{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dunne Technical Academy","outOfStateSupporters":45.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5505268,"projectId":10200624,"letterContent":"On behalf of my incredible classroom community, I want to express my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude for your extraordinary support in fully funding our project. My students are resilient, creative dreamers who are finally realizing that their voices truly matter. Whether they are recording their thoughts through podcasting or visualizing their futures by designing vision boards, they uplift and support one another daily with an inspiring level of empathy. However, as the school year ends, summer often stalls their momentum. Thanks to your generosity, we are providing them with customized Summer Resource Folders—a tangible \"portable classroom\" filled with Ink Cartridges, Heavy-Duty Electric Hole Punching, bright Cardstock Paper, and organizing supplies that will prevent the academic \"summer slide\" through curated literacy and math activities.\r\n\r\nWhen the packages containing our new supplies first arrived, the atmosphere in our classroom was nothing short of electric. Middle school students can sometimes attempt to act \"too cool,\" but the moment they saw these fresh, high-quality materials, their faces completely lit up with excitement as gasps filled the room. Using the ink cartridges and heavy-duty cardstock, we printed personal goal trackers, critical math challenges, and literacy articles, while the electric hole punch allowed students to assemble their individual \"Pathway to Success\" folders with immense pride. These tactile folders serve as a vital bridge over the digital divide for our families who lack reliable internet access at home. In one particularly moving moment, a student who had struggled with reading printed out his personal promotion plan on bright cardstock and wrote, *\"AUTHOR OF MY OWN FUTURE\"* across the top, proudly sharing that his folder was going straight onto his study table at home to keep his momentum going all summer long.\r\n\r\nAs we wrap up the year, our students are presenting their folder structures in peer-led showcases and signing \"Summer Success Contracts\" promising 20 minutes of daily learning to ensure they step into the next grade ahead of the curve. These folders house their promotion plans and goals so that when school resumes in the fall, they can bring their completed portfolios back to show their new teachers and maintain their momentum. Your kindness did far more than supply our room with stationery; you gave our students an equitable bridge over academic barriers, validated their creative voices, and ensured their pathway to success remains bright all summer long. Thank you for believing in our resilient middle schoolers and investing in their bright futures!","fullyFundedDate":1778521514597,"projectUrl":"project/summer-learning-resource-folders/10200624/","projectTitle":"Summer Learning Resource Folders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5505268_orig.jpg?crop=3571,3571,x0,y166&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674937277536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5505268"},{"teacherId":5505268,"projectId":10178945,"letterContent":"Words cannot express how deeply grateful my middle schoolers and I are for your generous support of our End-of-Year Vision Board project. When the packages first arrived, the energy in our classroom was electric—middle school students who usually try to act \"too cool\" completely lit up with excited gasps as they unboxed fresh poster boards, markers, and craft supplies. One student even asked in disbelief, *\"Are these really all for us to keep and use?\"* Seeing that strangers cared enough to invest in their future brought an immediate, uplifting boost to their self-worth.\r\n\r\nUsing your resources, we launched our \"Next Grade, Next Level\" project to help students reflect on their goals and build confidence for the upcoming school year. The room transformed into a bustling studio of collaboration and goal-setting. In one particularly memorable moment, a student who struggled with reading all year carefully cut out bold letters to spell *\"AUTHOR OF MY OWN STORY\"* across his poster, surrounding it with pictures of graduation caps and books. He proudly shared that his vision board will hang right above his study desk at home to keep him focused every single day.\r\n\r\nAs we wrap up the year, our students are preparing to present their vision boards in a peer gallery walk and write action plans detailing three habits they will practice on day one of the next grade. They will then take these boards home as daily visual anchors throughout the summer. Your kindness did far more than supply materials; you gave our students a creative voice and a renewed sense of purpose as they transition to their next chapter. Thank you for believing in our middle schoolers and investing in their bright futures!","fullyFundedDate":1777906064362,"projectUrl":"project/next-level-vision-boards/10178945/","projectTitle":"Next Level Vision Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5505268_orig.jpg?crop=3571,3571,x0,y166&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674937277536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5505268"},{"teacherId":5084667,"projectId":10201292,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation. Your kindness has allowed our students to gain a love for math. They have learned how to count better, use reason and persevere through mathematical practices. \r\n\r\nThe counters has taught them to folow concepts and the magnetic towels allow them to visually learn. Concrete outcomes such as adding and subtracting, grouping numbers and skip counting is just the beginning. Students are now able to fill in addens and missing numbers problems. They have also began making their own contest with timed assignments and even work in teams on word problems. \r\n\r\nAll students were able to learn from this donation. It covered students who needed tactical learning, visual learning and enrichment learners improved from the sprints. \r\n\r\nOnce again thank you,","fullyFundedDate":1777945222127,"projectUrl":"project/we-love-math-from-infinity-and-beyond/10201292/","projectTitle":"We Love Math From Infinity and Beyond","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084667_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525392327504","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5084667"},{"teacherId":5084667,"projectId":10232501,"letterContent":"Your