{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Witch Hazel Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10062923,"projectId":9430700,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support and generous donations toward the variety of STEM materials. This has really added a lot to our classroom community. On the days that the packages arrived at our school, I had my students make predictions about what might be in the boxes and what we might use the items for. Students got to take turns unboxing the materials and exploring them freely. There was an instant sense of excitement, and my students started describing different things they could build. \r\n\r\nWe have consistently embedded these materials into different science lessons related to our engineering standards. We also use them every Friday for our \"Fun Friday\" exploration time. I assign students different tasks, and they have to plan and design structures that meet the tasks through collaboration and problem solving. For example, we have being learning about energy conversions and motion in science. Students were tasked with building two different ramps of varying steepness and length with the Magnet tiles to compare which one would make a ball roll faster or farther. Students also had to create different machines with the gears set and towers with connecting bridges out of the wooden planks and magnetic tubes. We also did a unit in ELA about natural disasters, so students used the variety of STEM materials to design structures that could withstand a hurricane or earthquake. Students showed a lot of perseverance, collaboration, and creativity in planning and building these structures. If their structures could not withstand the \"natural disaster\" they reflected on how to make their structure stronger and compared and contrasted ideas with other groups. Students who are normally shy and hesitant to engage in classroom assignments have jumped in and found ways to be successful and demonstrate their thinking and learning, which has really built confidence for kids who may not always feel successful in a traditional academic setting. Our next step will be to use these materials to design a rollercoaster or marble run as we learn about momentum and energy. \r\n\r\nBeing a Title 1 school comes with a lot of pressure to always be focused on the data and maximize every minute with rigorous academic tasks, which can, at time, suck the joy out of learning. It has been amazing to watch my students find that joy for learning and exploring again through these hands on tasks. They are taking pride in their accomplishments, asking great questions, and thinking flexibly. Thank you for also believing in my students and the power of STEM in education.","fullyFundedDate":1755723647906,"projectUrl":"project/inspiring-young-innovators-stem-explora/9430700/","projectTitle":"Inspiring Young Innovators: STEM Exploration in First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kepner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10062923_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750787440813","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10062923"},{"teacherId":9497615,"projectId":9110691,"letterContent":"Thank you so incredibly much for your generous donation to our classroom! We have been so grateful for and excited by the new books and supplies we received from your donations. Students are more engaged in reading than I have ever seen them and so excited to read and share the new books. \r\n\r\nI have been able to use the new books both as independent and partner reading materials as well as for whole group lessons on reading skills such as retelling, character traits, main idea/key details, and more. Being able to base these lessons off of books with diverse themes, characters, and lives that truly represent my students has been amazing. Our classroom library is more representative of my class than ever and we are so grateful.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity. Your donation has made such an impact to my students and for students in years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1739818926081,"projectUrl":"project/help-update-our-classroom-library/9110691/","projectTitle":"Help Update Our Classroom Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9497615_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738952263116","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9497615"},{"teacherId":9497615,"projectId":9104030,"letterContent":"My class has been so excited to read the new books that your donations provided us! We have used them for whole class read aloud and I have taught lessons surrounding reading skills such as describing characters and settings. Through these, we have been able to start discussions around identities that students in our class share and even facets of identity that they hadn't experienced before! I also have students using the books in independent book studies. They have been reading with their peers and engaging in reading responses like creating comics, extending the story, and discussing their favorite parts and characters.\r\n\r\nMy emerging readers are especially enjoying the books as they've provided new, exciting, and engaging texts that encourage them to keep reading despite the challenge that learning to read has posed to them. I and my students appreciate your donations with all our hearts (and brains!) and we cannot wait to continue learning and growing as we use them.","fullyFundedDate":1739375879707,"projectUrl":"project/diverse-classroom-library/9104030/","projectTitle":"Diverse Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9497615_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738952263116","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9497615"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88450","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":426,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":63,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"15.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":80.3,"schoolId":88450,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Witch Hazel Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Witch Hazel Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/hillsboro-school-district-1j/witch-hazel-elementary-school/88450"}
Join the 183 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Witch Hazel Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Hillsboro, Oregon that is part of Hillsboro School District 1j.
It serves 426 students
in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.2:1.
Its teachers have had 55 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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
72%
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.
Witch Hazel Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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.
Witch Hazel Elementary School
$37,867
raised using DonorsChoose
55
projects
funded
25
teachers
funded
183
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
7
projects for
technology
13
projects for
books
4
projects
for
art supplies
Witch Hazel Elementary School has received support from
147 individuals from Oregon and
36 individuals out-of-state.