{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9966516,"projectId":9832888,"letterContent":"Being an elementary music teacher, I often rely on technology as part of carrying out our music curriculum, rehearsals, and performances. While singing in the classroom, as well as during performances, students perform with both \"live\" piano accompaniment, but at times, also with pre-recorded accompaniment CD or Bluetoothed tracks. For performances away from our District school buildings, I often cannot rely on internet connections in the public. Therefore, a portable sound system is a necessity for my students.\r\n\r\nUpon taking over this elementary music position, there was no working, portable stereo system of which contained Bluetooth capabilities, as well as CD and cassette options. This was an issue, given we have three grade level performances a year (of which at least one performance song is with CD/audio accompaniment). This was also an issue because my after school honor choir travels throughout the community to perform at different locations, including nursing homes, businesses, outdoors, etc. I had no way of playing music for them to sing to.\r\n\r\nThis Donors Choose grant provided me with a portable stereo of which, starting this week, I have already taken and used for two choir performances - our District's Veteran's Day Ceremony, as well as our District's Retired Teachers' Luncheon. The students have already made comments about how well this stereo works (it's loud and meets all our needs). \r\n\r\nThe Bluetooth system with stand will be utilized at upcoming, outdoor Christmas caroling opportunities we have scheduled - prior to our town's tree lighting and Christmas parade, performing at Walmart and Schnucks, nursing homes, etc. This will be a piece of equipment I rely on for years to come, and was something I never could have purchased with my annual budget of $200.\r\n\r\nThe costumes are going to be utilized in our upcoming Christmas program in December, and the hot dog costume as we sing the song \"I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner\", in a song collection I have written called \"Americana Favorites\" (song will be performed on a patriotic-themed, fourth grade music program in March).\r\n\r\nI have relied heavily on Donors Choose this school year, obtaining the costuming and equipment needs I needed in order to make this program one that is top-notch. Without you all, these needs would have came straight from my paychecks. Thank you so much for your continued support.","fullyFundedDate":1761932368149,"projectUrl":"project/the-soundof-music/9832888/","projectTitle":"The Sound...of Music!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9966516_orig.jpg?crop=563,563,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741713872428","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9966516"},{"teacherId":8802160,"projectId":9286481,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous donations towards our indoor recess toys for my third grade classroom. Your support has given our students many meaningful opportunities to unplug from technology, socialize, and play with their classmates during indoor recess and fun Friday time. Seeing students laugh, cooperate, and use their imaginations during free play has been a joy — thank you for your contribution to making recess more active, creative, and connected for students. They've already started forming new friendships and showing improved focus after recess thanks to your thoughtful donation.","fullyFundedDate":1746785293661,"projectUrl":"project/indoor-recess-revival-engaging-toys-for/9286481/","projectTitle":"Indoor Recess Revival: Engaging Toys for Creative Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Klempert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8802160_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y282&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1710522914907","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8802160"},{"teacherId":6319488,"projectId":9440975,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to my project. Because of your donation I have a new easel that doubles as a white board and anchor chart holder in my classroom. I was also able to get new anchor chart paper that has been so useful in class.\r\nThese projects help fund so many big and little things that become costly in the classroom if I were to have to purchase them on my own.\r\nI appreciate you and your support towards me, my classroom and my students.\r\nBecause of donors like you my classroom is safe, warm welcoming and a great place for learners.","fullyFundedDate":1755709572597,"projectUrl":"project/we-are-anchored-about-learning/9440975/","projectTitle":"We Are Anchored About Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6319488_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688752854150","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6319488"},{"teacherId":6319488,"projectId":9747640,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations. Many of my students can not afford a daily snack at the end of the day, so being able to have extra snacks on hand has been so helpful to all my students and their families. At this time many of our families do not have the extra money to send in snack for their own child, let alone the whole class. So projects like these not only make my students happy it helps relieve some major stress and burdens for several families.\r\nThank you for supporting my students, myself, my classroom and my district.","fullyFundedDate":1758851664794,"projectUrl":"project/snack-restock/9747640/","projectTitle":"Snack Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6319488_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688752854150","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6319488"},{"teacherId":9966516,"projectId":9790371,"letterContent":"Thank you for providing an additional sixty recorders for my elementary music program (specifically fifth grade music students). I had created a fully-funded Donors Choose grant a few months ago to secure enough recorders for all 143 fifth grade students to have their own recorders when we return from Christmas break in January, but due to supply issues, I had to substitute the recorders I had originally requested, which left me 57 recorders short, due to a price difference. I then created this second Donor's Choose grant to cover the other needed recorders (which equalled around $299). These funds just simply are not in my budget, given my music budget for the entire school is only $200 each school year.