{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Rachel Carson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":44.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9885115,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity in funding our two new saucer chairs. To say they have been a \"hit\" in our classroom would be an understatement—they are officially the most popular seats in the house!\r\n\r\nSince the chairs arrived, the energy in our reading nook has completely transformed. Here is how your gift is making a difference every day:\r\n\r\nThe Ultimate \"Go-To\" Option: These chairs have quickly become the premier choice for flexible seating. Students are actually lining up for their turn to settle in!\r\n\r\nFocused Learning: There is something about the \"cocoon\" feel of a saucer chair that helps my students tune out distractions. I've watched even my most restless learners sit down, get comfortable, and dive deep into their assignments with newfound focus.\r\n\r\nA Space for Reading: Your gift has made \"independent reading time\" the highlight of the day. Whether they are catching up on their favorite book series or exploring new worlds, these chairs provide the perfect cozy sanctuary for them to get lost in a story.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students' learning and for recognizing that a comfortable student is a ready-to-learn student. Your kindness has created a space where they feel valued, relaxed, and inspired.","fullyFundedDate":1772656131255,"projectUrl":"project/beyond-the-desk-support-focus-with-flex/9885115/","projectTitle":"Beyond the Desk: Support Focus with Flexible Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":10485724,"projectId":10225244,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support in my classroom in the southwest side of Chicago! My students were all so excited to see the new materials we have for the classroom! Thanks to you all, my students were able to complete their end-of-the-year assessments to the full of their abilities with headphones, flexible seating, and new table materials to use as a resource.\r\nThe headphones have helped students focus deeply on their activities, and they have been working very hard to keep them safe and clean!\r\nThe flexible seating has allowed the students to take movement breaks while also staying productive! My students love to take turns on the flexible seating and build stamina.\r\nFinally, the writing circles for my small group instruction have allowed students to have resources and extra space to complete work without always relying on paper!\r\n\r\nI truly appreciate your donation to my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1777917929851,"projectUrl":"project/support-learning/10225244/","projectTitle":"Support Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10485724"},{"teacherId":10440823,"projectId":10116603,"letterContent":"I wanted to share a quick update on how your gift is changing the 'daily rhythm' of our classroom. Now that the initial excitement of the new supplies has settled, I am seeing a much deeper impact: focus.\r\n\r\nJust yesterday, I watched a student who usually struggles to stay on task spend forty minutes completely absorbed in the activity. The barriers to their learning have been removed.\r\n\r\nIt is a beautiful thing to look around a room and see every child equipped with exactly what they need to succeed. You have helped create an environment where my students feel supported and capable. We are so grateful for your kindness and for the way you've empowered these young learners to do their best work.","fullyFundedDate":1773673966732,"projectUrl":"project/small-hands-big-hearts-4th-grade-welln/10116603/","projectTitle":"Small Hands, Big Hearts: 4th Grade Wellness Warriors","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chapa Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10440823"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9505868,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of essential supplies to our third-grade dual-language classroom. As we have officially reached the halfway mark of the school year, your contribution could not have come at a better time. Our students have been working incredibly hard since the first day of school, and being able to replenish daily necessities like pencils, sharpeners, scissors, erasers, and pencil pouches is crucial to their ongoing success. These items are the tools that power our daily lessons, and we are so grateful to have a fresh stock as we head into the second half of the year.\r\n\r\nYour kindness ensures that every student has immediate access to the materials they need without the worry of having to provide them from home. By removing these small but significant barriers, you have allowed my students to remain \"worry-free\" and keep their full attention on their learning. It is a gift to see them walk into the classroom knowing they are fully prepared and supported. Thank you for providing the adequate supplies that allow our dual-language learners to focus on what truly matters: their education","fullyFundedDate":1764022542899,"projectUrl":"project/basic-supplies-big-impact/9505868/","projectTitle":"Basic Supplies, Big Impact","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9566403,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our third-grade dual-language classroom. Your kind donation of phonics games has already made a measurable impact on my students' literacy journey. It is wonderful to watch my students genuinely enjoy their learning process; these games have allowed them to close critical learning gaps while having fun. By transforming foundational reading skills into an engaging activity, you have helped foster a classroom environment where students are excited to challenge themselves and grow.\r\n\r\nThe results of our recent middle-of-the-year assessments speak volumes about the value of your contribution. Thanks to these new resources, my students have shown significant growth in their reading levels and are well on their way to becoming fluent English readers. My dual-language learners and I are incredibly grateful for your investment in their education, as you have played a key role in making their path to bilingualism both successful and enjoyable.","fullyFundedDate":1760706415542,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-for-reading-seeking-phonics-gam/9566403/","projectTitle":"Game on for Reading! Seeking Phonics Games to Boost Literacy\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9505864,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my third-grade dual-language classroom. Your contribution has already made a significant impact on our daily learning environment. I believe that student representation is crucial for academic and social success, and your kindness has directly helped me bring that vision to life. By providing the resources we need to grow, you are helping foster a classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and motivated to learn.\r\n\r\nIt is incredibly special for my students to have access to a classroom library filled with stories where they can see themselves, their families, and their cultures reflected in the pages. These books allow my dual-language learners to make deep, personal connections to literacy while celebrating their unique backgrounds. I am truly grateful for your support of my students and your commitment to helping them thrive in both languages.","fullyFundedDate":1760465865427,"projectUrl":"project/many-cultures-one-classroom-building-a/9505864/","projectTitle":"Many Cultures, One Classroom: Building a Diverse Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":9566971,"projectId":9877669,"letterContent":"First of all, I would like to thank you for your generosity towards my students. The books you have donated are an important part of our classroom reading. Many of these stories are their favorites. My students had previously asked me for books like \"Zombies Don't Eat Vegetables\" in both Spanish and English, and they were interested in reading them.\r\nAnd based on that interest and enjoyment of reading bilingual books, books that catch their attention, I chose those books for them.