{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Hedges Fine Arts and Performing Arts School","outOfStateSupporters":50.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10058719,"projectId":9519536,"letterContent":"First and foremost, THANK YOU!! As the school year has progressed my students have loved having gathering space for us to do community circles and group meetings. The cushions your donations got my students have created cozy reading areas for silent reading. \r\nAdditionally to creating a cozy environment for my class I wanted to create an emotionally safe one as well. In my calm corner, I purchased these water bead stress toys and my students have loved using them when needing some calming time. \r\nI am eternally grateful for your donations and helping to create the coziest, most welcoming environment for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1754545834966,"projectUrl":"project/ms-chavezs-3rd-grade-classroom/9519536/","projectTitle":"Ms. Chavez's 3rd Grade Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10058719_orig.png?crop=623,623,x622,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754514362197","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10058719"},{"teacherId":10049037,"projectId":9527925,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of Hamlet scripts and graphic novels to our classroom! My students were thrilled to receive their own copies, and it has completely transformed the way we explore Shakespeare together.\r\n\r\nIn our drama class, reading Hamlet goes far beyond the page. Students dive into the text to understand characters' motives, emotions, and conflicts. We focus on skills such as scene analysis, identifying objectives and obstacles, and exploring how tone and movement bring Shakespeare's words to life. These lessons strengthen not only their reading comprehension but also their confidence as young artists and thinkers.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite recent projects was creating shoebox models of key scenes from Hamlet. Each student chose a moment from the play and designed a miniature stage set to represent it—complete with characters, props, and symbolic details from the text. Having their own books allowed them to reference lines, visualize settings, and make creative design choices that showed their deep understanding of the story.\r\n\r\nMany students who were initially intimidated by Shakespeare are now some of the most engaged readers in the room. They love finding connections between the play's themes and their own lives, and several have even begun quoting lines from memory!\r\n\r\nYour generosity made all of this possible. Thank you for helping my students discover the joy and power of Shakespeare's words.","fullyFundedDate":1754679453251,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-bring-hamlet-to-life/9527925/","projectTitle":"Help Us Bring Hamlet to Life!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nastasi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10049037"},{"teacherId":5796024,"projectId":9243626,"letterContent":"Donations from this project make a meaningful difference in the lives of my students by ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to participate fully in the Girls on the Run 5K. Many of my students are eager to challenge themselves and cross that finish line, but without proper running shoes, the experience can be uncomfortable or even discouraging. With the support of these donations, the girls are able to train and run with confidence, knowing they are equipped with the right gear. As a teacher, it is heartwarming to see how something as simple as a pair of running shoes can empower them to believe in themselves, build healthy habits, and celebrate their accomplishments with pride.","fullyFundedDate":1746575499262,"projectUrl":"project/miles-of-confidence-empowering-girls-on/9243626/","projectTitle":"Miles of Confidence: Empowering Girls One Step at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Delgado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5796024_orig.jpg?crop=635,635,x112,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1571952048770","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/delgadoj"},{"teacherId":9695836,"projectId":9195467,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for your donation and funding my project. I cannot thank you enough for being apart of a unique element in ensuring students have a comfortable outlet to seek help and create a safe space in a positive matter.\r\n\r\nOur students understand the importance of speaking about their emotions and learning more about emotional regulation through board games and books. Whether we are using a board game in an individualized session or during lunch bunch, the games help build rapport with our students as well!","fullyFundedDate":1746786024580,"projectUrl":"project/creative-coping-to-supporting-students/9195467/","projectTitle":"Creative Coping to Supporting Student's Well-Being","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villalvazo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9695836_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y196&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724264944124","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9695836"},{"teacherId":1257221,"projectId":9274986,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation towards our new thermal book binder! Your support has been instrumental in allowing our students to create truly special memory books. This binder enables them to transform their valuable writings and reflections into beautifully bound books, providing a professional and lasting way to document their experiences and the impact they've made throughout the year. We are incredibly appreciative of your contribution.