{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lely Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":59.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9705874,"projectId":9543487,"letterContent":"ChatGPT said:\r\n\r\nSeat sacks proved to be an invaluable tool for helping my first-grade students stay organized throughout the school day. With their own designated space hanging right on the back of their chairs, students always knew exactly where to store folders, notebooks, and essential supplies. This eliminated the constant shuffle of digging through desks or searching the room for misplaced items. As a result, transitions between activities became smoother and quicker, allowing students to stay focused and reducing the frustration that often comes with clutter.\r\n\r\nBeyond improving efficiency, the seat sacks also encouraged a sense of responsibility and independence in my young learners. Because each student had a personal storage space, they took greater ownership of keeping materials neat and accessible. I noticed that even my most disorganized students developed better habits as they learned to return items to the proper place. This simple organizational tool not only kept our classroom tidier but also fostered important life skills that will benefit students far beyond first grade.","fullyFundedDate":1755695489785,"projectUrl":"project/seat-sacks-for-1st-graders/9543487/","projectTitle":"Seat Sacks for 1st Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Patnode","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9705874"},{"teacherId":61482,"projectId":9298475,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to this project for my 2nd-grade classroom. We used the cardstock paper the very first week of school to create our self-portraits. Students each make one to stay up for the entire school year, and we hang up their work underneath their portraits. Students loved this activity and were excited to be able to pick their favorite color.\r\n\r\nThe watercolor paints are an option for students to use on Fridays if they have demonstrated excellent behavior and completed all their schoolwork for the week. They love using the paints and find the activity very calming. You may have wondered what the plastic cups were for—we use them for the water when they paint!\r\n\r\nAs I'm sure you can imagine, we use the Expo markers and whiteboards daily for both math and reading. Something about using a dry-erase marker is much more exciting than paper and pencil for all kids! The storage drawer has been a great help in organizing student materials. Every item purchased with your donation was used within the first few days after it arrived.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us kick off the year with big smiles!","fullyFundedDate":1746537791121,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-boost-supplies-smiles/9298475/","projectTitle":"Back-to-School Boost: Supplies, Smiles, and Start-of-Year Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp61482_orig.jpg?crop=406,406,x42,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1654970603115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-b-miller"},{"teacherId":61482,"projectId":9526700,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations to help restock the PBIS store for the 2nd graders at my school. The students and 2nd grade teachers were so excited when the materials arrived! Students have worked hard to make improvements with their behavior and their academics. Students have also start to understand the importance of saving and working towards a personal goal. We would not be able to provide this opportinuty at all without the generosity donors and the DonorsChoose community. Thank you for consistently making things happen for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1755743269728,"projectUrl":"project/school-store-leading-in-behavior-and-ac/9526700/","projectTitle":"School Store: Leading in Behavior and Academics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp61482_orig.jpg?crop=406,406,x42,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1654970603115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-b-miller"},{"teacherId":61482,"projectId":9276808,"letterContent":"I greatly appreciate your generosity toward this project, which helps put books in my students' hands that they can read independently and are excited to read. I wish other adults could be in the room to hear the kids talk to each other about what they are reading. Excitement and book recommendations between friends happen daily. Students regularly ask to borrow a classroom library book for the night, often finishing them before the following school day. Reading interest and reading fluency have increased significantly compared to previous years since I first started writing projects on DonorsChoose to get books for my classroom.\r\n\r\nOver more than two decades, I have scoured garage sales, thrift stores, and clearance racks for books for my classroom library. However, I spent the majority of my career teaching pre-K and Kindergarten, where most of the books in the classroom libraries were for reading to the children. It is because of your donation and others that I have been able to add books that the students in my class can read themselves—books that tell stories that interest 7- and 8-year-olds. I have a wide range of reading abilities in my classroom. I believe having books available for all abilities is what has created a culture of loving books and reading.","fullyFundedDate":1746742308046,"projectUrl":"project/developing-a-love-to-read/9276808/","projectTitle":"Developing a Love to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp61482_orig.jpg?crop=406,406,x42,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1654970603115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-b-miller"},{"teacherId":3516046,"projectId":9540695,"letterContent":"Physical