{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Valeska Hinton Early Education Center","outOfStateSupporters":32.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7150387,"projectId":10133044,"letterContent":"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping make our classroom a place where imagination, curiosity, and learning come together. Because of your generosity, our preschool students now have a wonderful set of magnetic building tiles that have quickly become one of the most loved learning materials in our classroom. Your kindness has provided our little engineers with endless opportunities to explore, create, and discover through play.\r\nThe day we introduced the magnetic tiles was filled with excitement. As soon as the children saw the colorful pieces, their eyes lit up with wonder. They eagerly gathered around, asking, \"Can we build a house?\" \"Can we make a castle?\" and \"Look what I made!\" Some students immediately began stacking and connecting the tiles, while others carefully experimented to see how the magnets worked. It was incredible to watch children who normally play independently begin working together, sharing ideas, solving problems, and celebrating each other's creations. We saw towers reaching toward the ceiling, colorful homes for pretend families, rocket ships ready for space, and even bridges strong enough to hold toy animals. Every structure reflected each child's unique imagination and growing confidence.\r\nThese magnetic tiles have become much more than a fun classroom toy—they are an important learning tool. Every day, our students strengthen fine motor skills as they connect the pieces, develop early engineering and critical thinking skills as they test different designs, and practice perseverance when a structure falls and they eagerly try again. They are naturally exploring mathematics by identifying shapes, counting sides, comparing sizes, recognizing patterns, and learning about balance and symmetry. During cooperative play, students practice taking turns, communicating their ideas, listening to others, and working together toward a common goal. In our dual-language preschool classroom, the tiles also encourage rich conversations in both English and Spanish as children describe their creations, ask questions, and learn new vocabulary through meaningful, hands-on experiences.\r\nOne of our favorite classroom moments happened when a small group decided to work together to build \"a city.\" Without any adult direction, they discussed where the houses, school, roads, and park should go. They negotiated whose ideas to use, encouraged one another when buildings fell, and proudly invited the rest of the class to tour their city. Watching three- and four-year-olds collaborate, problem-solve, and take pride in their work reminded us just how powerful open-ended learning can be. Experiences like these help lay the foundation for future success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while nurturing creativity and confidence.\r\nAs we continue our school year, the magnetic tiles will remain an important part of our learning centers and classroom investigations. Students will use them to explore letters and shapes, recreate buildings from stories we read together, build habitats during our nature studies, and design structures that connect to our STEM lessons. We also look forward to challenging our little engineers with cooperative building activities that encourage teamwork, planning, and creative problem-solving. Every new lesson will inspire students to ask questions, test ideas, and discover that there are many ways to solve a problem.\r\nYour generosity has given our students so much more than classroom materials. You have provided opportunities for joyful learning, meaningful collaboration, and hands-on exploration that will benefit them for years to come. Thank you for believing in our youngest learners and investing in their future. Every smile, every new discovery, and every proud \"Look what I built!\" is possible because of your kindness. We are incredibly grateful for your support and for helping us inspire a lifelong love of learning in our preschool classroom.\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nYour Preschool Classroom","fullyFundedDate":1774963763612,"projectUrl":"project/building-big-ideas-with-little-engineers/10133044/","projectTitle":"Building Big Ideas with Little Engineers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Valdovinos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7150387_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648407621224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7150387"},{"teacherId":7150387,"projectId":10028575,"letterContent":"I want to begin by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and for making our project, \"Sensory Tools for Growing Minds,\" possible. Your kindness has had a tremendous impact on my classroom, and I am so grateful that you chose to invest in our students. Because of your support, my students now have access to sensory materials that make learning more engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable every day.\r\n\r\nSince receiving these materials, they have become a part of our daily classroom routines. The sensory bins, kinetic sand, and other hands-on resources are used in a variety of activities that encourage students to explore, create, and learn while developing important foundational skills. As students participate in these activities, they are strengthening their visual perceptual skills, visual-motor integration, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities. Many of my students also benefit from the calming sensory input these materials provide, helping them stay focused, organized, and ready to participate in classroom learning.