{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Monarcas Academy","outOfStateSupporters":33.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5563666,"projectId":10253912,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our project! Because of your kind contributions, our classroom has transformed into a much calmer, quieter, and more focused environment for learning.\r\nThe tennis balls on our chair legs and our new wireless doorbell have quickly become essential parts of our daily routine. Transitions between subjects and group activities used to involve loud scraping sounds that disrupted us and made it hard for my students' sensitive ears to focus. Now, my students can push back their chairs and move around the room smoothly without making a sound. Our wireless doorbell serves as a gentle cue to help us regroup, regain focus, or transition to the next task.\r\nWhen the kids first saw the new materials in the classroom, they were absolutely thrilled! They loved how the chairs moved effortlessly across the room without sticking to the floor or making harsh, screeching sounds. Many of my students recognized the tennis balls as an important safety feature. They noted how much easier and quieter it is to move our furniture silently whenever we practice our safety and lockdown drills. They also love how the chairs look with the tennis balls. They think the chairs look cool.\r\nWe are currently diving into our next group learning projects, and the newfound calm in our classroom allows the kids to collaborate, share ideas, and focus on their goals without distraction.\r\nThank you again for making such a meaningful difference in my students' daily school experience.","fullyFundedDate":1785162169767,"projectUrl":"project/silent-floors-smooth-transitions/10253912/","projectTitle":"Silent Floors & Smooth Transitions","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5563666_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532404255495","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maestramartinez306"},{"teacherId":3567749,"projectId":10495396,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your thoughtful donations. I cannot fully express how much of a difference this has made for my students. Many of my learners rely heavily on visual cues and vibrant, adapted learning materials to navigate their daily routines and grasp new concepts. Thanks to your kindness, I can print high-quality, colorful materials directly in our room. This immediate access allows me to tailor activities to each student's unique learning style right when they need it most. Your support is truly helping to break down barriers and make learning accessible, engaging, and joyful for them.\r\nThank you again for bringing so much color and opportunity into our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1788144547545,"projectUrl":"project/color-my-learning-experience/10495396/","projectTitle":"Color My Learning Experience!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. J. Paz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3567749_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718561853998","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3567749"},{"teacherId":5563666,"projectId":10172748,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support in funding this project. Because of your kindness, my 4th-grade bilingual students now have high-quality painting supplies to bring their creativity to life.\r\nWhen I first opened the box in front of my students their eyes lit up seeing all the bright paints, pallets, and brushes. Hearing them whisper to each other in both English and Spanish about what they were going to create was an unforgettable moment.\r\nAfter I told them that we would be doing an art study on Anthony Browne's Voices in the Park, they were even more excited. The book explores four different perspectives on the same walk through a park, using distinct visual styles and moods for each character. The students love the art from the book. Inspired by the art, my students painted multi-perspective artwork. Each student selected a character and painted their visual interpretations, carefully choosing colors and background elements to reflect each character's inner voice and emotions.\r\nThese supplies allowed my students to communicate themes of perspective, tone, and character emotion visually while building their descriptive vocabulary in both languages.\r\nThank you once again for opening up new avenues of learning, creativity, and self-expression for my students. Your support truly brings literature to life in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1779295211926,"projectUrl":"project/painting-our-voices-bringing-literature/10172748/","projectTitle":"Painting Our Voices: Bringing Literature to Life Through Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5563666_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532404255495","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maestramartinez306"},{"teacherId":10404914,"projectId":10230501,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing our classroom with movable whiteboards! My students were excited when they first saw them and could not wait to begin writing, solving problems, and sharing their ideas. We use the whiteboards during our math academic teams so students can work together, organize their thinking, and clearly display their strategies for the class.\r\n\r\nThe whiteboards have made a huge difference in the quality of our student discussions. During our unit on volume, teams used them to draw rectangular prisms, write volume formulas, solve problems, and compare different strategies. Because everyone can see the group's work, students are asking more questions, explaining their reasoning, and learning from one another.