{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lowell Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":61.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10340325,"projectId":9871719,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my project; \"Less Noise, More Focus\"! Headphones are crucial in the elementary school setting. Headphones minimize distractions, allowing students to concentrate, collaborate, and learn effectively. When the headphones arrived, my team of teachers raced upstairs eagerly awaiting the unboxing of this amazing gift. The headphones were put to use the very next day!\r\n\r\nThe headphones help create a conducive environment for focused work. Students wear them daily during independent work and individualized learning experiences. Our students use them for reading and math apps such Lexia Core 5, Dreambox, Bookflix and Epic. We are also starting our winter testing sessions to assess growth in math and reading. Headphones allow students to listen to the content at their own pace and to replay instructions. Headphones also promote self-regulation. When students have their own headphones, they are responsible for managing their own learning resources. This empowers students to internalize and take ownership of their learning.\r\n\r\nThis project benefits many students at Lowell, and we are extremely grateful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1762309501781,"projectUrl":"project/less-noise-more-focus/9871719/","projectTitle":"Less Noise, More Focus","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Neu","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10340325_orig.jpg?crop=535,536,x0,y78&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762202584152","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10340325"},{"teacherId":10056850,"projectId":9847746,"letterContent":"It is with heartfelt gratitude that I thank you for your generous donation to my project \"Headphones for Learning\".\r\n\r\nI teach at a Title I school and very few of my students come to school with school supplies. Headphones are expensive. The families of my students don't have the ability or means to provide them. We use headphones daily for leaning. \r\n\r\nOur district uses a math and a literacy IPad program daily. When the children have headphones it gives me the ability to pull individuals or small groups to check-in and extend or scaffold learning. Thank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1761261155850,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-learning/9847746/","projectTitle":"Headphones for learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mergen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10056850_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752785838744","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10056850"},{"teacherId":8186530,"projectId":9451796,"letterContent":"Our students are loving the new sensory tray for our light table. The tray allows students to experiment with a variety of materials—shapes, colors, and textures—on the light table, helping them build fine motor skills, explore cause and effect, and engage in creative play. The sorting trays also support early math skills as students sort by color, shape, and size.\r\n\r\nNext, we plan to rotate seasonal and themed materials in the tray to keep activities fresh and engaging. These tools continue to make our light table explorations more hands-on and meaningful every day.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our classroom and helping our preschoolers explore, learn, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1752671612236,"projectUrl":"project/a-brighter-way-to-learn-light-table-too/9451796/","projectTitle":"A Brighter Way to Learn: Light Table Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8186530_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731173451041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8186530"},{"teacherId":8186530,"projectId":9285887,"letterContent":"Our students are absolutely loving the new movement and balance materials! We use them in the gym during indoor recess when it's too cold or rainy to play outside, and they have quickly become a favorite activity. The children love creating obstacle courses, balancing, and finding new ways to move their bodies while having fun and staying active.\r\n\r\nThe new cart that stores and organizes all the equipment has been just as valuable. It helps keep everything neat and accessible, and the children are learning to take responsibility for setting up and putting away materials. This sense of independence and ownership has been wonderful to see.\r\n\r\nThese resources have made indoor recess more engaging and meaningful. They help students build balance, coordination, and confidence while also encouraging cooperation and teamwork. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping us give our preschoolers a healthy, active way to play and grow—even on days we can't go outside. Your generosity truly makes a difference in our students' development and daily joy at school.","fullyFundedDate":1746785885301,"projectUrl":"project/get-moving-stay-balanced/9285887/","projectTitle":"Get Moving, Stay Balanced","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8186530_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731173451041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8186530"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":9604553,"letterContent":"As soon as the books arrived in the mail I knew I needed to get them into the library catalog for teacher checkout! These books that you have provided for read alouds are going to get kids laughing, thinking, and working together to make a successful school community. Today I sent out the email to teachers giving quick book blurbs about the first seven and they are already being checked out and planned to be read on Monday! We have a dedicated staff who know how to bring literature into their classroom to help build a positive learning community. Thank you for providing rich literature to make that happen! It wouldn't be possible without you!","fullyFundedDate":1756474946141,"projectUrl":"project/fresh-off-the-shelf-perfect-first-day-r/9604553/","projectTitle":"Fresh Off the Shelf: Perfect First-Day Read-Alouds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":9289754,"letterContent":"These indestructible bindings have held up to the first round of checkouts at the library and I know they will last for years to come! Thank you for your generous support of this project bringing new life to well-loved books that young students can't get enough of! I used one book as a read aloud in first grade and the books flew off the shelf. I should have remembered to take pictures of the shelves when they were full. Rest assured that all the books have arrived and nearly half are already being loved by students in their