{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highlands Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":10.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9684656,"letterContent":"Your generous donations have provided our TK students with the beginning of many days of exploration and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Art changing our STEM Day to a STEAM Day in TK.\r\n\r\nThe Educational Balance Game and Counting Frog Set will be great for hands-on math practice making earning math fun and interactive. \r\n\r\nThe Mindware Start-Up Circuits and Space Rover Coding Set are perfect for exploring technology and early coding skills. \r\n\r\n The primary and neon color Wikki Stix add a creative touch for art projects, \r\n\r\nand the Engineering Creative Construction Building Blocks will inspire endless building and engineering imagination.\r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate these amazing educational materials—thank you for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757715976085,"projectUrl":"project/stem-day-in-tk/9684656/","projectTitle":"STEM Day in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9259025,"letterContent":"My Transitional Kindergarten students and I are so grateful for your donations to our classroom.\r\n\r\nBeing able to experience different art mediums has brought excitement and energy to not only this project but other end of the year activities.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has allowed for my transitional kindergarteners to create three- dimensional art filed with color, life, dimensions and imagination. It has provided the opportunity for collaborative projects, enhanced fine motor skills and discussions among the students about their visons and the art they have created. These materials are an exciting opportunity for us to experience new mediums.\r\n\r\nSeveral of the students created their own paper dioramas, crowns and cards for their families and each other.\r\n\r\nI can't thank you enough for supporting not only this new opportunity but for allowing my students to experience this activity.","fullyFundedDate":1746573835103,"projectUrl":"project/creating-like-eric-carle-take-2/9259025/","projectTitle":"Creating Like Eric Carle Take 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9185664,"letterContent":"I am so very grateful for your generous donations to my TK class.\r\n\r\nThe hands-on opportunities with the Living Things Magnetic Activity Tins and Insect Lore Products Life Cycle Figurines provide us opportunities to engage in life-cycle conversations and learning with manipulatives. A necessary tool for learning at this young age. Your donations give us the opportunity to learn to sort with the self -checking activity that is so important to learning and mastery of skills.\r\n\r\nThe Science Can Solar System and Marble Run Toy allows us endless opportunities to experience the engineering and science strands of STEM. \r\n\r\nThe Preschool Puzzle Library provides us critical thinking and reasoning opportunities through trial and error all while enhancing our fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nThe Museum gel is a safe medium for hanging our mirrors, giving us time and opportunity to look at ourselves to help us identify the emotions we feel. \r\n\r\nThe laminating sheets provide us a means of saving our amazing art to present tour families.","fullyFundedDate":1746670578656,"projectUrl":"project/benefitting-brain-and-body-in-tk/9185664/","projectTitle":"Benefitting Brain and Body in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9612427,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Because of you, our classroom has been transformed into a more calming and welcoming space.\r\n\r\nThe addition of the calming bubble fish tube has been an incredible sensory tool for our students. Its gentle bubbles, soft light, and floating fish create a soothing effect that helps students regulate their emotions and refocus during the day. It's quickly become a favorite spot in the room!\r\n\r\nThe dimmable lamps have also made a big difference. Being able to adjust the lighting throughout the classroom allows us to create a more peaceful, focused environment that supports a variety of learning needs—especially for students who are sensitive to bright or harsh lighting.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has directly impacted our daily classroom experience in such a positive way. Thank you for investing in our students' well-being and success.","fullyFundedDate":1755740673488,"projectUrl":"project/peaceful-beginnings-creating-calm-in-tk/9612427/","projectTitle":"Peaceful Beginnings: Creating Calm in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9057754,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Because of you, our classroom now has a wonderful new play mailbox, envelopes, and a collection of engaging read-aloud picture books all about mail.\r\n\r\nYour kindness is helping bring meaningful play and literacy together in a fun and imaginative way. The students are already excited to \"send letters\" to each other, explore the world of mail, and dive into stories that spark curiosity and joy. These materials are not just tools—they're opportunities for connection, learning, and creativity.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your contribution. You've made a real difference in our classroom, and your support will continue to inspire our young learners every day.","fullyFundedDate":1743181911888,"projectUrl":"project/mighty-mail/9057754/","projectTitle":"Mighty Mail","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9260758,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly grateful for your support—because of you, our classroom received amazing sensory sand, fun sand molds, and a much-needed laminator! These resources have already made a meaningful impact on our learning environment, and I'd love to share how.\r\n\r\nThe moment my students saw the sensory sand and molds, their eyes lit up with excitement. It didn't take long before they were digging in—literally! One student who normally has a hard time engaging during center time spent nearly 30 focused minutes building letters with the molds and shaping small objects out of the sand. It was a moment of pure joy and concentration.\r\n\r\nThe laminator has been a total game-changer! We've used it to create durable, reusable task cards, visual schedules, emotion check-ins, and even name tags for the sensory center. It's helping us create materials that will last all year—and be used again and again.