{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Valeska Hinton Early Education Center","outOfStateSupporters":33.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9949763,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my project, Belly Breathing with Buddy Bear: Mindfulness Tools for Preschoolers. Your support is truly appreciated and will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our youngest learners.\r\n\r\nThrough this project, preschoolers will learn simple, age appropriate mindfulness strategies that help them understand and manage their emotions. Using Buddy Bear as a visual tool, children will practice belly breathing by watching the bear rise and fall on their stomachs. This hands on experience makes self regulation easy to understand and fun to practice.\r\n\r\nThese skills are essential in early childhood. When children learn how to pause, breathe, and calm their bodies, they are better able to focus, build positive friendships, and participate fully in learning. Mindfulness tools help reduce frustration, strengthen confidence, and create a peaceful classroom environment where every child feels safe and supported.\r\n\r\nYour donation is more than materials. It is an investment in emotional wellness and lifelong coping skills. The strategies our preschoolers learn will not only support them in the classroom, but can also be shared at home with their families, extending the impact even further.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our children and for helping us nurture calm minds and confident hearts. Your generosity is making a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1768447238250,"projectUrl":"project/belly-breathing-with-buddy-bear-mindful/9949763/","projectTitle":"Belly Breathing with Buddy Bear: Mindfulness Tools for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9994949,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to all of the generous donors who supported my project, Calming Backpacks for Emotional Support. Your kindness and willingness to give will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our children. Because of you, our students will have access to tools that help them regulate their emotions, feel safe, and thrive each day. I am truly grateful for your support.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is more than a donation. It is an investment in the emotional well being and future success of every child we serve. Many of our students are still learning how to identify their feelings, express their needs in healthy ways, and calm their bodies when they feel overwhelmed. The calming backpacks will provide tangible, hands on resources that help them pause, breathe, and reset. These tools may seem simple, but in the life of a young child, they are powerful. They create moments of peace in the middle of frustration, anxiety, or big emotions.\r\n\r\nWith these backpacks, students will have access to sensory items, visual supports, and calming strategies that encourage self regulation and independence. Instead of feeling lost in their emotions, they will have structured guidance and comforting materials to help them regain control. This not only supports their social and emotional development, but it also strengthens their ability to focus, learn, and build positive relationships with peers and adults.\r\n\r\nYour support also sends a powerful message to our children and families. It shows them that there are people who care about their growth and believe in their potential. When children know they are supported, they feel valued. When families see their children receiving thoughtful resources, they feel encouraged and connected. Your generosity helps create a culture of compassion and understanding within our school community.\r\n\r\nAs someone who works closely with children and families, I witness daily how critical emotional support is during the early years. These foundational years shape how children respond to challenges, interact with others, and see themselves. By supporting this project, you are helping lay a strong emotional foundation that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. You are helping to equip them with lifelong skills such as self awareness, self control, and resilience.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, we can be proactive rather than reactive. Instead of waiting for a child to struggle without support, we now have meaningful tools readily available to guide them through their emotions. These backpacks will be used during small group instruction, one on one support, and even shared with families so strategies can be reinforced at home. The impact of your gift will extend beyond a single moment. It will echo in calmer classrooms, confident learners, and children who feel understood.\r\n\r\nI want you to know that your generosity does not go unnoticed. Every item placed inside those backpacks represents a caring heart that chose to make a difference. Every time a child reaches for a calming tool and successfully regulates their emotions, that success is connected to you.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in this vision. Thank you for caring about the whole child. Thank you for helping create safe, supportive spaces where children can grow emotionally, socially, and academically. Your support truly changes lives, and I am deeply appreciative of your partnership in this important work.","fullyFundedDate":1768446710798,"projectUrl":"project/calming-backpacks-for-emotional-support/9994949/","projectTitle":"Calming Backpacks for Emotional Support","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9956425,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to my project, Stories, Stars & Calm Down Bottles for Better Bedtimes. Your generosity is helping create peaceful, comforting bedtime routines for our children and families. Because of you, our little learners will have tools that support calm moments, emotional regulation, and sweet dreams. I truly appreciate your support!\r\n\r\nYour kindness goes far beyond a simple donation. You are helping to create meaningful connections between parents and children during one of the most important parts of the day. Bedtime can often feel rushed or overwhelming, but with the support of this project, families will have intentional resources that encourage bonding, storytelling, and relaxation. The calm down bottles will provide children with a visual and sensory way to settle their minds and bodies, while the stories and star themed activities will spark imagination and a sense of security.