{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Zapata Academy","outOfStateSupporters":38.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":114531,"projectId":9441216,"letterContent":"My students and I continue to be so grateful for your donations to our classroom. The moment we received the carpet, we switched it in and happily said goodbye to the old one. Students kept commenting on how thick and soft it is! \r\n\r\nSince then, we have spent countless hours sitting on it together. We start each day sitting in a circle on the edge, checking in with each other during our Morning Meeting. I read books to them while they are gathered on the rug and often teach short lessons to them while they are seated on our rug. Some students have chosen the rug as their space to complete group projects or work with their partners. And we've played numerous games together while sitting at the carpet. It's truly the item in my classroom that brings us together. \r\n\r\nHaving an inviting space to gather matters in my classroom. I want the carpet to be a place where students want to be and because of you it is. Thank you for supporting my students.","fullyFundedDate":1754737637179,"projectUrl":"project/a-carpet-for-our-classroom-community/9441216/","projectTitle":"A Carpet for Our Classroom Community","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Foiles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/esther"},{"teacherId":1850317,"projectId":9502410,"letterContent":"Thank you all very much for your incredible donation to this project! Reading the Monarch nominees is a favorite part of library class for students in kindergarten through third grade each year. The Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Readers' Choice Award, sponsored by the Association of Illinois School Library Educators, is designed to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children's books, authors, and illustrators. During library classes throughout the year, students read the 20 Monarch nominated books and library lessons and activities are centered on the Monarch nominees. Then in March students vote for their favorite Monarch book. Students feel empowered that they have a part in selecting the winner of the Monarch Award.\r\n\r\nThanks to this project we now have the complete list of the 2025-2026 Monarch nominees. Students are so excited to check out the Monarch books after we read a book as a class. This project will ensure our school library has two copies of each book to continue the excitement of reading the Monarch nominees. Students also love the stuffed alligator to accompany our reading of \"Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator.\" \r\n\r\nBooks that have been prior Monarch nominees are still well-loved by many students. Seeing students so excited about books and reading is the best! Thank you for supporting my students and their love of reading!\r\n\r\nThank you for your continued generosity and support of my students and our school library.","fullyFundedDate":1755719832916,"projectUrl":"project/monarch-readers-take-flight-choose-our/9502410/","projectTitle":"Monarch Readers Take Flight - Choose Our Own Award Winner!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hlousek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1850317_orig.jpg?crop=2064,2064,x97,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625890215756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mshlousek"},{"teacherId":9810706,"projectId":9716511,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and educators benefiting from the \"Support Early Reading for Struggling Learners With Tactile Materials\" project, we extend our sincerest gratitude for your generous donation. Your support is directly transforming the learning experience for our most challenged readers. By funding these essential tactile materials—such as textured letter cards, specialized manipulatives, and hands-on phonics kits—you are not simply providing supplies; you are providing a vital, multi-sensory pathway to literacy that traditional methods often fail to offer. Because of your commitment, more students are now actively engaging with letters and words, building stronger foundational skills, and gaining the confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.\r\n\r\nYour contribution is an investment in the future success of these young learners. We are profoundly grateful for your belief in the power of inclusive education and your dedication to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to unlock the joy and potential of reading. Thank you for making a tangible, lasting difference in their lives.","fullyFundedDate":1762266281250,"projectUrl":"project/support-early-reading-for-struggling-lea/9716511/","projectTitle":"Support Early Reading for Struggling Learners With Tactile Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Merino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9810706"},{"teacherId":5791327,"projectId":9433186,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom received copies of Solito by Javier Zamora — and the impact has been profound. This book has opened a space for my students to connect deeply with literature and, most importantly, with their own stories.\r\n\r\nAs we've read Solito together, my students have been inspired by Javier Zamora's bravery in sharing his journey. Many of them see their families, their fears, and their hopes reflected in his words. For students in our community — a community that has felt the pain and pressure of ICE presence in Chicago — this story has been both healing and empowering.\r\n\r\nThrough discussions, journal reflections, and shared storytelling, my students are beginning to see that their experiences matter. They've learned that their voices are powerful, and that literature can be a place where they are seen and heard.\r\n\r\nHere are a few ways your support has made a difference:\r\n\r\n📖 Students are engaging deeply with reading and discussion, often sharing personal reflections with empathy and courage.\r\n\r\n💬 Many have said that Solito made them feel \"less alone\" and more proud of their heritage and resilience.\r\n\r\n❤️ Our classroom has become a safe, supportive space where storytelling brings understanding and unity.