{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Orchard Hills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":69.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9700898,"projectId":9423680,"letterContent":"I want to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation to our classroom library. Your support has made such a positive difference in my students' reading development and overall love for learning.\r\n\r\nIn second grade, students experience a major shift in their literacy journey — they move from learning to read to reading to learn. Early in the year, our focus is on building essential skills such as phonics, decoding, fluency, and vocabulary. As students become more confident readers, we guide them toward deeper comprehension, helping them analyze characters, make inferences, and explain their thinking with evidence from the text. This transition opens the door for them to use reading as a way to explore and understand new ideas.\r\n\r\nIndependent reading plays a crucial role in this growth. It allows students to apply the skills they've learned in authentic ways while developing fluency, confidence, and reading stamina. When children have access to books that match their interests and reading levels, they are naturally more motivated to read — and that motivation fuels even greater progress.\r\n\r\nThe addition of authentic fiction and nonfiction texts to our classroom library has been truly transformative. Fiction encourages imagination and empathy, while nonfiction helps students build real-world knowledge and vocabulary. Having both types of books available allows every student to find something that excites them and connects to what we're learning in class.\r\n\r\nSeveral of my students have recently become captivated by geography thanks to the Ready to Read series. They've especially enjoyed titles like Living in China and Living in Italy, which have sparked rich conversations about culture, daily life, and the similarities and differences between people around the world. These books help students see reading as a window into global learning. Thank you for supporting our classroom and for helping to cultivate a community of curious, capable, and enthusiastic readers.","fullyFundedDate":1757459022209,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-young-minds-one-book-at-a-time/9423680/","projectTitle":"Fuel Young Minds - One Book at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Prompovitch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9700898"},{"teacherId":9700898,"projectId":9423328,"letterContent":"I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous donation toward our classroom library. Your contribution has made a meaningful difference in my students' daily learning and their growing love of reading.\r\n\r\nIn second grade, students make an exciting transition — they move from learning to read to reading to learn. Early in the year, we focus on foundational reading skills such as phonics, decoding, fluency, and vocabulary. As students become more confident readers, we shift our focus toward comprehension strategies that help them think deeply about what they read, make inferences, and support their thinking with evidence from the text. This growth allows students to use reading as a tool for learning across all subject areas.\r\n\r\nHaving access to a variety of authentic fiction and nonfiction texts in our classroom library is an essential part of this process. Independent reading gives students daily opportunities to practice their skills in a meaningful and self-directed way. It builds fluency, strengthens vocabulary, and, most importantly, nurtures a lifelong habit of reading for enjoyment and discovery. The new books have helped students find just the right texts that spark their curiosity and motivate them to read more.\r\n\r\nOur classroom library now includes a wonderful collection of nonfiction books that have captured my students' imaginations. A few of my students who are fascinated by geography especially enjoy the Ready to Read series — they've loved exploring Living in China and Living in Italy. These books open doors to new cultures and help students see how reading connects them to the wider world. Their excitement often spills over into classroom discussions, writing projects, and even social studies lessons.\r\nIndependent reading doesn't just improve literacy skills — it expands students' knowledge, empathy, and confidence as learners. Your generosity has made that \r\npossible. Thank you for supporting our classroom and for helping to cultivate a community of curious, capable, and enthusiastic readers.","fullyFundedDate":1755980453630,"projectUrl":"project/unlock-the-magic-of-reading/9423328/","projectTitle":"Unlock the Magic of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Prompovitch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9700898"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43996","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":350,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":20,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":71,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":30.5,"schoolId":43996,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Orchard Hills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Orchard Hills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/milford-public-schools/orchard-hills-elementary-school/43996"}
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Join the 154 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Orchard Hills Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Milford, Connecticut that is part of Milford Public Schools.
It serves 350 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.1:1.
Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades K - 5
350 Students
29 Teachers
185 Marino DrContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
20%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Orchard Hills Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Orchard Hills Elementary School
$8,635
raised using DonorsChoose
20
projects
funded
3
teachers
funded
154
donors
2
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
Orchard Hills Elementary School has received support from
47 individuals from Connecticut and
107 individuals out-of-state.