{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"J Ward Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10629157,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who contributed to my project. Your generosity came at the perfect time. Just as we welcomed another Diverse Learner teacher into our shared classroom, the disinfectant spray and Kleenex were immediately put to use as even more students began sharing our space.\r\n\r\nThe hygiene items have already made a meaningful difference. Another teacher was able to provide feminine hygiene products to a student whose menstrual cycle unexpectedly started at school. An 8th-grade student experiencing heavy cramping was also able to use one of the heat pads for comfort. Moments like these remind us how important it is to have these everyday essentials available when students need them most.\r\n\r\nWe are creating a designated cabinet, marked with a simple flower sticker, so students can discreetly access these items whenever they need them. Knowing these supplies are stocked and ready gives our students comfort, dignity, and the reassurance that someone cares.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create a classroom where every student feels supported. Your kindness is making a difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1790120171833,"projectUrl":"project/caring-for-our-students-one-need-at-a-t/10629157/","projectTitle":"Caring for Our Students, One Need at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10447317,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! The thicker pencils have already made a difference for our 5th and 6th grade students who benefit from an easier-to-grip pencil, there were smiles all around. The anchor chart was immediately put to use and wheeled around our shared classroom, so another DL teacher can use it with her small group. We were also able to restock our drawers with much-needed Expo markers. And I can't wait to put together the prize wheel so we can use it for small rewards and help get our diverse learners excited and motivated about learning! Your generosity is making a meaningful difference in our classroom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your gift.","fullyFundedDate":1788959185300,"projectUrl":"project/rebuilding-after-the-leak-essentials-fo/10447317/","projectTitle":"Rebuilding After the Leak: Essentials for Diverse Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10261071,"letterContent":"Thank you to our generous donors in funding my project, the items ordered have brought comfort, connection, and a sense of calm to our Diverse Learner students. When students feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or simply need a moment to reset, they can choose to visit our calm corner to unwind. The lava lamp has become a favorite, giving students something peaceful to focus on while they take a few quiet moments on the sofa, to breathe and regroup. The emotion plush dot toys have also been a wonderful tool for helping students identify and express how they are feeling. I love seeing students independently choose a resource that helps them feel more comfortable and ready to return to learning.\r\n\r\nThe diversity book has quickly become a well-loved addition to our shared resource room. Students of all ages enjoy looking through the pages and seeing different people, experiences, and perspectives represented. It has sparked conversations and gives students an opportunity to connect with others while appreciating what makes each of us unique. These resources have helped us create a space where students know they are welcomed, they are understood, and they are supported. Our next step is to continue building on these routines by helping students recognize on their own, when they need a break, be able to choose an appropriate calming strategy, and return to class feeling more regulated, refreshed, and ready to learn. I am so grateful to our donors for helping make our shared classroom a place where students can take care of their emotions while continuing to grow academically and socially. We are forever blessed for your gift.","fullyFundedDate":1784394047974,"projectUrl":"project/organized-minds-confident-learners/10261071/","projectTitle":"Organized Minds, Confident Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":10577190,"projectId":10498600,"letterContent":"The Lion Dance and Chinese cultural books provided through DonorsChoose have had a meaningful impact on our students and the growth of our Lion Dance Team. Students have been excited to learn about the traditions, history, and symbolism behind the Lion Dance while actively learning basic Lion Dance drumming and music techniques so far. They have also been inspired to practice teamwork, coordination, rhythm, and communication. The reading materials have allowed students to read about authentic cultural experiences and how that connects to their own Chinese heritage and traditions. Through regular practice, the students will undoubtedly continue to develop greater confidence, responsibility, and pride in representing their school and sharing their cultural traditions with others.\r\nThe Chinese cultural books have also enriched student learning by providing opportunities to explore Chinese history, folklore, festivals, customs, and values in other ways. Students have used these resources as a catapult to deepen their understanding of the cultural significance of the Lion Dance, which led to greater curiosity about Chinese New Year, the current Mid-Autumn Festival, AANHPI activities, and other important celebrations. The books have supported literacy development while promoting cultural awareness, respect, and appreciation for diversity among all students. Thank you for providing our students with the resources necessary to create a more engaging and inclusive learning environment where students can learn through both hands-on experiences and meaningful reading, which helps them become more informed, culturally aware, and connected members of our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1787166818886,"projectUrl":"project/lion-dance-part-1/10498600/","projectTitle":"Lion Dance, Part 1","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ng","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10577190_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1789231395034","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10577190"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10291627,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in providing snacks for our Diverse Learners. Your contribution has helped our students get off to a great start this school year.\r\n\r\nThis year, our students' lunch schedule was pushed later by an hour, which has made many of them especially hungry throughout the school day. For our Diverse Learners, who may already experience challenges with emotional self-regulation, being hungry can add another layer to the challenges they face with learning and academics each day.\r\n\r\nSeeing the snacks available in our classroom and being able to choose more than one brought so many smiles to their faces. It was uplifting to see how something as simple as having a snack and a choice helped our students feel cared for, supported, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create a classroom where our students feel supported and cared for. Your generosity truly makes a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1779531183614,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-for-learning-and-confidence/10291627/","projectTitle":"Fuel for Learning and Confidence","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":4194327,"projectId":10051076,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our cozy classroom reading corner! The new notebook rug has expanded our reading space and is so welcoming. This is now truly a separate space in the classroom where students can stretch out, relax and curl up with a great story. The new collection of manga books have been especially exciting and have inspired even a few reluctant students to pick up a book. You generosity has made such an impact on my classroom. Most importantly, your support is a lovely reminder to my students that others believe in them and care about their education. We are truly grateful for these beautiful materials.","fullyFundedDate":1778699569461,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-cozy-reading-corner-for-moder/10051076/","projectTitle":"Creating a Cozy Reading Corner for Modern Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dombrowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4194327_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721678630068","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4194327"},{"teacherId":2841017,"projectId":9910956,"letterContent":"First I want to thank all the donors from myself, the students