{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ocean Ave Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10186216,"projectId":10668693,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when they saw the snacks! Their faces lit up, and they couldn't wait to enjoy them. It was wonderful to see how happy and appreciative they were. The snacks brought smiles to the classroom and gave my students something special to look forward to. It may seem like a small thing, but having snacks available makes a big difference in helping students feel cared for, supported, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nSince receiving these resources, we have been able to make snack time a positive part of our classroom routine. My students truly enjoyed the snacks, and I loved seeing their excitement and hearing their happy reactions. Having snacks available helps create a welcoming classroom environment where students can feel comfortable and focus more on their learning. These resources are a wonderful reminder that meeting students' everyday needs can have a meaningful impact on their school experience.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building a positive and supportive classroom where every student feels valued and ready to participate. We will continue working on our classroom lessons and activities while making sure students have opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. I am so grateful to our donors for making this possible. Your generosity has brought happiness to my students and helped make our classroom a place where they feel supported. Thank you for thinking of our students and helping make a difference in their day!","fullyFundedDate":1792594917539,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-give-my-students-snacks-and-ener/10668693/","projectTitle":"Help Me Give My Students Snacks and Energy to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ferrell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10186216_orig.jpg?crop=2027,2027,x691,y737&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755529944714","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msferrellsclass"},{"teacherId":1456359,"projectId":10257936,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project and helping us add these wonderful books to our classroom library! Your generosity gives students more opportunities to explore new ideas, build important social-emotional skills, and develop a love of reading.\r\n\r\nThese books offer meaningful lessons beyond literacy. Students can explore perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, kindness, generosity, and believing in themselves. Stories like Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship help us talk about being a good sport, handling wins and losses, and encouraging others. Because Amelia Smiled highlights how one small act of kindness can create a ripple effect, while Flight School encourages students to dream big, take risks, and keep trying even when something feels difficult. Someone Builds the Dream helps students recognize the many people and different kinds of work that go into making big ideas a reality. Llama Llama Time to Share provides a relatable way to discuss sharing, friendship, and getting along with others.\r\n\r\nIn our school, reading is about so much more than learning to read words on a page. We use books to build vocabulary, strengthen listening and comprehension skills, make connections to our own lives, ask questions, and have conversations about how we treat one another. Read-alouds also create opportunities for students to practice perspective-taking, discuss real-life challenges, and learn from characters' experiences.\r\n\r\nThese new books are especially valuable because they give students different ways to connect with stories and see themselves as learners. Students who enjoy interactive read-alouds, stories about friendship, or characters who face challenges can engage with the books while building confidence, empathy, and important classroom community skills. We look forward to using these stories to spark conversations, encourage curiosity, and help students grow both as readers and as people.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping us create a classroom where books open doors to learning, connection, and possibility. We are so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1787789532840,"projectUrl":"project/cooperation-starts-with-a-story/10257936/","projectTitle":"Cooperation Starts With A Story","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1456359_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784662505156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/epartridge"},{"teacherId":1456359,"projectId":10289989,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our generous donors for providing snacks for our students at OAES! Your generosity supports our students in more ways than one. Snacks can be a meaningful reinforcer for students working hard toward personal goals, celebrating their progress, and building positive habits. Students also have the opportunity to come down and get snacks to bring back to their classrooms, ensuring that when a child is hungry, we have a way to help.\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful moments is seeing a student come in, choose a snack, and return to class ready to learn. Something as simple as having food available can make a tremendous difference for a child who is trying to focus on a lesson while dealing with an empty stomach. Your support helps us meet this basic need with care and dignity, allowing students to focus on learning, connecting with others, and being successful at school.\r\n\r\nWhen students see that snacks are available, they are often excited and appreciative. For students working toward a goal, earning a snack can be a tangible way to celebrate their hard work and perseverance. For others, knowing that food is available when they need it provides reassurance and helps create a school environment where students feel supported.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using these snacks to recognize student growth, reinforce positive choices, and help meet students' basic needs throughout the school day. We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity. Thank you for helping us create a school community where students feel cared for, encouraged, and ready to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1787190862013,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-growing-minds/10289989/","projectTitle":"Fueling Growing Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1456359_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784662505156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/epartridge"},{"teacherId":1456359,"projectId":10239690,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our generous donors for helping provide laminating sheets for our school! While laminating sheets may seem like a simple supply, they make a big difference in our classrooms and throughout our school. We use them to create durable, reusable visuals that support student learning, behavior boards that help students understand and work toward their goals, PBIS signs that reinforce our schoolwide expectations of being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible, and so much more!\r\n\r\nThese materials help us create lasting resources that students can use every day. Visual supports make learning more accessible by providing clear, consistent reminders and expectations that students can refer to independently. They also allow teachers and staff to create interactive tools that can be reused, adapted, and personalized to meet students' changing needs.