{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lavern Gaynor Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":41.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":985671,"projectId":10158447,"letterContent":"At the beginning of the year I had mentioned to my students that we would be adding a Lego station during our STEAM Ahead program. I could tell by the excited reactions that it was going to be a hit, but I could never have anticipated how popular they really would be! \r\n\r\nBoys and girls across all grade levels loved them! It was so exciting to watch them collaborate and help each other. They were so creative!\r\n\r\nI hope to add more this upcoming year because it was so popular, and maybe start challenges like creating an animal habitat or working together to connect two towers.","fullyFundedDate":1773862509782,"projectUrl":"project/building-brains-with-lego/10158447/","projectTitle":"Building Brains with LEGO","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp985671_orig.jpg?crop=1537,1537,x0,y117&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1611601556267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/985671"},{"teacherId":8528502,"projectId":10010628,"letterContent":"Imagine walking into a classroom where students are excitedly sketching designs, building models, creating colorful displays, and eagerly explaining their thinking to one another. Instead of simply completing a worksheet, they are creating something they are proud of and showcases their understanding. That is the learning environment your generosity has helped make possible.\r\nThanks to your support, my students had the opportunity to bring their learning to life through meaningful, hands-on projects. Whether creating dream bedrooms, designing informative posters, or illustrating stories through comic strips, students are applying what they have learned in classroom in creative ways that deepen their understanding. The project materials have encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance as students plan designs, create models, and proudly present their finished work. Rather than memorizing facts, students are using critical thinking and creativity to show their knowledge in authentic ways.\r\nOne student, who had always found math challenging, truly blossomed during our area and perimeter project. Instead of simply solving problems on a worksheet, she used the project materials to design the layout of a dream bedroom, carefully calculating the area and perimeter of each piece. As she measured, revised, and explained her mathematical thinking, her confidence grew with every step. By the end of the project, she proudly presented her work to the class and said, \"I didn't know math could be this fun!\" Moments like these remind me that hands-on learning gives students the opportunity to make meaningful connections and allows students to see themselves as capable, confident learners. Thank you for providing the materials that helped my students learn through creativity, exploration, and discovery.","fullyFundedDate":1768791225356,"projectUrl":"project/creative-minds-need-creative-materials/10010628/","projectTitle":"Creative Minds Need Creative Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8528502_orig.jpg?crop=1037,1037,x269,y60&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768360886877","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8528502"},{"teacherId":8528502,"projectId":10154008,"letterContent":"Imagine a classroom of students who struggle to read cheering and yelling in excitement over a book. Smiles are all around as they grasp their very own copy of a book close to their chest like a precious treasure. A book which they normally may never have picked up. Instead of being scared by the size or level, they eagerly reach for it and dive in. Well, this is the scene you helped create through your generous donation!\r\nIn our classroom, reading is both a personal journey and a shared experience. During the school year, students practiced reading aloud, discussing themes in groups, and writing reflections about what they read. Having a copy of Because of Winn-Dixie at home allows them to carry that love of reading beyond the classroom walls. Several students have already shared how much they enjoy reading on their own at night, while others are reading alongside family members—bringing the lessons of the book into their homes.\r\nOne student in particular, who was often hesitant to read independently, proudly told me she was already halfway through the book within the first week of summer. Seeing her confidence grow is exactly the kind of impact your support makes possible. Thank you for helping our students stay connected to reading and continue building the skills they need to start 5th grade strong.\"","fullyFundedDate":1773862508375,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-a-passion-for-reading/10154008/","projectTitle":"Fostering a Passion for Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8528502_orig.jpg?crop=1037,1037,x269,y60&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768360886877","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8528502"},{"teacherId":1038080,"projectId":10134039,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this special project for my students. For the past two years, I've had the privilege of serving an incredible group of learners as their ESE inclusion teacher. Our school's Leader in Me philosophy — We belong, we learn, we grow, we lead. Together we succeed. — is more than a motto; it's a daily reminder of who my students are becoming. Your generosity has helped reinforce those values in a deeply meaningful way.\r\nThe engaging books, bookmarks, colorful gift bags, and especially the small turtle plushies have brought so much joy. The sea turtle is our school mascot, symbolizing steady progress and resilience — two qualities my students demonstrate daily. These tokens will accompany them into the summer as a reminder that they are valued, capable, and encouraged to continue reading and learning even when school is out.\r\nYour support has done more than provide materials; it has given my students affirmation, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These gifts have already sparked conversations about favorite books, summer reading plans, and personal goals — exactly the kind of empowerment we hope to build in every child.\r\nThank you for touching the hearts of young learners who are working so hard to grow. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on their school year and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1773862508058,"projectUrl":"project/together-we-read-together-we-lead/10134039/","projectTitle":"Together We Read, Together We Lead!