{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"W Verne McKinney Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9936425,"projectId":9144871,"letterContent":"This fall all of our teachers were able to start the year with new calming tools in their classrooms. This is essential as we have more students than ever before who need support with emotional regulation. The many calming tools, including the weighted stuffed animals, work like charm with many of our students. \r\n\r\nAdditionally, we have been using the books like The Family Book and It's Okay to Be Different with our youngest students reinforcing that every student and family is an important part of our community.\r\n\r\nThe kind donations you provided allow us to better meet the needs of our at risk population of students which means you are helping all students in our building learn.","fullyFundedDate":1746454436827,"projectUrl":"project/comfy-and-calm-in-the-cougar-den/9144871/","projectTitle":"Comfy and Calm in the Cougar Den","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McKedy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9936425"},{"teacherId":4574062,"projectId":9313226,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our school year began with excitement, confidence, and a true sense of belonging. Because of your kindness, every student started the year with the essential supplies they needed—crayons, pencils, glue sticks, folders, and dry erase boards. Having their own materials made a huge difference in helping students feel prepared, organized, and proud of their learning. From the first day of school, they were able to dive right into lessons, participate actively, and focus on learning rather than worrying about missing supplies. These basic tools created a classroom environment where students could collaborate, express creativity, and develop independence.\r\n\r\nYour generosity set a positive tone that will carry us through the rest of the year. With your support, our classroom became a place where students feel valued and capable—where every child has what they need to succeed. The simple act of providing school supplies helped build confidence and community, showing students that people beyond our classroom care deeply about their education. Thank you for being part of our village and for helping us start the year organized, inspired, and ready to learn. Your contribution made a lasting difference in both our learning environment and in the hearts of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1746454436569,"projectUrl":"project/set-students-up-for-success-help-stock/9313226/","projectTitle":"\"Set Students Up for Success: Help Stock Our Classroom!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shumaker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4574062_orig.jpg?crop=1836,1836,x0,y238&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566366467573","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4574062"},{"teacherId":4761553,"projectId":9292563,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing the supplies to help calm students down and re-regulate them. Your thoughtful gesture makes a significant difference in creating a supportive environment for our learners. We truly appreciate your generosity and dedication to their well-being.\r\n\r\nThank you for providing such a fantastic variety of tools for our students. They truly appreciate the different resources available to them, which enhance their learning experience and keep them engaged. Your efforts make a significant difference in their education and enjoyment.","fullyFundedDate":1746806817705,"projectUrl":"project/the-cougar-den-keeps-us-cool-calm-col/9292563/","projectTitle":"The Cougar Den Keeps Us Cool, Calm & Collected!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Crowell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4761553"},{"teacherId":9925192,"projectId":9135043,"letterContent":"Your generous donations have made a tremendous impact in our classroom! The students are thoroughly enjoying the new additions, and these resources have allowed me to expand the variety of lessons and activities I can offer. Thank you for helping create a more engaging and enriching learning environment :)\r\nI'm excited to continue developing this space and providing meaningful opportunities for student growth. I hope our students will continue to strengthen their self-regulation skills, and I look forward to supporting their progress through engaging and enriching experiences. Regulation rocks!","fullyFundedDate":1743114334006,"projectUrl":"project/regulation-rocks/9135043/","projectTitle":"Regulation Rocks!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lauren","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9925192_orig.jpg?crop=2304,2304,x96,y144&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1740723224455","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9925192"},{"teacherId":8651646,"projectId":9135048,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! The ladders and hurdles will be fantastic additions to our practices, helping athletes build speed and agility in a fun and challenging way. The gear bags were a huge help this spring, in keeping students organized and ensuring they have what they need for training and competition. The large clear bins have made it much easier for me to keep track and soccer equipment organized and ready to go. Your donations truly strengthen our program, and we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1746454436692,"projectUrl":"project/els-in-writing-and-athletics/9135048/","projectTitle":"ELs in Writing and Athletics!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Martin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8651646_orig.jpg?crop=2002,2001,x0,y280&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759787593876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8651646"},{"teacherId":8651646,"projectId":9127758,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations! The highlighters are already making a big impact, helping students stay organized and focused during writing and editing activities. The weather books are wonderful for ELD lessons, giving students clear visuals and new vocabulary to better understand and describe different weather conditions. The games are especially helpful for my new English learners, allowing them to practice communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while having fun. We are so grateful for your kindness and support!","fullyFundedDate":1740430763812,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-english-language-learners/9127758/","projectTitle":"Supporting English Language Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Martin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8651646_orig.jpg?crop=2002,2001,x0,y280&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759787593876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8651646"},{"teacherId":8432050,"projectId":9128095,"letterContent":"This project brought play and communication to my students. The kitchen was very popular and students enjoyed building language through sharing, playing kitchen, and playing restaurant. The dollhouse was another great find. Students enjoyed speaking for the dolls and playing with each other. We also hid objects in the house to work on spatial concepts (in, on, under, around, next to, between, etc.)