{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Norman R Brekke Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10206984,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom. Your donation of bulletin board \"Better Than Paper,\" decorative borders, and a variety of meaningful posters will make such a positive difference as we prepare for the upcoming school year.\r\nThe inspiring quotes from famous scientists and historical figures will encourage curiosity and perseverance, while the kindness posters will help us continue building a caring and respectful classroom community. The calm corner posters will provide students with helpful tools and reminders to manage their emotions, and the map of the United States featuring Native American tribes will be an important and engaging resource for learning and discussion.\r\nAs I transition from teaching 4th grade to welcoming 5th graders next year, I am excited to create a refreshed classroom environment that inspires students to learn, grow, and feel supported every day. Because of your generosity, our classroom will be welcoming, organized, and filled with meaningful visuals that spark both academic and personal development from the very start of the year.\r\nThank you for helping us build a space where students can thrive. Your support truly makes a lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1778169347153,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-welcoming-space-where-learnin/10206984/","projectTitle":"Creating a Welcoming Space Where Learning Thrives","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10227262,"letterContent":"On behalf of my 4th grade class, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generous support of our classroom. The rolling cart with drawers, toner for our printer, Astrobrights paper, and the pouches that were filled with pencils, crayons, colored pencils, glue, and scissors are already making a wonderful difference in our daily learning.\r\nBecause of your thoughtful support, our classroom is becoming much more organized and efficient. The rolling cart allows us to keep materials neatly stored and easily accessible, helping students stay focused and prepared. Having plenty of toner and colorful paper ready to go ensures that we can create engaging lessons and resources without interruption.\r\nThe supply pouches have also been incredibly helpful in keeping each student's materials organized and within reach, promoting responsibility and independence.\r\nYour generosity is directly supporting our students' success by creating a well-prepared, organized, and inviting learning environment. We truly appreciate your kindness and support of our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1778188121133,"projectUrl":"project/bright-supplies-and-smart-storage-for-le/10227262/","projectTitle":"Bright Supplies and Smart Storage for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10227261,"letterContent":"On behalf of our class, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of the Battle of the Books set along with the beautiful bookshelf to display them. Your support has made a meaningful impact on our students and our learning environment.\r\nThe dedicated bookshelf will allow us to keep the Battle of the Books collection separate from our classroom library, making it easier for students to identify and access these special titles. Having a clearly designated space helps build excitement and encourages students to explore the books with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm.\r\nThanks to your generosity, our students now have the opportunity to begin reading these books over the summer instead of waiting until the school year begins. This early access will give them extra time to immerse themselves in the stories, strengthen their reading skills, and build confidence as they prepare for the program. We are excited to see their engagement and growth as they dive into these books.\r\nYour kindness is opening doors for our students and fostering a love of reading that will last well beyond this program. We are truly grateful for your support and investment in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1778188411741,"projectUrl":"project/igniting-a-love-of-reading-through-battl/10227261/","projectTitle":"Igniting a Love of Reading Through Battle of the Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10124527,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the color printer and ink for our classroom. Your thoughtfulness and support truly make a difference in our students' learning experience.\r\nHaving access to a reliable color printer allows us to create more engaging materials, enhance our projects, and bring lessons to life in meaningful ways. Our lessons truly \"pop\" now that we can include vibrant color pictures alongside vocabulary, science, and social studies content. These visuals help students better understand concepts and make learning more accessible and exciting for everyone\r\nYour kindness will have a lasting impact on our class, and we are incredibly grateful.\r\nThank you again for your generosity and for supporting our students.","fullyFundedDate":1776696112995,"projectUrl":"project/pop-of-color-pop-of-joy/10124527/","projectTitle":"Pop of Color, Pop of Joy!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10125556,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our STEM‑tastic project! The science and math manipulatives you provided are an exciting addition to our classroom, and our students are absolutely thrilled.\r\nOur class has been working very hard to earn a Fun Friday, and they are eagerly looking forward to exploring and playing with all of the new materials you made possible. These hands‑on resources are perfect for rainy days, engaging brain breaks, and math and science exploration that feels more like play than work.