classrooms!","fullyFundedDate":1746638996597,"projectUrl":"project/forever-friends-indestructible-adventur/9289754/","projectTitle":"Forever Friends: Indestructible Adventures with Elephant, Piggie, and Pigeon","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":9225228,"letterContent":"These books came at the perfect time! The fifth grade teachers were having their classes choose a chapter book and challenging them to read the whole thing in a week. This week was also the final week of checking out books in the library. After my book talk lesson in the library, all but two of the Girls Survived chapter books were chosen and checked out. Classroom teachers told me that many worked diligently to finish the book in the short time frame. I picked one of the remaining two and participated in the the challenge. It was a great community building experience that we plan on implementing again next year. Thank you for your generous donation to add this series to our school's library! I know the books will be read and loved for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1744207271409,"projectUrl":"project/loved-i-survived-try-girls-survive/9225228/","projectTitle":"Loved \"I Survived?\"; Try \"Girls Survive!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":9152370,"letterContent":"The books have rolled in and I have started the brainstorming process of how to teach each to the kindergarten, first-, second-, and third-graders! My students love to participate in these lessons bring a wide variety of literature to life from authors and illustrators they had yet to experience. We always touch on other works by those authors and art techniques the illustrators use to help convey the story. Then there is a fun activity for the kids to do with each of the books. Thank you for providing these books before the summer so I have some time to develop whole new lessons that I can share with my students and with the librarians in the district! Cheers to you!","fullyFundedDate":1743211542504,"projectUrl":"project/prairie-please-2025/9152370/","projectTitle":"Prairie Please 2025","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":8186530,"projectId":8783361,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom writing area! Your donations have brought so much joy and meaningful learning to my students, especially in helping them build fine motor skills in fun and engaging ways.\r\n\r\nThe shape punchers have been a huge hit—students are excited to use them every day! As they punch out different shapes for their writing and art projects, they're also strengthening their hand muscles and improving their coordination without even realizing it.\r\n\r\nThe magnetic letter boards have been another favorite. My students love tracing the letters over and over again, which is helping them develop better control and confidence in their handwriting. It's such a fun and calming way for them to practice letter formation.\r\n\r\nThey also love the suction cup toy set! The kids have so much fun sticking, pulling, and building with them, all while developing their grip strength, focus, and fine motor control.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our writing area is now a place where students can learn, grow, and play—all at the same time. Thank you for making such a positive impact in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1732387572827,"projectUrl":"project/writing-area-refresh/8783361/","projectTitle":"Writing Area Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8186530_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731173451041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8186530"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":9053147,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing these books to the library for my students to learn about wildfires. While we live in the South Dakota prairie, it was a great topic of conversation on what people are living through in the wildfires that were sweeping through the LA area. Reading these books allowed students to ask questions, develop empathy for the people going through this hardship, and think about what can be done to help. Thank you for providing a larger perspective than what we experience in a day-to-day scenario here in South Dakota! My students really enjoyed the stories and discussion!","fullyFundedDate":1737559109443,"projectUrl":"project/lets-read-about-wildfires/9053147/","projectTitle":"Let's Read About Wildfires!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":8969011,"letterContent":"The Mock Caldecott unit is by far one of my favorites to teach each year. Funded completely by the DonorsChoose community, I select new books published this year that have the possibility to win the Caldecott Medal. This year I read a total of ten books with the students (and had others in a browsing box) and we looked at the illustrations in detail. Next week students will vote on their favorite illustrations from the unit and we will hold our very own Caldecott Medal mini-ceremony. Thank you for providing this rich experience for my students. We learned about a lot of illustrators and had a great time talking about books, all because of your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1733235604753,"projectUrl":"project/mock-caldecott-2025-analyzing-picture-b/8969011/","projectTitle":"Mock Caldecott 2025: Analyzing Picture Book Illustrations","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"},{"teacherId":457742,"projectId":8846230,"letterContent":"These books are amazing additions to our library! Thank you so much for helping to fill in some series of our favorite characters. Characters like Mo, King, Kayla, the adventurers in Ravens Pass, the crayons, and so much more help us to experience the joy of reading as we follow them in the next adventure. Reading is such an important lifelong skill, and it is truly developed when students get to select books that interest them. Our library collection would not be as robust as it is without your generous support. Thank you for believing in reading; thank you for believing in my students!","fullyFundedDate":1727998102944,"projectUrl":"project/author-studies-connecting-with-books-we/8846230/","projectTitle":"Author Studies: Connecting With Books We Love","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Radway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-radway"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_92034","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":426,"numTeachers":34,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":30,"percentIndigenous":10,"percentLatinx":27,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":39.0,"schoolId":92034,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lowell Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lowell Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/south-dakota/sioux-falls-school-district-49-5/lowell-math-science-elementary-school/92034"}