{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"McDowell Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":13.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10499364,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project and providing 5-gallon buckets and trash pickers for our students! Our students were excited to receive the new supplies and were eager to put them to use around our campus. The equipment is being used as part of our PBIS school beautification efforts, giving students the opportunity to work together to pick up litter and take pride in their school. It has been wonderful to see students taking ownership of their campus and realizing that even small actions can make a big difference in their school community.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue organizing campus clean-up activities where students can work together to keep our school grounds clean, welcoming, and beautiful. These activities are teaching students responsibility, teamwork, and respect for their environment while also building school pride. Your generosity has given our students the tools they need to make a positive impact, and we are so grateful for your support of our students and our school!","fullyFundedDate":1787173587568,"projectUrl":"project/pbis-school-beautification-projects/10499364/","projectTitle":"PBIS & School Beautification Projects","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10499443,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project and providing new sports equipment for our entire school! Our students were incredibly excited when the equipment arrived and were eager to get outside and start playing. The new equipment is being used during PE and recess, giving students more opportunities to be active, try different sports, and work together with their classmates. It has been wonderful to see students running, playing, laughing, and encouraging one another while using the equipment.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is helping create a more active and positive school environment for all of our students. We will continue using the equipment during PE lessons and recess throughout the school year, giving students opportunities to practice teamwork, cooperation, coordination, and sportsmanship. The equipment has already brought so much excitement to our campus, and we are grateful for your support in helping our students stay healthy, active, and engaged!","fullyFundedDate":1790195656047,"projectUrl":"project/sports-equipment-for-a-healthy-happy-sch/10499443/","projectTitle":"Sports Equipment for a Healthy Happy School Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10637788,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom by providing snacks for our students during testing! Testing days can be long and stressful for students, and having a snack available helped them stay energized, focused, and ready to do their best. Students were excited to see the snacks and appreciated having something to look forward to during their testing sessions. Your generosity helped create a more comfortable and positive testing environment for our students.\r\n\r\nAs we continue through the school year, our students will be working hard to strengthen their reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills. Your support reminds our students that their community believes in them and wants them to succeed. Something as simple as a snack can make a meaningful difference when students are working through challenging assessments. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and for helping our students feel supported and cared for as they work toward reaching their goals.","fullyFundedDate":1789333109458,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-testing/10637788/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Testing!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10331288,"letterContent":"These new literacy book sets have made a wonderful difference in our classroom by giving students access to a variety of engaging, age-appropriate books that support both reading enjoyment and important literacy skills. Through these texts, students are developing skills such as identifying themes, making inferences, analyzing characters, finding evidence to support their thinking, building vocabulary, and making connections between what they read and their own lives and experiences.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is an active experience. Students read independently, with partners, and together as a class. We discuss characters, important events, vocabulary, and themes, while students practice supporting their ideas with evidence from the text. Having multiple book sets allows students to read the same text with their classmates and participate in meaningful discussions and activities.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful to our donors for helping make these opportunities possible for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1787173969379,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-circle-book-sets/10331288/","projectTitle":"Literacy Circle Book Sets!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":1241200,"projectId":10010039,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity. You've truly made a difference in my fourth-grade classroom this year!\r\nThe construction paper has become a staple in our classroom, and my fourth graders reach for it constantly for everything from diorama backgrounds to book report covers. The two sizes of Sharpies have taken their art projects to a whole new level, too. At this age, kids are really starting to care about detail and precision in their work, and the fine-tip markers let them add the kind of crisp lines and small details they're proud to show off.\r\nOn the math side, we've been deep in multi-digit multiplication and division this year, and the place value disks have been essential. Fourth grade is when place value really starts to matter. My students solidify their understanding of regrouping, multiplying by two-digit numbers, understanding what's actually happening when we \"carry\" or \"borrow.\" The disks let my students physically move quantities between place value columns, and I've watched kids who were completely lost on paper suddenly get it once they could touch and move the values themselves. Just last week, a group worked through a subtraction problem with regrouping using the disks, and I could see it click for a couple of students who had been struggling with the concept for weeks. That's the kind of moment that makes teaching so rewarding.\r\nThe clear plastic sleeves paired with dry erase markers have completely changed how we practice multiplication facts. Students slide a practice sheet into the sleeve, work it out in marker, wipe it clean, and go again. No more running out of copies or wasting paper. And honestly, as any teacher knows, you can never have enough dry erase markers! Between multiplication drills and everyday classroom use, we go through them fast, so having a steady supply has been such a relief.