{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Ridge Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":28.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6078390,"projectId":9591306,"letterContent":"On behalf of the kindergarten team: thank you so much for your generous donations to our classrooms. Your support provided each of our students with their own primary-lined writing journal - an item that may seem simple, but has made a tremendous impact on our kindergarten learning environment.\r\nFor many of our students, this journal is their very first space to watch themselves grow as learners. Having a personal space to write, draw, and tell their stories has helped them develop confidence, independence, and pride in their work. The primary-lined format has been especially meaningful, giving students clear structure as they learn proper letter formation, spacing, and early sentence writing.\r\nThe journals have quickly become one of the most treasured parts of our day. Students eagerly open them during writing time, excited to add a new page about their families, responses to the books we read on the carpet, or the stories they're creating from their imagination. I often see them flipping back through previous entries, smiling at how much their writing has grown.\r\nBeyond writing skills, these journals have supported creativity, fine-motor development, and classroom routines that make students feel like true authors. They are learning that their voices matter and that writing is a meaningful way to express their thoughts.\r\nYour donation didn't just give us a much-needed school supply: it opened the door to confidence, creativity, and the joy of becoming a writer. Thank you for investing in our students and helping to build foundational skills they will carry with them for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1755686898983,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-young-writers-primary-journa/9591306/","projectTitle":"Empowering Young Writers: Primary Journals for Kindergarten!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Berner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6078390_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1543186992363","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6078390"},{"teacherId":6078390,"projectId":9583106,"letterContent":"I am writing to share just how meaningful your generous donations have been to our kindergarten classroom. Because of your support, every student has been able to experience Let's Find Out magazines weekly.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, Let's Find Out magazines have become their first true \"reading-on-my-own\" experience. The simple, engaging nonfiction texts build confidence while introducing them to real-world topics they are excited to explore. Each issue sparks curiosity. \r\n\r\nBeyond reading skills, the magazines have made science and social studies learning fun and meaningful. We are learn about animals, community helpers, weather, and important holidays together. The hands-on activities, interactive features, and vivid photographs help bring abstract concepts to life for young learners. Students look forward to each new issue, and many proudly take them home to read again and again with their families.\r\n\r\nYour donations have provided more than a magazine; they've provided opportunities for discovery, critical thinking, and love of learning. \r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the importance of early education and for investing in our classroom. Your generosity has made such a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1755702782221,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-kindergarten-instruction-with/9583106/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Kindergarten Instruction with Let's Find Out Magazines!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Berner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6078390_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1543186992363","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6078390"},{"teacherId":451108,"projectId":9474405,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations. The Scholastic News articles are used by all three classrooms weekly. With your help and support students are being exposed to important Social Studies and Science topics.\r\n\r\nThe articles also give the students a transition into applying their skills with real-life topics. They have to use critical thinking skills to complete the accompanying comprehension pages. These help with their brain development for such a young age. \r\n\r\nEvery single person who supported our three classrooms is appreciated. Our students are able to learn and grow because of your generosity. You are each impacting our students lives in a very meaningful way. The second grade team and our students truly appreciates you all.","fullyFundedDate":1753543445757,"projectUrl":"project/building-science-and-social-studies-exce/9474405/","projectTitle":"Building Science and Social Studies Excellence with Scholastic News!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Phillippose","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/451108"},{"teacherId":6449886,"projectId":9052530,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has a whole new energy—cleaner, brighter, and more motivating than ever before! The materials from \"Math in Motion\" have helped transform not only how we learn math, but also how we feel in our learning environment each day.\r\n\r\nThe new supplies have brought a renewed sense of focus and pride to our math time. Clean whiteboards, fresh markers, and other organizational tools may seem simple, but for my students, they've made a world of difference. Now, they can quickly jump into solving problems, show their work clearly, and collaborate with confidence. The physical act of working out math on bright, new materials has made math more interactive and hands-on—our learning truly feels in motion!\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting parts for my students is just how professional and \"official\" they feel with their materials. Several students even asked if they could bring their whiteboards home to practice more! A student who used to be reluctant to share their thinking now eagerly volunteers to solve problems at the board, proud of how neatly they can show their work.\r\n\r\nYour support reminded us all that learning spaces matter. You didn't just fund supplies—you invested in student motivation, dignity, and daily joy. Thank you for believing in my students and helping us make winter learning bright, energized, and meaningful.","fullyFundedDate":1739383148570,"projectUrl":"project/math-in-motion-a-clean-bright-and-mot/9052530/","projectTitle":"Math in Motion: A Clean, Bright, and Motivated Winter!