{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Barbara Vick Early Child Center","outOfStateSupporters":20.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":810390,"projectId":9929258,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. We have already started using the materials and my students love them. These storytelling kits help students to understand the stories that we read. They love using the props to follow along with the story. We have many students with special needs and the more concrete we can make the lessons, the better it is for these students. These materials also help to keep the students engaged. Some students have limited experience with books and stories and are sometimes difficult to keep engaged. I am so grateful for your generous support of our classroom. Thank you!!","fullyFundedDate":1764605369298,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-storytelling-kits/9929258/","projectTitle":"Preschool Storytelling Kits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp810390_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x241,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1668873627420","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/810390"},{"teacherId":9132087,"projectId":9926066,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Building Bright Readers: Supporting Early Literacy in Our Classroom project. Because of your generosity, our students now have access to a hands-on rhyming kit, mini markers for drawing and writing, and felt storytelling props that have already made a powerful impact on their learning. These materials have brought literacy to life in our classroom, allowing children to actively engage with sounds, stories, and symbols in meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways.\r\n\r\nThe rhyming kit has quickly become a favorite during small-group and literacy center time. Students love manipulating the pieces, matching rhyming words, and proudly explaining their thinking to peers. The mini markers have supported fine-motor development while encouraging children to draw pictures, practice pre-writing shapes, and attempt early letter forms with confidence. Meanwhile, the felt storytelling props have transformed our read-alouds—children eagerly retell familiar stories, create their own narratives, and collaborate with classmates as they build vocabulary and comprehension through play.\r\n\r\nBecause of these materials, I am able to offer more intentional, hands-on literacy instruction that meets students where they are. Children are staying engaged longer, using richer language, and showing increased confidence as emerging readers and writers. Your support has helped create a classroom environment where literacy is joyful, interactive, and accessible to every learner. Thank you for helping us build bright readers and a strong foundation for a lifelong love of learning. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1764218864685,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-readers-supporting-earl/9926066/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Readers: Supporting Early Literacy in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9132087_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747580424625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9132087"},{"teacherId":9132087,"projectId":9473432,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in helping fund our Cozy Creations project. Because of you, our classroom now has two cozy chairs, a mirrored table, and a wall mirror that have completely transformed how children gather, relax, and connect with one another. From the very first day, the children were drawn to this new space—curling up with books, carefully pouring \"tea\" for friends, and settling in for quiet moments of shared play. These materials have created an inviting environment where children feel comfortable, calm, and inspired to slow down and engage.\r\n\r\nWhen the children first saw the new furniture, their faces lit up with excitement. They immediately began exploring—touching the mirrors, watching their reflections, and excitedly choosing books to read in the cozy chairs. One of the most special moments has been watching small groups naturally form for pretend tea parties and storytelling, with children taking turns, using gentle voices, and lingering longer than ever before. The mirrored table has sparked curiosity and conversation as children observe themselves and their materials, deepening both social interaction and self-awareness.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, this cozy space will continue to grow alongside our learning. As we move forward, the area will become an intentional part of our identity and literacy work—supporting self-portraits, book discussions, and small-group reflections. The children are already beginning to use the mirrors to study facial expressions and emotions, and we look forward to building on this through art, storytelling, and documentation. Your generosity has given our students more than furniture—you've created a space of comfort, belonging, and meaningful connection, and we are so grateful for the peek you've taken into our classroom and the lasting impact you've made. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1762798825385,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-corners-for-creative-play/9473432/","projectTitle":"Cozy Corners for Creative Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9132087_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747580424625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9132087"},{"teacherId":4966917,"projectId":9877348,"letterContent":"Thank you all SO much for supporting my classroom, students, and school. The students absolutely love the new items. The caterpillar is such a favorite...the students can climb on top, crawl through and explore. The students love sitting inside the wagons and pulling one another around the playground and taking turns. The ride in car has also been very popular. Students are taking turns sitting inside and pushing one another. All of these items are wonderful and have brought such joy to my students as well as other students in our school who use these items outside during recess.\r\nThank you again,\r\nSean","fullyFundedDate":1762785662270,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-outside-run-jump-climb-and/9877348/","projectTitle":"Let's Get Outside! Run, Jump, Climb and Explore!