activity provides a healthy outlet for releasing pent-up energy and managing stress or anxiety. Several times a week I take my students to the grassy area in front of my room for a brain break. I can tell when they need more movement since they are 3, 4, & 5 years old and physical movement is essential for them. In the beginning I had to teach them how to play with another student because they just wanted to walk around holding the ball. Once I worked with them throwing or kicking the ball back and forth they enjoyed the interaction they were having and began laughing together. I started off just having them throw or kick the ball back and forth w/one other student. This week we have moved up to doing a circle of three. \r\nActivities like throwing, catching, kicking, and rolling balls are crucial for developing both gross motor skills (using large muscle groups like arms and legs) and fine motor skills (using smaller muscles in hands and fingers). This leads to improved balance, coordination, strength, and agility.\r\nRegular physical activity through play helps build strong bones and muscles, improves cardiovascular health, and is essential for maintaining a healthy weight, which helps prevent childhood obesity later in life. Since I teach Head Start pre k I go on 2 home visits a year. Unfortunately, I have learned that once they get home after school they have very few opportunities for outside play. \r\nExercise increases blood flow to the brain, enhancing cognitive functions like memory, concentration, and attention span. I notice the difference after just 5 or 10 minute brain breaks they can come back into class and are more ready to focus on the lesson. \r\nPlaying with others in games that involve teamwork helps children develop empathy and an understanding of others' feelings and perspectives. I notice how they have evolved with just holding the ball to now going up to another student and asking if they'd like to play catch.","fullyFundedDate":1754753341681,"projectUrl":"project/exercise-makes-children-happy-and-health/9540695/","projectTitle":"Exercise Makes Children Happy and Healthy and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Titus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3516046"},{"teacherId":10113161,"projectId":9539697,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. it has helped my students so greatly in so many ways. We have expanded in expressive and receptive language by requesting for preferred items, labeling items, using qualitative and quantitative concepts and taking turns. It has helped with their social emotional impact as well as they have worked on teamwork, taking turns, and using play skills in order to cooperatively play with their peers. These are all skills that are imperative for every child. My caseload has students on the Autism spectrum that have improved greatly in all language and social emotional skills because of the products you provided for us.","fullyFundedDate":1754623227349,"projectUrl":"project/speech-therapy-fun/9539697/","projectTitle":"Speech Therapy Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10113161"},{"teacherId":1635653,"projectId":9741550,"letterContent":"The kids at Lely Elementary School are avid readers who are always looking for the next great book. Fortunately, we have generous donors like yourself who always come through for us as we endeavor to create a media center space that the kids will love coming to as well as a collection that will pique their interest in reading.\r\n\r\nWe know that reading is such an important skill to master and the foundation of all learning, and with your help, we are able to get the kids hooked on reading and make lifetime readers out of them. Thank you for your generous donation.","fullyFundedDate":1758828748641,"projectUrl":"project/for-the-love-of-reading/9741550/","projectTitle":"For the Love of Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Eckert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1635653_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450982241632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/don-eckert"},{"teacherId":1635653,"projectId":9561209,"letterContent":"In the Lely Elementary School media center, we have a MakerSpace section. In this area, kids have different materials which they can use to create all kinds of things. We have Legos, magnetic tiles, puzzles, etc and the kids LOVE it. We see them create things that we would never even imagine adults, and it is so great to see.\r\n\r\nWe love it when we give kids the time and materials so they can show us what they are imagining. They show off their creations with the pride of true artists, and we encourage all of that creativity. We hope to continue to nurture that kind of imagination and we know that so much of it has been made possible by your incredible generosity. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1755741108496,"projectUrl":"project/imaginative-creativity/9561209/","projectTitle":"Imaginative Creativity!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Eckert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1635653_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450982241632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/don-eckert"},{"teacherId":1635653,"projectId":9522026,"letterContent":"At Lely Elementary School, we get new students to our school throughout the year. Families relocate to our school zone regularly and so we welcome them to our school with open arms. To that end, we have a \"Welcome Center\" at Lely Elementary. In our welcome center, we make sure that the kids are equipped to begin their school work the moment they step in the classroom.\r\n\r\nWe provide backpacks and school supplies if needed, a laptop for their use, a school name tag, and anything else that they will need in class to make their transition seamless. Your generosity has made this warm welcome possible to all who come to Lely!","fullyFundedDate":1754487684340,"projectUrl":"project/all-are-welcome-here/9522026/","projectTitle":"All Are Welcome Here!