{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Johnson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":60.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9817845,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the bird feeders, owl house, and bee watering stations arrive, their faces absolutely lit up with excitement! They couldn't wait to open each box and start imagining where everything would go in our school garden. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they carefully unpacked the materials, read instructions, and began planning how to attract and support local wildlife. The World of Pollinators book immediately became a classroom favorite — students took turns flipping through its colorful pages, pointing out familiar insects they've seen outside and discovering new ones they now want to protect. That moment of wonder was exactly what I hoped for: my students realizing that they have the power to make a difference for the creatures that share our community.\r\nSince then, we've turned our outdoor space into a small but thriving wildlife sanctuary. Students have worked in teams to install bird feeders, mix seed blends, and plant milkweed to attract butterflies. They proudly refill the feeders and check the bee watering stations each week, keeping observation journals to record every visitor they spot. We've already had our first hummingbird sighting and a small group of monarchs fluttering through the garden! These hands-on experiences have sparked meaningful conversations about habitat loss, conservation, and the role humans play in supporting ecological balance. My students are beginning to see that caring for animals is not just a science lesson—it's an act of service to their community.\r\nOur next steps are to expand the project's impact by sharing what we've learned with others on campus. My students are preparing informational signs for our garden to teach visitors about the local birds, pollinators, and plants we're helping to protect. They're also planning to lead a \"Pollinator Patrol\" activity for younger grades, showing them how to spot bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds safely and respectfully. Through your generosity, my students have transformed from curious learners into dedicated caretakers of the environment. This project has taught them that compassion for animals and service to our community go hand in hand—and that even small hands can make a big difference in the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1761150750665,"projectUrl":"project/the-pollinator-project-students-in-serv/9817845/","projectTitle":"The Pollinator Project: Students in Service to Nature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9844998,"letterContent":"When our garden materials arrived, my students couldn't wait to get their hands in the dirt! Their eyes lit up as we unboxed the wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, and seed trays — suddenly, all the ideas we'd talked about in class felt exciting and real. We immediately started preparing our garden beds, taking turns using the wheelbarrow to move fresh soil and learning how to use each tool safely and responsibly. Students proudly worked together, cheering each other on as they dug, leveled, and planted the first seeds of our new science adventure.\r\nAlready, these resources have transformed our lessons into hands-on investigations. Students are observing plant growth, comparing how different amounts of sunlight and water affect seedlings, and measuring daily changes using rulers and math journals. One group even designed their own experiment to test which spray bottle setting works best for watering delicate sprouts — and they can't wait to present their data! Every garden task becomes an opportunity to ask questions, make predictions, and see science in action.\r\nWe're just getting started, and the excitement is growing right along with our plants. Our next step is to track life cycles from sprout to harvest and explore how our garden supports local ecosystems. My students are taking ownership of our little green space and discovering how their care can help something thrive. Thanks to your generosity, they are not just learning about science and math — they are living it.\r\nThank you for helping us dig into learning and grow our minds!","fullyFundedDate":1760982626253,"projectUrl":"project/digging-into-science-growing-our-minds/9844998/","projectTitle":"Digging Into Science, Growing Our Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9655467,"letterContent":"When our new Cookie Shop materials arrived, my kindergarteners lit up with excitement. They immediately dove into exploring the plush donuts, play mixers, and cash registers, eager to take on the roles of bakers, cashiers, and customers. Within minutes, our classroom transformed into a bustling little bakery. One moment that truly stood out was when a group of students worked together to \"price\" their pretend cookies on the chalkboard easel—carefully counting out Kindness Dollars and discussing whether their cookies should cost two or three. It was the first time I'd heard five-year-olds debate the value of goods and services with such seriousness and pride!\r\n\r\nThese resources have allowed us to bring financial literacy to life through play, community, and creativity. Students are earning Kindness Dollars every day by spotting acts of care in our classroom, and they love tracking their earnings on our easel pads. The books on kindness have sparked thoughtful conversations about how money can help us share, help others, and make our community better. I've watched students encourage their classmates, help clean up without being asked, and celebrate each other's achievements—all because they feel invested in this project and empowered by the choices they can make with the dollars they earn.