{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Chicago Academy Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":40.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":114119,"projectId":9290017,"letterContent":"The students' reaction when they first saw the boxes of new glue sticks was pure, infectious excitement. They saw the glue sticks not just as a tool, but as a gateway to faster, cleaner creativity. Their enthusiasm translated immediately into a willingness to attempt more complex projects, like the paper sculptures, that they might have avoided before. They love the feeling of control and the ability to work quickly.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our young artists. Your support allows us to continue providing rich, engaging, and successful art experiences that inspire joy and confidence in every student.","fullyFundedDate":1755911264418,"projectUrl":"project/make-it-stick/9290017/","projectTitle":"Make It Stick","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Walters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/114119"},{"teacherId":9526085,"projectId":9578077,"letterContent":"Because of you, I have been able to utilizes my iPad to model AAC in sessions. I have been able to keep track of data with students, and I've been able to make sure that all my students have engaging materials that they can access on those days where technology is helping us with our lessons. I appreciate your support so much. It has made it so my students who struggle the most to communicate have something that makes them feel seen and heard. It allows me to offer a model in front of other students that normalizes different ways of learning and communicating. That has been helpful for my commitment to be a more inclusive and wholistic clinician so thank you in your support of that.","fullyFundedDate":1755706971607,"projectUrl":"project/put-the-i-in-ipad/9578077/","projectTitle":"Put the i in iPad","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shergill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9526085_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754443287228","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-shergill"},{"teacherId":9526085,"projectId":9545152,"letterContent":"Not only were my littlest students able to be comfortable in chairs that fit them, but so were my older students. Often, the little ones are the majority of my caseload, but often it is the older students who need the most support in terms of feeling welcome and safe in the speech room. Being and student who is aware that they have a difference or a disability and then to be in a space that is also physically uncomfortable and awkward to manage doesn't help the situation. Having a space that feels appropriate for the students that I have and allows them to access their needs in at least a physically comfortable way makes a huge difference in terms of their own feeling of belonging - this directly impacts their ability and willingness to participate in their own learning.\r\n\r\nI really appreciate all the support I've gotten to help my students be successful in their goals in speech. Truly, the materials are the start of their day with me. If that isn't set up well, it makes everything else more difficult. Having the space set up in a way that feels and looks great has uplifted the focus of sessions to be on the goals that the students have for themselves. Thank you so much for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1755706853215,"projectUrl":"project/take-a-seat-in-speech-part-2/9545152/","projectTitle":"Take a Seat in Speech: Part 2!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shergill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9526085_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754443287228","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-shergill"},{"teacherId":9526085,"projectId":9543927,"letterContent":"My students have been so thankful and so have I with their new speech table and chairs. My students were shocked when they first saw the seats. They stopped in their tracks when they came into the room for the first time. I was bombarded with questions and comments with the big surprise. Who knew chairs could bring such big smiles! One of students still brings up if I remember when she was in kindergarten and she couldn't see from the old chair.\r\n\r\nNow, my students are independent from the moment they walk in. They pull out the chair that they choose and sit down regardless of their age. This saves me so much effort and time in my sessions. I am able to face all of them at once. I don't have them frustrated because that they can't see. They aren't wiggling because of discomfort anymore or rocking the too big chair back on its legs. Instead, they can sit and be comfortable throughout the sessions and are excited to come and be in the room with me. They know that it is a space for them.\r\n\r\nThis project has made my year so much better and I know that my students appreciate it even more and that it something that will maek a difference in the years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1754705986365,"projectUrl":"project/take-a-seat-in-speech/9543927/","projectTitle":"Take A Seat In Speech!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shergill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9526085_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754443287228","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-shergill"},{"teacherId":3378414,"projectId":9185338,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to fund my project \"Practice Makes Perfect\" Piano Project! My students were ecstatic when their new keyboards and equipment arrived! Thanks to your generous donation I have been able to transform our learning environment to include a keyboard lab area with instruments for every student. Previously, I was only able to dedicate a small amount of time to working on piano skills, because we did not have enough instruments for everyone to practice, but now the space functions smoothly as a work area with one keyboard for every two students.\r\n\r\nKeyboards are a powerful tool for young musicians to develop their musical capacity and begin to learn to read music. My 5th-8th grade students have spent the past month working on learning piano through exploring rhythm, improvisation, and composition. Our students have just begun working on their final projects for this unit in which they are working with partners to perform simple piano pieces with a melody and chords.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, we are working in an educational climate where class sizes are often very large and funding for resources is limited. Through the support of generous donors like yourselves and organizations such as Donor's Choose, teachers are able to surpass some of these limitations and create an engaging, dynamic learning environment for our students. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for taking the time to support music education in our public schools!","fullyFundedDate":1747146613968,"projectUrl":"project/practice-makes-perfect-piano-project/9185338/","projectTitle":"\"Practice Makes Perfect\" Piano Project!