{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Buren Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":36.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10159424,"letterContent":"In kindergarten my focus is to make learning engaging, fun and form personal connections. Kindergarten isn't about sitting in front of a screen, sitting quietly on a carpet or being told of a concept. It is about learning, doing, engaging, creating and conversational learning. This project allows me to expand on curriculum and provide an outlet to students to show what they have learned and will continue to build on.\r\n Thank you for giving me this opportunity to allow students to have a love of learning.","fullyFundedDate":1777978861226,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-memorable-kindergarten-experi/10159424/","projectTitle":"Creating a Memorable Kindergarten Experience","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":10123029,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting Spring Fun. I am always looking for opportunities to embed play into learning experiences. This project provides me with many chances to use art to supplement or expand on reading/math concepts.\r\n Students are overjoyed to use their hands to be creative or express in their own words how a story is played out or provide additional details forming personal connections to their learning. Thank you for supporting what is developmentally appropriate for my students. We are thankful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1777978860054,"projectUrl":"project/spring-fun/10123029/","projectTitle":"Spring 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":10041852,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support of my Back to Basics project. My hope for this project is to provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn. As a second year kindergarten teacher I am continuing to build my classroom with enriching materials.\r\n I am so thankful for this funded project. Previously I had plain whiteboard which left my students lacking boundaries when composing their handwriting. The lined whiteboards will help build a foundation for them. Also, the unifix cubes will aid in addition/subtraction/counting activities.\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1777978859720,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-basics/10041852/","projectTitle":"Back to Basics","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":10076473,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my \"Gum, Glow, and Good Choices!\" PBIS project. Your donation helped make our monthly PBIS celebrations meaningful, engaging, and exciting for all students.\r\n\r\nWe used the materials—such as gum, glow sticks, glow glasses, highlighters, and small games—during our schoolwide celebrations. All students participated, and these items helped create fun, motivating experiences that reinforced positive behavior in a tangible way.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, they were very excited and eager to participate. It quickly built motivation as they connected their daily choices with the opportunity to enjoy the celebration. Students felt proud and recognized for making safe, respectful, and responsible decisions.\r\n\r\nThese celebrations supported our PBIS goals by reinforcing positive behavior expectations and building a strong sense of community. Moving forward, we will continue using PBIS data and classroom discussions to help students reflect on their choices and strengthen positive habits.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping create a positive school culture where students feel encouraged, celebrated, and proud of their success!","fullyFundedDate":1770999778420,"projectUrl":"project/gum-glow-and-good-choices/10076473/","projectTitle":"Gum, Glow, and Good Choices!","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":9924031,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my Safe and Ready to Learn project. Your donation is helping create a clean, organized, and welcoming classroom where students can stay healthy, focused, and ready to learn every day.\r\n\r\nThese resources are already being used in meaningful ways throughout our classroom. We use Clorox wipes daily to clean student workspaces and reduce the spread of germs, especially during small group instruction. Students use hand sanitizer throughout the day to help stay healthy and minimize missed learning time. Tissues are readily available so students can stay comfortable and focused when dealing with colds or allergies. Ziploc bags are helping us organize math manipulatives and learning materials, making it easier for students to access and store supplies independently. Magic Eraser sheets are keeping whiteboards, tables, and other surfaces clean so students always have a fresh, organized space for learning.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new supplies, they were excited and proud to know that people in the community care about their classroom and well-being. It helped them see that their learning environment matters to others, which created a strong sense of appreciation and responsibility.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue using these materials as part of our daily routines to build independence and responsibility. These resources help support a structured, organized environment where students can collaborate, stay focused, and do their best learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is making a lasting impact by helping ensure students have a safe, healthy, and supportive place to learn and grow. Thank you for investing in their success!","fullyFundedDate":1769177124872,"projectUrl":"project/safe-and-ready-to-learn/9924031/","projectTitle":"Safe and Ready to Learn","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":9966835,"projectId":9910865,"letterContent":"My students were very excited to get our new materials. They love getting to work on the carpet, have the fidget bands at their desks, and new stools for our table. The fidget bands were extra helpful when we took our state tests. The fidget bands helped them focus on the test and try their best.