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be taking our learning from pretend play to the real world. Students will soon be mixing, baking, decorating, and packaging actual cookies to sell at our very own Kindness Shop. They'll greet real customers, make real purchases using their Kindness Dollars, and experience firsthand what it means to earn, spend, and work together. Thanks to your generosity, my students are not only building early financial literacy skills but also growing into thoughtful, empathetic community members. Your support brought this joyful project to life, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758342426366,"projectUrl":"project/kindness-cookies-financial-literacy/9655467/","projectTitle":"Kindness + Cookies = Financial Literacy for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":6808698,"projectId":9328499,"letterContent":"Our students have been accessing their science curriculum items from the cart. It is set up in our STEM Center and run by an amazing paraprofessional. She readily engages them with the materials and encourages the students to make choices for science. The students are able to gesture to the items they want. A particularly fun moment was when a student looked expectantly to the rock stacking items while reaching for them. He was communicating his want to explore the activity while also respecting the class expectation that students check first.\r\n\r\nThe next step with the cart is to teach our students how to use the chart to sort pictures of cold or hot items for our Fall theme.\r\n\r\nI envision many opportunities for my students to explore science (and math too!) by having this cart loaded with fun, engaging materials.","fullyFundedDate":1756432633916,"projectUrl":"project/science-for-all/9328499/","projectTitle":"Science for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6808698_orig.jpg?crop=1783,1783,x301,y872&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1640709777126","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6808698"},{"teacherId":8077034,"projectId":9495903,"letterContent":"The new novels, Matilda and The One and Only Ivan, have opened up so many opportunities for my students to develop key reading skills. Through these texts, we've worked on the \"Keys to Reading\" which are comprehension strategies such as making inferences, visualizing, and monitoring our understanding. The stories also provide rich vocabulary that we discuss and use in context, helping all students expand their language and reading skills. These books have allowed students to connect reading strategies to meaningful lessons about courage, friendship, and empathy.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is a shared and interactive experience. Every student has their own copy of the novel, which allows them to follow along, annotate, and refer back to the text during comprehension checks. We read together in a variety of ways, sometimes as a whole group, sometimes with partners, and sometimes independently. Having a personal copy makes it possible for every student to fully participate, especially my English learners, who benefit from being able to see, hear, and revisit the text at their own pace. This has helped them feel more confident contributing to discussions and understanding key vocabulary.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who were previously hesitant readers are now more engaged than ever. Many have shared that they enjoy reading along and ask throughout the day, \"When are we reading Matilda?\" It has been great to see how engaged and excited they are! These novels have truly helped create a classroom community of readers who are excited to learn and talk about books together.","fullyFundedDate":1755751276505,"projectUrl":"project/reading-to-write-writing-to-shine/9495903/","projectTitle":"Reading to Write, Writing to Shine","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villalobos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8077034_orig.jpg?crop=833,833,x1057,y1327&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632108072352","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8077034"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9791247,"letterContent":"When the new garden supplies arrived, my students could hardly contain their excitement. They eagerly gathered around the boxes, guessing what each item might be and brainstorming how we would use them. Setting up the vertical raised garden bed became a team effort—students took turns scooping fresh potting soil, carefully planting seeds, and proudly labeling each new crop. They were amazed to learn how compost works, watching as our bin began transforming everyday scraps into rich, healthy soil. Each day, they check on the garden's progress, take notes in their observation journals, and celebrate every sprout that pushes through the soil. What began as a simple project has blossomed into a hands-on science lab where curiosity grows right alongside the plants.