\r\n\r\nThese tools will not only support better sleep habits, but they will also strengthen social and emotional development. When children feel calm and connected, they are better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive each day. Your generosity is directly impacting our families in a lasting and meaningful way. Thank you for believing in this vision and for helping us make bedtime a more peaceful and joyful experience for the children we serve.","fullyFundedDate":1766077456835,"projectUrl":"project/stories-stars-calm-down-bottles-for-b/9956425/","projectTitle":"Stories, Stars & Calm Down Bottles for Better Bedtimes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9976149,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating towards my Boom! Bang! Learn! Alphabet Adventures project! Your support helps bring engaging, hands-on learning experiences to young children, making early literacy fun and exciting. With your contribution, we can provide materials, activities, and resources that spark curiosity and encourage children to explore letters, sounds, and words in an interactive way.\r\n\r\nYour generosity makes a real difference in the lives of children and families, helping them build strong foundations for learning and growth. Thanks to donors like you, our project can continue to inspire young minds, foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime, and create joyful, memorable experiences for every child. We are deeply grateful for your support and belief in the power of early education.","fullyFundedDate":1768446507937,"projectUrl":"project/boom-bang-learn-alphabet-adventures/9976149/","projectTitle":"Boom! Bang! Learn! Alphabet Adventures","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9969645,"letterContent":"Reading in my classroom, especially with The Color Monster book, often begins with a picture walk. During this time, students explore the illustrations and make predictions about the story. This helps them build curiosity and start connecting to the characters and the emotions being portrayed.\r\n\r\nAfter the picture walk, we dive into the story together. Students enjoy pointing out the colors and discussing the different feelings each color represents. This also opens up conversations about their own emotions and how they can express them in healthy ways.\r\n\r\nThere are many students who are excited about this new book. They are eager to share their thoughts, answer questions, and sometimes even act out parts of the story. Overall, reading The Color Monster has become a fun and meaningful way to explore emotions and foster social-emotional learning in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1768446062448,"projectUrl":"project/growing-feelings-with-the-color-monster/9969645/","projectTitle":"Growing Feelings with the Color Monster","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":5449231,"projectId":9545356,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my Donors Choose project. I am incredibly grateful for your kindness and for taking the time to invest in my preschool speech therapy students. Your donations truly make a difference in our learning environment.\r\n\r\nThe toys, laminating sheets, and Teachers Pay Teachers gift card you provided will be used with the preschool students on my speech therapy caseload. The toys help keep therapy sessions fun and engaging while targeting important communication skills. The laminating sheets allow me to create durable, hands-on materials that can be reused again and again. The TPT gift card gives me access to high-quality resources that support a wide range of speech and language goals.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students will have meaningful, motivating learning experiences that support their communication growth. Thank you for helping make therapy sessions more effective, interactive, and joyful. Your support is truly appreciated and has a lasting impact on my students and their success.","fullyFundedDate":1761248360360,"projectUrl":"project/more-please/9545356/","projectTitle":"More Please!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Watkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5449231_orig.jpg?crop=313,313,x255,y310&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692106623695","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kelly-watkins"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9962992,"letterContent":"My students were very excited to use the new resources, especially the book and instruments.\r\n\r\nWhen they first saw the materials, their reactions showed genuine surprise and curiosity. The students were eager to explore, ask questions, and actively participate in the activities.\r\n\r\nMy next step for this project is to extend the learning by creating a Parent and Child Together activity that families can complete at home. This will help strengthen the home–school connection and allow families to engage in meaningful learning experiences together.","fullyFundedDate":1768444949498,"projectUrl":"project/rhythm-and-fun-exploring-music-with-the/9962992/","projectTitle":"Rhythm and Fun: Exploring Music with The Pout-Pout Fish","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":10241277,"projectId":9682939,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Little Spots, Big Emotions project! These books have already made a big impact in our classroom.\r\n\r\nin early childhood, books are also powerful teaching tools. These stories help students learn how to name their feelings, understand emotions in themselves and others, and practice healthy ways to calm down and problem-solve. The characters give children simple, relatable examples of what big emotions look like and how to manage them.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is interactive and engaging. We read together during circle time and small groups, stopping to talk about how characters feel, make connections, and practice strategies like deep breathing or taking a break. Students love pointing out the \"spots\" and talking about their own feelings.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have especially enjoyed these books. One child recently said, \"I feel mad like the spot, but I can breathe,\" and then used a calming strategy from the story. Other students now independently name their emotions and ask for help using the language they've learned from the books.