generous donation is appreciated. It has made a lifelong impact on our students having a love for literacy. They began reading the books slowly, then they read them more often, now they like reading them together in groups. The love of books has led to writing. Now they use the paper to write list, notes, and even responses to the reading with words and pictures. \r\n\r\nThe students love the phonics games and puzzles. It lends to their comprehension and trasnfer of information all while having fun. \r\n\r\nOnce again thank you for such a wonderful present.","fullyFundedDate":1777923066486,"projectUrl":"project/a-helping-hand-to-learn-to-read/10232501/","projectTitle":"A Helping Hand to Learn to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084667_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525392327504","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5084667"},{"teacherId":6784368,"projectId":10195108,"letterContent":"The arrival of the \"Tiny Hands, Big Hearts\" materials was a moment of pure joy and purpose in our classroom. When the students first saw the boxes filled with hygiene essentials, soft socks, and nutritious snacks, there was an audible gasp of excitement. For seven- and eight-year-olds, these items represent more than just supplies; they represent the tools they need to take action and show compassion to their neighbors in need. They were incredibly eager to dive in, marveling at how many kits we could build together to support our community.\r\n\r\nWe have already begun the assembly process as part of our social-emotional learning and community service curriculum. In a particularly moving classroom moment, I watched as my students carefully organized the kits, discussing who might receive them and how a simple bar of soap or a warm pair of socks could brighten someone's day. This project has shifted their perspective from being passive observers of community challenges to active participants in solving them. It has fostered a beautiful sense of empathy and teamwork that is now spilling over into our daily math and literacy lessons.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, our next steps involve a reflective writing project where students will draft \"messages of hope\" to include in the final kits. We are also integrating this into our math instruction by tracking and graphing our \"kindness metrics\" as we reach our distribution goals. This project has truly laid the foundation for a lifetime of service, and we are so grateful for your role in making that possible. Thank you for believing in the power of these small hands to make a big difference.","fullyFundedDate":1776951496511,"projectUrl":"project/tiny-hands-big-hearts-our-community-ca/10195108/","projectTitle":"Tiny Hands, Big Hearts: Our Community Care Kits","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6784368_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600606964214","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6784368"},{"teacherId":5798461,"projectId":10153660,"letterContent":"The arrival of our life skills library has provided my middle school students with a \"roadmap\" for the world around them. While traditional textbooks often focus on abstract concepts, these materials teach essential skills that my students will use every single day—lessons like navigating social boundaries, managing basic personal finances, and understanding community safety. These books use age-appropriate visuals and relatable scenarios that break down complex tasks into manageable steps, allowing my students to build the \"functional literacy\" they need to navigate their teenage years with confidence.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading looks like active, hands-on practice. We don't just read a chapter on \"how to shop for healthy snacks\" or \"how to respond to a text message\"; we use the text as a guide for real-time simulations. You might see one group of students using their books to plan a mock trip using local transit schedules, while another group practices the self-advocacy skills outlined in a social-emotional learning story. These books have turned our classroom into a \"life lab\" where mistakes are safe and every page turned leads to a new real-world capability.\r\n\r\nI am especially seeing a profound impact on my students who are beginning to crave more autonomy. One of my students, who previously relied heavily on adults to navigate social interactions, recently used a strategy from one of our new books to resolve a conflict with a peer entirely on their own. Seeing that spark of self-reliance—where a student realizes they have the tools to handle a situation without a teacher's intervention—is incredibly powerful. At the middle school level, \"independence\" is the greatest gift we can give, and your generosity has made that a reality for my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1773842808332,"projectUrl":"project/life-skills-for-success/10153660/","projectTitle":"Life Skills for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. D.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5798461_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746677911816","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5798461"},{"teacherId":9348779,"projectId":9945999,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. The books that we received have been so fun and exciting for my students. I'm working on labeling what speech/language goals each book can target so it's easy to grab different books based on the goals I'm working on. \r\n\r\nI have enjoyed using hands on materials, rather than digital books, as my students are on their computers a lot during the day. I love that my students can get a break from technology and use real resources to grow their speech and language skills. \r\n\r\nThis push towards using real books has also inspired me to start writing my own children's books I can use in the future! Thank you so much for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1768774322285,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-back-real-books-to-education/9945999/","projectTitle":"Bringing Back Real Books to Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Browning","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9348779"},{"teacherId":5505268,"projectId":9770069,"letterContent":"The new games have completely transformed our game room and become a literal lifesaver during inclement weather days. We recently had a rainy afternoon where, instead of the usual restlessness, the room was filled with the rhythmic sounds of board game pieces and strategic whispers. I watched a group of students from entirely different social circles huddle over a game, completely lost in the challenge. It was a beautiful \"unplugged\" moment where the technology was set aside, and the focus shifted entirely to creativity and building genuine, face-to-face connections. These resources are doing so much more than curing boredom; they are building a community.