{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"River Gate Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":36.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5300975,"projectId":10478434,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom! The play kitchen set and Lakeshore writing center have been wonderful additions to our play-based learning environment. My students were so excited when they saw the new materials and couldn't wait to begin exploring! The kitchen set has encouraged imaginative play, cooperation, communication, and problem-solving as students pretend to cook, serve meals, and work together.\r\n\r\nOur new writing center has also provided students with a fun and meaningful way to practice their writing skills. Students are learning that writing has a purpose as they create menus, write grocery lists, and use their imaginations. I love seeing them connect literacy skills to their play while building confidence and independence.\r\n\r\nAs we continue throughout the school year, we will use these materials to create new learning experiences that strengthen creativity, social skills, and early literacy. Your generosity has helped make our classroom a place where students can learn through hands-on experiences while having fun. Thank you for supporting my students and helping bring the joy of learning into our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1787585442517,"projectUrl":"project/cooking-up-creativity-play-write-and/10478434/","projectTitle":"Cooking Up Creativity: Play, Write, and Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5300975_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1523214792961","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5300975"},{"teacherId":1858871,"projectId":10468521,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping me CREATE an amazing space for my multilingual students. Back in August, when they first came into my room, their eyes immediately lit up with how the space was decorated. They ran to their flags and said, oh you have Renoldo, oh you have Columbia. One student, from Turkey beamed, and said, \" You have my flag!\" They also inquire about other flags and countries that they represent. \r\n\r\nThe rug additionally, added the right amount of warmth and brightness that this classroom needed. Now, this space is cheery and full of my student's culture! This has helped me create an inviting space for students to learn and continues to become a space where they feel proud of themselves. The rug has enabled me to do partner activities that have helped improve their speaking and listening skills because they can sit on the floor comfortably and share their ideas with their partners. \r\n\r\nNot pictured were the collaboration posters that we make weekly with the poster boards. These help students synthesize their learning from the unit with a partner and encompass writing, speaking, and listening skills. \r\n\r\nI cannot say thank you enough for donating to my creating cozy space project! My students love the space and that helps them feel more comfortable and willing to try my activities using their second language. I know it might have felt small, but your donation really made a difference to me and these kids, so thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1787009308716,"projectUrl":"project/creaing-cozy-spaces-to-invite-conversati/10468521/","projectTitle":"Creaing Cozy Spaces to Invite Conversation for Ml Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cherry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1858871_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y342&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786548551776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1858871"},{"teacherId":10600016,"projectId":10640164,"letterContent":"Over the past few weeks, I have loved watching our art room slowly come together and seeing how much of a difference these new materials have already made for my students. What started as a blank canvas has become a colorful and welcoming space where my students can feel excited to learn, create, and feel at home. \r\nI have always wanted my classroom to be a safe space for my students, and it has meant so much to see it become that for so many of them. I am incredibly grateful for your generosity and support in helping make this possible. Watching my students walk into the art room excited to create has become a daily reminder of my purpose, my passion, and why I became a teacher in the first place.\r\nOne of my favorite additions has been the HDMI transmitter! I love that I can now sit and demonstrate from different areas of the classroom while projecting my artwork onto our screen. It has made it so much easier for me to see and connect with my students while teaching, and they can still follow along and see exactly what I am creating. The hard drive and SD card have also been so helpful because I can record and store my art demonstrations and videos without having to worry about running out of storage on my computer. I can also replay these videos whenever my students need a little refresher or want to see a technique again. The new water cups have also made painting so much easier! Each student can now have their own water cup, giving everyone the opportunity to participate without having to wait or share. The decorations and additional classroom materials have helped bring those final touches to our art room, making it feel even more special.\r\nIt means so much to know that these materials will continue to make a difference in our art room every day. I am so excited for all the lessons we have ahead of us and the new things my students will get to explore and create. I truly cannot express how grateful I am for your kindness and generosity in helping make all of this possible. Thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1791902336730,"projectUrl":"project/a-place-for-artists-to-bloom/10640164/","projectTitle":"A Place for Artists to Bloom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Livermore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10600016_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788141393784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10600016"},{"teacherId":10600016,"projectId":10692802,"letterContent":"I cannot express how grateful I am for the books that have been added to our art room! This has been my first time really incorporating literature into my art lessons, and I have absolutely loved seeing how much my students enjoy it. One of the first books we read was The Day the Crayons Quit, which inspired our very own crayon project! We also read Snippets, a story about paper shapes, which inspired us to recycle paper scraps and use different shapes to create our own paper houses. I am so excited to bring all of our houses together to create a neighborhood filled with unique homes made by each of my students! It has been so rewarding watching my students take what we read together and turn those stories into their own artwork.