{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highlands Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":10.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":602233,"projectId":9832123,"letterContent":"This is my favorite project of the year. We just starting writing this week. We are writing choose your own adventure stories. The kids are so excited. They have been asking since I got the materials when we would get started. I have been reading them choose your own adventure stories where our goal is to try and survive whatever perils face us. They will use these to help model how they will write theirs. They have research and animal with defense mechanisms. I need to be able to see their research in their writing. They will also be the illustrators of their books.","fullyFundedDate":1760826260408,"projectUrl":"project/making-our-own-books/9832123/","projectTitle":"Making Our Own Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Torrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/l-torrez"},{"teacherId":602233,"projectId":9610189,"letterContent":"I cannot begin to thank you enough for your generous donations to my class projects. My kids love books and are constantly reading. Anytime they are done they automatically pick up a book to read. They are keeping me in my toes to make sure I have exactly what they like to read. Every year the kids are different with different wants and needs. Your donations help me have the newest and greatest books. There is always something they want to read. As soon as I get new books someone grabs it off the shelf to read.","fullyFundedDate":1755739489829,"projectUrl":"project/new-class-new-books/9610189/","projectTitle":"New Class, New Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Torrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/l-torrez"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9569525,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project for art materials. Because of you, our Transitional Kindergarten students now have access to paint sticks, colorful construction paper, smelly markers, and paint cups that have brought creativity and joy into our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese materials have given our students the freedom to explore, create, and express themselves in meaningful ways. Using paint sticks and markers strengthens fine motor skills, while colorful paper and paint encourage imagination, self-expression, and confidence. For some of our students, this is their first experience working with high-quality art supplies, and the excitement is contagious.\r\n\r\nArt plays a powerful role in social-emotional development, problem-solving, and early learning. Through open-ended art experiences, our students are learning to make choices, take risks, and feel proud of their unique creations. Your generosity has helped create a classroom environment where creativity is valued and every child feels like an artist.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the importance of the arts and for investing in our students. Your support has made a lasting impact on our young learners.","fullyFundedDate":1763613295376,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-big-masterpieces/9569525/","projectTitle":"Little Hands, Big Masterpieces!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9840340,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project. Because of you, our Transitional Kindergarten students now have access to coding critter toys and frog balance scales that are already making a meaningful impact in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe coding critters have sparked so much excitement and curiosity. Our students are learning early problem-solving, sequencing, and critical thinking skills through hands-on play. Watching them collaborate, test ideas, and celebrate their successes has been truly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThe frog balance scales have become a favorite during math and science exploration. Students are developing a strong foundation in number sense, comparison, and measurement while engaging in playful, meaningful learning. These materials support our play-based approach and help make abstract concepts concrete and accessible for young learners.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has directly enriched the learning experiences of our students and has helped create a classroom environment filled with wonder, exploration, and joy. We are so grateful for your belief in our students and for investing in their education.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping our little learners grow, explore, and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1763614072850,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-thinkers-in-tk-with-stem/9840340/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Thinkers in TK with STEM!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":9111328,"projectId":9427640,"letterContent":"These materials directly support evidence-based literacy instruction for students with dyslexia by strengthening foundational skills, engagement, and access to grade-level content. The National Geographic Nonfiction Readers provide structured, high-interest texts that build background knowledge while supporting decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Nonfiction texts are especially valuable for students with dyslexia because they offer predictable text features, visual supports, and authentic vocabulary exposure, allowing students to apply phonics skills in meaningful contexts and build confidence as readers.\r\n\r\nThe hand2mind phonemic awareness and phonics manipulatives, including Elkonin boxes and word mapping tools, are essential for explicit, multisensory instruction aligned with the Science of Reading. These materials allow students to physically manipulate sounds, syllables, and phoneme–grapheme correspondences, which is critical for students with dyslexia who require repeated, structured practice to develop automaticity. Using consistent manipulatives across lessons supports skill generalization and helps students internalize sound–symbol relationships more effectively than verbal instruction alone.\r\n\r\nThe magnetic lined whiteboards and Mrs Wordsmith phonics card game further reinforce active engagement and structured practice. Individual whiteboards allow students to practice encoding, sentence construction, and spelling patterns with immediate feedback in a low-risk format, reducing anxiety and encouraging participation. The phonics card game adds an element of structured play, which increases motivation while reinforcing decoding and phonics patterns in a way that is accessible and supportive for learners with dyslexia. Together, these materials create a cohesive instructional toolkit that promotes skill development, engagement, and reading growth across our dyslexia classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1760719159968,"projectUrl":"project/tools-to-help-dyslexic-learners-thrive/9427640/","projectTitle":"Tools to Help Dyslexic Learners Thrive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. David","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9111328_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691261009262","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9111328"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9684656,"letterContent":"Your generous donations have provided our TK students with the beginning of many days of exploration and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Art changing our STEM Day to a STEAM Day in TK.\r\n\r\nThe Educational Balance Game and Counting Frog Set will be great for hands-on math practice making earning math fun and interactive. \r\n\r\nThe Mindware Start-Up Circuits and Space Rover Coding Set are perfect for exploring technology and early coding skills. \r\n\r\n The primary and neon color Wikki Stix add a creative touch for art projects, \r\n\r\nand the Engineering Creative Construction Building Blocks will inspire endless building and engineering imagination.