{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Cardenas Elementary School - South","outOfStateSupporters":27.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9798106,"projectId":9336742,"letterContent":"Students with audio processing challenges or those learning English were able to listen to lessons and instructions multiple times at their own pace. Whether listening to an instructional video, a historical primary source audio, or a language immersion exercise, the high-fidelity sound ensures students don't miss critical verbal cues or subtle inflections, leading to better comprehension.\r\nThey were also able to use text-to-speech tools privately to have digital text read aloud to them. While an expensive computer provides the content, the quality headphones you help fund provide the crucial gateway for that content to be effectively received, processed, and utilized by every single student.","fullyFundedDate":1747238756376,"projectUrl":"project/ears-on-minds-on/9336742/","projectTitle":"Ears On, Minds On!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rachele","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9798106_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735601395931","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9798106"},{"teacherId":6523722,"projectId":9429625,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project! The arrival of the new materials brought an incredible spark of excitement and energy into our learning space. Being able to see how excited they were to use the classroom materials and being able to have different spaces for them to work and collaborate.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the new resources to great use. One of the highlights so far has been a recent team building activity. My students worked in small groups to build their own mini habitats. Watching them collaborate, ask questions, and communicate was fantastic — it allowed them to make a memorable learning experience.\r\n\r\nThese resources have transformed the way we approach learning. Instead of just working in their seats, my students are now actively engaging with their partners and curriculum by having the freedom to use any space in the room. From the bottom of my heart — thank you. You didn't just fund a project; you opened the door to deeper learning, discovery, and joy for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1751302892710,"projectUrl":"project/from-reluctant-to-ravenous-readers/9429625/","projectTitle":"From Reluctant to Ravenous Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Calderon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6523722_orig.png?crop=936,936,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649703441069","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6523722"},{"teacherId":5084026,"projectId":9553543,"letterContent":"Our new rugs and classroom materials have arrived, and what a change they have made! Our library area feels completely refreshed. The two new rugs fill up the whole space with color, and provide a comfortable and exciting place for students to learn. Materials as simple as lap desks and clipboards allow students to move and work more functionally throughout the classroom, which cuts down on frustration. The headphones are also very helpful, ensuring that every student has access to videos and music during class!\r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to say goodbye to our dingy old rug and bring in these much-needed replacements. Thanks to this and many previous Donors Choose projects, my reading space is a welcoming and fun place to be. I can't wait to see how students continue to use this space to collaborate on projects and improve their reading.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting my students and helping to foster a love for independent reading!","fullyFundedDate":1755718473630,"projectUrl":"project/relaxing-reading/9553543/","projectTitle":"Relaxing & Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Augustine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084026_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525809430191","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/a-mccaffrey"},{"teacherId":5084026,"projectId":9121996,"letterContent":"With immense gratitude, thank you for your contribution to my Donors Choose project, \"Can You Hear the Students Sing?\". This project provided us with a new sound mixer for our Drama productions, which is the tool used to manage all of the audio coming from the microphones on stage to the speakers projecting the sound. Our previous sound mixer only had the capacity for six microphone inputs--and now we have doubled that capacity. \r\n\r\nOn the surface level, your generosity enabled our Drama Club to perform with six additional microphones, which led to much better audio quality, minimal feedback issues, and reduced stress. I heard excitedly from teachers, \"You can hear the kids all the way in the back of the gym!\" In this way, this sound mixer not only improved the Drama Club's experiences as performers, but also the over 900 students' experiences as audience members--a huge deal for our school!\r\n\r\nOn a deeper level, your generosity has led to improved confidence and sense of self for our Drama Club students. When they see that their extracurricular efforts are met with improved equipment, they sense that their efforts are valued and that the arts is a worthy endeavor. You have fostered (and will continue to foster!) a generation of theater kids who know that they deserve to be heard. That's a powerful message to experience through performance!\r\n\r\nThank you again for your support of our Drama Club. Your generous donations will continue to impact us for many years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1742952625097,"projectUrl":"project/can-you-hear-the-students-sing/9121996/","projectTitle":"Can You Hear the Students Sing?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Augustine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084026_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525809430191","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/a-mccaffrey"},{"teacherId":2841651,"projectId":8996987,"letterContent":"In our Steam class, we work with a program called Tinkercad. It is an elementary school age friendly CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) program which allows students to create 3D objects. We begin working with this program in 4th grade and by 8th grade, my students become experts at 3D manipulation and creation. Your generous donation of stylus pens, mouse attachments and headphones enhanced their experiences working with the program.\r\n\r\nI want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation toward our elementary CAD class. These tools are not just items; they are gateways to a new world of creativity and problem-solving for our young learners, opening up opportunities for them to explore the world of design, engineering, and technology.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your gift is already evident in the classroom. With the new equipment, students are more engaged, focused, and able to work more efficiently as they develop their skills in CAD. Whether it's creating their first 3D model or collaborating on projects, they now have the resources they need to bring their ideas to life. Your contribution is truly making a difference, and we couldn't be more grateful for your commitment to helping our students succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generosity and support. We look forward to seeing the amazing projects our students will continue to create with these new tools!","fullyFundedDate":1739369090287,"projectUrl":"project/can-you-hear-me-now/8996987/","projectTitle":"Can You Hear Me Now?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kowalski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2841651_orig.jpg?crop=1925,1925,x453,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756237528222","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2841651"},{"teacherId":3257391,"projectId":9125793,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Lunch and Learn program! Thanks to your donations, my 4th–8th grade students now have the materials, treats, and small prizes needed to make each monthly workshop meaningful and engaging.\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies first arrived, my students were buzzing with excitement. They were especially thrilled about the snacks and hands-on materials—they immediately started guessing what kind of fun activities we'd be doing next. One student even said, \" Its Earth Day, I thought it might be an Easter activity.\" Another said, \" wow; we get all of this \" as he selected his swag bag trinkets. \r\n\r\nWe've already started putting everything to good use. This month's workshop theme is \"Listen to the Earth,\" where we focus on showing empathy for our planet through Earth Day-inspired crafts. Watching students work together on eco-friendly art projects while sharing ideas about how to take care of our environment has been incredibly rewarding. The relaxed lunch setting allows them to open up, build connections, and practice important social-emotional skills in a safe and supportive space.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we're excited to keep the momentum going with new monthly themes that address everything from kindness and self-awareness to teamwork and mindfulness. Your donation has helped us create a space where students feel seen, heard, and supported—and we couldn't have done it without you.","fullyFundedDate":1741361909808,"projectUrl":"project/lunch-and-learn-with-the-counselor-and-s/9125793/","projectTitle":"Lunch and Learn With the Counselor and Social Worker","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Espinoza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3257391_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1631988123817","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3257391"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5813","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":590,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":34,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":46,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":72.3,"schoolId":5813,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Cardenas Elementary School - South on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Cardenas Elementary School - South","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/rosario-castellanos-elementary-school/5813"}