{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Wendell Cross Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8100486,"projectId":10483605,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"The 'Spot' for Calm: Tools for a 3rd Grade Reset.\" Your generosity provided my students with meaningful tools and resources to help them recognize their emotions, manage big feelings, and create a calmer, more supportive classroom environment.\r\nThe materials quickly became an important part of our classroom routines. Students were excited to use the tools in our Calm Spot when they needed a moment to reset, reflect, or simply take a break. What was especially meaningful was seeing students begin to recognize when they needed to pause and use a strategy independently. Instead of feeling that taking a break was something negative, they began to understand that calming down and taking care of their emotions is an important part of learning.\r\nThe Calm Spot also opened the door to conversations about feelings, self-regulation, kindness, and how we can support one another. Students learned that everyone experiences strong emotions and that there are healthy ways to work through them. These conversations helped us build a classroom community where students felt more comfortable expressing themselves and respecting the emotions of others.\r\nMost importantly, your gift helped create a classroom where students could feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. When children have the tools to manage their emotions, they are better able to return to their work, participate with their classmates, and make positive choices.\r\nBecause of your generosity, our students now have a special place and practical tools to help them reset when they need it. You didn't just provide classroom materials—you helped give third graders the confidence and skills to understand themselves, regulate their emotions, and continue learning.\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make our classroom a calmer, more caring place to learn. Your support has made a meaningful difference in our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1787578570019,"projectUrl":"project/the-spot-for-calm-tools-for-a-3rd-gra/10483605/","projectTitle":"The 'Spot' for Calm: Tools for a 3rd Grade Reset","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Demollari","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8100486"},{"teacherId":8100486,"projectId":10483609,"letterContent":"Thank You for Inspiring Literacy & Math Learning With Classroom Posters & Charts!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous support of our third-grade classroom! Your kindness and generosity have made a meaningful difference in creating a welcoming, engaging, and inspiring learning environment for my students. Because of you, our classroom is now filled with helpful posters, colorful charts, and book organizer bins that encourage students to explore, learn, and grow every day.\r\nThe classroom posters and charts have been especially helpful for my English Language Learners (ELLs). The colorful visuals, pictures, and clear examples help students visualize new concepts, connect words to their meanings, and better understand important literacy and math skills. These visual supports allow students to participate more confidently in lessons, build their vocabulary, and become more independent learners. When students can see what they are learning, challenging concepts become easier to understand and remember.\r\nThe book organizer bins have also made a wonderful difference in our classroom library. Our books are now neatly organized and easier for students to find, browse, and enjoy. Having books displayed and organized in an inviting way encourages students to explore different genres, discover new favorite stories, and develop a love of reading. I love seeing my students excitedly choose books, share their discoveries with classmates, and become curious about what they can learn next.\r\nYour generosity has provided more than classroom supplies. You have helped create an environment where students feel supported, motivated, and excited to learn. Every poster, chart, and organized book bin serves as a daily reminder that learning can be engaging, accessible, and fun for everyone.\r\nAs a third-grade teacher, one of the greatest joys is watching students gain confidence, ask questions, and discover their own potential. Thank you for helping make these moments possible and for investing in my students' education. Your support is inspiring our young learners to read more, think more deeply, strengthen their math skills, and continue exploring the world around them.\r\nWe are truly grateful for your generosity and for believing in our students. Thank you for helping our classroom become a place where curiosity grows, learning comes to life, and every child has the opportunity to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1787159802575,"projectUrl":"project/inspiring-literacy-math-learning-with/10483609/","projectTitle":"Inspiring Literacy & Math Learning With Classroom Posters & Charts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Demollari","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8100486"},{"teacherId":9477592,"projectId":10340899,"letterContent":"The new classroom resources have already made a meaningful difference for my students! We are using the headphones during independent learning and reading activities, and the crayons, pencils, erasers, whiteboard markers, books, tape, glue sticks, and other supplies are being used throughout our daily lessons and classroom projects. The water bottles help my students stay hydrated and ready to learn, while the prize box gives them an extra bit of encouragement to celebrate their hard work and positive choices.\r\nOne special classroom moment was seeing my students' excitement when they first saw all of the new materials. They were eager to explore the supplies and immediately began talking about what they could use them for. The books especially sparked excitement and curiosity, and the students were excited to have new materials that they could use during learning time.\r\n\r\nThese resources have helped create a classroom environment where students have the tools they need to participate, create, practice, and learn with confidence. Something as simple as having a sharpened pencil, a fresh eraser, or the right materials for a project can make a big difference in a student's ability to stay engaged.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue using these materials as we work through our current lessons and classroom projects. Students will have opportunities to read, write, create, collaborate, and practice new skills using the resources provided. I am excited to continue watching them grow and make new discoveries each day.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for supporting our classroom and investing in my students. Your generosity has provided resources that they can use every day, and it has helped make learning more engaging, comfortable, and enjoyable for them. We are truly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1786363969943,"projectUrl":"project/new-school-new-supplies/10340899/","projectTitle":"New School, New Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stevenson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9477592"},{"teacherId":9003899,"projectId":10153047,"letterContent":"Thank you for seeing the importance of Pre-K. Story time is a huge large of our day and lessons. Having the right books to read that are age appropriate, culturally meaningful and lesson based are my top priority. \r\n\r\nWith a new curriculum, I needed new books to supplement and enrich our curriculum. After getting the new curriculum in fall 2025, I knew what I wanted to add to my library collection! These books will help make our curriculum amazing! \r\n\r\nThanks again for thinking of my classroom! Early childhood is the foundation of education and I am proud to be a part of it!","fullyFundedDate":1779371070848,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-pre-k/10153047/","projectTitle":"Books for Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ogrady","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9003899_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1680962789800","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsog21"},{"teacherId":10058380,"projectId":9914988,"letterContent":"My students are absolutely in love with our new sensory tools! We have been using the lights daily with students after our instructional group time to give the kids time to calm down and regulate before transitioning to our next center. The students have been responding so well and working towards WANTING to complete their work so they can have time with the lights. \r\n\r\nWe have been able to use the swing with students during OT, as well as helping them regulate their emotions when they are having difficulty. They love the swing and so many of them request it almost daily.","fullyFundedDate":1770670658867,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-light-exploration/9914988/","projectTitle":"Sensory Light Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Burns","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10058380_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750443168202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10058380"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_44104","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":611,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":53,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"26.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":62.4,"schoolId":44104,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Wendell Cross Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Wendell Cross Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/waterbury-public-schools/wendell-cross-elementary-school/44104"}