{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"V.H. Nelson Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":17.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9579452,"projectId":9384361,"letterContent":"Our classroom rug has made a wonderful difference for our students. They were so happy to discover that they each have their own spot on the rug—a place that feels personal, spacious, and comfortable for learning. Having clearly defined spaces has helped our whole group lessons run smoothly, and students feel proud and secure knowing exactly where to sit. We are truly grateful to have this rug, as it creates a warm, organized environment where students can focus, participate, and build strong learning routines.\r\n\r\nThe rug has made our morning meetings and lessons even more meaningful. Having dedicated spots has also helped with transitions to and from the rug—students move quickly and calmly because they know exactly where they belong.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our learning, the rug will remain a key part of our classroom structure. Our next steps involve strengthening partner talk and whole-group discussion routines. With this rug providing a consistent and organized meeting place, students are becoming more confident and engaged each day. Thanks to our donors, our classroom now has a space that truly supports community, comfort, and focused learning.","fullyFundedDate":1749166788520,"projectUrl":"project/more-the-merrier/9384361/","projectTitle":"More the Merrier!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9579452_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748481869602","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-leee"},{"teacherId":9579452,"projectId":9453938,"letterContent":"Our baskets and classroom mailbox have made an immediate and meaningful impact on our classroom routines. Students use the baskets to store their Chromebooks each day, which has helped create smooth, organized transitions during our lessons. Instead of juggling materials or searching for space in their desks, they have a designated place for their devices. They also put their library books inside the baskets so they don't get lost or confused with the classroom library books. The mailbox has also been incredibly helpful. Students use them to collect their papers and store their yellow take-home folders, which keep assignments and communication with families organized and easy to manage.\r\n\r\nThese organizational tools are helping students move smoothly between activities. Our next steps involve building even more independence and responsibility during transitions, and these materials support exactly that. Thanks to our donors, students are developing strong organizational habits that will benefit them all year long.","fullyFundedDate":1753413238704,"projectUrl":"project/organization-at-its-finest/9453938/","projectTitle":"Organization at its Finest","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9579452_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748481869602","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-leee"},{"teacherId":8848479,"projectId":9314819,"letterContent":"When my students opened their \"Summer Smiles\" kits, their faces lit up with pure joy. They ran their hands over the bright covers of the books, flipped through the coloring pages, and proudly showed each other the fidgets and writing tablets. For many of them, these are the first new books they've ever owned.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, their summers were filled with imagination, creativity, and moments of calm instead of boredom or frustration. They curled up with stories that reflect their language and culture, filled their notebooks with drawings and ideas, and have tools to help them focus and regulate big feelings.\r\n\r\nYour gift goes far beyond supplies—it tells my students that someone believes in their potential and wants them to keep growing, even when school isn't in session. You've turned what could have been a long, quiet summer into one full of discovery, laughter, and pride. Thank you for giving them that joy and for reminding them that learning can happen anywhere, anytime!","fullyFundedDate":1746727566636,"projectUrl":"project/summer-smiles-with-learning-supplies/9314819/","projectTitle":"Summer Smiles with Learning Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kreidler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8848479_orig.jpg?crop=3168,3168,x0,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1668812831670","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8848479"},{"teacherId":8847038,"projectId":9291226,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! The kids were very excited when they opened the boxes and saw what was inside. We used the shovels immediately, as we were in the middle of planting season. Additionally, we had received a large dump truck full of topsoil that we were going to use to fill our newest garden beds, but the company had to put it down in our parking lot, which is about 200 feet from its final destination. The 5th graders used the new shovels to put load after load into a wheelbarrow so we could relocate it to the right place. There were enough tools to go around! \r\n\r\nWe will be very happy to use these high quality tools for years and year to come as we continue to expand and improve our beautiful school garden. Thank you, again!","fullyFundedDate":1746134527387,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-the-garden-with-real-quality/9291226/","projectTitle":"Expanding the Garden with Real, Quality Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huzar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8847038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109598232","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8847038"},{"teacherId":8847038,"projectId":9309639,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation of hay and bunny food for our 3 resident class pets! Fresa, Jingles and Principe add so much joy to our school day. The kids love spending time caring for them, reading to them, holding them, and learning about them. And for times of sadness or anxiety, they are always here for us to calm us down and to help regulate our emotions. \r\n\r\nProviding food and vet care for our bunny friends is an expensive undertaking. Having this large supply of food and hay will keep them happy for several months, and we can spend extra money on their treats and fresh fruits and veggies. Again, thank you for your generous donation!","fullyFundedDate":1746727366566,"projectUrl":"project/class-pets-make-school-better/9309639/","projectTitle":"Class Pets Make School Better","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huzar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8847038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109598232","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8847038"},{"teacherId":8847038,"projectId":8942763,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your donations! My students were stunned and excited when they saw the microscopes! Not only did we get to use them multiple times in class (and will continue to use them for the remainder of the school year), I was also able to start a science club for 5th graders called, \"We are Biologists!\" \r\n\r\nDuring our club, students learned how to use and care for the microscopes. They were able to look at things on prepared slides, and then they were able to learn how to prepare slides of their own to look at things from the garden, from around the school, and even the hairs from their own heads. We also learned how to use petri dishes filled with agar to grow bacteria cultures from various places around the school. Each student was able to use the scientific method to design an experiment to find out which place was the \"germiest\" in our building. We were able to look at the cultures with our eyes AND to learn how to prepare slides to observe them under our new microscopes. \r\n\r\nThe students were very, very interested in these activities. I hope that this experience ignites a love for the study of science. Maybe some of our students will consider being scientists in the future! This club would not have been nearly as successful without the donation of our new microscopes, and I am thrilled that we will have them to use for years into the future.","fullyFundedDate":1735397245163,"projectUrl":"project/we-are-multilingual-scientists/8942763/","projectTitle":"We are Multilingual Scientists!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huzar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8847038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109598232","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8847038"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30240","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":467,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":64,"percentAsian":19,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":36,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.8,"schoolId":30240,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about V.H. Nelson Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"V.H. Nelson Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/east-maine-school-district-63/v-h-nelson-elementary-school/30240"}