{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Solomon Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9379612,"projectId":9538067,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to reach our goal to receive new furniture and a sensory swing. With the new furniture, we are able to have more small group instructions so are students are receiving more 1:1 support during instruction time. The kidney table has also provide a chance for an adult to connect more with the students because we are able to break out into smaller groups. We have completely changed the layout of our classroom with the new table and our classroom provides more of a home-like and calming environment. The willingness to do work has increased since last year as well. The sensory swing has been a fan favorite. Many of my students love to just hang out in the sensory swing during break time. I have one student who uses this sensory swing to regulate her emotions. She has gone from needing an adult to help her to requesting the swing and regulated herself more independently. \r\n\r\nThank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations that contributes to our sensory-friendly and cozy new classroom environment.","fullyFundedDate":1755731986251,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-learn-and-grow-with-new-furnitur/9538067/","projectTitle":"Help Us Learn and Grow With New Furniture!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. DePaolo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9379612_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754361765957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9379612"},{"teacherId":10228164,"projectId":9657846,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff, I want to extend our heartfelt thank you for your generous support of my recent project to provide charging stations and a modeling AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device to our special education classrooms.\r\nThanks to your donation, our students now have consistent access to their AAC devices throughout the day—ensuring that communication is never interrupted due to a low battery. This has been a game-changer in helping them express themselves, participate more fully in lessons, have autonomy of their communication, and build confidence in their abilities.\r\nThe iPad (used as a modeling AAC device) has also made a significant impact. By allowing me to demonstrate language on a device that mirrors the students' own, our students have made remarkable progress with their engagement during speech therapy and whole group lessons! Students are not only learning to communicate—they're learning to connect.\r\nYour support is helping to create a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering learning environment where every student has a voice. Thank you for investing in their potential and making a lasting difference in their education.","fullyFundedDate":1758851665863,"projectUrl":"project/amplifying-voices-giving-us-accessible/9657846/","projectTitle":"Amplifying Voices: Giving Us Accessible Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ginsberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10228164_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756344960933","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10228164"},{"teacherId":9867760,"projectId":8995224,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to fund our \"Room for Reflection\"! The items donated have made the space so much more comfortable for students. Prior to this it was a meeting space that therapeutic services were also provided in. Students would often say to me that the room was not very nice and there was not much to do. My hope is that for this school year (now that I have had time to fully set up the room- see pictures) students will feel they can relax and open up in. \r\n\r\nLast year, the blankets and knot pillow helped students to feel comfortable when they are having a hard time! It helps them feel comforted and they can squeeze out some of their emotion into the pillow. The solo chime has been helpful for tapping into kids who are sensorily sensitive as it can give them one thing to focus on. The dry erase pockets have been great to use with students because it allows them to make mistakes without any pressure- they can just erase it! My younger students have enjoyed reading the Little SPOT of Emotion books and this has been a great way for them to understand their emotions by visualization. \r\n\r\nThe Hobermann sphere has been a hit school wide among all ages- it has been an amazing tool to help students visualize deep breathing, especially with students who have disabilities. Last year a student was having a very hard time and had been crying for about an hour, and when I brought out the sphere and asked him to try and match his breathing, he was instantly interested and it helped him to calm down! Kids also like putting it on their head even though I tell them not to!\r\n\r\nThank you again for all your support and kindness. It truly makes a difference in my daily work and with the children I see.","fullyFundedDate":1742950340897,"projectUrl":"project/a-room-for-reflection-school-therapy-sp/8995224/","projectTitle":"A Room for Reflection- School Therapy Space in Need!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lancaster","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9867760"},{"teacherId":9866215,"projectId":8992957,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support. As a new clinician, it is challenging to gather materials to keep sessions and engaging while ensuring students are able to participate in these activities. Having a variety of novel toys to use with the children has kept therapy sessions engaging and interesting.\r\n\r\nEach age group I work with has benefited from this project. My preschool students have loved the interlocking shapes puzzles. These have helped to keep them engaged while we work on increasing their attention for tabletop tasks. In older grades, sensory items have helped to regulate students when upset, and the wobble cushion has been a hit for one student in particular! Additionally, the adaptive scissors have increased participation for students in cutting and arts projects. Kerplunk has been a wonderful addition for older students to work on fine motor skills. All of these items have changed how I plan therapy sessions and I am so grateful for the support!","fullyFundedDate":1742950341100,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-students-through-occupational/8992957/","projectTitle":"Empowering Students Through Occupational Therapy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9866215"},{"teacherId":9989198,"projectId":9221879,"letterContent":"The items that were bought have brought a