{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Simonds Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":39.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":10269901,"letterContent":"Our classroom would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped fund our DonorsChoose project for hands-on learning materials and craft supplies. Your generosity has allowed our students to engage in meaningful, interactive learning experiences that have brought our lessons to life in unforgettable ways.\r\n\r\nBecause of these materials, students have been able to participate in a variety of creative, hands-on projects connected directly to our curriculum. While learning about the 13 Colonies, students created cornhusk dolls to better understand daily colonial life and the types of toys children may have made long ago. During our science units, students used materials for experiments and investigations while learning about physical and chemical changes. Students also used supplies to design and build state floats as part of their geography research projects.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing students so enthusiastic about coming to class each day. They were proud of the work they created and excited to share their projects with classmates and families. The classroom became a place filled with curiosity, creativity, and joyful learning.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our students and helping provide opportunities for authentic, hands-on learning experiences. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on our classroom, and we are truly grateful.\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,\r\n\r\nVeronica Hennessey and Students","fullyFundedDate":1778505721872,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-bringing-science-so/10269901/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Learning: Bringing Science & Social Studies to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":10216077,"letterContent":"Our classroom would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped fund our DonorsChoose project for a color printer. This resource has already made a meaningful impact on our students and on the learning environment in our classroom.\r\n\r\nHaving access to a color printer has allowed me to create clearer, more engaging, and more accessible materials for my students every day. Color-coding has been especially important for supporting my English learners. Many assignments, graphic organizers, directions, and reference materials use colors to help students organize information, identify patterns, and better understand concepts. Being able to print these materials in color has made lessons easier to follow and has helped students feel more confident and successful in their learning.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity and for supporting our classroom. Your kindness has helped make learning more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for our students, and we are truly grateful.\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,\r\n\r\nVeronica Hennessey and Students","fullyFundedDate":1778035301311,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-learning-to-life-with-color/10216077/","projectTitle":"Bringing Learning to Life with Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":10141985,"letterContent":"Our classroom would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped fully fund our DonorsChoose project for graphic novels and new books for our classroom library. Your generosity has already made a huge difference for our students, and we are so grateful for your support.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding outcomes has been seeing students recommend books to one another and genuinely look forward to reading time. Several students who previously struggled to find books they enjoyed are now asking to borrow books to read at home. Watching students become excited about reading has been truly wonderful.\r\n\r\nThese books will continue to benefit students for years to come as part of our classroom library. Your support has helped create a classroom environment where reading feels joyful, accessible, and exciting for every student.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and helping foster a lifelong love of reading in our students. Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\n\r\nVeronica Hennessey and Students","fullyFundedDate":1773839643984,"projectUrl":"project/turning-pages-opening-minds/10141985/","projectTitle":"Turning Pages, Opening Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":10215016,"letterContent":"Our classroom would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped fully fund our DonorsChoose project for our collection of books about the 50 states. We would especially like to thank the SONIC Foundation for helping make this project possible. Your generosity had a tremendous impact on our students and created meaningful learning experiences that they will remember for years to come.\r\n\r\nBecause of these materials, students were able to fully immerse themselves in a hands-on research project that combined reading, writing, social studies, creativity, and collaboration. The state books became the foundation for an exciting unit where students researched an assigned state and then worked together to create detailed and creative state floats. Students explored state symbols, landmarks, geography, climate, famous people, natural resources, industries, and important historical events. They used the books daily to gather information, take notes, and deepen their understanding of the many cultures and regions that make up our country.\r\n\r\nThis project had an enormous impact on student learning. Many students had never previously explored states outside of California in depth, and these books helped open their eyes to the diversity and uniqueness of different parts of the United States. Students became highly engaged because the books were colorful, accessible, and written in ways that made nonfiction reading exciting and approachable. Even students who sometimes struggle to stay motivated during traditional assignments were eager to research and share interesting facts they discovered.\r\n\r\nThe materials also allowed me to accomplish so much more in my teaching. Instead of relying on limited online resources or outdated textbooks, students had high-quality nonfiction texts directly in their hands. This made research more meaningful and helped students practice important literacy skills, including identifying main ideas, summarizing information, taking notes, and citing evidence from texts. The books supported differentiated learning because students could work at their own pace and revisit information independently whenever needed.