\r\nThanks to these books, they will learn more vocabulary, characters, settings, and a broader culture that will allow them to learn and understand the world around them.\r\nThanks to you, my students will learn more and will have access to materials that will allow them to achieve it.","fullyFundedDate":1763879274797,"projectUrl":"project/reading-gives-me-power/9877669/","projectTitle":"Reading Gives Me Power","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Camargo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566971"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9885263,"letterContent":"Thank you sincerely for your generous donation to our classroom snack pantry. Your support immediately brings great joy and relief to my students. Providing access to these simple snacks is incredibly important because it ensures that basic needs are met. When hunger is removed as a distraction, something as small as a snack becomes a powerful tool that significantly boosts concentration and engagement, allowing all students to remain focused and thrive academically.\r\n\r\nThe immediate joy that filled the classroom when students saw the replenished snack bin was absolutely heartwarming! Thank you so much for your generosity. Your contribution is critical, as it ensures our classroom pantry is stocked for weeks to come, providing sustained support for student focus and well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1763494122193,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-success-one-snack-at-a-time/9885263/","projectTitle":"Fueling success, one snack at a time!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":2990906,"projectId":9681716,"letterContent":"On behalf of my third grade students and I, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation to our Spanish classroom library project.\r\n\r\nThe excitement the students showed when they saw the new books arrive cannot be overstated. We have already incorporated them into our independent reading time. It's been wonderful for me to see students confidently engaging with the book in Spanish. In addition, students get the opportunity to continue to read the books at home and parents are delighted. \r\n\r\nYour contribution has made a profound impact in the lives of my students. They have been enjoying reading the Casa del Arbol series. With these new book additions, my students have been working on developing literacy in their native language and can access engaging stories. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your thoughtful donation to our Spanish classroom library!","fullyFundedDate":1757803519188,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-spanish-classroom-library-for/9681716/","projectTitle":"Building a Spanish Classroom Library for Lifelong Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Guzman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2990906"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9846967,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous contributions to our classroom Christmas drive. Because of your support, every student was able to take home a special gift to enjoy during the holiday season. Your donations ensured that each child in our class felt celebrated and included as we headed into the winter break.\r\n\r\nThe atmosphere in the classroom was truly magical as the students received their gifts; they were absolutely overfilled with joy and excitement. Seeing their faces light up was a wonderful reminder of the positive impact a dedicated community can have on a child's experience. Thank you for your kindness and for making this heartfelt moment possible for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1762266414610,"projectUrl":"project/the-gift-of-a-smile-student-christmas-d/9846967/","projectTitle":"The Gift of a Smile: Student Christmas Drive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9457101,"letterContent":"We've been integrating these new resources—Splash, multiplication dominoes, Multiplication Jenga, and flashcards—by setting up flexible math centers and \"fast-finisher\" stations. The variety of games allows me to differentiate instruction, ensuring that students practice their facts in ways that suit their individual learning styles, from the quick recall needed for Splash to the strategic thinking required for Multiplication Jenga. Using these games has completely transformed our review time from passive worksheet work into an active, collaborative challenge. Instead of drilling facts in isolation, students are now working together, using the materials to reinforce concepts like the commutative property with the dominoes and building fluency through peer-to-peer quizzing with the flashcards. This shift has not only improved their practice habits but has also created a more positive and supportive learning environment where teamwork is essential to success.\r\n\r\nThe students' reaction to the new materials was one of pure excitement and energy. When they first saw familiar game formats, like the Jenga tower, but with a math twist, there was an audible buzz of anticipation. They instantly recognized that math class was about to become an opportunity to play and challenge one another. This initial excitement has translated into sustained engagement; students who often show anxiety during timed tests are now eagerly asking to start their day with a round of Splash or after a lesson to finish a game of Multiplication Jenga. The games have genuinely instilled a sense of fun and mastery, making fact practice highly anticipated and reducing the stress often associated with memorization. They are truly enjoying the chance to be hands-on and competitive while mastering their multiplication facts.","fullyFundedDate":1755720295193,"projectUrl":"project/multiply-the-fun-help-us-learn/9457101/","projectTitle":"Multiply the Fun: Help Us Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"},{"teacherId":8505735,"projectId":9445917,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to support our third grade classroom with a new collection of graphic novels! These books are more than just stories—they are powerful learning tools that spark our students' imaginations while teaching valuable lessons. Through engaging narratives filled with adventure and perseverance, students learn to face challenges with courage and resilience. Graphic novels also help build reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills by combining visual storytelling with rich dialogue and plot. For some reluctant readers, they offer an accessible and exciting entry point into literature. Your support is helping us cultivate a love of reading and learning in a way that truly resonates with young minds. \r\n\r\nAs soon as they walk into the classroom, you can see their excitement as they head straight for the book bins, eager to pick out a new story. They love finding a cozy spot—whether it's on a beanbag, our carpets, or wobble cushion—to dive into their books. We've organized the graphic novels in clearly labeled bins by series and genre, making it easy for students to find what they're looking for and explore new titles independently. This simple system has encouraged more choice and ownership in their reading, and it's incredible to watch their enthusiasm for reading grow every day.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1754323092402,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-wanted-third-grade-heroe/9445917/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels Wanted: Third Grade Heroes Need New Adventures!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rendon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505735_orig.png?crop=1799,1799,x1746,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722570837230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505735"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5764","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":746,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":96,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":55.7,"schoolId":5764,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Rachel Carson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Rachel Carson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/rachel-carson-elementary-school/5764"}