{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highwood Hills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9203429,"projectId":9499664,"letterContent":"This game has sparked an excitement in many of my students to think more about how numbers can work together to make numerical expressions. It has many entry points for my students to play such as simple expressions to complex. They want to play these games when it is their independent practice time in class. It has gotten them to talk to each other and explain their thinking to prove their expressions. These games are great because they require little rules to learn and you are ready to go with solving problems in fun fast pace game. \r\nThese games will grow with them as the year goes on. We have moved into order of operations (PEMDAS) and this can be added into the game to create problems that have many operations to equal the target number. I can't wait to see which children start thinking in such ways.\r\nThank you for seeing the value of game play for learning math.","fullyFundedDate":1755732188830,"projectUrl":"project/making-meaning-out-of-math-with-games/9499664/","projectTitle":"Making Meaning Out of Math With Games!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schilling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9203429_orig.jpg?crop=1617,1617,x0,y474&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699061206041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9203429"},{"teacherId":9716479,"projectId":9684852,"letterContent":"I went to begin by thanking you so much from the bottom of our hearts for helping my school out. I went to begin my story by telling you that it was very challenge doing district wide testing in the beginning of the school year. We got new iPads, I got new headphone but that did not connect with the iPads. Then you came along and helped my classroom by buying the adapters for the headphones. My students and families at my school can't thank you enough for all that you did. \r\nMy students and I were so very grateful for donations you gave to buy theses adapters and they have continued to help my students be successful in the day to day activities and independent work. Thanks you for all the support and generosity you gave to me and um 3rd graders.","fullyFundedDate":1757696297312,"projectUrl":"project/usb-c-adapter/9684852/","projectTitle":"USB-C Adapter","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Vyvyan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9716479"},{"teacherId":10171006,"projectId":9579135,"letterContent":"Thank you for the generous donations to purchase materials for our school Maker Space. In the Maker Space, the students follow the Engineering design process to design and create from their imaginations. The chomp saw and button maker have given them ideas and agency to create amazing things. They help them to be independent and be able to create what they are envisioning. \r\n\r\nThe student's eyes lit up the first time that they walked into the Maker Space and realized that they would get to use a real saw! Students immediately started making more and becoming less frustrated. I had planned to share some example projects with the students, but they were not needed. These materials were what the students needed to soar.\r\n\r\nWe are also studying force and motion as part of our Engineering track. We have been looking at the wind and air as a force. The Air Tube and Fort give hands-on examples of air in action. The real-life application allows the students to understand the concepts at a deep level because they are experiencing it not just being told about it.","fullyFundedDate":1757615895418,"projectUrl":"project/making-makers/9579135/","projectTitle":"Making Makers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chisholm","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10171006"},{"teacherId":9203429,"projectId":9279431,"letterContent":"The interests that students show are ever changing and growing as time goes on. What was cool and fun to read one day becomes untouched the next. It is amazing to have so many new books to pick from that are a balance between fiction and nonfiction. \r\nThe books have been an amazing addition to the classroom. Students are excited to have a large variety of books that represent them and are modern. Having access to new books is so important, especially to get them excited about reading. \r\n\r\nThank you for supporting the project to get more books into my students hands that have characters that look like them and their friends.","fullyFundedDate":1746501654837,"projectUrl":"project/representation-matters-i-see-myself-in/9279431/","projectTitle":"Representation Matters: I See Myself in the Books I Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schilling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9203429_orig.jpg?crop=1617,1617,x0,y474&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699061206041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9203429"},{"teacherId":9203429,"projectId":9279221,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping provide an amazing field day to our students. The students absolutely loved getting tattoos, playing water games, blowing bubbles, and getting creative with chalk. The field day was brought to the next level with these additional touches. It gave everyone something special to do and have lasting memories from this day of play. Students of all grades were happy to play water games at the mini pools. They loved to splash others in the water on such a hot day as well. \r\nWe are ready to have another field day with all these great materials and plans on how to improve from our first field day event that we had last year. It was great to see children having a good time and making memories with friends from all