and the school. Your donations were greatly appreciated. The headphones could not have come at a better time as we were just starting to do our state testing. Having new headphones for the event got the kids excited. \r\nSometimes families can not afford headphones for school or have to get the lower quality ones that don't last. The students got really excited for all the colors of the headphones. Now if their headphones have issues we were able to have some extras to use right at the moment. \r\nI have also noticed more of our teachers are using Donor's Choose for their needs. Which is a good thing when money is so tight. I have also given to projects on here because it takes everybody to lift each other to make a good world for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1773843318406,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-concentration-and-success/9910956/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Concentration and Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chacon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2841017_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1512587857847","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jw-chacon"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10275505,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of my Diverse Learners and classroom. Your donations have already made a meaningful impact on my students each day.\r\n\r\nUsing the donated labels for my label maker, I was able to clearly re-label classroom materials and supply areas such as pencils, folders, fidgets bins, and student resources, making items easier for students to find and return independently. These visual supports have helped improve organization, reduce confusion, and strengthen executive functioning skills throughout the day.\r\n\r\nI was also able to replenish our classroom fidget basket with the new donations. My students were incredibly excited to see the new sensory tools, and they have become positive incentives that encourage students to stay focused, engaged, and motivated during lessons. These may seem like small changes, but they have made a truly meaningful difference in helping my students feel supported, confident, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you again for caring about my students and helping create a classroom environment where they can thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1778207506992,"projectUrl":"project/calm-minds-ready-to-learn/10275505/","projectTitle":"Calm Minds, Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10224972,"letterContent":"This project has already made such a meaningful difference for my students. Having a reliable classroom printer has allowed me to quickly create differentiated materials, visual supports, graphic organizers, modified assignments, and small-group resources tailored to the needs of my diverse learners, without worrying about limited access to a shared school printer or unexpected outages.\r\n\r\nThe laminating sheets have been just as impactful. I've been able to create durable, reusable supports such as vocabulary word bank guides, math reference sheets, visual reminders, and checklists throughout the day. My students are especially excited when they receive personalized supports that are made specifically for them, because it helps them feel seen, capable, and supported in their learning.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, especially those who struggle with focus, processing, or confidence, these tools help reduce frustration and increase independence. Something as simple as having a clear visual guide or reusable reference sheet can help a student stay engaged, participate more confidently, and experience success in the classroom. Even more meaningful is that the resources from this project are also benefiting the other Diverse Learner teachers who share our classroom space, allowing even more students across our DL team to access supportive, engaging materials throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create a more supportive and accessible learning environment for so many students every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1777937309752,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-learning-goingeven-when-resourc/10224972/","projectTitle":"Keeping Learning Going—Even When Resources Are Down","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":3841565,"projectId":9837104,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, we are now able to use these awesome button makers for a variety of clubs. Our NHJS group wants to use them to spread awareness with their fundraisers while our GSA want to make supportive buttons for the LGBTQIA community. We would not have been able to have these items without your contribution to our classroom and we truly appreciate your kindness. Know that your support will be useful for years to come and for a variety of activities we do here at school. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.","fullyFundedDate":1770251349226,"projectUrl":"project/button-up-button-makers-for-clubs-sprea/9837104/","projectTitle":"Button Up! Button Makers for Clubs Spreading Awareness","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Reed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3841565_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1488822054238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3841565"},{"teacherId":10471202,"projectId":10172088,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my students. As a first-year Diverse Learner teacher, your kindness truly means more than I can fully express.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students now have access to simple but important tools that support them every day. The folders, binders, and stress cubes help them stay focused, regulated, and organized, while keeping them on track with their work—something many of my students struggle with. I've already seen them feel more prepared and confident coming into class. I am also able to use the expanding file organizer to keep my students' information nearby and easily accessible for quick reference.\r\n\r\nThe Post-it easel pads have been especially helpful. They allow me to model thinking, write examples, and create clear visual supports that students can refer back to, which has made a big difference in their understanding. The electric pencil sharpener keeps our classroom running smoothly and minimizes lost instructional time.\r\n\r\nAs a diverse learner teacher who moves between classrooms, having these materials on hand allows me to respond right away when students need support. Instead of saying \"not right now,\" I can say, \"yes, let me get that for you,\" and that matters.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students are more organized, more engaged, and more confident in their learning. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference in my students' daily learning!","fullyFundedDate":1774830044770,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-say-yes-to-my-students/10172088/","projectTitle":"Help Me Say “Yes” to My Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kwan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10471202_orig.jpg?crop=941,941,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774586342536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10471202"},{"teacherId":3841565,"projectId":10102684,"letterContent":"My students have been extremely excited for the array of snacks they have at their disposal now! They are more motivated to work during our long mornings between breakfast and lunch and are far more alert now that they have more nourishment. We are so honored that you chose our classroom to spread kindness and appreciate your dedication to support students. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we hope that you think of our classroom again in the future when we have a new project up. Thank you again for your assistance for snacks!","fullyFundedDate":1772226589764,"projectUrl":"project/full-stomachs-mean-ready-minds/10102684/","projectTitle":"Full Stomachs Mean Ready Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Reed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3841565_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1488822054238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3841565"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5542","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":500,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":76,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":10,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.9,"schoolId":5542,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about J Ward Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"J Ward Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/j-ward-elementary-school/5542"}