{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":36.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10306607,"projectId":9811544,"letterContent":"I can't even begin to describe how helpful the bilingual story-telling cards have been to my students and I. My students love looking at the images, and trying to organize the pictures to figure out the story problems and solutions. The graphics are engaging, and they have been learning new words each time they tell the stories. The stories are about things and events for which some of the students have some background knowledge, but about which many have never talked about in story form. It's been so fun to watch them learn new words and tell complex stories.\r\nMy students are working on using transition words and conjunctions (e.g. First/Primero, Then/Luego, After/Después, Finally/Al final, and/y, because/porque, so that/para que) and I've noticed improvement in the way their stories \"flow\" and connect. After telling a story initially, they look back through the pictures and make inferences and predictions about what they see in the images and why certain things may have happened or what might happen. One of my students said, \"Wow, these stories are so cool. They help me think of all kinds of ideas.\"\r\nMy students and I use the pictures not only to tell stories out loud in both Spanish and English, but we work on writing sentences and stories on paper so that students have a permanent copy of their learning, and can refer back to it in the future. Thank you so much for this gift. It's been a game changer for my students and I!","fullyFundedDate":1768534711287,"projectUrl":"project/bilingual-storytelling-cards-to-develop/9811544/","projectTitle":"Bilingual Storytelling Cards to Develop Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Koehler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10306607_orig.jpg?crop=1460,1459,x0,y68&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763646549839","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10306607"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":10115780,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for these great, brain-building activities. We've had a rough winter here in Minnesota, with many of our students and their families unable to leave their homes or pay their bills. These activities were an AWESOME way to come back from being separated and online! And it was a perfect activity for teamwork and to celebrate being reunited with each other. \r\n\r\nMy students have exercised their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am so grateful for the care and finances you've put towards my classroom and towards providing these great supplies. Thank you for your thoughtfulness!","fullyFundedDate":1773854204022,"projectUrl":"project/stem-activities-to-help-us-stay-calm-and/10115780/","projectTitle":"STEM Activities to Help Us Stay Calm and Engaged","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":9866020,"letterContent":"My students work so hard in school. They love the challenges and joys that come with all our hard work. And they really love their snacks. Popcorn, applesauce, fruit leathers and Pirate's Booty--snacks are a part of their daily routines and expectations. I'm so grateful to be able to provide my students with this food--it fills their bellies, focuses their minds and brings them joy. Thank you for making this possible and thank you for your incredible generosity--without you this would not be possible.","fullyFundedDate":1770387879302,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-snacks-for-healthy-students/9866020/","projectTitle":"Healthy Snacks for Healthy Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":9868030,"letterContent":"My students are so creative and inquisitive and bright and friendly. They are the dentists, artists and senators of the future.\r\n\r\nThe items you sent to our classroom have been a big hit! They love the STEM toys and activities and we've even sold some of the fidgets in our classroom store--and they love that. My students love to focus on STEM-related projects and open play time. Thank you so much for making it possible!\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us build our classroom community even stronger. Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness.","fullyFundedDate":1763596044665,"projectUrl":"project/stem-activities-to-help-us-stay-calm-and/9868030/","projectTitle":"STEM Activities to Help Us Stay Calm and Engaged","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":9343118,"projectId":9867961,"letterContent":"I received all the packages, and they were so useful and exciting for both my students and me. We used the instrument pieces during our music lessons, and the kids absolutely loved them. They were able to explore the instruments on their own and then take turns sharing and choosing different ones.\r\nThe beads were especially fun for my students because they could create their own bracelets or necklaces for themselves or their family members. We usually use them during Fun Friday. Through this activity, students learned patterns, letters, and colors in a hands-on and engaging way.\r\nThe sticky note pads were also very helpful for mini-lessons in all subject areas, especially writing. They were easy to use, hang up, and reuse later for review.\r\nI truly appreciate all the donors for providing these supplies for my classroom. They have saved me both time and money, and they have made learning more engaging and meaningful for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1770907285765,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-first-graders-need-calming-tools/9867961/","projectTitle":"Amazing First Graders Need Calming Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dah Bu","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9343118_orig.jpg?crop=2675,2675,x0,y303&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698414418701","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9343118"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":10139995,"letterContent":"Our students and Girls Who Code club members are excited and love these new books! While we love working on computers, these graphic novels with amazing 3D art give our students a chance to \"recharge\" their minds away from the screen.\r\n\r\nSeeing the colorful characters and worlds helps our students come up with new ideas for their own coding projects. These books show them how stories and art can come to life through technology. Thank you for helping our young creators find the inspiration they need to build their own digital games and stories!","fullyFundedDate":1773778510531,"projectUrl":"project/race-read-and-code/10139995/","projectTitle":"Race, Read, and Code","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":9311445,"projectId":10111026,"letterContent":"This project has had a powerful impact on my students' learning by bringing technology to life in a way that is meaningful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. Through the use of robotics kits and interactive robots, my students learned that technology is not just something they consume, but something they can create, explore, and control. The robots supported hands-on learning as students practiced early engineering skills, problem-solving, and collaboration. In our dual immersion classroom, the robots also became a bridge for language development, encouraging students to read, write, speak, and listen in Spanish with confidence.\r\nWhat excited my students the most was designing their own robots and giving them names, personalities, and stories. After weeks of researching robotics, my students wrote a shared story called \"El robot oxidado\", using the project as an opportunity to strengthen literacy skills in Spanish. They were especially thrilled when the robots could interact with them and speak back, which motivated natural conversations and playful learning. Seeing their ideas come to life made learning feel joyful and purposeful.