grades.","fullyFundedDate":1745790888874,"projectUrl":"project/field-day-relays-races-and-roaring-fun/9279221/","projectTitle":"Field Day Relays, Races, and Roaring Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schilling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9203429_orig.jpg?crop=1617,1617,x0,y474&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699061206041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9203429"},{"teacherId":9223236,"projectId":9168658,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom! Your support helped us bring in theraputty, magnetic dry erase markers, and whiteboards, and they have made a noticeable difference in our daily routines. The theraputty has become an essential tool for students who need to strengthen their hand muscles and improve fine motor skills—it also helps them stay calm and focused during small group lessons. The magnetic dry erase markers and whiteboards have transformed our literacy and math time. Students now eagerly grab their own boards and markers to solve problems, write words, and show their thinking.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, they were thrilled! Several of them immediately started exploring the theraputty, stretching and shaping it while smiling and giggling. During our first lesson with the new whiteboards, students were so engaged that they asked to keep working even after the lesson was done. These simple tools have given students a hands-on, interactive way to learn, and they have built confidence by allowing every student to participate at the same time.\r\n\r\nOur next steps include incorporating the theraputty into daily fine-motor warm-ups and continuing to use the whiteboards for phonics practice, quick math checks, and collaborative activities. These resources will continue to support students in developing focus, strength, and participation. Your donation is helping my students build the skills they need for academic and social success, and we are incredibly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1745846923739,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-learning-classroom-supplies/9168658/","projectTitle":"Empowering Learning: Classroom Supplies for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Siddiqui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9223236"},{"teacherId":9223236,"projectId":9281843,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom project! Your donation made it possible for us to bring a bouncy house to our school, and it has been an incredible addition to our students' learning environment. We are using the bouncy house as part of our movement and sensory breaks, which help students regulate their bodies and refocus on learning. During our first session, the students could hardly contain their excitement—they lined up eagerly, cheering each other on as they took turns. Seeing their faces light up with joy reminded me just how powerful your gift is in creating a positive school experience.\r\n\r\nThe bouncy house has quickly become a favorite part of our day, especially for students who need extra support with self-regulation and building social skills. It has encouraged teamwork, turn-taking, and problem-solving as they decide together how to use the space safely. One special moment was when a student who typically struggles with transitions asked to earn extra bouncy house time as a reward for staying on task. That was a breakthrough moment for him and showed how motivating this resource can be.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue integrating the bouncy house into structured movement breaks and social-emotional lessons. We are also exploring ways to use it as part of goal-setting and positive behavior reinforcement so that students can work toward earning extra time. Your generosity has given our students a fun and engaging way to move their bodies, regulate their emotions, and build stronger peer relationships. We are deeply grateful for your support in making this possible!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1746133771978,"projectUrl":"project/jump-for-joy/9281843/","projectTitle":"Jump for Joy!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Siddiqui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9223236"},{"teacherId":9223236,"projectId":9152991,"letterContent":"When our new Legos and magnetic tiles arrived, my students were filled with excitement and curiosity. Their faces lit up as we opened the boxes, and they immediately started brainstorming what they could build together. The room quickly buzzed with collaboration as students worked in small groups to create houses, bridges, and even imaginary worlds. It was incredible to see every student fully engaged, problem-solving, and sharing ideas with one another.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the Legos and magnetic tiles during our STEM centers and morning meeting time. Students have been practicing important skills such as teamwork, communication, and creative thinking. For example, one group worked together to design a \"city\" with roads and buildings, discussing where to place each piece so that their cars could drive through smoothly. This type of hands-on activity has been a wonderful way to connect learning with play while encouraging students to use critical thinking and engineering skills.