{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Portage Park Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9926246,"projectId":10255575,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving my students so many wonderful books. I wish you could see the excitement in our classroom when they browse the shelves and find a story they can't wait to read.\r\n\r\nAs a third-grade teacher, I know how much this year matters. My students are beginning to move from learning to read to reading to learn. Having books they're genuinely curious about makes that step easier. It also gives me more chances to say, \"I think you would love this one,\" and watch a child discover a new series, a new author, or a new genre.\r\n\r\nI want every student in my room to find a book that feels like it belongs to them—whether they recognize themselves in a character or discover a world they've never imagined. Your generosity has helped make that possible. It has made our classroom a place where children are excited to choose a book, share it with a friend, and come back for another.","fullyFundedDate":1778252056811,"projectUrl":"project/the-magic-key-to-lifelong-reading/10255575/","projectTitle":"The Magic Key to Lifelong Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Butler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9926246"},{"teacherId":4685023,"projectId":9914263,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to this project. Sometimes keeping focus while learning can be difficult for students, especially if they struggle to keep their hands, feet, and body still. So having fidgets for their hands, bands for chairs and small wiggles seat cushions definitely helps if students need it. Thank you for helping me provide these items to my students so we can focus on learning and grow our brains. Sensory issues can be a struggle at times and anything we get that helps us focus is a great thing.","fullyFundedDate":1768489254833,"projectUrl":"project/fidgets-and-focus/9914263/","projectTitle":"Fidgets and Focus","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4685023_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503465030288","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsewalt"},{"teacherId":4685023,"projectId":10417092,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to this project. Starting a new school year at a new grade is challenging, especially if I don't have materials that I need. This gift card allows me to buy resources or find ones that I can edit and make my own. I'm excited to create more fun, activities and lessons for my students this year using my gift card on teachers pay teachers. \r\n\r\nI do like to create a lot of my own lessons, but this can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes there are some wonderful lessons that have already been created this to good use. Thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1785505781711,"projectUrl":"project/new-school-year-new-grade-new-lessons/10417092/","projectTitle":"New School Year, New Grade, New Lessons!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4685023_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503465030288","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsewalt"},{"teacherId":9267710,"projectId":10231196,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our classroom project! Because of your support, our kindergarten classroom now has the teacher essentials we needed to create a truly organized, focus-ready space.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, having the essential supplies to keep our lessons running smoothly allows me to focus on what matters most: teaching. You didn't just give us physical supplies; you helped build an environment where my students learn early independence and organizational skills that will serve them for years to come.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom community. Thank you for investing in my kindergarteners and helping us start the school year off strong!","fullyFundedDate":1778001365754,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-read-new-books-and-rewards/10231196/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Read: New Books and Rewards for Growing Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Prado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9267710_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694189617703","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-aprado"},{"teacherId":10537388,"projectId":10360015,"letterContent":"Can I just say... AAAAAAHH!\r\n\r\nSix weeks into the year, we're halfway through our first novel, The First Rule of Punk, and my students are doing real literary analysis with books you helped put into their hands.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and usually a little noisy. We read independently, listen together, stop to argue about characters' choices, hunt for evidence, learn unfamiliar vocabulary, and compare interpretations. Students are learning to move beyond telling me what happened and explain what a character's conflicts reveal about identity, family, culture, and belonging. They have analyzed Malú's relationships, sorted conflicts into character vs. self, character, or world, and defended which quotation best supports an idea. Sometimes they even disagree with me, correctly, which is both wonderful and hilariously time consuming.\r\n\r\nThe greatest joy has been watching students recognize themselves in the book. My punk kids, artists, music lovers, Spanish speakers, children navigating more than one culture, and students who have ever felt \"too much\" or out of place have all found a way into Malú's story. Some of our most enthusiastic participants are students who did not initially describe themselves as readers. Now they arrive asking when we are reading again, flip ahead when they think I'm not looking, and have very serious opinions about The Smiths.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, more than 100 fifth graders are building vocabulary, citing evidence, discussing complex ideas, and discovering that a classroom novel can actually feel like it belongs to them.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us begin our year with a book worth talking about (and believe me, we looooooove talking).","fullyFundedDate":1782996061784,"projectUrl":"project/new-teacher-new-room-new-books-for-5th/10360015/","projectTitle":"New Teacher, New Room, New Books for 5th Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Campa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10537388_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782245586567","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10537388"},{"teacherId":8919136,"projectId":10255764,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing 36 new headphones and two storage racks to our 6th-grade math classroom!\r\n\r\nIn our class, we use digital tools for personalized math practice, step-by-step video tutorials, and interactive problem-solving. Having a dedicated pair of headphones for every student allows everyone to tune in, focus, and learn at their own pace without distractions. The storage holders have been a game-changer too—keeping our classroom organized and ensuring our tech stays in great shape for a long time.\r\n\r\nMy students were thrilled when the box arrived, and your support has made our daily routines smoother and more productive. Thank you for investing in our classroom and our learning!","fullyFundedDate":1783271724278,"projectUrl":"project/sound-on-focus-in-headphone-heroes/10255764/","projectTitle":"Sound On, Focus In: Headphone Heroes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Boyer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8919136_orig.jpg?crop=2629,2629,x871,y586&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1777406674342","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cboyer"},{"teacherId":8919136,"projectId":10232568,"letterContent":"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our board game project! Your generosity has made an immediate, positive impact on our 6th-grade classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our students now have access to screen-free activities that do so much more than entertain—they connect us. Watching my students sit together, laugh, strategize, and learn how to communicate and collaborate through gameplay has been incredible. You have given them a safe, fun space to build genuine friendships, practice patience, and develop crucial social-emotional skills that will benefit them far beyond middle school.