{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"New Heights Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9739644,"projectId":9844541,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my Pre-K ASD/ISCS students now have new ways to communicate their wants and needs, and it has already made such a meaningful difference in our classroom. Even though the materials arrived just this week, I couldn't wait to start printing, laminating, and putting everything together before the Thanksgiving break. My students have been using the communication books and picture symbols to request items and share what they need without much frustration, and it has been incredible watching them light up when someone understands them right away.\r\nThe most exciting part of this project has been seeing my students find their voices, sometimes literally! The talking buttons have quickly become a favorite tool in our classroom. I started by placing them in the eating area, and already my students are pressing them to ask for \"help\", \"more drink\", or \"more food\". In a busy classroom with lots of movement and noise, these buttons give them a clear, easy way to get an adult's attention. The communication books are just as exciting, especially as students begin recognizing their own pictures and proudly sharing them with staff. These tools are helping our little learners communicate with confidence and independence.\r\nThe laminating sheets and Velcro you helped provide allowed me to prepare the communication books and single-page communication mats for meals and other resources around the room. More talking buttons will be added around the room to help students request breaks, choose centers, express feelings, and even participate during our letter-of-the-day activities. These supports are now part of our daily routines and are already helping students engage more in lessons, reducing frustration, and participate in the classroom with greater ease.","fullyFundedDate":1762967268816,"projectUrl":"project/communication-needs-in-a-prek-asd-classr/9844541/","projectTitle":"Communication Needs in a PreK ASD Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leacock","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9739644_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746216114300","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-leacock"},{"teacherId":10038140,"projectId":9399195,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible support, our \"Tune In: Exploring Voices and Sounds Through Active Listening\" project has come alive in our classroom with the arrival of the Toniesbox and its wonderful collection of figurines. These figurines sing songs, tell stories, and share folk tales in a variety of accents, opening a world of voices for our students to explore.\r\n\r\nOur students have been using the Toniesbox twice a week during listening centers and group activities. One special moment that stands out was when a student who is usually shy eagerly chose a figurine and confidently shared the story, they heard with their classmates showing how the device is helping build both listening skills and self-expression.\r\n\r\nWhen the Toniesbox first arrived, the students' eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement. They were fascinated by the different voices and accents, asking questions and making connections to their own experiences and cultures.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we plan to deepen their engagement by having students compare accents, retell stories in their own words, and even create their own audio recordings inspired by the stories they hear. The Toniesbox came with a figurine that we can record our story. This will nurture their listening, speaking, and cultural awareness skills in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly enriched our classroom and empowered our students to tune in more closely to the rich diversity of voices around them. We can't wait to share more of their discoveries with you!","fullyFundedDate":1758829836667,"projectUrl":"project/tune-in-exploring-voices-and-sounds-th/9399195/","projectTitle":"\"Tune In: Exploring Voices and Sounds Through Active Listening\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Eevee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10038140_orig.jpg?crop=789,789,x0,y410&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747845289096","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/eevee-borrero"},{"teacherId":6679536,"projectId":9235247,"letterContent":"My students and I are VERY excited about having these chapter books to read this year. We have already started reading Midnight on the Moon. We will read the other two later in the year. Right now we're studying how authors choose specific words to create an interesting story. For example, chapter 1 uses \"quiet\", \"still\", \"silence\", and \"silent\" in the final paragraph. By doing this, Mary Pope Osborne creates sentences that are full of imagery. Many of my students are English language learners or come from families that don't read at home. In my classroom, we are word collectors. We're building up vocabulary and having fun with words at the same time.\r\n\r\nWe also talked about what we know about the moon already and what we want to learn. Now we have questions to use for research to go along with our reading. I can build in some activities where we learn how to find information. This goes with my goal of developing lifelong learners.\r\n\r\nBest of all, every student can follow along with a copy of the book in their hands. Holding a print copy of a book is an experience you can't get through a computer or video. These books become part of my classroom library so I can use them year after year.