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Halloran","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4966917_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510239674948","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-halloran"},{"teacherId":810390,"projectId":9820359,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support for our classroom. My students were sooo excited when our new sand table arrived. It has quickly become the most popular activity during choice time. Students are developing fine motor skills through scooping, pouring, digging and molding. Using tools like our new shovels, buckets and sieves refines hand - eye coordination. Students are learning mathematical concepts through measuring, comparing and counting. This is also a great way for students to practice language skills, social skills and emotional regulation.","fullyFundedDate":1761704230160,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-play/9820359/","projectTitle":"Sensory Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp810390_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x241,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1668873627420","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/810390"},{"teacherId":5152854,"projectId":9828874,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, our new outdoor construction space has become a vibrant and inclusive learning area for our entire early childhood center. When our students first discovered the large Tonka trucks, cones, construction vests, and play roads, they were immediately drawn to exploring and experimenting. Our entire school community quickly began digging, building, transporting materials, and creating their own construction sites. It has been wonderful to see how naturally they engage with the materials and how confidently they take ownership of the space.\r\n\r\nThis new environment has sparked meaningful creativity, cooperative play, and rich language development. Students work together to plan their \"work zones,\" share tools, and navigate the space with growing independence. The variety of vehicles and materials ensures that every child can be actively involved, helping them build relationships, practice problem-solving, and experience success through hands-on exploration. The open-ended nature of the construction area allows each child to participate at their own level while still feeling part of the larger group.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we will continue supporting the children as they deepen their play by introducing new natural materials, encouraging collaborative building challenges, and expanding opportunities for communication and teamwork. They will use these materials year round through all the seasons, allowing them to experience how weather, nature, and the environment shape their play and their problem-solving. Your generosity has created a space where all of our students can learn, grow, and connect through meaningful outdoor play. We are truly grateful for the positive impact you have made on our community.","fullyFundedDate":1761793411102,"projectUrl":"project/where-imagination-takes-shape-our-outdo/9828874/","projectTitle":"Where Imagination Takes Shape: Our Outdoor Construction Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Basinski-Long","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5152854_orig.jpg?crop=2217,2217,x614,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600271840039","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5152854"},{"teacherId":9293912,"projectId":9251528,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your donations! Our students have enjoyed laying on, playing on, and learning on our classroom rug! It is so nice to have a comfortable place for them to relax, learn and explore! We now have a place to come together as a classroom, play alone or play with a few friends. One space but so many options! \r\nOur budding artists have been taking full advantage of our new classroom easel! We've greatly enjoyed seeing the different types of art they create. It has also provided an invitation for our students to work together. \r\nThank you again for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1744894765283,"projectUrl":"project/places-to-play-and-create/9251528/","projectTitle":"Places to Play and Create!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michelle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9293912_orig.jpg?crop=1160,1160,x0,y11&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696776026171","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-michelle-107"},{"teacherId":9132087,"projectId":9163740,"letterContent":"When our new light table materials and reflective play pieces arrived, the excitement in our classroom was immediate. The students were naturally drawn to the glowing surface, experimenting with shapes, colors, and shadows in ways that sparked curiosity and creativity. We've been using the light table as a space for both open-ended play and guided exploration—building towers with translucent blocks, arranging reflective pieces into patterns, and watching how light transforms everyday objects into something magical. It has quickly become a favorite center where students collaborate, share ideas, and extend their learning through hands-on discovery.\r\n\r\nThe first time my students saw the materials, their eyes lit up just as brightly as the table itself. They eagerly gathered around, touching and moving the pieces, and their faces showed pure wonder as they watched how light and reflection changed what they were holding. For many, this was their first experience with this kind of sensory and visual exploration, and their reactions ranged from gasps of surprise to giggles of joy. The materials invited them to explore right away, without much direction, which was powerful to witness as their natural curiosity took over.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, these new resources will continue to support our classroom studies and projects. Right now, we are exploring building and design, and the light table has become an extension of that work. Students are beginning to notice how light interacts with the structures they build and are experimenting with combining reflective and translucent pieces to create new effects. Our next step is encouraging them to document their designs with drawings and photographs, helping them see themselves as both artists and scientists. Thanks to your generosity, our classroom now has a space that inspires ongoing exploration and creativity every day.","fullyFundedDate":1752150245612,"projectUrl":"project/illuminating-young-minds-through-play/9163740/","projectTitle":"Illuminating Young Minds Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9132087_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747580424625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9132087"},{"teacherId":9132087,"projectId":9298664,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing Building a World Where Everyone Belongs to life! Your generous support helped us add inclusive play figures and toys to our preschool classroom—resources that truly reflect the beautiful diversity of our students. These materials have become a meaningful part of our daily play, sparking conversations about identity, family, and community. One of the most powerful moments came during our \"All About Me\" unit, when students eagerly found figures that looked like themselves and their families, proudly incorporating them into their block buildings, homes, and dramatic play setups.