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Eckert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1635653_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450982241632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/don-eckert"},{"teacherId":7728098,"projectId":9584717,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our playground refresh. The students are loving the new experiences. They are learning and playing at the same time. \r\n\r\nVocabulary such as full, empty, push, fill, boat, ball, truck, car, catch and throw are just some of the topic we can cover with concrete examples now. They are learning about volume and what sinks or floats. They are also learning about cooperation and sharing. They are increasing their gross and fine motor coordination as well.\r\n\r\nOne of our students that hardly speak picked up a boat today and told us \"boat\" before putting it in the water. The joy they are getting as they learn and play makes the work worth it. Thank you once again from our school family to yours.","fullyFundedDate":1755439371150,"projectUrl":"project/playground-refresh/9584717/","projectTitle":"Playground Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dawn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7728098_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x172,y337&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646104332398","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7728098"},{"teacherId":7629554,"projectId":9276849,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my \"headphones for literacy\" project. My students have and are benefiting in so many ways. Students have been able to use these high quality headphones to help them listen to stories that are read fluently to them, which helps them build their own fluency. They have been able to use them on our phonics computer programs, which allow them to hear the letter sounds clearly. Without these headphones, students wouldn't have had these opportunities. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1745846930605,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-literacy/9276849/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Noe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7629554_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724453973347","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7629554"},{"teacherId":9705874,"projectId":9214113,"letterContent":"I am writing to extend my deepest gratitude to all the generous donors who provided headphones for my students to use with their laptops at school. Your kindness has made a tremendous impact on our classroom environment, learning opportunities, and the overall experience of our students. Your contribution may seem small to some, but for us, it has been truly transformative.\r\n\r\nIn today's modern classroom, technology plays a vital role in education. Laptops, tablets, and other devices help students access information, practice skills, and explore new ideas in ways that were not possible in previous generations. However, with the introduction of technology comes the challenge of maintaining a focused and productive learning environment. Noise and distractions can interfere with students' ability to concentrate, especially in a busy classroom. This is where your donation of headphones has made a meaningful difference.\r\n\r\nWith these headphones, each student now has the ability to focus on their individual assignments without distraction. They can listen to educational videos, participate in interactive lessons, and engage in language and reading programs that are essential to their growth. The headphones have also helped students with different learning needs feel included and supported. For example, students who are easily distracted can now immerse themselves fully in their lessons, while others who benefit from auditory learning can listen attentively without disturbing their classmates. This simple tool has created a more equitable and inclusive learning environment for everyone.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students, I want to sincerely thank you for your generosity. Your support demonstrates that you value education and the potential of every child. By investing in these headphones, you have invested directly in our students' ability to learn, grow, and succeed. Your contribution has not only enriched their educational experience but has also shown them that there are people who believe in their future and are willing to support them.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your donation, and I assure you that these headphones will be used daily to their fullest potential. Your generosity has made a real difference, and your kindness will be remembered by our students for years to come. Thank you for helping us provide the tools necessary for our students to thrive academically and personally.","fullyFundedDate":1743265791913,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-little-heads/9214113/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Little Heads","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Patnode","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9705874"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_55381","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":499,"numTeachers":49,"percentFrplEligible":94,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":28,"percentWhite":18,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":46,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":40.7,"schoolId":55381,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lely Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lely Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/collier-county-public-schools/lely-elementary-school/55381"}