{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School","outOfStateSupporters":38.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4214600,"projectId":9882522,"letterContent":"The Print and Play Club membership has brought so much excitement and creativity into our classroom! My students are using the new resources during choice time, small-group activities, and lessons to practice important skills while having fun. The materials have given them more opportunities to work together, problem-solve, and learn through hands-on activities.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were immediately excited. They couldn't wait to explore the activities and start playing. One of my favorite moments was watching a group of students work together on a new activity. They took turns, encouraged one another, and kept trying when something was challenging. What started as play quickly became a meaningful learning experience filled with communication, critical thinking, and perseverance.\r\n\r\nYour generous support has helped create engaging learning experiences that make my students eager to participate. They are excited to see what new activities we can try, and the resources have helped bring more variety and energy to our classroom.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue exploring the new activities while connecting them to the skills we are currently learning. Students will have opportunities to revisit activities, build on what they already know, and challenge themselves with new ones. I am looking forward to seeing their confidence grow as they continue learning, playing, and working together. Thank you for giving my students these wonderful opportunities to learn in such an engaging way!","fullyFundedDate":1763345175200,"projectUrl":"project/print-and-play-club-membership/9882522/","projectTitle":"Print and Play Club Membership","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4214600_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1609719096609","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4214600"},{"teacherId":9772677,"projectId":9660050,"letterContent":"The new resources have made a positive difference in our Physical Education and Health classes. My students are excited to use the new equipment and materials during activities, teamwork games, and skill-building lessons. They especially enjoy having more opportunities to practice, work with classmates, and stay active.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were excited and eager to participate. Their enthusiasm helped create a more positive and engaging learning environment.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue using these resources to build students' teamwork, confidence, physical skills, and healthy habits. Thank you to our generous donors for supporting our students and helping make learning active, meaningful, and fun!","fullyFundedDate":1758222412905,"projectUrl":"project/hoops-and-spots-growing-skills-through/9660050/","projectTitle":"Hoops and Spots: Growing Skills Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9772677"},{"teacherId":5004568,"projectId":10148756,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, The Missing Link: Connecting Coding to Classroom Literacy has transformed the way my students read, think, and create in our Computer Science classroom. Many of our donors love books—and we do, too—but may not realize how intentionally literacy can be woven into technology instruction. The new texts you provided introduce essential skills such as identifying character motivations, analyzing problems and solutions, recognizing patterns, and making predictions. These literacy skills directly support computational thinking, because students learn to break down a story the same way they break down a coding challenge: step by step, idea by idea, and decision by decision. Several of the books also highlight themes like empathy, digital citizenship, and responsible technology use, helping students connect reading to real‑world choices they make online and in their communities.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks different from a traditional ELA block, and that's part of what makes this project so powerful. Students read in small groups, during coding centers, and as part of our \"Think‑Like‑a‑Coder\" reflections. They use sticky notes to track character actions the same way they track variables in a Python program. They pause to discuss how a character solved a problem, then compare that strategy to how they might debug a piece of code. Sometimes students read quietly; other times they read aloud, act out scenes, or use the books as inspiration for designing a simple program. The texts have become anchors for deeper conversations about perseverance, creativity, and responsible decision‑making—skills that matter just as much in coding as they do in life.","fullyFundedDate":1773841908597,"projectUrl":"project/the-missing-link-connecting-coding-to-c/10148756/","projectTitle":"The Missing Link: Connecting Coding to Classroom Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ferguson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5004568_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1511897340275","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5004568"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10290594,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for bringing the magic and self expression of art to our students. We currently don't have an art teacher at this school, which is one of the reasons why I like to incorporate art activities as much as possible into the music curriculum. These marker strips will power us through the school year, and allow our students to complete both individual and group projects. Thanks again for your generous donation of markers, glue sticks and tape to our fine arts program. When students come to fine arts class, they will have everything they need to create something special this year.","fullyFundedDate":1779311659741,"projectUrl":"project/art-supplies-please/10290594/","projectTitle":"Art Supplies Please","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10222804,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for your generous donation of show t-shirts for the cast and crew of 'The Lion King.' The show was a great success. The t-shirts arrived in time to serve as a 'base' for every student's costume, as well as a treasured memento for the students to keep. Our cast worked hard on this musical, rehearsing their lines and music for months after school. They never gave up even when the going got tough, and the after school program cumulated with a fantastic performance of the musical for their families and friends. Thanks again for providing our musical theater participants with a t-shirt, it really means a lot to them.","fullyFundedDate":1778017269735,"projectUrl":"project/lion-king-kids/10222804/","projectTitle":"Lion King Kids!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10225467,"letterContent":"I truly cannot thank you enough for your generous gift of custom clacking dance fans for our eighth grade graduates. 'Boots on the Ground' was a fantastic hit at graduation. The fan dance ended the graduation ceremony. Family members were cheering, dancing along, and videotaping the performance. The performance was a moment of pure joy which brought our students' elementary school experience to a close. Our students with special needs were able to fully participate in the graduation ceremony with these clacking fans. After the ceremony, the graduates took the fans home as a cherished memento. I know that the class of 2026 will look fondly on the fan for years to come, for the memories and legacy of resilience that the class represents. This would not have been possible without your generous support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.","fullyFundedDate":1778105860317,"projectUrl":"project/class-of-2026-where-them-fans-at/10225467/","projectTitle":"Class of 2026: Where Them Fans At?