{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"San Antonio Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":17.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1514746,"projectId":9682971,"letterContent":"Incorporating a literacy center into my art classroom has been one of the most meaningful and impactful instructional decisions I have ever made, and this project would not have been possible without the generosity of The DonorsChoose Community. Thanks to your support, my students were given access to high-quality graphic novels that immediately captured their interest and transformed the way they engaged with reading, learning, and visual storytelling.\r\nFrom the moment the literacy center was introduced, students at every level were drawn to it. The format of graphic novels was especially powerful for students who struggle with traditional text-heavy books. The combination of images and words lowered barriers to reading and helped students feel more confident and successful. Many students who were typically reluctant readers eagerly chose graphic novels, often reading for longer periods of time and returning to the center again and again. The visual nature of the books helped students decode meaning, make predictions, and understand story structure in a way that felt accessible and enjoyable.\r\nThrough guided lessons and independent exploration, students learned about the key features of graphic novels, including panels, gutters, speech bubbles, captions, sound effects, and visual pacing. We also focused on text features and how illustrations work together with words to develop characters, convey emotion, and move a story forward. Students practiced analyzing character development by observing facial expressions, body language, and changes across panels. These discussions led to rich conversations about storytelling, point of view, and how artists and authors make intentional choices to communicate ideas.\r\nBecause of the materials provided through this project, I was able to deepen my instruction and meaningfully integrate literacy into the art curriculum. Rather than treating reading and art as separate subjects, students experienced how visual art and literacy naturally connect. The graphic novels allowed me to differentiate instruction, meet students where they were, and support a wide range of learning needs. Students who needed extra reading support felt empowered, while advanced readers were challenged to analyze visual details more closely and think critically about narrative structure.\r\nTo demonstrate comprehension and apply their learning, students created their own comic strips inspired by the key features of graphic novels. This culminating activity was incredibly successful. Students planned characters, developed simple storylines, and intentionally used panels, dialogue, and visual cues to communicate meaning. Creating their own comics allowed students to show what they understood in a creative, engaging way. Even students who often struggle to express themselves through writing were able to tell complete stories using a combination of images and words. The pride they felt in sharing their finished comic strips was evident.\r\nThe impact of this project extended beyond academic skills. Students gained confidence, motivation, and a stronger sense of themselves as readers, artists, and storytellers. The literacy center became a welcoming space where students felt safe to explore, take risks, and enjoy learning. These positive experiences help foster a lifelong love of reading and creativity, which is especially important in the elementary years.\r\nI am incredibly grateful to The DonorsChoose Community for making this project possible. Your generosity directly supported student learning and allowed me to create a classroom environment where literacy and art come together in meaningful ways. Because of you, my students experienced success, joy, and engagement that will continue to influence their learning long after this project has ended. Thank you for believing in our students and for investing in their growth, creativity, and confidence.","fullyFundedDate":1758240476593,"projectUrl":"project/comics-for-growing-minds-supporting-ear/9682971/","projectTitle":"Comics for Growing Minds: Supporting Early Finishers and Literacy Development","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Jacobowitz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1514746_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x25,y28&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755473532646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cjacobowitz"},{"teacherId":1514746,"projectId":9561337,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our Pre-K art and science project at SAES. This project has been an ongoing and meaningful learning experience for our four-year-old students, and your donations played a crucial role in making it possible. Because of you, our classroom was transformed into a space of discovery, creativity, and excitement where students could explore light, color, and early photography in a hands-on and developmentally appropriate way.\r\nOver the course of this project, students were introduced to foundational concepts about how light works and how it affects what we see. Through guided exploration, simple experiments, and open-ended discussion, students observed how light moves, how colors change, and how images can form. These concepts can be abstract, especially for young children, but your support allowed us to make them tangible and engaging. Students were not just learning about science—they were experiencing it.\r\nLast week marked an especially exciting milestone when students began working with cameras and constructing their own pinhole cameras. For many of our students, this was their first experience with any type of camera. As they carefully assembled their pinhole cameras, they demonstrated focus, patience, and pride in their work. The moment they realized that light alone could create an image was filled with awe and excitement. Students eagerly shared their discoveries with classmates, asked thoughtful questions, and made connections between what they had observed and what they had learned earlier in the project.