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making a difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1744249256895,"projectUrl":"project/tech-tales-igniting-curiosity-through/9235247/","projectTitle":"Tech Tales: Igniting Curiosity Through Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wilber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6679536_orig.jpg?crop=1877,1877,x0,y50&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1658612654854","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6679536"},{"teacherId":9743998,"projectId":9241433,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing exciting new books into our classroom!\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders now have access to high-interest fact books, full picture encyclopedias, and graphic novels that they can't get enough of. These aren't just books—they're launching pads for curiosity, learning, and so many questions (the good kind!).\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is all about exploration. With these new nonfiction texts, students are diving deep into animal habitats, ocean mysteries, and real-world science. They're learning to find evidence, building vocabulary, and think critically—skills that stretch across every subject.\r\n\r\nThe graphic novels and goosebumps have been a huge hit. They've drawn in readers who previously struggled to stay focused, giving them both the confidence and the motivation to stick with a book from start to finish.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped spark new interests and brought joy to our daily reading block. It's not just about pages and paragraphs—it's about lighting a fire for lifelong learning. And that spark? You helped create it.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our readers! We're so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1746561878669,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-hawks/9241433/","projectTitle":"Books For Hawks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shepherd","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9743998_orig.jpg?crop=906,906,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746569509967","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9743998"},{"teacherId":9743998,"projectId":9288545,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is now more interactive, efficient, and engaging. (Not to mention more stylish) The new resources you helped fund—like the LCD writing boards, whiteboards, doorbell, and classroom tools—have already made a major impact on my students' learning experience.\r\n\r\nThe LCD boards are a huge hit. My students love using them for quick responses, brainstorming, and math fluency practice. They're constantly reaching for them during centers or independent work time—it's made showing their thinking feel fun and techy.\r\n\r\nOur new whiteboard has taken learning to a new level, too. Instead of staying at their desks, students now move around the room and use the boards to show their work. \r\n\r\n\r\nThe classroom doorbell has also been an unexpected hero. It's not just for routines—it's helped with safety. I can now hear when students are waiting to come in from the hallway without them knocking or waiting too long. It gives me peace of mind knowing I won't miss them, with all the new procedures for student safety.\r\n\r\nThese tools may seem small, but the ripple effect they've had on our classroom community is huge. And that's only the beginning. \r\n\r\nThank you for giving us the tools to learn with joy, creativity, and confidence every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1746785726625,"projectUrl":"project/a-little-bit-of-everything-for-a-lot-of/9288545/","projectTitle":"A Little Bit of Everything for a Lot of Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shepherd","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9743998_orig.jpg?crop=906,906,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746569509967","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9743998"},{"teacherId":7116579,"projectId":8848253,"letterContent":"I have gathered some statements directly from the teachers who are directly affected by your generosity. Thank you very much for helping to make this happen.\r\nMs. Leacock\r\nI wanted to take a moment to share the positive impact the trampoline has had on my students. It has proven to be an invaluable tool, providing them with an effective outlet for relaxation when feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated, or simply in need of a break.\r\nThe trampoline has particularly benefitted students with sensory needs, offering a form of self-regulation, sensory input, and energy release, which has also been helpful in reducing anxiety. Students are able to utilize the trampoline in one of our designated calm-down sensory areas as needed, leading to fewer behavioral issues and meltdowns within the classroom.\r\nOverall, it has been a highly effective resource for supporting my students' emotional and sensory needs.\r\nMs. Serata\r\nMy students utilize the trampoline freely throughout the day. It helps them to reset during transitions. I've utilized the trampoline to teach counting as well as breaking up multisyllabic words- it gets the kids' whole body involved and their engagement has increased because of it. It also has helped to teach turn taking and waiting.\r\nMrs. Hinkle\r\nThe trampoline has benefitted the students who need extra movement during the day to help with sensory issues. We also use it to reinforce counting skills — the student counts their jumps out loud.","fullyFundedDate":1735213234261,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-support-for-students-with-autism/8848253/","projectTitle":"Sensory Support for Students with Autism","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Joseph Browne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7116579_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1581436416265","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7116579"},{"teacherId":9733998,"projectId":8745534,"letterContent":"My students and myself, want to express our deepest gratitude for your generosity in supporting our classroom through Donors Choose. Your kindness has made a tangible difference in our learning environment, and we are beyond excited to put our new technology to use!