{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"IPS Butler University Laboratory School 55","outOfStateSupporters":27.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2876244,"projectId":10173065,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding the rug for our Remida! Your support has provided the literal foundation for our creative process, transforming a cold, stark tile floor into a warm, welcoming space of possibilities.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students now have a dedicated, cozy gathering place where they can fully immerse themselves in their learning. The impact of this simple addition is already visible every day:\r\n\r\n• Deep Investigation: Students are now comfortably sitting, focusing, and spending extended periods diving into creative provocations.\r\n\r\n• Collaborative Building: The large, durable surface gives our young learners plenty of room to spread out loose parts, collaborate, and co-construct big ideas in science, math, and the arts.\r\n\r\n• Reflection & Community: The rug has become a meeting ground where we gather as a group to reflect on discoveries and share insights.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has turned this room into a genuine space for exploration, curiosity, and inspiration. We are so grateful for your investment in our students' creativity and for helping us bring the Reggio Emilia approach to life in such a meaningful way.\r\n\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1778024693363,"projectUrl":"project/a-place-to-gather/10173065/","projectTitle":"A Place to Gather","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sjoerdsma","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2876244_orig.png?crop=966,966,x0,y167&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686326139856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sjoerdsma"},{"teacherId":2876244,"projectId":10143278,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of books to our children! Your kindness has brought an incredible wave of excitement to our learning space, and these resources are already making a profound impact on our daily activities.\r\n\r\nIt is wonderful to see how quickly the children have connected with the collection you provided. These books have been moved to our Remida and are used daily as tools for our young learners. Your thoughtful contribution is supporting them in many ways: \r\n\r\n• Project Work: The children are utilizing the texts to dive deep into collaborative assignments, working together to solve problems and bring their hands-on projects to life. Teachers use them weekly to set up provocations for children.\r\n\r\n• Research: These resources allow them to explore complex ideas, satisfy their natural curiosity, and build foundational research skills.\r\n\r\n• Observational Drawing: The rich illustrations and high-quality photographs are helping the children slow down, study fine details, and translate what they see into their drawings.\r\n\r\nBooks spark imagination and open doors to new worlds. By putting these pages into the hands of our children, you have directly enriched their education, fueled their creativity, and fostered a deeper love for learning. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and your investment in our children's future. Thank you once again for your inspiring support!","fullyFundedDate":1776130710641,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-inspire-us/10143278/","projectTitle":"Books That Inspire Us!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sjoerdsma","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2876244_orig.png?crop=966,966,x0,y167&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686326139856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sjoerdsma"},{"teacherId":3808452,"projectId":10337044,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us create a classroom where every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn! Because of your generosity, our kindergarteners now have access to a calming space and resources that help them recognize their emotions, regulate their bodies, and develop important social-emotional skills.\r\n\r\nOur students were so excited to explore their new calming materials, but the calming cube has quickly become their absolute favorite! They love having a cozy, inviting space where they can go inside to take a break from the busy classroom environment and enjoy a few quiet moments. What has been especially wonderful is seeing how students have made this space their own. While the cube provides a comforting place to reset, it has also become a favorite spot for independent reading, sharing books with a partner, and spending quiet time connecting with friends. It is a space where students can find both comfort and joy throughout the school day!\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful parts of this project has been watching students begin to recognize when they need a break and practice using strategies to help themselves. Whether they are spending a few quiet moments inside the calming cube, practicing deep breathing, or using sensory tools to help regulate their bodies, students are developing greater self-awareness and independence. We have been learning together that everyone experiences big feelings and that taking a reset is not a punishment, but a helpful strategy we can all use when we need support.\r\n\r\nThe calming cube has also created opportunities for students to practice important social skills, such as sharing a space, respecting one another's needs, and building positive relationships. It has become more than just a calming area; it is a meaningful part of our classroom where children can feel comfortable, connected, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nAs we continue through the school year, we will build upon these skills by helping students identify their emotions, communicate their needs, and discover which calming strategies work best for them. We will also continue encouraging students to use this special space for reading, collaboration, and quiet reflection.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has provided so much more than calming materials. You've helped create a classroom where children have a special place to feel calm, build friendships, discover a love of reading, and develop confidence in managing their emotions. Thank you for helping us create a learning environment where every child feels understood, valued, and supported. Because of you, our students have a little space that is making a big difference in how they learn, connect, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1788229387403,"projectUrl":"project/calm-bodies-ready-minds/10337044/","projectTitle":"Calm Bodies, Ready Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3808452_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472924572914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/miss-c-lee"},{"teacherId":3808452,"projectId":9659984,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us create a classroom where every child has a place to belong! Because of your generosity, our kindergarteners now have a beautiful gathering space that brings our classroom community together each day.