\r\nNext in our room, we are finishing up our units before the end of the school year. My students will go to middle school next year, so we are focused on preparing them for that. Thank you again for your donation!","fullyFundedDate":1769177126786,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seatinglearning-for-all/9910865/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating=Learning for All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9966835"},{"teacherId":4672531,"projectId":10009351,"letterContent":"Wow! This is one of those projects that seems small when you make it, but instantly makes a big impact! The packs of Valentines were ALL needed and used by my students this year, and it made them feel so included! I have more left-handed students this year than I think I ever had, and they have been SO excited to cut now that we have some left-handed scissors to use. We are fighting off all the different germs and viruses with the help of your donation that gave us Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer. Thank you for choosing our classroom, these students, and helping make each day at school a little bit better!","fullyFundedDate":1769130992661,"projectUrl":"project/wiping-away-winter-germs/10009351/","projectTitle":"Wiping Away Winter Germs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McLaughlin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4672531_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504314370625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4672531"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":10055800,"letterContent":"My kindergartens are so excited for this project to be funded. During WIN (What, I, Need) groups I am constantly practicing foundational skills. I love that this project allows us to practice in a new hands-on way.\r\nI plan to use the bags to have Bridges math curriculum ready to go for next fall. Our curriculum has the class using multiple game stations with each chapter. Currently, I have nowhere to recreate this activities and scrabble to gather pieces weekly for students. I am so thankful for an organized, neat and easy to use area for these materials.\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1771455342007,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-mathreading-practice/10055800/","projectTitle":"Hands on Math/Reading Practice","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":4120816,"projectId":9980815,"letterContent":"I can't thank each of you enough for your kindness and generosity. These items will make such a difference for my students. I can not wait to see their faces when the supplies arrive, but more importantly, I can not wait to see the excitement on their faces when they meet their goals! Thank you again for helping to give my students the tools they need to be as successful as possible. I could not do this work without your support each and every day. You make such a difference in my students' lives.","fullyFundedDate":1769177123986,"projectUrl":"project/getting-rowdy-with-reading/9980815/","projectTitle":"Getting Rowdy with Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kuennen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4120816_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1540335325640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4120816"},{"teacherId":9559100,"projectId":9978242,"letterContent":"Thank you for the generous donation of supplemental math activities. Students have begun to use them already and are overjoyed to practice counting in math with the racing game.\r\nWe are very thankful for being able to have these additional practice pieces to add to student learning engagement. We already used several sheets of the giant post it white paper to participate in a school wide BINGO reward. By providing the large visual students were able to all have a fair chance at playing a newly introduced game.\r\nThank you so much for your support. My kindergartens and I thank you. :)","fullyFundedDate":1769177125333,"projectUrl":"project/starting-2026-with-fresh-math-skills/9978242/","projectTitle":"Starting 2026 with Fresh Math Skills","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":9518466,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your gift. I have struggled so much to find a way to get all of my students around my table. I want my learning environment to be one of learning, but also comfort. Comfortability in a physical sense but also an environment that makes learning feel safe. In today's world we have much bigger problems than my seating. Thank you for taking the time to continue to support public education. I cannot tell you how much the kindness and generosity of others means to me right now.","fullyFundedDate":1763566416106,"projectUrl":"project/there-is-always-a-seat-for-you-at-my-tab/9518466/","projectTitle":"There Is Always A Seat For You At My Table","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":4858810,"projectId":9886347,"letterContent":"We have had the wonderful opportunity to explore our new music curriculum resources that were purchased via TpT. Students have really been enjoying the lessons! I have read through all of the included documents, and I'm really impressed with the curriculum writer's ability to find ways to include every level of skill and need in the music classroom. We've tested out a few lessons, and they have been very well received by all.\r\n\r\nI have also shared some of my learning with other teachers in my district, and they are eager to try some things with their students, too! Not only have your gifts helped my students, but they've also reached many more (we're a relatively large district)! We are so grateful for your continued support.","fullyFundedDate":1763151732146,"projectUrl":"project/music-lessons-for-everyone/9886347/","projectTitle":"Music Lessons for Everyone","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Barnes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4858810_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506970591530","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/vbmusic"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_51658","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":429,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":42,"percentWhite":24,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":24,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":63.3,"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"}