\r\n\r\nThe excitement on the day the materials arrived was something I will never forget. My students could hardly wait to open the boxes and discover what was inside. They immediately wanted to touch, explore, and ask questions about each new item. The sensory bins quickly became a classroom favorite. Students enjoy searching for hidden objects, matching items, sorting by color or shape, and creating their own imaginative games. The kinetic sand has also become one of the most requested materials. They love building with it, molding it into different shapes, and simply feeling its unique texture. It is amazing to see how something as simple as sensory play can spark curiosity and excitement while supporting learning at the same time.\r\n\r\nOne classroom moment that stands out happened during a visual search activity using one of the sensory bins. Students were asked to find hidden objects and match them to corresponding pictures. One student, who often has difficulty maintaining attention during classroom activities, stayed engaged throughout the entire activity. Instead of becoming frustrated or giving up, the student carefully searched through the sensory bin, proudly showing each object that was found. The smile on that student's face after completing the activity was unforgettable. Moments like that remind me how valuable hands-on learning experiences can be and how the right materials can help students experience success.\r\n\r\nAnother wonderful outcome has been seeing students work together in positive and meaningful ways. These sensory materials naturally encourage sharing, taking turns, communicating, and helping one another. Students celebrate each other's accomplishments, ask thoughtful questions, and become excited when classmates are successful. It has been wonderful watching students build confidence while also strengthening their social interactions. Every child is able to participate in a way that meets their individual needs, making these activities inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.\r\n\r\nAs we continue throughout the school year, these sensory tools will be incorporated into literacy, math, science, and other classroom activities. Students will continue using them to practice letter recognition, sorting, counting, patterning, matching, problem-solving, and creative exploration. These resources allow me to create engaging lessons that capture students' attention while supporting their overall growth and development. They transform everyday learning into experiences that students genuinely look forward to.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students so much more than classroom supplies. You have provided opportunities for exploration, confidence, creativity, and joyful learning. Every time a student smiles while discovering something new, remains engaged in an activity, or proudly accomplishes a task they once found challenging, I am reminded that your kindness made those moments possible. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping create a classroom where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Your support has made a lasting difference, and I truly appreciate everything you have done for our classroom. On behalf of myself and my students, thank you for your incredible generosity and for helping us make learning an exciting adventure every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1775771898548,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-tools-for-growing-minds/10028575/","projectTitle":"Sensory Tools For Growing Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Valdovinos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7150387_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648407621224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7150387"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":10114762,"letterContent":"One of the most meaningful skills students developed through the Oh, the Places We'll Go project was a greater appreciation for reading, creativity, and self-expression. The book encouraged meaningful discussions about kindness, resilience, diversity, and believing in themselves, while helping to strengthen their listening, comprehension, vocabulary, and communication skills.\r\n\r\nIn my classroom, reading is an essential part of our daily routine. We enjoy whole-group read-alouds, small-group literacy activities, independent book exploration, and opportunities for students to retell stories using pictures, props, and their own words. These experiences foster a lifelong love of reading while building early literacy skills.\r\n\r\nAll of my students enjoy the new book, and their excitement is evident throughout the day. They frequently choose it during free-choice time and eagerly ask for it to be read again and again. Their enthusiasm has increased classroom engagement, sparked thoughtful conversations, and inspired imaginative play and storytelling.","fullyFundedDate":1776277776431,"projectUrl":"project/oh-the-places-well-go-celebrating-our/10114762/","projectTitle":"Oh, the Places We’ll Go: Celebrating Our PreK Journey","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":10100296,"letterContent":"One of the most meaningful skills students developed through the Broken Crayons Still Color: Inspiring Creativity in Every Child project was a greater appreciation for reading, creativity, and self-expression. The books encouraged meaningful discussions about kindness, resilience, diversity, and believing in themselves, while helping to strengthen their listening, comprehension, vocabulary, and communication skills.\r\n\r\nIn my classroom, reading is an essential part of our daily routine. We enjoy whole-group read-alouds, small-group literacy activities, independent book exploration, and opportunities for students to retell stories using pictures, props, and their own words. These experiences foster a lifelong love of reading while building early literacy skills.