\r\nThrough these lessons, my students are not only learning about colors, shapes, and different art materials, but they are also making connections between reading and art. I have loved watching them listen to the stories, share their ideas, and get excited about what we are going to create next. So many of my students have enjoyed our read-alouds, and I feel like these moments have given us another opportunity to connect and bond as a classroom.\r\nWhat makes this even more special is knowing that this is just the beginning! I have already selected the books to incorporate into our lessons throughout the rest of the school year. Thank you so much for helping me bring literature into our art room in such a meaningful way. I cannot wait to see all the wonderful ideas and artwork that will continue to grow from the stories we share!","fullyFundedDate":1790962673823,"projectUrl":"project/a-story-waiting-to-be-painted/10692802/","projectTitle":"A Story Waiting to Be Painted","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Livermore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10600016_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788141393784","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10600016"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10657542,"letterContent":"Our students were so excited to see the new hands-on learning materials and could not wait to begin using them! In fourth-grade science, students are using the magnet sets to explore magnetic forces through hands-on investigations, making science concepts more meaningful and engaging. During 3rd–5th grade math small groups, students are using the mini whiteboards to solve problems, show their thinking, and make corrections as they receive immediate feedback from their teachers. Our K–2 students are using the magnetic letters during phonics small groups to build words, practice letter-sound relationships, and work with new spelling patterns. One of the best parts has been watching students eagerly manipulate, write, experiment, and share their thinking instead of simply listening to instruction. Moving forward, students will continue using these resources as they tackle new science investigations, increasingly challenging math concepts, and new phonics skills. Thanks to our generous donors, students across multiple grade levels now have engaging, hands-on tools that encourage participation, strengthen understanding, and make learning come alive.","fullyFundedDate":1790962674468,"projectUrl":"project/wild-about-reading-a-rainforest-adventu/10657542/","projectTitle":"Wild About Reading: A Rainforest Adventure","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10555372,"letterContent":"Our new giant timers are already making a difference in our 3rd–5th grade classrooms! Teachers are using them during independent work, small-group instruction, assessments, and classroom transitions to help students see exactly how much time they have to complete a task. One of our favorite moments has been watching students begin to check the timer on their own and adjust their pace without needing constant reminders from their teacher.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the giant timers, they were excited and curious about how they would be used. They quickly discovered that the timers are not just for counting down time, but are tools that can help them stay focused, organized, and responsible for completing their work.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue using the timers as they work on reading, writing, math, and other classroom assignments. Our goal is for students to become increasingly independent in setting goals, pacing their work, and using their time wisely. Thanks to our generous donors, our 3rd–5th grade students now have a highly visible tool that helps them develop time-management skills they can carry with them beyond the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1790962725511,"projectUrl":"project/giant-timers-for-focused-learning/10555372/","projectTitle":"Giant Timers for Focused Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10539500,"letterContent":"Our students were so excited when they saw the new snacks and learned that they would be used to celebrate their hard work and positive choices! We are using these treats as incentives to recognize students for showing perseverance, meeting learning goals, demonstrating positive behavior, and giving their best effort each day. One of the most rewarding moments has been seeing the pride on a student's face when they earn a special treat after working hard toward a goal. Moving forward, students will continue setting academic and personal goals while working to strengthen their reading, math, and classroom skills. These incentives give us another fun way to recognize their progress and remind students that their effort and growth are worth celebrating. Thank you to our generous donors for helping us encourage, motivate, and celebrate our students!","fullyFundedDate":1790962712136,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-minds-one-snack-at-a-time/10539500/","projectTitle":"Fueling Minds, One Snack at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10554468,"letterContent":"Our new rainbow timers have quickly become a favorite resource in our K–2 classrooms! Teachers are using them during small-group instruction, independent work, centers, cleanup, and classroom transitions. One special moment has been watching students use the changing colors to monitor how much time they have left to complete a task. When students first saw the colorful timers, they were excited and curious, and they quickly learned how the visual display could help them stay on track. As