\r\n\r\nThe excitement on their faces when we first unboxed the toys was unforgettable. Many of our students pointed out skin tones, hairstyles, and clothing that resembled their own or someone they love. It was clear that seeing themselves represented helped them feel valued and seen. These inclusive materials also created opportunities for peer-to-peer dialogue and empathy, as children explored different cultures, abilities, and family structures through imaginative play. They weren't just playing—they were building a world that felt welcoming and real.\r\n\r\nAs we look ahead, we plan to continue using these resources as part of our ongoing identity and community studies. We're integrating them into storytelling activities, social-emotional learning, and collaborative projects that center student voice and inclusion. Your donation didn't just buy toys—it created opportunities for our children to see themselves as important members of a diverse world. Thank you for helping us build a classroom where everyone belongs.","fullyFundedDate":1747488936984,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-world-where-everyone-belongs/9298664/","projectTitle":"Building a World Where Everyone Belongs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9132087_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747580424625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9132087"},{"teacherId":6977627,"projectId":9147267,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all your contributions to fund our project. Thank you for spreading the word and sharing our goal with all you know. We appreciate your support and have been thrilled to begin sharing these books with our students. The joy these books bring and the interaction it encourages has meant so much and we are grateful to give our students these opportunities. We utilize these books during large group as well as during independent reading and each time a new book is noticed, our students share their excitement with all who will listen. Thank you for providing us with additional books to support the all around growth of our students.\r\nThanks!","fullyFundedDate":1744227321173,"projectUrl":"project/connecting-with-books/9147267/","projectTitle":"Connecting With Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sarah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6977627_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1603913916355","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6977627"},{"teacherId":6977627,"projectId":9197144,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all the support you have shown us to get this project funded. We have already been hard at work cooking! The toaster oven provides us with the opportunity to cook intensive, multi step recipes in a timely manner and witness the entire process from start to finish. We have been able to practice a variety of skills pertaining to counting, measurement, and number identification while following recipes. We also practice following directions, taking turns, and understanding patience. The possibilities are endless with our new cooking supplies and we are so grateful for your help! \r\nThanks","fullyFundedDate":1746787143237,"projectUrl":"project/little-chefs/9197144/","projectTitle":"Little Chefs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sarah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6977627_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1603913916355","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6977627"},{"teacherId":9132087,"projectId":9200548,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Because of you, our preschoolers now have access to engaging STEM materials like the marble run and race track sets that have completely transformed our building area. From the moment the boxes arrived, their eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to explore, experiment, and collaborate as they figured out how to connect pieces, test motion, and problem-solve together. These materials have not only sparked curiosity but also encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and hands-on learning in the most joyful way.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite classroom moments was watching a group of students build a long marble track together, then cheer as the marble successfully made it from start to finish. They immediately began making changes—adding ramps and curves—to see how it would affect the marble's speed. This kind of experimentation is exactly what we hoped for: a safe, creative space where students feel empowered to explore and learn through play. As we continue our unit on motion and cause and effect, these tools will help deepen our understanding and give our students even more opportunities to build, test, and revise their ideas. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey—we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1745847004155,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-minds-stem-fun-with-pi/9200548/","projectTitle":"“Building Bright Minds: STEM Fun with Picasso Magnatiles!”","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9132087_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747580424625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9132087"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5269","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":408,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":47,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":38,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":37,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"17.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":79.1,"schoolId":5269,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Barbara Vick Early Child Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Barbara Vick Early Child Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/barbara-vick-early-chld-center/5269"}