lot of joy to the kids throughout Solomon. A lot of sensory toys have been used as calming tools while working with kids directly. Some items that have been given to kids as a prize or a reward were the cookies, fruit snacks, stickers, and slime for working with me either during an assessment or for students I work with weekly. \r\n\r\nThe SEL writing books have also been very beneficial for the kids to read and actually write in on their own to make learning about feelings, emotions, how to process how they feel etc. in a more hands on and fun approach.","fullyFundedDate":1744236329480,"projectUrl":"project/empowing-students-success-the-next-gene/9221879/","projectTitle":"Empowing Students Success: The Next Generation of Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Christina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9989198_orig.jpg?crop=535,536,x0,y103&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744250738744","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9989198"},{"teacherId":8481250,"projectId":8980789,"letterContent":"this project was a fun one to put together. Did you notice how the items I requested did not seem to fit together? What do jigsaw puzzles in the Library have to do with a night light in the shape of a cat? And a document camera with a cork board roll?\r\n\r\nWell, our Libraries are a very special place where imagination meets exploration and fine motor skills go along with building community! The items in this project helped me develop different aspects of our Library, from the more mundane organization of our files, to providing our students with activities to do during choice time.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, the rolling desk was not available, but that didn't stop my students from having lots of fun and connecting with each other over a jigsaw puzzle! Story time has also been made easier with the document camera, I can now project the books' pages for everyone to see better!\r\n\r\nAnd, of course, students love our glowing story time cat. When we turn off the lights and we're ready to read a story, the kitty keeps us company and the students love it!\r\n\r\nThere is one item that we are excited to set up! Our Library doors have become an impromptu art gallery: students often leave their drawing or colorings sheets with me because they want to see them taped up there. Sometimes, both the inside and the outside are entirely covered in art! The cork board roll makes things official by providing a uniform surface for students to pin or staple their work to. And the laminator has helped us preserve some of the work forever!\r\n\r\nMy students and I are grateful for your contribution to our Library program. Like we said: it's more than just books!","fullyFundedDate":1733231172978,"projectUrl":"project/the-library-isnt-just-all-about-books/8980789/","projectTitle":"The Library Isn't Just All About Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Diana Marques","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8481250_orig.jpg?crop=1074,1074,x268,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666220283400","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8481250"},{"teacherId":8481250,"projectId":8980501,"letterContent":"I have a lot to tell you. Where to begin?... I can tell you that this was my first DonorsChoose project at Solomon Elementary and that it was put together after I had a few months to build routines with my students and could assess what materials we needed to work together in Library class.\r\n\r\nI'm not sure whether you know this already but, as an Essentials teacher, I teach 13 different classes at Solomon Elementary: pre-k through 8th grade, plus 3 classes that in our jargon we call low-incidence cluster. To put it simply, I see all of Solomon's students in any given week. I have a chance to meet all of them, the siblings who are in different grades, the very young and the pre-teens, all the way up to 8th grade.\r\n\r\nFor me, this has brought the very interesting challenge of creating a space that I can continuously adapt to fit the needs of all of my students' different ages and abilities. For example, on Fridays, I see 8th grade right after 4th grade. I have only a few minutes to adapt in between classes! I have loved that challenge. Designing our space to be welcoming to all has been a priority and a pleasure of mine.\r\n\r\nAfter a few weeks, I noticed, for example, that my students don't usually bring their own writing and coloring supplies to my room (this is a cultural difference, in my country we carry our own pencil case everywhere). I understood that I'd need to have those supplies easily available to them. So I asked you for caddies and writing supplies, and you helped.\r\n\r\nI also noticed that all of my students absolutely LOVE to color and draw. They are so creative and eager to use their hands to make little things: books, cards, paper games. I felt that it is my duty to give them the space and the materials that allow them to use their imagination. So I asked you for coloring, Ziploc bags for storage and art supplies, and you helped.\r\n\r\nI also noticed that some of my students aren't physically able to browse the picture book shelves safely. The shelves are at their eye-level, but it's hard to pull the books out! So I asked you for book bins, and you helped.\r\n\r\nWe have put to use every single item of the list in the project. My students have learned to use the supplies and to clean up after themselves, leaving the room ready for the next class. My students have made beautiful drawings that we tape to our library doors and window shades. All because you helped.\r\n\r\nI am so very grateful that you took a moment to read my project and see the importance of it. I truly, literally could not have done it without your help. Thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1733194216323,"projectUrl":"project/basic-workdesk-supplies-at-the-library/8980501/","projectTitle":"Basic Workdesk Supplies at the Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Diana Marques","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8481250_orig.jpg?crop=1074,1074,x268,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666220283400","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8481250"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5302","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":338,"numTeachers":21,"percentFrplEligible":50,"percentAsian":31,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":44,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":73.2,"schoolId":5302,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Solomon Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Solomon Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/solomon-elementary-school/5302"}