\r\n\r\nMy fifth grade students just held their fifth grade Halloween music program. This is a group of students who love to make music together, so right now, they are continuing their studies of common-time rhythms, as well as musical treble clef staff notation. When we return from Christmas break, we will use the recorders (with each student having their own), to practice these skills of reading music. Many of these fifth graders have goals to pursue music at the sixth grade level. My hope is to foster this love of making music together as an ensemble in a way that not only nourishes this love of students who already love making music together, but encourages more to enjoy the unity that corresponds with making music as a group.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your financial support of my classroom. Music, and the skills involved and developed with making music, are so important. We will fill the halls with recorder music, thanks to you, when we return from Christmas break.","fullyFundedDate":1760397344221,"projectUrl":"project/recorders-recorders-and-more-recorders/9790371/","projectTitle":"Recorders, Recorders, and More Recorders!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9966516_orig.jpg?crop=563,563,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741713872428","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9966516"},{"teacherId":10036800,"projectId":9374911,"letterContent":"Having current and relatable books in my classroom has made reading more meaningful and exciting for my students. When they see characters who look like them or face challenges they understand, they become more engaged and motivated to read. These books spark thoughtful discussions, build empathy, and help students connect reading to real-life experiences. By offering stories that reflect their interests and the world around them, students develop stronger comprehension skills and a genuine love for reading. Current, relatable books make literacy feel alive, relevant, and empowering in our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1754354521680,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library-with-current-and-relat/9374911/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library with Current and Relatable Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Norris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10036800_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x40,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747320879035","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10036800"},{"teacherId":10036800,"projectId":9404119,"letterContent":"Creating a cozy classroom with soft lamps and decorative bulletin borders has made a huge difference for my students. The warm lighting helps them feel calm and focused, while the inviting displays make the room feel cheerful and welcoming. Students often comment that it feels like a safe, comfortable space where they can relax and learn. This environment encourages collaboration, creativity, and confidence. It has transformed our classroom into a place where students look forward to being every day and where learning feels meaningful and enjoyable.","fullyFundedDate":1753149707822,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-classroom/9404119/","projectTitle":"Cozy Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Norris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10036800_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x40,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747320879035","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10036800"},{"teacherId":2073090,"projectId":9549520,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to the After School Snack Bin. The student have loved having a snack before tech club starts. They are enjoying having a variety of snacks and enjoying them with their peers before STEM activities. I can't thank you enough for providing for these students staying after school and eager to continue to learn. Currently they are learning to code on their chromebooks. Soon they will be participating in Hour of Code where they will go to every classroom in the school and share with their peers the basics of coding. In the spring the students in Tech Club will build a Vexbot and learn to navigate it on a Vex course. They will showcase what they learn during our spring family night.","fullyFundedDate":1757556854154,"projectUrl":"project/afterschool-snack-bin/9549520/","projectTitle":"Afterschool Snack Bin","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dreier","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2073090_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761579532463","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2073090"},{"teacherId":9966516,"projectId":9686596,"letterContent":"I wanted to share a glimpse inside our music classroom with you. I teach third, fourth, and fifth grade music students. Our music program at our building/at this level then directly filters into the middle school music classrooms of sixth grade band and choir. Our administration (not to mention sixth grade choir and band teachers) are hoping to create a quality \"stepping-stone\" type music program, so that students not only love and want to participate in music classes in middle school, but are also knowledgeable when it comes to music skills and musical technique.