{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Buren Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6888408,"projectId":10444677,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our \"Supplied for Success!\" project. When the students first saw the boxes of new materials arrive, they were absolutely thrilled. Seeing the hands-on math games, new laminating sheets, and organized materials made them feel deeply valued and ready to learn. We are already putting these resources to work during our daily routines. Just yesterday, the classroom was buzzing with energy as students used the new math games to practice their skills together, turning a tough lesson into an engaging, hands-on experience. At the same time, the organizer boxes, Stikki Clips, and laminating sheets have helped us create a clean, predictable space where students can find materials independently and focus entirely on their work. The sticker books are a BIG hit this year, as students get to pick a sticker at the end of a successful group time. Your kindness has given my students a fully stocked, organized classroom where they have the exact tools they need to reach their full potential. Thank you for investing in our classroom and making meaningful learning possible!","fullyFundedDate":1787795007330,"projectUrl":"project/supplied-for-success/10444677/","projectTitle":"Supplied for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dvorak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6888408_orig.jpg?crop=918,918,x98,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628716170257","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missdvorak"},{"teacherId":6888408,"projectId":10387849,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our \"Ready, Set, Reset!\" project. Your support provides our diverse, resilient students with the vital Tier 1 tools they need to self-regulate and thrive in a structured environment. When the students first saw the fresh Crayola markers, new digital timers, and organized stacking drawers, they were absolutely thrilled and felt deeply cared for. We are already seeing the incredible impact of your gift during our daily routines. Just recently, an overwhelmed student independently went to the Recharge Center, set a digital timer for five minutes, and used the Unifix Cubes to calm her anxiety before quietly returning to her desk, ready to learn. Additionally, the new name badge holders and clips have fully restored our school-wide PBIS pass system, keeping our daily transitions safe and accountable. Moving forward, our next steps are to integrate these tools into a social-emotional lesson where students will use the markers to map out their own personalized \"Reset Routines.\" Your kindness does so much more than just provide supplies—it teaches our students lifelong skills in self-awareness and emotional regulation. Thank you for investing in their well-being!","fullyFundedDate":1786281705528,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-reset/10387849/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Reset!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dvorak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6888408_orig.jpg?crop=918,918,x98,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628716170257","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missdvorak"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10765659,"letterContent":"Little learners love multiple opportunities to gain their \"number sense.\" We plan to use the dabbers and other items to create various lessons to practice math stills. These large items are amazing in little hands and help with writing skills too.\r\nOne activity we do is \"lighting up the classroom with kindness.\" Students get to make a lightbulb on a strand of lights when they are found expressing kindness to another. This is one of many fun traditions in my classroom that I await each holiday season.\r\nTHANK YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1793107803161,"projectUrl":"project/dab-play-learnmaking-math-fun/10765659/","projectTitle":"Dab, Play, Learn:Making Math Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Halligan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9559100_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717027872274","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9559100"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10667431,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation. I laminate A LOT of items in kindergarten. We are very aware of the costs of printing but still want students to have opportunities for practice. By laminating a resource, it lives on for multiple uses in different ways year after year.\r\nOur school, and especially our classroom of kindergarteners are very thankful for your partnering and cannot wait to share all the items we use in math, reading and daily activities.\r\nHands-on learning is pivotal for little learners and this project allows that to happen. THANK YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1793107804974,"projectUrl":"project/laminating-our-way-through-kindergarten/10667431/","projectTitle":"Laminating Our Way Through Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Halligan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9559100_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717027872274","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9559100"},{"teacherId":6888408,"projectId":10380575,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in fully funding our \"Charging Up Our PBIS Stars\" project! Your support means the world to our staff and students, especially as we navigate this bitter-sweet, historic final year in our current school building before transitioning to a brand-new campus. Because of your kindness, we now have the high-quality printing supplies, customizing tools, and labels needed to launch our tiered recognition experience. Our cafeteria wall is already transforming into a vibrant gallery of gold star cutouts, showcasing photos of our amazing Chargers who go above and beyond. The students are absolutely thrilled when they see their proud moments captured and celebrated by the entire school community. Furthermore, the personalized certificates, stickers, and physical star trophies you funded have given our kids a tangible token of excellence that they can take home, display proudly on their shelves, and cherish forever. You haven't just provided materials; you have sustained a vital culture of positivity and school pride that ensures our final class of Chargers will truly \"shine on\" and leave a lasting legacy. Thank you for making this milestone year unforgettable for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1785784806405,"projectUrl":"project/charging-up-our-pbis-stars/10380575/","projectTitle":"Charging Up our PBIS Stars","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dvorak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6888408_orig.jpg?crop=918,918,x98,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628716170257","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missdvorak"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10482291,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support of the Kangaroo Pouches project. Each student in my kindergarten classroom is responsible for their own library book and practice workbooks. Kangaroo Pouches are the perfect way to store these items that are easily accessible for students. This promotes independence skills and allows students more room to work at their classroom tables without the clutter of personal items.