{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Harvard Park Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":46.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3740667,"projectId":9962044,"letterContent":"Words cannot express my gratitude for your donation. It is a blessing to me and my students to know that there are people like you in the world who donate your hard-earned money to others in need. Having snacks in the classroom store is a luxury the students do not take for granted. When students comply with school rules, follow expectations, complete assignments and show respect to others, they are given gotchas that eventually turn in to rewards. In the real world the reward may be income for doing a job well. In elementary school the reward may be snacks, toys, verbal praise etc for being a respectable school citizen. Thank you for helping me add to my supply of rewards in the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1766067724750,"projectUrl":"project/needing-snacks-for-the-classroom/9962044/","projectTitle":"Needing Snacks for the Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dunn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3740667_orig.png?crop=1910,1911,x509,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752267093532","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dunn-harvardpark"},{"teacherId":4059880,"projectId":9647396,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our Calm & Cozy Classroom a reality. Because of your generosity, my students now learn in a space that feels safe, welcoming, and peaceful—something every child deserves.\r\n\r\nWe use our new classroom rug every day for morning meetings, read-alouds, math talks, and small-group lessons. It has quickly become the heart of our classroom. Instead of sitting on the floor or squeezing into a space that was too small, students now gather comfortably to share ideas, solve problems, and connect with one another. The soft lighting and meditation lamps are used during independent reading, writing time, and transitions. They allow us to keep the room bright enough to learn while avoiding the harshness of fluorescent lights. When students need a moment to reset, we also use the meditation lamps during breathing exercises or quiet reflection.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first walked into the classroom and saw the changes, their reactions said it all. Several students gasped and smiled, and one said, \"It feels like home in here now.\" Others immediately sat on the rug and commented on how calm and cozy the room felt. For many of my students—who come from low-income homes and have experienced stress or trauma—this environment has already made a meaningful difference in how they feel at school.\r\n\r\nYour gift has allowed us to focus not just on academics, but on emotional well-being. As we continue our learning, we will use this space to strengthen classroom community, practice mindfulness, and support students as they work through challenging lessons. Whether we are starting our day together, reading quietly, or taking a moment to breathe and refocus, your support is helping my students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students more than supplies—you gave them comfort, stability, and a classroom that truly feels like theirs.","fullyFundedDate":1757542488024,"projectUrl":"project/stem-comes-to-life-hatching-chickens-in/9647396/","projectTitle":"STEM Comes to Life: Hatching Chickens in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Olson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4059880_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y216&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756059783447","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4059880"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":9135008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping our Kindergarten students! They are so happy to have this bag full of recess supplies that are appropriately sized just for them!!\r\n\r\nHaving time for unstructured play outside is so important for both a child's gross motor and social emotional skills. By working on sharing and turn-taking with the materials in this recess pack, our students are able to work on their social emotional skills. Being able to use the materials appropriately helps improve their gross motor skills. Many of our students have never used a jump rope before so this recess pack provides a great learning experience!","fullyFundedDate":1750192708866,"projectUrl":"project/kindergarten-recess-packs/9135008/","projectTitle":"Kindergarten Recess Packs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":9133097,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to purchase this recess pack for our Second grade students! Having these materials are helping our students with both gross motor and social emotional skills. It is important that they are sharing and taking turns with the materials in order that all of our second graders may enjoy these items at recess. \r\n\r\nThe second graders are absolutely loving this recess pack! They are so excited to have balls and other equipment that is just for their use on the playground. Right now, the balls seem to be the most popular with the jump ropes a close second!","fullyFundedDate":1746458691766,"projectUrl":"project/2nd-grade-recess-pack/9133097/","projectTitle":"2nd Grade Recess Pack","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":9133081,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to purchase this recess pack for our First grade students! They are absolutely loving it! They are so excited to have balls and other equipment that is just for their use on the playground. Right now, the jump ropes seem to be the most popular with the balls a close second! \r\n\r\nHaving these materials are helping with both gross motor skills and social emotional skills as it is important that they share and take turns with the materials so that all of our first graders may enjoy them at recess.","fullyFundedDate":1750192707565,"projectUrl":"project/1st-grade-recess-packs/9133081/","projectTitle":"1st Grade Recess Packs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":9442083,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to stock our Treasure Box! I will gradually add items as needed during the year. Our students love being able to select an item from the Treasure Box. \r\n\r\nWe do the Treasure Box randomly throughout the week. Students are given \"Gotchas\" for following expectations or going above and beyond. They then are able to have their name drawn to select an item from the Treasure Box. \r\n\r\nWe will also sometimes do a surprise whole class Treasure Box when the entire class is following expectations. This is always a favorite!!\r\n\r\nAgain, thank you so much for helping to stock our beloved Treasure Box!","fullyFundedDate":1753979290906,"projectUrl":"project/good-behavior-is-a-treasure/9442083/","projectTitle":"Good Behavior is a Treasure!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":9440682,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to fund this project! The start of the year went much smoother with these materials in hand. \r\n\r\nThe dry erase markers are being used daily. Our kindergarten students are working on forming the letters of the alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase, correctly. The dry-erase board wipes are a definite help with keeping our individual boards clean. The duster made getting the classroom ready for school so much easier! We are ready to start getting refills! The tape enabled us to label student coat hooks as well as decorate the classroom. They loved seeing their names on our door at the beginning of the year. \r\nFinally, the pencil pouches are perfect for keeping pencils and erasers handy in the seat sacks on each chair. \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you for helping us to start the year the right way - with a smile!","fullyFundedDate":1753976062534,"projectUrl":"project/starting-our-year-the-right-way/9440682/","projectTitle":"Starting Our Year the Right Way!