{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waller Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9252864,"projectId":9598843,"letterContent":"Color sounds like a small thing until you see a roomful of 10-year-olds light up over a handout that actually looks like someone put thought into it. I teach 5th grade ELA at a Title I school, and so much of what I create for my students I design myself because ready-made materials don't always fit what my kids need. Having access to a color printer and bright paper has changed what I'm able to put in front of them. Anchor charts are more readable. Graphic organizers are easier to navigate. Handouts that used to look like walls of black and white text now actually invite students in instead of shutting them down before they start.\r\n\r\nWhat excites me most is what this means for the work my students take home. When a kid carries something home that looks polished and purposeful, it sends a message that what they're doing matters. I've had parents comment on materials, and I've watched students handle color-printed resources more carefully, refer back to them more often, and use them the way they were intended. That kind of engagement doesn't happen by accident. It happens when the materials meet kids where they are.\r\n\r\nWe are in a season right now where every resource counts. My students are working hard, and they deserve tools that work just as hard for them. Because of your generosity, I can keep creating lessons that are worth paying attention to. Thank you for making that possible.","fullyFundedDate":1759185228825,"projectUrl":"project/bright-prints-for-bright-minds/9598843/","projectTitle":"Bright Prints for Bright Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9252864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755392276023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252864"},{"teacherId":9252864,"projectId":9459906,"letterContent":"When the storage carts arrived, my students noticed immediately. Fifth graders are perceptive like that. Having two Honey Can Do rolling carts in our classroom has made a difference I didn't fully anticipate until I saw it happening in real time. Materials that used to get lost, buried, or forgotten now have a home, and my students know exactly where to find what they need without stopping the flow of our lesson to ask. That might sound small, but in a classroom where every minute of instructional time matters, it is anything but.\r\n\r\nWhat I've seen most is a shift in independence. My kids are moving through our classroom routines with more confidence because the environment supports them instead of working against them. We do a lot of small group work and station rotations, and having organized, accessible supplies means students can get in, get what they need, and get to work. Less time searching means more time learning, and that's the whole point.\r\n\r\nWe are heading into one of the most important stretches of the school year, with state testing right around the corner, and I want my students walking into every single day feeling ready and calm. A clutter-free classroom is part of that. You helped us build an environment where focused learning can actually happen, and I am so grateful for that. Thank you for investing in something that will serve my students every single day.\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMrs. Marshall","fullyFundedDate":1752509720617,"projectUrl":"project/clutter-free-class-focused-minds/9459906/","projectTitle":"Clutter-Free Class = Focused Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9252864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755392276023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252864"},{"teacherId":9252864,"projectId":9448020,"letterContent":"When you donated to my classroom, I honestly wasn't sure what I would use the Teachers Pay Teachers gift card for. There are so many resources out there. But once I started browsing, I knew exactly where it needed to go. I teach 5th grade ELA at Waller Elementary, a Title I school, and my students need materials that are both rigorous and engaging. With your gift, I was able to purchase high-quality resources that I've been able to use directly with my students, resources I spent time tailoring to match exactly what they need to be successful on state assessments and beyond.\r\n\r\nWhat's been most exciting is watching my students actually interact with the materials in a meaningful way. We're a school where a lot of kids come in below grade level, and finding resources that meet them where they are while still pushing them forward isn't always easy. The materials I was able to purchase have made a real difference in how my students engage with reading and writing. I've seen kids who normally shut down during ELA start asking questions and participating, and that's not a small thing.\r\n\r\nI want you to know that your generosity didn't just help me. It helped every single student who walks through my door. Teachers at Title I schools are always stretching every dollar, and having access to professional, ready-to-use resources gives me more time to focus on what actually matters: my kids. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for investing in classrooms like mine.","fullyFundedDate":1762266293644,"projectUrl":"project/fresh-finds-for-growing-minds/9448020/","projectTitle":"Fresh Finds for Growing Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9252864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755392276023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252864"},{"teacherId":5169479,"projectId":9687375,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project. Because of your donations, our school now has fully functioning radios that allow us to communicate quickly and effectively across campus. These radios have already made a meaningful difference in our ability to keep students and staff safe each day.\r\n\r\nWith this new communication system, our on-site EMT team can now respond to medical emergencies without delay. Whether it's a student injury, a health concern, or a situation requiring immediate coordination, we can get help to the right place within seconds. Your contribution has strengthened our emergency readiness and given our staff the tools they need to act confidently and efficiently.