{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Rafael Hernandez K-8 School","outOfStateSupporters":32.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2486548,"projectId":9727439,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom library project! Your generosity means the world to our students. With your help, we can fill our shelves with exciting, high-interest books— including popular series and bilingual titles— that motivate even the most hesitant readers to dive into a story. Having access to books they truly enjoy will make reading feel joyful, not stressful, and will help them build the confidence they need to grow as learners.\r\n\r\nYour donation doesn't just provide books; it opens doors. You're giving my students the chance to explore new worlds, strengthen their reading skills, and discover stories that reflect who they are. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom. Thank you for making a meaningful and lasting difference for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1762022255636,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-library-with-bilingual-favori/9727439/","projectTitle":"Building a Library with Bilingual Favorites","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Joe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2486548_orig.jpg?crop=1008,1008,x1908,y1397&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757089045371","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-dzerkacz"},{"teacherId":4679753,"projectId":9176700,"letterContent":"Having a carpet with calm colors in our K1 classroom creates a soothing environment that helps children feel safe, comfortable, and focused. It helps reduce visual overstimulation, allowing our students to better concentrate during learning, circle time, or movement activities like dancing and imaginative play. The soft, inviting space encourages collaboration, curiosity, and joy in learning each day. We deeply appreciate your generosity in making this possible and for supporting our young learners' growth, happiness, and sense of community.","fullyFundedDate":1746449442719,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-serenity-carpet-cultivating-c/9176700/","projectTitle":"Classroom Serenity Carpet: Cultivating Calm and Focus","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pita","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4679753_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1503363142603","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teacherpita"},{"teacherId":2486548,"projectId":9682936,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom library! The new books have been a huge success and are in constant demand during independent reading time. Our classroom library has truly become one of the most popular spots in the room.\r\n\r\nThe new titles are helping us grow as readers in many ways. Books like FGTeev and Hombre Perro encourage reluctant readers to practice decoding and fluency because the humor and illustrations pull them in. Amulet and Hilo introduce opportunities for deeper comprehension, such as understanding character motivation, sequencing events, and recognizing how illustrations enhance the storyline. These texts are not only fun, but they also let us talk about important reading skills like predicting, summarizing, and making connections.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks different depending on the time of day. During independent reading, students eagerly choose from our new library, often swapping books with friends when they finish. In small groups, my phonics students read aloud to me, applying the skills we are practicing in lessons. This allows me to hear their progress firsthand while giving them confidence to try out new words in the context of stories they love.\r\n\r\nThe excitement around these books is incredible. One student rushes each day to grab FGTeev before anyone else can, while another proudly told me he finished his first Amulet book and is ready for the next one in the series. Even students who used to struggle to find a book they liked now come to reading time excited, because they know there is something waiting for them that they can enjoy.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has not only filled our shelves, but it has also sparked joy, confidence, and growth in my students as readers. We are so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1757906701893,"projectUrl":"project/two-languages-one-love-for-reading/9682936/","projectTitle":"Two Languages, One Love for Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Joe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2486548_orig.jpg?crop=1008,1008,x1908,y1397&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757089045371","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-dzerkacz"},{"teacherId":2809381,"projectId":9250010,"letterContent":"This summer, our students had the opportunity to continue growing their English language and literacy skills with engaging, high-interest books that spark imagination and curiosity. These books aren't just stories—they're gateways to new worlds, new vocabulary, and a continued love for reading.\r\n\r\nYour donation meant that our students had meaningful books to read over the summer—stories that reflected their culture, language, and interests. This kind of access is powerful, especially for young learners who are building confidence in their bilingual journey.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our kids, in the power of language, and in the importance of joyful summer reading. Your generosity has made making a real difference—and it was so exciting to see our students dive into these books with excitement and pride.","fullyFundedDate":1744242671953,"projectUrl":"project/help-english-language-learners-grow-thei/9250010/","projectTitle":"Help English Language Learners Grow Their Love of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan Sullivan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2809381_orig.png?crop=549,549,x26,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758328835238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2809381"},{"teacherId":7486243,"projectId":5765213,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your generosity in supporting our art classroom. Your kindness has helped us create a vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring space where our students can learn, create, and express themselves.