\r\n\r\nYour gift was more than just a set of books — it was an act of affirmation for students who often feel unseen. Thank you for believing in them and for helping our classroom become a place of voice, strength, and belonging.","fullyFundedDate":1751823722638,"projectUrl":"project/building-memoirs-with-stories-of-belongi/9433186/","projectTitle":"Building Memoirs With Stories of Belonging","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Undda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5791327_orig.jpg?crop=1080,1080,x0,y341&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750877217186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5791327"},{"teacherId":1850317,"projectId":9319305,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to fund this project! I am extremely thankful for generous donors who continue to support my students and keep our school library shelves full of new books. My students are always shocked and grateful to learn there are people who purchase so many new books for them and our library. \r\n\r\nBased on student reading interests, many of the books included in this project are graphic novels. A few students had been waiting for the newest additions to their favorite graphic novel series. Thanks to the quick funding of this project, students were able to check out their book requests just as the books were published.\r\n\r\nPrimary students have enjoyed reading new additions to their favorite series. The newest books in the Mindy Kim, Pets Rule!, Cats on the Run, and Fluffle Bunnies series have been read by many enthusiastic readers who had been looking forward to the next adventures of their favorite characters. Students also have been reading and sharing many new picture books from this project. Favorite picture books include: Odder: An Otter's Story, Skeletown: Hola. ¡Adiós!, and Don't Lose Mr. Cuddles: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog.\r\n\r\nThis project also replaced our well-read library copies of Save Me a Seat and Dear Martin. The few nonfiction books in this project have also been a hit. Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead: A Funny Picture Book of Adorable Attacker Animals and We are The Beatles have been favorite check outs for students this fall.\r\n\r\nBooks, especially new books, bring so much joy to my students. It is heartwarming to see students so excited about reading and sharing books with their peers. It is essential for my students to have access to quality literature that will continue to develop their love of reading. In such a challenging year, seeing my students so excited about books and reading is incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThank you for your support of my students and our school library.","fullyFundedDate":1746787366206,"projectUrl":"project/page-turners-new-books-for-our-school/9319305/","projectTitle":"Page Turners - New Books for Our School Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hlousek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1850317_orig.jpg?crop=2064,2064,x97,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625890215756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mshlousek"},{"teacherId":8675447,"projectId":9136925,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity! The color printer has really helped to liven our classroom! Students are excited about seeing their research projects being printed and it is a bonus that they are in color. I have also been able to create a Birthday wall for students as well as many colorful decorations for the classroom. \r\n\r\nNot only has this printer helped me tremendously– from printing out teacher resources to student work but I have been able to, for the first time, print out pictures of students (In color!) that I am able to share with their families; especially during parent teacher conferences and or open house. Students love seeing their work displayed around the classroom! \r\n\r\nThank you! Your generosity has not only helped one classroom but will benefit many more students to come!","fullyFundedDate":1742930376824,"projectUrl":"project/color-printer-for-our-colorful-classroom/9136925/","projectTitle":"Color Printer for Our Colorful Classroom Projects!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lagunas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8675447_orig.png?crop=427,427,x65,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742502657696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8675447"},{"teacherId":9298693,"projectId":9595189,"letterContent":"I am very grateful for the numerous financial contributions you have made in support of my education. Without your help, I may never have been able to supply for my students. They have begun to use them in the classroom and are extremely grateful. The materials and your generosity has helped tremendously and the students at Zapata academy will continue to excel because you have provided them with help. Your generosity and help have been an inspiration to me.\r\n\r\n\r\nAgain, thank you for your encouragement and financial support.","fullyFundedDate":1755521980226,"projectUrl":"project/math-all-stars/9595189/","projectTitle":"Math All Stars","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Montoya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9298693_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695920254577","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9298693"},{"teacherId":9429418,"projectId":9267402,"letterContent":"Thank you for the kind donation to my classroom and for the benefit of all my students. This is not only for one class but for 60+ students. My goal is to keep these calculators as clean as possible and have them for many years to come. When students saw these calculators, they were excited to put them to use!\r\nIn math, I allow my students to use calculators as long as they show their work in every assignment. They are allowed to use them as long as they show their work. Calculators were used for math!","fullyFundedDate":1746785468184,"projectUrl":"project/calculators-for-7th-grade/9267402/","projectTitle":"Calculators for 7th-Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Salgado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9429418_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705354921936","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9429418"},{"teacherId":1850317,"projectId":9206384,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to fund this project! I am extremely thankful for generous donors who continue to support my students and keep our library shelves full of the newest books my students are interested in reading!\r\n\r\nThis project added 35 of the latest titles in my students' favorite series to our library collection. My students had been asking for these latest additions to their favorite series and were absolutely delighted to finally have these books in the library right when these books were published. Students who were eagerly waiting for the next installment in a series were very excited to finally discover the latest adventure of their favorite characters and get swept away in the action of these books. Other readers discovered a new series and have been devouring these books.