\r\n\r\nNext, students will continue using the whiteboards to solve multiplication and division problems and participate in team discussions. These resources have helped create a more collaborative classroom where students feel confident sharing their mathematical thinking. Thank you for investing in my students and making meaningful teamwork possible!","fullyFundedDate":1787183133358,"projectUrl":"project/stand-and-deliver-academic-math-team-boa/10230501/","projectTitle":"Stand and Deliver Academic Math Team Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Villada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10404914_orig.png?crop=996,996,x0,y355&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1777298242622","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fervillada"},{"teacherId":14621,"projectId":10130107,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my second graders and helping provide the storage bins for our classroom. While they may seem like a simple classroom resource, these bins are helping my students learn important life skills such as organization, responsibility, and independence.\r\n\r\nMy students will use them every day to organize their supplies, take care of shared materials, and keep our classroom ready for learning. Through classroom jobs like Supply Manager and Team Leader, they will also have opportunities to practice leadership, teamwork, and accountability. I love being able to teach my students that being organized is more than keeping things neat, it is a skill that will help them throughout school and in their future careers.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me create a classroom where they can learn to take ownership, work together, and become responsible young leaders. Your generosity is making a difference in their everyday learning.","fullyFundedDate":1775662621728,"projectUrl":"project/life-skills-with-bins/10130107/","projectTitle":"Life Skills with Bins","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ruiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp14621_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y231&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767152067439","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/theresa-ruiz"},{"teacherId":14621,"projectId":10133677,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my second graders and helping make our Compassion Project possible. Your generosity is giving my students the opportunity to learn that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone's life.\r\n\r\nMy students will be creating care packages filled with everyday hygiene essentials and writing personal messages of kindness and encouragement to include with them. They will also use the new storage unit every day to organize and store their classroom supplies. Having a special place for their materials will help them learn responsibility, organization, and how to take care of the things they use each day.\r\n\r\nThis project is about so much more than the items we received. It is about teaching my students to look beyond themselves, think about how others may be feeling, and understand that they have the power to help.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping me create a classroom where kindness, responsibility, and compassion are part of our everyday learning.","fullyFundedDate":1773932387110,"projectUrl":"project/compassion-starts-in-our-classroom-commu/10133677/","projectTitle":"Compassion Starts in Our Classroom Community","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ruiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp14621_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y231&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767152067439","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/theresa-ruiz"},{"teacherId":8892309,"projectId":10262108,"letterContent":"My students thrive when given multi-sensory, hands-on, and highly structured learning resources. For learners with diverse academic and executive functioning needs, cluttered or unstructured environments can present a significant barrier to written expression and daily engagement.\r\n\r\nThis project provided specialized organizational tools that cater to their unique learning profiles. Having a consistent, clear organizational system empowers my students to navigate their daily lessons with confidence, self-reliance, and pride. Ultimately, these tools will foster an inclusive environment where every student feels supported and equipped to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1785546993951,"projectUrl":"project/building-organized-confident-writers-in/10262108/","projectTitle":"Building Organized, Confident Writers in Our Special Education Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Laura Sierra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8892309_orig.jpg?crop=966,966,x0,y48&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1670516572691","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-sierra-lbs1"},{"teacherId":5563666,"projectId":10084461,"letterContent":"When our package arrived, excitement filled our room. When I opened the box and held up the colorful brain teasers and treats, the room instantly exploded into cheers. One student asked, \"Are those really for us just for working hard?\" Seeing their faces light up made it clear right away that these weren't just simple supplies, they were tangible proof that people out there care about their success.\r\nHaving these rewards built immense momentum as we headed into our big unit, an independent research and writing project. Knowing that their consistency, daily attendance, and effort will be recognized with these new incentives gave them an extra spark of motivation to dive deep into their research, and stay focused.\r\nYour support showed my students that every small step forward is worth celebrating. Thank you for putting big smiles on their faces and helping us celebrate every little win!","fullyFundedDate":1777903761782,"projectUrl":"project/little-wins-big-smiles/10084461/","projectTitle":"Little Wins, Big Smiles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5563666_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532404255495","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maestramartinez306"},{"teacherId":10492206,"projectId":10260600,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom! Your generosity has already made a meaningful difference in preparing for the new school year.