\r\nYour donations provided the materials needed to make this level of hands-on learning possible. More importantly, they gave students the opportunity to feel like creators and problem-solvers. Rather than simply being told how something works, students were encouraged to explore, test ideas, and learn through trial and error. These experiences help build confidence and foster a positive attitude toward learning at an early age.\r\nThe impact of this project extends far beyond a single lesson or week of activities. The sense of curiosity, exploration, and joy that your support helped cultivate will continue to guide these students as they move forward in their educational journey. Early learning experiences like this lay the foundation for critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. When students feel successful and excited in the classroom, they are more willing to take risks, ask questions, and engage deeply with new ideas.\r\nBecause of you, our Pre-K students were able to experience learning in a meaningful, memorable way. You helped create moments of wonder, discovery, and pride that these children will carry with them. Thank you for investing in our youngest learners and for making such a lasting difference in their educational experience. Your generosity truly brought this project—and our students' excitement—to life.","fullyFundedDate":1755692955081,"projectUrl":"project/vpk-journeys-through-lenses-and-light/9561337/","projectTitle":"VPK Journeys Through Lenses and Light","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Jacobowitz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1514746_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x25,y28&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755473532646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cjacobowitz"},{"teacherId":10098569,"projectId":9536855,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for the incredible support our classroom has received. Your generosity has made a real difference in the learning experiences of every student. The new materials create an environment where curiosity and creativity can flourish. \r\n\r\nYour support has given us the tools we need to tackle challenges. Every act of support strengthens our classroom. You have helped transform ordinary lessons into exciting opportunities for discovery.\r\n\r\nEducation thrives when people come together with a shared purpose, and your support has shown us how impactful that unity can be. This has truly made a lasting difference, and for that, I am sincerely thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1754611809552,"projectUrl":"project/new-teacher-classroom/9536855/","projectTitle":"New Teacher Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Timian","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10098569"},{"teacherId":1514746,"projectId":8977372,"letterContent":"I have to be honest and transparent here. This project is not going as I had hoped it would. Some students and I are still trying to figure out to use 3D software from the computer to print to the 3D printer. We've been successful with a few models, mainly an articulated snake, which nearly all of my student seem to love anyway and want to print. So, while my fifth graders and I work on printing other things, we will printing articulated snakes till the end of the school year. I do truly thank you for your generous donations made to my classroom and my students. I promise you, we WILL get this project up and running as it was intended.","fullyFundedDate":1736543237648,"projectUrl":"project/igniting-the-spark-3d-printing-and-scul/8977372/","projectTitle":"Igniting the Spark: 3D Printing and Sculpture","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Jacobowitz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1514746_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x25,y28&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755473532646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cjacobowitz"},{"teacherId":1514746,"projectId":8836765,"letterContent":"Having age-appropriate art-related books in my accessible library is a blessing. Seeing multiple grades read stories about a girl name Katie going on wild adventures inside and outside of famous works of art is a joy. Watching them, then, synthesize what they read into fully realized illustrations is even better! Books, literacy, and literature do open pathways to children's' imagination. When combined with the visual arts only the sky's the limit for what students may achieve. Your generous donations have helped spark these pathways in my students.","fullyFundedDate":1728866730934,"projectUrl":"project/imagination-station-and-comic-book-learn/8836765/","projectTitle":"Imagination Station and Comic Book Learning Hub","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Jacobowitz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1514746_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x25,y28&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755473532646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cjacobowitz"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_48884","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":706,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":43,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":61,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.4,"schoolId":48884,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about San Antonio Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"San Antonio Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/pasco-county-school-district/san-antonio-elementary-school/48884"}