\r\n\r\nAll of my students enjoy the new books, and their excitement is evident throughout the day. They frequently choose these books during free-choice time and eagerly ask for them to be read again and again. Their enthusiasm has increased classroom engagement, sparked thoughtful conversations, and inspired imaginative play and storytelling.","fullyFundedDate":1776370938456,"projectUrl":"project/broken-crayons-still-color-inspiring-cr/10100296/","projectTitle":"Broken Crayons Still Color: Inspiring Creativity in Every Child","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":10191936,"letterContent":"My project, Calm, Curious, and Connected: SEL Science & Learning Backpacks, has made a meaningful impact on the children and families I serve. By providing engaging take-home backpacks filled with hands-on science activities and social-emotional learning resources, families have been able to continue learning together beyond the classroom. These activities have encouraged children to explore, ask questions, solve problems, and strengthen important skills while creating positive learning experiences at home.\r\n\r\nThe backpacks have also helped families build stronger relationships through shared experiences. Parents and caregivers have enjoyed spending quality time with their children while practicing communication, teamwork, emotional awareness, and self-regulation. As families completed the activities together, children gained confidence, developed curiosity, and learned that making mistakes is part of the learning process. These meaningful interactions have reinforced the connection between home and school.\r\n\r\nOverall, this project has supported both academic growth and social-emotional development by creating opportunities for families to learn, discover, and grow together. Seeing children return excited to share their discoveries and hearing positive feedback from families has been incredibly rewarding. Calm, Curious, and Connected: SEL Science & Learning Backpacks has strengthened family engagement while fostering a lifelong love of learning, curiosity, and meaningful connections.","fullyFundedDate":1777128914310,"projectUrl":"project/calm-curious-and-connected-sel-scienc/10191936/","projectTitle":"Calm, Curious, and Connected: SEL Science & Learning Backpacks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":10159096,"letterContent":"My project, Building Independence and Bedtime Routines for Preschoolers, made a meaningful impact on the families I serve by providing them with practical tools and strategies to establish healthy bedtime routines. Families learned that consistent bedtime habits not only help children get the rest they need but also promote emotional regulation, positive behavior, and readiness to learn. As parents implemented these routines at home, many shared that bedtime became less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.\r\n\r\nThe project also encouraged children to become more independent by practicing age-appropriate bedtime responsibilities, such as putting on pajamas, brushing their teeth, selecting a bedtime story, and helping prepare for the next day. These simple routines built confidence, fostered responsibility, and strengthened the bond between parents and children through positive, consistent interactions.\r\n\r\nSeeing families embrace these routines reminded me that small, intentional changes can have a lasting impact on a child's development. By equipping parents with resources and encouragement, this project helped create calmer evenings, healthier sleep habits, and greater independence for preschoolers. As Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, \"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.\" This project reinforced the importance of laying a strong foundation that will benefit children and their families for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1776197444419,"projectUrl":"project/building-independence-and-bedtime-routin/10159096/","projectTitle":"Building Independence and Bedtime Routines for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":10062055,"letterContent":"This project, Building Friendship: Social-Emotional Learning for Young Hearts, has made a meaningful difference in my students' social and emotional development. Through engaging activities, books, and hands-on learning experiences, my students have strengthened important skills such as kindness, empathy, cooperation, and effective communication. They are becoming more confident in expressing their feelings and are learning healthy ways to solve problems and work together.\r\n\r\nThe resources provided through this project have created opportunities for students to build positive relationships with their classmates while fostering a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment. I have noticed an increase in students encouraging one another, sharing materials, taking turns, and showing compassion when a classmate needs support. These everyday interactions are helping to build a classroom community where every child feels valued, respected, and safe.\r\n\r\nAs an early childhood educator, I know that social-emotional learning is the foundation for both academic success and lifelong well-being. Thanks to this project, my students are developing the skills they need to become caring friends, responsible learners, and confident individuals. I am deeply grateful for the generosity that made this project possible and for the lasting impact it continues to have on the hearts and minds of my young learners.","fullyFundedDate":1778024922277,"projectUrl":"project/building-friendship-social-emotional-l/10062055/","projectTitle":"“Building Friendship: Social-Emotional Learning for Young Hearts”","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":5542804,"projectId":10095358,"letterContent":"As I sit here and think about this year and what a teacher has to do to feel like her student's are successful, I have to give my gratitude to donor choose and this project for making even more literacy opportunities in our classroom. \r\nThere isn't much a teacher can do without resources and donorschoose.org made this happen with the help of ao many that brought this project to life. \r\nThank you from the very bottom of our hearts. Our student's and classroom are forever grateful for your contributions and continued support to make magic happen