\r\nMy fourth graders were thrilled when the materials arrived. There was genuine excitement in the room. They dove right into the place value disks, sorting and stacking them by value before we'd even started the lesson. The plastic sleeves and markers were an instant hit, too; a few students told me it felt like having their own personal whiteboard, which made multiplication practice feel more like a game than a worksheet. And when the Sharpies came out during art time, they immediately started experimenting with the fine tips, adding details they'd never been able to include before.\r\nWe're moving into a project where students will use the place value disks to model numbers into the hundred thousands, building their understanding as we tackle more complex multiplication and division problems.\r\nThank you again for investing in my students and giving them the tools to grow, both as mathematicians and as artists. Your support means more than you know!","fullyFundedDate":1777988983718,"projectUrl":"project/markers-math-paperoh-my-restocking/10010039/","projectTitle":"Markers, Math & Paper—Oh My! Restocking Our Classroom Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nealon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1241200_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507676922576","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nealon"},{"teacherId":9311705,"projectId":10435486,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my speech and language classroom! Your generosity provided my students with engaging verb picture cards, preposition cards, the Mr. Mouth puppet, bilingual Spanish-English materials, and so many other hands-on resources. These materials have already made a meaningful difference in the way I teach and in the way my students participate in speech therapy.\r\n\r\nMy students were especially excited to see the new materials arrive. The Mr. Mouth puppet was an instant favorite! What might seem like a simple puppet has become a fun and engaging way to practice speech sounds, while helping students feel more comfortable participating. The picture cards have also made it much easier to work on vocabulary, sentence formulation, grammar, following directions, and answering WH-questions in a way that feels more like a game than a lesson.\r\n\r\nThe bilingual materials have been particularly valuable for my Spanish-English speaking students. I am able to provide visuals and activities that support both languages and help me better understand and build upon each student's communication strengths. Students can see themselves and their home languages represented in our therapy materials, which helps create a more welcoming and inclusive environment.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been watching students who are sometimes hesitant to speak become excited to use the picture cards to create their own silly sentences and stories. Instead of simply answering questions, they are becoming active participants—choosing pictures, describing actions, combining words into sentences, and sharing their ideas with others. These small moments are exactly what make speech therapy so rewarding.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue using these resources to build longer, more complete sentences, strengthen vocabulary and grammar, practice following increasingly complex directions, and improve students' ability to communicate their ideas in the classroom and with their peers. The materials will continue to be used throughout the school year across many different goals and grade levels.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping make speech therapy more engaging, inclusive, and accessible. Your support has given me tools that I will use again and again to help my students find their voices and become confident communicators!","fullyFundedDate":1787173584408,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-teach-kids-to-talk-back-speech/10435486/","projectTitle":"Help Me Teach Kids to Talk Back- Speech Therapy Style!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jules","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9311705_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109805691","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-jules"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10212395,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Kind Frog project and helping bring a humane, engaging, and inclusive science experience to our classroom. Your generosity has provided our students with an incredible opportunity to explore frog anatomy through hands-on learning without the use of real animals. The Kind Frog has truly been a game changer for our science lessons, allowing students to participate in meaningful scientific exploration while promoting compassion and respect for living creatures. Your support has helped create an environment where curiosity, innovation, and empathy can all thrive together.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, all students—including diverse learners who may have struggled with traditional dissections—now have the chance to fully participate in this exciting science experiment. The interactive and practical design of the Kind Frog keeps students engaged while making the lesson more accessible and comfortable for everyone. Students have been excited to investigate anatomy in a way that feels safe, inclusive, and memorable. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and commitment to enriching science education for all learners. Thank you for helping make our classroom a place where every student can actively learn, discover, and succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1778179359121,"projectUrl":"project/kind-frogs-for-kind-students/10212395/","projectTitle":"Kind Frogs for Kind Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10212457,"letterContent":"Your support of our sports equipment project has made a tremendous impact on our students and school community. When the new equipment arrived, the students were filled with excitement and could hardly wait to begin using it during PE and recess. Seeing their smiles and enthusiasm reminded us just how important active play is for children. Thanks to your generosity, our students now have access to a variety of sports and activities that encourage teamwork, exercise, and positive social interactions. Your kindness has helped create a more engaging and enjoyable environment for over 400 students each day.\r\n\r\nThe students are already having so much fun playing basketball, soccer, jump rope, and many other games with the new equipment. Recess and PE have become even more active and exciting, giving students healthy ways to stay moving, build friendships, and develop confidence. Many students who previously struggled to find activities they enjoyed are now eagerly participating and trying new sports with their classmates. We are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in the importance of keeping children healthy, active, and happy. Thank you for helping provide experiences and opportunities our students will remember for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1778192585616,"projectUrl":"project/sports-supplies-for-pe-and-recess/10212457/","projectTitle":"Sports Supplies for PE and Recess!