{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Columbia Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":14.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9585609,"projectId":10311324,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project and helping bring the joy of reading to our classroom!\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our students now have a wonderful collection of new books that have quickly become some of their favorites. These books have given us new opportunities to explore stories, build language and literacy skills, spark conversations, and simply enjoy the magic of reading together.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest hits has been our new puppet that goes along with I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. The children absolutely love bringing the story to life with the puppet—and they especially love feeding it during our read-aloud! Their excitement, laughter, and enthusiastic participation have turned story time into an interactive experience that they look forward to again and again.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has done more than provide books and a puppet. You have helped create joyful moments, encourage a love of reading, and help make memories for our littlest learners.","fullyFundedDate":1781037752440,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-love-of-reading-in-preschool/10311324/","projectTitle":"Building a Love of Reading in Preschool","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9585609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721253060059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9585609"},{"teacherId":9585609,"projectId":9735097,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity and belief in our students, our classroom has been funded and is ready to be transformed in ways that will touch every child who walks through our door. This funding means more than new materials or updated resources. It means a safer, more inviting space where curious minds can explore with confidence. The supplies and the curriculum upgrades you helped provide will directly support our students as they learn through play, hands-on activities, and targeted supports designed to meet each child where they are.\r\n\r\nFor many of our learners, that means more opportunities to practice essential early literacy and number skills, develop language and social communication, and build the self-confidence needed to participate fully in the classroom community.The impact of your gift has been felt daily. The refreshed environment will reduce distractions and make space for hands-on exploration, sensory activities, and small-group instruction that addresses diverse learning needs. With the new curriculum materials, I will be able to tailor lessons to my students' individual strengths and challenges, weaving in supports that help them stay engaged, regulate their emotions, and persist through challenging tasks. I am excited to see students laugh together during cooperative play, practice taking turns, and celebrate those \"aha\" moments when a concept finally clicks.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for investing in their futures. Your kindness will resonate far beyond the walls of our classroom, helping to build a foundation of joy, safety, and possibility for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1758860558621,"projectUrl":"project/art-heart-tools-to-inspire-creativity/9735097/","projectTitle":"Art & Heart: Tools to Inspire Creativity and Emotional Wellness","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9585609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721253060059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9585609"},{"teacherId":9585609,"projectId":9654705,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity and belief in our students, our classroom has been funded and is ready to be transformed in ways that will touch every child who walks through our door. This funding means more than new materials or updated resources. It means a safer, more inviting space where curious minds can explore with confidence. The supplies and the curriculum upgrades you helped provide will directly support our students as they learn through play, hands-on activities, and targeted supports designed to meet each child where they are. \r\n\r\nFor many of our learners, that means more opportunities to practice essential early literacy and number skills, develop language and social communication, and build the self-confidence needed to participate fully in the classroom community.The impact of your gift has been felt daily. The refreshed environment will reduce distractions and make space for hands-on exploration, sensory activities, and small-group instruction that addresses diverse learning needs. With the new curriculum materials, I will be able to tailor lessons to my students' individual strengths and challenges, weaving in supports that help them stay engaged, regulate their emotions, and persist through challenging tasks. I am excited to see students laugh together during cooperative play, practice taking turns, and celebrate those \"aha\" moments when a concept finally clicks.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for investing in their futures. Your kindness will resonate far beyond the walls of our classroom, helping to build a foundation of joy, safety, and possibility for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1757961709135,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-safer-smoother-drop-off-zone/9654705/","projectTitle":"Creating a Safer, Smoother Drop-Off Zone with New Cubbies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9585609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721253060059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9585609"},{"teacherId":9585609,"projectId":9537569,"letterContent":"I am thrilled to share the joyful impact of your generosity on our preschool outdoor play space. Thanks to you, our class now has a sturdy, weatherproof outdoor storage cart that has transformed how we learn, explore, and care for our materials.