\r\n\r\nThe ability to create these high-quality memory books has a wonderful impact on our students, giving them a tangible reminder of their hard work and personal growth. Your gift helps us foster a sense of pride and accomplishment in their writing. Thank you for helping us provide such a meaningful resource for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1745876736210,"projectUrl":"project/making-ideas-stick-thermal-binding-for/9274986/","projectTitle":"Making Ideas Stick: Thermal Binding for Middle School Masterpieces","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Antico","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1257221_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1468168382491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1257221"},{"teacherId":1257221,"projectId":9146678,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your generous donations, which have directly funded the purchase of interpreter headsets for our 7th-grade newcomers. Your support has a profound and immediate impact, breaking down language barriers that can often be overwhelming for students new to our country and school. These headsets aren't just pieces of technology; they are vital tools that empower our students to understand their teachers and fully participate in classroom discussions and activities. Thank you for making their educational journey more accessible.\r\n\r\nThe effect of your kindness is already evident in the increased confidence and engagement we're seeing. With the ability to comprehend lessons in real-time, they are able to grasp new concepts more quickly, ask questions, and contribute to their learning environment. This not only eases their academic stress but also fosters a stronger sense of belonging within our school community. Your commitment to our students' success is truly inspiring, and we are so thankful!","fullyFundedDate":1746058242507,"projectUrl":"project/equal-access-for-all/9146678/","projectTitle":"Equal Access For All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Antico","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1257221_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1468168382491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1257221"},{"teacherId":9695836,"projectId":9030603,"letterContent":"I cannot express how grateful I am for your for your generous donation of social-emotional learning books to the Hedges' counseling office. This is the first time Hedges Elementary has a counseling department and your donation of the SEL books helped us with the ability to support students' social and emotional development in creative ways, extending far beyond the walls of traditional counseling sessions.\r\n\r\nThe SEL books you provided are already becoming an invaluable resources for our students -- in individual counseling sessions or whole classroom instruction. They offer engaging stories, practical strategies, and thoughtful insights into topics such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, learning different coping skills, and more. These books allow students to explore these concepts at their own pace, whether they are browsing during a quiet moment in the counseling office, reading them one-on-one with a counselor, or during a classroom lesson. The books make the understanding of SEL more engaging. \r\n\r\nYour contribution directly supports our goal of empowering students to develop essential life skills in a comfortable and an engaging manner. The books serve as gentle guides, offering support and understanding in a non-threatening way, and helping students find their own creative paths to self-awareness and regulation.","fullyFundedDate":1739282343217,"projectUrl":"project/building-hearts-and-minds-with-sel-books/9030603/","projectTitle":"Building Hearts and Minds with SEL Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villalvazo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9695836_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y196&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724264944124","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9695836"},{"teacherId":9687875,"projectId":9011379,"letterContent":"The new books I received through DonorsChoose, focused on emotions and social-emotional learning (SEL), have been an amazing resource for helping students explore their feelings and develop self-awareness. These stories spark important conversations about empathy, resilience, and managing emotions. After reading, we reflect on the characters' experiences and connect them to our own lives. Students often share their thoughts and feelings, sometimes using journaling or art to express themselves.\r\n\r\nSome students, especially those who are more introspective, have really connected with these books. They open up about their own emotions and find comfort in the stories, which helps them better understand themselves and others. It's been rewarding to see how these books are making a real impact in their emotional growth.","fullyFundedDate":1734814363212,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-students-through-sel-donate/9011379/","projectTitle":"Empowering Students Through Sel: Donate to Support Emotional Learning Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miranda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9687875"},{"teacherId":5796024,"projectId":8469719,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our students are diving into robotics with enthusiasm, using the LEGO Spike Kits to explore concepts of engineering, programming, and problem solving. One memorable moment was when students first saw the kits there was an immediate buzz of excitement in the classroom. They eagerly unpacked the colorful pieces, ready to start building and programming their own robots. As they worked in teams to design and code their creations, I saw a level of collaboration and critical thinking that I hadn't seen before. The hands-on nature of the kits has allowed them to grasp abstract concepts like sensors, motors, and algorithms in a tangible way, sparking curiosity and creativity in every project.","fullyFundedDate":1723744078656,"projectUrl":"project/lego-league-new-players/8469719/","projectTitle":"Lego League New Players","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Delgado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5796024_orig.jpg?crop=635,635,x112,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1571952048770","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/delgadoj"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5749","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":482,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":94,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":97,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":49.4,"schoolId":5749,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Hedges Fine Arts and Performing Arts School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Hedges Fine Arts and Performing Arts School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/hedges-elementary-school/5749"}