\r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate these amazing educational materials—thank you for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757715976085,"projectUrl":"project/stem-day-in-tk/9684656/","projectTitle":"STEM Day in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9259025,"letterContent":"My Transitional Kindergarten students and I are so grateful for your donations to our classroom.\r\n\r\nBeing able to experience different art mediums has brought excitement and energy to not only this project but other end of the year activities.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has allowed for my transitional kindergarteners to create three- dimensional art filed with color, life, dimensions and imagination. It has provided the opportunity for collaborative projects, enhanced fine motor skills and discussions among the students about their visons and the art they have created. These materials are an exciting opportunity for us to experience new mediums.\r\n\r\nSeveral of the students created their own paper dioramas, crowns and cards for their families and each other.\r\n\r\nI can't thank you enough for supporting not only this new opportunity but for allowing my students to experience this activity.","fullyFundedDate":1746573835103,"projectUrl":"project/creating-like-eric-carle-take-2/9259025/","projectTitle":"Creating Like Eric Carle Take 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":4018403,"projectId":9185664,"letterContent":"I am so very grateful for your generous donations to my TK class.\r\n\r\nThe hands-on opportunities with the Living Things Magnetic Activity Tins and Insect Lore Products Life Cycle Figurines provide us opportunities to engage in life-cycle conversations and learning with manipulatives. A necessary tool for learning at this young age. Your donations give us the opportunity to learn to sort with the self -checking activity that is so important to learning and mastery of skills.\r\n\r\nThe Science Can Solar System and Marble Run Toy allows us endless opportunities to experience the engineering and science strands of STEM. \r\n\r\nThe Preschool Puzzle Library provides us critical thinking and reasoning opportunities through trial and error all while enhancing our fine motor skills.\r\n\r\nThe Museum gel is a safe medium for hanging our mirrors, giving us time and opportunity to look at ourselves to help us identify the emotions we feel. \r\n\r\nThe laminating sheets provide us a means of saving our amazing art to present tour families.","fullyFundedDate":1746670578656,"projectUrl":"project/benefitting-brain-and-body-in-tk/9185664/","projectTitle":"Benefitting Brain and Body in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdavisk3"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9612427,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Because of you, our classroom has been transformed into a more calming and welcoming space.\r\n\r\nThe addition of the calming bubble fish tube has been an incredible sensory tool for our students. Its gentle bubbles, soft light, and floating fish create a soothing effect that helps students regulate their emotions and refocus during the day. It's quickly become a favorite spot in the room!\r\n\r\nThe dimmable lamps have also made a big difference. Being able to adjust the lighting throughout the classroom allows us to create a more peaceful, focused environment that supports a variety of learning needs—especially for students who are sensitive to bright or harsh lighting.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has directly impacted our daily classroom experience in such a positive way. Thank you for investing in our students' well-being and success.","fullyFundedDate":1755740673488,"projectUrl":"project/peaceful-beginnings-creating-calm-in-tk/9612427/","projectTitle":"Peaceful Beginnings: Creating Calm in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9057754,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Because of you, our classroom now has a wonderful new play mailbox, envelopes, and a collection of engaging read-aloud picture books all about mail.\r\n\r\nYour kindness is helping bring meaningful play and literacy together in a fun and imaginative way. The students are already excited to \"send letters\" to each other, explore the world of mail, and dive into stories that spark curiosity and joy. These materials are not just tools—they're opportunities for connection, learning, and creativity.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your contribution. You've made a real difference in our classroom, and your support will continue to inspire our young learners every day.","fullyFundedDate":1743181911888,"projectUrl":"project/mighty-mail/9057754/","projectTitle":"Mighty Mail","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":617302,"projectId":9260758,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly grateful for your support—because of you, our classroom received amazing sensory sand, fun sand molds, and a much-needed laminator! These resources have already made a meaningful impact on our learning environment, and I'd love to share how.\r\n\r\nThe moment my students saw the sensory sand and molds, their eyes lit up with excitement. It didn't take long before they were digging in—literally! One student who normally has a hard time engaging during center time spent nearly 30 focused minutes building letters with the molds and shaping small objects out of the sand. It was a moment of pure joy and concentration.\r\n\r\nThe laminator has been a total game-changer! We've used it to create durable, reusable task cards, visual schedules, emotion check-ins, and even name tags for the sensory center. It's helping us create materials that will last all year—and be used again and again.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our classroom is not only more fun—it's more supportive, inclusive, and engaging. Thank you for giving us the tools to create meaningful learning experiences every day!","fullyFundedDate":1746479112973,"projectUrl":"project/stand-out-sensory-stations/9260758/","projectTitle":"Stand Out Sensory Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wenzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp617302_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677306138186","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-wenzel"},{"teacherId":602233,"projectId":9244791,"letterContent":"It is so wonderful to end the year with new books! Everyone had a chance to read one last book before the year ended. Many were highly recommended for others to read. They wrote up recommendations for my class this year. And now they have become my new books for my new group of students. My new group is just as eager to read so I am anxious to hear what they think of the new books. It is just so nice to have great books to offer to the kids. Whatever gets kids excited to read! Can't wait to get more new books!","fullyFundedDate":1744209363022,"projectUrl":"project/one-more-book/9244791/","projectTitle":"One More Book","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Torrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/l-torrez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4135","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":502,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":13,"percentAsian":17,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"20.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":90.0,"schoolId":4135,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highlands Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highlands Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/mount-diablo-unified-school-district/highlands-elementary-school/4135"}