\r\n\r\nBeyond emergency response, these radios help us maintain a safe and orderly environment throughout the school day. From managing transitions to responding to unexpected situations, we are now able to work as a unified team with clear communication—something that directly benefits every student on our campus.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has provided more than equipment—you've given us peace of mind. Thank you for investing in the safety and well-being of our school community. We are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1759441998806,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-help-them-with-radios/9687375/","projectTitle":"Help Me, Help Them with Radios!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spring","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5169479_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y310&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757081853333","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5169479"},{"teacherId":9993628,"projectId":9876139,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students now have their very own dictionaries—an incredibly meaningful resource that has already transformed our classroom. We use them daily during reading, writing, and vocabulary lessons. One of my favorite moments happened during a recent writing workshop: students were searching for stronger, more precise words for their descriptive essays, and instead of waiting for me or relying on guesswork, they eagerly opened their dictionaries and started exploring on their own. The independence and confidence this created were amazing to watch.\r\n\r\nWhen the dictionaries first arrived, my students were so excited. Many of them had never owned a dictionary before, and the idea that these books were theirs to use—every day, in class and at home—made them feel proud and important. Several students immediately started flipping through the pages, calling out new words they'd discovered. You helped create that spark of curiosity.\r\n\r\nRight now, we are starting a new unit that focuses on expanding vocabulary through reading and using context clues. The dictionaries are already becoming a natural extension of that work. Our next step is to build personal \"word journals,\" where students will collect challenging or interesting words they find in their reading, define them using their dictionaries, and apply them in their writing. Thanks to you, they now have the tools to build those habits of inquiry and confidence that will follow them far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your kindness and belief in my students. You've helped open the door to a world of vocabulary, discovery, and learning—and we are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1763040609319,"projectUrl":"project/words-for-wisdom-a-classroom-dictionary/9876139/","projectTitle":"Words for Wisdom: a Classroom Dictionary Drive","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kowaleski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9993628_orig.jpg?crop=900,900,x0,y114&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744079519915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9993628"},{"teacherId":1953165,"projectId":9672213,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our library was transformed into a magical place where reading and hands-on learning came together! With the new resources for our library, my students participated in a Fairy Tale STEM challenge . They had so much fun combining their love of stories with creative problem-solving.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite projects was inspired by The Three Little Pigs. Students worked in small groups to design and build houses using different materials, then we tested them against a \"big bad wolf\" (a hairdryer!). The laughter, excitement, and teamwork were incredible to see. When the students first saw the bins of supplies and story-themed challenges, their eyes lit up — they couldn't believe they were going to be the engineers behind the fairy tales!\r\n\r\nThese materials are now a regular part of our library's story and STEM lessons. Students are learning to think critically, plan, test, and improve their designs while connecting everything back to the stories they love to read.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to expand the project by introducing new fairy tales and challenges — like building a bridge for the Three Billy Goats Gruff or creating a parachute for Jack to escape the beanstalk safely. Your donation has helped make our library a place where imagination and innovation truly come to life.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to learn through wonder, creativity, and teamwork!","fullyFundedDate":1758052199358,"projectUrl":"project/from-tales-to-technology-stem-kits-for/9672213/","projectTitle":"From Tales to Technology: STEM Kits for ESL Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Calley Schneider","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1953165_orig.png?crop=270,270,x245,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756759136527","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1953165"},{"teacherId":9252864,"projectId":9326339,"letterContent":"Because of you, my fifth-grade readers and writers at Waller Elementary started the year with a classroom that finally works like a well-coached team. Your generosity funded the rolling drawer carts and the daily-use supplies that live inside them, and the change has been immediate and unmistakable—for students and for me.\r\n\r\nBefore your gift, our shared materials were scattered in bins and borrowed baskets. When 60 5th graders need pencils, sticky notes, highlighters, glue sticks, lined paper, Expo markers, whiteboards, and...Band-Aids (because fifth grade), those \"Where is it?