{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Johnson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":60.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9809160,"letterContent":"When our project materials arrived, my students could hardly contain their excitement! They gathered around the boxes with wide eyes and big smiles, eager to see what was inside. As we unpacked the wood, paint, and sealer, they immediately began brainstorming ideas for their garden signs—sketching flowers, insects, and cheerful messages like \"Pollinator Paradise\" and \"Grow Kindness.\" The room buzzed with energy and laughter as they shared design ideas and imagined how their artwork would look displayed in the school garden.\r\nSince then, our classroom has been transformed into a creative studio. Students have been sanding wooden boards, carefully outlining their drawings, and experimenting with color mixing to bring their visions to life. They've learned how to plan and layer paint to create bold, weather-resistant designs, and they've taken extra pride in sealing their finished signs to protect them from the elements. It's been wonderful watching them help one another—offering a steady hand, sharing supplies, and encouraging each other when a tricky detail needs reworking. The teamwork and joy in the room have been inspiring.\r\nNext, my students will install their completed signs in our community garden. They can't wait to see their creations brighten the pathways and welcome visitors. This project has not only given them a hands-on art experience but has also helped them see how their creativity can make a lasting impact in our school community. Every time we walk by the garden, they'll be reminded that their hard work and imagination helped make our campus a more colorful, welcoming place.","fullyFundedDate":1761658278813,"projectUrl":"project/painting-kindness-in-our-community-garde/9809160/","projectTitle":"Painting Kindness in Our Community Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9791245,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the new Alpert and Friends books, their eyes lit up with excitement. They were immediately drawn to the colorful illustrations and couldn't wait to meet each character. During our first read-aloud, they eagerly pointed out familiar feelings the characters were experiencing and began making personal connections to the stories. It was such a joyful moment to see their curiosity come alive as they shared their own experiences that matched what the characters were feeling—moments of kindness, problem-solving, and friendship.\r\nThe scented markers and glue sticks have quickly become classroom favorites. My students use them for creative literacy projects like story maps, character collages, and \"All About Me\" books. As they cut, glue, draw, and label, they're not only practicing fine motor skills but also strengthening comprehension by retelling stories through art. One group proudly created a poster showing how two different characters learned to be friends, complete with colorful drawings and scent-marked speech bubbles! These hands-on activities have made reading and writing more meaningful and fun for everyone.\r\nOur next steps are to build on this momentum by creating our own class story inspired by the Alpert and Friends series. Each student will help invent a character, decide on a setting, and contribute pages to our class book. Thanks to your generous support, my young learners are growing in confidence as readers, writers, and storytellers. You've helped make our classroom a place where imagination, literacy, and joy come together every day—and we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1761658279880,"projectUrl":"project/building-readers-one-story-at-a-time/9791245/","projectTitle":"Building Readers, One Story at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9870470,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for your support! My students were overjoyed when they first saw the new materials arrive—they couldn't wait to open the butterfly and ladybug kits and start exploring. Right away, they carefully observed the larvae and caterpillars, recording their growth and changes in journals and sketchbooks. It has been incredible to watch their curiosity blossom as they ask questions, make predictions, and discuss what they notice about life cycles and metamorphosis. Their excitement is contagious, and it has created a vibrant, hands-on learning environment in our classroom.\r\nThe vertical garden planters and seed kits have added another layer of wonder. Students are planting herbs, vegetables, and sunflowers, tracking their growth, and learning about pollinators like bees and butterflies. One memorable moment was when a student gently released a newly emerged butterfly—they were amazed at the transformation they had witnessed firsthand. These activities help students connect science concepts to the real world, encouraging them to think critically, care for living things, and collaborate with their peers.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students can continue engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning. Next, we plan to study how insects and pollinators support plant growth and explore ways to create a classroom habitat that attracts and sustains these creatures. Your support has truly opened doors for inquiry-based learning and inspired a love of science that will last long after this school year. Thank you for giving my students this incredible opportunity!","fullyFundedDate":1762186889071,"projectUrl":"project/inspiring-curiosity-through-life-cycles/9870470/","projectTitle":"Inspiring Curiosity Through Life Cycles and Gardening","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9935335,"letterContent":"When the materials arrived, my students were absolutely buzzing with excitement. Many of them gathered around the boxes, guessing what might be inside and eagerly helping me unpack each item. The moment they saw the play dough, cardstock mats, and especially the plant heat mats, their eyes lit up—they immediately began sharing predictions about how quickly their seeds might sprout with \"warm beds\" underneath them. That first day, they got right to work setting up their observation mats, touching the warmth of the heat mats with wide eyes, and carefully placing their first seeds to begin our classroom germination experiment. Their enthusiasm turned what could have been a simple lesson into a moment of real scientific wonder.