{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Melody Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":39.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":27371,"projectId":9794914,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for these much needed items. We have already started to put them to use. Many students in our center are just learning how to regulate themselves and know when / how to use the bathroom on their own. Potty-training is definitely an ongoing process during our day. Sometimes accidents happen when the students are asleep. Sometimes my students are having so much fun that they forget to go to the bathroom when their tiny body gives the signal. In either event, I am grateful to have the materials that we need to help students clean up, change their clothing, and wash the clothing that was soiled. Minimizing the time it takes for students to get changed and stop the tears is essential. Students soon realize that there is help along the way and, when we cannot get the tears to stop, we engage students with one of the amazing books that we received. Thank you, once again, for understanding the value of these materials and supporting me/my students. I am grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1761517549275,"projectUrl":"project/when-pee-pee-happens-to-good-kids/9794914/","projectTitle":"When Pee-Pee Happens to Good Kids","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp27371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466101189645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/michellestewin"},{"teacherId":27371,"projectId":9663616,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for this generous donation. Our students have already started using the water bottles and it has made the transition from gym (physical education) and outdoor play much easier. Teachers fill the water bottles in the morning before students arrive and then again at snack time in the afternoon. Throughout the day, students are seen walking over to their bottle and taking a sip. No longer are teachers interrupted during instructional time to supply students with water. We are no longer using disposable cups and creating more waste for the environment (YIPEE!) because of the bottles. Having access to water throughout the day is teaching students to listen to their bodies and be responsible for their own needs. We are also taking time to teach students the value of water and how to be responsible consumers and users.\r\n\r\nThank you, once again, for your support. We are truly grateful for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1758222419660,"projectUrl":"project/teacher-im-thirsty/9663616/","projectTitle":"Teacher, I'm Thirsty!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp27371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466101189645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/michellestewin"},{"teacherId":512576,"projectId":9242217,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and seeing the value that literacy has in the music room. One of the things we have been doing with our books is reading and creating different sound effects to go along with the stories. When a student has finished an assignment early they choose go to our music library and practice their reading skills. \r\n Our older students have also volunteered to take some of the books and read them to our younger students at story time. This is encouraging students of all ages to see the value of reading in every subject and at each grade level. \r\n We could not have built this excitement and culture for reading without your amazing donations and care for our students. Thank you for letting our students start to explore the connection between music and literacy!!","fullyFundedDate":1752586446061,"projectUrl":"project/music-and-literacy/9242217/","projectTitle":"Music and Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Twohill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp512576_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503257471059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-twohill"},{"teacherId":2518463,"projectId":9405011,"letterContent":"Thank you for the half moon small instruction table. Having this table in our classroom allows me to tailor lessons to specific student needs—whether for remediation, enrichment, or reinforcement. This is especially crucial in first grade, where skill levels in reading and math can vary widely. \r\n Students in small groups are more likely to participate, ask questions, and receive immediate feedback, which leads to better comprehension and retention. I can adjust the pace, materials, and teaching style for each group. For example, some students may need phonics support, while others are ready for fluency or comprehension work. This allows me to work with all students in small groups based on their needs. Thank you so much! We really appreciate it!","fullyFundedDate":1756950554774,"projectUrl":"project/half-moon-table-for-hands-on-learning/9405011/","projectTitle":"Half-Moon Table for Hands-On Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gasich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2518463_orig.jpg?crop=229,229,x0,y15&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762445667825","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2518463"},{"teacherId":10049119,"projectId":9393359,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment to thank you for your generous support of my third-grade classroom. Your contributions have already made such a difference in our daily routines.\r\n\r\nMy students are putting the new pencils, sticky notes, and glue to great use every day. One of their favorite activities is using sticky notes to answer our math \"exit ticket\" question of the day. They love placing their responses on our class chart—it has turned a simple quiz into a fun, engaging routine.\r\n\r\nThe Lysol wipes and Glade plug-ins have helped keep our classroom tidy and fresh. We even receive compliments from the custodial staff about how clean our room looks! The tape has been especially helpful for hanging instructional anchor charts, giving students quick access to key references while working on assignments. And the Astrobrights paper has been perfect for my family newsletters—bright, eye-catching, and a wonderful way to share classroom updates.\r\n\r\nThank you for your kindness and for helping make the start of our school year such a smooth and joyful one. My students and I are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1750895507926,"projectUrl":"project/bright-minds-need-new-supplies/9393359/","projectTitle":"Bright Minds Need New Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hassan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10049119_orig.jpg?crop=498,498,x670,y599&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748961236353","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10049119"},{"teacherId":512576,"projectId":9038678,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for thinking of our students and helping to provide them with a hands on music education. So far our older students (6th-8th gr.) have been using the ukuleles and enjoying all the different songs we have learned. Some of them have even started looking up songs on their own to play during class. We have the ukuleles stored on the wall in the room and they have created excitement and huge music interest with our younger students. Each class they talk about how they cannot wait until they are in 4th grade so they can start to play the ukulele. \r\n Many of our students were surprised that people who do not know them cared so much about their education and took the time to donate and make sure their class was taken care of. What you guys do and your generosity really impacts the students and the classroom. You can see the warm fuzzy feels they get when they hear how much someone cares about them!","fullyFundedDate":1740595548741,"projectUrl":"project/uku-can-play-too/9038678/","projectTitle":"Uku Can Play Too!