{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waller Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9993628,"projectId":9876139,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students now have their very own dictionaries—an incredibly meaningful resource that has already transformed our classroom. We use them daily during reading, writing, and vocabulary lessons. One of my favorite moments happened during a recent writing workshop: students were searching for stronger, more precise words for their descriptive essays, and instead of waiting for me or relying on guesswork, they eagerly opened their dictionaries and started exploring on their own. The independence and confidence this created were amazing to watch.\r\n\r\nWhen the dictionaries first arrived, my students were so excited. Many of them had never owned a dictionary before, and the idea that these books were theirs to use—every day, in class and at home—made them feel proud and important. Several students immediately started flipping through the pages, calling out new words they'd discovered. You helped create that spark of curiosity.\r\n\r\nRight now, we are starting a new unit that focuses on expanding vocabulary through reading and using context clues. The dictionaries are already becoming a natural extension of that work. Our next step is to build personal \"word journals,\" where students will collect challenging or interesting words they find in their reading, define them using their dictionaries, and apply them in their writing. Thanks to you, they now have the tools to build those habits of inquiry and confidence that will follow them far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your kindness and belief in my students. You've helped open the door to a world of vocabulary, discovery, and learning—and we are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1763040609319,"projectUrl":"project/words-for-wisdom-a-classroom-dictionary/9876139/","projectTitle":"Words for Wisdom: a Classroom Dictionary Drive","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kowaleski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9993628_orig.jpg?crop=900,900,x0,y114&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744079519915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9993628"},{"teacherId":1953165,"projectId":9672213,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our library was transformed into a magical place where reading and hands-on learning came together! With the new resources for our library, my students participated in a Fairy Tale STEM challenge . They had so much fun combining their love of stories with creative problem-solving.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite projects was inspired by The Three Little Pigs. Students worked in small groups to design and build houses using different materials, then we tested them against a \"big bad wolf\" (a hairdryer!). The laughter, excitement, and teamwork were incredible to see. When the students first saw the bins of supplies and story-themed challenges, their eyes lit up — they couldn't believe they were going to be the engineers behind the fairy tales!\r\n\r\nThese materials are now a regular part of our library's story and STEM lessons. Students are learning to think critically, plan, test, and improve their designs while connecting everything back to the stories they love to read.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to expand the project by introducing new fairy tales and challenges — like building a bridge for the Three Billy Goats Gruff or creating a parachute for Jack to escape the beanstalk safely. Your donation has helped make our library a place where imagination and innovation truly come to life.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to learn through wonder, creativity, and teamwork!","fullyFundedDate":1758052199358,"projectUrl":"project/from-tales-to-technology-stem-kits-for/9672213/","projectTitle":"From Tales to Technology: STEM Kits for ESL Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Calley Schneider","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1953165_orig.png?crop=270,270,x245,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756759136527","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1953165"},{"teacherId":9252864,"projectId":9326339,"letterContent":"Because of you, my fifth-grade readers and writers at Waller Elementary started the year with a classroom that finally works like a well-coached team. Your generosity funded the rolling drawer carts and the daily-use supplies that live inside them, and the change has been immediate and unmistakable—for students and for me.\r\n\r\nBefore your gift, our shared materials were scattered in bins and borrowed baskets. When 60 5th graders need pencils, sticky notes, highlighters, glue sticks, lined paper, Expo markers, whiteboards, and...Band-Aids (because fifth grade), those \"Where is it?\" minutes add up and learning momentum dies. The carts you funded—now neatly labeled Erasers, Pencils, Sticky Notes, Highlighters, Lined Paper, Blank Paper, Glue Sticks, Expo Markers, White Boards, Band-Aids, plus drawers for Interactive Notebook Supplies, Ziploc Bags, Zipper Pouches, and even Snacks—have transformed our routines. Table captains roll a cart to their group, grab exactly what we need, and we're off and running. No more traffic jams at the supply shelf. No more \"I can't find a pencil.\" No more pausing a discussion to hunt for a dry-erase marker. We are a Title I public school, and many of my students arrive without steady access to basic school supplies. Your gift quietly levels the playing field. When a student can take a fresh pencil without asking or grab a glue stick for an interactive-notebook page, dignity is preserved and participation rises. The snack drawers you made possible have been a bigger deal than you might imagine; a granola bar at 10:15 has often been the difference between a distracted learner and an engaged one. One student summed it up perfectly: \"It feels like I'm prepared before I even sit down.\" That confidence shows up in their writing and their willingness to take risks in discussion. From the bottom of my very grateful teacher heart: thank you. You didn't just buy containers and supplies; you bought time, dignity, and momentum for a room full of fifth-graders who are learning that their voices matter. Every labeled drawer is a small promise kept: \"You belong here, and you have what you need to learn.\"","fullyFundedDate":1746786002796,"projectUrl":"project/stock-the-room-fuel-the-dream/9326339/","projectTitle":"Stock the Room, Fuel the Dream","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9252864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755392276023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252864"},{"teacherId":10110631,"projectId":9531613,"letterContent":"My students are so excited to use the new resources in our classroom! The fidgets have already made such a difference in helping them stay focused during lessons. I noticed that students who used to struggle with sitting still now have an outlet, which means they can engage more fully in discussions and group work. The construction paper organizer has also been a huge help for me—what used to take several minutes of digging through supplies now takes only seconds. This has given me more prep time to focus on creating engaging and hands-on lessons for my students.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up. Many immediately reached for the fidgets and shared how excited they were to use them during class. They felt cared for and supported, which was such a wonderful moment to witness. For me, the excitement reminded me how even small changes in the classroom environment can make a big difference in how students learn and feel.\r\n\r\nNext, my students will be using the organized paper supplies for upcoming science and math projects that involve modeling, diagrams, and creative displays of their learning. Having these resources ready and easy to access means that we can spend more time on deeper learning and less time worrying about setup. I'm grateful to you for giving my students these tools that make our classroom a more focused, creative, and engaging space.","fullyFundedDate":1755868033369,"projectUrl":"project/steaming-through-the-year/9531613/","projectTitle":"STEAMing Through The Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Coleman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10110631_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y82&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755874290111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10110631"},{"teacherId":9993628,"projectId":9245158,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been completely transformed! The new tables have given us so much more space to move around and work together. Before, the room felt cramped and cluttered—but now, it feels open, organized, and like a space built for learning. The students were so excited when they walked in and saw the setup. Their faces lit up as they found their new seats and realized they had room to spread out and collaborate with their peers.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest game changers has been the whiteboard. Our old one was full of dents and holes, and we could barely use it. Now, we have a smooth, fully functional board where we can brainstorm, model writing strategies, and track our thinking during read-alouds. It's become a central part of our lessons—students even want to go up and share their answers!\r\n\r\nRecently, we kicked off a writing unit where students created persuasive paragraphs about classroom improvements. Several of them proudly referenced our new tables and whiteboard, explaining how these tools helped them focus and stay engaged. It was a full-circle moment that showed how meaningful your donation truly is.\r\n\r\nNext, we're diving into a novel study, and students will be using the whiteboard for group projects and vocabulary work. Thank you for giving us the tools to learn, write, and grow in a space we're proud to call our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1746786399340,"projectUrl":"project/a-table-for-teamwork-creativity-and-gr/9245158/","projectTitle":"A Table for Teamwork, Creativity, and Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kowaleski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9993628_orig.jpg?crop=900,900,x0,y114&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744079519915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9993628"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_14658","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":426,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":51,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":23,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":70.0,"schoolId":14658,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Waller Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Waller Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/louisiana/bossier-parish-school-district/waller-elementary-school/14658"}