\r\n\r\nOur students were so excited to see their new rug! They loved discovering that each of them had their very own space to sit, making our classroom feel even more welcoming and inviting. Having a designated spot has helped our students develop a sense of ownership, independence, and belonging while learning important classroom routines and expectations.\r\n\r\nOur rug has quickly become the heart of our classroom! It is where we gather each morning to greet one another, share our thoughts, listen to stories, explore new ideas, and celebrate our learning. During our literacy lessons, students come together to enjoy read-alouds, practice letter sounds, and engage in meaningful conversations about books. During math, the rug provides a space for us to explore numbers, solve problems, and share our mathematical thinking. It is also where we build friendships, practice listening to one another, and learn what it means to be part of a caring classroom community.\r\n\r\nAs we continue growing together this year, our rug will remain an important part of our daily learning. Students will continue developing the skills to participate in group discussions, collaborate with classmates, and confidently share their ideas. Most importantly, they will continue learning that their voices matter and that they are valued members of our classroom.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has provided so much more than a classroom rug. You've helped create a space where children feel welcomed, included, and connected to one another. Thank you for giving every child a place to sit, a place to learn, and most importantly, a place to belong and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1766359866980,"projectUrl":"project/a-place-to-belong-a-place-to-grow/9659984/","projectTitle":"A Place to Belong, a Place to Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3808452_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472924572914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/miss-c-lee"},{"teacherId":3808452,"projectId":10338309,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring creativity to life in our kindergarten classroom! Because of your generosity, our students have access to exciting new art and movement materials that encourage them to explore, imagine, collaborate, and express themselves in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nOur kindergarteners were thrilled to see the new materials! Their excitement and curiosity were contagious as they discovered new opportunities to paint, draw, create, and make music. These resources have helped us expand our Reggio-inspired classroom into a space where children can share their ideas, explore their interests, and tell their stories through the arts.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite experiences has been connecting these materials to our fairy tales and storytelling units. As students explored familiar fairy tales, they learned about characters, settings, and the important events that make up a story. Using a variety of art materials, students created their own characters and settings, bringing their imaginations to life through illustrations and hands-on creations. These experiences helped students make meaningful connections between the stories we read and the stories they began creating as young authors and illustrators.\r\n\r\nThe materials have also supported our exploration of identity through self-portraits. Students looked closely at themselves, mixed colors to represent their unique skin tones, and used different materials to create their individual features. This work sparked wonderful conversations about what makes each of us special while helping students develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging in our classroom community.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our learning, students will have even more opportunities to use these resources to tell their own stories, develop characters and settings, and express their ideas through painting, collage, music, movement, and collaborative projects. We look forward to watching their creativity grow as they discover new ways to communicate their thinking and share their unique perspectives.\r\n\r\nYour support has given our students so much more than art supplies. You've given them opportunities to take creative risks, discover new interests, build friendships, and see themselves as capable artists, authors, and storytellers. Thank you for believing in the power of creativity and helping us create a classroom where every child's voice and imagination matter!","fullyFundedDate":1782219033667,"projectUrl":"project/creative-voices-in-kindergarten/10338309/","projectTitle":"Creative Voices in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3808452_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472924572914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/miss-c-lee"},{"teacherId":1047067,"projectId":10307839,"letterContent":"We launched our school year by establishing a community of learners who are kind and supportive of each individual's uniqueness. It's important for students to learn and remember one another's names. Thanks to your generous donations and our fulfilled Donors Choose project, we were able to use liquid watercolors to craft name tags for our cubbies. My students explored with watercolor paper and the languages of watercolor and drawing pens. It's truly remarkable to witness five- and six-year-olds becoming independent with such wonderful artistic tools. I am deeply grateful for this supportive community.","fullyFundedDate":1782831992066,"projectUrl":"project/lets-create/10307839/","projectTitle":"Let's Create","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McDaniel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1047067_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1494182386127","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sarah-mcdaniel"},{"teacherId":310948,"projectId":10193236,"letterContent":"Our pre-k learners are LOVING our new sand and outdoor play materials! Each afternoon we head outside and the students are having so much fun playing, exploring, building, creating and experiencing the sand! \r\nWe are so appreciative of everyone's support to make this happen and it will be used by many classes in our school and in years to come!\r\nI cannot wait to see where our imaginations take us and how we can use these outdoor materials in new ways each day!\r\nThere is so much cooperative play, sensory play and creative play that is taking place in nature and it's so exciting to observe and watch.\r\nThank you so much for your help in making our outdoor sand play dreams a reality.","fullyFundedDate":1778784003294,"projectUrl":"project/sand-scoops-and-outside-fun/10193236/","projectTitle":"Sand, Scoops, and Outside Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. E.