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who are typically quiet or hesitant to speak showed tremendous growth through this project. The robots gave them a safe, exciting way to engage, express ideas, and participate in group discussions. Students worked together, helped one another troubleshoot problems, and celebrated successes as a team. Thanks to this project, my students gained confidence, strengthened their academic and language skills, and discovered that learning through STEM can be both empowering and fun. I am deeply grateful to our donors for making this experience possible.","fullyFundedDate":1772046309459,"projectUrl":"project/stem-robotics-and-math-learning-throu/10111026/","projectTitle":"STEM, Robotics, and Math: Learning Through Innovation.","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Villalobos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9311445_orig.jpg?crop=708,708,x229,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696282266310","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9311445"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":10100866,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing into our classroom children's books about helping the Earth! These books inspire our students to explore the natural world, think critically, and imagine ways to make a positive impact. They serve as a springboard for creative programming projects, allowing students to bring ideas about sustainability, conservation, and caring for the planet to life through technology. Your generosity encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity, showing students that learning can be fun, meaningful, and impactful. Because of your support, our young learners are empowered to read, create, and explore solutions that help protect and celebrate the Earth.","fullyFundedDate":1771684889813,"projectUrl":"project/rooted-in-the-earth-books-for-a-climate/10100866/","projectTitle":"Rooted in the Earth: Books for a Climate-Conscious Generation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":10130050,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating graphic novels to our classroom! These books have been a wonderful way to recharge our students' minds, offering them a break while inspiring creativity and imagination. As students explore the stories, they are motivated to think critically and use their ideas in programming projects, bringing characters, settings, and adventures to life through code. The graphic novels help spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and provide inspiration for innovative projects in our technology classroom. Your generosity supports both literacy and creativity, giving students the energy and inspiration they need to learn, create, and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1773181474949,"projectUrl":"project/from-screens-to-scenes-graphic-novels-t/10130050/","projectTitle":"From Screens to Scenes: Graphic Novels That Inspire!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":10130091,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating children's books about the natural world! These books have inspired our students to explore nature and animals while sparking a love of reading. They use the stories as inspiration for creative programming projects, designing activities that reflect what they've learned about protecting our planet. The books help students connect reading, critical thinking, and technology, showing them how they can make a difference through coding and creativity. Your generosity encourages curiosity, imagination, and a deeper understanding of the environment, giving students the tools to learn, create, and care for the Earth in meaningful ways.","fullyFundedDate":1773181475323,"projectUrl":"project/digital-explorers-of-the-natural-world/10130091/","projectTitle":"Digital Explorers of the Natural World","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":9343505,"projectId":10159665,"letterContent":"We will be using the new resources daily during speaking time in our classroom. Students use the headphones while describing pictures, sharing personal moments, and talking about their own experiences. These activities help them practice oral language in a focused and supportive environment, which is especially important for building confidence as English language learners.\r\n\r\nWhen students first received the materials, they were incredibly excited—especially to have their own headphones. Having personal headphones has helped them feel more confident and comfortable speaking English. The water bottles were also very well received, as they encourage healthy habits, hydration, and personal responsibility throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is a project where they will describe and share their spring break experiences. Using the headphones, students will practice organizing their thoughts, speaking clearly, and expressing themselves with greater confidence while continuing to strengthen their language skills.","fullyFundedDate":1773796461061,"projectUrl":"project/voices-in-action-building-confidence-th/10159665/","projectTitle":"Voices in Action: Building Confidence Through Speaking and Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mariucci","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9343505_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756257241179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9343505"},{"teacherId":9311445,"projectId":10107871,"letterContent":"This project has had a transformative impact on my students' learning experience by bringing science, literacy, and technology together in meaningful and engaging ways. The addition of the portable projector has been especially powerful in supporting instruction. While many donors may use technology at home for entertainment, in our classroom it serves as a tool for guided learning—allowing students to visualize complex concepts such as volcano eruptions, fossil formation, and the prehistoric world of dinosaurs. This visual support is essential for my young learners, particularly in a dual immersion setting, as it strengthens both comprehension and language development in Spanish.\r\n\r\nWhat has excited students the most is the opportunity to interact with their learning in a hands-on way. The combination of projected videos and images with excavation kits and science experiments created an immersive experience where students felt like real scientists. Their curiosity increased, and they became more engaged, asking questions, making predictions, and eagerly participating in discussions.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who typically struggle with traditional instruction showed remarkable growth during this project. In particular, my English learners and more reserved students became more confident when supported by visual and interactive tools. The projector allowed them to connect images with new vocabulary, helping them express their ideas more clearly in Spanish. These students were more willing to participate, collaborate with peers, and take academic risks.\r\n\r\nOverall, this project not only enhanced content understanding but also fostered confidence, creativity, and a deeper love for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1772046309773,"projectUrl":"project/excavate-create-and-learn-a-dinosaur/10107871/","projectTitle":"Excavate, Create, and Learn: A Dinosaur STEM Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Villalobos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9311445_orig.jpg?crop=708,708,x229,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696282266310","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9311445"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_54728","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":492,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":48,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.5,"schoolId":54728,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/paul-sheila-wellstone-elementary-school/54728"}