese materials have not only boosted engagement during lessons but also encouraged collaboration and self-regulation. During a math activity last week, I watched students working together on the floor, fully immersed in problem-solving while seated on their new cushions.\r\n\r\nYour support has created a welcoming, inclusive environment where my students can flourish academically and emotionally. From all of us, thank you for making this transformation possible!","fullyFundedDate":1731335005956,"projectUrl":"project/wiggle-while-we-learn-flexible-seating/8578450/","projectTitle":"Wiggle While We Learn: Flexible Seating for Active Kindergarten Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sinclaire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9544835_orig.jpg?crop=1828,1828,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715395446908","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sinclaire"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26591","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":386,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":34,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 3","studentTeacherRatio":"12.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.2,"schoolId":26591,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Forrestal Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Forrestal Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/north-chicago-community-unit-school-district-187/forrestal-elementary-school/26591"}