{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Leith Walk Elementary School 245","outOfStateSupporters":40.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":549851,"projectId":9691234,"letterContent":"Students love to use the materials at the light table. They are using words like translucent and transparent as guided by the teachers. It is becoming part of their working vocabulary. In math, we are learning about shapes so the translucent pattern blocks have helped them to create real life scenes which they can describe using theme related vocabulary. \r\n The students were excited when the new materials were introduced and were eager to put them to use. \r\n We plan to use the wooden blocks to create living and nonliving things as per our Science unit and will use the paint to paint pictures of what we build.","fullyFundedDate":1760644409563,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-stem-experience-helps-with-critica/9691234/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Stem Experience Helps With Critical Thinking Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McLaurin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp549851_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701042752682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/549851"},{"teacherId":549851,"projectId":9887112,"letterContent":"This project helped my students to create and design using the wooden blocks, kinetic sand, and play dough. As they created different things, I printed out colored pictures of the finished products using the ink cartridges as a model for things other students could create. Many times the students need a visual to help them along and the ink tends to be expensive so I was grateful for this donation.\r\n The vibrant colors of the kinetic sand interested them and made them want to use it to explore and learn. I used higher order questioning to help guide their creations and had them to explain what they made to their classmates using theme related vocabulary. \r\n Their responses made it evident that new learning was taking place.","fullyFundedDate":1763554089460,"projectUrl":"project/steam-learning-helps-prekindergarten-stu/9887112/","projectTitle":"STEAM Learning Helps Prekindergarten Students Become Thinkers and Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McLaurin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp549851_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701042752682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/549851"},{"teacherId":549851,"projectId":9928361,"letterContent":"This project has encouraged my students to be more creative while in the block play area. They are using the materials as intended to construct and design theme related scenes. It really does help them to think outside of the box because the items are engaging and hold their interest. \r\n The students are excited to use the materials and they all want to go to the blocks area during Choice Time. It is great to see their excitement and growing vocabulary as a result of this project coming to life. We are grateful for the donations. \r\n We intend to keep the momentum going on our next project.","fullyFundedDate":1764691943628,"projectUrl":"project/enriching-the-blocks-play-area/9928361/","projectTitle":"Enriching the Blocks Play Area","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McLaurin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp549851_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701042752682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/549851"},{"teacherId":9365114,"projectId":9698671,"letterContent":"The STEAM Legends Pre-K project has transformed the way our youngest learners engage with education by introducing technology and hands-on exploration at the earliest stages of development. Its impact can be seen in several powerful ways:\r\n\r\nEarly Technology Integration: Students are learning to use age-appropriate digital tools, coding toys, and interactive resources that build comfort with technology from the start. This early exposure helps them see technology as a tool for creativity and discovery rather than just entertainment.\r\n\r\nCritical Thinking Development: The project encourages children to ask questions, test ideas, and reflect on outcomes. Whether they are building structures, experimenting with materials, or solving puzzles, they are practicing how to think critically and make decisions. \r\n\r\nProblem-Solving Skills: Students are challenged to find solutions through trial and error, collaboration, and creativity. These experiences help them develop resilience, adaptability, and confidence in their ability to overcome challenges.\r\n\r\nEmpowered Learners: Most importantly, the project fosters a sense of independence and curiosity. Children begin to see themselves as capable problem-solvers and innovators, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.","fullyFundedDate":1758202976714,"projectUrl":"project/steam-legends-pre-k/9698671/","projectTitle":"Steam Legends Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duvall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9365114"},{"teacherId":3144565,"projectId":9531875,"letterContent":"Thanks to your kindness, our classroom is now filled with Books, Balance, and Brain Breaks—and the difference has been immediate and powerful. The headphones have helped transform our independent work time into focused, peaceful learning. Students who used to get distracted easily are now locked in and excited to listen to stories, complete digital tasks, and engage without all the background noise. One student even said, \"I feel like I have my own little bubble to think in!\"\r\n\r\nOur calming corner has become a safe, trusted space for students to pause, breathe, and regulate their emotions. The first time they saw the cozy seating, sensory tools, and visuals, they literally gasped and asked, \"Is this really for us?