{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Leesylvania Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":47.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9919866,"letterContent":"Thank you for providing my students with sensory materials that give them a calming activity when they need it most. My students use the bead-filled sensory tins as a quiet, hands-on way to slow down, focus their attention, and regulate their bodies. They can run their fingers through the tiny beads, search through them, and simply enjoy the repetitive tactile experience. Sometimes the most important thing a student needs in that moment is not another task—it is an opportunity to calm down and feel ready again.\r\nThe students were immediately interested in the colorful materials and quickly discovered how soothing they could be. These sensory tools have become another option we can offer students when they are overwhelmed, dysregulated, or simply need a quiet sensory break. Instead of expecting every student to regulate in the same way, we are able to give them choices and help them discover which sensory experiences work best for their individual needs.\r\nOur next step is to continue helping students learn to recognize when they need a sensory break and, when possible, begin choosing a regulation tool independently. Ultimately, we want our students to understand their own bodies and develop strategies they can use throughout their lives. Thank you for helping us create a classroom where taking time to regulate is recognized as an important part of being ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1767986789677,"projectUrl":"project/tiny-tins-big-calm-putty-students-with/9919866/","projectTitle":"Tiny Tins, Big Calm: Putty Students With Autism Truly Knead","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9971091,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping us give our students an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience! With the materials from this project, our students were able to learn about Lunar New Year through art, movement, culture, and a schoolwide celebration. Students helped create colorful dragon and lion costumes and then had the incredible opportunity to bring their creations to life in a Lunar New Year parade through our school. Seeing students proudly carry and wear something they had helped create was one of those classroom moments that reminded us just how powerful experiential learning can be.\r\nThe students were thrilled when the materials arrived, but their excitement grew even more as they began to understand what they were creating. This project gave students opportunities to practice following directions, making choices, working together, developing fine and gross motor skills, and participating in a shared experience. For students who learn best by doing, Lunar New Year became something they could see, touch, create, and experience rather than simply read about. The parade was especially meaningful because our students were able to share their learning with the rest of the school community—and they were incredibly proud to do it.\r\nOur next step is to build on experiences like this by continuing to make cultural learning accessible, concrete, and joyful. We want our students to explore celebrations and traditions from around the world through art, music, stories, movement, and hands-on projects. Thank you for giving our students the opportunity not only to learn about another culture, but also to create, participate, celebrate, and share what they learned with others.","fullyFundedDate":1766531920251,"projectUrl":"project/an-inclusive-chinese-new-year-parade-for/9971091/","projectTitle":"An Inclusive Chinese New Year Parade for Our Special Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9536819,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us bring Agility Alley to life! Your generosity has given my students a place where movement, sensory exploration, and learning come together. We use the new materials throughout our school day to give students opportunities to move their bodies, practice balance and coordination, explore different sensory experiences, and regulate before returning to classroom activities. Students can step from stone to stone, balance, move across the colorful sensory tiles, and use our sensory materials for hands-on exploration.\r\nThe students were incredibly excited when they first saw their new equipment. What may look like play is actually very important learning for my students. Agility Alley gives them opportunities to practice motor planning, body awareness, balance, following directions, waiting for a turn, and making choices. One of my favorite things has been watching students discover which activities work best for their own bodies. Some are drawn immediately to movement and balancing activities, while others prefer slowing down and exploring a sensory bin with their hands.\r\nOur next step is to continue teaching students how to use Agility Alley more independently. We want them to begin recognizing when they need movement or sensory input and learn appropriate ways to meet those needs. These are skills that extend far beyond our classroom. Because of your support, my students have a joyful, welcoming space where their individual sensory and movement needs are not an interruption to learning—they are part of how we learn. Thank you for giving my students the resources they need to move, explore, regulate, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1764606865915,"projectUrl":"project/agility-alley-applying-occupational-t/9536819/","projectTitle":"\"Agility Alley\": Applying Occupational Therapy Strategies in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9543241,"letterContent":"The introduction of the token boards and classroom \"vending machine\" has brought a new level of excitement and motivation to our students. Each day, they eagerly work to fill their token boards, proud of every step they take toward earning a reward. The vending machine itself has quickly become a favorite destination as students love the anticipation of choosing their treat and the independence of accessing it on their own.