{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Oak Crest Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8418322,"projectId":9771812,"letterContent":"My students love all the materials they received. We have been learning with Tinker Toys and the impact it has on preschool development is huge. It foster's creativity, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and spatial reasoning through hands-on, open-ended play. They also support cognitive growth by encouraging exploration and scientific thinking, while the open-ended nature of the play helps develop social skills like communication and teamwork, and emotional skills like regulation. \r\nLincoln Logs allow for my students to learn to plan, sequence steps, and overcome challenges as they figure out how to build structures, fostering perseverance.\r\nSpatial awareness: Stacking and connecting logs helps children understand spatial relationships and how parts fit together.\r\nFinally the various tools offer imaginative and symbolic learning, while real tools provide a more direct, hands-on approach that builds crucial fine motor skills, executive function, and confidence through focused curiosity and problem-solving. While play tools are great for developing early cognitive and social skills, real tools, when used with proper supervision, lead to a deeper sense of agency and a more profound understanding of cause and effect, with kids taking their tasks seriously. Thank you again for the gift of learning","fullyFundedDate":1762266326745,"projectUrl":"project/tinkering-with-stem/9771812/","projectTitle":"Tinkering with STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8418322_orig.jpg?crop=1681,1681,x0,y218&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721077825244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kimberly-darling"},{"teacherId":9265978,"projectId":9694165,"letterContent":"When our \"Think It, Build It, Shape It!\" materials arrived, you would've thought it was a holiday morning! My students' eyes lit up as we unpacked the kits, and the room instantly buzzed with excitement. Within minutes, they were testing ideas, sharing \"what if we tried this?\" moments, and cheering each other on when their structures stood tall (or laughing when they didn't!). One group built a bridge that held way more weight than expected, while another discovered the perfect angle to launch a paper rocket across the room.\r\n\r\nThese new resources have turned our classroom into a hands-on STEM playground. My students are not just reading about engineering—they're living it! They're learning how to plan, test, fail, and try again, all while having an incredible amount of fun. I've seen shy students step up as team leaders and curious minds shine as creative problem solvers. Every build brings new lessons in perseverance, teamwork, and imagination.\r\n\r\nYou didn't just give us supplies; you gave my students the chance to see themselves as true inventors, thinkers, and builders of the future.","fullyFundedDate":1758153701276,"projectUrl":"project/think-it-build-it-shape-it-a-hands-on/9694165/","projectTitle":"Think It, Build It, Shape It! a Hands-On Stem Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Singleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9265978_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694106720930","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9265978"},{"teacherId":8418322,"projectId":9315737,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to my classroom. You have truly made an impact on my students. They love the games and are learning many new schools.\r\n\r\nLearning to play games play a vital role in a preschool setting, contributing significantly to the overall development of young children. Here are some key impacts:\r\n\r\nProblem-Solving Skills: Games encourage children to think critically and strategize, enhancing their problem-solving abilities.\r\nMemory Enhancement: Many games focus on memory, helping children improve their recollection and cognitive functions.\r\n Collaborative games teach children the importance of working together towards a common goal, fostering a sense of community.\r\nPlaying games helps children practice communication skills, learning to express themselves and listen to others.. \r\nSuccessfully completing a game gives children a sense of achievement, boosting their confidence and self-esteem. \r\nGames often involve taking turns and dealing with winning or losing, helping children learn to manage their emotions in various situations.","fullyFundedDate":1746785442125,"projectUrl":"project/playing-and-learning/9315737/","projectTitle":"Playing and Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8418322_orig.jpg?crop=1681,1681,x0,y218&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721077825244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kimberly-darling"},{"teacherId":8418322,"projectId":9255283,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of books to my preschool students. Your contribution plays a crucial role in fostering a love for reading and learning at an early age. \r\nHaving access to a variety of books enhances children's literacy skills, sparks their imagination, and supports their cognitive development. Each book opens a new world, allowing our little ones to explore different cultures, ideas, and stories, enriching their understanding of the world around them. \r\nYour kindness ensures that every child in our care has the opportunity to build a strong foundation for their future education.\r\nThank you once again for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1746487753692,"projectUrl":"project/scholastic-learning/9255283/","projectTitle":"Scholastic Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8418322_orig.jpg?crop=1681,1681,x0,y218&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721077825244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kimberly-darling"},{"teacherId":8418322,"projectId":9143009,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the materials for my classroom. You have provided my students easel paper to use for painting/drawing on the table and the easel. This allows for my students to be able to express themselves in art and develop communication skills as they discuss their project with peers and teachers. My students love the playdoh and love to explore, manipulate, cut, roll, and create objects using the dough. This allows for students to develop finger strength as they continue to develop and grow. Finger strength allows as a precursor for writing. The math toys allow for children to count, sort, and learn to use one-to-one correspondence. They also learn to take turns throughout the day.\r\nThank you again for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1742910242861,"projectUrl":"project/express-yourself-through-math-and-art/9143009/","projectTitle":"Express Yourself Through Math and Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8418322_orig.jpg?crop=1681,1681,x0,y218&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721077825244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kimberly-darling"},{"teacherId":9610080,"projectId":8889400,"letterContent":"I am humbled that you would take the time and effort to fund my classroom project. My students have never been more focused in class before! The wobble feet and bands make such an impact on allowing them to move around while learning. It limits time spent out of the seat and thus time off-task because the students' need to move is met through these simple yet profound tools. \r\n\r\nAllow me to give you a glimpse of what my classroom environment feels like on a daily basis. Every morning, I draw names out of a basket to see who will get the exercise ball to sit in for the day. They are always so excited to see if their name gets picked! \r\n\r\nDuring the day, my students who need movement the most begin their work time with a few minutes of wobbling up and down using the wobble feet, and then they get right to work. The wobble bands allow their legs to bounce up and down whenever they feel the need to move. \r\n\r\nI had the students choose their own sensory sticker that we put on the side of our Chromebooks (mine as well), so that when they need to focus, or when they feel anxious completing difficult work, they have easy access to it. These sensory stickers work so well with our Calm Classroom techniques of breathing and mindfulness.\r\n\r\nI can truly see the level of productivity and calm in my classroom has increased. Without your generous donation to my classroom project, my students would struggle to move without distracting themselves and others around them. They would struggle with finding calm in the chaos that can sometimes happen in 4th grade. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the impact you made to my class, to my students.","fullyFundedDate":1731688181558,"projectUrl":"project/wiggle-wobble-bounce-and-learn/8889400/","projectTitle":"Wiggle, Wobble, Bounce, and Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Egan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9610080_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y231&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731167355472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/susanie-ann-egan2006"},{"teacherId":9265978,"projectId":8520023,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful donation to my project. The impact has been far reaching. Many students in the building come to my room at the end of the day for a snack, a good book and a safe place. It has been such a lovely experience to witness students who see mirrors of themselves in the books as well as a window into another persons reality. \r\n\r\nThe snacks have been a great addition. Often towards the end of the day many students are hungry and your contributions have helped to ease their anxiety around having a good and nurturing snack. \r\n\r\nSonic Foundation thank you for helping me create a safe place for my students and many others!","fullyFundedDate":1728312627345,"projectUrl":"project/nurturing-young-minds-through-diverse-bo/8520023/","projectTitle":"Nurturing Young Minds Through Diverse Books and Comfort of Snacks!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Singleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9265978_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694106720930","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9265978"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28755","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":324,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":60,"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":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.4,"schoolId":28755,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Oak Crest Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Oak Crest Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/beach-park-community-consolidated-school-district-3/oak-crest-elementary-school/28755"}