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting things about these resources is how they help turn learning into something students can see and interact with. Whether students are using a visual reminder to navigate their day, tracking their progress toward a goal, or referring to a PBIS sign that reinforces positive choices, these materials help make important concepts concrete and accessible.\r\n\r\nStudents who benefit from visual supports, including those who need additional help with communication, transitions, emotional regulation, or understanding expectations, can find these resources especially helpful. Having consistent visuals available across classrooms and common areas helps students build independence, develop social-emotional skills, and feel more confident navigating their school day.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support! Your generosity helps us create practical, long-lasting tools that support learning, encourage positive behavior, and help every student feel successful at OAES. Thank you for investing in the everyday materials that make such a meaningful difference in our school community!","fullyFundedDate":1785524421037,"projectUrl":"project/protecting-frequently-used-materials/10239690/","projectTitle":"Protecting Frequently Used Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1456359_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784662505156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/epartridge"},{"teacherId":1456359,"projectId":10258214,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our generous donors for helping fund our collection of picture books focused on creativity and out-of-the-box thinking! These books give our students opportunities to explore new ideas, look at problems from different perspectives, ask questions, and discover that there is often more than one way to approach a challenge. Through these stories, students learn the importance of curiosity, imagination, perseverance, and being open to possibilities beyond what they might initially expect.\r\n\r\nReading in our classrooms goes far beyond simply enjoying a story. Teachers use picture books to spark meaningful discussions, encourage students to make connections, share their thinking, and consider perspectives different from their own. These texts create opportunities for students to practice critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative expression in ways that are engaging and accessible to all learners.\r\n\r\nWe are especially excited about how these books can reach students with different interests, strengths, and learning styles. Students who love to ask questions, imagine new possibilities, build, create, or solve problems have opportunities to see their ideas reflected and celebrated. For students who may not always feel confident sharing their thinking, these stories can also provide a welcoming entry point for participating in discussions and exploring their own creativity.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your generosity and investment in our students! Your support helps us provide engaging, thought-provoking books that encourage children to think boldly, embrace their curiosity, and recognize that their ideas have value. Thank you for helping us nurture the creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators of tomorrow!","fullyFundedDate":1785005912376,"projectUrl":"project/unleashing-creativity-through-stories/10258214/","projectTitle":"Unleashing Creativity Through Stories","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1456359_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784662505156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/epartridge"},{"teacherId":1456359,"projectId":10297788,"letterContent":"This project has brought so much joy to the K-5 students of this school. The cooperative games we're seeing as staff outside during each recess period is wonderful. These games allow adults to help facilitate conversations between kids regarding telling people to stop, personal space, giving an I message and more. These real life teachable moments are at the heart of our students continuing to build their social emotional skills. We all here at OAES appreciate your support in helping us achieve complete funding for this project to make recess more engaging for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1779913478254,"projectUrl":"project/building-skills-through-play/10297788/","projectTitle":"Building Skills Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1456359_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784662505156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/epartridge"},{"teacherId":4363744,"projectId":10288348,"letterContent":"I really can't thank you enough for making this project possible. This week, I rolled out the ad-free, customizable programming of Typing.com, and the impact was clear right away. Students were able to focus and understand why starting slowly and accurately would lead to better typing skills in the future. We all took typing tests, and now, because of you, we're able to track their progress throughout their learning.\r\n\r\nHaving this available to students in grades 3-5 is a huge step for our district. Their learning can grow with them, and that will help them become stronger typists, programmers, and digital citizens in the future.\r\n\r\nYour support is so very appreciated, and it has already made a noticeable difference. Thank you for your trust and your generosity. I am looking forward to using this tool throughout the year and seeing how much our students grow.","fullyFundedDate":1788283199455,"projectUrl":"project/typing-towards-tomorrow-mastering-the-k/10288348/","projectTitle":"Typing Towards Tomorrow: Mastering the Keyboard","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Platt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4363744_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504203061867","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/eplatt"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":10348275,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring a new rug into our classroom! This rug fits our classroom space perfectly, and has added so much color, joy, and structure to our classroom! Students were SO excited to see it in our classroom on the first day of school, and have loved having their own flower to sit on.\r\n\r\n Our rug is so much more than a place to sit—it is where our classroom community comes together each day. From morning meetings and read-alouds to class discussions, celebrations, and problem-solving, so many important moments happen here. Your generosity has given my students a fresh, welcoming space where they can feel comfortable, connected, and ready to learn. Thank you for helping create a classroom where every student feels that they belong!","fullyFundedDate":1785546927789,"projectUrl":"project/a-gathering-place-where-community-blooms/10348275/","projectTitle":"A Gathering Place Where Community Blooms!