\r\nAgain, we a truly grateful for your support as this project is something that will be used, loved and touched each day by our students. THANK YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1792160183609,"projectUrl":"project/kangaroo-pouches/10482291/","projectTitle":"Kangaroo Pouches","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Halligan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9559100_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717027872274","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9559100"},{"teacherId":9684792,"projectId":10622497,"letterContent":"Thanks to our generous DonorsChoose supporters, students across our school now have access to winter hats, gloves, and scarves whenever they need them. As temperatures have dropped, these items will be used daily during recess, arrival, and dismissal. One especially meaningful moment was seeing students who previously struggled through outdoor time without adequate winter clothing eagerly head outside knowing they would be warm and comfortable. Having these resources readily available has helped ensure that all students can safely participate in school activities regardless of their circumstances.\r\n\r\nWhen the winter gear arrived, students were excited and grateful. The materials helped students feel cared for and supported, and staff appreciated being able to quickly provide assistance when a child needed winter clothing.\r\n\r\nAs we move further into the winter season, these resources will continue to support our students every day. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on our school community by helping students stay warm, comfortable, and ready to learn. Thank you for helping us create a more supportive environment for every child.","fullyFundedDate":1790804679993,"projectUrl":"project/warm-heads-warm-hands-warm-hearts-wint/10622497/","projectTitle":"Warm Heads, Warm Hands, Warm Hearts-Winter Gear for Van Buren","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Galus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9684792_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741046475563","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-galus"},{"teacherId":10045940,"projectId":9439742,"letterContent":"The new resources have been such a helpful addition to our kindergarten classroom! As a kindergarten teacher, I want my classroom to be a place where students feel safe, comfortable, and ready to learn each day. With a room full of young learners who are still developing independence and learning how to take care of themselves and their environment, supplies like hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, baby wipes, and a mini dustpan and broom make a big difference in our daily routines. We use these materials to help keep our classroom clean, practice healthy habits, and teach students the importance of taking responsibility for their learning space. For example, during our classroom activities and hands-on learning centers, students often use crayons, markers, manipulatives, and other materials that can get messy throughout the day. Having cleaning supplies available allows us to wipe down tables, clean up spills, and keep shared materials and workspaces as clean as possible. The mini dustpan and broom also give students opportunities to practice cleaning up small messes independently. These simple routines help build responsibility, independence, and pride in our classroom. Hand sanitizer and baby wipes are also especially useful throughout the school day as students transition between activities, finish projects, and prepare for snack or other classroom routines.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were excited to see the supplies that would help us take care of our classroom. While these items may seem like everyday necessities to adults, they play an important role in helping young children learn how to care for themselves and their surroundings. Kindergarten students are naturally curious and eager to participate in classroom jobs, and they enjoy having opportunities to help their teacher and classmates. The mini dustpan and broom are particularly useful because students can see that even small jobs help our classroom run smoothly. They are learning that being part of a classroom community means doing their part, helping others, and treating shared spaces with care. Having the right supplies available also allows us to respond to everyday messes quickly, so students can return their attention to learning instead of worrying about spills or dirty workspaces. I appreciate being able to provide these opportunities for my students because learning responsibility and healthy habits is just as important as developing academic skills at this age.\r\n\r\nAs we continue throughout the school year, our next steps are to build on these routines while strengthening the foundational skills that are so important in kindergarten. My students are learning to become more independent with classroom procedures, follow directions, care for shared materials, and work together as a classroom community. We will continue practicing how to clean up after activities, sanitize our hands when appropriate, and keep our tables and learning spaces organized. These habits will become part of our everyday classroom routine and help students understand how their actions contribute to a safe and welcoming environment. At the same time, we will continue focusing on early literacy, letter and sound recognition, counting, number recognition, shapes, and other foundational skills that prepare students for future learning. By teaching students to take responsibility for their classroom environment, we are also helping them develop the confidence and independence they need to be successful learners.