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Saunders","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3378414_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450409158961","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lsaunders"},{"teacherId":1519341,"projectId":9574599,"letterContent":"What a success these storage drawers have been! Thank you so much for providing easy access to the most essential supplies my students use every day. The drawers have stopped so much unnecessary movement around the room and I can now navigate the space so much easier to assist students with their various needs. \r\n\r\nAnother big win that these storage containers provide is autonomy. My teaching philosophy is strongly rooted in student lead learning and the ability for students to take ownership in their space and materials. I love that the students are able to make decisions about materials without having to seek approval from me. They are a game changer in the Design room and I can't thank you enough for your help in securing them for under each table!","fullyFundedDate":1755708815725,"projectUrl":"project/storage-for-success/9574599/","projectTitle":"Storage for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Furlong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1519341_orig.jpg?crop=2259,2259,x0,y361&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724682971582","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-weil"},{"teacherId":997690,"projectId":9193159,"letterContent":"We are so excited to use the materials this school year. With your support, so many students have access to SEL books, fidgets and other supports to help them calm during the day. Students has asked to sit in calm corners to read the new books, and they enjoy having a calm place to read calming books. With the new quiet fidgets, students are able to breathe, calm and come back to class when they are worried, upset or need a small break. With the feeling wheel stickers, teachers and students can use the tools as a way for students to show their feelings when they may not be able to voice them. Thank you again for supporting our students!","fullyFundedDate":1746563271859,"projectUrl":"project/sel-success/9193159/","projectTitle":"SEL Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dabriel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp997690_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532412256970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-porth"},{"teacherId":114119,"projectId":9223519,"letterContent":"We recently used the black permanent markers to outline a 3rd grade painting project for spring. Students drew rain boot planters. They outlined their drawings with the markers. Then they used watercolor to fill in the pictures. The last step was adding paper collage flowers. The artwork turned out great and each child's work was unique.\r\n\r\nWhen I showed my students the new markers they were thrilled and all cheered! I explained to them that some generous people sent these to us so that we could keep creating beautiful works of art. The students were so happy to have new markers that worked well.\r\n\r\nWe have some more painting projects coming up in all the grades that I teach. I teach art to students PK- 8th grade. Our 7th graders will be learning how to draw a sideview portrait. They will be tracing their work with the markers and then painting the portraits with tempera paint.","fullyFundedDate":1745715330746,"projectUrl":"project/make-my-painting-pop-with-crisp-black-li/9223519/","projectTitle":"Make My Painting Pop With Crisp Black Lines!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Walters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/114119"},{"teacherId":9740710,"projectId":9011480,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your help with our project. \r\nOur students have made great leaps and bounds with our phonics lessons. \r\nThe letters and boards allow us to move around when we are working on our word word. \r\nThe students love having the chance to work on the carpet and in the hallways, creating words. \r\nParents have seen an improvement at home and have seen the positive perspectives students now have towards their language art phonics lessons and something to look forward to. \r\nThank you again for all of your help.","fullyFundedDate":1736953425981,"projectUrl":"project/fun-with-phonics/9011480/","projectTitle":"Fun with Phonics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9740710"},{"teacherId":1519341,"projectId":8772800,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. You helped make an idea a reality and the students had such a blast designing their 'ultimate' animals out of clay. When they first saw that they were using REAL clay, they couldn't even believe it. Thanks to the hand wipes and clorox wipes, clean up was a breeze and everyone left class happy, even their teacher!\r\n\r\nStarting over as an elementary design teacher this year after being an art teacher for 12 years has been a unique and rewarding challenge. With supporters like you, my journey has been that much easier because I have been able to provide fun supplies to keep the students engaged in their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1731508553750,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-designs-to-life/8772800/","projectTitle":"Bringing Designs to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Furlong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1519341_orig.jpg?crop=2259,2259,x0,y361&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724682971582","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-weil"},{"teacherId":4139119,"projectId":8530149,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity. Your donation will be enjoyed by this class and many more for years to come. We use the novel sets in a variety of ways. These particular books are a great entry point for reluctant readers. The short novel format with a few key illustrations that many of the books employ is a useful tool to transition students away from graphic novels into more text. Especially at this age, we are encouraging students to rely more on the text descriptions to imagine the story in their mind rather than relying on pictures for their comprehension. The class also just finished a book club and many of the students are already asking to start another book with their friends. We see them passing the books around and recommending their favorites to a friend. This joy from reading and opportunity to share their favorites is the beginning of hopefully a lifelong habit and love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1732919513285,"projectUrl":"project/getting-hooked-on-books-we-love-a-serie/8530149/","projectTitle":"Getting Hooked on Books: We Love a Series!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Timur","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4139119_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1487250845658","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/timur"},{"teacherId":997690,"projectId":8397034,"letterContent":"The squish is REAL! Thank you so much for funding this project. We have students who struggle with self-regulation, and these squishy, fun items have made a real difference in the school day for dozens of children. One young child said \"This is my best friend! She helps me feel ok at school!\" about a dolphin stuffy toy. \r\n\r\nThe impact of this donation will be felt for years at our school. Students request items from out Calm Closet, and teachers use the items to help students begin to regulate their behavior. Over time, we will fade those supports, as possible, and our hope is that students are able to regulate independently.","fullyFundedDate":1725563032243,"projectUrl":"project/calm-closet-the-squishy-soft-and-sensi/8397034/","projectTitle":"Calm Closet: the Squishy, Soft and Sensible Era","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dabriel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp997690_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532412256970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-porth"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5437","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":555,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":60,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":16,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":76,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":59.5,"schoolId":5437,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Chicago Academy Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Chicago Academy Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/chicago-academy/5437"}