{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highland Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"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"},{"teacherId":4645969,"projectId":8990785,"letterContent":"What a difference you are making! \r\n\r\nMy students were amazed and grateful for the headphones! They all picked their favorite colors which was exciting for them, and what's best they are taking awesome care of them. \r\n\r\nThey are being able to concentrate when testing and when they have to be \"in the zone\" listening to audio! It has made such a big difference, and I can even see it in their grades/results!\r\n\r\nSo again, thank you for supporting me, my students, and our community. It truly impacts the performance of our students and please know that you are invaluable!","fullyFundedDate":1734554558815,"projectUrl":"project/audio-glowing/8990785/","projectTitle":"Audio Glowing","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jusdado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4645969_orig.jpg?crop=4000,4000,x0,y506&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764769177799","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/me-jusdado"},{"teacherId":5022765,"projectId":8915331,"letterContent":"That's a great start! I can help you polish it a bit. Here's a refined version of your message:\r\n\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students at Highland Elementary School, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks for your generous donation to our STEM classroom. Your support means the world to us!\r\n\r\nThe students are absolutely thrilled to have the chance to work with coding through the mouse and snail characters. It's incredible to see the excitement in their eyes as they code alongside their friends. What's even more rewarding is that they don't realize they're learning to code—they're just having fun playing and exploring.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for making this opportunity possible. Your contribution is helping to foster curiosity and creativity in these young minds, and for that, we are truly grateful.\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1731523981972,"projectUrl":"project/screen-free-coding/8915331/","projectTitle":"Screen-Free Coding","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"}],"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"}