in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1774963860568,"projectUrl":"project/literally-literacy-storage/10095358/","projectTitle":"Literally Literacy Storage","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nunez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5542804_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764492919006","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nunez-specialeducation-teacher"},{"teacherId":10296924,"projectId":10154995,"letterContent":"This project gave my students and many other children the opportunity to leave the Storybook Soirée with a brand-new book to enjoy at home with their families. They were thrilled to choose from a wide variety of books that matched each themed table. Even months later, my students are still talking about the event and proudly sharing the books they brought home. Your generosity helped create excitement around reading, strengthen family literacy, and give children a book they can cherish long after the event. Thank you for making this experience possible!","fullyFundedDate":1773863157765,"projectUrl":"project/from-prom-to-pages-books-for-the-storyb/10154995/","projectTitle":"From Prom to Pages: Books for the Storybook Soirée","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kendyl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10296924_orig.jpg?crop=1206,1205,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1765917581679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kendyl-halsey"},{"teacherId":6403789,"projectId":10253631,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing to our classroom. The children are already having fun with their playdough and learning mats. One child loved naming the letters on the alphabet mat. Another loved rolling out the playdough to place on the mats. These materials will be used to teach readiness schools as the children are playing, exploring, and having fun, as well as engaging in sensory regulation. Our students, their families, and our teaching/therapy team are so grateful to you for your contribution to our classroom and for helping our students.","fullyFundedDate":1779073704235,"projectUrl":"project/play-dough-fun-and-learning-in-preschool/10253631/","projectTitle":"Play-dough Fun and Learning in Preschool","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ramsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6403789_orig.jpg?crop=2243,2243,x0,y171&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674942935926","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6403789"},{"teacherId":6403789,"projectId":10021566,"letterContent":"Thankyou so much for contributing to our classroom. Our children have been really enjoying their new learning toys. One student in particular is loving the letter matching game. He names the letters and sings the alphabet song as he is working! Another little girl counted out loud for one of the first times as she pointed to the number cards on the new number matching game. Many children have also been enjoying the ring color sorting toy, shape sorter, and all of their new learning toys. The best part is they are learning as they play and learning to love learning! Our students, their families and our teaching/therapy team are so grateful to you for helping our young learners meet their potential in true pre-school fashion; by having fun!!!","fullyFundedDate":1777128914280,"projectUrl":"project/math-and-literacy-learning-toys-for-pres/10021566/","projectTitle":"Math and Literacy Learning Toys for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ramsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6403789_orig.jpg?crop=2243,2243,x0,y171&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674942935926","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6403789"},{"teacherId":10296924,"projectId":9962479,"letterContent":"The contribution of the tablecloths and glowsticks truly elevated the Storybook Soirée beyond anything we could have imagined. The glowsticks brought the dance floor to life, filling the room with color, energy, and pure magic. Watching the children light up, both literally and figuratively as they danced and played created an atmosphere that felt straight out of a storybook.\r\n\r\nEven more impactful, the tablecloths transformed the entire space into an elegant, formal setting that made the event feel extra special. What was once a simple room became a beautifully styled celebration, capturing the attention and wonder of every child in attendance. You could see it in their eyes! The excitement, the awe, and the joy of being part of something so thoughtfully put together.\r\n\r\nTogether, these contributions didn't just decorate the event, they helped create an unforgettable experience. They added charm, warmth, and a sense of magic that made the Storybook Soirée truly come to life for everyone involved.","fullyFundedDate":1770392442071,"projectUrl":"project/a-storybook-soire-where-even-decoration/9962479/","projectTitle":"A Storybook Soirée Where Even Decorations Invite Children to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kendyl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10296924_orig.jpg?crop=1206,1205,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1765917581679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kendyl-halsey"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30197","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":456,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":54,"percentWhite":16,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":15,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":9,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"19.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":67.1,"schoolId":30197,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Valeska Hinton Early Education Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Valeska Hinton Early Education Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/peoria-public-school-district-150/valeska-hinton-childhood-education-ctr/30197"}