{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"James Otis Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":41.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8887801,"projectId":9723310,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Science Through the Lens!\" Your generosity allowed me to introduce middle school students to digital photography through an after-school program. What began as an opportunity to explore photography and technology grew into a successful experience where students developed a genuine appreciation for visual arts, creativity, and self-expression.\r\n\r\nUsing the DSLR camera, students learned the fundamentals of photography, including composition, lighting, perspective, and how to capture meaningful images. Beyond developing technical skills, students gained confidence in their creativity and learned to see their surroundings from new perspectives. For many, photography became an opportunity to explore an interest they had never considered before.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, this project provided a meaningful space for mentorship and relationship-building with middle school boys in Chicago. Our time together extended beyond photography, allowing me to encourage students, build positive relationships, and support their personal growth. Watching students develop a love for photography while gaining confidence in themselves was incredibly rewarding. Thank you for making this experience possible and for investing in opportunities for young people to explore their interests and talents!","fullyFundedDate":1761147967577,"projectUrl":"project/science-through-the-lens/9723310/","projectTitle":"Science Through the Lens","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avila","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8887801_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678845019361","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-avila-chi"},{"teacherId":8887801,"projectId":9654133,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Chicago Kindergarteners Playing Store and Learning Early Financial Literacy!\" Your generosity helped introduce my students to important financial literacy concepts through hands-on, play-based learning. Students practiced identifying and counting money, understanding the difference between wants and needs, and learning the importance of saving at an early age.\r\n\r\nThrough our classroom store activities, students took turns being shoppers and cashiers, practicing their counting, communication, and problem-solving skills. These experiences helped students connect classroom learning to real-world situations while developing confidence and independence. Learning about money became an engaging way to strengthen foundational math skills while introducing responsible financial habits.\r\n\r\nAs a first-time kindergarten teacher, I appreciated having resources to make these lessons meaningful and accessible for young learners. Thank you for helping my students build a foundation in financial literacy and develop skills they will continue using throughout their lives!","fullyFundedDate":1757488608281,"projectUrl":"project/chicago-kindergarteners-playing-store-an/9654133/","projectTitle":"Chicago Kindergarteners Playing Store and Learning Early Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avila","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8887801_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678845019361","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-avila-chi"},{"teacherId":8887801,"projectId":9622170,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Seat Pockets for Kindergarten Storage!\" Your generosity helped make our classroom more organized and accessible for our youngest learners. Students were able to keep their ELA and math workbooks, folders, and other classroom materials right at their seats, making daily routines and transitions much easier.\r\n\r\nFor kindergarten students, learning how to manage their belongings and become independent is an important part of their first year of school. These seat pockets helped students take responsibility for their materials, stay organized, and spend less time searching for supplies. This meant more time focused on learning and engaging with classmates.\r\n\r\nAs a first-time kindergarten teacher, I especially appreciated how these simple resources made our classroom run more smoothly. Thank you for helping create an organized, welcoming learning environment where students developed independence and confidence throughout the year!","fullyFundedDate":1756188350925,"projectUrl":"project/seat-pockets-for-kindergarten-storage/9622170/","projectTitle":"Seat Pockets for Kindergarten Storage","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avila","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8887801_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678845019361","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-avila-chi"},{"teacherId":8887801,"projectId":9577463,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Supporting Play and Learning in Kindergarten!\" As a teacher transitioning from middle school to kindergarten for the first time, I quickly learned the importance of play-based learning. Your generosity helped me create a classroom where students explored, collaborated, and developed essential skills through meaningful play.