{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Smyser Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":68.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2053896,"projectId":9451644,"letterContent":"I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of my students. I am blessed to have taught middle school students for over a decade, and it is truly a privilege. It also comes with great responsibility as this can be a very challenging time in their development. It is hard for them to ask for help, and they are often embarrassed when they do not have necessary supplies. \r\n\r\nThrough your donation, I was able to discreetly give these backpacks to a few of my students who were most in need. It was done in a manner of utmost respect, and I know they sincerely appreciated the help. Sometimes it is the little things that can give my students more hope about kindness in the world. \r\n\r\nI hope you know that you have made a difference and I am profoundly grateful. Best wishes to you always!","fullyFundedDate":1756611133812,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-start-the-year-off-with-fully-su/9451644/","projectTitle":"Help Us Start the Year Off with Fully Supplied Backpacks!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kristin Reina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2053896_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1487363094628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-reina"},{"teacherId":10077219,"projectId":9459202,"letterContent":"Dear DonorsChoose Supporters,\r\n\r\nI want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and for being a part of building our 5th grade classroom. Because of your thoughtful donations, I was able to purchase books that helped grow and enrich our classroom library, giving students more opportunities to explore, imagine, and learn.\r\n\r\nThe high-top tables and stools you helped fund have created flexible seating options that support student comfort and collaboration. These additions have transformed our learning space into a place where students feel excited, engaged, and ready to participate.\r\n\r\nYour support also made it possible to obtain essential teaching materials—such as posters and board accessories—that have brought more color, energy, and creativity into our classroom environment. These resources allow me to create a more vibrant and inspiring space for all students.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the lamps and twinkling lights around our classroom have created a whimsical and calming atmosphere. Students often comment on how cozy and inviting the space feels, and it has truly enhanced the overall classroom mood.\r\n\r\nThe classroom hanging folders have also made a big difference. They help students take responsibility through classroom jobs and allow them to easily see our daily schedule and routines. This visual support helps keep our classroom organized and encourages independence.\r\n\r\nThe funds you provided have truly benefited the quality of education I can offer my students. Your generosity gives me the flexibility to use the materials I've been able to purchase in ways that best support learning, creativity, and student engagement.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and for making a meaningful difference in the daily learning experiences of my students. Your kindness and support are deeply appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1753985537373,"projectUrl":"project/room-to-grow-a-5th-grade-journey/9459202/","projectTitle":"Room to Grow: a 5th Grade Journey","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cuatchon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10077219_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y455&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752502279019","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10077219"},{"teacherId":1431690,"projectId":9507988,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your donation to my classroom. I love to do projects with my students and many times we run out of materials because they get used repeatedly. The fine tip black markers are a great hit with adding vibrant touches to their activities. I tell my students that when we put up any kind of art work with writing, we need to write with bold black letters. This way, it can be seen from a farther distance. This makes our bulletin boards look amazing!\r\n\r\n Also, materials like an electric sharper and a new stapler are so helpful for everyone. These resources are always needed because they break all the time. Students love to help me put up their work on my bulletin boards and having extra staplers come in so handy. We use our electric stapler all day and the students really appreciate a nice sharpened pencil before they start math class. Some students like to use their own personal sharpener, which can cause a mess. This also prevents tons of pencil shavings on the floor at the end of the school day. Once again, we are so grateful for your generosity and kind heart to donate to our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755871948843,"projectUrl":"project/project-fun/9507988/","projectTitle":"Project Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1431690_orig.jpg?crop=240,240,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753729419511","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sandy-chan"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":7331103,"letterContent":"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Your extraordinary generosity in fully funding our project, \"Help my students share a year of supplies,\" has truly touched our classroom. Because of you, our students are starting the year not just with the classroom basics they need, but with a palpable sense of warmth, belonging, and excitement for learning.\r\n\r\nHaving these essential materials readily available means our students can be fully immersed in hands-on projects, keeping their learning vibrant and engaging. This directly supports their social-emotional needs and ensures equality for all, allowing every child to participate without a second thought.","fullyFundedDate":1683809810715,"projectUrl":"project/a-classroom-environment-with-equity-in-s/7331103/","projectTitle":"A Classroom Environment With Equity in Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":8242669,"letterContent":"The winter season definitely took a toll on our supplies, but thanks to you, our classroom is now fully stocked with pencils, glue sticks, Kleenex, Clorox Wipes, and folders! The new paper towels and cleaning spray are especially vital in helping us stay germ-free and healthy, allowing us to focus on learning without interruption. Having these materials readily available not only keeps us clean but also establishes equality for all learners, ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1709432219440,"projectUrl":"project/sprucing-up-our-classroom-basics/8242669/","projectTitle":"Sprucing Up Our Classroom Basics!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":9016483,"letterContent":"We're writing with so much joy and gratitude to share that our Valentine's Day festivities for the entire 2nd grade team were a huge success, all thanks to your incredible generosity! Because of your support, every student had the opportunity to participate fully in a day filled with creativity, STEM fun, and a little extra love.\r\n\r\nYour donations made it possible for our students to decorate their own Valentine's Day bags using white handled bags, glitter hearts, stickers, and doilies – a truly memorable keepsake for their treats. They also loved making keychains for someone special and diving into a fantastic STEM project by creating bouncy balls. The \"pop-it\" treats were the perfect cherry on top, bringing smiles to all their faces!","fullyFundedDate":1737043474968,"projectUrl":"project/a-valentines-day-to-remember/9016483/","projectTitle":"A Valentine's Day to Remember!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":9016290,"letterContent":"The excitement in our second-grade classrooms is already palpable as students anticipate choosing a book like \"Chrysanthemum,\" \"Lily's Purple Plastic Purse,\" \"Wemberly Worried,\" \"The Pigeon Has To GO TO School!