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a classroom where emotions are understood and supported. These books are helping our students build confidence, empathy, and self-regulation skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. Thank you for making this possible! 💜","fullyFundedDate":1761248359937,"projectUrl":"project/little-spots-big-emotions/9682939/","projectTitle":"Little Spots, Big Emotions","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Daly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10241277"},{"teacherId":5335465,"projectId":9493618,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my Donors Choose project and investing in my Occupational Therapy students. Because of your generosity, I was able to push into classrooms and provide hands-on, meaningful OT support right where my students learn best. The materials from this project were immediately implemented to create durable task boxes, structured fine motor activities, and clear visual support that help students build routines and independence.\r\n\r\nThe laminator allowed me to create long-lasting visual schedules, task cards, and step-by-step supports that my students can use daily without wear and tear. The Thera Putty and fine motor toys were incorporated into both individual and small group activities to strengthen hand muscles, improve grasp, and increase endurance for classroom tasks like writing, cutting, and self-care skills. The containers helped organize materials so students could independently choose activities, follow routines, and clean up with minimal adult prompting. \r\n\r\nThe impact on my students has been incredible. They are more engaged, more confident, and proud of their accomplishments. Thank you for believing in my students and helping them grow, your support truly makes a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1761248359975,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-independence-task-boxes-and-v/9493618/","projectTitle":"Tools for Independence: Task Boxes and Visuals for OT Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nieukirk","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5335465_orig.jpg?crop=753,752,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754338973416","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5335465"},{"teacherId":9845309,"projectId":9961456,"letterContent":"We have introduced new resources in the classroom, including weighted blankets and cushioned socks, to support our students' comfort and well-being. The children were immediately excited when they saw the materials—first the fruit snacks caught their attention, and then they became especially enthusiastic about the weighted blankets, enjoying the cozy feeling they provide.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our current project, Cozy Blankets, Snacks, and Care Items for Preschoolers to Thrive, the next steps for your students include exploring how these materials support self-regulation and comfort, participating in guided activities with the blankets and socks, and reflecting on how small care items can make a big difference in daily routines. This project encourages both hands-on engagement and thoughtful discussion about taking care of themselves and others.","fullyFundedDate":1765984682435,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-blankets-snacks-and-care-items-fo/9961456/","projectTitle":"Cozy Blankets, Snacks, and Care Items for Preschoolers to Thrive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams-Hangen’s Sharing Circle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9845309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760462269588","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9845309"},{"teacherId":5542804,"projectId":9930019,"letterContent":"I first and foremost want to send my deepest appreciation to all who have made this project possible for our student's and classroom! \r\n I want to share that all of these supplies will contribute to their learning throughout the rest of the school year! We will get to use our flexible seating during our morning group time. We will use our cleaning and sanitation supplies to keep our immunity healthy and continue to attend school! We will use our writing materials to create art in our centers and during the time we begin our projects. \r\n We appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1765983985407,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-a-cause/9930019/","projectTitle":"Supplies for a Cause","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nunez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5542804_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764492919006","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nunez-specialeducation-teacher"},{"teacherId":6403789,"projectId":9418374,"letterContent":"Thankyou so much for helping my students. I love seeing them explore and learn using their new toys. I love seeing their laughs and smiles as they get so excited to see their toys pop and spin! These new cause-and-effect toys are helping my students focus and learn. They are using communication and learning valuable vocabulary as they play with their toys. Thankyou so much for contributing to our classroom thus making these learning experiences possible for my students. Their families and our entire teaching/therapy team are grateful to you.","fullyFundedDate":1758835357249,"projectUrl":"project/come-play-with-me-engaging-cause-and-ef/9418374/","projectTitle":"Come Play With Me! Engaging Cause-and-Effect Activities for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ramsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6403789_orig.jpg?crop=2243,2243,x0,y171&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674942935926","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6403789"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30197","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":500,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":57,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 1","studentTeacherRatio":"21.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":67.0,"schoolId":30197,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Valeska Hinton Early Education Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Valeska Hinton Early Education Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/peoria-public-school-district-150/valeska-hinton-childhood-education-ctr/30197"}