{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ocean Ave Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4777179,"projectId":9763881,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to the Legos for All Project at Ocean Avenue Elementary. Your funding has covered the cost of LEGO kits and building supplies, bringing joy to many students. Every Thursday, our 2nd graders gather for Lego Club during recess, and we have an impressive turnout of forty kids signed up this year. Thanks to your support, we have amazing new LEGO kits, organizing trays, and building plates!\r\n\r\nWe've also received several donations of used LEGO, but when the students saw the new kits, they eagerly gathered around to explore all the exciting building possibilities. They worked in groups of two or three, as well as independently, carefully organizing the new kit pieces into the trays and meticulously following the LEGO building instructions page by page.\r\n\r\nThe students will take turns assembling and disassembling the kits, which can be reused by different groups. Since many of the kits we purchased are designed as 3-in-1 sets, there are 21 different possible designs for the students to create, trade, and experiment with. Some students are even discussing using their creations for LEGO animation projects!\r\n\r\nYour support has truly brought us great joy!","fullyFundedDate":1761542916293,"projectUrl":"project/lego-success-for-all-students/9763881/","projectTitle":"Lego Success for All Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reising","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4777179_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506793887719","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrea-reising"},{"teacherId":135802,"projectId":9336588,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project. Because of your gift, our kindergarten scientists now have a rich collection of engaging science text. We especially love them because they are connected to our weather unit of studey. The three classrooms are excited to engage with them and make discoveries about the naturaly worlkd. The materials will help spark new questions and conversations every day!\r\n\r\nIn each classroom impacted by your donation, reading these books looks like curiosity in action. We begin with read-alouds that invite students to wonder, predict, and connect the story to their own experiences. Then, children turn to a partner and revisit the book together, pointing out details in the pictures or retelling the story in their own words. This repeated exposure not only strengthens early literacy but also builds important skills like observing, comparing, and asking \"why\" and \"how\" questions—the very heart of science.\r\n\r\nTeaching students about the natural world is such a joy! The unit has not been taught yet, but the goal is to inspire children to track our own classroom weather data. They will create simple weather charts and the goal is for students to use the science rich vocabulary introduced in the text.\r\n\r\nWhen I deliverd the texts I had the pleasure of seeing the way the students lit up with these new materials. For example, one child who is usually quiet during group lessons became animated and immediately asked when we would read them! Another student asked to look through the new books at free choice time and was excited to explain what's happening in the illustrations. These texts have already sparked curiosity!\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just put books on our shelves, it created opportunities for discovery, collaboration, and joy. Thank you for believing in our young scientists and for helping us ignite a lifelong love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1753114108071,"projectUrl":"project/little-minds-big-wonders-sparking-a-lo/9336588/","projectTitle":"Little Minds, Big Wonders: Sparking a Love for Science","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Soule","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp135802_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535678653765","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/soulec"},{"teacherId":8616757,"projectId":9196354,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us replace our class rug! The new rug has truly transformed our classroom. When my students first saw it, they were so excited to have a fresh, comfortable space to sit during lessons and group activities. It has become the central gathering spot where we share stories, collaborate, and learn together. The cozy, inviting feel encourages more participation and helps students feel safe and focused. Having this new rug has made a big difference in creating a warm, welcoming environment that supports both learning and community. We're so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1742849907631,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-get-a-rug-for-a-comfortable-lear/9196354/","projectTitle":"Help Us Get a Rug for a Comfortable Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mohamed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8616757_orig.jpg?crop=1774,1774,x0,y53&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1660694390028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/oaesgr1"},{"teacherId":9905926,"projectId":9077529,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom full of young learners. It is hard to see students struggle to remain attentive and on task while their stomachs aren't full. The snacks allowed for ALL students to have a solid source of nourishment which allowed them to follow through with the entire school day. With managing behaviors, teaching curriculum with fidelity, and embracing my students' creativity, the job of ensuring their basic needs are met is another heavy weight. I am grateful, as I know they are as well.","fullyFundedDate":1740531505451,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-to-fuel-young-learners/9077529/","projectTitle":"Snacks to Fuel Young Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Molina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9905926_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737648405113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9905926"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":9036815,"letterContent":"Despite the fact that these materials may seem small and insignificant, the reality is quite the opposite. This project was named classroom essentials because our learning is dependent on having them! Having each of these materials available to them gives students the chance to express their thinking, get creative, learn from their mistakes, and so much more. I am so grateful, as are each of my students, for your kindness and support of our success. Your donation makes such a positive impact on each child in my classroom, and supports my ability to teach. Thank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746499144261,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-for-our-learning-sp/9036815/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials for Our Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":9077492,"letterContent":"Wow, it is hard to put into words how grateful our class is for this project being funded! We have talked about having one of these shelves in our classroom all year after we saw the idea in another room. As soon as the package came in we opened it up and I put it together, and students' faces lit up at the vision coming to life! Thank you for your generosity for our classroom and for making such an impact on our organization, learning, and fun! We are each appreciative from the bottoms of our hearts! \r\n\r\nThank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746491160717,"projectUrl":"project/double-win-a-reading-bench-and-storage/9077492/","projectTitle":"Double Win: A Reading Bench and Storage Space!