{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ashford School","outOfStateSupporters":65.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8579215,"projectId":10290375,"letterContent":"My students received their gift at their return to school for second grade. It was a nice welcome back gift that they were very excited about. The stuffies were a big hit and I hope they will enjoy reading at night with them and have a special time of reading to share with their families. Thank you for making this gift possible and sharing the gift of reading with our classroom. \r\n\r\nI am starting a new year with a new class and these students are beginning their journey to learning to read and having fun learning new stories and life lessons as we read together, in small groups, with buddies, independently and as free choice. \r\n\r\nI'm looking forward to another year of making reading memories!","fullyFundedDate":1781544106538,"projectUrl":"project/end-of-year-celebration-and-gift-of-read/10290375/","projectTitle":"End of Year Celebration and Gift of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Neeland","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579215"},{"teacherId":6545905,"projectId":10295560,"letterContent":"Our students are using the LEGO sets during our after-school Puzzle Masters and Movie Knights Club. Students have been working together to build landmarks from around the world, learning about different cultures, countries, geography, and architecture along the way. It has been great to watch students collaborate, problem-solve, and encourage each other as they work through each set. \r\n\r\nThe students were very excited when they first saw the LEGO sets! They immediately wanted to get started and were especially excited to see which landmarks they would be building. It has been rewarding to see students who may not always work together in the classroom come together as a team and share the building experience.\r\n\r\nStudents will continue working on the LEGO sets throughout the term, and we are hoping to have all of them completed by the end of the term. Once finished, the sets will be displayed in a glass display case at the front of our school as part of our \"Building a Global Community\" exhibit. The display will allow students, staff, families, and visitors to see the landmarks and learn about the different places and cultures they represent.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting this project! It has been wonderful to see the students enjoying the sets and learning through hands-on collaboration. I will be sure to share pictures once all of the sets are completed and proudly displayed in our school.","fullyFundedDate":1781611471795,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-the-globe-through-lego-archite/10295560/","projectTitle":"Exploring the Globe Through LEGO Architecture","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Vanzant","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6545905_orig.png?crop=359,359,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1634140336203","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6545905"},{"teacherId":1113849,"projectId":10419322,"letterContent":"This project has given my students a creative way to turn their science learning into action. As we study ecosystems, biodiversity, climate change, and conservation, students use what they have learned to design buttons that share messages about protecting wildlife, reducing pollution, and caring for our planet. They are excited to see their ideas become something tangible that they can share with others.\r\n\r\nThe button-making machine has also helped students build communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills while strengthening their understanding of important science concepts. Most importantly, students are learning that their voices matter. They are proud to create messages that can educate and inspire others.","fullyFundedDate":1787229023340,"projectUrl":"project/science-that-speaks-empowering-young-en/10419322/","projectTitle":"Science That Speaks: Empowering Young Environmental Advocates","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Levine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1113849"},{"teacherId":1113849,"projectId":10201343,"letterContent":"This project gives our students a meaningful opportunity to lead, serve their school community, and help make reading more accessible to everyone. About 20 student volunteers help select books, restock our school's vending machine, and manage the gold coin system that allows teachers to reward students with a book. \r\n\r\nSince the books are available to students from PreK through 8th grade, our volunteers take pride in choosing books they know their peers will enjoy.\r\n\r\nAlthough this project takes place outside of my science classroom, it teaches students valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and service. The students especially enjoy knowing that their work puts books into the hands of other students. Their ownership of the project has created a wonderful sense of pride and is helping build a stronger reading community throughout our school.","fullyFundedDate":1779626859932,"projectUrl":"project/mission-boost-literacy-with-a-student-r/10201343/","projectTitle":"Mission: Boost Literacy with a Student Run Book Vending Machine","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Levine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1113849"},{"teacherId":8579215,"projectId":10003064,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your commitment to education and sponsoring my classroom specifically with your donation. I can't tell you how much it means to have you partner with us and make a difference in each child's daily experience at school. \r\n\r\nWe have the book bins organized and homing our new books as well as our old books. The white helps brighten up the room and is an inviting space for the first graders. They are able to choose from many options as they have now learned to read so well nearing the end of first and preparing for second grade. Thank you again for making our book area a beautiful upgrade!","fullyFundedDate":1772038986726,"projectUrl":"project/new-years-organize-resolution/10003064/","projectTitle":"New Year's Organize Resolution","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Neeland","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579215"},{"teacherId":9841454,"projectId":10247615,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to our classroom to support the restructuring and organization of our classroom library. These large bins have allowed for us to store our books by reading level and different areas of interest. This also allowed for me to go through the books in our little library to figure out what we had a lot of and what more we might need. With my current case load of students, we brainstormed a list of reading materials that could be added to the library. Some students talked about different genres, while others focused on different series recommendations. This turned into a great mini lesson on genres of literature, as well as determining the appropriate level book. I am excited to revisit this discussion with the students again in the fall when we return for school. \r\nWhen my students first entered the room after I received the new book boxes, our tables were covered with our current classroom library collection. Together, we sorted books by reading level, physical condition, and genre. Many discussions arose about new books to add. The following day I had the books in their new boxes and on the shelves. The students were very excited to go through the boxes, looking for books of interest that the knew were at their reading level. Our next steps will focus on adding books to our library that are of interest to my current caseload of students, as well as middle school students in general. \r\nThank you again for your generosity and supporting our love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1778335335625,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library-organization/10247615/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lamarre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9841454"},{"teacherId":2653458,"projectId":10207823,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project! Your generosity in providing items like sidewalk chalk, Play-doh, and reusable sticker pads will make a meaningful difference in my students' ability to maintain their speech and language skills over the summer. \r\n\r\nThese materials will be included in our summer language bags to encourage practice over the summer to maintain their skills. With your help these students will have engaging tools to be able to practice with new vocabulary, storytelling and understanding of basic concepts in fun and interactive ways!