\r\nSince then, the materials have become a core part of our daily science routine. Each morning, the students check their seeds, compare what they see to the play-dough models they've built, and record changes on their reusable observation mats. One student excitedly pointed out the tiniest white root emerging and shouted, \"It's growing! Just like my model!\" Moments like that show how powerful hands-on science can be for young learners—they're not just hearing about plant life cycles, they're watching them unfold in real time. The play dough helps them model and revise their understanding, while the heat mats allow us to consistently observe how warmth affects seed germination. The classroom truly feels like a little laboratory, full of young scientists who take their jobs very seriously.\r\nOur next steps build directly on this momentum. As more seeds sprout, students will begin comparing different plant types, measuring growth, and discussing why some seeds grow faster than others. They'll continue refining their models, adding detail, and expanding their observations into simple data collection activities. These materials have opened the door to long-term, inquiry-based exploration, and my students already have a growing list of \"next experiments\" they want to try. Thanks to your generosity, their curiosity has a place to flourish—and our classroom will continue to be filled with discovery, excitement, and joyful learning every day.","fullyFundedDate":1764602175312,"projectUrl":"project/sprouting-scientists/9935335/","projectTitle":"Sprouting Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9929883,"letterContent":"Because of you, our school garden has truly come to life as an outdoor classroom for my Transitional Kindergarten students. When the new tools and materials arrived, their excitement was immediate—wide eyes, big smiles, and eager questions like, \"Can we plant today?\" and \"Is this for digging roots?\" Watching them hold real rakes and shovels sized just right for their hands made them feel like true scientists and gardeners. One of our first projects was preparing the soil together: students took turns raking, scooping soil into pots, and carefully planting seeds. They proudly observed the textures of the soil, compared pot sizes, and worked collaboratively—building confidence, fine and gross motor skills, and early science vocabulary through joyful, hands-on learning.\r\nThese resources have transformed how my students engage with science concepts. With the pots and soil, we've been starting seeds and making predictions about what plants need to grow. Students eagerly check for sprouts each day, noticing changes and sharing observations with their classmates. Cleanup has become part of the learning too—using the brooms and dustpans has helped students understand responsibility, care for tools, and respect for shared spaces. These moments may seem small, but they are powerful foundations for independence, cooperation, and inquiry-based learning.\r\nNext, my students will continue tracking plant growth, comparing seedlings grown in different conditions, and documenting changes through drawings and shared discussions. We'll explore roots beneath the soil, talk about how plants help our environment, and strengthen language skills as students explain their thinking. Thanks to your generosity, learning feels like play, curiosity is celebrated, and my TK students are developing a deep, joyful connection to science and the natural world. Thank you for giving them the chance to grow—right alongside the plants they nurture.","fullyFundedDate":1764557902307,"projectUrl":"project/sprouting-scientists-in-our-tk-garden/9929883/","projectTitle":"Sprouting Scientists in Our TK Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9817845,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the bird feeders, owl house, and bee watering stations arrive, their faces absolutely lit up with excitement! They couldn't wait to open each box and start imagining where everything would go in our school garden. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they carefully unpacked the materials, read instructions, and began planning how to attract and support local wildlife. The World of Pollinators book immediately became a classroom favorite — students took turns flipping through its colorful pages, pointing out familiar insects they've seen outside and discovering new ones they now want to protect. That moment of wonder was exactly what I hoped for: my students realizing that they have the power to make a difference for the creatures that share our community.\r\nSince then, we've turned our outdoor space into a small but thriving wildlife sanctuary. Students have worked in teams to install bird feeders, mix seed blends, and plant milkweed to attract butterflies. They proudly refill the feeders and check the bee watering stations each week, keeping observation journals to record every visitor they spot. We've already had our first hummingbird sighting and a small group of monarchs fluttering through the garden! These hands-on experiences have sparked meaningful conversations about habitat loss, conservation, and the role humans play in supporting ecological balance. My students are beginning to see that caring for animals is not just a science lesson—it's an act of service to their community.