\r\n\r\nSince receiving LEGO motors and other STEM supporting items, I have seen a remarkable transformation in my students' engagement and enthusiasm for learning. This technology has made lessons more interactive, allowing students to explore concepts in ways that were not possible before. Whether it's coding to make a robot move, collaborating on projects, or developing new skills, this resource has opened doors to learning in ways that truly inspire them.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting aspects of this new tool is watching the smiles on faces when the LEGO robots moved the first time. The moment we introduced it into the classroom, the excitement was palpable! Students have been eager to dive in, and it's incredible to see their confidence grow as they master new skills.","fullyFundedDate":1733166805270,"projectUrl":"project/future-robotic-lego-leaguers/8745534/","projectTitle":"Future Robotic Lego Leaguers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Joyce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9733998"},{"teacherId":9743998,"projectId":8767743,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our 2nd and 3rd-grade STEM students have been able to explore hands-on learning in an exciting and engaging way! When they first saw the 3D Doodler pens, their eyes lit up with excitement, and they couldn't wait to start creating. Some of them had never used a 3D pen before, and the curiosity and enthusiasm in the room was contagious.\r\n\r\nOur first project focused on science, where students designed and built 3D models of plants, including their parts—roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. This activity was directly tied to their essential science studies, helping them visualize and truly connect with the concepts they were learning in class. Instead of simply looking at pictures in a textbook, they were able to construct their own plants, reinforcing their understanding of plant structures and functions in a creative and interactive way. Seeing their ideas come to life in 3D deepened their learning and gave them a sense of accomplishment.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next challenge will focus on engineering as students take on the task of designing and constructing 3D bridges. They will explore different types of bridges, learn about stability and support, and then use the 3D pens to bring their ideas to life. \r\n\r\nYour donation has truly transformed our STEM program, making learning more meaningful and engaging for my students. Thank you for helping us spark creativity, curiosity, and a love for STEM!","fullyFundedDate":1736542327443,"projectUrl":"project/doodling-through-3rd-grade-stem/8767743/","projectTitle":"Doodling Through 3rd Grade S.T.E.M","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shepherd","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9743998_orig.jpg?crop=906,906,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746569509967","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9743998"},{"teacherId":9773717,"projectId":8813709,"letterContent":"With the resources and support you provided, all of the students have a communication book, and all students know how to use them for Phase 1 PECS and half of our class has begun working within phase 2. These books are an important tool in the establishment of effective functional communication. There has been significant increase in communicative behaviors such as eye contact, focusing on the teacher as she models how to say the words paired with the pictures, the imitation of mouth movement and the approximations of sounds to verbalize what they want or need, including the use of more words. There has also been a decrease in aggressive behaviors as they have a way to communicate what they want rather than through aggression. It has been a joy to see the meaningful progress students have made this year.\r\n\r\nThe students were very excited about the new materials. They absolutely loved all the materials on emotions (emoji stampers, sliders, puppets and playdough mats). They especially loved the emotions puppets and students took turns in front of the class singing songs about feelings while using them. It was really cute!! 6 of our students can identify emotions and act them out and had a great time doing this! All students can point to pictures on our MELD board for happy, sad or mad. \r\n\r\nWe continue to work on the skills of communication, understanding our emotions and ways in which we can regulate our own behavior each and every day. These resources are helping them to do just that. These skills will be valuable to them for their future successes. I am so proud and inspired by how hard these students have worked this year! I believe you would be proud of them as well.","fullyFundedDate":1732204581884,"projectUrl":"project/find-your-voice-express-yourself/8813709/","projectTitle":"Find Your Voice.... Express Yourself!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Price","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9773717"},{"teacherId":9776262,"projectId":8817434,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom. As a first-year third-grade teacher, creating an engaging and supportive learning environment has been one of my biggest goals, and your support has made that possible.\r\nThe moment my students saw the new materials, their excitement was incredible to witness! The answer buzzers have completely transformed the way we review lessons. What was once routine practice is now an exciting game show where students eagerly participate and build confidence in their learning. The prize wheel has added even more fun, motivating students with surprises and rewards that keep them engaged.\r\nThe clipboards have been a great tool for flexible learning, allowing students to comfortably work anywhere in the room during partner or independent activities. The dry-erase markers and colorful dots have made lessons more interactive, especially in small groups where students can quickly jot down ideas, solve problems, and share their thinking.