\" or \"Waiting Is Not Easy!\" This voice and choice in selecting the book that best represents their class is invaluable, fostering ownership and deeper connection to the social-emotional themes within each story.\r\n\r\nBeyond the plays, these books will significantly enrich our classroom libraries, providing windows of exploration for all learners. We're especially thrilled about the Spanish version of \"Lily's Plastic Purple Purse,\" ensuring our diverse learners have access to stories in their native language. The provided construction paper and tape allowed our students to unleash their creativity, designing thei mouse ears.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and providing them with these powerful tools for social-emotional growth and artistic expression. Your support truly makes a difference in their learning journey!","fullyFundedDate":1738837567779,"projectUrl":"project/some-new-books-for-an-sel-play-in-2nd-gr/9016290/","projectTitle":"Some New Books For An SEL Play In 2nd Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":8294112,"letterContent":"We're writing to express our immense gratitude for your generous support of our project, \"Butterfly Magic for 2nd Grade!\" Thanks to your kindness, we were able to purchase three butterfly kits, allowing every second-grade student to witness the incredible butterfly life cycle up close.\r\n\r\nOur students are absolutely buzzing with excitement to observe the caterpillars transform into chrysalises and then emerge as beautiful butterflies. This hands-on experience is an invaluable way to bring our science curriculum to life, fostering a deeper understanding of metamorphosis and the natural world.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has truly made a difference in enriching our students' learning and sparking their curiosity. We're so grateful for your commitment to providing engaging and memorable educational opportunities.","fullyFundedDate":1713734875383,"projectUrl":"project/butterfly-magic-for-2nd-grade/8294112/","projectTitle":"Butterfly Magic for 2nd Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":8008556,"letterContent":"We are writing to express our sincerest gratitude for your incredible generosity in funding our project, \"STEMing Our Way With Some Tie-Dye Fun!\" Thanks to your support, our students now have fantastic tie-dye shirts to wear for both our upcoming opera performance and our annual field day.\r\n\r\nThe excitement among the students has been palpable as they anticipate creating and wearing these unique shirts. Not only will these shirts add a vibrant and cohesive element to our opera, but they will also make our field day even more memorable and unified. Beyond the fun, this project also allowed us to incorporate a hands-on STEM activity, demonstrating the chemistry behind the dyes and the artistic process involved in tie-dyeing.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has made a tangible difference in enriching our students' experiences and providing them with opportunities they might not otherwise have had. We are so grateful for your belief in our students and our programs.\r\n\r\nWe will be sure to share photos of our students proudly wearing their tie-dye creations at both events!","fullyFundedDate":1701174699273,"projectUrl":"project/steming-our-way-with-some-tye-dye-fun/8008556/","projectTitle":"STEMing Our Way With Some Tye Dye Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":1419092,"projectId":9302440,"letterContent":"We are absolutely thrilled to send our heartfelt thanks for fully funding our project, \"Essential Supplies for an Engaging Classroom!\" Your incredible generosity has provided our students with the basic supplies they need to thrive, and in doing so, you've created a classroom environment where every child feels loved, valued, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYou've removed a significant barrier to success for our students. By providing their own pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and so much more, you've ensured that no student feels self-conscious or disadvantaged. This project goes beyond just academic performance; it directly addresses our students' social-emotional needs and promotes equity for all. When students have the tools they need, they can truly focus on hands-on projects and immerse themselves in learning.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you for helping our students feel loved and for being an essential part of their learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1746787022885,"projectUrl":"project/time-to-supply-our-classroom-for-a-new-s/9302440/","projectTitle":"Time to Supply Our Classroom For a New School Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Binyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1419092_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657585309385","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/agikas"},{"teacherId":3353825,"projectId":9322930,"letterContent":"We are so thankful for you in helping to support my classroom. My students were so excited when the decodable books came in. Right away, my students wanted to dive in the books, and start reading. \r\n\r\nThe decodable books have been a wonderful addition to our SIPPS program. The decodable books connects with the SIPPS program lessons! Once we are done with a lesson, my students are excited to practice and apply their reading skills! The new decodable books have been a great resource for students to practice their decoding, blending, reading sight words, and building their fluency. \r\n\r\nMany of my students want to keep turning the page to read more to find out what happens next in the new decodable books! It has been amazing to see all my students wanting to read more, and check out a new decodable book every day! \r\n\r\nWe are so thankful for your donation, and supporting my students' love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1746675745457,"projectUrl":"project/decodable-books-for-reading-success/9322930/","projectTitle":"Decodable Books For Reading Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cho","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3353825_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472616910084","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3353825"},{"teacherId":9729601,"projectId":9302323,"letterContent":"My students were so happy to see a new teacher table and whiteboard when they walked into our small learning space. The teacher table is the perfect size for the primary grades and allows my students to feel comfortable as they interact with me. It fosters a collaborative learning environment. \r\n\r\nI worked with several different groups of students throughout the school year. The students I work with are first and second graders. They are below grade level in Reading and when it comes to instruction and practice they have very low self esteem. The teacher table along with the board allow close proximity to me and encourages them to participate and ask questions. \r\n\r\nI look forward to working with students next school year in this space. It offers opportunities for individualized attention and helps students grasp concepts more effectively. Thank you again for helping me make a difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1746471018611,"projectUrl":"project/small-groups-instruction-to-promote-stud/9302323/","projectTitle":"Small Groups Instruction to Promote Student Engagement and Lifelong Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9729601_orig.jpg?crop=1170,1170,x0,y222&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746463886020","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9729601"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5321","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":758,"numTeachers":48,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":5,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":63,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":31.8,"schoolId":5321,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Smyser Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Smyser Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/smyser-elementary-school/5321"}