\r\n\r\nYour kindness and support mean so much to us. Thank you for helping us create fun new learning experiences during these summer months!","fullyFundedDate":1778163334301,"projectUrl":"project/summer-fun-learning-through-play/10207823/","projectTitle":"Summer Fun: Learning Through Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lemos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lemos"},{"teacherId":2653458,"projectId":10096316,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project for puppets for summer speech and language bags! Your generosity has already made such a meaningful impact on these students. When the students saw the puppets and learned they would be able to take the language bags home, they were very excited. They cannot wait to choose a puppet, explore the materials, and bring them home. Your support brought so much joy and enthusiasm to their learning.\r\n\r\nThe puppets will help students practice important communication skills in fun, engaging, and meaningful ways. Students are building vocabulary, storytelling abilities, listening skills, and conversational confidence through play and interaction. \r\n\r\nYour kindness and generosity are truly appreciated. These resources are not only supporting speech and language development, but they are also helping students feel confident, creative, and eager to learn. Thank you for believing in these students and for giving them opportunities to learn through play, imagination, and connection. The smiles, laughter, and excitement these bags have created are a direct result of your support, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1778081610365,"projectUrl":"project/lights-camera-puppets-summer-language/10096316/","projectTitle":"Lights, Camera, Puppets! Summer Language Practice in Action!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lemos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lemos"},{"teacherId":2653458,"projectId":10187269,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support for this DonorsChoose project! These materials are more than just supplies; they are invitations for children to explore language, tell their stories, and stay engaged during the summer months. The excitement on their faces as they designed their own bags and found out what was going to be inside them was wonderful. \r\n\r\nWith these resources, these students will continue building essential language skills in a fun, hands-on way, giving them a strong start when they return to school.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generosity in making this project possible!","fullyFundedDate":1777563966654,"projectUrl":"project/say-it-with-art-growing-language-skills/10187269/","projectTitle":"Say It with Art: Growing Language Skills Over the Summer","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lemos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lemos"},{"teacherId":1113849,"projectId":10073394,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our book vending machine is now being actively used as a student-led community service project that brings books directly into the hands of children across our school. A group of student volunteers has taken ownership of keeping the machine stocked, ensuring that students from PreK through 8th grade have access to high-interest books they can choose and keep. This has transformed the machine from often being empty to a meaningful, student-run system of sharing literacy resources across our school community.\r\n\r\nThe books in this project—such as Dog Man: Mothering Heights, Smile, Amulet: The Stonekeeper, and I Survived boxed sets—were selected by student volunteers based on what they know their peers are excited to read. These titles help build important literacy skills like comprehension, vocabulary, and stamina, while also encouraging reluctant readers to engage with accessible and highly engaging texts.\r\n\r\nWhat has been especially powerful is watching students take pride in the responsibility of giving books to others. Through distributing gold coins and restocking the vending machine, students are learning leadership, equity, and service in a very tangible way. They are not just receiving books—they are ensuring that every child in our school community has the opportunity to experience the joy of choosing and owning a book.","fullyFundedDate":1770311364077,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-all-a-community-literacy-proj/10073394/","projectTitle":"Books for All: A Community Literacy Project","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Levine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1113849"},{"teacherId":1113849,"projectId":10053561,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students were able to participate in an incredibly meaningful global exchange experience. Through the Global Voices–ArtLink program, they collaborated with students in Ukraine and India, sharing artwork and personal stories that brought their learning to life in a powerful way. The Interactive Video Conference was a highlight—students were excited (and a little nervous!) to connect in real time, ask questions, and see firsthand both the similarities and differences in their daily lives.\r\n\r\nOne of the most memorable moments was watching students react to the artwork they received from their peers abroad. They were fascinated by the cultural details and thoughtful messages, and many students made immediate personal connections. It sparked genuine curiosity and empathy, with students asking insightful questions and reflecting on how their own experiences compare to those of others around the world.","fullyFundedDate":1771000737856,"projectUrl":"project/connected-classrooms-using-art-and-tech/10053561/","projectTitle":"Connected Classrooms: Using Art and Technology to Build Global Understanding","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Levine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1113849"},{"teacherId":2653458,"projectId":10145879,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project for books to help reduce the summer slide of their speech and language skills this summer! Because of your kindness, our students now have access to engaging books that will help them continue to build their vocabulary skills and ability to answer story questions. \r\n\r\nThe students I work with benefit from exposure to language-rich materials and activities. Giving them books with their favorite characters will help increase the likelihood of them reading more over the summer. With these new books my students will have meaningful and enjoyable opportunities to practice their skills over the summer. \r\n\r\nThank you for making a difference in our classroom and in the lives of my students. We're so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1773858973524,"projectUrl":"project/preventing-the-summer-slide-with-books-k/10145879/","projectTitle":"Preventing the Summer Slide With Books Kids Love!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lemos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lemos"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_44248","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":369,"numTeachers":43,"percentFrplEligible":39,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":83,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":9,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"8.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":34.4,"schoolId":44248,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ashford School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ashford School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/ashford-public-school-district/ashford-school/44248"}