\r\n\r\nThe reaction when the students first saw the new materials was nothing short of magical. There were cheers, wide eyes, and an immediate rush to see what challenges awaited them. One student looked up at me and said, \"We actually get to keep these?\" They were genuinely touched that someone cared enough about their happiness and social time to provide such high-quality activities. It has sparked a new sense of pride in our shared space; the students are taking incredible care of the games because they recognize them as a special gift meant just for their enjoyment and growth.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps involve turning these casual game sessions into a student-led \"Tournament of Friendship.\" My students are currently organizing a rotating schedule so that everyone in the school continues to have a chance to participate. We are focusing on teaching the younger students the rules of the more complex games, which is fostering wonderful mentorships between grade levels. These games have laid the foundation for a school culture where \"play\" is respected as a way to learn patience, strategy, and kindness, and we can't wait to see these friendships continue to bloom throughout the rest of the year.","fullyFundedDate":1764113202630,"projectUrl":"project/indoor-recess/9770069/","projectTitle":"Indoor Recess","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5505268_orig.jpg?crop=3571,3571,x0,y166&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674937277536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5505268"},{"teacherId":5084667,"projectId":9810634,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations. Your gift has allowed our students to gain confidence and become fluent while practicing.\r\n\r\nStudents have used the books, CVC games and letters/picture cards to become emergent readers. Students love to work in groups and read aloud with confidence. There love of reading is even showing up in their writing. They are starting to use sounds to help with writing as well.\r\n\r\nOnce again thank you very much for your donations. You have truly helped this become a smarter Kindergarten class.","fullyFundedDate":1764113202237,"projectUrl":"project/the-smartest-kindergarten-ever/9810634/","projectTitle":"The Smartest Kindergarten Ever","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084667_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525392327504","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5084667"},{"teacherId":10097952,"projectId":9509242,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and myself, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible generosity in providing a brand-new MacBook for our classroom. In today's digital age, having access to reliable, high-performing technology is not just a luxury—it is a necessity. This laptop will serve as a gateway for my students to explore creative coding, professional-grade media editing, and collaborative research projects that were previously out of reach. Your belief in their potential is a powerful motivator, and seeing their faces light up with excitement at the sight of this new tool was truly unforgettable.","fullyFundedDate":1763564250205,"projectUrl":"project/an-apple-a-day/9509242/","projectTitle":"An Apple A Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sanders","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097952_orig.jpg?crop=1076,1076,x86,y517&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753749041920","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097952"},{"teacherId":5084667,"projectId":9784702,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our gratitude for your generous donation. The gift of our classroom printer is just what we needed. The printer and ink has been apart of our daily class life. We have used our printer to make work copies, print notes for parents, and even make posters for our class fundraiser. \r\n\r\nOur class bulletin boards have become brighter and full of work. For Christmas, I was able to send homework packets for the break and now we are copying books so the whole class can have the opportunity to take books home everyday. \r\n\r\nOnce again thank you so much for the Epson Printer and Ink.","fullyFundedDate":1760756384969,"projectUrl":"project/our-classroom-needs-a-good-printer/9784702/","projectTitle":"Our Classroom Needs a Good Printer","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084667_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525392327504","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5084667"},{"teacherId":5084667,"projectId":9625460,"letterContent":"Since our class recieved our books, beanbag and basket, our comfy library area has been amazing. The kids love to work with a partner there, read together, they test/study sight words there. The basket is handy to keep the books, whiteboards and daily reading material. The sentence strips are used to hang on the wall and study.\r\nThank you very much for your generosity. It's because of your kindness students are learning and enjoying to read stress free. Also our room looks amazing. It's nice and cozy.","fullyFundedDate":1758856409945,"projectUrl":"project/a-comfortable-class-library/9625460/","projectTitle":"A Comfortable Class Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5084667_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1525392327504","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5084667"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5646","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":204,"numTeachers":14,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":97,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":54.9,"schoolId":5646,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dunne Technical Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dunne Technical Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/dunne-elementary-school/5646"}