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":9076133,"projectId":10311375,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! Your generosity has helped provide the everyday supplies my second graders need to learn, create, and grow. From pencils and markers to chart paper, timers, magnets, and classroom organization tools, these resources help our classroom run smoothly and make learning more engaging. Having these essentials ready for my students allows me to focus on creating a welcoming, joyful classroom where everyone feels prepared to participate and do their best. Thank you for investing in my students and helping us start the school year ready to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1786366901974,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-essentials-to-support-stu/10311375/","projectTitle":"Back-to-School Essentials to Support Students From the Start","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Libby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076133_orig.png?crop=803,804,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689709380513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-libby"},{"teacherId":8611186,"projectId":10331088,"letterContent":"We are incredibly thankful to have new headphones that work for all of our students! Before receiving these headphones, we did not have enough working pairs for everyone, which meant that students often had to share. While we made it work, sharing headphones could be difficult and sometimes made it harder for students to stay focused and engaged in their learning.\r\n\r\nNow, every student has their own working pair of headphones to use during lessons and activities. This has made such a positive difference in our classroom! Students can listen to directions, complete learning activities, and work independently without having to wait for or share headphones with someone else.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for this support and for the opportunity to provide our students with the tools they need to be successful. Having headphones for everyone helps create a smoother learning environment and allows each student to focus on their own learning. Thank you for helping make this possible for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1787191193017,"projectUrl":"project/headphone-refresh/10331088/","projectTitle":"Headphone Refresh!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Weeks","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8611186_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1706291722115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8611186"},{"teacherId":10186216,"projectId":10350180,"letterContent":"The new rug has already made such a wonderful difference in our classroom! My students were absolutely thrilled when they first saw it. They were so excited to sit on it and immediately began choosing their own special \"rug spots.\" It has been so sweet to see how proud they are of their spots and how excited they get when it is time to gather on the rug.\r\n\r\nThe rug is big enough for all of my students to have their own comfortable space while still being close together as a class. It is soft and cozy, which makes our whole-group learning time much more inviting. We use it for morning meetings, read-alouds, lessons, discussions, and opportunities to share our thinking with one another. It has quickly become a special place in our classroom where so much learning and connection happens.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching the students' reactions when they realized the rug was theirs to use every day. They were eager to find their spots and were so excited to show me where they wanted to sit. Something as simple as having a comfortable place to gather has brought so much joy and excitement to our classroom.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building our classroom community and using the rug as a space for learning, listening, sharing, and working together. We will continue using it during our lessons and read-alouds while encouraging students to participate, share their ideas, and learn from their classmates.\r\n\r\nI am truly grateful to the donors who made this possible. You didn't just give us a rug—you gave my students a comfortable, welcoming place to learn, connect, and feel like they belong. Seeing their excitement and happiness makes me so thankful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1784475094663,"projectUrl":"project/a-rug-for-reading-learning-and-growing/10350180/","projectTitle":"A Rug for Reading, Learning, and Growing","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ferrell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10186216_orig.jpg?crop=2027,2027,x691,y737&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755529944714","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msferrellsclass"},{"teacherId":135802,"projectId":10140541,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing our \"Curiosity Cart\" to life! Because of your generosity, reading in our classroom has transformed into a vibrant, multi-dimensional experience. Instead of just quietly turning pages, my students are actively investigating the world. Through Esperanza Rising and our texts on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they are developing critical historical empathy and textual analysis skills. They aren't just reading about the past; they are learning to identify universal themes of human dignity, mapping out how the struggles of characters like Esperanza mirror real-world human rights challenges. Reading in our room is loud, collaborative, and deeply reflective, filled with passionate debates and connections to current events.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe impact of your gift doesn't stop at the final chapter. The true magic of these resources is how they bridge the gap between literature and STEM. Once our students built that \"heart\" for social justice, the Curiosity Cart allowed them to transition seamlessly into our bridge engineering unit. They utilized the Engineering Design Process to brainstorm, prototype, and build physical models meant to solve community isolation problems. Watching them debate structural integrity with the same passion they used to debate character motivations has been incredible. They are learning that solving real-world problems requires both technical skill and deep human empathy.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has sparked a unique joy in all of my students, but it has been a complete game-changer for my hands-on learners and reluctant readers. One student in particular, who usually struggles to stay focused during traditional reading blocks, completely lit up while reading Esperanza Rising. The combination of a deeply moving human story and the tangible engineering challenge that followed kept them completely locked in and motivated. Thank you for showing my students that whether they are analyzing a narrative or building a suspension bridge, they have the power to engineer a better, more connected future.","fullyFundedDate":1778505065499,"projectUrl":"project/support-and-strength-a-dual-unit-on-bri/10140541/","projectTitle":"Support and Strength: A Dual Unit on Bridges and Resilience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Soule","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp135802_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535678653765","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/soulec"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_101468","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":315,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":41,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":58,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":8,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"8.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":67.9,"schoolId":101468,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ocean Ave Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ocean Ave Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/portland-public-schools/ocean-avenue-elementary-school/101468"}