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":1895994,"projectId":9609585,"letterContent":"I can not thank you enough for your generosity towards my students. These donations have made such an impact with my students and their love of reading! \r\n\r\nMy students were SO excited to see these books get delivered. They were thrilled to get their own books to keep at home and have the bags to take them back and forth to school! These books will help my students build their fluency and build their self confidence while reading.\r\n\r\nThe greatest part of this project is that these books will be able to be shared with my students' families! Your gift has made such a huge impact and we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1764450145634,"projectUrl":"project/readers-are-leaders/9609585/","projectTitle":"Readers Are Leaders!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. LoConte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1895994_orig.jpg?crop=475,475,x13,y79&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785968064208","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1895994"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10149541,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for bringing the basics into the hands of our students. When our middle schoolers arrive back to the classroom after lunch and recess, they need a calm, quiet and focused time to get back into the groove. A sharp pencil with an eraser provides our students everything they need to participate in these bell ringers and music theory skill reinforcement activities. Vocabulary puzzles such as word searches, along with our ten-minute timer, help the students get back to learning mode during the afternoon block. Thank you for providing these sharp pencils and plenty of paper. Students are excited to learn when they are provided with the quality materials and support that a sharp new pencil shows. Thanks again.","fullyFundedDate":1777921729660,"projectUrl":"project/basically-ours-pencils-erasers-and-pa/10149541/","projectTitle":"Basically Ours: Pencils, Erasers, and Paper","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":5004568,"projectId":9984550,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, our Compassion in Action project has helped students grow into kinder, more empathetic classmates. The stories and hands‑on materials you funded gave students real ways to understand different perspectives and practice compassion every day. They were especially excited to create small service projects and write encouraging notes to others.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who are usually quiet or hesitant during discussions really opened up during this work, sharing thoughtful reflections and showing new confidence in helping their peers. Your generosity made these moments possible, and we're so grateful for the positive change it brought to our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1771773206461,"projectUrl":"project/compassion-in-action-growing-empathy-th/9984550/","projectTitle":"Compassion in Action: Growing Empathy Through Stories & Service","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ferguson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5004568_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1511897340275","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5004568"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10034031,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our school choir. These choir literature books have been used often in music class already. The students feel supported, cared about, and like what they are doing is 'real.' No more photocopied lyric sheets-- we are finally reading real music. These books and accompaniment tracks will be used in our school music program for years to come. Thanks again. The students have especially enjoyed singing the arrangement of 'Drunken Sailor,' a historic sea chanty. Thanks for donating these choir books, which have really resonated with our students. We are located in a low-income area, and opportunities for kids to express themselves are few and far between. Thanks again for your generous support.","fullyFundedDate":1776512298561,"projectUrl":"project/strike-up-the-choir/10034031/","projectTitle":"Strike Up the Choir","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":1714390,"projectId":10144738,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for your timely and generous support of our school choir! We needed a ratchet and guiro for our performance of 'Dem Bones' at the Chicago Cultural Center. The items arrived just in time to rehearse and perform with this fun and important instrumental part! The kids loved playing the instruments, especially the orchestral ratchet. As you can see from the photos, the performance at the Chicago Cultural Center was a great success. Thank you again for supporting our elementary school choir with the generous donation of percussion instruments.","fullyFundedDate":1776104372708,"projectUrl":"project/percussion-needed-for-upcoming-choir-per/10144738/","projectTitle":"Percussion Needed for Upcoming Choir Performance","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cale"},{"teacherId":8625569,"projectId":9531680,"letterContent":"Your generous support has made a meaningful difference in our classroom by providing sensory materials that our students use every single day. These resources have been especially impactful for students with autism, helping create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhile many of our donors may be familiar with technology and tools used at home, sensory materials serve a unique and essential role in the classroom. Items like fidget tools, textured objects, and calming resources help students regulate their emotions, stay focused, and feel comfortable in their learning space. When students are better able to manage sensory input, they are more ready to learn, participate, and succeed academically.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most about these new materials is how they make learning feel safe and accessible. They love having options that help them stay calm and engaged, and they take pride in choosing tools that work best for them. These materials have quickly become a natural and important part of our daily routine.\r\n\r\nI have seen several students, especially those with autism, truly benefit from these resources. Students who previously struggled with focus or felt overwhelmed are now more settled and able to participate in lessons. Others who had difficulty expressing their needs are now using sensory tools to self-regulate, which has boosted their confidence and independence.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our classroom is now a place where all students—regardless of their needs—can feel supported and ready to learn. These sensory materials are more than just supplies; they are helping our students feel understood, capable, and successful every day. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1760705827961,"projectUrl":"project/calm-focus-thrive-sensory-supports-fo/9531680/","projectTitle":"Calm, Focus, Thrive: Sensory Supports for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Larissa Mae Gulben","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8625569_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691423254787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msgulbensclass"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5576","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":284,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":80,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":94,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"10.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.7,"schoolId":5576,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/gillespie-elementary-school/5576"}