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp310948_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657632658824","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/310948"},{"teacherId":6722564,"projectId":10081589,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donations and support of our athletic program. We recently held our end-of-year sports banquet, and I am excited to share that it was a tremendous success. The event was such a special opportunity for our student athletes, coaches, and families to come together and celebrate all of the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments from this past season. None of it would have been possible without the kindness and generosity of supporters like you.\r\n\r\nAll of the donated supplies helped make the event special and memorable for our student athletes. Your kindness and support played a huge role in making the banquet such a success, and we are so grateful for your generosity. Thank you for supporting our program and our students!","fullyFundedDate":1771332510730,"projectUrl":"project/celebrate-our-champions/10081589/","projectTitle":"Celebrate Our Champions!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6722564_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566222878220","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-jones55"},{"teacherId":10461796,"projectId":10146592,"letterContent":"First and foremost, I want to thank you for the continued support of my classroom. Whether you've known me my whole life, met me through Butler Lab 55, or randomly chose to donate, I am so appreciative. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a first grader, and people like you make my dreams a reality. \r\n\r\nIn my classroom, I am using these books to cultivate a love for reading. We are learning how to choose books that are at our just-right reading level, which means they are not too hard but also not too easy that we are bored. Additionally, we are learning what it takes to choose a good book. We are learning about reading the blurb on the book cover, flipping through the pages, and thinking about topics that might interest us. Finally, students are finding where they enjoy reading, such as our cozy library space, by the \"fireplace\" on the projector, or sitting in their seats! \r\n\r\nI wish you could have seen their eyes light up when they saw the books being unboxed. They immediately asked when we could start reading, which is something that I don't often see with students anymore. It was amazing to see how excited they were to put a book in their hands. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this amazing gift you have provided to my classroom. You truly have made a difference in so many children's lives.","fullyFundedDate":1773845695553,"projectUrl":"project/grow-our-love-for-reading/10146592/","projectTitle":"Grow our Love for Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gretencord","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10461796_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773524559804","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10461796"},{"teacherId":7197007,"projectId":6661909,"letterContent":"This project has supported students for several years, and we continue to see the lasting impact of your generosity. Thank you for providing books that allow children to explore our country's history through multiple perspectives. These texts have taken students beyond what textbooks alone can offer, sparking deeper curiosity and meaningful research. More importantly, they empower students not just to learn history, but to question, analyze, and truly engage with it in thoughtful ways. Your generosity will continue to impact children for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1663674824229,"projectUrl":"project/perspectives-in-american-history/6661909/","projectTitle":"Perspectives in American History","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murseli","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7197007_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1734743104659","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7197007"},{"teacherId":1047067,"projectId":9698291,"letterContent":"​​\r\nThank you so much for contributing to our classroom community. We are so grateful for the opportunity to play and explore with light and shadow with our new light table, document camera, and Magna-Tiles! \r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to help me open and set up the light table. I wish you could hear the joyful buzz in the classroom when these tools arrived! It was truly incredible. As soon as we got the materials unboxed, students were thrilled to build and create with the Magna-Tiles on the light table! We are looking forward to using the other tools for light and shadow play soon. I can't thank you enough for your generosity and kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1757984169365,"projectUrl":"project/illumination-exploration/9698291/","projectTitle":"Illumination Exploration!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McDaniel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1047067_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1494182386127","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sarah-mcdaniel"},{"teacherId":4447052,"projectId":9458581,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our new table has already become an important part of our classroom. We've been using it daily for small-group instruction—everything from reading and math intervention, having a dedicated space where I can meet with students closely and intentionally has transformed the way we learn together.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new table in our space, there were so many \"WOW!!\" reactions! They were excited and thankful to learn that our community provided the new learning space for them. \r\n\r\nNow that we have this new setup, our next steps include diving deeper into targeted small-group lessons, especially in reading fluency and math problem-solving. The table allows every student to be seen, heard, and supported, and it's already helping them stay more engaged and focused during instruction.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students a space that makes learning feel personal, comfortable, and important. Your support truly makes a difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1755048680077,"projectUrl":"project/gathering-around-the-table-small-group/9458581/","projectTitle":"Gathering Around the Table: Small Group Success in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cusick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4447052"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_20310","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":316,"numTeachers":15,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":53,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"21.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":72.1,"schoolId":20310,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about IPS Butler University Laboratory School 55 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"IPS Butler University Laboratory School 55","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/indiana/indianapolis-public-school-district/eliza-a-blaker-elementary-school-55/20310"}