\r\n\r\nI am incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to this project and helped provide these important supplies for our classroom. Your generosity supports much more than keeping our room clean; it helps us create an environment where students can focus on learning, practice healthy habits, and develop important life skills. These materials allow me to better meet the everyday needs of my young learners while making our classroom a more comfortable and organized place to learn and grow. Thank you for investing in our kindergarten students and helping make our classroom a place where every child has the opportunity to feel cared for, build independence, and succeed. Your support truly makes a difference in our daily classroom experience, and we are so thankful to have donors who care about helping our students thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1756088560983,"projectUrl":"project/a-clean-start-keeping-kindergarten-clea/9439742/","projectTitle":"A Clean Start: Keeping Kindergarten Clean","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stearns","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10045940_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y269&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748524930727","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10045940"},{"teacherId":9625040,"projectId":10290008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations towards our stem bins. They have made a huge impact as we have started our 2026-2027 school year. These items have been used as a tool to foster critical thinking, imaginative pay, cooperation, and communication in the classroom. I have noticed students learning how to connect with others, brainstorm new/challenging ideas, and collaborate in a fun environment. \r\n\r\nWe use these supplies every day as students enter the school in the morning. Having these bins provides students with a calm and welcoming environment before we begin our learning. I have noticed a huge increase in students' ability to enter the classroom calmly when using these tools. My favorite part of these bins is that it gets students excited to come to school the next day! \r\n\r\nI can't thank you enough for your contribution to my classroom! It is truly making a difference in several student's lives.","fullyFundedDate":1784142510075,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-second-graders-think-like-engin/10290008/","projectTitle":"Help Our Second Graders Think Like Engineers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kyte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9625040_orig.png?crop=513,513,x173,y557&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746239520958","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625040"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10623470,"letterContent":"In tight spaces, we must be creative, flexible, and come up with unique storage ideas. These totes are my way of staying organized. These tubs will be labeled with monthly themes and will be easily accessible for use. \r\nMoving forward with our new building, the totes are very visible and, when labeled, will serve as great stackable storage. Bridges math, CKLA, and other monthly themed units will be housed inside these.\r\nThank you for your support of our kindergarten classroom. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness in making this project, which will make our classroom much more organized, neat, and ready for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1791848822931,"projectUrl":"project/clutter-crusader/10623470/","projectTitle":"Clutter Crusader","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Halligan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9559100_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717027872274","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9559100"},{"teacherId":8224212,"projectId":10391118,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous gift. During the pandemic we had extra money from grants to make sure that we had things like hand sanitizer. Now that has gone by the way side and we are responsible for getting those things ourselves. With your gift I am able to make sure that my students have tissues when they are sick, hand sanitizer (that we use every time we enter the room), and bleach wipes that we can wipe down the tables with after we have our group. Hopefully this will give us a healthy year! The bulletin boards, folders and containers have brightened up our space making it more welcoming. Thank you for your generosity and support!","fullyFundedDate":1786049095968,"projectUrl":"project/basic-necessities/10391118/","projectTitle":"Basic Necessities","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kenny","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8224212_orig.jpg?crop=1980,1980,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1641497139244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8224212"},{"teacherId":9684792,"projectId":10394727,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Fun Friday has become an even more exciting and meaningful part of our week! When the new educational games arrived, my students were immediately drawn to them. Their faces lit up with excitement as they explored the colorful materials and eagerly asked when they could start playing. Many students who are often hesitant to participate in new activities were excited to join in right away.\r\n\r\nWe use these games during Fun Friday to reinforce important academic, social, and communication skills in a way that feels fun and engaging. One memorable moment was watching a group of students work together during a cooperative game. They practiced taking turns, following directions, and encouraging one another while also strengthening skills like counting, reading, and problem-solving. It was wonderful to see students building confidence and celebrating each other's successes.\r\n\r\nThese games have also provided valuable opportunities for my students to practice communication goals. Students are learning how to ask questions, share ideas, make choices, and interact positively with peers in a structured and supportive environment. The games create natural opportunities for social interaction while reducing the pressure that can sometimes come with more traditional learning activities.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create a classroom where students can learn, grow, and connect through play. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on our special education classroom, and my students look forward to using these games every week!","fullyFundedDate":1789053661395,"projectUrl":"project/structured-play-that-supports-learning-a/10394727/","projectTitle":"Structured Play That Supports Learning and Social Skills!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Galus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9684792_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741046475563","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-galus"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_51658","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":424,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":46,"percentWhite":22,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":62.6,"schoolId":51658,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Van Buren Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Van Buren Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/iowa/cedar-rapids-community-school-district/van-buren-elementary-school/51658"}