{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Catalpa Early Childhood Center","outOfStateSupporters":14.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2193197,"projectId":9428958,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations for our sit and spin and calm strips! They have been such wonderful additions to our classroom space. We created a new movement center for the sit and spin and not a day does by where a student isn't in that center! Afterwards, the children are able to use the colorful calm strips in conjunction with some breathing exercises in order to self-regulate. The positive behaviors we've seen as a result of having these materials in our space is quite beautiful and they wouldn't have been possible without your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1760704943512,"projectUrl":"project/roundabout-regulate/9428958/","projectTitle":"Roundabout & Regulate!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Maks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2193197_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503087076069","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missfeldmann"},{"teacherId":7805728,"projectId":9152013,"letterContent":"Thank you so incredibly much for your amazing donation. The projector has totally transformed our art studio in way that I wasn't even prepared for!!! I truly can't thank you enough for your support.\r\n\r\nI have been able to engage all of my students in art in new ways with the addition of the projector. I am able to project the art of countless artists on our wall, making art immersive and larger than life! We have been able to look closely at the work of VanGough, Matisse, Keith Haring, and so many others through interactive displays on our wall. \r\n\r\nI have also been able to project the art that our students make on to our classroom wall with the projector. This has allowed children in one group of children to inspire another group, merely by showing their art with the projector. \r\n\r\nI truly can't wait to see how many other new and exciting ways that we continue to use your generous gift over the years!","fullyFundedDate":1742264867731,"projectUrl":"project/projecting-our-projects-in-our-prek-art/9152013/","projectTitle":"Projecting Our Projects in Our PreK Art Studio","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heather","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7805728_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y1008&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689456118398","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/heather-madden"},{"teacherId":9994825,"projectId":9249007,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in funding our classroom dollhouse project! Our Pre-K students were excited about this new educational and classroom toy, and were eager to explore and play with it.\r\n\r\nThe dollhouse is already becoming a central part of our dramatic play center. It encourages collaboration, language development, and social skills as the children act out familiar family roles, solve problems, and narrate their play.\r\n\r\nYour support is helping our children develop essential skills through play, and we are extremely grateful for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1744647140226,"projectUrl":"project/doll-house-sel-project/9249007/","projectTitle":"Doll House SEL Project","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Alee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9994825"},{"teacherId":9126623,"projectId":8629354,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Big Book Project! Because of your donation, our preschoolers now have access to engaging big books that truly capture their attention. The large, colorful pages make stories come alive and allow all of our students to see the words and illustrations clearly, keeping them captivated and excited about reading together.\r\n\r\nThe addition of the book stand has also made a huge difference. Instead of having to hold the book, we can now focus fully on guiding discussions, asking questions, and encouraging students to participate. This simple but powerful change allows us to create a more interactive and meaningful literacy experience for every child.\r\n\r\nYour support has enriched our classroom and is helping us build a strong foundation for a lifelong love of reading. We are so grateful for your kindness and investment in our students' learning!","fullyFundedDate":1728078739337,"projectUrl":"project/big-pages-of-possibilities/8629354/","projectTitle":"Big Pages of Possibilities!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sandra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9126623_orig.jpg?crop=1258,1258,x21,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690732955682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sandra-ramirez2024"},{"teacherId":6780368,"projectId":8915766,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping fund this project! \r\nOur favorite way to use laminating paper is to preserve student artwork. We also use laminating paper to create durable picture visuals for students for their schedule to help them regulate when we have big transitions in the school day. \r\nWe utilize paint sticks as a way to scaffold the art area as the year progresses. First we introduce crayons and next we teach the students how to put the caps back on markers and paint sticks. This skill takes time to learn and we end up with many dried out markers and paint sticks, thank you for refilling our supply!\r\nTHANK YOU again for all your donations, it means the world to me and the students!","fullyFundedDate":1736268800397,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-restock/8915766/","projectTitle":"Preschool Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6780368_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690998197239","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6780368"},{"teacherId":7493000,"projectId":8664875,"letterContent":"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for supporting my project!\r\n\r\nAs a teacher building a program within its first year, outfitting a classroom that supported 140 students required materials that were built to last. As a pre-k classroom, our carpet serves as a learning hub for dramatic play, direct instruction, STEM, etc. Receiving this carpet built a space for connection to happen between students, with nature, and with learning objectives within the classroom. My students truly loved it all year and had genuine happiness when they walked into their classroom and gathered at it for morning meeting!\r\n\r\nThis carpet will serve as a learning space for years to come. Your contribution means the world, and I can't thank you enough for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1724799552248,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-learning-space-that-connects/8664875/","projectTitle":"Creating a Learning Space That Connects Students to Nature","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Francis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7493000_orig.jpg?crop=1977,1978,x0,y494&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691852707273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7493000"},{"teacherId":6976484,"projectId":9213114,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, the magnetic board has become one of the most loved and used tools in our classroom! From the moment the children saw it, they were eager to explore. Magnets are naturally exciting, and this board invites curiosity and hands-on learning.