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":3660721,"projectId":10096400,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your generous support of our project. Thanks to your kindness and willingness to give, we were able to provide much-needed snacks to 10 classrooms, supporting students from 3rd through 8th grade during state testing. Your contribution helped ensure that students stayed nourished, focused, and ready to do their best during an important time in their academic year.\r\n\r\nYour generosity truly made a meaningful impact on our school community. It's inspiring to see how your support directly benefits our students, helping create a more comfortable and encouraging testing environment. On behalf of our students and staff, thank you for being such an important part of this effort—we couldn't have done it without you.","fullyFundedDate":1777013526931,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-250-students-during-state-tes/10096400/","projectTitle":"Snacks for 250 Students During State Testing!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Costello","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3660721_orig.jpg?crop=606,606,x34,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674599645667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3660721"},{"teacherId":9867669,"projectId":9979447,"letterContent":"My students and I are loving our new laminator and laminating supplies that you so generously donated! \r\n\r\nWe were in desperate need of a laminator so we can create durable and reusable materials. Here are some of the ways we have used it so far:\r\n\r\n- Templates for drawing portraits\r\n- Storyboards for stop motion animation\r\n- Templates for drawing lines and shapes and for using manipulatives\r\n- Reusable worksheets\r\n- Color blindness testing sheets\r\n- Reusable examples that will last a long time\r\n- Practice sheets with dry erase markers\r\n- Saving paper (therefore, saving trees!)\r\n\r\nI have 1500 students a year and need to re-use many resources, worksheets, templates, examples, etc. all year long. Without a laminator I was having to keep a master and make new copies every 12 weeks (or more).\r\n\r\nBy supporting my laminating project, you have given young artists the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and discover their creative sides, reduced workload in my prep time, and reduced waste. Thank you for helping our students learn through art!","fullyFundedDate":1772047958811,"projectUrl":"project/laminate-to-create-reusable-art-tools-f/9979447/","projectTitle":"Laminate to Create: Reusable Art Tools for Creative Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9867669_orig.png?crop=264,264,x0,y83&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755891080281","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9867669"},{"teacherId":1241200,"projectId":9891286,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Because of you, our students experienced an incredible bilingual Family STEAM Night inspired by Disney and Pixar.\r\n\r\nUsing the materials you provided, students and families explored hands-on learning stations including static electricity, leaf print art, LEGO engineering, oscilloscope investigations, ping pong blasters, and balloon-powered rockets to study force and motion. Students were immediately excited—there were smiles, curiosity, and nonstop engagement from TK–6 learners!\r\n\r\nSome of their favorite moments included:\r\n\r\n\"My favorite station was making an arrow to shoot at Merida's targets and write my name on the wall of fame.\"\r\n\r\n\"I liked screaming into the Monsters Inc. box to see how my scream made waves on the oscilloscope.\"\r\n\r\n\"My favorite was making a neighborhood for Rodents of Rodentia at the Lego table.\"\r\n\r\nNext, we are continuing our learning in force and motion with student-designed experiments and STEAM challenges in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create joyful, hands-on, and inclusive learning experiences for our students and families!","fullyFundedDate":1763585675598,"projectUrl":"project/stem-to-infinity-and-beyond-a-bilingua/9891286/","projectTitle":"Stem to Infinity and Beyond!: a Bilingual Family Fun Event","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nealon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1241200_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507676922576","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nealon"},{"teacherId":9867669,"projectId":9769027,"letterContent":"While I wasn't able to get some of the items on my original list (items were no longer available), I was able to order some weaving supplies as well as a few other things that will enhance my visual arts curriculum in the upcoming school year!\r\n\r\nWe are working on our weaving right now and the students just love this project! We learn about the Native American Navajo tribe and the rugs they are famous for weaving. We also spotlight woven Indian dhurrie rugs and Mexican serapes. Students get inspired from these cultures and their passion for the fiber arts. Students weave on wooden looms and finish by hanging them on a redwood stick. Thanks to you generous donors, students develop the knowledge, skill, and experience of weaving.\r\n\r\nI was also able to purchase a 3d printer with the money that was leftover because the other items were unavailable. The 3d printer will be used to print out 3d designs that the students create using TinkerCad. I am currently working on a lesson plan that teaches them how to use this app and create a 3d object. I am so excited about this lesson for my upper grade students. They love to create but they also love to create digital art so this is going to be a hit! \r\n\r\nThank you so very much for your generous donations to teach my students a well-rounded, engaging, and interesting art lesson.","fullyFundedDate":1765927111797,"projectUrl":"project/quality-weaving-looms-for-students-keep/9769027/","projectTitle":"Quality Weaving Looms for Students: Keep Calm, and Weave on!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9867669_orig.png?crop=264,264,x0,y83&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755891080281","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9867669"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5148","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":347,"numTeachers":12,"percentFrplEligible":86,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":82,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"28.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":86.3,"schoolId":5148,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about McDowell Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"McDowell Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/petaluma-city-schools/mcdowell-elementary-school/5148"}