{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Somerset Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10243488,"projectId":9798720,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping us add a tuff tray to our learning space. This resource has become a central part of our hands-on learning, especially during our literacy, math, and sensory exploration time. Recently, we used the tuff tray for a themed learning station where students built letter words in sand, sorted objects by size and shape, and created simple story scenes using small manipulatives. The tray provides a defined, engaging workspace that encourages collaboration, creativity, and active learning while helping students stay focused and organized.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the tuff tray set up, their excitement was immediate. They were eager to explore the different materials and loved having a special space where they could dig, build, sort, and create. Many students who benefit from movement and tactile experiences were especially engaged and spent extended time working carefully and thoughtfully. The tray has helped make learning feel playful and inviting while supporting fine motor skills, problem-solving, and language development.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we plan to continue using the tuff tray to support upcoming lessons across subject areas. Next, students will use it for a science exploration where they will create simple habitats and observe how different materials work together. We will also connect the tray to writing by having students describe their creations and explain their thinking. Your support has made it possible to provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that meet a wide range of learning needs, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity to create an engaging and inclusive classroom environment for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1760732203597,"projectUrl":"project/steam-driven-learning/9798720/","projectTitle":"STEAM Driven Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Borden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10243488"},{"teacherId":10243488,"projectId":9791911,"letterContent":"Thank you for making it possible to bring a 3D printer into our classroom. This new resource has opened the door for students to turn their ideas into real, tangible creations. We are currently using the printer during our STEM and design time, where students are learning how to plan, sketch, and create simple 3D models. One memorable moment was when a group of students designed small custom name tags and classroom tools, then watched as their digital designs slowly came to life layer by layer. The experience helped them understand how creativity, technology, and problem-solving all work together in real-world design.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the 3D printer in action, their reaction was a mix of amazement and curiosity. Many gathered quietly around the printer, completely focused as the object began to take shape. They were fascinated by the process and eager to ask questions about how it works, how long printing takes, and what they could create next. Students who might not typically see themselves as \"tech\" learners have become deeply engaged, showing patience, attention to detail, and pride in their finished pieces.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps are to expand this work into a design challenge connected to our current learning. Students will identify a simple classroom need or everyday problem and create a small object or tool to address it. They will sketch their ideas, revise their designs based on feedback, and reflect on what worked and what they would improve. This project will also connect to writing and math as students measure, plan, and explain their thinking. Your support has given our students access to meaningful, future-focused learning experiences, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help them explore, create, and think like real designers and problem-solvers.","fullyFundedDate":1759802941323,"projectUrl":"project/creative-technology/9791911/","projectTitle":"Creative Technology","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Borden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10243488"},{"teacherId":10243488,"projectId":9781740,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and making the new resources possible. One of the most exciting additions has been the truck builder kit, which we are using during our STEM and problem-solving block. Students have been working in small teams to design and build their own trucks, focusing on how different parts work together to help the vehicle move and carry weight. During one project, students tested their designs by seeing how many classroom items their trucks could transport across the floor. This hands-on experience has sparked meaningful conversations about force, motion, measurement, and teamwork, while also building persistence and creative thinking.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate and genuine. There were lots of wide eyes, big smiles, and questions like, \"When do we get to start?\" and \"Can we build our own real trucks?\" Even students who are sometimes hesitant to participate jumped right in. The open-ended nature of the truck builder kit has helped every learner feel successful, whether they are experimenting with design, solving a problem when something doesn't work, or proudly sharing their finished creation with classmates.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we are now extending this work into our next phase of learning. Students will redesign their trucks based on what they learned during testing, then create simple drawings and written explanations of how their vehicle works and what changes they made to improve it. We will also connect the project to literacy and math by measuring distances, comparing results, and writing about our engineering process. Your support has given our students the opportunity to learn through exploration, collaboration, and real-world problem solving—and the excitement and engagement we are seeing each day is truly making a difference. Thank you for investing in our classroom and our students' curiosity and growth.","fullyFundedDate":1759601985671,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-sensory-learning/9781740/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Sensory Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Borden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10243488"},{"teacherId":9424879,"projectId":9795470,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous gift of flexible seating for our classroom. Your thoughtfulness has truly made a meaningful difference in our learning environment. The new seating options have transformed the space into one that feels welcoming, comfortable, and supportive of all learners in our first grade.\r\nFlexible seating has helped students find places where they can feel comfortable and focused while they do their schoolwork. Whether they choose a soft seat, a peanut bounce chair, flexible bands on their chair, or a different workspace, students are learning how to make choices that help them do their best thinking. This sense of ownership has increased participation and helped many students to stay focused for longer periods of time.\r\nMost importantly, the students are absolutely thrilled. Their smiles and excitement say it all, and they take great pride in using the seating responsibly each day. Thank you again for your kindness and support—your gift has had a positive impact on both student happiness and learning.","fullyFundedDate":1760732121437,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-classroom-seating/9795470/","projectTitle":"Flexible Classroom Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bissell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9424879"},{"teacherId":8346278,"projectId":9474727,"letterContent":"Thank you for getting books into students hands! Every student in my class is able to have their own copy of my Father Dragon. \r\nSome skills students learned was vocabulary and the importance of summarizing important parts. For example not all students knew what a knapsack was so we were able to take about that and come up with words that were similar. \r\nNot only did students read the first book. I have several students that wanted to read the 2nd and 3rd book in the series. It was a great thing to see and hear that they wanted to read more!","fullyFundedDate":1763394979426,"projectUrl":"project/my-fathers-dragon-class-set/9474727/","projectTitle":"My Father's Dragon Class Set","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8346278"},{"teacherId":2642883,"projectId":9906660,"letterContent":"Food insecurity is a big problem in our county and many of us do as much as we can to help mitigate the problem. Thank-you for your thoughtful generosity in helping us.