\r\n\r\nThis project was created so that I could provide a new recorder for all my fifth grade music students (137 students). We are currently working on reading common-time musical rhythms, as well as learning the lines and spaces of the treble clef staff. In the classroom so far (they just had a music program last week, of which required some students to play pitched and non-pitched classroom instruments), they have learned how to play pitched and non-pitched percussion and keyboard instruments, but on a much smaller scale, given I do not have enough instruments for ALL 137 students to perform. In establishing recorders for each of my 137 students, ALL my students will be able to put to use their music reading and playing skills.\r\n\r\nMy instructional plan is to begin learning recorders the week we return from Christmas break. I currently have established a second Donor's Choose project, of which would cover the remaining recorders I need for this project. This project is called \"Recorders, Recorders, and More Recorders!\" Once this project is also fully-funded, we will have all we need to start playing recorders in music class.\r\n\r\nThank you for your continued support of our classroom. Without your funding, the program wouldn't be what it is today (much improved!). I started with nothing, and now have so much to offer my students, schoolwide, let alone at this \"stepping-stone\" grade level.","fullyFundedDate":1758831721670,"projectUrl":"project/welcome-to-recorders-class/9686596/","projectTitle":"Welcome to Recorders, Class!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9966516_orig.jpg?crop=563,563,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741713872428","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9966516"},{"teacherId":10017816,"projectId":9329625,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my 4th grade classroom. My students are so grateful to have a new rug and stools for this year!\r\n\r\nThe rug serves as a place where students can gather to learn, collaborate, and grow together. Whether it is used for a lesson or a fun movie party students always enjoy getting to sit somewhere special in the classroom. \r\n\r\nThe stools are essential as they are used during small group time daily! Without these, students would not have necessary tools needed to grow their minds as learners!","fullyFundedDate":1747292937636,"projectUrl":"project/ms-smiths-classroom/9329625/","projectTitle":"Ms. Smith’s Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10017816_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746581031808","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10017816"},{"teacherId":9966516,"projectId":9387248,"letterContent":"I want you to know that with your donations, and the purchase of needed musical instruments, equipment, and music for our school, our school's music program is already \"making a comeback\", as we enter week 3 of school.\r\n\r\nWe began receiving UPS and Fed Ex deliveries of musical instruments and equipment the second day of school. With each delivery, my students' eyes and excitement grew. Boomwhackers, music stands, Recorder Karate music, keyboard key labels - many of which we will be utilizing in our Halloween, October 9th music program (Boomwhackers, music stands, and keyboard labels on classroom keyboards). We have began working with such in class, in preparation for our program, and have infused instrumental breaks into songs such as \"Addam's Family\", \"Witch Doctor\", \"On Halloween\", \"Purple People Eater\", and other popular Halloween songs we will sing in October.\r\n\r\nAs an instrumental music education major, as well as lifelong musician, not to mention parent of two fourth graders, thank you for the opportunity to present over 400 third, fourth, and fifth grade students with a quality music education rich with instrumental exposure. My hope is to foster a love so great, through daily classroom performance, as well as through quality music programs/performances, that they also develop a lifelong love for music.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping me reach my goals when the funding to do so simply wasn't made available. I appreciate you more than you know (and so do parents, community members, coworkers, and my students). I will be referencing in our programs this year how all of this was possible, thanks to my\"Donors Choose\" donors.","fullyFundedDate":1752586439369,"projectUrl":"project/making-music-with-instruments/9387248/","projectTitle":"Making Music With Instruments!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9966516_orig.jpg?crop=563,563,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741713872428","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9966516"},{"teacherId":3520745,"projectId":9295405,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our classroom through DonorsChoose! Because of your support, my 4th graders now have essential back-to-school supplies like crayons, pre-sharpened pencils, earbuds, and more to help them start the year with confidence and excitement. These materials are already making a difference by helping students stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn from day one.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has truly brightened our classroom and shown my students that there are people who care deeply about their education. We're so grateful for your support—thank you for investing in our learning and helping us build a strong foundation for a successful school year!","fullyFundedDate":1746648805677,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-with-success/9295405/","projectTitle":"Back to School with Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Inman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3520745_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689087072980","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3520745"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_77750","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":464,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":60,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":91,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"3 - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":77.3,"schoolId":77750,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/missouri/central-school-district-r3/west-elementary-school/77750"}