\r\nFor literacy, the whisper phones have been a game-changer, helping students focus on their fluency and pronunciation during independent reading. They love using them to hear themselves read, which has built confidence in even my most hesitant readers. The books we received have sparked meaningful conversations about emotions, friendships, and self-control, supporting not just reading skills but also social-emotional growth.\r\nOf course, learning should also be fun, and the fidget toys have provided a great way to help students stay focused and manage their energy while working. These small tools have made a big difference in keeping students engaged throughout the day.\r\n\r\nI could not thank you enough for your donation to my classroom! I was over the moon excited and to share this excitement with my class! As a first-year teacher, building a classroom that is both engaging and supportive has been a dream of mine, and your generosity has helped make that a reality. Being able to fill my room with these incredible resources means so much to me and my students. It has given me the opportunity to create a space where learning is exciting, interactive, and filled with joy. I am truly grateful for your kindness and support. It has made a lasting impact on my classroom and my journey as an educator. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!","fullyFundedDate":1732204618586,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-young-minds-building-bright/8817434/","projectTitle":"Empowering Young Minds: Building Bright Futures in Third Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9776262_orig.jpg?crop=1188,1188,x0,y847&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727289032803","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9776262"},{"teacherId":6679536,"projectId":8892504,"letterContent":"This project provided books and resources that my students have enjoyed exploring this year. We used the two books \"Ralph Tells a Story\" and \"The Best Story\" in my intermediate class to talk about theme and to serve as a springboard for students to write their own stories. They've learned that they can be authors with stories to tell. They're more excited about writing now and one student even sees himself as possibly working on some stories for publication some day.\r\n\r\nThe globe has been instrumental in our chapter book studies. We've been reading the Magic Tree House books and students have been able to locate the different countries on the globe. My intermediate students enjoy locating different countries - particularly ones that their families come from. This has sparked some good conversations. \r\n\r\nThis year's unit on transformations included looking at optical illusions. It's wonderful to have classroom materials that we actually own and can hold, rather than just looking at websites. When students are give a free choice of books, the book on optical illusions is usually the first book chosen.\r\n\r\nYour donation has provided a lot of excitement this year. Thank you for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1729626908541,"projectUrl":"project/change-the-story/8892504/","projectTitle":"Change the Story","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wilber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6679536_orig.jpg?crop=1877,1877,x0,y50&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1658612654854","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6679536"},{"teacherId":9754981,"projectId":8795571,"letterContent":"I hope this note finds you well! I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of USB headphone converters to our classroom. Your support has made an incredible difference for both my students and me, and I want to take a moment to share just how impactful your gift has been.\r\n\r\nAs you may know, many of our classroom's devices had headphone jacks that were broken and unfixable, making it difficult for students to fully engage with their lessons. This challenge affected everything from personalized learning programs to virtual activities and even state-required assessments. Thanks to your donation, this barrier has been removed, and my students now have the tools they need to focus and succeed.\r\n\r\nThe new USB headphone converters have transformed the learning experience. Students can now immerse themselves in interactive lessons, focus on independent work without distractions, and participate in collaborative projects that build their confidence and skills. Watching their faces light up as they hear crisp, clear audio for the first time has been truly rewarding!\r\n\r\nYour thoughtful contribution has not only solved a technical problem but has also sent a powerful message to my students: their education matters, and there are people who believe in their potential. This kind of encouragement goes a long way in motivating them to strive for their best.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your kindness and generosity. Please know that your support has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our classroom, and we are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1726994361613,"projectUrl":"project/old-computers-need-new-hearing-aides/8795571/","projectTitle":"Old Computers Need New Hearing Aides!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Borys","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9754981"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_46949","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":666,"numTeachers":63,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":26,"percentWhite":26,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":30,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.2,"schoolId":46949,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about New Heights Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"New Heights Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/pinellas-county-schools/new-heights-elementary-school/46949"}