{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Schubert Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":205683,"projectId":9895602,"letterContent":"As a teacher, my primary goal every morning is to create an environment where curiosity can thrive. However, for years, I have encountered a barrier that no amount of professional development or high-tech curriculum can overcome: the physical toll of childhood hunger. Today, I am writing to you with a heart full of relief and gratitude. Thank you for choosing to fund Hungry Mind Can't Learn. Your generosity is quite literally changing the atmosphere of my classroom.\r\n\r\nPeople often talk about the \"achievement gap\" in education, but as someone who stands at the whiteboard every day, I see it more accurately as a \"resource gap.\" When a student arrives at my door having missed dinner the night before or skipped breakfast that morning, they aren't just tired—they are in a state of cognitive distress. The brain is an energy-intensive organ; it consumes about 20% of the body's calories. When those calories are missing, the parts of the brain responsible for impulse control, memory retention, and complex reasoning simply begin to shut down.\r\n\r\nThe Teacher's Perspective: What This Funding Changes\r\nUntil now, like many of my colleagues, I have often used my own personal funds to keep a \"secret stash\" of granola bars or crackers in my desk. But a handful of crackers is a band-aid on a deep wound. Your funding allows us to move toward a sustainable, dignified, and nutritionally dense solution.\r\n\r\nWith these resources, I can now ensure that:\r\n\r\nInstructional Time is Protected: Instead of spending the first hour of the day managing the irritability and \"brain fog\" that comes with low blood sugar, I can dive straight into our lessons. We are reclaiming the hours of the day that were previously lost to physical discomfort.\r\n\r\nEmotional Safety is Established: Hunger creates anxiety. A student who doesn't know where their next meal is coming from is a student in \"survival mode.\" By providing consistent access to food through Hungry Mind Can't Learn, we are signaling to these children that school is a safe, predictable place where their basic needs are respected.\r\n\r\nEquity is Realized: No child should be penalized for their family's financial circumstances. Your support levels the playing field, ensuring that the student in the front row and the student in the back row have the same physical \"fuel\" to tackle the day's challenges.\r\n\r\nThe \"Hidden\" Success Stories\r\nWhile we will certainly track grades and test scores, the real impact of your funding will be seen in the small, quiet victories. It's the student who finally raises their hand to answer a question because they have the mental energy to process the prompt. It's the reduction in visits to the school nurse for \"stomach aches\" that were actually just hunger pains. It's the smile on a child's face when they realize they don't have to hide their hunger anymore.\r\n\r\nYou have given me, as an educator, the greatest gift possible: the ability to focus on teaching. When I don't have to worry about whether my students are starving, I can worry about whether they are inspired. I can push them harder, dream bigger with them, and help them reach for the stars—because you have made sure their feet are on solid ground.\r\n\r\nOur Deepest Thanks\r\nOn behalf of my current students and the many who will walk through my door in the years to come, thank you for being the partner we so desperately needed. You are proving that our community believes in these children as much as I do.","fullyFundedDate":1772550486562,"projectUrl":"project/hungry-minds-cant-learn/9895602/","projectTitle":"Hungry Minds Can't Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cintron","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp205683_orig.jpg?crop=1000,1000,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598459050770","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/205683"},{"teacherId":205683,"projectId":9895616,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my students' food pantry. Your kindness is making a meaningful difference in their lives and helping ensure they have what they need to focus and succeed. I am truly grateful for your generosity.\r\n\r\nYour support directly impacts our students and helps remove barriers to their learning. Thank you again for investing in their well-being and future.\r\nYour kindness is deeply appreciated and makes a real difference for my students. Thank you so much for you warm heart.","fullyFundedDate":1766067650331,"projectUrl":"project/full-bellies-and-bright-futures-element/9895616/","projectTitle":"Full Bellies and Bright Futures: Elementary School Food Pantry","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cintron","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp205683_orig.jpg?crop=1000,1000,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598459050770","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/205683"},{"teacherId":10097872,"projectId":9884010,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Little Scientists. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on my classroom by giving students the opportunity to explore science through hands-on learning. We are using the materials during science centers and group investigations, where students observe, experiment, and share their thinking. When the supplies arrived, students were excited, curious, and eager to begin exploring right away.\r\n\r\nThis project has improved my classroom by making science more engaging, accessible, and meaningful for all learners. Students are building confidence as they ask questions, test ideas, and work together like real scientists. Because of your support, I am able to create a learning environment that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a genuine love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1763391315794,"projectUrl":"project/little-scientists/9884010/","projectTitle":"Little Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097872_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753751616243","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097872"},{"teacherId":10097872,"projectId":9749672,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Growing Little Scientists. Because of your generosity, my classroom has been transformed into a space where students can explore science through hands-on learning. We are using the materials to conduct simple experiments, observe plant growth, and ask questions about the world around us. When the supplies arrived, my students were excited and eager to dive in, they immediately felt like real scientists.\r\n\r\nThis project has greatly improved my classroom by making science interactive, engaging, and accessible for all learners. My students are more curious, more confident, and more willing to share their ideas and discoveries. Thanks to you, I am able to create meaningful science experiences that build foundational skills and inspire a lasting love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1764598868817,"projectUrl":"project/growing-little-scientists/9749672/","projectTitle":"Growing Little Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097872_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753751616243","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097872"},{"teacherId":10097872,"projectId":9573196,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Hands-On Foundations: Building Math and Literacy Success. Because of your generosity, my students now use hands-on math manipulatives and literacy tools every day during small groups and learning centers. One of my favorite moments was watching students work together to build numbers with counters while sounding out words using matching letter tiles. When the materials arrived, their excitement was immediate, they couldn't wait to explore, touch, and start learning.\r\n\r\nYour support has made learning more engaging, concrete, and joyful. Many of my students learn best by doing, and these resources help them make real connections between abstract concepts and everyday understanding. Seeing their confidence grow as they independently solve problems and read with purpose has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue using these tools to strengthen number sense, decoding skills, and collaborative learning through guided practice and student-led activities. Thank you for giving us the foundation we need to build lasting academic success and a love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1760706414823,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-foundations-building-math-and/9573196/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Foundations: Building Math and Literacy Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097872_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753751616243","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097872"},{"teacherId":10097872,"projectId":9670289,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my classroom. Your support helps create a welcoming and engaging learning environment where students feel encouraged to grow, explore, and succeed.