\r\nIn addition to our regular classroom use, these materials will play a special role during our school's annual Global Play Day in June, where students learn through creativity, collaboration, and purposeful play. Your donation will help make that day meaningful, exciting, and memorable for our students.\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support of hands‑on learning and for investing in experiences that spark curiosity, problem‑solving, and joy. Thank you for helping make learning fun and impactful for our class.","fullyFundedDate":1776105501993,"projectUrl":"project/stem-tastic-builders-2-invent-imagine/10125556/","projectTitle":"STEM-tastic Builders 2: Invent, Imagine, Inspire!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10185247,"letterContent":"On behalf of our classroom, thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation of a class set of Deep Water Rising along with the books on weather. Your kindness has made a meaningful difference in our learning environment.\r\nBecause of you, every student now has access to engaging, high‑quality texts that will deepen their understanding of natural disasters, weather patterns, and the powerful forces of our world. Deep Water Rising will spark thoughtful discussions, strengthen reading comprehension, and help students build empathy through real‑world connections. The weather books will support our science curriculum and allow students to explore these topics with curiosity and confidence.\r\nYour donation not only enriches our classroom library, but also inspires a love of reading and learning that will benefit students far beyond this school year. We are truly grateful for your support and for investing in our students' education.\r\nThank you again for your generosity and for helping make learning come alive for our class.","fullyFundedDate":1775846077372,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-teach-resilience-history-an/10185247/","projectTitle":"Books That Teach Resilience, History, and Hope","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":10334147,"projectId":10162742,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, reading in our classroom has become more engaging, meaningful, and student-centered. These new books have allowed me to teach essential literacy skills such as comprehension strategies, vocabulary development, making inferences, and critical thinking. Students are also learning to build empathy and understanding by exploring diverse perspectives and experiences through inclusive texts.\r\n\r\nReading time now looks like students eagerly choosing books that հետաքրք them, staying focused for longer periods, and participating in thoughtful discussions with their peers. They are making deeper connections to texts and to each other, which has strengthened both their confidence and their communication skills.\r\n\r\nI've seen especially powerful growth in students who previously struggled to stay engaged. One reluctant reader now looks forward to independent reading each day and proudly shares insights about their book, while others are excited to recommend stories that reflect their own lives. Your support has truly transformed how my students experience reading.","fullyFundedDate":1776102702385,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-books-for-every-voice/10162742/","projectTitle":"Engaging Books for Every Voice","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Henke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10334147"},{"teacherId":10334147,"projectId":10202140,"letterContent":"Thanks to these new books, my students are beginning to experience reading in a completely different way. Instead of avoiding books, they are picking them up with curiosity and even excitement. For many of my reluctant readers, that shift is huge.\r\n\r\nThese texts allow me to teach essential reading skills in a way that feels natural and engaging. Students are practicing comprehension, making connections, building vocabulary, and strengthening fluency—but most importantly, they are learning how to choose \"just right\" books and stick with them. Because the books match their interests and reading levels, students are more willing to take risks, reread when needed, and talk about what they're reading.\r\n\r\nIn my classroom, reading now looks like choice, independence, and engagement. Students browse the library, recommend books to each other, and spend sustained time actually reading—something that used to be a challenge. You'll see students curled up with graphic novels, flipping eagerly through high-interest nonfiction, or proudly sharing a page they understood on their own.\r\n\r\nSome of my most reluctant readers have shown the biggest growth. Students who once said \"I hate reading\" are now asking if they can take books home. Others are finding success with formats like graphic novels or lower-level, high-interest texts that finally feel accessible. These moments of success are helping them build confidence and change how they see themselves as learners.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students aren't just practicing reading skills—they are starting to believe that reading is something they can do and even enjoy.","fullyFundedDate":1776695882438,"projectUrl":"project/turning-reluctant-readers-into-confident/10202140/","projectTitle":"Turning Reluctant Readers Into Confident Ones","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Henke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10334147"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10185337,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of silly books and poetry books to our classroom. Our students are absolutely enjoying the silly stories, they have brought so much laughter, excitement, and motivation to read. The poetry books have also been incredibly valuable, helping students learn important lessons about poetry and figurative language in an engaging and memorable way. Because of you, reading has become both joyful and meaningful for our class. We are truly grateful for your kindness and support, and these books will continue to impact our students' learning for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1775846327173,"projectUrl":"project/silly-stories-and-poetry-that-make-figur/10185337/","projectTitle":"Silly Stories and Poetry That Make Figurative Language Come Alive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":10334147,"projectId":10032778,"letterContent":"Due to your generosity, reading in our classroom has become more engaging, meaningful, and joyful. These new books have allowed me to teach important literacy skills such as comprehension strategies, vocabulary development, making connections, and critical thinking. Students are also learning to build empathy by exploring diverse perspectives and experiences through inclusive stories.