\r\n\r\nWhat makes this even more special is the location. The vending machine sits right next to our classroom fish tank, where multiple bubblers create a calming and mesmerizing environment. Sometimes it's hard to tell if a student is watching the fish swim or quietly planning which treat they'll select next! Either way, the space has become a place of focus, motivation, and joy.\r\n\r\nThe token system has given us a meaningful way to reinforce positive behavior while teaching important skills such as waiting, decision-making, and delayed gratification. Watching students celebrate their progress by cashing in tokens at the vending machine has been just as rewarding for the adults as it has been for the children.","fullyFundedDate":1757683111639,"projectUrl":"project/token-to-treat-sweet-rewards-for-hard-w/9543241/","projectTitle":"Token to Treat: Sweet Rewards for Hard Work!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9523796,"letterContent":"When the Sensory Gel Floor Tiles arrived, the students' reactions were priceless: eyes wide, smiles spreading, and little feet immediately eager to step onto the colorful squares. The shifting colors and swirling patterns capture their attention in a way that is both calming and exciting. Many students began experimenting right away by pressing with their hands, jumping with both feet, and crawling across the tiles to watch the colors move beneath them.\r\n\r\nThese tiles have quickly become a central part of our daily routine. We use them during sensory breaks to help students regulate their bodies and emotions, and they are also integrated into structured movement activities. For example, students practice gross motor skills by hopping from one tile to another, and social skills by taking turns and waiting for a friend to finish. The tiles have even become a natural motivator as students often work through academic tasks more willingly when they know they'll get time on the gel tiles as reinforcement.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I've been able to use the tiles to support multiple IEP goals at once: balance and coordination for physical therapy, color recognition in early academics, and joint attention during group activities. The multi-sensory nature of the tiles makes them versatile for so many lessons, and they create an inviting, joyful atmosphere in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThese sensory tools have not only added fun to our learning environment but have also given students a safe and engaging way to calm, focus, and prepare for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1754320089486,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-gel-floor-tiles-to-support-senso/9523796/","projectTitle":"Sensory Gel Floor Tiles to Support Sensory Regulation Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":4214063,"projectId":9634984,"letterContent":"When our students first saw the busy boards mounted on the wall, their faces lit up with excitement. They immediately began exploring by flipping switches, pressing buttons, and turning knobs to see how the lights changed speed and direction. For many of our students, this was the first time they could independently control something that gave immediate visual feedback, and it has been both motivating and empowering.\r\n\r\nWe use the busy boards daily during sensory breaks, group work, and one-on-one instruction. Because they are attached with command hooks or Velcro, we can easily move them from the wall to our classroom tables, giving students flexibility to use them in different settings. One of the favorite activities has been adjusting the speed of the lights in a circle, which not only captures attention but also encourages fine-motor practice and turn-taking with peers.\r\n\r\nThese resources have created a classroom environment filled with curiosity and engagement. Our next step is to build on this excitement by incorporating the busy boards into structured lessons: using them for following directions, building language (\"on,\" \"off,\" \"fast,\" \"slow\"), and practicing waiting for a turn. Thanks to your generosity, we have tools that spark joy while helping students reach important learning goals.","fullyFundedDate":1757683085914,"projectUrl":"project/turning-knobs-into-confidence-busy-boar/9634984/","projectTitle":"Turning Knobs into Confidence: Busy Boards for Kids with Autism","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Buckley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214063_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755463522923","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214063"},{"teacherId":9778536,"projectId":9201883,"letterContent":"My students are loving digging in the dirt and getting their hands dirty. They like to use the watering can to water the plants. They get to observe the stages of plant growth and are excited when they see the little green sprouts. I can't wait for them to try some of the veggies that were planted and they grew themselves. \r\nHaving these resources allow my students to see the plant life cycle in real time and make it a more concrete process to them. It also teaches them responsibility having to take care of a plant so that it flourishes. With these resources they have also make our school community a little brighter with colorful flowers.","fullyFundedDate":1746482677074,"projectUrl":"project/green-thumbs-in-special-ed/9201883/","projectTitle":"Green Thumbs in Special Ed.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Horn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9778536_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727540549018","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9778536"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_39793","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":766,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":69,"percentAsian":16,"percentBlack":26,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":8,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":52.9,"schoolId":39793,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Leesylvania Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Leesylvania Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/prince-william-county-public-schools/leesylvania-elementary-school/39793"}