{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Buren Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":31.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2390994,"projectId":9389294,"letterContent":"I vividly remember reading as much as I could as a kid. Sure, we had TV and Nintendo and plenty to otherwise occupy us, but reading was what I loved. These days, students don't grow up with reading, and for many, even access to books is hard to come by. This project has allowed me to bring reading to my entire class, and they have loved it. It's hard to quantify how much joy a child gets from a book, but in a neighborhood where joy can be hard to find sometimes, even small amounts can go a long way. For opening the eyes and minds of my students, I cannot begin to sufficiently express my gratitude. These kids are so fortunate to have inspired generosity from people they will never meet. Thank you so much for helping me provide them the opportunity to explore and fall in love with reading.","fullyFundedDate":1758912908644,"projectUrl":"project/reading-facilitates-success/9389294/","projectTitle":"Reading Facilitates Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Montero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2390994_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448350231682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-monteros-class"},{"teacherId":2390994,"projectId":9008647,"letterContent":"This was a truly amazing project because there is so little emphasis on history anymore that my 5th graders come into my class knowing next to nothing about the start of our country. Having the ability to present them with more engaging stories and open their eyes to so much more than just what the history texts explain (which is a little as possible and far too often without any depth or relevant context) really changed our whole approach this year. Students got to hear more than the basic, pared down, benign origin stories of the birth of the United States and got to see that this country was born an underdog that had to persevere and fight for its life. The stories of Washington's spy ring and the attempts on his life by the British were among the favorite things my students read all year. Thank you so, so much for helping get kids excited about history, and come to appreciate that there is so much more to learn and explore!","fullyFundedDate":1740607423882,"projectUrl":"project/read-to-see-through-different-perspectiv/9008647/","projectTitle":"Read to See Through Different Perspectives and Times","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Montero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2390994_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448350231682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-monteros-class"},{"teacherId":9238370,"projectId":9246706,"letterContent":"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the difference you made in my students' lives this year. Because of your generosity, our classroom library bloomed with beautiful garden books that inspired curiosity, sparked science experiments, and brought our little garden project to life.\r\n\r\nIn our photos, you can see how our library shelves grew, the plants we nurtured together, and the hands-on experiments we did after reading and learning side by side. These moments of wonder and discovery were only possible because you chose to invest in us.\r\n\r\nAs the school year came to a close, I gifted my student one of these special garden books as a goodbye present when I left the school. They were so excited and proud to take their books home—to keep reading, growing, and exploring the natural world beyond our classroom walls. Your kindness continues to grow with them.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and for helping them build a lifelong love of learning. We truly could not have done this without you.","fullyFundedDate":1746569932137,"projectUrl":"project/leaf-by-leaf-sprouting-science-through/9246706/","projectTitle":"Leaf by Leaf: Sprouting Science Through Stories","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ballesteros","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9238370_orig.png?crop=676,676,x1014,y621&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694627578851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/aballesteros"},{"teacherId":2390994,"projectId":9136412,"letterContent":"You have literally changed lives. I have an unusually high amount of foster and transient students this year and many make it to school without breakfast, or may not always have dinner when they get home. Being able to provide healthy snacks to these students has been a game changer. As we approach the end of the year, this group of students is now among my top growth achievers. Hunger can be debilitating and by providing my most vulnerable students with the ability to be confident and focus on learning without the distraction of hunger pains, you have helped change lives. Students who have the deck stacked against them have not been able to experience success, something that has been elusive (for many reasons). I cannot begin to imagine the amazing things one (or all) of these students may achieve, and I have you to thank for helping facilitate that. I am truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1741625425152,"projectUrl":"project/hunger-sabotages-learning/9136412/","projectTitle":"Hunger Sabotages Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Montero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2390994_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448350231682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-monteros-class"},{"teacherId":9238370,"projectId":8886917,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom garden has become an exciting hands-on learning experience that blends science and literacy in a meaningful way. My students were thrilled when they saw the hydroponic growing systems alongside traditional planting materials, and they immediately began making predictions about which method would be more efficient. We are currently measuring and comparing growth rates between soil-based planting and hydroponic systems, tracking changes daily, and discussing how different variables impact plant development. This real-world experiment has sparked curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of sustainability and resource use.\r\n\r\nAs we continue this project, students will analyze their collected data, draw conclusions about plant growth methods, and connect their findings to broader discussions about food production and environmental impact. The garden has also inspired creative writing activities, where students imagine themselves as botanists or farmers solving real-world agricultural challenges. Your support has turned our classroom into a living lab, enriching both science and literacy in ways that engage and empower our students. Thank you for planting the seeds of curiosity and growth—your generosity is making a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1729699426867,"projectUrl":"project/planting-roots-in-ela-and-science-a-gar/8886917/","projectTitle":"Planting Roots in ELA and Science: A Garden of Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ballesteros","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9238370_orig.png?crop=676,676,x1014,y621&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694627578851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/aballesteros"},{"teacherId":9238370,"projectId":8886973,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our hygiene closet is fully stocked, ensuring that no student has to miss valuable learning time due to a lack of period products. When our supplies arrived, my students were incredibly grateful, with many expressing relief that they now have access to essentials without embarrassment or worry. It's heartwarming to see them feel more comfortable and confident in their learning environment, knowing they have the support they need. Your donation has removed a barrier that too often disrupts students' education, allowing them to focus on their growth rather than on discomfort or unpreparedness.\r\n\r\nThis project has already made a meaningful impact, and I know it will continue to do so throughout the school year. Having these resources readily available promotes a culture of care and support in our classroom, reinforcing that all students deserve dignity and respect. Moving forward, my goal is to continue fostering open conversations about health and well-being, ensuring that no student feels ashamed about their needs. Thank you for making such a difference in their daily lives—you are truly helping our students feel seen, valued, and empowered to learn without limitations.","fullyFundedDate":1729461720751,"projectUrl":"project/periods-shouldnt-pause-learning-restoc/8886973/","projectTitle":"Periods Shouldn’t Pause Learning: Restocking Our Hygiene Closet","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ballesteros","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9238370_orig.png?crop=676,676,x1014,y621&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694627578851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/aballesteros"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_39891","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":496,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":67,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"26.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":68.7,"schoolId":39891,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Van Buren Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Van Buren Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/stockton-unified-school-district/van-buren-elementary-school/39891"}