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":9142377,"letterContent":"My students were absolutely overjoyed to receive such beautiful books with wonderful stories to tell. We have already looked through them all and it makes my teacher heart so full to see students eager to read each one of them! These books are not only enjoyable to read, but they also convey such meaningful messages and support young students in grasping more difficult topics within the umbrellas of social emotional education, equity, diversity, and more. I feel so fortunate to have been given these materials to support my students' learning, growth, and to watch them flourish as their own people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746785500982,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-read-alouds-for-little-minds/9142377/","projectTitle":"Empowering Read Alouds for Little Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":8611186,"projectId":8993359,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing snacks for my 18 fourth-grade students! Your kindness has brought comfort, energy, and joy into our classroom in such a meaningful way. It's amazing what a difference a simple snack can make in a student's day—your gift has helped create a more focused and nurturing learning environment for every child.\r\n\r\nThe impact was immediate. As soon as the snacks arrived, my students were so excited and grateful. For many, having something to eat mid-morning or in the afternoon has helped them stay alert and ready to learn. We've noticed more engagement during lessons, better moods throughout the day, and fewer distractions caused by hunger. One student said, \"I feel like I can think better now,\" and that really captured how powerful this small act of care has been.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, our classroom feels even more like a community—a place where students know they are cared for and supported. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of that. You've made a real and lasting difference in the lives of 18 growing, curious, and grateful kids.","fullyFundedDate":1737057084980,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-snack-for-growing-4th-graders/8993359/","projectTitle":"Healthy Snack for Growing 4th Graders!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8611186_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1706291722115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8611186"},{"teacherId":5388684,"projectId":8977205,"letterContent":"First, let me apologize for the delay in sending this letter! We are as busy as ever in \"la clase de español\" at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, and my students and I have really been enjoying the new rug! \r\nMy kindergarteners and first graders come in and sit on the rug each Spanish class. They are assigned a square and it really helps them stay focused when they stay in their square. They quickly learned the rug colors, as we often play a game with the colors on the rug. When it is time to go to tables, I have one group stay back and be the rug group for that day. They get to stretch out and learn on the rug, and they do their work on clipboards (mostly laying on their bellies, which is the most comfortable!). \r\nThe older students, second grade and up, use the rug for games. Today, older students played a true/false game. They lined up on the orange rug squares. If the statement I said in Spanish was true, they jumped onto the green squares, but if it was false, they jumped onto the red squares. The rug has literally become more of a Spanish class tool than I even imagined.\r\nI really appreciate your contributions to help me get this rug, and I know it will serve my students and me well for years to come.\r\nMuchísimas gracias,\r\nSeñora Robin Stevens","fullyFundedDate":1733231569007,"projectUrl":"project/spanish-language-learners-need-a-magic-c/8977205/","projectTitle":"Spanish Language Learners Need a Magic Carpet!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Señora Stevens","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5388684_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525964845513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sra-stevens"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":9036744,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support of our classroom! The kids were so excited to unbox the new pencils, erasers, and especially the sharpener! This gives students agency over their own materials and fosters independence. Pencils are an essential part to every subject of learning that we do and give power to students to demonstrate their thinking. Students have really enjoyed having access to an electric pencil sharpener so that they can sharpen their pencil and then jump back into learning! Your support of our classroom makes such an immense impact and is appreciated by each one of us! :) Thank you!!!","fullyFundedDate":1736979409440,"projectUrl":"project/demonstrate-learning-through-the-power-o/9036744/","projectTitle":"Demonstrate Learning Through the Power of a Pencil!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":8990081,"letterContent":"Having the resources to create learning visuals is something that makes all of the difference for so many students. Students being able to access and engage with grade level concepts is in large part thanks to visuals created for my specific group. Not only are students able to take a leadership role in how these visuals are created and what they contain, but they are also able to practice using their resources as they use these anchor charts as tools for their success when they are hung up on the wall. Having different colors gives my students agency over what the charts look like and support the organization of our classroom resources. We are so appreciative of your support and kindness, thank you so much from all of us!","fullyFundedDate":1734549487336,"projectUrl":"project/materials-for-learning-visuals/8990081/","projectTitle":"Materials for Learning Visuals","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":8611186,"projectId":8921016,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your generous donations to our classroom. Because of your support, we were able to purchase all the books we needed for our students. Now, all 18 of my students have access to these amazing books, and it's truly making a difference in their learning experience.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has helped foster a love of reading and learning in my students, and they are so excited to dive into these new books. I can't thank you enough for your kindness and for helping to provide the resources that will inspire and engage them throughout the year.","fullyFundedDate":1730840588068,"projectUrl":"project/past-winners-of-maine-student-book-award/8921016/","projectTitle":"Past Winners of Maine Student Book Awards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8611186_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1706291722115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8611186"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_101468","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":357,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":37,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":57,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":10,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":67.8,"schoolId":101468,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ocean Ave Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ocean Ave Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/portland-public-schools/ocean-avenue-elementary-school/101468"}