{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Skillin Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3615182,"projectId":9567353,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in helping us add a digital microscope to our school library. Because of your support, students are gaining hands-on experience with a powerful new tool for exploration and discovery. I have been introducing the microscope to classes by explaining how it works and comparing it to other familiar tools like magnifying glasses, binoculars, telescopes, and our handheld microscopes. Students have been examining prepared slides and practicing careful observation by drawing what they see—an important scientific skill that also builds patience, focus, and curiosity. These early experiences with real scientific tools help build the background knowledge and vocabulary students need for future, more in-depth science learning—especially for our many students who are learning English. \r\n\r\nFrom the very first lesson, students were curious, engaged, and full of questions. Even those who had used microscopes before were amazed by the ability to project images onto our large interactive screen, allowing the whole class to observe and learn together. Viewing and discussing discoveries as a group has turned individual observations into shared moments of wonder, sparking thoughtful questions (some of which I had to do research to answer!), lively conversations, and plenty of joyful—shall I say, exuberant—reactions.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, this microscope will continue to play an important role in learning throughout the year. In the spring, I'm excited to bring in pond water samples so students can discover the incredible amount of life contained in a single drop of water. I'm also planning ongoing \"guess the slide\" activities, learning centers, and lessons connected to classroom science units such as plants, rocks and minerals, and health. One lesson I am especially looking forward to pairs bacteria slides—and some microbe stuffies—with the book Do Not Lick This Book. Who knows—maybe all that learning will even lead to fewer coughs and colds next winter!\r\n\r\nYour generosity has opened a window into a hidden world for our students and will support meaningful, curiosity-driven learning for years to come. Thank you for being such an important part of their learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1763585589511,"projectUrl":"project/microscope-magic-discovering-the-invisi/9567353/","projectTitle":"Microscope Magic: Discovering the Invisible","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stanbro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3615182_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753120456003","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-stanbro"},{"teacherId":5252188,"projectId":9745595,"letterContent":"The toy foods have made an incredible impact on my students! Thank you SO much for your kind donations and helping to support my students and our classroom. \r\n\r\nTheir faces lit up when we were opening the boxes! The comments that students were making as we opened each box and bag were so amazing, such as \"Oh, I eat that!\" \"My mom makes that!\" and \"That's my favorite thing to eat!\" My students see themselves and their family's cultures in the toy foods. One student made the comment about their family eating dumplings for dinner. Another student has been talking about how much they love sushi. Students are teaching me and others in our classroom more about the foods they eat at home. \r\n\r\nStudents love playing with the new foods. My students love that we have more plates, utensils, and especially cups, to enrich their play experiences. Additionally, the toy phone allows for more students to \"place orders\" in their own pretend restaurants. \r\n\r\nYour donation has made a huge impact on the play experiences in our classroom, it has positively impacted the lives of my students, and has helped them to feel seen and heard. From the bottom of my heart: Thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1760710861689,"projectUrl":"project/tastes-of-the-world-representing-cultur/9745595/","projectTitle":"Tastes of the world: Representing cultures through play foods.","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Baltos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5252188_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y388&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651837216003","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-baltos"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65312","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":311,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":51,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":33,"percentWhite":43,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":11,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"10.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":70.1,"schoolId":65312,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Skillin Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Skillin Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/south-portland-city-school-district/skillin-elementary-school/65312"}
Join the 157 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Skillin Elementary School is
an urban public school
in S. Portland, Maine that is part of South Portland City School District.
It serves 311 students
in grades K - 4 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.7:1.
Its teachers have had 33 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
48%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Skillin Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 8, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Skillin Elementary School
$15,537
raised using DonorsChoose
33
projects
funded
11
teachers
funded
157
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
5
projects for
books
Skillin Elementary School has received support from
110 individuals from Maine and
47 individuals out-of-state.