\" Watching students take ownership of their emotions and choose to use the space when needed has been so rewarding. And our new bookshelf? It's been buzzing with excitement—students rush over during reading time to explore new titles, and we're already building a culture of book-sharing and thoughtful conversations.\r\n\r\nThis project didn't just bring supplies—it brought calm, focus, and joy into our learning space. As we continue working on emotional regulation and building strong reading habits, these resources will remain a key part of our growth. Thank you for investing in my students' hearts and minds—you've truly made a lasting impact. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1758851765997,"projectUrl":"project/books-balance-and-brain-breaks/9531875/","projectTitle":"Books, Balance, and Brain Breaks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Woolford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3144565_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754317707998","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3144565"},{"teacherId":9433022,"projectId":9524441,"letterContent":"When we received the box of donated puppets, my 5th graders and I were filled with excitement and gratitude. The students eagerly gathered around as we unboxed the puppets, their faces lighting up with anticipation. Many of them have always been interested in performing puppet shows, and this donation made it possible for more students to participate at once. They immediately began planning how they could use the puppets to retell traditional stories we've been studying in class. It was heartwarming to see their creativity and collaboration come alive as they took turns developing characters, rehearsing lines, and bringing each puppet to life.\r\n\r\nI also introduced the puppets to my preschool students during one of our storytelling sessions. It was their very first experience using puppets, and the room was filled with laughter, curiosity, and engagement. Some of the younger children had a little difficulty manipulating the puppet mouths because their hands were so small, but they didn't give up—they kept practicing and helping one another. The puppets sparked a vibrant discussion about emotions, storytelling, and imagination, allowing each child to express themselves in new and joyful ways.\r\n\r\nThese puppets have already made a lasting impact across multiple grade levels, helping to deepen creativity, storytelling, and communication skills. As our next step, my students will continue to use the puppets to perform short skits that connect with our literacy lessons and cultural stories. We're so thankful to our donor for this generous contribution—it has truly brought learning to life in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1760730131602,"projectUrl":"project/around-the-world-with-puppets-a-global/9524441/","projectTitle":"Around the World with Puppets: A Global Drama Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9433022_orig.jpg?crop=799,799,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705181566231","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9433022"},{"teacherId":9721965,"projectId":9313191,"letterContent":"The feelings and emotions books have opened up important conversation in the classroom and are helping my students recognize and express their emotions. The Koala Breathing Bear is a big hit, especially during moments of anxiety and overstimulation. I also us it to practice deep breathing with the entire class. The weighted dog is also a very loved item. It offers a calming presence and a sense of comfort to students who need a little sensory input to feel secure. The wiggle bands have allowed students to move while remaining seated and helps those students that need to stim. \r\n\r\nThe gumball machine has been implemented as an incentive for positive rewards. The machine has been filled with capsules with slips of incentives like Lunch Bunch with the Teacher, Slippers in the Classroom, Extra Computer Time. The students are working hard to earn their token for a chance to get to use the machine.","fullyFundedDate":1746786304950,"projectUrl":"project/calm-connect-and-celebrate-supporting/9313191/","projectTitle":"Calm, Connect, and Celebrate: Supporting Social-Emotional Growth in 2nd Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jacobs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9721965"},{"teacherId":9721965,"projectId":9138168,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support, that has provided classroom materials that have truly transformed the learning experience for my students.\r\nThe individual white boards have made an amazing impact on classroom engagement. Each student now has the ability to actively participate in lessons by writing & displaying their responses. This simple tool has made learning more interactive, the kids feel like they are on a game show when we use them. It also allows me to quickly assess understanding.\r\n\r\nThe individual erasers may seem like a small change, but the kids were so excited for them! They no longer have to wait to share to use just a few erasers in the classroom. We've gained back valuable instructional minutes, previously lost passing and sharing supplies, time we now use for meaningful learning.\r\n\r\nThe kids absolutely love the hands-on learning games. They think they are just fun to play. To me they are more than just fun - they allow my students to build their number fluency and problem-solving skills. Thank you again for helping create a classroom environment that supports active learning, student voice, and joy.","fullyFundedDate":1742923168890,"projectUrl":"project/welcome-to-the-fun-side-of-math/9138168/","projectTitle":"Welcome to the Fun Side of Math!