{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Western Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":36.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5727796,"projectId":9855103,"letterContent":"Thanks to this project, our students are experiencing reading in deeper, more meaningful ways. The new books introduce essential skills such as building vocabulary through context, making inferences, identifying themes, and analyzing characters' choices and perspectives. Students are learning that reading isn't just about decoding words—it's about understanding ideas, asking questions, and making connections to their own lives and the world around them. These texts also support lessons in empathy and critical thinking, helping students see multiple viewpoints and engage in thoughtful discussion.\r\n\r\nBecause the books are available at a variety of reading levels, every student is able to find a text that feels both accessible and engaging. This has made a tremendous difference in helping all students feel included and confident during classroom reading activities. No matter their reading level, students can fully participate in discussions, partner work, and lessons centered around shared themes and ideas. Western's strong culture around the importance of reading has led to incredible schoolwide success. In addition to an overall increase in the number of students reading on or above grade level, our school was recognized by the state of Connecticut as a School of Distinction based on last year's state testing results.\r\n\r\nIn our school, reading is active and joyful. You'll see students curled up with books during independent reading time, eagerly discussing plot twists with a partner, and enthusiastically scribbling favorite lines, surprising moments, and new vocabulary on Post-it notes. Small-group discussions are richer because students are excited about what they're reading and eager to share their thinking. The books have helped create a calm, focused reading environment where students feel confident taking risks and expressing their ideas. These moments remind us how powerful the right books can be—and your support has made this possible. We are forever grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1761679495238,"projectUrl":"project/westerns-readers-are-tomorrows-leaders/9855103/","projectTitle":"Westerns' Readers are Tomorrow's Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wojnar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5727796"},{"teacherId":4898702,"projectId":9543293,"letterContent":"With your generous donation, we were able to laminate and organize all of our center materials for Math. Students are very excited to be able to work with partners throughout the week and being able to eliminate. The materials makes the materials last longer.\r\n\r\nMy students and I are grateful for support of donors like you that help us maintain and organize materials. \r\n\r\nStudents even volunteered their time to laminate the sheets and set up the sheets for me to work with. Students have become very responsible and learn learned how to respect school materials appropriately.","fullyFundedDate":1759171616673,"projectUrl":"project/order-in-the-class/9543293/","projectTitle":"Order in the Class!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solimine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4898702_orig.png?crop=570,570,x0,y24&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754954644812","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nicolesolimine"},{"teacherId":4898702,"projectId":9577450,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support and for believing in the power of reading to transform young learners. Because of your contribution, our students now have access to beautifully curated book boxes that are making a remarkable difference in their daily learning experience.\r\n\r\nSince introducing these book boxes into our classrooms, we have seen significant improvements in both student organization and engagement with reading. Students are taking pride in maintaining their personal book spaces, keeping materials organized, and treating books with greater care and responsibility. This simple tool has empowered them to manage their learning environment more independently and confidently.\r\n\r\nEven more inspiring is the noticeable increase in students' enthusiasm for selecting and exploring multiple books. With a variety of titles right at their fingertips, students are eagerly diving into new genres, discovering new interests, and developing stronger reading habits. Many students who once hesitated to choose books are now selecting several at a time, excited to read, compare, and discuss what they find.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a classroom culture where reading feels accessible, inviting, and joyful. The impact is not just seen in our students' academic growth, but also in their confidence as young readers and thinkers.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us place books— and the love of reading— into the hands and hearts of our students. Your support truly makes a difference.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1755880459304,"projectUrl":"project/bin-there-reading-that/9577450/","projectTitle":"Bin There, Reading That!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solimine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4898702_orig.png?crop=570,570,x0,y24&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754954644812","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nicolesolimine"},{"teacherId":2452866,"projectId":8880397,"letterContent":"My students and I are thoroughly enjoying our new rug! It is clean, bright, and has given our classroom a much-needed facelift. We spend at least half of our day on the rug for activities like Morning Meeting, independent and partner reading, read-aloud time, phonics, dancing, singing, and playing.\r\nWhen my students first saw the new rug, their excitement was palpable! Some froze in the doorway with their jaws dropped, unable to stop 'petting' the thick pile of the carpet. They talked about it all week long. Even former students who had been in my class noticed the change right away and kept complimenting how nice our room looked.\r\nThe quality of this carpet, made by Lakeshore Learning, is outstanding. Your donation will impact not only my students this year but also all of my future students. I am truly relieved to have a bright and clean carpet that serves as the epicenter of my classroom.\r\nThank you for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1738851273054,"projectUrl":"project/clean-morning-meeting-rug/8880397/","projectTitle":"Clean Morning Meeting Rug","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Godin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2452866_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730054408932","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2452866"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_44009","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":242,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":39,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":34,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"12.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":63.2,"schoolId":44009,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Western Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Western Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/naugatuck-school-district/western-elementary-school/44009"}
Join the 87 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Western Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Naugatuck, Connecticut that is part of Naugatuck School District.
It serves 242 students
in grades K - 4 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.7:1.
Its teachers have had 28 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
50%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Western Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 20, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Western Elementary School
$17,953
raised using DonorsChoose
28
projects
funded
17
teachers
funded
87
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
5
projects for
books
Western Elementary School has received support from
55 individuals from Connecticut and
32 individuals out-of-state.
