{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highland Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10189942,"projectId":9624960,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support of \"Visual Learning,\" my first graders now have paper charts, markers, and other hands-on materials to help them learn in a way that makes sense for them. Before this project, we didn't have these resources, and it was challenging to support students who learn best visually. With the new materials, my students can organize data, create charts, and see concepts come to life. One special moment was when they worked in small groups to make a visual graph of our classroom data—they were so engaged and excited to show their charts to the class.\r\n\r\nWhen they first saw the new materials, their faces lit up with curiosity and enthusiasm. Students who sometimes struggle to focus or understand abstract ideas were instantly more confident because they could see and manipulate the learning tools themselves. Your support has truly made math and data more accessible for all my students, especially those who are visual learners.\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue using these materials to explore patterns, measurement, and data interpretation. Students will collect and organize information, compare results, and discuss what they notice in their charts. This hands-on, visual approach is helping them build confidence, understand concepts deeply, and enjoy learning in a new way.","fullyFundedDate":1758835103686,"projectUrl":"project/visual-learning/9624960/","projectTitle":"Visual Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Castro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10189942_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755619973321","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mariana-castro"},{"teacherId":10189942,"projectId":9728056,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project, \"Hands-On Math for First Graders.\" Because of you, my students now have meaningful, hands-on materials that are making math more engaging, accessible, and fun every day.\r\n\r\nWe are using these new resources during our math lessons to explore measurement, data, and problem-solving in a concrete way. One special moment was when students worked in small groups to collect and organize real data using the manipulatives. They were excited to touch, move, and sort the materials, and they were able to explain their thinking using math vocabulary like more, less, and same. For many of my students, especially English learners, these tools helped make abstract concepts clear and understandable.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their faces lit up with excitement. They were eager to explore and immediately asked when they could start using them. The hands-on nature of the resources increased their confidence and participation, and students who are usually hesitant to speak were excited to share their ideas.\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue using these materials to deepen our work with data interpretation and measurement. Students will collect information, organize it into tables and graphs, and explain what they notice. These experiences are helping build a strong math foundation while encouraging collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly made a difference in our classroom. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to learn math in a meaningful, hands-on way. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and belief in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758472025462,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-math-for-first-graders/9728056/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Math for First Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Castro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10189942_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755619973321","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mariana-castro"},{"teacherId":10189942,"projectId":9728677,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our mornings in first grade have completely transformed. The new soft-start resources have given my students a calm, inviting way to begin their day, and it truly sets the tone for everything that follows. Instead of rushing in with nerves or morning jitters, they choose a hands-on activity that helps them ease into learning—puzzles, building tools, sensory items, and creative tasks that spark their curiosity.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stands out happened the very first morning the materials arrived. As soon as the bins were opened, my students' faces lit up. A few even gasped and said, \"¿Podemos usar esto todos los días?\" They gathered around the tables, sharing pieces, helping each other build, and talking to their classmates in a way that was calm, excited, and full of collaboration. For some of my students who usually struggle with transitions, this soft start has been life-changing—they begin the day regulated, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nWe are already seeing the difference during our academic blocks. After soft start, students are more willing to take risks, participate, and stay engaged. Our next steps include connecting these morning activities to our writing lessons—students will soon create \"How-To\" books about the things they build or explore during soft start time. They're incredibly excited to turn their creations into stories and share them with classmates.\r\n\r\nYour contribution didn't just provide materials—it created a routine that helps my students feel safe, confident, and ready to shine every single morning. