{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Southside Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9409944,"letterContent":"Dear Supporter,\r\n\r\nIn our kindergarten classroom, learning the alphabet is so much more than memorizing letters—it's about experiencing them with our whole bodies. Children learn best when they can touch, see, hear, and move, and that's exactly the kind of joyful, multisensory environment I strive to create each day.\r\n\r\n\r\nWith your support, we will bring in engaging alphabet games and hands-on learning tools that turn letters into meaningful adventures. From textured letter tiles and sensory bins to movement-based activities and interactive storytelling, these materials will give every child—no matter their learning style—the opportunity to explore language in playful, developmentally appropriate ways.\r\n\r\nResearch consistently shows that multisensory learning strengthens memory, boosts attention, and builds confidence for early learners. Your generosity will help my students build a strong foundation for reading by making learning active, inclusive, and fun.\r\n\r\nYour donation is more than a gift of materials—it's an investment in curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of literacy. Because of you, my students will not only learn their ABCs; they will feel them, experience them, and truly make them their own.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us bring letters to life, one playful step at a time.","fullyFundedDate":1756219730599,"projectUrl":"project/abc-through-the-senses-a-multisensory/9409944/","projectTitle":"\"ABC Through the Senses: A Multisensory Literacy Project for Kindergarten\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"},{"teacherId":3468442,"projectId":9636930,"letterContent":"Sometimes what we think of as \"little\" things are the big things.\r\n\r\nFor my students, food is a love language. Some of my students receive their main meals of the week at school and some look forward to coming for that exact reason. \r\n\r\nDaily I pass out a snack to my students. Some (about 20%) will bring their own, but most don't have any. These snacks have become something that my students look forward to each day. I have one sweet boy who walks in from breakfast in the morning and the first thing he says to me is, \"What is for snack today Mrs. Karst?\"\r\n\r\nNot only does the snack provide much needed nutrishment to help them make it until lunch, but it also provides a sense of 'safety' for some. They know that, no matter what else is going on in their day, Mrs. Karst has a snack for them after their recess at 10:00 am in the morning. That is something that they can absoutely count on-thanks to you.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, now 19 students have something that they look forward to and can 'count' on every single school day. Watching them have joy from something that I don't think much of is so humbling. \r\n\r\nI cannot thank you enough for giving my students such a gift-a gift of food.","fullyFundedDate":1756219730469,"projectUrl":"project/snack-tastic-adventures/9636930/","projectTitle":"\"Snack-tastic Adventures\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Karst","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3468442_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756050661293","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3468442"},{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9263370,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of fine motor materials to our Kindergarten classroom. These resources have made an incredible difference in helping our young learners strengthen the small muscles in their hands—skills that are essential for writing, cutting, buttoning, and so many everyday tasks they encounter at school and at home.\r\n\r\nFrom tweezers and lacing cards to play dough tools and building activities, your donation gave my students the chance to build fine motor strength through fun, purposeful play. These tools were not only engaging—they were empowering. For some of my students, tasks like holding a pencil, using scissors, or even zipping a coat were real challenges at the start of the year. But with daily opportunities to work on these skills in a low-pressure, hands-on way, their confidence and abilities soared.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the school year, I saw significant growth across the board. Students who once struggled to form letters were writing full sentences. Others who had difficulty with coordination were able to participate more fully in classroom activities and take greater independence in daily routines. These are the foundational milestones that often go unnoticed—but they're absolutely essential to long-term academic success.\r\n\r\nYour support gave my students the tools they needed to grow, not just as learners, but as independent little humans ready to take on the world. Thank you for believing in the power of early childhood education and for making such a lasting impact on our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746785363788,"projectUrl":"project/fun-with-fingers-fine-motor-center-act/9263370/","projectTitle":"\"Fun With Fingers: Fine Motor Center Activities for Kindergarten Success\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"},{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9224220,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of math games to our Kindergarten classroom. Your support brought math to life for my students, turning what can sometimes feel like a tricky subject into something fun, exciting, and deeply engaging.\r\n\r\nThese hands-on games gave my students the opportunity to explore key math concepts like number recognition, counting, addition, subtraction, shapes, and patterns in a playful, interactive way. Rather than just working with paper and pencil, they were able to build, move, and talk through their thinking with partners—developing not just math skills, but also collaboration and confidence.