{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Weeden Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":14.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9583960,"letterContent":"Dear DonorsChoose Supporters,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for supporting our STEM Classroom Toys Project! Because of your generosity, my students now have access to hands-on materials that are already transforming the way they learn, explore, and collaborate. I cannot express enough how grateful we are for your belief in our classroom and in the power of playful, meaningful learning.\r\n\r\nWhen the boxes arrived, the excitement was instant and contagious. My first graders gathered around wide-eyed as we opened each package. They couldn't wait to see what was inside—and when they realized these new materials were for them, the room filled with cheers and happy chatter. From that very first day, the toys became more than just tools; they became invitations to think, create, build, test, and try again.\r\n\r\nThese STEM toys have added a whole new level of engagement to our classroom. Students are learning through exploration—building structures, solving problems, and working together in ways that feel like play but are rooted in critical thinking. I've watched students who are usually quiet take the lead in group activities. I've seen children who struggle with traditional paper-and-pencil tasks light up when given something to touch, move, and design. Your donation has truly met students where they are and helped them shine.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest impacts has been during indoor recess, especially on cold or rainy days when we can't go outside. Instead of sitting restlessly, my students now have purposeful, joyful activities that keep their minds engaged and their energy positive. The gym has become a space full of laughter, teamwork, and creativity. They build towers, test ideas, and learn to problem-solve together—all because of the resources you provided.\r\n\r\nBeyond the academics, these toys are teaching life skills. Students are learning patience, communication, persistence, and how to handle challenges when things don't work the first time. They're learning that mistakes are part of the process and that trying again is how we grow. Those are lessons they will carry far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, it's an honor to see my students thrive, and it's because of donors like you that I'm able to provide opportunities that go beyond the basics. You didn't just buy toys—you helped create moments of discovery, confidence, and joy. You helped build a classroom where learning feels exciting and students feel supported.","fullyFundedDate":1760625446751,"projectUrl":"project/curious-minds-at-work-building-stem-ski/9583960/","projectTitle":"Curious Minds at Work: Building STEM Skills in First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9422372,"letterContent":"Huge thank you to DonorsChoose and every single donor who helped make our recess project a reality! Because of your generosity, our first graders now have new balls and toys to play with, and the impact has already been incredible. Recess is such an important part of a child's day, and thanks to you, it's now filled with even more movement, laughter, teamwork, and joy.\r\n\r\nOur students were absolutely thrilled when the new equipment arrived. Their faces lit up with excitement as they saw all the new things they could play with. For many of them, recess is the highlight of their school day, and your support has made it even more special. They are running, jumping, tossing, catching, and inventing new games together every day. You didn't just give them toys — you gave them opportunities to build friendships, practice cooperation, and release energy in healthy, positive ways.\r\n\r\nThis project has been especially meaningful for our class during indoor recess in the gym when the weather is cold or rainy. On days when we can't go outside, it can be challenging for young children to sit still and stay focused. Thanks to your donations, our indoor recess is now active, engaging, and fun. Instead of feeling restless, our first graders are excited to move their bodies, play together, and enjoy time with their classmates in a positive environment. The new equipment has truly transformed those indoor recess days into something our students look forward to.\r\n\r\nYour kindness is felt every single day in our classroom. You may not be here to see it in person, but your generosity shows up in the smiles, the laughter, and the confidence of our students as they play. It shows up when a shy student joins a game for the first time, when a group of kids learns to take turns, or when a student who needs movement to focus comes back to class calm and ready to learn. These moments matter, and they happen because you chose to invest in our kids.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I cannot thank you enough for supporting our classroom and our school community. Your belief in our students reminds us that people care about their success, happiness, and well-being. You are helping shape not just better recess experiences, but better days at school — and that makes a lifelong difference.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of our students' story. Your generosity has brought so much joy to our first graders, and we are truly grateful for your support. Because of you, recess is brighter, louder, more active, and filled with smiles. 💛\r\n\r\nWith sincere thanks,\r\nA very grateful first-grade teacher and students","fullyFundedDate":1758636750333,"projectUrl":"project/recess-remix-balls-ropes-smiles/9422372/","projectTitle":"Recess Remix: Balls, Ropes & Smiles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9262067,"letterContent":"On behalf of myself and my first grade students, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous donation that provided printer ink and copy paper for our classroom. While these items may seem like everyday supplies, they are truly the backbone of a thriving learning environment. Your kindness ensures that our students have what they need to explore, practice, and succeed every single day.