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of this experience was seeing students take ownership of their learning. They became true researchers. Students were excited to share facts with one another, compare states, and proudly present their final projects. The state float project transformed our classroom into a vibrant celebration of creativity and learning. Students designed floats featuring famous landmarks, state animals, agriculture, sports teams, historical monuments, and cultural traditions. The pride they felt in their finished work was incredible to witness.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, this project also helped build confidence, collaboration, and curiosity. Students learned how to work together, divide responsibilities, problem solve, and communicate ideas effectively. Several students even checked the books out during free time because they wanted to continue learning more about different states beyond the assignment requirements. Watching students voluntarily engage with nonfiction reading was truly exciting.\r\n\r\nThese books will continue benefiting students for many years because they are now part of our classroom library. Future classes will use them for geography units, independent reading, research projects, and enrichment activities. Your support has created lasting opportunities for meaningful and engaging learning experiences.\r\n\r\nThank you again to everyone who donated and to the SONIC Foundation for investing in our students and our classroom. Your generosity provided more than just books — it provided inspiration, excitement, confidence, and unforgettable learning opportunities. We are so grateful for your support and for helping our students become enthusiastic learners and researchers.\r\n\r\nWith sincere appreciation,\r\n\r\nVeronica Hennessey and Students","fullyFundedDate":1778035386501,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-the-united-states-one-state-a/10215016/","projectTitle":"Exploring the United States, One State at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":3021441,"projectId":9916090,"letterContent":"Our class has absolutely loved using the new resources! The moment I introduced the games, the excitement in the room was immediate. Students were especially thrilled about favorites like Memory, Connect Four, Spoons, and CLUE. There were lots of smiles, \"Can we play again?\" requests, and students eagerly helping set up and explain rules to one another.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching students play CLUE. What looks like a simple board game has turned into such a powerful learning opportunity. They are practicing deductive reasoning, critical thinking, and communication skills in a very natural way. I've seen students explain their thinking, defend their conclusions with evidence, and respectfully challenge each other's ideas — all while genuinely having fun.\r\n\r\nI've also noticed a meaningful increase in student interaction. These games create structured opportunities for 1:1 and small-group engagement, which has been wonderful for building social skills, collaboration, and confidence. Some students who are typically quieter during whole-group lessons really shine during game time.\r\n\r\nAs for next steps, we're continuing to integrate the games into both academic centers and social-emotional learning time. Students are beginning to reflect on the strategies they use during gameplay — especially problem-solving and communication techniques — and connect them to their classroom learning. We're also working on rotating leadership roles so students can facilitate games independently, strengthening responsibility and teamwork.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create these joyful, meaningful learning moments in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1764890473506,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-learners-with-tools-to-play/9916090/","projectTitle":"Empowering Learners With Tools to Play, Create, and Thrive!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Simmerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3021441_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490852161735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ashley-ganjtomari"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":9699042,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generosity and support of our classroom. Because of your donations, we have been able to create a calm and welcoming \"soft start\" to our school day. During the first 15 minutes each morning, students now have access to quiet activities at their desks that help their minds and bodies slowly transition into learning mode.\r\n\r\nThis gentle start has made a meaningful difference. Students come in feeling relaxed, focused, and ready to learn, and we have already seen improvements in both their performance and overall classroom environment. Most importantly, the students absolutely love this time — it has quickly become one of their favorite parts of the day.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has helped us build a positive routine that supports students' well-being as well as their academic success. We are truly grateful for your support and for believing in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1757568866693,"projectUrl":"project/stem-materials-for-a-soft-start-to-the-d/9699042/","projectTitle":"STEM Materials for a Soft Start to the Day!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":3021441,"projectId":8367077,"letterContent":"My students and I have been using the new paint and craft materials every week, and they've already brought so much creativity and excitement into our classroom. When the supplies first arrived, the students could hardly contain themselves—they were thrilled to see the bright paints, fresh brushes, and new crafting tools, and immediately began imagining all the projects they wanted to try. One of our favorite moments so far was creating \"mini masterpiece\" canvases where students painted scenes from their reading and science lessons, combining art with academics in a way that made their learning come alive. These materials have opened the door for richer hands-on activities across subjects, and our next steps are to use the supplies for upcoming social-emotional identity art, holiday crafts, and visual pieces to support our writing unit. Your support has truly elevated what we're able to do, and the students feel proud and inspired every time they pick up these new tools.","fullyFundedDate":1715087337285,"projectUrl":"project/bright-and-colorful-learning/8367077/","projectTitle":"Bright and