\r\nOur garden has become much more than a place to grow vegetables—it's a space where students learn responsibility, teamwork, and respect for the environment. They now understand that food doesn't just come from a store; it starts with healthy soil and careful care. By tending to their plants and monitoring the compost cycle, they are seeing sustainability in action and recognizing how their efforts impact the world around them. These new materials have helped my students make meaningful connections between science lessons, nutrition, and community, and they take great pride in knowing they are helping something grow from seed to harvest. Our next step is to use our compost to enrich the garden beds and share our produce with other classes, spreading both the harvest and the joy of learning throughout our school.","fullyFundedDate":1760324804171,"projectUrl":"project/harvesting-learning-through-sustainabili/9791247/","projectTitle":"Harvesting Learning Through Sustainability","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9791890,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our young gardeners are already putting their new tools to work in our school garden! The moment the pruning shears, hose, and fresh potting soil arrived, excitement filled the room — students immediately began planning which winter vegetables to plant first. They eagerly worked together to fill our beds with nutrient-rich soil and carefully decided where to place broccoli, onions, cabbage, and peas so each plant would have space to thrive. For many of them, using real gardening tools for the first time made them feel like true botanists!\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching a group of students gently water their newly planted seeds using the hose and sprayer. They took turns adjusting the nozzle settings and proudly explained to each other why seedlings need just the right amount of water. They are learning how responsible care leads to healthy growth — and the joy on their faces when they spot the first green shoots is unforgettable.\r\n\r\nYour donation did more than provide supplies — you gave my students a hands-on learning environment where curiosity, teamwork, and confidence can grow. Over the next few weeks, they'll continue observing plant life cycles, tracking growth in their garden journals, and celebrating each milestone from sprout to harvest. We can't wait to share more updates as our winter vegetables flourish. Thank you for believing in our students and helping nourish both their minds and our garden!","fullyFundedDate":1759771280237,"projectUrl":"project/growing-minds-and-vegetables-in-our-scho/9791890/","projectTitle":"Growing Minds and Vegetables in Our School Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9750682,"letterContent":"When the boxes of supplies arrived, my students' excitement filled the classroom! They could hardly wait to open everything and get started. The raised beds, soil, and seeds instantly sparked conversations about what we would grow, how tall the plants might get, and what kinds of math and science questions we could explore together. Watching their faces light up as they realized these materials were theirs to use was such a powerful moment.\r\nSince then, my students have been working together to assemble the raised beds, measure out soil, and carefully plant the first seeds. Already, they are applying math skills by measuring spacing and tracking plant growth, while also exploring science concepts like life cycles, seasonal changes, and photosynthesis. One group even started a \"plant journal,\" where they record their observations and sketch what they see each day—a project completely inspired by their own curiosity!\r\nNext, my students will continue caring for the plants as they grow and begin charting their data over time. We'll compare which vegetables sprout the fastest, which grow tallest, and how the winter weather affects our garden. These activities are helping them see that science and math aren't just subjects in a book—they are living, breathing parts of the world around them. Thanks to your generosity, my students are developing responsibility, teamwork, and a deep sense of wonder. Your gift has truly planted the seeds for meaningful, lasting learning.","fullyFundedDate":1758759763247,"projectUrl":"project/harvesting-knowledge-in-raised-beds/9750682/","projectTitle":"Harvesting Knowledge in Raised Beds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9613920,"letterContent":"Impact Statement:\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the boxes of snacks arrive, their eyes lit up with excitement! They couldn't believe that something as fun and familiar as their favorite treats—Cheez-Its, Goldfish, popcorn, and cookies—could become part of our math lessons. From the very first activity, they were eager to explore, count, sort, and compare, all while learning through hands-on, meaningful experiences. These resources made math feel playful and approachable, helping even my most hesitant learners participate with confidence and joy.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, students have used these snacks to explore concepts like addition, subtraction, and even early multiplication. They've sorted fruit snacks by color, built groups of ten, graphed cookie shapes, and used Goldfish to act out simple story problems. Each activity has strengthened their understanding of number sense and given them the practice they need to make abstract ideas concrete. The best part is watching their faces light up when they realize they've \"done math\" without even feeling like it—it's learning disguised as fun!\r\n\r\nThis project has also extended beyond our classroom walls. Parents have shared that their children are now counting everything at home—snacks at the dinner table, toys on the floor, and even buttons on their shirts! My students are beginning to see that math isn't just something we do in school; it's all around them, in everything they see and do. Thanks to this project, my students are developing a lifelong curiosity for numbers and a sense of confidence that they can be mathematicians.","fullyFundedDate":1755697826152,"projectUrl":"project/snack-time-math-adventures/9613920/","projectTitle":"Snack Time Math Adventures","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9740958,"letterContent":"When our package arrived, my students could hardly wait to see what was inside. The moment they saw the colorful dot stickers, stampers, and shiny new keychains, their excitement filled the room. They immediately began imagining which keychains they wanted to earn first, and we talked about how their effort on digital lessons would help them \"buy\" those items. Their eyes lit up when they realized they would get to keep track of their progress and make choices just like in the real world.