\" minutes add up and learning momentum dies. The carts you funded—now neatly labeled Erasers, Pencils, Sticky Notes, Highlighters, Lined Paper, Blank Paper, Glue Sticks, Expo Markers, White Boards, Band-Aids, plus drawers for Interactive Notebook Supplies, Ziploc Bags, Zipper Pouches, and even Snacks—have transformed our routines. Table captains roll a cart to their group, grab exactly what we need, and we're off and running. No more traffic jams at the supply shelf. No more \"I can't find a pencil.\" No more pausing a discussion to hunt for a dry-erase marker. We are a Title I public school, and many of my students arrive without steady access to basic school supplies. Your gift quietly levels the playing field. When a student can take a fresh pencil without asking or grab a glue stick for an interactive-notebook page, dignity is preserved and participation rises. The snack drawers you made possible have been a bigger deal than you might imagine; a granola bar at 10:15 has often been the difference between a distracted learner and an engaged one. One student summed it up perfectly: \"It feels like I'm prepared before I even sit down.\" That confidence shows up in their writing and their willingness to take risks in discussion. From the bottom of my very grateful teacher heart: thank you. You didn't just buy containers and supplies; you bought time, dignity, and momentum for a room full of fifth-graders who are learning that their voices matter. Every labeled drawer is a small promise kept: \"You belong here, and you have what you need to learn.\"","fullyFundedDate":1746786002796,"projectUrl":"project/stock-the-room-fuel-the-dream/9326339/","projectTitle":"Stock the Room, Fuel the Dream","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9252864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755392276023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252864"},{"teacherId":10110631,"projectId":9531613,"letterContent":"My students are so excited to use the new resources in our classroom! The fidgets have already made such a difference in helping them stay focused during lessons. I noticed that students who used to struggle with sitting still now have an outlet, which means they can engage more fully in discussions and group work. The construction paper organizer has also been a huge help for me—what used to take several minutes of digging through supplies now takes only seconds. This has given me more prep time to focus on creating engaging and hands-on lessons for my students.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up. Many immediately reached for the fidgets and shared how excited they were to use them during class. They felt cared for and supported, which was such a wonderful moment to witness. For me, the excitement reminded me how even small changes in the classroom environment can make a big difference in how students learn and feel.\r\n\r\nNext, my students will be using the organized paper supplies for upcoming science and math projects that involve modeling, diagrams, and creative displays of their learning. Having these resources ready and easy to access means that we can spend more time on deeper learning and less time worrying about setup. I'm grateful to you for giving my students these tools that make our classroom a more focused, creative, and engaging space.","fullyFundedDate":1755868033369,"projectUrl":"project/steaming-through-the-year/9531613/","projectTitle":"STEAMing Through The Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Coleman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10110631_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y82&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755874290111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10110631"},{"teacherId":9993628,"projectId":9245158,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been completely transformed! The new tables have given us so much more space to move around and work together. Before, the room felt cramped and cluttered—but now, it feels open, organized, and like a space built for learning. The students were so excited when they walked in and saw the setup. Their faces lit up as they found their new seats and realized they had room to spread out and collaborate with their peers.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest game changers has been the whiteboard. Our old one was full of dents and holes, and we could barely use it. Now, we have a smooth, fully functional board where we can brainstorm, model writing strategies, and track our thinking during read-alouds. It's become a central part of our lessons—students even want to go up and share their answers!\r\n\r\nRecently, we kicked off a writing unit where students created persuasive paragraphs about classroom improvements. Several of them proudly referenced our new tables and whiteboard, explaining how these tools helped them focus and stay engaged. It was a full-circle moment that showed how meaningful your donation truly is.\r\n\r\nNext, we're diving into a novel study, and students will be using the whiteboard for group projects and vocabulary work. Thank you for giving us the tools to learn, write, and grow in a space we're proud to call our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1746786399340,"projectUrl":"project/a-table-for-teamwork-creativity-and-gr/9245158/","projectTitle":"A Table for Teamwork, Creativity, and Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kowaleski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9993628_orig.jpg?crop=900,900,x0,y114&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744079519915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9993628"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_14658","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":426,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":51,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":23,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":70.2,"schoolId":14658,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Waller Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Waller Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/louisiana/bossier-parish-school-district/waller-elementary-school/14658"}