Colorful Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Simmerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3021441_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490852161735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ashley-ganjtomari"},{"teacherId":3021441,"projectId":8354933,"letterContent":"My students and I have been putting the new paints, paint markers, frames, and art tools to great use, and they have already transformed the creativity in our classroom. The first day the materials arrived, the students were buzzing with excitement—they immediately started testing out the different brushes and markers, amazed at how vibrant and smooth everything looked on paper. We used the supplies for a special project where students created framed \"identity art\"—a piece that represented who they are, their interests, and what makes them unique—and seeing their pride when they placed their finished work into the frames was a moment I'll never forget. These materials have opened the door for richer art integration in writing, science, and social-emotional lessons, and our next step is to use the paint tools to illustrate scenes from our reading unit and create visual projects that deepen understanding across subjects. The resources you provided have truly elevated what's possible in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1716518309891,"projectUrl":"project/painting-our-beautiful-faces/8354933/","projectTitle":"Painting Our Beautiful Faces","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Simmerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3021441_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490852161735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ashley-ganjtomari"},{"teacherId":3021441,"projectId":8461002,"letterContent":"Our classroom has already benefited so much from the new air purifier and replacement filters, and my students were more excited than I expected when it arrived—they immediately gathered around to see how it worked and loved knowing it would help keep our room healthier. With such a large, bright classroom and constant movement throughout the day, the purifier has made a noticeable difference in keeping our air clean and helping students—especially those with allergies—stay focused and comfortable. We even joked that our room is now \"the fresh-air room,\" and the students proudly point out whenever the filter needs changing. As we continue working through our research and writing units, science lessons, and collaborative group projects, having a clean, calm learning environment has been essential, and this resource will continue supporting every part of our day.","fullyFundedDate":1719687540946,"projectUrl":"project/purify-the-air-in-our-large-classroom/8461002/","projectTitle":"Purify the Air in Our Large Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Simmerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3021441_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490852161735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ashley-ganjtomari"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":9280141,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of computer covers for our classroom MacBooks. Your gift will help protect our devices from scratches, bumps, and everyday wear, allowing them to last longer and continue serving our students well. Our students love using the MacBooks, so the longer that we can keep them, the better.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our students can focus on learning, creating, and exploring new ideas—without worrying about damaging their tools. We truly appreciate your kindness and investment in their education.","fullyFundedDate":1746554369257,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-keep-our-computers-safe-and-clea/9280141/","projectTitle":"Help Us Keep Our Computers Safe and Clean!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":9225877,"letterContent":"On behalf of our classroom, I want to thank you for your generous donation of books. Your kindness has filled our shelves with new stories, adventures, and learning opportunities.\r\n\r\nAlready, I've seen our students' eyes light up as they discover characters to root for, mysteries to solve, and worlds to explore. These books are more than just pages and covers—they are sparks that ignite curiosity, inspire imagination, and help build a lifelong love of reading.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made a lasting impact on our students' lives, and we are deeply grateful for your support in helping them develop as readers.","fullyFundedDate":1744222383129,"projectUrl":"project/reading-is-fundamental/9225877/","projectTitle":"Reading is FUNdamental!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"},{"teacherId":2954772,"projectId":9219885,"letterContent":"On behalf of our 5th-grade students, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of combination locks. Your gift is more than just a practical tool—it's an important stepping stone as our students prepare for the exciting transition to middle school.\r\n\r\nWith your donation, our students have been able to practice opening lockers in a fun, low-pressure setting. This hands-on experience has boosted their confidence, reduced the \"first day\" nerves, and given them a sense of readiness for the new challenges ahead. You've helped turn what could have been a source of stress into a skill they feel proud to master.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our students not only academically, but also in their life skills. Your kindness is helping them walk into middle school feeling prepared, capable, and confident.","fullyFundedDate":1745609199185,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-master-combo-locks-for-middle/9219885/","projectTitle":"Help Us \"Master\" Combo Locks for Middle School!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hennessey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2954772_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544257265535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronica-hennessey"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4938","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":494,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":10,"percentAsian":38,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":28,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":17,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"19.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.0,"schoolId":4938,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Simonds Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Simonds Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/san-jose-unified-school-district/simonds-elementary-school/4938"}