\r\n\r\nWe've already begun using the stickers and stampers to celebrate lesson completion, and our classroom economy is officially underway! Each student is earning stamps and stickers that they can \"spend\" on keychains, and the tape has allowed us to proudly display our progress charts where everyone can see them. This system has turned learning into a fun challenge while giving students real practice with saving, budgeting, and decision-making. One of my favorite moments so far was watching a student carefully decide whether to spend their stickers right away or save for a more \"expensive\" keychain—a perfect introduction to financial literacy in action.\r\n\r\nNext, my students will continue to build on this classroom economy by setting personal goals for how they want to earn and spend their stickers. We will be tying these goals into discussions about needs versus wants, saving versus spending, and the importance of making thoughtful financial choices. These lessons, made possible by your generosity, are giving my students the tools to think critically, work hard, and celebrate their achievements in a meaningful way. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to learn in such a fun and powerful way!","fullyFundedDate":1758546594125,"projectUrl":"project/building-financial-literacy/9740958/","projectTitle":"Building Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9742507,"letterContent":"When our garden supplies arrived, my students could hardly contain their excitement. They eagerly gathered around as I unpacked the pots, soil, and seed packets, each one imagining what we might grow together. Many students had never planted anything before, so even filling the pots with soil felt like a brand-new adventure. Their eyes lit up when we opened the seed packets—broccoli, and wildflowers—and they immediately began asking questions about how tall the plants would grow, how much water they would need, and when we might see the very first sprout.\r\n\r\nWe are now using the materials to launch our classroom gardening project, and it has already become a favorite part of our learning. Each student has their own small pot where they planted seeds, and together we are making daily observations, recording measurements, and talking about what plants need in order to thrive. The wildflowers sparked conversations about pollinators, and the broccoli plants gave us a chance to connect science to healthy eating. These hands-on experiences are making STEM concepts come alive in ways that books alone cannot.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to track plant growth over time, creating data charts and predictions about what will happen in the weeks ahead. They are learning not only how to care for living things, but also how to think like scientists—asking questions, making hypotheses, and testing their ideas. Thanks to your generosity, my students are gaining confidence as young scientists and discovering that they, too, can nurture growth and make exciting discoveries right in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1758539216733,"projectUrl":"project/planting-curiosity-and-learning-from-see/9742507/","projectTitle":"Planting Curiosity and Learning from Seed to Flower","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9693871,"letterContent":"When our Keva planks arrived, the excitement in our classroom was immediate and contagious. My Transitional Kindergarteners' eyes lit up as we opened the wooden bin, and they couldn't wait to dive in. The very first day, I watched groups of students work together to build tall towers, bridges, and imaginative designs. Every block that fell was met with giggles, problem-solving conversations, and new ideas for how to make the structure stronger.\r\n\r\nThese planks have quickly become a cornerstone of our STEM center. Students are practicing spatial reasoning, engineering, and perseverance, all while communicating and collaborating with their peers. One of my favorite moments so far was seeing a group of students huddle around a collapsing bridge, encouraging one another to \"try again\" and offering ideas for how to make it stand. They aren't just playing—they are learning the value of teamwork, creativity, and resilience.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to integrate the Keva planks into STEM challenges that connect to our science and math lessons. For example, students will design structures that can hold weight, create patterns that match our math concepts, and even build models to represent stories we read together. Your generous support has given my students a tool that sparks curiosity and purposeful play every single day, and I am so grateful. These experiences are building a foundation of confidence and problem-solving that my students will carry with them far beyond this year.","fullyFundedDate":1757524146910,"projectUrl":"project/engineering-curiosity-one-plank-at-a-tim/9693871/","projectTitle":"Engineering Curiosity One Plank at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36009","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":757,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":14,"percentWhite":23,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"28.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":39.3,"schoolId":36009,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Johnson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Johnson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/cajon-valley-union-school-district/johnson-elementary-school/36009"}