\r\n\r\nAlready, I have seen students who used to sit quietly on the sidelines step up to teach their peers rules, negotiate trades with confidence, and cheer each other on—win or lose. It is very exciting to see such wonderful examples of lively conversation and teamwork. The sense of belonging and community you helped foster is something these middle schoolers will carry with them for years to come.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and investing in our classroom family. Your support means the world to all of us!","fullyFundedDate":1779311662041,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-building-social-skills-through/10232568/","projectTitle":"Game On: Building Social Skills Through Board Games","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Boyer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8919136_orig.jpg?crop=2629,2629,x871,y586&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1777406674342","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-cboyer"},{"teacherId":7076021,"projectId":9334092,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our generous donors for providing our students with a comfortable Kids couch for our classroom calm corner. This special space provides students with a safe, welcoming place to take a break, calm their bodies, and reset when they feel overwhelmed.\r\nYour kindness has helped us create a more supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable, cared for, and ready to learn. We truly appreciate your generosity and the positive impact you are making in the lives of our students!","fullyFundedDate":1747592834538,"projectUrl":"project/new-calm-corner/9334092/","projectTitle":"New Calm Corner!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Heim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7076021_orig.jpg?crop=1122,1122,x0,y501&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1579497316311","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7076021"},{"teacherId":7076021,"projectId":10188147,"letterContent":"The printer donated to our classroom has had a meaningful impact on our students and instruction. It allows us to quickly create individualized learning materials, practice activities, visual supports, assessments, and progress-monitoring resources based on each student's needs. Having a printer readily available also saves valuable instructional time and allows us to provide students with materials immediately during small-group and individualized instruction. Most importantly, this generous donation has helped us create a more engaging and supportive learning environment where students have the resources they need to practice skills, build confidence, and make meaningful academic progress. We are very grateful to our donors for helping make this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1776460674140,"projectUrl":"project/print-learn-succeed/10188147/","projectTitle":"Print, Learn, Succeed!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Heim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7076021_orig.jpg?crop=1122,1122,x0,y501&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1579497316311","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7076021"},{"teacherId":7076021,"projectId":10248497,"letterContent":"This project has made a meaningful difference for my students by providing engaging, hands-on resources that support their learning and build their confidence. Students are more excited to participate, stay focused, and take an active role in their learning. The materials have also allowed me to provide more individualized instruction based on each student's needs. Most importantly, my students are developing stronger academic skills and seeing themselves as capable, successful learners. I am truly grateful to the donors who made this possible and helped create a more supportive and engaging learning environment for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1778251105940,"projectUrl":"project/creating-books/10248497/","projectTitle":"Creating Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Heim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7076021_orig.jpg?crop=1122,1122,x0,y501&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1579497316311","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7076021"},{"teacherId":15210,"projectId":10213565,"letterContent":"We cannot thank you enough for your generous support of our project. Your donation created a ripple effect and will continue to support our environment for years to come. As you can see from the photos, the unboxing of the new materials was a huge hit. Our environmentally conscious students couldn't wait to get their hands on the new resources. \r\nWe are now able to teach other classrooms about the importance of keeping our community clean with hands on experiences, and host school-wide events that include entire families and neighbors. We will also be starting a Environmental Club for next school year where students will learn about keeping the Earth healthy and use the tools to participate in regular clean-up events. \r\nThank you for your kindness and support of our school.","fullyFundedDate":1779301410795,"projectUrl":"project/protecting-our-environment-community-cl/10213565/","projectTitle":"Protecting Our Environment: Community Clean-Up","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. King","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp15210_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746489619146","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/15210"},{"teacherId":15210,"projectId":10006891,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to our project. We are so thankful for these resources to encourage STEAM exploration in our classroom. Independent play used to be a part of primary classrooms, and it does not exist anymore. STEAM time is a way to allow for academically focused independent creativity. Friday Fun with STEAM is a favorite time for every student and the teachers as well. While it can feel chaotic at times, this is a wonderful time to observe students learning and see their joy during the exploration and discovery.\r\n\r\nWhen we unboxed these materials, the students cheered loudly. They were so excited to have new tools to create with and couldn't wait for Friday to come. As you will see in the photos, the tools are being put to good use and enjoyed by everyone. These tools will continue to support the exploration and learning of students for many years to come. Thank you again for your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1776006931406,"projectUrl":"project/we-love-steam-and-were-sticking-to-it/10006891/","projectTitle":"We Love STEAM and We're STICKING to it!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. King","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp15210_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746489619146","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/15210"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5346","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":927,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":67,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":29,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":59,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"19.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.9,"schoolId":5346,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Portage Park Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Portage Park Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/portage-park-elementary-school/5346"}