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom now looks like students eagerly choosing books, quietly immersed in stories, and excitedly discussing what they've read with their peers. They are making deeper connections and asking thoughtful questions, showing real growth as readers.\r\n\r\nI've seen some of my most reluctant readers become more confident and motivated. One student who rarely picked up a book now looks forward to reading time each day, while others are excited to share stories that reflect their own lives. Your support has truly made a lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1775687316852,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-reflect-every-student/10032778/","projectTitle":"Books That Reflect Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Henke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10334147"},{"teacherId":9154897,"projectId":10132104,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation that provided our classroom with books our students were truly excited to read, including favorites like Super Rabbit Boy and engaging books about artists and important people in history. Your thoughtfulness made an immediate impact, students were eager to pick up these books, talk about them with classmates, and read more often simply because the stories connected to their interests.\r\nHaving access to books students want to read has increased not only reading time, but also motivation and confidence. At the same time, the nonfiction books about artists and historical figures have opened students' eyes to the wider world, helping them learn about creativity, culture, and the individuals who shaped history. These books have sparked meaningful conversations, curiosity, and a growing awareness of the world beyond our classroom.\r\nYour donation has helped turn reading into a joyful experience while also deepening students' understanding of people, places, and ideas. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and the lasting impact it is having on our students as readers and learners.","fullyFundedDate":1773863334416,"projectUrl":"project/help-inspire-a-love-of-readingone-boo/10132104/","projectTitle":"Help Inspire a Love of Reading...One Book at a Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9154897_orig.jpg?crop=995,995,x63,y314&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752452677535","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9154897"},{"teacherId":10332839,"projectId":9859321,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. I truly appreciate it. I teach an ESN class, so having hands on, calming, and engaging materials is essential for my students. We use these items throughout the entire day, especially during centers and in our calm corner.\r\n\r\nOne moment that really stood out to me was a student who typically gets overwhelmed during transitions. Instead of escalating, he independently walked over, grabbed one of the Hugimals, and sat in the calm corner to regulate. That is something we have been working on for months and seeing him do that on his own was huge. The emotion toys and wiggle cushions have also helped my students stay regulated and ready to learn, which has made a big difference in their academic performance. \r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were so excited. I mean, who doesn't love new things?! They immediately gravitated toward the sensory items like the kinetic sand, stretchy strings, and counting bears. Even students who are usually harder to engage wanted to join in on the fun. The magnets, sorting activities, and sentence building materials have made learning more accessible and interactive. It has been really special to see them engaged, smiling, and proud of themselves.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using these materials during our daily centers to build early literacy, math, and communication skills. My students learn best through hands on experiences, and these tools allow me to meet each of them where they are. \r\nThank you again for making this possible. Your support has truly made a difference in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769177666851,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-every-learner-every-feeling/9859321/","projectTitle":"Supporting Every Learner, Every Feeling","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hanna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10332839_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761452286280","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10332839"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65977","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":588,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":63,"percentAsian":11,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":78,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"24.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":73.1,"schoolId":65977,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Norman R Brekke Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Norman R Brekke Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/oxnard-elementary-school-district/norman-r-brekke-elementary-school/65977"}