\r\nOur next steps are to expand the project's impact by sharing what we've learned with others on campus. My students are preparing informational signs for our garden to teach visitors about the local birds, pollinators, and plants we're helping to protect. They're also planning to lead a \"Pollinator Patrol\" activity for younger grades, showing them how to spot bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds safely and respectfully. Through your generosity, my students have transformed from curious learners into dedicated caretakers of the environment. This project has taught them that compassion for animals and service to our community go hand in hand—and that even small hands can make a big difference in the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1761150750665,"projectUrl":"project/the-pollinator-project-students-in-serv/9817845/","projectTitle":"The Pollinator Project: Students in Service to Nature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9844998,"letterContent":"When our garden materials arrived, my students couldn't wait to get their hands in the dirt! Their eyes lit up as we unboxed the wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, and seed trays — suddenly, all the ideas we'd talked about in class felt exciting and real. We immediately started preparing our garden beds, taking turns using the wheelbarrow to move fresh soil and learning how to use each tool safely and responsibly. Students proudly worked together, cheering each other on as they dug, leveled, and planted the first seeds of our new science adventure.\r\nAlready, these resources have transformed our lessons into hands-on investigations. Students are observing plant growth, comparing how different amounts of sunlight and water affect seedlings, and measuring daily changes using rulers and math journals. One group even designed their own experiment to test which spray bottle setting works best for watering delicate sprouts — and they can't wait to present their data! Every garden task becomes an opportunity to ask questions, make predictions, and see science in action.\r\nWe're just getting started, and the excitement is growing right along with our plants. Our next step is to track life cycles from sprout to harvest and explore how our garden supports local ecosystems. My students are taking ownership of our little green space and discovering how their care can help something thrive. Thanks to your generosity, they are not just learning about science and math — they are living it.\r\nThank you for helping us dig into learning and grow our minds!","fullyFundedDate":1760982626253,"projectUrl":"project/digging-into-science-growing-our-minds/9844998/","projectTitle":"Digging Into Science, Growing Our Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9655467,"letterContent":"When our new Cookie Shop materials arrived, my kindergarteners lit up with excitement. They immediately dove into exploring the plush donuts, play mixers, and cash registers, eager to take on the roles of bakers, cashiers, and customers. Within minutes, our classroom transformed into a bustling little bakery. One moment that truly stood out was when a group of students worked together to \"price\" their pretend cookies on the chalkboard easel—carefully counting out Kindness Dollars and discussing whether their cookies should cost two or three. It was the first time I'd heard five-year-olds debate the value of goods and services with such seriousness and pride!\r\n\r\nThese resources have allowed us to bring financial literacy to life through play, community, and creativity. Students are earning Kindness Dollars every day by spotting acts of care in our classroom, and they love tracking their earnings on our easel pads. The books on kindness have sparked thoughtful conversations about how money can help us share, help others, and make our community better. I've watched students encourage their classmates, help clean up without being asked, and celebrate each other's achievements—all because they feel invested in this project and empowered by the choices they can make with the dollars they earn.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be taking our learning from pretend play to the real world. Students will soon be mixing, baking, decorating, and packaging actual cookies to sell at our very own Kindness Shop. They'll greet real customers, make real purchases using their Kindness Dollars, and experience firsthand what it means to earn, spend, and work together. Thanks to your generosity, my students are not only building early financial literacy skills but also growing into thoughtful, empathetic community members. Your support brought this joyful project to life, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758342426366,"projectUrl":"project/kindness-cookies-financial-literacy/9655467/","projectTitle":"Kindness + Cookies = Financial Literacy for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":6808698,"projectId":9328499,"letterContent":"Our students have been accessing their science curriculum items from the cart. It is set up in our STEM Center and run by an amazing paraprofessional. She readily engages them with the materials and encourages the students to make choices for science. The students are able to gesture to the items they want. A particularly fun moment was when a student looked expectantly to the rock stacking items while reaching for them. He was communicating his want to explore the activity while also respecting the class expectation that students check first.\r\n\r\nThe next step with the cart is to teach our students how to use the chart to sort pictures of cold or hot items for our Fall theme.\r\n\r\nI envision many opportunities for my students to explore science (and math too!) by having this cart loaded with fun, engaging materials.","fullyFundedDate":1756432633916,"projectUrl":"project/science-for-all/9328499/","projectTitle":"Science for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6808698_orig.jpg?crop=1783,1783,x301,y872&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1640709777126","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6808698"},{"teacherId":8077034,"projectId":9495903,"letterContent":"The new novels, Matilda and The One and Only Ivan, have opened up so many opportunities for my students to develop key reading skills. Through these texts, we've worked on the \"Keys to Reading\" which are comprehension strategies such as making inferences, visualizing, and monitoring our understanding. The stories also provide rich vocabulary that we discuss and use in context, helping all students expand their language and reading skills. These books have allowed students to connect reading strategies to meaningful lessons about courage, friendship, and empathy.