\r\n\r\nIn a first grade classroom, learning comes alive through visuals, practice pages, games, and projects. From sight word cards to math fact practice, from science diagrams to creative writing prompts, so much of our daily work requires materials to be printed and copied. Thanks to you, my students now have access to high-quality, freshly printed resources that allow them to engage with their learning in hands-on and meaningful ways. Printer ink and paper may not sparkle like crayons or new books, but they are absolutely essential for making those magical moments of learning possible.\r\n\r\nWith your support, I can create differentiated activities to meet the needs of all my students. Every child learns in a slightly different way, and having the ability to print extra practice pages, colorful visuals, and step-by-step guides means that I can reach every learner in my classroom. Whether it's a student who needs extra help mastering addition, or another who is ready to explore more advanced reading passages, I now have the tools to provide what each child needs. This flexibility not only builds confidence but also keeps students motivated and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I also want to personally thank you for easing a very real burden. Copy paper and ink are items we go through quickly, and without help, I often have to limit what I print or find creative ways to make materials stretch. Your support has lifted that weight, allowing me to focus more on lesson planning, student growth, and creating joyful learning experiences. You have given me peace of mind and the reassurance that my students will always have what they need in their hands.","fullyFundedDate":1746699581504,"projectUrl":"project/inkspiring-education-one-print-at-a-tim/9262067/","projectTitle":"INKspiring Education: One Print at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9260296,"letterContent":"🧼✨ **Thank You for Supporting Our Clean and Healthy Classroom!** ✨🧼\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous support, our classroom is now fully stocked with essential cleaning supplies! From disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer to paper towels and sprays, your donations are helping us maintain a **clean, healthy, and safe learning environment** every single day.\r\n\r\nThese supplies might seem small, but their impact is *huge*. They help us:\r\n\r\n* Keep our classroom germ-free, which means **fewer absences** and **more learning**.\r\n* Teach our first graders the importance of **responsibility and hygiene** through daily clean-up routines.\r\n* Create a calm, organized space where students can **focus on learning and feel proud of their classroom**.\r\n* Lighten the financial burden on our classroom—your support means I can put more energy and resources into teaching and engaging activities.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, your donation sends a powerful message to our young learners: that people *they've never even met* believe in their education and well-being. That encouragement means the world.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making our classroom a cleaner, safer, and happier place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1746699576342,"projectUrl":"project/snot-today-germs-back-to-school-cleani/9260296/","projectTitle":"SNOT Today Germs: Back to School Cleaning Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9252919,"letterContent":"Thank You for Keeping Our Class Pantry Full!\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our class pantry is now stocked with healthy, tasty snacks for our students. Your kindness ensures that every child can focus on learning instead of worrying about being hungry.\r\n\r\nThese snacks aren't just food—they're a daily reminder to my students that there are people out there who care about them and their success. Because of you, our classroom is a more supportive, nurturing place where every child feels cared for.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your support and for helping meet such an important need in our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1746699689750,"projectUrl":"project/snack-to-the-future-fuel-for-1st-grader/9252919/","projectTitle":"Snack to the Future: Fuel for 1st Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9244304,"letterContent":"I am so in love with our new carpet and can't stop staring at it! 🥳 ❤️ Thanks to your generosity, our first graders now have a beautiful, cozy carpet—a place where we can gather for morning meetings, share stories, explore new ideas, and build friendships.\r\n\r\nThis isn't just a carpet—it's a safe, colorful space where learning will blossom and memories will be made all year long. Every giggle during story time, every \"aha!\" moment during lessons, and every warm connection between classmates will happen right here.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has truly transformed our classroom, and my students and I are so grateful. You've given them a gift that will be part of their daily lives for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1746785397791,"projectUrl":"project/roll-out-the-carpet-for-future-leaders/9244304/","projectTitle":"Roll Out the Carpet for Future Leaders!