\r\n\r\nBefore your gift, our outdoor toys and tools lived outside, weathering rain, sun, and wind. We watched how weathered gear become brittle or unsafe, and how time spent searching for the right toy interrupted the flow of our adventures. Now, everything has a safe, accessible home. The cart rolls smoothly across our yard, and the toys can be wheeled in and out with ease, protecting them from the elements and extending their life.\r\n\r\nWith this storage solution, cleanup has become faster and more enjoyable. Children gather their materials, place them in the cart, and roll it to the designated spot, turning cleanup into a cooperative, joyful routine. This smoother flow means more time for genuine exploration whether we are building castles in the sandbox, planting sunflower seeds, or searching for friendly bugs on a nature walk. I have seen children take more ownership of our shared materials; they remind one another to return items to the cart and care for our outdoor tools as a community.\r\n\r\nThe impact goes beyond organization. The weatherproof storage helps us preserve resources and stretch our classroom budget so we can continue to offer rich, hands-on experiences. More time outdoors means more opportunities for sensory play, early science investigations, social interaction, and gross-motor development. Our days are filled with curiosity and confidence as children learn through play, cooperation, and discovery in a safe, welcoming environment.\r\n\r\nOn a personal note, I am deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of everyone who contributed. Your support sent a clear message to our students: their ideas, their play, and their outdoor learning matter. The simple act of rolling that cart into place has become a symbol of care and possibility in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us turn outdoor learning into lasting memories. Because of you, our preschoolers will continue to explore, imagine, and grow now with a dependable home for all our outdoor toys.","fullyFundedDate":1755716470376,"projectUrl":"project/weatherproof-our-fun/9537569/","projectTitle":"Weatherproof Our Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9585609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721253060059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9585609"},{"teacherId":9585609,"projectId":9431837,"letterContent":"I'm writing from Columbia Elementary School where recess time is a little louder and a lot brighter. Since receiving our balance bikes, tricycles and outdoor traffic signs for our playground, I'm already seeing a huge improvement in outdoor playtime. \r\n\r\nThe balance bikes are a huge hit. Seriously, the kids love them in a way that's simple and wonderful. There is a little guy that typically keeps to himself and sits and watches kids play. Since receiving the bikes he has become a new kid. He loves to ride the bikes and join in with the other kids now. It's like a watching a whole new kid. His smile and interactions say it all. \r\n\r\nThen there's a little girl who typically spends most of outdoor time swinging. She was in love with the tricycles. It's like the trikes opened a door to a new kind of play for her. She navigated a little circuit around the playground with focus and joy, and her laughter rang out as she practiced her trike riding skills. It's simple joy, but it lights up the whole playground. \r\n\r\nWe also have kids who love to pretend the balance bikes are motorcycles. They line up on the balance bikes, rev their imaginary engines, and zoom around in little groups of pure joy. It's a delightful, creative kind of learning risk-taking and imagination all rolled into one. The bikes didn't just give us more movement; they gave us a shared language for play. We're seeing kids cheer each other on, take turns, and find pride in small improvements. It's the kind of teamwork you can't force, it grows from genuine curiosity and a lot of encouragement from friends.\r\n\r\nAnd the outdoor traffic signs? They've transformed our playground into a tiny, kid-sized city. The signs spark conversations about safety, rules, and why we pause before we cross. It's not just follow the rules it's look around, think about others, make safe choices. The kids ask questions, make predictions, and practice real-life skills that matter beyond the playground. \r\n\r\nBeyond the thrill and the smiles, what you've given us is a way to connect learning with movement, big ideas with small actions, and confidence with play. We're also seeing more language. The kids describe what they're doing, what they notice, what they feel. We're seeing more collaboration, the kids ask for help, cheer for each other, and take turns without a fuss. \r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in our classroom and for gifting our kids a new, playful way to learn and grow. Your generosity is showing up every day.","fullyFundedDate":1754326098223,"projectUrl":"project/riding-into-fun-help-us-get-bikes-for-o/9431837/","projectTitle":"Riding into Fun: Help Us Get Bikes for Our Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9585609_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721253060059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9585609"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_41754","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":282,"numTeachers":18,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":45,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":35,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":11,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":85.9,"schoolId":41754,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Columbia Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Columbia Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/colorado-springs-school-district-11/columbia-elementary-school/41754"}