\r\n\r\nBecause of donors like you, we've been able to transform our classroom into a place that sparks imagination, encourages collaboration, and nurtures artistic growth. \r\nPainting has always been one of our favorite mediums and the materials from this project support our students skills development tremendously.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us make art a central, joyful part of their school experience. Your generosity will continue to inspire creativity for years to come.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1630682530395,"projectUrl":"project/materials-for-our-painting-center/5765213/","projectTitle":"Materials for Our Painting Center","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7486243_orig.jpg?crop=835,835,x0,y13&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598494307764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maria-robertlopes"},{"teacherId":7486243,"projectId":7740792,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your generosity in supporting our art classroom. Your kindness has helped us create a vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring space where our students can learn, create, and express themselves.\r\n\r\nBecause of donors like you, we've been able to transform our classroom into a place that sparks imagination, encourages collaboration, and nurtures artistic growth and our new rug is where it all starts.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us make art a central, joyful part of their school experience. Your generosity will continue to inspire creativity for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1695257858755,"projectUrl":"project/art-room-rug/7740792/","projectTitle":"Art Room Rug","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7486243_orig.jpg?crop=835,835,x0,y13&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598494307764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maria-robertlopes"},{"teacherId":7486243,"projectId":7740951,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your generosity in supporting our art classroom. Your kindness has helped us create a vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring space where our students can learn, create, and express themselves.\r\n\r\nBecause of donors like you, we've been able to transform our classroom into a place that sparks imagination, encourages collaboration, and nurtures artistic growth. \r\n\r\nThese resources are more than just items in a classroom — they are tools that help our students see themselves as artists, problem-solvers, and dreamers. You have given them not only the means to create, but also the confidence to explore and the joy of sharing their work with others.\r\n\r\nYour generosity will continue to inspire creativity for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1701705795797,"projectUrl":"project/painting-materials-for-art/7740951/","projectTitle":"Painting Materials for Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7486243_orig.jpg?crop=835,835,x0,y13&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598494307764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maria-robertlopes"},{"teacherId":7486243,"projectId":5713561,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your generosity in supporting our art classroom. Your kindness has helped us create a vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring space where our students can learn, create, and express themselves.\r\n\r\nBecause of donors like you, our classroom has been transformed into a place that sparks imagination, encourages collaboration, and nurtures artistic growth.\r\n\r\nThanks to your gift, we now have a beautiful new rug at the heart of our classroom — a space where we gather to dream up new ideas, share our accomplishments, and celebrate each other's creativity. It has quickly become more than just a rug; it's a place where our community comes together.","fullyFundedDate":1630542082846,"projectUrl":"project/a-rug-for-our-new-art-room/5713561/","projectTitle":"A Rug for Our New Art Room","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7486243_orig.jpg?crop=835,835,x0,y13&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598494307764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/maria-robertlopes"},{"teacherId":3782604,"projectId":8520171,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the set of water bottle holders. My students love having a special spot for their water bottles and we all love having desks that stay dry! On a personal note, I am thrilled to not have my lessons interrupted with clattering water bottles hitting the ground as the slip and slide off of desks. \r\n\r\nSmall tools like these can seem inconsequential, but eliminating the distractions we can helps us to have time for even more robust learning. Again, we are so grateful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1723752245060,"projectUrl":"project/water-bottle-holders-for-the-win/8520171/","projectTitle":"Water Bottle Holders for the Win!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rhyland","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3782604_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1471898967087","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3782604"},{"teacherId":2809381,"projectId":9236339,"letterContent":"As caring individuals, you understand the importance of a child's well-being. What you might not know is how specifically these books are designed to teach critical social-emotional skills. These aren't just stories; they are powerful tools for emotional growth and lifelong learning.\r\n\r\nWith these new resources, we've been able to introduce and reinforce a variety of vital SEL skills:\r\n\r\nEmpathy and Perspective-Taking: Many of these books feature characters facing relatable challenges, allowing students to step into different shoes and understand varied feelings and experiences. We use these stories to discuss how our actions impact others and how we can show compassion.\r\n\r\nSelf-Awareness and Emotion Regulation: The books provide a safe space to explore a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to frustration and sadness. Students are learning to identify their own feelings, understand what triggers them, and develop healthy strategies for managing strong emotions.\r\n\r\nKindness and Positive Relationships: Through narratives that highlight acts of kindness and the complexities of friendship, students are learning the value of treating others with respect and building strong, supportive relationships. We discuss how to resolve conflicts peacefully and be good friends.