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":5089218,"projectId":9223843,"letterContent":"Thank you for investing in the lives of my students at Weeden Elementary School. Before your donation, I was using wooden rhythm sticks to practice music concepts and skills with my students. Over time, these resources began to deteriorate, which resulted in splintered and broken sticks that could not be safely used by my students. Because of your generosity, our students could create and practice using more reliable equipment. \r\n As I prepare for the next school year, I am excited to give my students equipment that will be lasting and easy to clean. Thank you for partnering with schools like mine to make a lasting impact. You may not be the teachers in the classroom, but your investment helps cultivate the next generation of lifelong learners.","fullyFundedDate":1743627053726,"projectUrl":"project/plastic-rhythms-building-rhythmic-conne/9223843/","projectTitle":"Plastic Rhythms: Building Rhythmic Connections","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Patrick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5089218_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1515804160363","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5089218"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9231391,"letterContent":"On behalf of our first grade classroom, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for your generous contribution toward the purchase of books for our students. Your support has provided our first grade boys boys with engaging, high-quality literature that will inspire curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading.\r\n\r\nYour commitment to enriching the educational experiences of young learners is truly commendable. Thank you for investing in their growth and helping us foster a classroom environment where every child can thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1744818312798,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-boys-sparking-imagination-on/9231391/","projectTitle":"Books for Boys: Sparking Imagination, One Story at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9206546,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of books to our classroom library. My first graders learned how to read this year, and many of them have truly fallen in love with it. Watching their excitement as they explore new stories and proudly call themselves \"readers\" has been one of the greatest joys of the year.\r\n\r\nYour gift couldn't have come at a better time. These new books will stay in our classroom and be loved by eager little readers every single day. For some of my students, our classroom library is the main place where they have access to books—and thanks to you, that space just became even more magical.\r\n\r\nYou've helped nurture a love of reading that will grow far beyond this year. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our students and supporting their journey as lifelong learners. 💛📚","fullyFundedDate":1744065577068,"projectUrl":"project/once-upon-a-time-in-1st-grade-little-re/9206546/","projectTitle":"Once Upon a Time in 1st Grade: Little Readers, Big Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9131519,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of headphones for our entire first grade classroom! Your support has made a huge difference in our day-to-day learning.\r\n\r\nThe students were so excited to have their very own pair of working headphones—many of them couldn't stop smiling! Your donation gave them a sense of pride and independence during learning time. Whether they're listening to a read-aloud, practicing phonics, or working through a math game, the headphones have helped them focus and feel more confident.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly brought joy and calm to our classroom, and we're all so grateful for the kindness you've shown. Thank you for being part of our learning journey!","fullyFundedDate":1744032952304,"projectUrl":"project/hear-ye-hear-ye-headphones-for-every-s/9131519/","projectTitle":"Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Headphones for Every Student!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9113747,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donation, our first grade classroom was transformed into a space of excitement, curiosity, and confidence. The new school supplies helped each student feel prepared and valued from as soon as the delivery showed up at our classroom door. Simple items like colored pencils, markers and headphones made a big difference—students were eager to participate, take ownership of their work, and express themselves creatively. For many of them, having new materials to finish the school year gave them a sense of pride and belonging. Your support didn't just provide tools—it sparked joy, built confidence, and reminded these young learners that there are people out there who believe in them.","fullyFundedDate":1740851842568,"projectUrl":"project/almost-theredisney-teacher-voice/9113747/","projectTitle":"\"Almost there\"...*Disney Teacher Voice*","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"},{"teacherId":8220370,"projectId":9131388,"letterContent":"On behalf of Weeden Elementary, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation to the \"Hungry Hungry Kiddos\" initiative. Your support means the world to us, and it's making a real difference in the lives of our students.\r\n\r\nThanks to your contribution, our students can now enjoy healthy snacks that help them stay energized and focused throughout the day. Your kindness nourishes their bodies and supports their overall well-being, allowing them to thrive in the classroom and beyond.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your investment in our class community. Your generosity inspires us to continue working hard to create a positive and nurturing environment for all our students.\r\n\r\nThank you for being a part of this impactful journey!","fullyFundedDate":1743027011296,"projectUrl":"project/hungry-hungry-kiddos/9131388/","projectTitle":"Hungry Hungry KIDDOS","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mitchell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8220370_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723692286635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8220370"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_18021","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":472,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":22,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":37,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":85.1,"schoolId":18021,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Weeden Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Weeden Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/alabama/florence-city-school-district/weeden-elementary-school/18021"}