{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taft Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6808595,"projectId":9330033,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the Pix Brix building blocks and science items! All of the materials promoted collaboration and communication skills while fostering creativity.The students were thrilled when the supplies were delivered, and they've had a fantastic time creating both 2D and 3D projects. I used the blocks to teach concepts of area, perimeter, and volume by measuring their creations. We did a creative science lesson on the history of the automobile that was a hit, and the students absolutely loved designing their foam race cars. This enhanced their understanding of the subject while allowing for artistic expression. Your generosity has truly inspired their creativity! Again, thank you for supporting my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1752671577289,"projectUrl":"project/innovation-and-imagination-3d-building/9330033/","projectTitle":"Innovation and Imagination 3D Building","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Suchor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6808595_orig.jpg?crop=481,481,x94,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685510681818","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jsuchor"},{"teacherId":4436775,"projectId":9203420,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Binding Bright Futures: Helping Little Hands Create Big Books.\" Because of your generosity, my kindergarteners now have the tools to publish their very own books. With the binding machine and combs, their stories and drawings will be transformed into treasures they can proudly share with their families. Thank you for valuing the voices of the children who are just beginning their journey as readers and writers. Your gift builds confidence, inspires creativity, and helps my students see themselves as real authors.","fullyFundedDate":1744033052940,"projectUrl":"project/binding-bright-futures-helping-little-h/9203420/","projectTitle":"Binding Bright Futures: Helping Little Hands Create Big Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Banner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4436775_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531332536910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4436775"},{"teacherId":9752676,"projectId":8924604,"letterContent":"The Impact of an Inclusive Classroom: A Future Full of Possibility\r\n\r\nYour generosity will not only provide materials, but it will also open doors for children ages 3 to 5 in our inclusive classroom, many with multiple disabilities, at our Title I school. These resources will help students work toward their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals while aligning with the Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS) in language, literacy, social-emotional growth, physical development, and approaches to learning.\r\n\r\nWith adaptive tools, children will gain confidence in writing and meet goals in Emergent Writing. Communication boards will give nonverbal students a voice, supporting AZELS Language and Literacy. Sensory materials will help children self-regulate, guiding them toward Social-Emotional Development benchmarks.\r\n\r\nWe expect to see measurable results. For example, students working on fine motor goals will increase tool-use accuracy by at least 20%, aligning with AZELS Fine Motor Development. Children with comprehension goals will move from answering 1 out of 5 questions independently to at least 3 out of 5 during picture-supported read-alouds. Socially, more students will progress from parallel play to cooperative play, reflecting growth in Peer Interactions.\r\n\r\nI know their faces will light up when they see these new materials. Some will find joy in writing their first letter, while others will feel a sense of pride as they share their thoughts with a peer. These small but powerful moments will be the stepping stones to lifelong success.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, every child in our classroom will feel included, capable, and worthy of reaching their fullest potential. Thank you for believing in their future and for making learning not just possible, but joyful.","fullyFundedDate":1743279089339,"projectUrl":"project/equity-for-pre-k-special-education-class/8924604/","projectTitle":"Equity for Pre-K Special Education Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Benham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9752676_orig.jpg?crop=157,157,x0,y47&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756068732542","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9752676"},{"teacherId":810721,"projectId":9038378,"letterContent":"My students are obsessed with Pix Brix and can't get enough of them! They love to build any chance they get. They love to use the booklet it came with for ideas or even get creative and make their own!\r\n\r\nThe Pix Brix has helped them stay on task so they have time to build. It's fun to watch their excitement when administration walks through our room to show them. I have even had parents reach out to ask me about them and how to get them. \r\n\r\nHaving Pix Brix in my classroom has been game changing! My students absolutely love them.","fullyFundedDate":1739681679856,"projectUrl":"project/pix-brixhave-you-heard-of-them/9038378/","projectTitle":"Pix Brix...Have You Heard of Them?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Delgado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp810721_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449771633992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/810721"},{"teacherId":4436775,"projectId":8942568,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been buzzing with excitement and creativity! When the LEGO DUPLO sets arrived, my students couldn't wait to dive in—there were gasps and cheers as they explored the new pieces. One student yelled, \"This is the best day ever!\"\r\n\r\nWe've been using the DUPLO People set to act out real-life scenarios and create our own stories. It's incredible how naturally social-emotional learning has grown through this play—students are working together, problem-solving, and expressing empathy in ways that feel fun and meaningful.\r\n\r\nThe DUPLO Animal set has been the center of our science explorations. Students worked together to build habitats and sort animals into groups. These sets helped bring our animal and habitat unit to life while supporting early math, storytelling, and critical thinking skills.