{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"King - Murphy Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3003021,"projectId":9923301,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff at King-Murphy Mountain School, thank you for your generous support in providing funding for essential Physical Education equipment, including bean bags, cones, and bandannas!\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting teachers and schools. There are so many of us working tirelessly to build our communities up without enough resources to make as big of an impact as we'd like, so your support truly makes a difference. Because of you, our students now have the fundamental tools they need to fully participate, stay active, and build lifelong fitness skills.\r\n\r\nWhen the new equipment arrived, students immediately noticed. The bright cones, colorful bandannas, and fresh set of bean bags brought an instant energy to class. Several students asked, \"Are those new?!\" and \"What are we playing today?\" Something as simple as new, high-quality equipment communicates to students that their learning matters.\r\n\r\nWe are already using these materials daily across grade levels. In one recent lesson, younger students practiced underhand throwing and catching using the new bean bags. Because bean bags move more slowly and are easier to control than balls, students were able to focus on proper form and build confidence. I watched several students who had previously struggled with catching experience real success — celebrating their progress with huge smiles and high-fives.\r\n\r\nThe cones have transformed how we organize games and skill stations. They allow us to clearly define boundaries, create obstacle courses, and set up agility drills that keep every student moving. The bandannas have been especially impactful for team-building activities and strategy games. Students use them for tagging games, cooperative challenges, and small-sided team play, all while practicing communication, leadership, and sportsmanship.\r\n\r\nBeyond physical skills like throwing, catching, agility, and spatial awareness, these materials are helping us teach responsibility and teamwork. Students are learning to help set up and clean up equipment, share resources, and respect the tools that make their learning possible.\r\n\r\nOur next steps include expanding into more structured skill progressions and cooperative fitness challenges. With reliable equipment for every class, we can differentiate instruction, provide more small-group practice, and ensure that every child stays engaged and active throughout the entire lesson. We are also incorporating more student leadership roles, allowing older students to help design stations and mentor younger classes.\r\n\r\nYour support has strengthened the foundation of our Physical Education program. What may seem like simple equipment truly creates powerful learning opportunities. Because of you, our students are building confidence, developing healthy habits, and experiencing the joy of movement every single day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and believing in the importance of quality Physical Education.","fullyFundedDate":1765579173254,"projectUrl":"project/pe-essential-equipment/9923301/","projectTitle":"PE Essential Equipment","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Rusin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3003021_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505250693619","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/climbingshoes"},{"teacherId":3003021,"projectId":9890876,"letterContent":"Because of your incredible generosity, $1,600 was raised to build a Gaga Ball pit at King-Murphy Elementary School — and we cannot thank you enough!\r\n\r\nFrom the very first day the pit was installed, it has been filled with laughter, movement, and excitement. When students first saw it, they literally gasped and began cheering. Many of them had heard about Gaga Ball but had never had the chance to play in a real pit. Within minutes, students were asking, \"When can we start?\" and \"Can we play again tomorrow?\" Their enthusiasm was immediate and contagious.\r\n\r\nWe are using the Gaga Ball pit daily during both Physical Education classes and recess. One of my favorite moments happened during our first structured PE lesson using the pit. We focused on teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship. I watched as students encouraged one another, helped explain rules to classmates who were new to the game, and even celebrated good plays made by their opponents. One student who is often hesitant to participate in team sports confidently jumped into the pit and ended up winning a round — the smile on their face said everything. It was a powerful reminder that inclusive games like Gaga Ball truly give every child a chance to shine.\r\n\r\nBeyond the physical skills — striking, dodging, agility, and hand-eye coordination — we are intentionally connecting Gaga Ball to social-emotional learning. Students are practicing self-regulation, resilience, and positive communication. We've even had classroom discussions about strategy and problem-solving, helping students reflect on how planning and quick thinking in the pit connects to perseverance in academics.\r\n\r\nNext, we are expanding our focus to student leadership. Older students will begin helping referee games, teach rules to younger grades, and model sportsmanship. The Gaga Ball pit is not just a recess activity — it is becoming a cornerstone of community-building and character development at our school.\r\n\r\nYour support has created far more than a play space. You have provided a safe, inclusive environment where students build confidence, strengthen friendships, and develop lifelong skills — all while having an incredible amount of fun.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our students this opportunity. Your generosity is felt every single day in the cheers echoing from the Gaga Ball pit.","fullyFundedDate":1764163066625,"projectUrl":"project/king-murphy-eagles-gagaball-pit/9890876/","projectTitle":"King-Murphy Eagles Gagaball Pit","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Rusin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3003021_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505250693619","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/climbingshoes"},{"teacherId":9635660,"projectId":8589599,"letterContent":"Your donated microscopes will continue to have a significant impact on third-grade learning, especially in enhancing students' understanding of science and the natural world. Here's how they've made a difference:\r\n\r\nImproved Scientific Skills: I will give a microscope use lesson soon which will help the students develop essential scientific skills such as observation, classification, and data recording. They will learn how to focus, adjust lenses, and make careful observations, all of which are foundational skills for future scientific study.\r\n\r\nHands-On Learning: Microscopes allow third graders to explore the microscopic world, turning abstract concepts into concrete experiences. Students can examine cells, tiny organisms, plant tissues, and other structures that are often too small to see with the naked eye, making science lessons much more engaging and interactive. For our upcoming water unit, we will collect local samples of fresh water and examine the materials and organisms they contain.\r\n\r\nEncouraging Collaboration: Using microscopes in pairs or small groups will encourage collaboration among students. Our water unit is coming up soon, and they will work together to make observations, share their findings, and discuss what they see, helping to develop teamwork and communication skills.\r\n\r\nBoosting Curiosity: When students are given the chance to look at things under a microscope, their natural curiosity is sparked. They want to learn more about what they're seeing, which encourages deeper inquiry and critical thinking. This can lead to a greater interest in science overall.\r\n\r\nVisualizing Abstract Concepts: Many scientific concepts in third-grade curricula, like the structure of living organisms or the properties of materials, become clearer when students can actually observe them. For our current frog unit they have been able to view slides of frog tissues!\r\n\r\nEnhanced Engagement: The novelty and excitement of using microscopes keep students engaged and excited about learning. It can transform science from a textbook-based subject into something fun and exploratory, leading to better retention of knowledge.\r\n\r\nIn summary, donated microscopes have enriched third-grade education by fostering curiosity, enhancing hands-on learning, and providing opportunities for students to engage directly with the microscopic world. encourages collaboration among students. They work together to make observations, share their findings, and discuss what they see, helping to develop teamwork and communication skills.","fullyFundedDate":1733342280011,"projectUrl":"project/up-close-investigation/8589599/","projectTitle":"Up Close Investigation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Richardson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9635660"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50102","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":151,"numTeachers":11,"percentFrplEligible":22,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":87,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":6,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"13.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":73.5,"schoolId":50102,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about King - Murphy Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"King - Murphy Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/clear-creek-sch-dist-re-1/king-murphy-elementary-school/50102"}