{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Harold Steele Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":38.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9911800,"projectId":9351154,"letterContent":"Reading in our classroom is a joyful, interactive experience rooted in curiosity and connection. Whether gathered on the rug for a shared read-aloud or independently exploring books during quiet time, my students are always eager to engage with stories that reflect their interests and expand their understanding of the world. The new environmental books have brought a fresh sense of purpose to our reading time, introducing not just literacy skills like vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking, but also real-world lessons about responsibility, empathy, and environmental care.\r\n\r\nThese texts make complex ideas, such as climate change, conservation, and recycling, accessible to young learners. Through beautiful illustrations and thoughtful storytelling, my students are beginning to understand how their actions impact the planet and how they can create positive change. Stories like The Lonely Polar Bear have sparked emotional connections to the natural world.\r\n\r\nIt's been especially powerful to watch students find books that truly resonate with them. One quiet student, fascinated by science, lit up while reading Glow: The Wild Wonders of Bioluminescence, and now shares facts about deep-sea creatures with the class. These books are planting seeds—not just of knowledge, but of lifelong care for our planet.","fullyFundedDate":1756334060299,"projectUrl":"project/seeds-of-change-stories-for-young-minds/9351154/","projectTitle":"Seeds of Change: Stories for Young Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mac","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9911800_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y414&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739313866375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teacherflex"},{"teacherId":9911800,"projectId":9350274,"letterContent":"Creating a classroom that nurtures both the minds and hearts of students is at the core of everything I do as an educator. With your support, this project will provide my students with tools that not only enhance their learning but also support their emotional well-being; something that is more important now than ever before.\r\n\r\nEach item in this project was chosen with intention. The individual pencil boxes will give my students a sense of responsibility and organization, allowing them to take ownership of their learning tools while building independence. The magnetic tiles will inspire creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving through engaging, hands-on play that supports spatial awareness and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nSlime may seem like just a fun toy, but for many students, it's a powerful sensory tool that helps them self-regulate during moments of stress, anxiety, or overstimulation. Having access to a calming activity like this gives students a healthy way to manage their emotions and stay focused.\r\n\r\nYour generosity will bring more than just supplies into our classroom; you'll be giving my students tools that help them grow academically, emotionally, and socially. Thank you for being a partner in helping our classroom become a place where all students feel equipped, valued, and inspired.","fullyFundedDate":1752168908272,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-brighter-minds-and-kinder-hear/9350274/","projectTitle":"Tools for Brighter Minds and Kinder Hearts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mac","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9911800_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y414&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739313866375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teacherflex"},{"teacherId":2970121,"projectId":9248099,"letterContent":"Our new Lakeshore dollhouse furniture and dolls replaced our old, broken set, and my students were so excited when they saw them. Right away they started setting up homes, choosing roles, and acting out family routines.\r\n\r\nThe new pieces give everyone a chance to join in. Students work together, share ideas, and practice problem-solving while creating stories like dinnertime, bedtime, or caring for a baby.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our dramatic play center new life. Your generosity brought joy back to a favorite space and is helping my students learn, create, and grow every day. We are truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1754157780444,"projectUrl":"project/small-pieces-big-pretend-play/9248099/","projectTitle":"Small pieces, Big Pretend Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reddix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2970121_orig.jpg?crop=388,387,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620397988130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reddix"},{"teacherId":9911800,"projectId":9235622,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project to build a diverse and inclusive library focused on social-emotional learning and social justice. Your generosity means more than you know—not just to me, but to every single student who walks into our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe books you've helped provide—such as The Invisible String, The Proudest Blue, The ABCs of Black History, and Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls' Rights—have already opened powerful conversations about empathy, resilience, identity, and justice. These stories reflect the beautifully diverse world we live in, and they help students see both themselves and others in a new, compassionate light.\r\n\r\nThis project has had a tremendous impact on my students' learning. They are more engaged during read-alouds, and our classroom discussions have grown deeper and more thoughtful. Students are making meaningful connections between the characters in these books and their own lives, which has led to stronger emotional awareness, greater empathy for others, and a broader understanding of social issues.\r\n\r\nWith these materials, I've been able to integrate social-emotional learning into our daily literacy instruction in a natural and impactful way. The books have served as launching points for journal writing, art projects, restorative conversations, and even student-led discussions about fairness, kindness, and community. I've also been able to reach a wider range of readers thanks to the variety of formats—graphic novels, bilingual texts, and early readers—that you helped provide.