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in their bright futures.","fullyFundedDate":1758847011225,"projectUrl":"project/soft-start-for-bright-minds/9728677/","projectTitle":"Soft Start for Bright Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Castro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10189942_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755619973321","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mariana-castro"},{"teacherId":3800302,"projectId":9528834,"letterContent":"Once again, I thank you for your generosity. Our students have been completely engaged with the new books, which have opened the door to deeper reading skills like analyzing character motivations, identifying themes, and connecting stories to their own lives. In our classroom, reading has become interactive: students annotate, discuss, and even act out scenes to bring the text to life. One student who used to shy away from reading now volunteers to share her interpretations, inspired by the relatable characters in these new stories. These books have transformed reading from a task into an experience, sparking curiosity and confidence in every learner.","fullyFundedDate":1755725949211,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-young-minds-with-diverse-histo/9528834/","projectTitle":"Expanding Young Minds With Diverse Historical and Contemporary Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lajos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3800302_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1526780319635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-lajos"},{"teacherId":7276142,"projectId":9335604,"letterContent":"We have absolutely loved the beautiful library space in the classroom you all helped cultivate!\r\n\r\nThe rug is a go-to for these kids. Seeing the joy they have to relax in a calm setting whilst opening a book in their preferred language had brought an increase of JOY each day. These kids long for the moments they can get into a book! \r\n\r\nThere is a metaphorical dive they do , which I take such delight in witnessing, because of your generosity. Seeing their imaginations and independence grow is an irreplaceable, memory-making routine in our daily reading blocks now!","fullyFundedDate":1753279153955,"projectUrl":"project/new-blue-green-reading-tranquility/9335604/","projectTitle":"New Blue & Green - Reading Tranquility!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7276142_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641926450227","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7276142"},{"teacherId":4523314,"projectId":9281965,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been filled with laughter, joy, and lots of reading! The new Piggie and Elephant books have quickly become a class favorite. These texts are perfect for helping first graders develop early reading skills—like recognizing sight words, using expression while reading dialogue, and understanding how characters' feelings change throughout a story. Students are also learning how to make predictions, retell stories in order, and notice punctuation that tells them how a character is speaking.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is an exciting, interactive time. Students often sit together on the carpet with a partner, taking turns reading the voices of Piggie and Gerald. We talk about what makes the characters good friends, and how their emotions are shown through words and pictures. During small-group reading, students point out patterns, rhymes, and silly surprises in the stories—all while building confidence as readers.\r\n\r\nSeveral of my reluctant readers have truly blossomed with these books. One student who used to avoid reading time now proudly volunteers to read Piggie's part to the class, while another practices Gerald's expressive \"voice\" every day. The humor, repetition, and friendship themes make these stories irresistible, and they've helped my students fall in love with reading. Your gift didn't just add books to our shelves—it created daily moments of joy, connection, and growth for young readers.","fullyFundedDate":1755742905864,"projectUrl":"project/readers-in-training-adventures-with-pig/9281965/","projectTitle":"Readers in Training: Adventures with Piggie and Elephant!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Michel Horta","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4523314_orig.jpg?crop=409,409,x1176,y436&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718212338028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4523314"},{"teacherId":4523314,"projectId":9291254,"letterContent":"When our new math manipulative sets arrived, my students were absolutely thrilled. Their eyes lit up as they opened their individual boxes and discovered colorful counters, cubes, and number tools that they could finally call their own. We began using the resources right away during our daily math lessons, and I noticed an immediate change: students were more eager to participate, took more risks in solving problems, and were able to explain their thinking more clearly because they had tangible objects in front of them.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments came during a recent unit on subtraction. Students used the manipulatives to \"act out\" story problems and then record their answers. I saw hesitant learners suddenly grow confident as they moved pieces around, counted, and compared numbers. The manipulatives turned an abstract skill into something concrete and fun. Our classroom buzzed with excitement and collaboration, and the students proudly shared their solutions with one another.\r\n\r\nNext, we're moving into a unit on place value and problem-solving, and these manipulatives will continue to be our go-to tool. We're planning math centers where students will rotate through hands-on activities using the new materials. This project has not only strengthened their math skills but also fostered independence, curiosity, and teamwork. Thanks to your generosity, math time has become one of the most exciting parts of our day, and my students are developing a deeper love for learning that will last beyond this year.","fullyFundedDate":1746466661335,"projectUrl":"project/math-in-their-hands-building-strong-fir/9291254/","projectTitle":"Math in Their Hands: Building Strong First Grade Mathematicians!