{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Canterbury Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":11.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10217377,"projectId":9650325,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, Little Learners, Big Readers: Organizing Our Kindergarten Library has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom. The new resources have transformed our classroom library into an organized, inviting space where students can easily find books that match their interests and reading levels. We use the library daily during independent reading, small-group instruction, and choice time, and students are now more confident selecting books on their own.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. They couldn't wait to explore the neatly labeled bins and were eager to talk about the books they recognized or wanted to read next. Several students proudly shared that they felt like \"real readers\" because they could find and return books independently. It was a joyful moment watching them take ownership of their classroom library.\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue building strong reading habits by practicing book care, exploring new genres, and using our organized library to support phonics, comprehension, and storytelling activities. With this refreshed space, my students are developing a true love of reading and learning skills that will support them throughout their school journey. Thank you for helping make this possible for my little learners.","fullyFundedDate":1762124772527,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-readers-organizing/9650325/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Big Readers: Organizing Our Kindergarten Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vivas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10217377_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756150571383","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10217377"},{"teacherId":10217377,"projectId":9704436,"letterContent":"Since receiving the materials, my kindergarten students have been using them during hands-on math and engineering centers. One favorite activity has been building structures while counting, sorting, and comparing pieces. Students work together to design towers and bridges, test their ideas, and revise their designs when something doesn't work. These experiences have helped them develop problem-solving skills, teamwork, and persistence in an engaging, age-appropriate way.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were thrilled. Their excitement was immediate as they explored the tools and eagerly began building. Many students who are typically quiet or hesitant became more confident, sharing ideas and participating actively. Seeing their pride and enthusiasm has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, my students are learning that math and engineering are creative, hands-on, and fun. Our next steps include connecting these materials to lessons on shapes, measurement, and simple engineering challenges. Students will continue working collaboratively to plan, build, test, and improve their designs, strengthening both their academic and social skills.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students the opportunity to learn through exploration and play while building a strong foundation in STEM. Thank you for helping our kindergarteners see themselves as young mathematicians and engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1762124772773,"projectUrl":"project/young-mathematicians-engineers-hands-/9704436/","projectTitle":"Young Mathematicians & Engineers: Hands-On Stem for Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vivas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10217377_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756150571383","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10217377"},{"teacherId":8292826,"projectId":9681609,"letterContent":"We are using the magnetic tiles daily as a morning STEM bin, during choice time, and as part of our STEM and play-based learning blocks. Students use them to build structures, patterns, and simple designs while practicing collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. One memorable moment was when a small group worked together to design a \"bridge\" that could connect two tables. They tested different shapes, talked through why some designs fell, and revised their structure until it stayed standing. This led to rich conversations about balance, shapes, and teamwork.\r\n\r\nThe students were immediately excited and curious when they first saw the magnetic tiles. Many students began exploring right away, testing how the pieces connected and asking questions about what they could build. Even students who are typically hesitant during academic tasks were highly engaged and eager to participate. The materials were inviting and accessible, which helped students feel confident and motivated to try new ideas.\r\n\r\nNext, students will use the magnetic tiles to support a STEM lesson focused on building stable structures and understanding how shapes work together. We will introduce simple challenges, such as building the tallest tower or creating a structure that can hold a small object. Students will be encouraged to plan, build, test, and reflect on their designs. These activities will continue to strengthen problem-solving skills, collaboration, and early engineering thinking while keeping learning playful and engaging.","fullyFundedDate":1759279034290,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-minds-with-magna-tiles/9681609/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Minds with Magna-Tiles!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strahm","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8292826"},{"teacherId":4405644,"projectId":9781969,"letterContent":"I hope this note finds you well. I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous donation to support our Donors Choose project: We CAN Makerspace. Your contribution enabled me to purchase sewing materials, sticker paper, and colorful filament for our 3D printers, which will be used during our Makerspace Club. \r\n\r\nThe students of Canterbury have already started using the sewing materials, and they instantly fell in love with learning to sew and being able to complete their grid mats. We also created stickers in Google Slides that they can now stick to their water bottles or Chromebooks. Our final project will include using the filament to create a backpack charm. \r\n\r\nYour support made a significant difference, enabling us to carry out our activities more efficiently and effectively for this project and for the future! We are truly grateful for your commitment and generosity.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your kindness and for being such a valuable part of our community.","fullyFundedDate":1762604256967,"projectUrl":"project/we-can-makerspace/9781969/","projectTitle":"We Can Makerspace","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Frank","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4405644_orig.jpg?crop=1728,1728,x0,y426&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715647908628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msfrank21"},{"teacherId":10217377,"projectId":9642078,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations for our kinder classroom! \r\nThe sensory materials from Calm, Create, and Learn with Sensory Play have already made a meaningful difference in our classroom. The sensory bins, sand, and kinetic sand have become essential tools in our STEM centers, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore textures, practice fine-motor skills, experiment and structure building. \r\nFor students with sensory needs, these materials offer a safe and engaging way to regulate their bodies and emotions throughout the day. They've also strengthened our calm corner, giving students a soothing, constructive activity that helps them reset and return to learning ready and focused. These resources have brought a sense of calm, creativity, and curiosity to our classroom, and my students are benefiting every single day.