\r\n\r\nThroughout the year, students used these materials during learning centers, independent exploration, and group activities. Beyond having fun, students practiced sharing, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork while strengthening their creativity and fine motor skills. Watching them become more confident, independent, and engaged in their learning was incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nYour support made a meaningful difference in my students' first year of school and helped make my transition to kindergarten successful. Thank you for helping me provide a welcoming classroom where students learned, played, and grew together!","fullyFundedDate":1755743008154,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-play-and-learning-in-kinderga/9577463/","projectTitle":"Supporting Play and Learning in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avila","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8887801_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678845019361","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-avila-chi"},{"teacherId":8887801,"projectId":9611900,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my students and our classroom! This past school year was my first experience teaching kindergarten after several years of teaching middle school. Transitioning to primary education was a significant learning experience, and your generosity played an important role in helping me create a classroom where my youngest learners felt supported, engaged, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nThe books and classroom materials you provided helped me introduce foundational literacy skills, build early reading habits, and create meaningful opportunities for students to explore books independently and together. We focused on letter recognition, phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, comprehension, and developing a love of reading. Having access to age-appropriate books and learning resources allowed me to meet students at different developmental levels while encouraging their curiosity and growing independence.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, these materials helped me establish routines, encourage collaboration, and create a welcoming learning environment. Watching students develop confidence, take ownership of their learning, and become increasingly independent was one of the most rewarding parts of the year. As a teacher entering kindergarten for the first time, I genuinely do not think I would have had the same success without your support. Thank you for investing in my students and helping make this important year of learning possible!","fullyFundedDate":1755706145518,"projectUrl":"project/chicago-kindergarten-classroom-needs/9611900/","projectTitle":"Chicago Kindergarten Classroom Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avila","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8887801_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678845019361","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-avila-chi"},{"teacherId":6657415,"projectId":10155295,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding our \"A Journey Through Land and Sea\" project! Your kindness has brought our curriculum to life and given my students a deeper, richer connection to the topics we explore in class.\r\n\r\nHaving these new books in our classroom library made a tremendous difference as we wrapped up our units on marine life and Native American history. The highlight was watching the students independently explore the collection and make connections to what we had discussed during our lessons. Their eyes would light up whenever they spotted a familiar term, historical figure, or ocean creature they recognized, eagerly pointing out the details to their classmates.\r\n\r\nBy providing books that directly mirror and extend our curriculum, you have helped foster a love for reading and critical thinking in our classroom. Thank you for giving my students the tools to take their learning further than the textbook could ever go!","fullyFundedDate":1774541694345,"projectUrl":"project/a-journey-through-land-and-sea/10155295/","projectTitle":"A Journey Through Land and Sea","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bacik","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6657415_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773604838114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6657415"},{"teacherId":6657415,"projectId":10255681,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our \"Fresh Starts and Fond Farewells!\" project! Your support has brought so much joy, curiosity, and structure to our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe true highlight of this project was watching our students present at our first-ever science fair. The tri-fold poster boards were the star of the show, giving each student a professional canvas to proudly showcase their research, hypotheses, and experiments. Seeing their faces light up as they stood beside their completed projects was unforgettable, and we couldn't have made that milestone happen without you.\r\n\r\nBecause of your investment in our classroom, my students feel valued, equipped, and excited to learn every single day. Thank you for giving us both a wonderful fresh start and unforgettable memories to carry forward.","fullyFundedDate":1778624336398,"projectUrl":"project/fresh-starts-and-fond-farewells/10255681/","projectTitle":"Fresh Starts and Fond Farewells!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bacik","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6657415_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773604838114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6657415"},{"teacherId":7887825,"projectId":10123258,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my project and bringing these essential supplies—laminating sheets, velcro, cardstock, and binding rings—into my speech room. Your kindness has directly transformed how my students interact with books, reading tasks, and language activities.\r\n\r\nMany of my students face unique learning challenges that make standard picture books difficult to navigate. The supplies you funded changed everything.\r\n\r\nWith the laminating sheets and velcro, we have been turning our classroom library into a collection of fully adapted, interactive books. Here is how your gift is making a daily impact:\r\n\r\nPhysical Accessibility: Laminated pages are sturdy enough for small hands to grasp and turn independently without ripping, building motor skills and confidence.\r\n\r\nActive Participation: By adding velcro-backed pictures, words, and symbols directly to the book pages, students can actively participate in read-alouds. Instead of just listening, they can attach the right picture to complete a sentence, match identical items, or point to character choices on the page.\r\n\r\nDemonstrating Comprehension: For the students that use total communication, adapted books serve as a bridge to show their knowledge. Using the movable velcro pieces, students can answer comprehension questions—like \"Who is in the story?\" or \"What happens next?