\r\n\r\nEach of the books in this project was instantly checked out by students. The most popular books have been the new additions to my students' favorite series: Press Start, Dragon Masters, Unicorn Diaries, and The Party Diaries. This project also added new additions to graphic novel series such as Baby-Sitters Little Sister, Big Nate, HiLo, Spy School, Max Meow, Agents of S.U.I.T. in addition to the graphic novel version of Bunnicula, which is a favorite read aloud for third graders. Our graphic novel collection is the most popular section of our library. This project also added new picture books from favorite authors, including: Mermaids Are the Worst!, That's Not Funny, David!, and Will the Pigeon Graduate? Additionally students enjoyed Messi Mania and LEGO How to Build Everything. There are a wide variety of books in this project!\r\n\r\nBooks, especially new books, bring so much joy to my students. It is heartwarming to see students so excited about reading and sharing books with their peers. It is essential for my students to have access to quality literature that will continue to develop their love of reading. Seeing my students so excited about books and reading is incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThank you for your support of my students and our school library.","fullyFundedDate":1742939207178,"projectUrl":"project/reading-is-magical-help-us-fill-student/9206384/","projectTitle":"Reading Is Magical! Help Us Fill Student Book Requests","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hlousek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1850317_orig.jpg?crop=2064,2064,x97,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625890215756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mshlousek"},{"teacherId":5284137,"projectId":9112731,"letterContent":"I want to take this time to thank you for your generous donations. Without your help, I would not have been able to get my Kinders this great phonemic awareness/phonics program. This program will help them improve their reading, spelling, and writing. As educators, it is so difficult to find quality programs and resources in Spanish, so I was super excited when I came across this program. By using this program Kindergarteners will be ready to soar into first grade for years to come.\r\n\r\nWhen we first received the box from the office (our assistant principal brought it in) they were super intrigued and kept asking what was in the box. I told them about Donor's Choose and how I had written to them to ask for a phonemic awareness programto use with them and the next class coming in. I explained how Donor's Choose works and how we had some very generous people that gave money to our project so that we could buy this program that was going to help them with their reading and writing. We talked about how there are so many good people in the world and how people that we do not even know care about them and their education. We all agree that we are very blessed. \r\n\r\nThe students LOVE the new program. We started using the phonemic awareness piece that we named \"Word Fun.\" It is interactive and we use hand movements to blend and segment words, count how many words in a sentence, name initial and final sounds, and so many other skills.\r\n\r\nAgain, Thank you so much for your love and support.","fullyFundedDate":1745347180241,"projectUrl":"project/hip-hip-hooray-heggerty-en-espanol/9112731/","projectTitle":"Hip Hip Hooray! Heggerty en Espanol!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zavala","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5284137_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1522783194851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/c-zavala"},{"teacherId":9429418,"projectId":9019738,"letterContent":"Ever since my products have arrived in the classroom, students have been feeling very comfortable approaching our station. Many students and parents have reached out thanking me for having this. At first, not many students wanted to accept it or felt comfortable walking up to our station. This is a goal that I have been wanting to do for many months and past years. Unfortunately, we don't know the situation that students have or face outside of school. Making them feel at home inside our classroom is key to success!","fullyFundedDate":1741099901980,"projectUrl":"project/7th-grade-hygiene-products/9019738/","projectTitle":"7th Grade Hygiene Products","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Salgado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9429418_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705354921936","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9429418"},{"teacherId":114531,"projectId":9190787,"letterContent":"These materials have brought so much joy and excitement to my classroom! When the boxes arrived, students couldn't wait to hear about what we would be doing. They constantly asked me when we would plant our seeds! \r\n\r\nEach step of this project has been so enriching. First, my students got to decorate their clay pots. We don't have an art teacher so this was a much needed art experience. I loved seeing their artistic choices and their personalities come out. Then, students chose the seeds they would plant - they got to choose from 5 varieties - and actually plant them in their pot. Next, my students diligently watered and checked on their seeds each day, writing down observations about once a week. Each morning my students arrived pumped to water their plant and see what was new! \r\n\r\nThis project helped bring our life science unit to life. I know that my teammates' students have had the same enriching experience as mine has. We just sent home their plants and my students are already reporting back to me about the growth they are seeing. \r\n\r\nIt is truly rewarding to get to provide my whole grade level with materials and learning opportunities like this one. Thank you for investing in my students and my classroom. Your support means the world to us!","fullyFundedDate":1743017302434,"projectUrl":"project/planting-seeds-of-learning/9190787/","projectTitle":"Planting Seeds of Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Foiles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/esther"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5753","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":519,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":90,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":98,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.3,"schoolId":5753,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Zapata Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Zapata Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/zapata-academy/5753"}