\r\n\r\nThe impact was truly remarkable. By the end of the school year, nearly all of my students had reached or exceeded grade-level expectations in math. Many of them even surprised themselves with how much they could do! I saw struggling learners blossom with a little extra support through play, and high-flyers deepen their thinking through more complex game strategies. Most importantly, I saw every child develop a positive mindset about math—something that will stay with them for years to come.\r\n\r\nYour donation made this possible. Thank you for investing in early education, in joyful learning, and in the belief that all children can succeed when given the right tools.","fullyFundedDate":1744939477022,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-exploring-math-through-board-ga/9224220/","projectTitle":"Game On: Exploring Math Through Board Games","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"},{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9211862,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest thanks for your generous donation of phonics learning games to our Kindergarten classroom. Because of your support, my students had access to engaging, hands-on resources that made foundational literacy skills not only accessible, but exciting.\r\n\r\nThese phonics games quickly became a favorite part of our daily literacy centers. Whether students were blending sounds, identifying letters, or building words, they were doing it through play—without even realizing how much they were learning. The interactive nature of these games allowed every child, regardless of their starting point, to grow at their own pace while still being challenged and supported.\r\n\r\nThanks to your gift, we saw remarkable progress across the board. By the end of the school year, every one of my students reached or exceeded grade-level expectations in phonics and early reading skills—an achievement that fills me with pride and gratitude. This kind of success isn't just about numbers; it's about children discovering a love for reading, feeling confident in their abilities, and starting their educational journey with the tools they need to thrive.\r\n\r\nYour investment in our classroom has made a lasting impact—not just for one year, but for years to come. Thank you for believing in early education and in the power of joyful learning.","fullyFundedDate":1743380564761,"projectUrl":"project/learning-phonics-through-playboard-game/9211862/","projectTitle":"Learning Phonics Through Play/Board Games!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"},{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9120483,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donation, every one of my students now has access to properly fitting headphones, which has made a huge difference in our classroom. Not only are students more engaged during daily learning activities, but they are also better prepared for important state testing, which requires the use of headphones. Before, inconsistent access to well-fitting headphones created barriers for some students, especially during assessments. Now, with a class set available, all of my students can participate equally and confidently, without discomfort or distraction. This has created a more equitable learning environment and allowed every child to focus on showing what they know—just like their peers. Your support has truly leveled the playing field for our young learners. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1742949199527,"projectUrl":"project/sounding-off-for-learning-help-steam-s/9120483/","projectTitle":"\"Sounding Off for Learning: Help Steam Students Hear the Future!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"},{"teacherId":9080607,"projectId":9075142,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible impact the Science of Reading project has had on my students. With the tools and resources provided, my students have gained a much stronger foundation in reading. The research-backed strategies have truly transformed how they approach and understand texts, allowing them to develop crucial literacy skills at a pace that suits their individual needs. Thanks to this project, they now have a more solid, confident grasp of reading and its complexities, and I am seeing their love for learning grow each day.\r\n\r\nThe accessibility and support that the Science of Reading project has provided have been invaluable in helping me meet the diverse needs of my students. It has not only made reading more accessible but also more engaging and enjoyable for all of them. I am excited to continue implementing these methods and watching my students continue to thrive. Thank you for your dedication to enhancing educational opportunities and for making such a meaningful difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1738430153195,"projectUrl":"project/support-the-science-of-reading-in-kinder/9075142/","projectTitle":"Support the Science of reading in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9080607_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690333070507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9080607"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_52413","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":171,"numTeachers":8,"percentFrplEligible":40,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":90,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"21.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":65.0,"schoolId":52413,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Southside Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Southside Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/idaho/lake-pend-oreille-school-district-84/southside-elementary-school/52413"}