\r\n\r\nWe've used it in so many creative ways in our classroom. We used it for spelling names, retelling stories, exploring magnetic gears, and even as part of our dramatic play setup when preparing for the transition to full-day preschool. The magnetic board allows the children to explore with little to no instruction, giving them ownership of their learning and helping them engage more deeply with classroom topics. One meaningful moment has been watching how this independent center naturally turned into a cooperative space. We've often seen children working together, taking turns, sharing materials, and building off each other's ideas. It's become a space for not only learning but also connection. \r\n\r\nAs we look ahead to the next school year, I'm excited to incorporate the magnetic board into our very first units of study. It will continue to be a powerful tool to support student learning and promote autonomy from the very beginning. Thank you for helping bring this meaningful and versatile resource into our classroom. You've truly made a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1744059295982,"projectUrl":"project/magnetic-minds-exploring-letters-numbe/9213114/","projectTitle":"Magnetic Minds: Exploring Letters, Numbers, and Stem Through Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tongta","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6976484_orig.jpg?crop=1761,1761,x0,y123&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721340291343","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tfox"},{"teacherId":6780368,"projectId":8962209,"letterContent":"THANK YOU!!! We are so grateful for everyone who donated to this project, it has added so much functionality to our whole group meeting area. We are able to flawlessly rearrange the job board, daily songs, Question of the Day, daily SEL breathing choices, and so much more. The students noticed immediately when the Whiteboard was installed, though when it was in the box they thought it was a big television! HAHA!\r\n\r\nMy favorite way to utilize the whiteboard is to write down the children's words, especially for Question of the Day, it gives me an opportunity to model writing for my students. I highlight and focus on saying to each student \"I am writing your words down\" so they see that their thoughts and ideas can come to life in the form of words. \r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our classroom, this whiteboard will last us so many years and so many students will have the opportunity to further their learning from it!","fullyFundedDate":1734554281327,"projectUrl":"project/preschool-whiteboard/8962209/","projectTitle":"Preschool Whiteboard","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6780368_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690998197239","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6780368"},{"teacherId":9800207,"projectId":8870471,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation! We had a range of items that we requested and in different ways these items are so beneficial to the kids. One of the most impactful items has been the Buddha boards for mindful drawing. So often it's easy for these kids to become frustrated because their drawing doesn't turn out \"right\", or when they erase their marks they can still see the pencil lines. One of my kiddos doesn't like drawing and will scribble as fast as he can to get the drawing \"done\", but he'll sit for 10 minutes on the Buddha board quietly, calmly enjoying his creation. These Buddha board have helped many of my students to find that drawing and art don't have to be perfect and they don't have to be permanent. You can create something and let it go and try again another time. They have also found that using the board can be very calming and we've added it to our toolbelt of calm down techniques.\r\nThe books we received have also been a big hit. We used the Social Emotional books to help improve friendships and communication in our classroom. \"Fill a Bucket\" was particularly important as the kids really understood the metaphor of filling an invisible bucket inside you with good thoughts and good deeds. We even created a class chart about things we can do and say to fill each other's buckets. We started a class \"bucket\" which we fill every time someone says something kind to another person or as a class we all treat the classroom respectfully. When the bucket fills up we get to do something fun. \"The Three Little Pigs\" book has inspired actors in our classroom who like to act out the different parts. We even created a \"stage\" in the classroom so the kids can put on their productions. The Big Bad Wolf always ends up the star of the show... \"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!\"\r\nThank you again for your donation which has positively impacted our classroom and the kids. We look forward to using the sewing machine for our clothing unit in the spring.","fullyFundedDate":1733428679560,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-calming-mental-wellness/8870471/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Calming Mental Wellness!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9800207"},{"teacherId":6780368,"projectId":8680673,"letterContent":"Thank you again for all the donations it took to fund this project. The Big Books are another tool in our Teacher Toolbelt to capture students engagement with large pictures and large print, they help foster a love for learning and reading too. These interactive texts are more than just a novelty for us, they are a powerful tool to draw students in. The large pictures and text helps students focus and follow along because when they are sitting at the carpet with 19 other students a normal size book can be difficult to see from the back row! \r\n\r\nThank you for your continued support!","fullyFundedDate":1728132421753,"projectUrl":"project/big-books-for-little-learners/8680673/","projectTitle":"Big Books for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6780368_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690998197239","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6780368"},{"teacherId":7805728,"projectId":8550776,"letterContent":"The gift of our Light Laboratory to our Preschool Art Studio has been beyond incredible! Our students are immersed in light, color mixing, and joy each day as they experiment and explore. For out students with the most significant developmental needs, the laboratory has proven to be exciting and simple to interact with. They call out color names as they twist the knobs and see new combinations emerge. They invite peers to play with them in ways that have never happened before. The Art Studio is forever changed because of your generosity.\r\n\r\nI am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. You have made an impact to each of my current students as well as to countless students in the future. Thank you so very much!","fullyFundedDate":1727113132277,"projectUrl":"project/create-a-light-laboratory-in-the-art-stu/8550776/","projectTitle":"Create a Light Laboratory in the Art Studio!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heather","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7805728_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y1008&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689456118398","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/heather-madden"},{"teacherId":6780368,"projectId":8353423,"letterContent":"We dove straight into the deep end with this curriculum this school year and have been doing a lesson everyday! Because I teach a 1/2 day 3 year-old program we have had to modify the Slumberkins suggested scope and sequence but we have noticed the students respond well when we do a week of lessons and then a week of review. \r\nThis curriculum has also had the surprise bonus of helping a few of our families that are going through divorce navigate through the feelings associated with that change in the child's life. Parents have asked for resources and visuals that we use in the classroom to create their own calm corner in their homes. \r\n\r\nThank you again for all the donations, we are seeing such an impact on the social and emotional regulation in our students already!","fullyFundedDate":1724863283075,"projectUrl":"project/slumberkins-pre-k-3s/8353423/","projectTitle":"Slumberkins: Pre-K 3s","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6780368_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690998197239","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6780368"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_130512","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":34,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":46,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":85.6,"schoolId":130512,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Catalpa Early Childhood Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Catalpa Early Childhood Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/st-cornelius-early-learning-center/130512"}