{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Verde Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10338487,"letterContent":"Although I've not yet received this class library, as it was sold out, I was able to order a replacement books from another series. Pigeon is a whimsical book series has become an absolute sensation in my classroom, capturing the hearts of my studentsthrough its irresistible humor and interactive design. The stories are beautifully simple, sweet, and incredibly relatable, as the expressive main character experiences the exact same big emotions—from throwing tantrums about bedtime to desperately begging to drive a bus—that young children navigate every day. Because the text relies on clear sight words, large expressive fonts, and short, punchy sentences, budding readers feel an immediate wave of confidence when diving into the pages. What truly elevates the series is how it breaks the fourth wall, naturally inviting students to interact with the text by shouting out a collective \"No!\" to the Pigeon's hilarious demands. This unique, participatory format turns reading into a joyful, shared experience that builds an enthusiastic community of learners who love to laugh and read together.\r\nI still hold out hope to get the Biscuit collection, but this series is a good placeholder","fullyFundedDate":1782183468485,"projectUrl":"project/robin-hill-school-class-library/10338487/","projectTitle":"Robin Hill School Class Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10291694,"letterContent":"The addition of these specialized organizational tools has made a profound and lasting impact on the emotional climate and community spirit within our classroom. By having the means to neatly trim, laminate, and professionally bind our projects, we are able to transform everyday schoolwork and captured photos into beautiful, durable memory books. This process does wonders for my students' self-esteem; seeing their own growth, artwork, and milestones beautifully bound into a high-quality keepsake makes them feel incredibly proud of their hard work. It gives them a tangible sense of achievement that they can physically hold and share with their peers. Ultimately, these tools have allowed us to create a meaningful classroom tradition that celebrates each child's unique journey, building a strong sense of pride that they will carry home to their families.","fullyFundedDate":1779389259045,"projectUrl":"project/memory-book/10291694/","projectTitle":"Memory Book","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10344818,"letterContent":"The Clifford the Big Red Dog book series has sparked an incredible wave of creativity and collaboration in my classroom, particularly through our shared reading and Readers Theatre activities. Because Clifford's gentle, larger-than-life adventures are so sweet and relatable, young readers eagerly dive into the texts, confidently taking turns tracking the simple, repetitive language and sharing the colorful pages with one another. This collaborative shared reading transitions beautifully into dynamic Readers Theatre performances, where the students brings the stories to life. Assigning roles like Emily Elizabeth, the narrator, or even sound-effect duty for Clifford's giant barks allows students of all reading levels to interact creatively with the text, building their oral fluency, expression, and social skills in a completely supportive and joyful environment.","fullyFundedDate":1783715771958,"projectUrl":"project/readers-theater-with-clifford-the-big-re/10344818/","projectTitle":"Readers Theater with Clifford the Big Red Dog","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10308604,"letterContent":"The Biscuit book series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli has become an absolute cornerstone of literacy success in my classroom. The primary reason these books resonate so deeply with young students is that the stories are incredibly relatable, sweet, and perfectly calibrated for early readers. By focusing on gentle, everyday adventures—like delaying bedtime, going to school, or visiting a farm—the series mirrors the real-life experiences of children, making the content instantly engaging. \r\nBecause the language is beautifully simple and heavily reliant on clear sight words and predictable repetition, budding readers feel an immediate sense of confidence. The sweet, non-threatening world of this lovable yellow puppy removes the anxiety often associated with learning to read, replacing it with pure joy and comfort.","fullyFundedDate":1779992273520,"projectUrl":"project/biscuit-collection/10308604/","projectTitle":"Biscuit Collection","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10287220,"letterContent":"My students and I have been utilizing our new flexible seating options daily to transform our classroom layout and maximize our learning environment. These small, vibrant stools have completely redefined our group time by optimizing our floor space and giving us the ultimate physical flexibility. During a recent collaborative project, the students easily picked up their lightweight seats to form dynamic, small-group circles, and once we finished, they stacked them neatly away in the corner in a matter of seconds. Having these versatile options has not only eliminated classroom clutter but has also given the children a strong sense of ownership and autonomy over how they learn best.","fullyFundedDate":1779238495912,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating/10287220/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10338377,"letterContent":"The Pete the Cat book series has become a favorite in my classroom. The primary reason these books resonate so deeply with young students is that the stories are incredibly relatable, sweet, and perfectly calibrated for early readers. By focusing on gentle, everyday adventures—like going to school, playing outside, or wearing a favorite outfit—the series mirrors the real-life experiences of children, making the content instantly engaging. Because the language is beautifully simple and heavily reliant on clear sight words, rhythmic repetition, and predictable patterns, budding readers feel an immediate sense of confidence. Pete's signature, laid-back optimism removes the anxiety often associated with learning to read, replacing it with pure joy and motivation.","fullyFundedDate":1782747417794,"projectUrl":"project/pete-the-cat/10338377/","projectTitle":"Pete the Cat","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10169975,"projectId":9884103,"letterContent":"My students were so thrilled when they received their brand new book. They started reading them immediately with their partners. A couple of girls went to a corner in the back of the room and sat on the comfy seat cushions with their books. One student asked me if he could take his book home and I said \"Absolutely, it's your book to keep!