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"},{"teacherId":4059880,"projectId":9647524,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our Calm & Cozy Classroom a reality. Because of your generosity, my students now learn in a space that feels safe, welcoming, and peaceful—something every child deserves.\r\n\r\nWe use our new classroom rug every day for morning meetings, read-alouds, math talks, and small-group lessons. It has quickly become the heart of our classroom. Instead of sitting on the floor or squeezing into a space that was too small, students now gather comfortably to share ideas, solve problems, and connect with one another. The soft lighting and meditation lamps are used during independent reading, writing time, and transitions. They allow us to keep the room bright enough to learn while avoiding the harshness of fluorescent lights. When students need a moment to reset, we also use the meditation lamps during breathing exercises or quiet reflection.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first walked into the classroom and saw the changes, their reactions said it all. Several students gasped and smiled, and one said, \"It feels like home in here now.\" Others immediately sat on the rug and commented on how calm and cozy the room felt. For many of my students—who come from low-income homes and have experienced stress or trauma—this environment has already made a meaningful difference in how they feel at school.\r\n\r\nYour gift has allowed us to focus not just on academics, but on emotional well-being. As we continue our learning, we will use this space to strengthen classroom community, practice mindfulness, and support students as they work through challenging lessons. Whether we are starting our day together, reading quietly, or taking a moment to breathe and refocus, your support is helping my students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students more than supplies—you gave them comfort, stability, and a classroom that truly feels like theirs.","fullyFundedDate":1757682833325,"projectUrl":"project/bright-futures-ahead/9647524/","projectTitle":"Bright Futures Ahead!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Olson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4059880_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y216&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756059783447","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4059880"},{"teacherId":10228937,"projectId":9659143,"letterContent":"The Harvard Park library has been totally transformed thanks to your generosity! The new rug gives students a clean and comfortable place to sit and listen to reading, as well as to read their own library books. Teachers especially appreciate having a rug with marked space on it to allow for each student to have a defined personal space while still sitting together as a class.\r\n\r\nThe lamp provides just the right about of warm lighting to make the library feel comfortable and inviting. Students love the feeling of sitting on the rug and reading by the lamplight, instead of the big overhead light in that area.\r\n\r\nThe seasonal decor has been very exciting for students and staff alike! I get so many compliments on how festive the library feels with all of the fall decor up. They will be exciting again as I switch over to holiday/winter decor in a few weeks! This added just the right touch to make the library feel \"homey\" and welcoming. Thank you again for your help making this a reality!","fullyFundedDate":1757682835413,"projectUrl":"project/magic-throughout-the-year-creating-a-li/9659143/","projectTitle":"Magic Throughout the Year: Creating a Library for All Seasons","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Turner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10228937_orig.jpg?crop=913,914,x0,y91&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756475824124","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10228937"},{"teacherId":3740667,"projectId":9037655,"letterContent":"Words cannot express my gratitude for donating to my project. Having healthy snacks available to students in the classroom store is one more incentive for them to stay on task and motivated to earn points and rewards. When the snacks arrived my students were delighted and grateful to know that there is a community of people who are always looking out for their needs.\r\n\r\nI could not do what I do without the help of people like you. Most of my students live at poverty level. Many of them do not have the privilege of getting packages to open at their home and knowing that the content was intended for them. Your donations to classrooms like mine not only feeds them physically but emotional as well. You are filling their soul with the knowledge that people in this world are genuinely good and passionate about helping others.","fullyFundedDate":1742303230574,"projectUrl":"project/needing-healthy-snacks-for-the-classroom/9037655/","projectTitle":"Needing Healthy Snacks for the Classroom Store!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dunn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3740667_orig.png?crop=1910,1911,x509,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752267093532","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dunn-harvardpark"},{"teacherId":3740667,"projectId":9125470,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for the room dividers for the classroom! What a blessing it is to have those in class. I have a wonderful group of kids; however they can be very chatty and social at times. The dividers allow a barrier between them during testing times or when they need to get work completed. \r\n\r\nI am grateful to you for donating your hard-earned money to my project. I could not do what I do without your help. My students also want to thank you for your generous donation. Most of them live at poverty level but to know that strangers are thinking of their needs is not wasted on them,","fullyFundedDate":1741027147138,"projectUrl":"project/needing-privacy-desk-dividers/9125470/","projectTitle":"Needing Privacy Desk Dividers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dunn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3740667_orig.png?crop=1910,1911,x509,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752267093532","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dunn-harvardpark"},{"teacherId":841705,"projectId":8736438,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to fund this project! Our fourth graders are loving this recess pack. They are loving having new materials that are only for use by the fourth grade students. Our students look forward to going to recess and having all of these new materials. \r\n\r\nOur students get to choose which items they want to play with. These bags are also helping with some behaviors as well. Getting to select first has been used as a reward. \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you so much for assisting our school with getting this recess pack!","fullyFundedDate":1734099006231,"projectUrl":"project/recess-pack-for-4th-graders/8736438/","projectTitle":"Recess Pack for 4th Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nestler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp841705_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448414045184","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tnestler"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_27018","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":349,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":59,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":53.1,"schoolId":27018,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Harvard Park Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Harvard Park Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/springfield-public-schools-district-186/harvard-park-elementary-school/27018"}