\"—by selecting and placing the correct image. \r\n\r\nSeeing the pride on my students' faces when they can hold, manipulate, and more easily engage with reading is priceless. Your support didn't just buy supplies; you unlocked a world of literacy, independence, and active learning for our entire class.","fullyFundedDate":1774054971836,"projectUrl":"project/beyond-the-page-adaptive-reading-for-al/10123258/","projectTitle":"Beyond the Page: Adaptive Reading for All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ellyse","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7887825"},{"teacherId":6657415,"projectId":10137241,"letterContent":"The books we received have been an amazing addition to our classroom library. They are not only aligned with the units we have been studying, but they also reflect my students' interests. Because of your support, students are so excited to pick up books that capture their attention, make meaningful connections to our lessons, and inspire a genuine love of reading!!! Watching students become excited about reading has been one of the greatest gifts of this project.\r\n\r\nOne of the most transformative items we received has been the vacuum. It has helped us maintain a clean, welcoming learning environment while also providing opportunities to teach responsibility and important life skills. Students are genuinely excited to help keep our classroom clean, and taking turns vacuuming has become a job they look forward to.\r\n\r\nWe are also incredibly thankful for the sanitation supplies included in this project. Having these materials readily available allows us to maintain a healthy and organized classroom where students can focus on learning. Your generosity has given us the resources we need to create a safe, comfortable environment every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1773793187098,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-classroom-thrive-books-sanita/10137241/","projectTitle":"Help Our Classroom Thrive: Books, Sanitation, and Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bacik","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6657415_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773604838114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6657415"},{"teacherId":18066,"projectId":9969702,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generous donation to my class project \"Little Ones Learning With Legos\". My preschoolers were so excited when I unpacked the new boxes of Legos. They could not wait to play with them in the block area. Legos are one of our favorite items. \r\n\r\nLegos benefit my students in many ways. When playing with Legos my students are practicing counting, sorting, matching, and understanding patterns. They are problem solving by using trial and error with the structures they build. The Legos also help to strengthen small muscles in their hands and fingers while improving their eye-hand coordination. They are also practicing sharing, turn-taking, and working in groups. \r\n\r\nWhile Legos are helping my students develop crucial skills all my students know is that they are \"FUN\" to play with.","fullyFundedDate":1767899133315,"projectUrl":"project/little-ones-learning-with-legos/9969702/","projectTitle":"Little Ones Learning With Legos","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kirby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/18066"},{"teacherId":18066,"projectId":9965060,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to my class project. My preschoolers were so excited when I showed them the Lummi sticks. They could not wait to use them. The first time we used them one student said, \"wow I wove my lellow sticks\". \r\n\r\nWe use the Lummi sticks weekly. Using the sticks has helped my students grow in so many ways. Tapping, rolling, and clicking the sticks strengthens their hand muscles, increases their eye-hand coordination, and develops their fine motor skills which supports them with their pre-writing skills. Their gross motor skills are developing as well through large arm movements and crossing the midline. These skills are so important for a preschooler to develop and using the sticks makes it not only fun but also very beneficial for my students. Thanks again for contributing to my class resources.","fullyFundedDate":1766120598424,"projectUrl":"project/lummi-sticks-for-little-ones/9965060/","projectTitle":"Lummi Sticks for Little Ones","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kirby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/18066"},{"teacherId":18066,"projectId":9790664,"letterContent":"I would like to thank you for your generous donation to my class project. The resources that I received are allowing each student in my class to create their very own memory book. Each month the students make an arts and crafts project and it goes on their monthly page for their book. For example for the month of January the students made a snowman. The snowman was hung up in the room as a decoration. At the end of the month the snowman was taken down and put on the January page of their memory book. The students enjoyed picking the colors for their snowman. Each snowman is unique to each student.\r\n\r\nThis is my students first time in school. This memory book is helping them in so many ways. Working on the book each month is boosting their cognitive development, language skills and their self-esteem. This keepsake of their first year in school will help them process emotions, practice storytelling, strengthen fine motor skills, and create a lasting connection to their past. They will enjoy sharing this memory book with their families.","fullyFundedDate":1765996699009,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-memories/9790664/","projectTitle":"Preschool Memories","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kirby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/18066"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5670","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":354,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":60,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":58.2,"schoolId":5670,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about James Otis Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"James Otis Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/james-otis-world-language-acad/5670"}