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, my students will have access to materials and experiences that directly support their learning and curiosity. Your generosity truly makes a meaningful difference, and I am deeply grateful for your support.\r\n\r\nIf you want it more formal, more personal, or bilingual, I can adjust it quickly.","fullyFundedDate":1758251038886,"projectUrl":"project/small-groups-big-growth/9670289/","projectTitle":"Small Groups, Big Growth!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097872_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753751616243","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097872"},{"teacherId":1253718,"projectId":9923591,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and our students. Your generosity has helped create a positive, supportive learning environment where students can build social-emotional skills, practice positive behavior, and grow in confidence. These resources are being used to encourage kindness, responsibility, and engagement while helping students feel safe and motivated at school. We truly appreciate your support and the meaningful impact it has on our classroom each day. Again, thank you for your donation.","fullyFundedDate":1764178489236,"projectUrl":"project/building-kindness-build-a-bear-friends/9923591/","projectTitle":"Building Kindness: Build-A-Bear Friends for My Pre-K Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1253718_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y306&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721961154669","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lourdes-perez"},{"teacherId":205683,"projectId":9859817,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our food pantries. Your kindness helps ensure that families in our community have access to nutritious food and feel supported during times of need. We truly appreciate your compassion and generosity.\r\nWe sincerely thank you again for your generous support of our food pantries. Your donation makes a meaningful difference for families by helping provide essential food items and resources. We are grateful for your continued commitment to our community.","fullyFundedDate":1762366667549,"projectUrl":"project/food-pantry-for-some-full-bellies/9859817/","projectTitle":"Food Pantry for Some Full Bellies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cintron","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp205683_orig.jpg?crop=1000,1000,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598459050770","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/205683"},{"teacherId":1841055,"projectId":9531862,"letterContent":"When I created this project, I was just informed that I would once again be working with preschool students. Many of my current centers were not age appropriate for three and four year olds. So, when I saw these foam building blocks, I was very excited and thought they might be something the kids would enjoy.\r\nI am so very happy to have this new magnetic foam building set for my STEAM centers. While it has taken me a bit of time to implement the centers into rotation with my preschoolers, I am finding that this particular center is definitely a fan favorite. Even my older students want to build with this set.\r\nI have seen the creative minds of preschoolers kick into overdrive and make robots, houses, castles, fishing poles and so much more.\r\nThank you for fostering creativity in the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755181881343,"projectUrl":"project/magneto-mazing-foam-blocks-pre-k/9531862/","projectTitle":"Magneto-Mazing Foam Blocks Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brooks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1841055_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1532728991230","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/readwritecompute"},{"teacherId":7052066,"projectId":9705549,"letterContent":"Watching my PreK students' tiny hands create all sorts of fun and adorable clay pieces has been such a joy, thank you for making this possible! They have giggled over silly face monsters, gotten excited about favorite animals, and learned to mush different colors together to create something new! \r\nThe boxes of colored clay have been their absolute favorite. They love the extra soft feeling of it, it's almost like playing with marshmallow fluff with thankfully none of the stickiness! We have one last project left in their special clay unit, where they will design their own dancing snowman, and I can't wait to see what they create.\r\nThank you again for your support, I know my littlest artists are grateful as can be.","fullyFundedDate":1757871111226,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-in-prek-building-fine-motor-sk/9705549/","projectTitle":"Hands on in PreK: Building Fine Motor Skills With Clay","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kline","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7052066_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x96,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726702190860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7052066"},{"teacherId":7052066,"projectId":9210662,"letterContent":"It's incredible how big of an impact your donation has had. Students have used our growing library of drawing books to produce so many thoughtful and unique characters and stories. I am so impressed by how the books have helped them with creating strong proportions so their artwork gives the exact effects they hoped for, whether they wanted their work to be anywhere from more realistic to a cute, cartoony style.\r\nThey have an upcoming unit on portraits and have already asked if they would be able to use the books again for creating manga style self-portraits. I love that they've built a connection to their prior learning this way, it's spectacular!\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you again and again for supporting my young artists.","fullyFundedDate":1744202508065,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-creativity-and-literacy-by-cre/9210662/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Creativity and Literacy By Creating Comics and Manga Stories","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kline","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7052066_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x96,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726702190860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7052066"},{"teacherId":7052066,"projectId":9371246,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness in donating to our inclusivity mural. My students have already begun the fun steps of drafting their mural's final design and will be moving on to using the paints very soon. \r\nThe students are so excited, especially as I've shared how these particular paints have excellent longevity, meaning their beautiful work will remain vibrant for years to come. It's become a topic of how the colors will blend and layer for different effects. I feel this project will create so many unique learning opportunities!\r\nThank you again, the generosity of donors like you is such a gift!","fullyFundedDate":1747966007272,"projectUrl":"project/building-community-through-an-inclusivit/9371246/","projectTitle":"Building Community Through an Inclusivity Mural","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kline","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7052066_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x96,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726702190860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7052066"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5643","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":556,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":95,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.1,"schoolId":5643,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Schubert Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Schubert Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/schubert-elementary-school/5643"}