\r\n\r\nPlay is such a good way for children to learn. These new toys were perfect to get us to the end of the yer","fullyFundedDate":1740617915585,"projectUrl":"project/toys-for-communication/9128095/","projectTitle":"Toys for Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jennifer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8432050"},{"teacherId":7721912,"projectId":9322086,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generous support from DonorsChoose, my entire third-grade class now has access to high-quality headphones, and the impact has been immediate and meaningful. In today's classroom, technology is an essential part of learning—especially during state testing, which requires each student to use a device with headphones for listening sections. Before this grant, many students had to share or use outdated pairs, and I often had to consider purchasing replacements out of my own pocket. This donation relieved that burden and ensured every student had the tools they needed to succeed.\r\n\r\nHaving individual headphones has also transformed our day-to-day classroom experience. Students can focus better during independent work and digital lessons without being distracted by noise around them or interrupting others. Whether they're practicing reading fluency, engaging in interactive math games, or participating in online assessments, the headphones help create a quieter, more focused learning environment. This grant didn't just provide supplies—it leveled the playing field and gave my students access to the resources they need to thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1746553899329,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-state-testing/9322086/","projectTitle":"Headphones for State Testing!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lloyd","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7721912"},{"teacherId":8405304,"projectId":9131029,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your contributions to our classroom. Our class was thrilled to see each package as they arrived, and it felt like \"Christmas Day\" each time we opened a new box.\r\n\r\nI was particularly excited to use the organizational tools you provided. The book boxes and storage pieces have made things much easier in the classroom. The students enjoyed having their own book box to organize their supplies, which helped them take ownership of their materials.\r\n\r\nOur class also had the opportunity to meet with our 6th grade buddy class and read using our new books. \r\n\r\nThe kids were especially excited about the art supplies. We created watercolor circles inspired by the Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky, and they loved the watercolor painting so much that they chose it for Fun Friday. They also had a great time making their Father's Day projects with the oil pastels, many of whom had never used them before and were thrilled to experiment with all the colors.\r\n\r\nLastly, our room was transformed into a wonderful, calming environment thanks to the light covers. Each time I turned on the lights, the class would ooh and ahh over the forest and tree scenes, which really helped to calm my energetic class.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generous support; it has made a significant difference in our learning environment.","fullyFundedDate":1740844509299,"projectUrl":"project/stem-and-art-and-books-oh-my/9131029/","projectTitle":"STEM, and Art, and Books, Oh My!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hawthorne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8405304"},{"teacherId":9933098,"projectId":9135457,"letterContent":"I cannot describe enough how much your donation meant to me and my students with autism. My students and I worked on keeping rhythm, how to play different instruments, and working on playing instruments at different volumes. My students were so excited to see these instruments and they saw definite growth thanks from them. \r\n\r\nOne of my none verbal students learned counting through drum beats. They would play a certain number of drum beats based on what number I showed on my felt board. Another student's mood was instantly uplifted once I introduced the bells. The bells because another way for them to interact as the student began playing along to songs with me, such as Old MacDonald. And the shakers were also a big hit. I could teach playing slow and fast with those, and the kids loved it. \r\n\r\nThese instruments helped me teach more than I could've otherwise, so again, thank you so much for all you did. I cannot wait to continue next year with these instruments, and I know the students are also excited. We'll continue to work on keeping time, playing other instruments, and hopefully learning a song for the end of the year Talent Show next year. From all of us at McKinney, thank you for your care.","fullyFundedDate":1740972438735,"projectUrl":"project/music-for-all/9135457/","projectTitle":"Music for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schilli","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9933098"},{"teacherId":2048513,"projectId":9127905,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom this year! With your donations we were able to create a STEAM Closet for our 3rd Graders. Twice a week the STEAM Closet is open for students to explore, create, play and design.\r\n\r\nDuring our STEAM block I see students interacting with each other in such positive ways. The activities have allowed students to cultivate friendships and learn from each other. Students have loved playing games, building marble runs, creating art, solving puzzles and so much more.\r\n\r\nWe appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1740452906045,"projectUrl":"project/creating-curiosity-and-sparking-social-e/9127905/","projectTitle":"Creating Curiosity and Sparking Social Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Retzlaff","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2048513"},{"teacherId":2061204,"projectId":9129885,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my life skills and social emotional learning project. As an elementary school counselor, I see firsthand how vital these tools are in helping students navigate their emotions, build resilience, and develop the skills they need to thrive. Your donations have already made a difference bringing calm corner items, calming kits, and thoughtful SEL books into the hands of students who truly need them.\r\n\r\nWith your help, we've created safe, supportive spaces where children can practice self-regulation, mindfulness, and empathy. The calm corners are used daily, giving students a chance to pause, reset, and return to learning with a clearer mind. The books you helped provide are being shared in classroom lessons and individual sessions opening conversations about emotions, identity, and healthy relationships.\r\n\r\nYour kindness is planting seeds that will grow far beyond this school year. Thank you for believing in our students and for making our school a more compassionate place for every child. We are so grateful for you.","fullyFundedDate":1740755449644,"projectUrl":"project/life-skills-and-social-emotional-learnin/9129885/","projectTitle":"Life Skills and Social Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nahl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2061204"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88443","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":395,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":32,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":58,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"17.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":80.0,"schoolId":88443,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about W Verne McKinney Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"W Verne McKinney Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/hillsboro-school-district-1j/w-verne-mckinney-elementary-school/88443"}