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create such a joyful, purposeful learning space. Because of you, our students are learning, imagining, and growing—one brick at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1740780021268,"projectUrl":"project/build-bright-futures-inspiring-young-mi/8942568/","projectTitle":"Build Bright Futures: Inspiring Young Minds With Lego Creatures","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Banner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4436775_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531332536910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4436775"},{"teacherId":7273031,"projectId":9089132,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your wonderful gifts! My students are so very excited to have so many wonderful seating options within our classroom. They are also enjoying the color paper I am able to provide them. Being able to supply my students with so many essentials is such a wonderful feelings. Teachers alone aren't able to provide so many important items and that is why is rely on donors like yourself. \r\n\r\nItems like the books, flexible seating, color paper and mid day snacks are amazing. My students are able to find a quiet place to read and learn and it is because of you.","fullyFundedDate":1738963346156,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-extras/9089132/","projectTitle":"Classroom Extras","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7273031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755286508906","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7273031"},{"teacherId":7273031,"projectId":9018342,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your wonderful gifts! My students are so very excited to have so many wonderful seating options within our classroom. They are also enjoying the color paper I am able to provide them. Being able to supply my students with so many essentials is such a wonderful feelings. Teachers alone aren't able to provide so many important items and that is why is rely on donors like yourself. \r\n\r\nItems like the books, flexible seating, color paper and mid day snacks are amazing. My students are able to find a quiet place to read and learn and it is because of you.","fullyFundedDate":1737937652077,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials/9018342/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7273031_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755286508906","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7273031"},{"teacherId":8360445,"projectId":8859203,"letterContent":"The students and I are so excited to have all our new gardening tools. Everyday we use them to tend to the garden. They love having this special place at school. Many of the other students have asked if they can help and we encourage everyone to be a part of this exciting project. We already have some pea pods sprouting! This is not just a great skill for the kids to learn, but it can be used in their future as a coping skills or even a career. You have really helped make a difference in their lives. I can not do this on my own, your financial help really makes a difference. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for your donation. As promised I will keep the garden growing and the kids will learn new skills they can treasure for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1734126263843,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-grow-our-garden/8859203/","projectTitle":"Help Us Grow Our Garden!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8360445_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646779637541","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8360445"},{"teacherId":2391524,"projectId":8527768,"letterContent":"The students were so excited to see the new materials. The game needs no explaining, so they immediately went to work, exploring the challenges. These advanced seven and eight year olds were working independently, but were encouraging each other, showing each other what they were doing, and were so proud of their accomplishments. The next day, I had twelve year olds attempting to solve the puzzles. They started on a more sophisticated level, but thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and opportunities to struggle and eventually find success. Thank you so much for helping get a wonderful class set of puzzles. They will be used by many kids for many years.","fullyFundedDate":1731867253798,"projectUrl":"project/critical-and-creative-thinking-for-all/8527768/","projectTitle":"Critical and Creative Thinking for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Beck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2391524_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449717153152","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2391524"},{"teacherId":9752676,"projectId":8790832,"letterContent":"\"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.\" – Nelson Mandela.\r\n\r\nThanks to your incredible generosity, you have equipped my students with the tools to build a brighter future. The moment the new materials arrived was nothing short of magical. My students' faces lit up as we unpacked each item together. One child, eyes wide with wonder, asked, \"Are these really for us?\" Another excitedly chimed in, \"This is the best day ever!\" It was a moment of pure joy that reminded me of the power of kindness and the incredible impact of a thoughtful gesture.\r\n\r\nEarly childhood is a time of limitless potential. Research shows that 90% of a child's brain develops before age five, making these formative years critical for their growth. Your gift has given my students the resources to explore, create, and learn in ways that will stay with them for a lifetime.\r\n\r\nOne of the most memorable projects we've worked on since receiving the materials has been inspired by the book The Rainbow Fish. This story about kindness, sharing, and celebrating differences has resonated deeply with my students. With the vibrant art supplies you provided, each child designed their own shimmering \"scales\" to represent the unique qualities they bring to our classroom community. Watching their pride as they shared their creations was a heartwarming reminder of why I teach.\r\n\r\nBut the impact of your generosity doesn't stop there. The sensory tools have been a game-changer for my students who need extra support in regulating their emotions. These resources have helped create a calm and focused environment, ensuring every child feels safe and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are building on the themes of kindness and collaboration with a dramatic play activity where students will bring The Rainbow Fish to life. The new dramatic play materials will allow them to enter the story, fostering creativity, communication skills, and confidence. It's incredible to see how these resources inspire my students to think critically and work together, skills they'll carry far beyond our classroom walls.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has provided more than supplies; you've allowed my students to dream bigger and explore their potential. You've shown them that people believe in their abilities and are invested in their success. These joy, discovery, and growth moments would not have been possible without your support.\r\n\r\nAs my students and I continue exploring, creating, and growing, we carry your kindness. Your contribution is shaping young learners and compassionate individuals who will one day make their mark on the world.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and making a meaningful difference in their lives. Your kindness inspires us, and we are forever grateful for your support.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1727358726312,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play-hands-on-material/8790832/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play: Hands-On Materials for Inclusive Pre-K Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Benham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9752676_orig.jpg?crop=157,157,x0,y47&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756068732542","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9752676"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_59227","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":506,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":60,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":58,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"18.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.2,"schoolId":59227,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taft Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taft Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/mesa-public-schools/taft-elementary-school/59227"}