\r\n\r\nNext, we plan to extend these activities by introducing challenges, such as building the tallest tower that can stand on its own or creating a structure strong enough to hold a small object. These projects will help students practice persistence and learn how to test and revise their ideas. Your generous donation has brought joy and deeper learning to our classroom — thank you for helping make this possible for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1743100906467,"projectUrl":"project/building-brighter-futures-empowering-st/9152991/","projectTitle":"Building Brighter Futures: Empowering Students with Legos and Magnetic Tiles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Siddiqui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9223236"},{"teacherId":8042814,"projectId":7842169,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of picture books that represent my students! My students have already expressed a lot of interest in their books. They are excited to see characters who look like them, live in different places, and experience a wide variety of cultures and stories.\r\n\r\nThe books help foster the love of reading, build empathy, and broaden their understanding of the world—all so important at this young age. These books will be treasured for years to come and will continue to spark meaningful conversations and connections among my students.","fullyFundedDate":1702082614337,"projectUrl":"project/representative-books-for-our-classroom-l/7842169/","projectTitle":"Representative Books for Our Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Matz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8042814_orig.jpg?crop=1920,1920,x0,y473&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753395037759","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8042814"},{"teacherId":8042814,"projectId":7937152,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous support of my second-grade classroom! Your funding for STEM books and materials is a game-changer for our young learners.\r\n\r\nAt our polytechnic-focused school, we're dedicated to sparking curiosity in engineering, technology, and agriculture from an early age. These new resources will be instrumental in providing our students with hands-on experiences and foundational knowledge, helping them build, explore, and grow. We're so grateful for your commitment to nurturing the innovators of tomorrow!","fullyFundedDate":1697831367809,"projectUrl":"project/stem-books-and-basics/7937152/","projectTitle":"STEM Books and Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Matz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8042814_orig.jpg?crop=1920,1920,x0,y473&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753395037759","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8042814"},{"teacherId":8042814,"projectId":9304398,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping me get these wonderful books for my classroom. I can tell that my Spanish speaking students feels so much more seen and represented. When I showed them the new books that we had gotten, they were so excited for me to add them to my library. They are even more excited to see that they are characters that they love and stories they are familiar with. \r\nOur school has a large population of Spanish speakers and it was a goal of mine to be able to find ways for them to feel more included and connected in their classroom. Your donation made a huge difference in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746674098870,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-spanish-speaking-students/9304398/","projectTitle":"Books for Spanish-Speaking Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Matz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8042814_orig.jpg?crop=1920,1920,x0,y473&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753395037759","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8042814"},{"teacherId":9223236,"projectId":9120264,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project, Building Math Skills Through Play! Your contributions have made a lasting impact in our classroom, and I wanted to share how your kindness has helped transform math learning for my students.\r\n\r\nWhen the new math games arrived, the excitement was unforgettable—students' eyes lit up, and the classroom buzzed with curiosity and joy. They couldn't wait to dive in! One student exclaimed, \"This doesn't feel like math—it's fun!\" That moment alone was a reminder of the power of learning through play.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the new resources during small group instruction and independent centers. One favorite activity has been a collaborative board game that reinforces addition and subtraction. Watching students problem-solve together, explain their thinking, and encourage each other has been incredible. These games are not only strengthening math skills but also building social-emotional growth and confidence.\r\n\r\nCurrently, we're working on place value and early multiplication concepts. With these hands-on materials, students are grasping abstract ideas with concrete support. They're more engaged, taking risks, and even asking to use the games during free time!\r\n\r\nThanks to you, math has become something our students look forward to. The next step is to integrate these games into our weekly math rotations and continue using them to differentiate instruction. Your support is making a real difference—and we are deeply grateful.\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1740762490802,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-young-minds-building-math-skil/9120264/","projectTitle":"Engaging Young Minds: Building Math Skills Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Siddiqui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9223236"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_76110","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":292,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":29,"percentBlack":39,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.0,"schoolId":76110,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highwood Hills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highwood Hills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/highwood-hills-elementary-school/76110"}