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1038080_orig.jpg?crop=1401,1401,x38,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684284209699","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1038080"},{"teacherId":9236465,"projectId":10156755,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our afterschool program and for helping provide student incentives that motivated and encouraged our learners throughout the session. Because of your kindness and investment in our students, 86% of participants made gains on their state assessments! Your support has made a meaningful impact on student success, confidence, and achievement. We truly appreciate your partnership in helping our students thrive.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made a lasting impact on our students' confidence, motivation, and achievement. Thank you for helping us create opportunities that inspire learning and success.","fullyFundedDate":1773685215845,"projectUrl":"project/power-up-after-school-inspiring-attenda/10156755/","projectTitle":"Power Up After School: Inspiring Attendance Through Incentives","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. DeLuca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9236465_orig.jpg?crop=738,738,x0,y214&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693327821664","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9236465"},{"teacherId":1038080,"projectId":10132223,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our Power Up after school program at Lavern Gaynor Elementary. Because of you, our students had the fuel they needed to stay focused, motivated, and ready to learn after a long school day.\r\nOur Power Up program was designed to give students extra support in reading and math as they prepared for the FAST state assessments. About 100 students participated, working in small groups with teachers who knew them well and could target their specific learning needs. This kind of focused instruction makes a big difference—but it happens at a challenging time of day.\r\n By the time school ends, many students are tired and hungry. The snacks you provided were a simple but powerful support. They helped students refuel, feel cared for, and transition smoothly into learning mode. Instead of worrying about hunger, students were able to concentrate, participate, and give their best effort during lessons.\r\nWe saw students arrive more settled, more engaged, and more confident. The snack break became a moment to reset—allowing them to dive into reading and math with improved focus and stamina. Your support truly helped maximize every minute of instruction.\r\n At Lavern Gaynor Elementary, our mission is simple but meaningful: we belong, we learn, we grow, we lead. Your donation directly supported that mission by ensuring every student in Power Up felt comfortable, supported, and included. You helped create an environment where students could grow academically and believe in themselves.\r\nThank you for making such a meaningful impact with something so small that meant so much. Because of you, our students were able to power up—and take important steps toward success.","fullyFundedDate":1776468176069,"projectUrl":"project/a-little-snack-for-a-big-boost/10132223/","projectTitle":"A Little Snack, For A Big Boost","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1038080_orig.jpg?crop=1401,1401,x38,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684284209699","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1038080"},{"teacherId":1038080,"projectId":10183109,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support in providing Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca for my third grade students. We began using this book this week, and it immediately sparked curiosity, thoughtful discussion, and excitement for learning. My students were captivated by the story of Apollo 11 and eager to explore both the text and illustrations as we read together.\r\nMany of my students benefit from explicit instruction, strong visual supports, and repeated exposure to high quality texts. Moonshot provided exactly that. The rich language, clear organization, and detailed illustrations helped students better understand complex ideas while still feeling successful. Students were able to identify the author's purpose, determine the central idea and supporting details, analyze text features, and practice summarizing key information with confidence. The nonfiction format also allowed us to focus on academic vocabulary, morphology, and using context clues in meaningful, engaging ways.\r\nThis book has proven to be more than a read aloud—it is a powerful instructional tool. Struggling readers were able to access grade level standards in a supportive environment, while on level students were challenged to think deeply about how authors communicate information. The shared text encouraged discussion, collaboration, and critical thinking, and it connected seamlessly to science and social studies learning.\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students were able to explore an inspiring real world event while strengthening the reading comprehension skills they need for long term academic success. Your support helped them take a true \"moonshot\" toward stronger literacy skills, deeper understanding, and greater confidence as readers. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1775837413889,"projectUrl":"project/mission-comprehension-exploring-moonsho/10183109/","projectTitle":"Mission Comprehension: Exploring Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1038080_orig.jpg?crop=1401,1401,x38,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684284209699","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1038080"},{"teacherId":985671,"projectId":10157311,"letterContent":"This grant allowed me to purchase a large selection of books for our book vending machine. Each month, two students from each classroom are awarded golden tokens that allow them to come and choose a book from the machine. They are recognized for their efforts and achievements in reading. \r\n The wonderful thing about the golden tokens and the vending machine is that the novelty of it is appealing to all grade levels. All of my students want to be able to get a book from the machine! It is refreshing to see children excited about getting a new book of their own choosing and watching them take time to carefully look at all the books available. They are very thoughtful in their selection.\r\n\r\n I am grateful for the generosity that allowed me to select books that I know my students will enjoy.","fullyFundedDate":1773855502533,"projectUrl":"project/who-wants-a-good-book/10157311/","projectTitle":"Who Wants a Good Book?