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is more than just quiet time—it's a vibrant, shared experience. We begin many days with a community read-aloud, followed by student reflections, partner discussions, or creative activities tied to the story's themes. Students also have independent reading time where they explore books that speak to their interests, backgrounds, and emotions. They feel ownership over the library because they see themselves in it.\r\n\r\nMy students are naturally curious, deeply compassionate, and eager to make the world a better place. With this new library, they now have the tools and stories to help them nurture those qualities and grow into empathetic, informed, and thoughtful leaders.\r\n\r\nThank you for being part of this journey. Your support is planting seeds that will grow far beyond the pages of these books.","fullyFundedDate":1746785640692,"projectUrl":"project/building-backgrounds-with-books/9235622/","projectTitle":"Building Backgrounds with Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mac","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9911800_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y414&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739313866375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teacherflex"},{"teacherId":2970121,"projectId":9096639,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our kindergarten classroom! Because of your generosity, we started the year with the tools we needed to jump right into learning. The dry-erase sleeves have been perfect for daily name writing practice, the cardstock and colored paper have brightened our projects, and the name tags, index cards, and (of course!) stickers have helped us build routines, stay organized, and celebrate successes.\r\n\r\nThese simple materials have made such a big difference in helping my students feel confident, motivated, and excited to learn. You gave us the strong start every kindergartener deserves, and I am so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1747842681610,"projectUrl":"project/kickstarting-kindergarten-essential-sup/9096639/","projectTitle":"Kickstarting Kindergarten: Essential Supplies for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reddix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2970121_orig.jpg?crop=388,387,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620397988130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reddix"},{"teacherId":2970121,"projectId":9231240,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity. Because of this grant, I was able to bring in special SEL books for both the beginning and end of our kindergarten year.\r\n\r\nThese stories helped my students start the year feeling safe, welcomed, and connected, and they will give us meaningful ways to reflect and celebrate as we prepared to move on to first grade. The books opened doors for conversations about kindness, friendship, feelings, and change—things that are so big in the hearts of little ones. We enjoyed reading I AM ENOUGH and applying it to ourselves.\r\n\r\nI am really excited for my new chapter books that I will share after the winter holiday break when my students can enjoy a book lasting many days. Syndney and Taylor will surely delight my students!~\r\n\r\nYour support touched my students in ways that will last far beyond this year. You didn't just give us books—you gave us comfort, confidence, and community.","fullyFundedDate":1744234928253,"projectUrl":"project/from-start-to-finish-growing-our-classr/9231240/","projectTitle":"From Start to Finish: Growing our Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reddix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2970121_orig.jpg?crop=388,387,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620397988130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reddix"},{"teacherId":8097438,"projectId":9091022,"letterContent":"I was so excited when I found out that my project, \"Snacks for Hungry Students!\", was funded thanks to generous donors like you. I knew that having a supply of healthy snacks on hand to offer students would be a great way to start the school year off on the right foot. So many of my students come to school hungry or undernourished and therefore unprepared to learn and be successful during their school day.\r\n\r\nIt may seem simple, but snacks are pretty powerful tools on an elementary school campus! Snacks keep hungry bellies full and minds focused. They prevent mid-morning crankiness and behavior struggles. And they can be a great opportunity to connect with and win over tough-to-reach students. \r\n\r\nBeing able to provide a snack to a student who needs one empowers our staff to build trusting relationships with our students and make school a place where they feel safe and cared for. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for partnering with me to have snacks ready for the new school year for my students in need!","fullyFundedDate":1745772104549,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-hungry-students/9091022/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Hungry Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McDuffie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8097438_orig.png?crop=1592,1592,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1671813469429","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8097438"},{"teacherId":9911800,"projectId":9098266,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support of our food project, which has had a profound and lasting impact on the students in my classroom and our school community. Your generosity allowed us to provide consistent, nutritious snacks to students who otherwise may have gone without, and the difference has been truly transformative.\r\nOur project aimed to address a very real and growing need within our student population: food insecurity. Many of our students come from low-income families, and for some, school is the only place they can count on having a reliable meal. With your help, we were able to provide daily snacks for students to enjoy during their recess time or during other parts of the day where hunger was distracting their learning. \r\nFrom the moment the program was implemented, we saw changes. Students who previously struggled with focus and engagement began to participate more actively in class. Hunger can be an invisible barrier to learning—it's hard to concentrate on reading, math, or science when your stomach is empty. Thanks to the food we were able to provide, students were more energized and ready to learn. I saw an immediate improvement in classroom behavior, and several students even mentioned they looked forward to coming to school, an interest not previously mentioned.