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is a shared and interactive experience. Every student has their own copy of the novel, which allows them to follow along, annotate, and refer back to the text during comprehension checks. We read together in a variety of ways, sometimes as a whole group, sometimes with partners, and sometimes independently. Having a personal copy makes it possible for every student to fully participate, especially my English learners, who benefit from being able to see, hear, and revisit the text at their own pace. This has helped them feel more confident contributing to discussions and understanding key vocabulary.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who were previously hesitant readers are now more engaged than ever. Many have shared that they enjoy reading along and ask throughout the day, \"When are we reading Matilda?\" It has been great to see how engaged and excited they are! These novels have truly helped create a classroom community of readers who are excited to learn and talk about books together.","fullyFundedDate":1755751276505,"projectUrl":"project/reading-to-write-writing-to-shine/9495903/","projectTitle":"Reading to Write, Writing to Shine","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villalobos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8077034_orig.jpg?crop=833,833,x1057,y1327&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632108072352","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8077034"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9791247,"letterContent":"When the new garden supplies arrived, my students could hardly contain their excitement. They eagerly gathered around the boxes, guessing what each item might be and brainstorming how we would use them. Setting up the vertical raised garden bed became a team effort—students took turns scooping fresh potting soil, carefully planting seeds, and proudly labeling each new crop. They were amazed to learn how compost works, watching as our bin began transforming everyday scraps into rich, healthy soil. Each day, they check on the garden's progress, take notes in their observation journals, and celebrate every sprout that pushes through the soil. What began as a simple project has blossomed into a hands-on science lab where curiosity grows right alongside the plants.\r\nOur garden has become much more than a place to grow vegetables—it's a space where students learn responsibility, teamwork, and respect for the environment. They now understand that food doesn't just come from a store; it starts with healthy soil and careful care. By tending to their plants and monitoring the compost cycle, they are seeing sustainability in action and recognizing how their efforts impact the world around them. These new materials have helped my students make meaningful connections between science lessons, nutrition, and community, and they take great pride in knowing they are helping something grow from seed to harvest. Our next step is to use our compost to enrich the garden beds and share our produce with other classes, spreading both the harvest and the joy of learning throughout our school.","fullyFundedDate":1760324804171,"projectUrl":"project/harvesting-learning-through-sustainabili/9791247/","projectTitle":"Harvesting Learning Through Sustainability","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"},{"teacherId":1454206,"projectId":9791890,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our young gardeners are already putting their new tools to work in our school garden! The moment the pruning shears, hose, and fresh potting soil arrived, excitement filled the room — students immediately began planning which winter vegetables to plant first. They eagerly worked together to fill our beds with nutrient-rich soil and carefully decided where to place broccoli, onions, cabbage, and peas so each plant would have space to thrive. For many of them, using real gardening tools for the first time made them feel like true botanists!\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching a group of students gently water their newly planted seeds using the hose and sprayer. They took turns adjusting the nozzle settings and proudly explained to each other why seedlings need just the right amount of water. They are learning how responsible care leads to healthy growth — and the joy on their faces when they spot the first green shoots is unforgettable.\r\n\r\nYour donation did more than provide supplies — you gave my students a hands-on learning environment where curiosity, teamwork, and confidence can grow. Over the next few weeks, they'll continue observing plant life cycles, tracking growth in their garden journals, and celebrating each milestone from sprout to harvest. We can't wait to share more updates as our winter vegetables flourish. Thank you for believing in our students and helping nourish both their minds and our garden!","fullyFundedDate":1759771280237,"projectUrl":"project/growing-minds-and-vegetables-in-our-scho/9791890/","projectTitle":"Growing Minds and Vegetables in Our School Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hirschmiller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1454206_orig.png?crop=370,370,x297,y395&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626320285138","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-hirschmiller"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36009","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":757,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":14,"percentWhite":23,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"28.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":39.4,"schoolId":36009,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Johnson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Johnson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/cajon-valley-union-school-district/johnson-elementary-school/36009"}