\r\n\r\nResilience and Problem-Solving: Many stories feature characters who face obstacles and setbacks but learn to persevere. These narratives inspire students to develop a growth mindset, bounce back from challenges, and find creative solutions to their own problems.\r\n\r\nSelf-Confidence and Self-Acceptance: The collection includes books that celebrate individuality and encourage self-love. Students are learning to appreciate their unique strengths and embrace who they are, fostering a stronger sense of self-worth.\r\n\r\n¡Muchísimas gracias a nuestros generosos donantes!","fullyFundedDate":1744209800061,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-build-hearts-and-minds/9236339/","projectTitle":"Books That Build Hearts and Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan Sullivan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2809381_orig.png?crop=549,549,x26,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758328835238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2809381"},{"teacherId":2809381,"projectId":9236299,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our project, \"Help Bilingual Students Grow Their Love of Reading,\" is making a significant impact on our students' summer and their ongoing language development. Your donations have ensured that our emerging bilingual learners have access to engaging, high-interest Spanish graphic novels, keeping their literacy skills sharp and fostering a lifelong love for reading.\r\n\r\nAs fellow book lovers, you understand the power of a good story. What you might not know is how crucial it is for our bilingual students to maintain their language and literacy skills, especially during the summer months. These aren't just any books; they are high-interest Spanish graphic novels that serve as powerful tools for continued language acquisition and cultural connection.\r\n\r\nWith these new books, we will be able to:\r\n\r\nPrevent Summer Learning Loss: The \"summer slide\" can be a real challenge for many students, but it's particularly impactful for language learners. By providing engaging Spanish texts, we're ensuring our students continue to practice and strengthen their Spanish reading comprehension and vocabulary in a fun, pressure-free environment.\r\n\r\nBoost Vocabulary and Fluency: Graphic novels, with their compelling visuals and dialogue-driven narratives, are incredibly effective for building vocabulary and improving reading fluency. Students can infer meaning from illustrations and follow conversations more easily, reinforcing their understanding of Spanish in context.\r\n\r\nFoster Cultural Connection: Many of these graphic novels feature diverse stories and characters from Spanish-speaking cultures, allowing students to see themselves reflected in literature and connect with their heritage in a meaningful way. This cultural affirmation is vital for identity development and strengthens their connection to the Spanish language.\r\n\r\nEncourage Independent Reading and Choice: Giving students the opportunity to select books that genuinely interest them empowers them as readers. This ownership over their reading choices increases motivation and fosters a habit of independent reading that extends beyond the school year.\r\n\r\n¡Muchísimas gracias por su increíble apoyo!","fullyFundedDate":1744209797867,"projectUrl":"project/help-bilingual-students-grow-their-love/9236299/","projectTitle":"Help Bilingual Students Grow Their Love of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan Sullivan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2809381_orig.png?crop=549,549,x26,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758328835238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2809381"},{"teacherId":2809381,"projectId":9236194,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our project, \"High-Interest Books for Emerging Bilingual Learners,\" has profoundly impacted our classroom. Your donations have unlocked a world of literacy for our students, fostering a love for reading and significantly boosting their language acquisition.\r\n\r\nAs fellow book lovers, you understand the power of a good story. What you might not know is how these particular books are specifically designed to teach critical reading skills to emerging bilingual learners. These aren't just any books; they are high-interest, accessible texts that serve as powerful tools for language development.\r\n\r\nWith these new books, we've been able to introduce and reinforce a variety of vital skills:\r\n\r\nReading Fluency and Comprehension: The engaging narratives and appropriate reading levels encourage students to read more, building their fluency and confidence. We practice choral reading, partner reading, and readers' theater to develop expressive reading. After reading, we delve into comprehension strategies like identifying main ideas, summarizing, making inferences, and connecting text to their own experiences.\r\n\r\nCultural Awareness and Empathy: Many of the books feature diverse characters and stories that reflect the rich backgrounds of our students and introduce them to new perspectives. This fosters empathy and understanding while validating their own experiences.\r\n\r\nCritical Thinking and Discussion: The compelling plots and relatable characters spark lively discussions in our classroom. Students are learning to articulate their opinions, support their ideas with evidence from the text, and respectfully engage with different viewpoints.\r\n\r\nYour support has not just put books in our hands; it has ignited a love for reading, built essential literacy skills, and opened up new worlds for our emerging bilingual learners. Thank you for being such an integral part of their educational journey.","fullyFundedDate":1744209681551,"projectUrl":"project/high-interest-books-for-emerging-bilingu/9236194/","projectTitle":"High-Interest Books for Emerging Bilingual Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meghan Sullivan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2809381_orig.png?crop=549,549,x26,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758328835238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2809381"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_62922","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":372,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":65,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.2,"schoolId":62922,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Rafael Hernandez K-8 School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Rafael Hernandez K-8 School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/boston-public-schools/rafael-hernandez-school/62922"}