{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Hugh Mercer Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":23.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7383830,"projectId":9249475,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. Your kindness and support mean the world to us and will make a real difference in helping us create a needed Maker Space for students at our school. We are so grateful to have people like you who believe in what we are doing and are willing to stand beside us.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, we can continue moving forward with hope and purpose. Your generosity not only helps meet today's needs but also encourages and inspires us to keep working hard toward our goals of updating our library and making it a safe space for students. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and can't thank you enough for being part of this journey with us.","fullyFundedDate":1749139692383,"projectUrl":"project/bring-exploration-to-our-library/9249475/","projectTitle":"Bring Exploration to Our Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Garman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7383830_orig.png?crop=960,960,x0,y243&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744216251343","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7383830"},{"teacherId":9912034,"projectId":9198559,"letterContent":"I cannot express how much the books are increasing the students enthusiasm and participation in art projects. I am beginning every class (K-5) with a read a loud. It slows the pace down and help engage the students, it also gives them time to think about and plan their project steps, so that the outcome is more meaningful and self expressive. Each book I was gifted connects with an art project I have written, but it also allows me to connect the art project with a topic being taught in the classroom at the same time. \r\n\r\nKindergarteners right now, are learning about community. In the art room, they are drawing the skyline of their community, including buildings, shops, parks, and community activities that they value. At the beginning of the project I read Meet The Artist: Peter Blake. His artwork will help us discuss imagery, community connection and color.\r\n\r\nFifth graders are working on a pop art project so we have read Meet The Artist: Andy Warhol. The discussion on color and repetitive images helped students understand that when they feel confident drawing one image, they can repeat it and change color, such as his Campbells Soup Can pieces.\r\n\r\nWhen students finish a project before others and have cleaned up, I have a quiet space for them to be. This 'library' is a favorite spot and I often find students reading through the art books (they may also color).","fullyFundedDate":1744219828154,"projectUrl":"project/a-library-fit-for-young-artists/9198559/","projectTitle":"A Library Fit for Young Artists!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Muir","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9912034_orig.jpg?crop=324,324,x317,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758380911380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9912034"},{"teacherId":9904833,"projectId":9297244,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping out my class send off the school year with a little more joy.\r\nWe are grateful that we were able to give every student a book to read over the summer. As we are a title 1 school, a lot of our families don't have a lot of extra money to spend on little things like books and tools.\r\n\r\nMy students were very happy to receive such presents and be able to use them over the summer. I have had a lot of my families reach out saying thank you for your kindness. Just looking at their faces can show you just how much they appreciate this.","fullyFundedDate":1746783871868,"projectUrl":"project/summer-gifts/9297244/","projectTitle":"Summer Gifts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rogers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9904833"},{"teacherId":9612015,"projectId":9283795,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us end our school year on such a bright and joyful note! Because of your generous support, our second-grade class celebrated with a fun and unforgettable glow party—and it was everything we hoped it would be and more!\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the lights dimmed and the glow sticks lit up, the room was filled with laughter, dancing, and pure excitement. For many of my students, this was a truly special experience they'll remember for a long time. It was a moment of joy, celebration, and community after a year of hard work, learning, and growth. When other classes walked down the hallway moving to lunch or recess, they stopped and popped their heads into \"Club Lannon,\" exclaiming how lucky my students were and what a fantastic teacher I was. My students ARE fortunate; they are lucky to have amazing, caring people out there who want them to have fun!\r\n\r\nThe glow party gave my students a chance just to be kids, celebrating their accomplishments, friendships, and all the milestones they've reached this year. It also reminded them that their effort and positivity are worth recognizing in fun and meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nThank you for bringing light—literally and figuratively—into our classroom. Your kindness made a difference, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1746546316628,"projectUrl":"project/let-the-path-to-third-grade-glow/9283795/","projectTitle":"Let The Path To Third Grade Glow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lannon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9612015_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739026179846","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mslannonteaches"},{"teacherId":9612015,"projectId":9229570,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible support of our classroom book project! Because of your kindness, my second graders now have access to a beautiful variety of books that spark their curiosity, expand their imaginations, and help them grow as confident readers.\r\n\r\nWhen the books arrived, the excitement in our classroom was unforgettable—students gathered around the boxes like it was a holiday morning! Many immediately spotted characters they recognized or topics they were excited to explore. Some even said, \"This is the best day ever!\"\r\n\r\nThese books have already made a big difference. Students are more eager to read during independent reading time, and I've seen stronger engagement, better comprehension, and more thoughtful discussions during our literacy block. For some of my students, these are the first books they've truly connected with—and that's powerful.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped us create a classroom where reading is not just something we have to do—it's something we love to do. Thank you for giving me back my faith in strangers, believing in our learners, and helping us build a stronger foundation for their future.","fullyFundedDate":1744393366562,"projectUrl":"project/adventures-in-reading-filling-shelves/9229570/","projectTitle":"Adventures in Reading: Filling Shelves, Filling Dreams","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lannon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9612015_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739026179846","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mslannonteaches"},{"teacherId":9912034,"projectId":9088093,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough. My students were able to finish the year creating artwork with paint sticks and place them on the new drying rack to dry flat and safely before stored until their next class. I was able to cut papers to a variety of sizes to accommodate different grade levels and projects.