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp985671_orig.jpg?crop=1537,1537,x0,y117&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1611601556267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/985671"},{"teacherId":1038080,"projectId":9889470,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our community themed reading project! Because of you, my 3rd graders now have their own copies of Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano, along with colorful bookmark materials that make reading feel joyful, creative, and personal.\r\n These resources are incredibly valuable. Miracle on 133rd Street appears on Florida's recommended reading list for 3rd graders, and having the book in each student's hands allows us to dive deeply into the story's themes of kindness, community, empathy, and cultural diversity. With your help, students are engaging in meaningful discussions, strengthening vocabulary, and developing comprehension skills that directly support the Florida B.E.S.T. benchmarks.\r\n The bookmarks have been a wonderful extension of our learning. Students are excited to design their own keepsake that reflects their favorite moments or characters from the story. This simple craft has boosted motivation, increased ownership of their reading, and added a creative spark that keeps them turning pages.\r\n Your generosity has created an environment where students feel inspired to read, think, discuss, and grow together. Thank you for helping bring warmth, connection, and high quality literature to our classroom. You've truly helped us make a miracle happen!","fullyFundedDate":1772735048380,"projectUrl":"project/building-community-through-reading/9889470/","projectTitle":"Building Community Through Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1038080_orig.jpg?crop=1401,1401,x38,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684284209699","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1038080"},{"teacherId":985671,"projectId":9961301,"letterContent":"This donation and the books supplied for our school's book vending machine has made a meaningful impact on our students' love of reading. \r\n\r\nStocking the vending machine with choices of popular titles, they truly enjoy, motivates them to read and earn tokens for their achievements. We celebrate them as Reader Leaders.\r\n\r\nWith your help we are building pride and excitement around literacy. The experience of choosing their own books fosters ownership, confidence, and a strong reading culture throughout our school. Seeing their faces light up when they receive the token is the highlight of each month!","fullyFundedDate":1771363617791,"projectUrl":"project/who-wants-a-good-book/9961301/","projectTitle":"Who Wants a Good Book","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp985671_orig.jpg?crop=1537,1537,x0,y117&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1611601556267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/985671"},{"teacherId":1038080,"projectId":9889472,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Morning Math Supplies project. Because of you, my students begin each school day with hands-on, engaging math activities that help build confidence, independence, and excitement about learning.\r\n The materials you furnished—such as manipulatives, math tools, and organizational supplies—have transformed our morning routine. Instead of starting the day with worksheets, my students now participate in meaningful math warm ups that strengthen foundational skills while also fostering teamwork and problem solving.\r\n For many of my learners, especially those who need extra support, tactile and visual math tools make all the difference. Your contribution has allowed every child in my classroom to access the materials they need to succeed. The atmosphere each morning is calmer, more structured, and more joyful because students feel ready to learn from the moment they walk in the door.\r\n Thank you for investing in my students and believing in the power of early morning routines to set the tone for a productive day. Your generosity is creating lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1772744523640,"projectUrl":"project/morning-math-masters-building-fact-flue/9889472/","projectTitle":"Morning Math Masters: Building Fact Fluency Before the Bell!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1038080_orig.jpg?crop=1401,1401,x38,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684284209699","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1038080"},{"teacherId":10013920,"projectId":9838506,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping provide our students with their special Christmas gifts. Because of your generosity, each student received a book and a book pal, which made reading feel even more exciting and personal. When my students first saw the materials, their faces absolutely lit up with joy. They were so excited to hold their very own books and cuddle their book pals while we read together. It created such a warm and magical moment in our classroom that truly captured the spirit of the season.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the books during our reading time, where students practice following along, identifying letters and sounds, and talking about the beginning, middle, and end of stories. The book pals have become special reading buddies that help students feel comfortable and engaged while they read. It has been wonderful to see students hugging their pals while turning pages and sharing their favorite parts of the stories with their classmates.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our literacy journey, the next step is helping students build confidence as readers. We will keep using our books during small group reading, story discussions, and independent reading time. Your kindness has helped make reading a joyful and meaningful experience for my kindergarteners, and we are so grateful for the investment you made in our classroom. Thank you for helping inspire a love of reading in our students! 📚💛","fullyFundedDate":1762794865344,"projectUrl":"project/reading-on-christmas-morning/9838506/","projectTitle":"Reading on Christmas Morning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Keegan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10013920"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_126358","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":352,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":72,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":58.8,"schoolId":126358,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lavern Gaynor Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lavern Gaynor Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/collier-county-public-schools/lavern-gaynor-elementary-school/126358"}