\" \r\n\r\nSince most of the books the students are used to reading from my classroom library and the school library are used, it was a breath of fresh air for them to receive brand new books that weren't damaged in any way. They also didn't have to return the books when they finished reading them. It gave them a sense of ownership. I truly believe this will help them to respect and appreciate books more.","fullyFundedDate":1767808996077,"projectUrl":"project/book-magic/9884103/","projectTitle":"Book Magic","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fessehaie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10169975"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10239579,"letterContent":"When children have access to cool, refreshing water, they can overcome attention span fatigue and even headaches. First graders are incredibly active, and minor physical mishaps—such as bumps, bruises, scrapes, or insect stings from recess—are a daily occurrence. Having a dedicated freezer compartment stocked with ice packs means I can provide instant cooling relief. For a six- or seven-year-old child, receiving an ice pack provides immediate psychological comfort, helping them feel safe, cared for, and reassured after a scary moment.","fullyFundedDate":1778029776698,"projectUrl":"project/class-fridge/10239579/","projectTitle":"Class Fridge","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10474797,"projectId":10180802,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation of headphones to our \"Headphones for Focused Learning\" project. The headphones have made a big difference in our classroom by helping students stay focused during Zearn and other digital learning activities. Students are excited to use them, and the classroom is now much quieter and more productive during independent work time.\r\nThe headphones especially help students who are easily distracted, allowing them to hear directions clearly and work at their own pace with greater confidence. It has been wonderful to see students fully engaged in their learning and taking pride in using the new headphones responsibly. Thank you again for supporting our classroom and helping create a positive learning environment for all students.","fullyFundedDate":1777481520361,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-focused-learning/10180802/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Focused Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yu","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10474797_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1779640716188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10474797"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10196013,"letterContent":"It's a wonderful gift to have a place for my students to separate and re-regulate. They are excited to take turns exploring the new technology. Throughout the day students may become overwhelmed, especially the students with special needs. At that time I can set a timer and let one student have a five minute break with an appropriate distraction. I find that is enough time to reset and rejoin the general population. Thank you again for making this opportunity available to my students this year and for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1778029947261,"projectUrl":"project/portable-pathways/10196013/","projectTitle":"Portable Pathways","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10268402,"letterContent":"Thank you for providing the tools. My students need to be successful. Their comfort is so important to me. Less stress means greater opportunities to learn. I could feel the students relax when they grip the large pencil and the large crayon. Tiny crayons break so quickly and small hands that cannot regulate strength and pressure. It's also lovely when students get new supplies later in the year. We actually started the year with used supplies so it was heartwarming to see the surprise when they got to choose a brand new pointy crayon. As for the pencils, I've removed the small pencils with the small rubber grip attachments and replace them with a larger or more manageable primary pencils. Thanks again for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1778106960676,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-big-crayons/10268402/","projectTitle":"Little Hands, Big Crayons","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"},{"teacherId":10297465,"projectId":10214908,"letterContent":"The students were so excited to receive a new class rug for their reading space. We had a class visitor and they were eager to show it off. The large rug with large squares give them personal space parameters when choosing where to sit. They spent the day doing all of their assignments on the floor. They also brainstormed how to keep it clean: no dirty shoes, no food, no water. It was joyful to watch how they want to care for it to make it last till the end of the year in nice condition. We are so grateful for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1778028056565,"projectUrl":"project/warm-and-inviting/10214908/","projectTitle":"Warm and Inviting","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10297465_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176200304","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marystrauch"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4230","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":350,"numTeachers":12,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":87,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"29.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":73.7,"schoolId":4230,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Verde Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Verde Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/west-contra-costa-unified-school-district/verde-elementary-school/4230"}