\r\n\r\nThe tempera paint sticks were a new material and the students enjoyed experimenting with them, and I enjoyed hearing their delight at the rich colors and smoothness of the color application.\r\n\r\nThe drying rack was easy to assemble, and even easier to place artwork of any size flat onto the racks to dry. Even the younger students were able to place their own work on the racks, giving an extra sense of accomplishment to the project.\r\nOver the summer I will spend some time in the art room cutting paper for next year, and know that the new cutter will shorten the time it takes, as well as make the job more pleasant and less of a chore.","fullyFundedDate":1739375505843,"projectUrl":"project/art-materials-to-spark-creativity-in-eve/9088093/","projectTitle":"Art Materials to Spark Creativity in Every Child","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Muir","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9912034_orig.jpg?crop=324,324,x317,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758380911380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9912034"},{"teacherId":7873621,"projectId":9007442,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our math center! \r\nWe have seen increased student engagement. The ability to write, erase, and revise their work so easily has encouraged a growth mindset and made learning more interactive and fun. It's amazing to see them excited to grab a marker and dive into problem-solving. The Expo markers allows each student to have a more dynamic learning environment. The PlayDoh has been used for hands-on learning for fraction concepts. \r\nThank you again for your support! We are so grateful for your partnership.","fullyFundedDate":1736969216109,"projectUrl":"project/math-learning-center/9007442/","projectTitle":"Math Learning Center","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Watkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7873621"},{"teacherId":9612015,"projectId":9105327,"letterContent":"You can't imagine the excitement my students showed when these materials arrived. Any time there is a box that arrives for me, there is instant curiosity as to what is inside. When I told them it was new science materials to help us with our learning, the natural question was \"What did we get?\" As I was unpacking the materials, the squeals of delight and questions about what some of the items were arrived. It was a blast for me to watch their little faces light up. \r\n\r\nThese materials arrived just as we were doing our plant unit, whch was fortuitous. I opened that set of items from Lakeshore first. We use the plant box for our unit, and it was so much fun for them. They got to work using magnifying glasses on everything they could find. This still happens! They ask if they can bring them outrside as we have a student garden. They like looking at the bugs up close, and seeing the pieces of the plant that are usually missed. \r\n\r\nLastly, we began learning about engineering using the K'nex set. This is a huge hit as well. I combined this with the motion box from the Lakeshore set, and the magnet set that was purchased. We did a small project about making bridges using everyday materials and the K'nex set. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did.","fullyFundedDate":1739379615981,"projectUrl":"project/headline-chemistry-lab-says-im-out-of/9105327/","projectTitle":"Headline: Chemistry Lab Says, I’m Out of My Element","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lannon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9612015_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739026179846","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mslannonteaches"},{"teacherId":4930223,"projectId":9120397,"letterContent":"My students and I have created a \"cozy calming corner\" where they can sit, think, write, read, and express themselves without harming others or being harmed. Sometimes they get emotional and hurt and my not be able to talk, so saying \"Cozy-calm\" gets them moving in the right direction. \r\nWith the plush toys we received, my students express their mood, they write about the situation, the think of what happened and what they could do better, and they (hopefully) can create a game plan of prevention and better responses. \r\nMy class has goals and they adore all the new support tools.","fullyFundedDate":1739986816323,"projectUrl":"project/emotional-healing/9120397/","projectTitle":"Emotional Healing","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4930223_orig.jpg?crop=180,180,x97,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760362101276","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4930223"},{"teacherId":9808099,"projectId":8888999,"letterContent":"A huge thank you to all of my donors! My students and I use our sound boxes in small groups. This a big help to my ELL students and for students who need more hands on learning. Students love to pick up the items and sort them by letter sound. When students first saw the box they were very curious to see what we would be using them for. They became very excited as we sorted the items and put the sound tubs together. Now each day in small group they ask can we use them. I have noticed a big difference in learning while using the tubs.","fullyFundedDate":1734099437892,"projectUrl":"project/whats-that-sound/8888999/","projectTitle":"What’s that sound?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9808099"},{"teacherId":9808099,"projectId":8988168,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donation of snacks to my \"Snack Time\" cause, I have been able to ensure that every student in my classroom has the energy they need to focus throughout the day. I have integrated these snacks into our classroom routine by offering snacks during our mid-day break, allowing students to recharge and refocus before diving into the rest of their lessons. It has made a clear change in their attention and enthusiasm, especially in the afternoon when energy levels tend to get low and students are hungry.\r\nBeing able to incorporate this time has also allowed me to build a sense of community in the classroom. As students enjoy their snacks, they have informal conversations with one another, strengthening their relationships and fostering a sense of belonging in our classroom. \r\nWhen the snacks first arrived, there was an immediate sense of excitement and appreciation. During our original snack time students would be sad if they did not bring a snack to school. The students' faces lit up as they realized that the snacks were for them. I explained that someone cared enough to donate snacks to help get us through the year. Many of them expressed how happy they were to have a snack during the school day. It was touching to see their appreciation. It's not often that they get a small treat that they get to choose. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and it created a positive atmosphere in the classroom. This moment was a reminder that kindness exists in many forms.","fullyFundedDate":1733611006508,"projectUrl":"project/snack-time/8988168/","projectTitle":"Snack Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9808099"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_34742","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":859,"numTeachers":58,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":12,"percentBlack":31,"percentWhite":20,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":76.7,"schoolId":34742,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Hugh Mercer Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Hugh Mercer Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/fredericksburg-public-school-district/hugh-mercer-elementary-school/34742"}