\r\nOne of the biggest ways this project has impacted our classroom is through the ability to print math worksheets in color. While color may seem like a small change, it makes a big difference for elementary students. Color helps students distinguish between different math concepts, identify patterns, follow multi-step directions, and organize their thinking more easily. The worksheets are easier to read, more engaging, and help students stay focused during instruction.I have also been able to create and print colorful classroom resources that my students will use throughout the year. One of my favorite projects has been designing and printing my own classroom alphabet display. Being able to customize materials to fit my students' needs and my classroom theme makes the learning environment more meaningful and engaging.My students are always excited to learn with bright, high-quality materials. These visual supports help all learners, especially those who benefit from color coding and clear organization, become more confident and independent.Thank you for investing in my students. Your generosity has provided resources that will make our classroom more engaging, organized, and welcoming, setting the stage for a successful school year.","fullyFundedDate":1777954522364,"projectUrl":"project/vibrant-visions-printing-student-succes/10260600/","projectTitle":"Vibrant Visions: Printing Student Success in Full Color!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moreno","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10492206"},{"teacherId":4292591,"projectId":10132591,"letterContent":"Thank you for funding this project. Supplies arrived late in the school year, and due to construction in our school, we have not yet been able to set up and use these new tools. My students are looking forward to using the alternative work station, with the standing desk, to experience the movement that supports their ability to focus as they work. The sensory tools will be a very welcome addition to the work station area and my students look forward to seeing which tools best help them self regulate to focus on their work. Please know that your generosity is appreciated and will definitely enrich our learning environment.","fullyFundedDate":1774275205970,"projectUrl":"project/therapy-supplies-to-support-student-lear/10132591/","projectTitle":"Therapy Supplies to Support Student Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reynolds","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4292591"},{"teacherId":4353574,"projectId":10106763,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our Wellness Warriors project! Because of your generosity, our students now have the resources that help give students access to activities that promote emotional well-being, and foster positive relationships.\r\n\r\nAt the beginning of each session, students participate in brief mindfulness exercises that help them focus and prepare for learning. We have seen improvements in participation, students' ability to express their feelings appropriately and peer-to-peer interactions. \r\n\r\nYour investment has created meaningful opportunities for growth beyond academics. Thank you for helping our students build skills that will benefit them for years to come including feeling supported as they learn to become more empowered!","fullyFundedDate":1773421082986,"projectUrl":"project/the-wellness-warriors-resource-station/10106763/","projectTitle":"The \"Wellness Warriors\" Resource Station: Student-Created Support for All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Conde","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4353574"},{"teacherId":127017,"projectId":10072976,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! The arrival of the blank comic books and vibrant colorful pens sparked a wave of excitement in our fourth-grade classroom. Because of your support, reading and writing in our room transformed into a bustling, collaborative workshop. My students weren't just quietly turning pages; they were huddled together in groups, eagerly reading mentor comics to analyze their structure, and then putting their heads together to collaboratively author and illustrate their own mini-comics.\r\n\r\nWhile many book lovers enjoy a story for its plot, we created unique texts that allowed us to dive deep into Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. We used our lessons on kindness, empathy, and inclusion as the literal script for our comic books. Students had to learn the advanced skill of translating abstract emotions into concrete dialogue and visual action panels. Using the colorful pens, they practiced narrative sequencing, visual expression, and—most importantly—the art of collaboration, negotiating how to blend their different creative ideas into a single, unified story.\r\n\r\nThe impact on our students has been profound, especially for some of our more reserved learners and reluctant writers. The comic format removed the intimidation of a blank lined page, allowing these students to confidently step up as artistic leaders and storytellers within their groups. The absolute highlight of the project was when we took our finished mini-comics and shared them with other classmates across the school. Seeing the younger students light up while reading these peer-made stories created an immense sense of PRIDE in our fourth graders. You didn't just fund art supplies; you helped my students discover that they can use their reading and writing skills to build a kinder, more connected school community.","fullyFundedDate":1773866097305,"projectUrl":"project/kindness-chronicles-student-made-comics/10072976/","projectTitle":"Kindness Chronicles: Student Made Comics Serving Our School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fonseca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp127017_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y416&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690518303086","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msefonseca"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5741","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":795,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":95,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.0,"schoolId":5741,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Monarcas Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Monarcas Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/tonti-elementary-school/5741"}