{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Norman - Sims Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9100570,"projectId":10385931,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Classic Books, Lasting Memories\"! Because of your generosity, our reading incentive program has expanded to enrich our entire school library collection. We recently kicked off a very special school-wide celebration for Winnie-the-Pooh's 100th birthday, introducing these timeless classic books into our main library circulation where every student on campus can check them out.\r\n\r\nHaving these new classic titles available on our library shelves has created a wonderful buzz among our readers. In our school, reading incentive time looks like eager students submitting their finished book titles to earn rewards—such as stickers, bookmarks, or personal books to keep—and immediately heading to the library to discover their next classic read. Reading these rich texts helps students build key literacy skills like understanding story structure, analyzing classic character motivations, and expanding high-level vocabulary.\r\n\r\nOur reluctant readers have been particularly drawn to these newly added library books. Celebrating Winnie-the-Pooh's 100th birthday gave them an inviting, fun entry point to classic literature, and seeing their excitement as they check out these books with their own library cards has been deeply rewarding. Your generosity has enriched our library, boosted overall circulation, and given all of our students equal access to stories that spark a lifelong love of reading. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1785532109864,"projectUrl":"project/classic-books-lasting-memories/10385931/","projectTitle":"Classic Books, Lasting Memories","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100570_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y413&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690738130217","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100570"},{"teacherId":9100570,"projectId":10393159,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Help Us Build a Better Book Nook\"! Because of your generosity, our reading incentive program is officially up and running with a completely transformed library space. Before your gifts arrived, our classroom library books were stored in plastic milk crates on the floor, making it difficult for students to browse or see book covers. Now, our books are beautifully displayed on open, accessible bookshelves, completely changing how my students interact with reading.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first walked into the room and saw the new bookshelves, their faces lit up with excitement. The organized displays immediately drew them in—books are now at eye level, easy to browse, and look inviting rather than cluttered. This visual upgrade has breathed new life into our reading incentive program, where students submit their finished titles to earn stickers, bookmarks, or brand-new take-home books. Having an appealing space makes them eager to pick up a new title the moment they finish one, building essential habits like comprehension tracking, self-monitoring, and independent reading stamina.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, our next goal is for each student to complete their personal reading goals for the quarter and build up their home libraries with their earned books. Reluctant readers who previously hesitated to dig through crates are now enthusiastically choosing books off the shelves every single day. Your support has created a welcoming, joyful environment where reading is celebrated. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1786625448369,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-build-a-better-book-nook/10393159/","projectTitle":"Help Us Build a Better Book Nook","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100570_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y413&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690738130217","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100570"},{"teacherId":9100570,"projectId":10231044,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Reading Rewards: Building Strong Readers One Book at a Time\"! Because of your generosity, our reading incentive program is officially up and running. In our school, reading looks like a bustling, joyful routine where students are eager to dive into new texts, keep track of their growth, and share their progress. Every time a student finishes a book, they submit their reading title to earn rewards—ranging from fun stickers and colorful bookmarks to brand-new books they get to take home and keep forever.\r\n\r\nThese materials do so much more than just reward completion; they actively build critical literacy skills. Having tangible incentives encourages students to practice foundational habits like comprehension tracking, self-monitoring, and decoding new vocabulary across different text types. The excitement of earning a book to build their home library has transformed reading from a daily task into a celebrated milestone.\r\n\r\nOur reluctant readers, in particular, have flourished under this program. Students who previously struggled to pick up a book are now eagerly reaching for new titles, motivated by the immediate recognition and choice of rewards. Seeing their faces light up as they add new stickers to their trackers or proudly walk away with a book of their own has been incredible. Your support made this positive culture shift possible, and we are deeply grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1784335707879,"projectUrl":"project/reading-rewards-building-strong-readers/10231044/","projectTitle":"Reading Rewards: Building Strong Readers One Book at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100570_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y413&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690738130217","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100570"},{"teacherId":6414605,"projectId":9562695,"letterContent":"Wow, thank you so much for showing such generosity with our classroom this year! Our new books have helped take our reading to new heights, and we've only just begun! Because of the books you donated, my students look forward to silent reading time every day, and we are working hard each week to reach our goal of 20 minutes of focused and joyful reading! Students love choosing books with relatable characters, and books that make them feel confident as readers! \r\n\r\nThanks to your support, I have already seen some incredible growth in stamina, engagement and independence with my readers this year! Students are keen to discover new series and celebrate their progress with genuine pride! Your kindness has helped create a classroom culture where reading feels magical and empowering! My students and I are deeply grateful for the different you've made in our learning community! \r\n\r\nHave a wonderful holiday season and a restful New Year's!","fullyFundedDate":1754960849034,"projectUrl":"project/creating-independent-readers/9562695/","projectTitle":"Creating Independent Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Racine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6414605_orig.jpg?crop=1229,1229,x776,y635&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754780930544","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6414605"},{"teacherId":9100570,"projectId":9263568,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous contribution to our \"Our Library Got Soaked\" fund. On the day our library flooded, we faced the heartbreaking loss of books and equipment that our students depend on every day. Thanks to caring donors like you, that story now has a much happier chapter.\r\n\r\nYour gift helped us replace what we lost—and even grow. With your support, we were able to add two new bookcases to rebuild our space and purchase brand-new books to enrich our collection. These additions are already making a difference. Students walk into the library excited to see full shelves again, eager to explore new stories, learn new facts, and rediscover the joy of reading.\r\n\r\nYour kindness didn't just restore shelves. It restored smiles, curiosity, and a sense of normalcy for our young learners. The library is once again a welcoming place where imagination can bloom, and that would not have been possible without you.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping our library recover and thrive. Your generosity will continue to impact our school community for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1757719737525,"projectUrl":"project/our-elementary-school-library-got-soaked/9263568/","projectTitle":"Our Elementary School Library Got Soaked!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100570_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y413&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690738130217","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100570"},{"teacherId":7338941,"projectId":9474827,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity my class library was enhanced with engaging, culturally relevant, age appropriate books. As a teacher unfortunately I notice interest in reading waning with every new group of kids that come through the door. It seems like between television, video games, and basically all forms of entertainment on our phones good books are sadly not one of the first choices made to pass the time.\r\n I'm so happy to say that the books you've helped us get have generated so much anticipation for our independent reading time. Students are also excited to make reading recommendations to their classmates. Not only that, students are also seeking more books from the authors they are reading when we go to our school's library. Thanks again for championing analog entertainment for future generations to continue appreciating.","fullyFundedDate":1754610176842,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-inspire-students-to-be-reader/9474827/","projectTitle":"Books That Inspire Students to Be Readers and Writers","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7338941_orig.jpg?crop=1666,1666,x577,y241&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1596248167707","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7338941"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_17734","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":257,"numTeachers":12,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":39,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":52,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"21.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":78.1,"schoolId":17734,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Norman - Sims Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Norman - Sims Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/austin-independent-school-district/norman-elementary-school/17734"}