\r\nOne student in particular, whom I'll call \"J\" to protect their privacy, stands out in my memory. J had been withdrawn, often falling asleep in class or asking to go to the nurse. A pattern we noticed was this student was not having breakfast and came to school with no snacks. Once we were able to provide J with snacks, we noticed an almost immediate shift. J began completing assignments on time, participating in discussions, and even helping classmates. The change was not just academic—it was emotional and social. The simple act of receiving food gave J a sense of stability, dignity, and hope.\r\nThis project reminded us that learning doesn't happen in isolation from basic needs. When students are hungry, they're not just missing calories—they're missing the chance to thrive. Your support helped remove that barrier for many of our students, giving them the fuel they need to reach their full potential.\r\nThank you again for your kindness, compassion, and commitment to children's well-being. Your contribution nourished not only their bodies but also their minds and spirits. We are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1742569069704,"projectUrl":"project/fueled-brains-never-wane/9098266/","projectTitle":"Fueled Brains Never Wane!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mac","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9911800_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y414&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739313866375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teacherflex"},{"teacherId":8097438,"projectId":8955602,"letterContent":"When I first created this project on Donors Choose, I was not very hopeful that it would get funded, because I know it's not as exciting to help give students SpaghettiOs and oatmeal packets as it is to give them science kids and art supplies; however, I was hopeful that people out there would understand my concern about my hungry students whose families are facing food insecurity, and the barrier that that creates to their academic achievement. Thankfully, generous donors like you understood and have helped me create a mini food pantry on my school campus!\r\n\r\nWatching the boxes of food arrive and building the care cabinet was exciting, but the real excitement came the first time I was able to bring a student to the cabinet and let them select some items to take home that day. Donors, I wish you could see how much this simple act means to these kids. One student told me that it meant so much to be able to bring home a bag of food because his family because their pantry was bare and he was excited and relieved to be able to bring home dinner and popcorn for his family.\r\n\r\nAs a school counselor, I am faced with hearing about the challenges my students face in their home lives on a daily basis. Sometimes I am able to help, but more often than not, the situations are out of my control and there isn't a whole lot I can do, other than being a supportive and caring adult to talk to. Even though I know that I won't be able to fix the world for every student, it can feel defeating to not be able to help my students find a solution to a challenge. Having a food pantry on campus empowers me to provide immediate assistance to a student who has the challenge of food insecurity. For that, I am so grateful! Thank you so much for keeping my students' bellies full of food, and our hearts full of gratitude!","fullyFundedDate":1738070922332,"projectUrl":"project/care-cabinet-family-food-pantry/8955602/","projectTitle":"Care Cabinet (Family Food Pantry)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McDuffie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8097438_orig.png?crop=1592,1592,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1671813469429","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8097438"},{"teacherId":2970121,"projectId":8990558,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our sand toys project! Because of your kindness, my students now have an exciting and creative way to explore, build, and play during our outdoor learning time.\r\n\r\nAs soon as the sand toys arrived, their eyes lit up with excitement! Our playground is now the talk of the school. Even the older grades want to come and play in our sandbox. The kids quickly got to work building castles, creating mini construction zones! It's been so fun to have new, non sun rotted, toys to play with. Now we just need some rain in our sunny desert!\r\n\r\nThese toys are helping students develop fine motor skills, collaborate with peers, and express themselves through hands-on learning. For some of our students, outdoor play is the highlight of their day, and having tools that spark their imagination has made a huge difference.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity! I cannot thank you enough!","fullyFundedDate":1743271715349,"projectUrl":"project/diggin-into-fun/8990558/","projectTitle":"Diggin' Into Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reddix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2970121_orig.jpg?crop=388,387,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620397988130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reddix"},{"teacherId":2970121,"projectId":9113497,"letterContent":"One of the main reasons I love getting Scholastic News \"Let's Find Out\" for my kinder kids is because it introduces them to real-world topics in a fun and engaging way. Each issue helps build their vocabulary, comprehension, and curiosity about the world! They are full of color images and the simple text make it accessible, even for emerging readers! I also love that they get to take home their very own copy each week to share with their family.\r\nEach issue covers current events, seasonal topics and social-emotional learning that always sparks fun and engaging discussions in my classroom. My kids feel like pros after a few issues reading with me since many of the texts are patterned. They also love the extra worksheets that challenge their comprehension and are just plain fun!\r\nThank you for giving me this opportunity to support my students (and their families)! It means so much to have your support!","fullyFundedDate":1742932986095,"projectUrl":"project/lets-find-out-together-in-kindergarte/9113497/","projectTitle":"“Let’s Find Out” Together in Kindergarten!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reddix","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2970121_orig.jpg?crop=388,387,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620397988130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reddix"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_64007","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":223,"numTeachers":17,"percentFrplEligible":87,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":17,"percentWhite":28,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.7,"schoolId":64007,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Harold Steele Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Harold Steele Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/tucson-unified-school-district/harold-steele-elementary-school/64007"}