\r\n\r\nThank you, again, for your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1757516243606,"projectUrl":"project/calm-create-and-learn-with-sensory-pla/9642078/","projectTitle":"Calm, Create, and Learn with Sensory Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vivas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10217377_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756150571383","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10217377"},{"teacherId":4405644,"projectId":9392267,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting the \"Sketch, Tinker, Design in STEM\" project! Your donations have made it possible for my students to explore creativity through hands-on design and innovation. Every supply you helped fund turns curiosity into learning and ideas into real creations. The laughter and joy that can be heard from the STEM room while engineering and tinkering is all possible because of you. We're deeply grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom's potential.","fullyFundedDate":1759279035020,"projectUrl":"project/sketch-tinker-design-in-stem/9392267/","projectTitle":"Sketch, Tinker, Design in Stem","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Frank","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4405644_orig.jpg?crop=1728,1728,x0,y426&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715647908628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msfrank21"},{"teacherId":8934980,"projectId":9834391,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the wonderful supplies of paint gallons and pumps!! Our Kindergarten students have a culture for self expression through paint, and we go through paint really quickly as it gets used most days!\r\nFrom self portraits, to abstract paintings, to landscapes, the creativity of my kindergarteners grows daily thanks to the access to these essential supplies. It also boosts their independence and autonomy to refill the paint cups by using the pumps.\r\nThese supplies will last for a long time. Thank you so much for painting smiles in Kindergarten!","fullyFundedDate":1762124772552,"projectUrl":"project/painting-smiles-in-kindergarten/9834391/","projectTitle":"Painting Smiles in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McEvilly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8934980_orig.jpg?crop=1936,1936,x0,y329&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714961625617","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8934980"},{"teacherId":4405644,"projectId":9387265,"letterContent":"Our STEM room would not be running smoothly without the simple but powerful tools of masking tape, Scotch tape, and their dispensers. These everyday items make a remarkable difference in helping us to tinker and build, as our first official projects are underway in STEM class. The tape has been a key tool in helping to construct our mini golf course holes and to build a \"cheese-copter\" like Rosie does in the book Rosie Revere the Engineer. The tape dispensers have helped to keep the building process running efficiently, saving time and reducing frustration (which is HUGE for my littles), so creativity can stay at the center of the work. \r\n\r\nTogether, these supplies eliminate small barriers that could slow down our building momentum, but not this year! Our students can dive into hands-on learning with confidence and excitement. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your donation in helping to fuel collaboration, creativity, and innovation in our STEM classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755797975412,"projectUrl":"project/making-it-stick-in-stem/9387265/","projectTitle":"Making it Stick in STEM!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Frank","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4405644_orig.jpg?crop=1728,1728,x0,y426&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715647908628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msfrank21"},{"teacherId":10039740,"projectId":9367978,"letterContent":"My students already love their new space station! With the costumes, they are pretending they are astronauts in space. They love the view finder to show them pictures of planets. One student even said \"it feels like I'm watching my own TV\" about the view finder. I look forward to using even more supplies that were donated in our station so that they can continue to explore and experiment to grow their knowledge of space. \r\n\r\nYour donation is inspiring science exploration with my young learners. They are growing a love of science all thanks to you!","fullyFundedDate":1750255541353,"projectUrl":"project/astronaut-space-stations/9367978/","projectTitle":"Astronaut Space Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Loftus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039740_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747693221725","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10039740"},{"teacherId":10039740,"projectId":9367944,"letterContent":"My students use blocks to grow their social, emotional, and collaborative skills. They work together during stations to build whatever their hearts desire. This teamwork helps set us up for a great year of working together to achieve our goals. \r\n\r\nThe materials you provided for my class helped to give me more opportunities to provide for my students. So far, they love working with the new magnet blocks and crystal legos. I know they will continue to explore and grow because of the materials you so graciously supplied us. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for supporting education with your donation to my classroom. You have impacted my school year and many other classes that I will have.","fullyFundedDate":1750256174938,"projectUrl":"project/building-materials-for-stations/9367944/","projectTitle":"Building Materials for Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Loftus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039740_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747693221725","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10039740"},{"teacherId":8934980,"projectId":9498636,"letterContent":"My students' favorite resource in the classroom is the audible stories. They look forward to listening and having following along the books.\r\nAlso, the songs are amazing! They love singing along the tunes that they have been learning through this resource.\r\nThis is enhancing both their listening skills and their language acquisition. Some of my students are English learners, and having the language input through a different source (screen free, yet independently managed)\r\nThank you so much. \r\nGenerations of students will surely enjoy it for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1753974041955,"projectUrl":"project/the-power-of-becoming-great-listeners/9498636/","projectTitle":"The Power of Becoming Great Listeners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McEvilly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8934980_orig.jpg?crop=1936,1936,x0,y329&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714961625617","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8934980"},{"teacherId":8934980,"projectId":9052449,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the calming stepping stones. They are a wonderful addition in our Kindergarten classroom.\r\nFor generations to come, students will benefit from a calm tool that they can use for many purposes, be it to get some wiggles out, or perhaps when they need a sensory break. Some students have used it as a movement break as well, since they can step back and forth from one to the next.\r\nI appreciate your donation greatly, and so do my students. It is such a happy moment when I get to see them use these tools to meet their needs.","fullyFundedDate":1746580931804,"projectUrl":"project/calming-stepping-stones/9052449/","projectTitle":"Calming Stepping Stones","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McEvilly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8934980_orig.jpg?crop=1936,1936,x0,y329&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714961625617","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8934980"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_25474","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":447,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":57,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":51,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":88.5,"schoolId":25474,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Canterbury Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Canterbury Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/crystal-lake-community-school-district-47/canterbury-elementary-school/25474"}