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Baarck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6449886_orig.jpg?crop=993,993,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1645061551157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6449886"},{"teacherId":3434462,"projectId":9194661,"letterContent":"Thank you all so very much for inspiring my students in the inner city of Chicago.\r\nThe large screen, mac min, and earphones have excited the children and were so \r\nhappy that they SCREEMED! So cute! \r\n\r\nI am able to work with the large group, small groups, one on one and individually. They screen is so big that other children have asked if they can use it and often yell out, \"COOL!\" Now, with the mini mac I am able to get to all internet and files in any room that I go to. This is very important because I service children in 8 rooms and need something that transports easily. \r\n\r\nPlus the new headphones are really beautiful colors that the kids like, and then it's better cause it encourages them to want to use them on the reading programs (like Amira) for English Learners.\r\n\r\nAgain, thank you from the bottoms and tops of our hearts!","fullyFundedDate":1745428747963,"projectUrl":"project/computers-for-special-education-students/9194661/","projectTitle":"Computers for Special Education Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smola","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3434462_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1733057611463","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3434462"},{"teacherId":3434462,"projectId":9229420,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for the excitement my students have for theses books. All\r\nmy second grade students share the 1 or 2 books we have a valuable for 50 kids. Students argue and then wait patiently for their turn to take it out from the classroom.\r\n\r\n I always feel so bad that I only have one book and have to say no to my other students.\r\nAt times, we read it as a group but there is always a few that will ask to take it home. But Im afraid of losing it so I hesitate to lend it to them. Now, I can create a library that they\r\nall can sign up to take out the books. \r\n\r\nI showed them my Donors Choose project and that generous people from America are giving money so they can have books to read. Students jumped up and down! Screamed and did high fives! Soooooooooooooooooooooooo, excited and this brought both happiness and smiles to my face as well. Thank you all!","fullyFundedDate":1744223828963,"projectUrl":"project/high-interest-books-for-independent-read/9229420/","projectTitle":"High Interest Books for Independent Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smola","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3434462_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1733057611463","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3434462"},{"teacherId":6078390,"projectId":8783183,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations toward seat sacks for our kindergarten students. We have been using them to organize items that we access daily! We use folders for writing (red folder), word work (blue folder), handwriting workbooks, writing journals, and word work journals! \r\n\r\nNo longer do we have to resort to storing supplies in bins or bags alongside their chairs. Students are learning to care for their items and practice daily to keep their materials neatly organized, a skill that will benefit them as they transition into first grade next year.\r\n\r\nOur classroom is cleaner and more organized, and our students are becoming more confident with their learning tools right within reach. \r\n\r\nIt wouldn't have been possible without your help! Thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1734580004784,"projectUrl":"project/seat-sacks-for-all-in-oversized-kinderga/8783183/","projectTitle":"Seat Sacks for All in Oversized Kindergarten Classes!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Berner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6078390_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1543186992363","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6078390"},{"teacherId":9726463,"projectId":8734135,"letterContent":"What an amazing difference. We have ice quickly accessible to our students who come in with all of their varied needs. We are able to treat them right there and then, as well as to give comfort. We service so many kids daily, and we no longer have to go running to find ice behind the Main Office. Thank you so much! \r\n\r\nHaving the printer has made it so much easier to get parents the documents they need in a timely fashion. It also allows us to get more work done. Parents no longer have to wait while we run up and back, under pressure. \r\n\r\nThank you so much.","fullyFundedDate":1734646067331,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-ice-ice-machine/8734135/","projectTitle":"We Need Ice (Ice Machine)!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lome","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9726463"},{"teacherId":3434462,"projectId":9012455,"letterContent":"Students are engaging and using materials ordered to show their work and create projects. I encourage group participation so strengths of each child is show cased. The present the work to the classroom and the steps needed to complete it.\r\n\r\nIts very important students learn to create on their own, share ideas and collaborate as a group. The REAL world works this way now, and as educators it is important we give them\r\nthe opportunities to express their ideas and express themselves in each individual way.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping children with their education, every bit helps!","fullyFundedDate":1734555638448,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-shipment-2024-12-1/9012455/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials Shipment: 2024-12-18","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smola","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3434462_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1733057611463","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3434462"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_99144","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":622,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":30,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":23,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":71.2,"schoolId":99144,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Ridge Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Ridge Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/west-ridge-elementary-school/99144"}