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jacobs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9721965"},{"teacherId":9365114,"projectId":9086163,"letterContent":"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for the generous provision of the Beanbag Learning Center, Lakeshore Hopscotch Carpet, and Fun Fitness Dice for Kids, which have made a meaningful difference in our classroom environment. These tools have brought new life to our classroom, merging physical activity with learning in an engaging and developmentally enriching way. The Beanbag Learning Center encourages movement while reinforcing academic skills such as counting, spelling, and color recognition. \r\n\r\nThe Lakeshore Hopscotch Carpet has quickly become a favorite among our learners, offering a vibrant and accessible way to integrate physical movement with foundational concepts like number sequence and spatial awareness. With the Fun Fitness Dice for Kids, movement breaks have turned into joyful moments of camaraderie and exercise. Students are excited to participate and improve coordination through targeted, playful activities.\r\n\r\nTogether, these resources have helped transform our classroom into a space that nurtures both body and mind, supporting the holistic development of every child. Thank you for investing in tools that bring lasting joy, encourage lifelong healthy habits, and make learning come alive.","fullyFundedDate":1746781526687,"projectUrl":"project/fun-and-fitness-learning-in-the-classroo/9086163/","projectTitle":"Fun and Fitness Learning in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duvall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9365114"},{"teacherId":4579014,"projectId":9283423,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my DonorsChoose project! Because of you, we are now more organized, efficient, and better equipped to support student learning especially in literacy.\r\n\r\nThe students were so excited when the materials arrived. They helped unpack boxes and immediately began asking questions about what everything was for. Their faces lit up when they realized the new bins, shelves, and tools would help keep our materials neat and give them easier access to their books and learning materials.\r\n\r\nWe're already putting the materials to good use. I created a new literacy station using the organizers you helped fund, and it's become a class favorite during small group time. Students have more independence and ownership over their learning now that they can clearly see and access the resources they need.\r\n\r\nThese new tools have laid the foundation for a smoother and more focused learning environment, which means more time spent on what really matters growing as readers and thinkers. Thank you again for your support and for making such a meaningful impact in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746787340000,"projectUrl":"project/organization-needed/9283423/","projectTitle":"Organization needed!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Richards","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4579014_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1523896175797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/aisharichards"},{"teacherId":549851,"projectId":9336800,"letterContent":"The children love the new additions to our classroom. We are using the new resources in our math learning centers. \r\n They are using the sensory spheres to learn about texture and they are learning new vocabulary and reinforcing previously learned vocabulary as well.\r\n The wooden puzzles contain several in a pack so there are enough for the children to use and they get so excited when they are able to put the challenging puzzles together by themselves. The gold medals make them feel proud of themselves after working hard on a project.\r\n Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. These items help us to learn so much.","fullyFundedDate":1746998820002,"projectUrl":"project/help-make-prekindergarten-math-centers-f/9336800/","projectTitle":"Help Make Prekindergarten Math Centers Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McLaurin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp549851_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701042752682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/549851"},{"teacherId":549851,"projectId":9161391,"letterContent":"The children love the new additions to our classroom. We are using the new resources in our learning centers. The children are using the dolls in the housekeeping center and in the calming corner when they have big emotions and need to calm themselves. \r\n They are using the sensory spheres to learn about texture in the Sensory Center and the colored rice in the sensory bin to learn about comparing quantities.\r\n The wooden puzzles contain several in a pack so there are enough for the children to use and they get so excited when they are able to put the challenging puzzles together by themselves.\r\n Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom. These items help us to learn so much.","fullyFundedDate":1746494599838,"projectUrl":"project/enhanced-sensory-opportunities-for-prek/9161391/","projectTitle":"Enhanced Sensory Opportunities for PreK Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McLaurin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp549851_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701042752682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/549851"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_64394","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":910,"numTeachers":61,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":91,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":5,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":59.1,"schoolId":64394,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Leith Walk Elementary School 245 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Leith Walk Elementary School 245","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/baltimore-city-public-school-district/leith-walk-elementary-school-245/64394"}