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Michel Horta","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4523314_orig.jpg?crop=409,409,x1176,y436&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718212338028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4523314"},{"teacherId":4523314,"projectId":9161811,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our first graders now explore geometry with hands-on excitement. We've been using the new geometric shapes to build and compare 2-D and 3-D figures, sort by attributes, and create models of familiar objects. When the boxes arrived, students gasped and immediately began building towers, houses, and rocket ships—turning math time into joyful discovery. These materials have strengthened their vocabulary, spatial reasoning, and teamwork. Our next step is to launch a \"Shape Museum,\" where each student will design a structure and explain its geometric properties, showcasing how math lives all around us.","fullyFundedDate":1746466540568,"projectUrl":"project/geometric-shapes-needed-for-math/9161811/","projectTitle":"Geometric Shapes Needed for Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Michel Horta","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4523314_orig.jpg?crop=409,409,x1176,y436&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718212338028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4523314"},{"teacherId":5022765,"projectId":8925905,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous funding of Cubelets for our classroom. Your gift arrived right when we needed it most—and it has already begun to transform learning for my students in profound ways.\r\n\r\nThese Cubelets are doing more than engaging our students—they're empowering them to:\r\n\r\nDevelop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they tinker, troubleshoot, and iterate on their designs.\r\n\r\nExperience the joy of tangible creation, giving even our most hesitant learners a chance to shine and contribute.\r\n\r\nBuild collaboration and communication, as students explain their designs, reflect on what worked (or didn't), and encourage each other.\r\n\r\nStrengthen foundational STEM understanding—exploring cause and effect, inputs and outputs, and basic programming logic in a tactile, memorable way.","fullyFundedDate":1741351507036,"projectUrl":"project/coding-robots-will-boost-learning-with-s/8925905/","projectTitle":"Coding Robots will boost learning with STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bach","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5022765_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1512571240051","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5022765"},{"teacherId":7276142,"projectId":9056400,"letterContent":"These last weeks of the school year have flown and been so much easier and cleaner with your support! \r\nThank you for the sanitizing material; students are learning why it is important to care for and learn in an organized classroom.\r\nThe tape has hung some beautiful anchor charts and student work. The markers and bags have labeled their items in an individualized fashion.\r\nThe desks are looking much better than before , and our walls are evidencing their new knowledge on beautiful poster paper!!\r\nWhat a blessing to see their learning in action through your donations.","fullyFundedDate":1740331130753,"projectUrl":"project/write-swipe-and-hang/9056400/","projectTitle":"Write, Swipe, and Hang","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7276142_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641926450227","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7276142"},{"teacherId":3800302,"projectId":9018835,"letterContent":"The donation of the drawing pads will have a meaningful and lasting impact on my students' learning experience. These tools will help bring math and writing to life in a hands-on, creative way. Students will be able to visualize and sketch out math concepts like geometry, fractions, and data representation with more clarity, deepening their understanding. In writing, the drawing pads will support brainstorming, planning, and organizing ideas, especially for students who benefit from visual thinking. \r\n\r\nThis donation not only enhances engagement but also supports multiple learning styles, helping all students participate more confidently and meaningfully. \r\n\r\nThank you for making a difference in their education!","fullyFundedDate":1742951569012,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-math-problem-solving-through-w/9018835/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Math Problem-Solving Through Writing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lajos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3800302_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1526780319635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-lajos"},{"teacherId":9839467,"projectId":8948254,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your generous contribution. Thanks to your support, I now have the ability to connect with parents in a more meaningful and impactful way through pictures and words.\r\n\r\nYour donation is not only making communication easier but also helping to bridge the gap between families, allowing them to stay more connected and informed. Your contributions have allowed technology in our classroom and allows parents to connect through an ap. This would not have been possible without your kindness and generosity.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for making this possible. Your support is truly appreciated, and it makes a world of difference.","fullyFundedDate":1733242544930,"projectUrl":"project/communication-with-parents-on-purpose/8948254/","projectTitle":"Communication With Parents on Purpose!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serbick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9839467"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_27132","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":562,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":9,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":76,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"18.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":77.4,"schoolId":27132,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highland Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highland Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/elgin-school-district-u-46/highland-elementary-school/27132"}