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Twohill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp512576_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503257471059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-twohill"},{"teacherId":27371,"projectId":8723763,"letterContent":"Thank you for understanding the importance of this project. I am truly grateful for your generosity and support. My students really needed the coats, hats, and gloves, especially considering the cold weather that we had during the month of February. Many of our students had improved attendance because they had the proper clothing to keep them warm as they walked to / from school. Our families were so happy that we were able to support their child and provide these essential items to make sure that they were able to attend school regularly, keep warm, and healthy.\r\n\r\nThank you, once again, for your support and generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1733254798888,"projectUrl":"project/the-weather-outside-is-frightfulbut-t/8723763/","projectTitle":"The Weather Outside Is Frightful...But the Warmth Is Soooo Delightful!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp27371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466101189645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/michellestewin"},{"teacherId":6653865,"projectId":8795916,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students have been actively engaged in hands-on, sensory-friendly financial literacy activities that make learning both meaningful and fun. The materials you helped provide have transformed abstract concepts like saving, spending, and counting money into interactive and accessible experiences tailored to their unique learning styles.\r\nThese resources have not only strengthened my students' financial literacy skills but have also boosted their confidence, communication, and independence. Your support has made a lasting difference in their educational journey, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to provide them with these experiences.\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping to create an inclusive, engaging learning environment!","fullyFundedDate":1735271051772,"projectUrl":"project/money-matters-a-fun-introduction-to-fin/8795916/","projectTitle":"Money Matters: A Fun Introduction to Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Pickett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6653865"},{"teacherId":6653865,"projectId":8761576,"letterContent":"I am thrilled to share the incredible impact your generosity has had on my students! Thanks to your support, our new colorful carpet has transformed our classroom into a more engaging and structured learning space. My students have found comfort and joy in having their own designated spaces to sit, read, and learn. The bright, contrasting colors help them maintain focus, define their personal space, and provide the sensory-friendly environment they need to feel secure and engaged.\r\nThe moment my students saw the new carpet, their faces lit up with excitement. They eagerly found their spots and immediately settled in with their favorite books, enjoying the soft and cozy area that now feels like their own. Watching them comfortably sit and immerse themselves in stories has been heartwarming and a testament to how small changes can make a big difference.\r\nLooking ahead, this space will continue to support our daily reading activities and sensory-friendly learning experiences. Your generosity has not only provided a beautiful and functional addition to our classroom but has also created a welcoming environment where my students feel safe, focused, and ready to learn. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference in their education and well-being!","fullyFundedDate":1730579680470,"projectUrl":"project/a-colorful-carpet-for-calming-our-bodies/8761576/","projectTitle":"A Colorful Carpet for Calming our bodies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Pickett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6653865"},{"teacherId":27371,"projectId":8756050,"letterContent":"Thank you for the opportunity to attend this professional development. I learned a great many strategies to support my students and keep them engaged and learning. My preschoolers are busy and require a lot of attention. I learned ways to incorporate music and movement into the day and intentionally connect these activities to our current learning or study. For example, we are now studying different ways to exercise. Instead of reading a book first, I now engage my students with an activity that requires them to move to the music and complete the exercise(s) which gives them direct context to what we are learning. I have noticed that when I now read the story or engage in a book talk my students are focused and have a direct / explicit connect (because of the actual physical motions) connected to the text. Also, giving my students time to move also helps keep their energy level manageable and helps with classroom management. I have also learned ways to incorporate more time for students to talk and share with me and others in learning centers which has also helped with student engagement and academic improvements. I thank you, once again, for your donation and support.","fullyFundedDate":1732918232437,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-students-engaged-in-learning-and/8756050/","projectTitle":"Keeping Students Engaged in Learning and Academically Successful!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp27371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466101189645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/michellestewin"},{"teacherId":8667355,"projectId":8787122,"letterContent":"My heart is filled with gratitude as I express my deepest thanks to the incredible DonorsChoose supporters who have stepped up for my students. Your generosity in providing uniforms means more than words can say. For many of my students, having a clean, proper uniform isn't just about clothing—it's about confidence, belonging, and the ability to focus on learning without worry.\r\n\r\nThis is an ongoing challenge, but knowing there are people like you who care makes all the difference. Because of your kindness, my students can walk into school feeling proud and ready to succeed.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart—thank you, thank you, thank","fullyFundedDate":1728490911115,"projectUrl":"project/students-dressing-the-part/8787122/","projectTitle":"Students Dressing the Part!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Branch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8667355_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1663203884337","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lbranch"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5709","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":317,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":90,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":8,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":60.8,"schoolId":5709,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Melody Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Melody Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/melody-elementary-school/5709"}