we move forward, students will continue using the timers during literacy, math, and other classroom activities to build independence and make transitions smoother. Having a timer in each of our 16 K–2 classrooms means our youngest learners now have a consistent, student-friendly way to understand time and take greater responsibility for their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1790962725293,"projectUrl":"project/making-every-minute-count-with-visual-ra/10554468/","projectTitle":"Making Every Minute Count With Visual Rainbow Timers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10598364,"letterContent":"Receiving 100 pairs of headphones has made a wonderful impact on our students and their daily learning. Students can now use classroom technology with fewer distractions and better focus as they listen to directions, educational programs, read-alouds, and other digital learning activities. Having reliable headphones available means more students can work independently and at their own pace without interrupting the learning of those around them. These headphones may seem like a simple resource, but they have helped create a calmer, more productive learning environment where students can concentrate, engage, and take greater ownership of their learning. We are incredibly grateful to our donors for providing a resource that will be used by students again and again throughout the school year.","fullyFundedDate":1790962699833,"projectUrl":"project/hear-learn-grow/10598364/","projectTitle":"Hear, Learn, Grow!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10623744,"letterContent":"Our new tabletop whiteboard easels have already become an exciting part of our kindergarten through second-grade phonics instruction. During small groups, students use the easels to practice letter-sound relationships, build and write words, identify spelling patterns, and practice blending and decoding. One of the best moments has been watching students proudly hold up their boards to share their thinking and eagerly erase them to get ready for the next word.\r\n\r\nWhen our students first saw the easels, they were excited and immediately wanted to use them! What may seem like a simple classroom tool has helped make phonics practice feel more interactive and engaging. Students love having their own space to write, practice, make corrections, and show what they know.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our phonics instruction, students will use the easels to apply new sound-spelling patterns, build increasingly challenging words, and practice reading and writing words in small groups. These resources will continue to give our youngest learners meaningful, hands-on practice as they develop the foundational skills they need to become confident readers and writers.","fullyFundedDate":1790962687612,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-reading-success/10623744/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Big Reading Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10539480,"letterContent":"Zane and the Hurricane will have provided my students with a powerful and engaging reading experience that builds both literacy skills and empathy. As students follow Zane's journey through Hurricane Katrina, they analyzed character development, determined themes, and use text evidence to support their thinking. The novel also helps students deepen their understanding of resilience, courage, and the impact of natural disasters on individuals and communities.\r\n\r\nThrough meaningful discussions and standards-aligned activities, students strengthened their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills while connecting with a story that highlights perseverance in the face of adversity. This book inspired students to reflect on the importance of helping others, overcoming challenges, and finding hope during difficult times. The learning experiences created through this novel left a lasting impact both academically and personally with students.","fullyFundedDate":1790962674135,"projectUrl":"project/weathering-the-storm-with-zane/10539480/","projectTitle":"Weathering the Storm With Zane","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"},{"teacherId":10512279,"projectId":10539434,"letterContent":"Your generous support will put a captivating mystery novel directly into the hands of my students and inspire a love of reading, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In Chasing Vermeer, students will follow clues, analyze evidence, make inferences, and work collaboratively to solve a complex mystery. As they read, they will strengthen important literacy skills such as comprehension, vocabulary development, and citing text evidence while engaging in rich discussions about art, creativity, and perseverance.\r\n\r\nThese books will help transform reading from a classroom assignment into an exciting adventure. Students will become detectives, using observation and reasoning skills to make predictions and draw conclusions. The novel's themes encourage curiosity, collaboration, and the idea that there can be more than one way to solve a problem, valuable lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students will have access to high-quality literature that challenges them to think deeply, discuss ideas confidently, and develop a lifelong appreciation for reading and learning. Thank you for helping create meaningful learning experiences that will inspire and empower young readers for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1789230636369,"projectUrl":"project/cracking-the-case-with-chasing-vermeer/10539434/","projectTitle":"Cracking the Case with Chasing Vermeer","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vulgamore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10512279"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_97310","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":695,"numTeachers":42,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":39,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":28,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.1,"schoolId":97310,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about River Gate Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"River Gate Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/charlotte-mecklenburg-school-district/river-gate-elementary-school/97310"}