\r\n\r\nMy eager students were over the top excited to help open the boxes after they arrived. They tried to guess what might have been in them, but didn't get close. You can tell by the looks on their faces, they were ecstatic when they saw the snacks. Those snacks will carry us through several weeks. \r\n\r\nYour kindness helped meet a need in the short term and set an example for choices we can make in the long term. \r\nThank-you!!","fullyFundedDate":1764693522396,"projectUrl":"project/treats-for-tummies/9906660/","projectTitle":"Treats for Tummies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kramer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2642883_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1471990642668","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kramer79707"},{"teacherId":4521137,"projectId":9473881,"letterContent":"Students use coloring supplies every day while in the learning community working on a variety of curriculum areas including reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. When students are given an opportunity to color, create, and design they develop risk taking skills. These types of tools are very important to students success and can be very expensive when purchasing them yourself.\r\n\r\nA teacher budget is very small and coloring tools are needed every single year. Students are so excited to start off the year with new coloring supplies. WE are so grateful for Donors Choose and all of the contributing donators.","fullyFundedDate":1758830522499,"projectUrl":"project/basic-school-supplies/9473881/","projectTitle":"Basic School Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Massow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4521137_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742847502267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4521137"},{"teacherId":8346278,"projectId":9473509,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping out replenish my classroom supplies. \r\nWith some of my supplies I have been able to redecorate my classroom. I had old bulletin boards with holes in it from years of use. Now I have been able to change these out and make my classroom more inviting and welcoming to all students. \r\nAlso now students are able to have individual binders that they can keep their work in. The binders I had before had rips. Students had drawn or written on them but now they are brand new and the students like the looks of them. \r\nAnother thing that has been helpful is the craft supplies. With getting more craft supplies I have not had to worry about having enough supplies to do projects! With my new supplies I do not have to worry.","fullyFundedDate":1754168469522,"projectUrl":"project/replacing-classroom-supplies/9473509/","projectTitle":"Replacing Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8346278"},{"teacherId":2642883,"projectId":9503620,"letterContent":"Thank-you for your generous donations to support our class. Students who were struggling to get their thoughts on paper are now using their new microphone headsets to get the job done. They are excited about the stories they are able to write. \r\n\r\n We used the snacks purchased with these funds and others I was able to raise to send home in the evenings with students who are experiencing food insecurity. It is a relief to me to be able to know that these kids are not going hungry overnight or over the weekend. \r\n\r\n Several of our students benefited from the fidgets. It can be comforting and soothing to have something in their hands that isn't noisy or distracting. \r\n\r\n We appreciate your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1755702753998,"projectUrl":"project/support-for-dyslexia-and-dysgraphia/9503620/","projectTitle":"Support for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kramer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2642883_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1471990642668","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kramer79707"},{"teacherId":10248445,"projectId":9698163,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom library project! Because of your support, our library has become an amazing place where students are excited to read, explore new stories, and discover the joy of books.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has helped fill our shelves with stories that inspire curiosity, imagination, and a love of learning. Every day, I see students' faces light up as they find books that speak to them — and it's all possible because of you.\r\n\r\nThank you for making such a lasting difference in our classroom and for helping create a space where readers grow and dreams take flight.","fullyFundedDate":1758815916512,"projectUrl":"project/lets-build-interest-and-passion-for-rea/9698163/","projectTitle":"Let’s Build Interest and Passion for Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Goodrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10248445_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759091499122","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10248445"},{"teacherId":10248445,"projectId":9698922,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support of our science project on DonorsChoose. Because of your kindness, our students were able to experience science in a hands-on, meaningful way — science truly came to life in our classroom!\r\n\r\nYour contributions provided resources that transformed abstract ideas into real, exciting discoveries. My students were eager to explore, experiment, and ask questions, and I saw their curiosity grow with every lesson. The joy and sense of wonder on their faces reminded me how powerful learning can be when it's brought to life through your support.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and in the importance of science education. Your generosity has made a lasting impact — not only on our classroom today, but on the scientists, thinkers, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1757531503805,"projectUrl":"project/wow-check-that-out/9698922/","projectTitle":"Wow, Check That Out!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Goodrich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10248445_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759091499122","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10248445"},{"teacherId":4521137,"projectId":9430591,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for your donations to our learning community. The students have found these headphones with microphones to be extremely useful during writers workshop. Students often get frustrated because they cannot type very fast but love to publish their stories in Google Docs or Google Slides. Sometimes it can take a very long time to finish the writing process. Students are now excited to write and publish because speaking their stories into the microphone has taken all the frustration out of finding the keys on the keyboard. With less stress students are able to write freely, let their voice flow. They are so proud of themselves and what they can accomplish as writers. Thanks again for your donations for this wonderful project.","fullyFundedDate":1753478858273,"projectUrl":"project/speech-to-text/9430591/","projectTitle":"Speech to Text","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Massow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4521137_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742847502267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4521137"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65596","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":224,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":95,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":0,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":64.2,"schoolId":65596,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Somerset Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Somerset Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/rsu-19/newport-elementary-school/65596"}