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our classroom is not only more fun—it's more supportive, inclusive, and engaging. Thank you for giving us the tools to create meaningful learning experiences every day!","fullyFundedDate":1746479112973,"projectUrl":"project/stand-out-sensory-stations/9260758/","projectTitle":"Stand Out Sensory Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":602233,"projectId":9244791,"letterContent":"It is so wonderful to end the year with new books! Everyone had a chance to read one last book before the year ended. Many were highly recommended for others to read. They wrote up recommendations for my class this year. And now they have become my new books for my new group of students. My new group is just as eager to read so I am anxious to hear what they think of the new books. It is just so nice to have great books to offer to the kids. Whatever gets kids excited to read! Can't wait to get more new books!","fullyFundedDate":1744209363022,"projectUrl":"project/one-more-book/9244791/","projectTitle":"One More Book","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Torrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/l-torrez"},{"teacherId":4908813,"projectId":9125969,"letterContent":"Words are not enough to express how much this project helped my students get real hands on experiences as they learned about nature, springtime, flowers and insects. They had a blast pretending to be gardeners wearing garden gloves and pretending to harvest their vegestables and fruits to bring to the farmers market. \r\n\r\nThey really enjoyed wearing the insect costumes (butterfly, bumble bee and ladybug) with wings and antennas. It was e tea to fun when one student presented to be the insect explorer and used his net to \"catch\" the bugs. They then loved looking at and leaning up close details about various insects with the insect x-ray cards and fossilized insect stones with magnifying glasses. \r\n\r\nWith the support of the Donors Choose community I was able to really expend my lessons with hands on experiences and imagination. My students and myself are so grateful for all the support you have all provided to our learning through play and exploration.","fullyFundedDate":1742926937385,"projectUrl":"project/springtime-play/9125969/","projectTitle":"Springtime Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Noeth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4908813_orig.jpg?crop=491,491,x0,y96&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725239179300","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4908813"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":8916800,"letterContent":"Our 24 transitional kindergarteners' excitement with our new ABC carpet has not diminished since \"opening\". the very mysterious package. \r\nAs a class we were quite \"puzzled\" at how this package could possibly be our new carpet. The conversations we had as a class trying our best to decide how the pictures we had seen of our new carpet could be rolled into such a small roll added a dimension to our adventures of unpacking that I truly cherished. \r\nThe excitement we felt as we opened and unwrapped this great gift from the donor choose community was unmatched by anything we had experienced this year. The students watched me carefully cut open the packaging, as a class we unrolled and looked at our beautiful, colorful, clean, huge new carpet and the students excitedly took turns sitting on all of the letters and icons at the corners. Not a square went unnoticed. We began moving our furniture back so we could decide the best placement for our new carpet. \r\nThis new carpet has provided a welcoming, safe, clean and engaging new area for my TK students to learn, talk and share. We love having the space to sit in a square by ourselves if that is our need for the moment but even more, we love inviting others to share our space especially if we have noticed one of our friends having a particularly difficult day filled with big emotions. \r\nOur new carpet has given us opportunities to learn on an engaging level . We have created games on rainy days with the letters of the carpet, built lifesize STEM creations with materials in collaborative groups, enjoyed flashlight Friday \"reading' with classmates and had plenty of space to learn during the whole group time.\r\nMany, many thanks to the Donors Choose Community,","fullyFundedDate":1737000433983,"projectUrl":"project/abcarpet-for-tk/8916800/","projectTitle":"ABCarpet for Tk!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":2088058,"projectId":8857078,"letterContent":"I was so excited to see people were donating to our Graphic Novel Project, and that it was funded so quickly. Once it was funded, I told students I ordered more graphic novels and we were all excited and anxious to receive the books.\r\n Once the books arrived, it took a couple of weeks to process them and get them on the shelves. I decided to highlight the new books by placing them separately, showing all the titles face out. I planned on leaving the display up for a couple of weeks, so they would all get checked out, but in two days all but two of the books were checked out!\r\n The books get checked out as soon as they are returned. I even have a wait list for some popular titles.\r\n Thank you all for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1733334802170,"projectUrl":"project/reading-graphic-novels/8857078/","projectTitle":"Reading Graphic Novels","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carrasco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2088058"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":8987487,"letterContent":"My students were ecstatic when I told them we had a fourth DonorsChoose project funded before we left for the winter break!\r\n\r\nEvery day we have rotation stations in our classroom where we set up different activities or jobs to complete at each table. These counters have been so great to use for number practice and counting. They absolutely love the peppermint candy ones! Now that we are in February we switched to the colorful heart counters. Its amazing how something as simple as these themed counter can make math so much more fun.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you again for your commitment to early education through your donations.","fullyFundedDate":1733762400552,"projectUrl":"project/123-count-with-me/8987487/","projectTitle":"123 Count With Me!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":8725426,"letterContent":"This was the third project funded in one week and we were all celebrating BIG when we heard the news!\r\n\r\nMy students absolutely love building with the Mangatiles sets. From artic, jungle and farm animals, to dinosaurs and construction, there is literally something for everyone. Everyday my students are asking if they can play with these sets during choice time. I love seeing how engaged they are when they play with these Mangatile playsets. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your commitment to early education through your donations.","fullyFundedDate":1733279759734,"projectUrl":"project/magical-magna-tile-sets-for-our-tk-wonde/8725426/","projectTitle":"Magical Magna-Tile Sets for Our TK Wonderland","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4135","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":502,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":13,"percentAsian":17,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"20.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":90.0,"schoolId":4135,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highlands Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highlands Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/mount-diablo-unified-school-district/highlands-elementary-school/4135"}