{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"William Berkowitz Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":66.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8644337,"projectId":8416332,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation of storage bins for our students. Your support has made an immediate and meaningful impact on our classroom. With these bins, our students now have a safe, organized place to keep their materials, which helps them stay focused, responsible, and ready to learn each day.\r\n\r\nYour kindness does more than provide supplies—you've helped create a classroom environment where students feel valued and supported. They were so excited to receive the bins, and it was wonderful to see how proud they felt to have a space of their own.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your thoughtfulness and for investing in our students' success. Thank you for believing in our classroom and for making such a positive difference.","fullyFundedDate":1724288823375,"projectUrl":"project/paper-storage-bins-for-students/8416332/","projectTitle":"Paper Storage Bins for Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cummings","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8644337"},{"teacherId":9343693,"projectId":9223033,"letterContent":"When the Junie B. Jones and Stink books arrived, my students could hardly wait to open the boxes. They were thrilled to see \"big kid\" chapter books they recognized from the library and couldn't believe they would get to read them in our classroom. Each day, students rush to grab a new book and find a cozy spot to read with a partner or small group.\r\n\r\nThese new books have helped my students practice important skills like comprehension, making predictions, and understanding character traits. We use them to discuss how characters change, identify story structure, and make personal connections to the text. The humor and relatable situations in these series make it easier for my students—especially those still developing their confidence as readers—to stay engaged and excited to keep reading.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was seeing a group of students start their own \"Junie B. club.\" They meet during reading time to talk about what's happening in their books and to guess what Junie B. will do next. It's been incredible to watch their enthusiasm for reading grow so naturally. Thanks to your generosity, my students now see reading not as a chore, but as something joyful, social, and deeply rewarding. These books have truly brought reading to life in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1744970549090,"projectUrl":"project/growing-readers-with-junie-b-stink/9223033/","projectTitle":"Growing Readers with Junie B. & Stink!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Valladares","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9343693_orig.png?crop=582,582,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726165510016","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9343693"},{"teacherId":9343693,"projectId":9044630,"letterContent":"When our new Primary Phonics books arrived, my students' faces lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to open the boxes and explore all the colorful stories. During small-group reading time, they immediately began whisper reading to themselves and proudly showing me the words they could decode on their own. For many of my first graders, this was the first time they truly felt like real readers.\r\n\r\nWe've been using these books every day during phonics, small-group instruction, and literacy centers. The stories align perfectly with the sounds we're learning, so students can practice new skills in context. I've seen so much growth already! Students who once hesitated to read are now volunteering to read aloud to their classmates. It's been inspiring to watch their confidence grow with every book they finish.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students now have access to high-quality decodable texts that meet them where they are and push them forward. These materials are helping them develop a strong foundation in reading while also building a love for learning. Our next step is to continue expanding our classroom library so that every child has more opportunities to explore new stories and feel proud of their reading accomplishments.","fullyFundedDate":1746786271387,"projectUrl":"project/first-steps-in-phonics-supporting-early/9044630/","projectTitle":"First Steps in Phonics: Supporting Early Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Valladares","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9343693_orig.png?crop=582,582,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726165510016","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9343693"},{"teacherId":9343693,"projectId":8959837,"letterContent":"When our new Primary Phonics books arrived, my students' faces lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to open the boxes and explore all the colorful stories. During small-group reading time, they immediately began whisper-reading to themselves and proudly showing me the words they could decode on their own. For many of my first graders, this was the first time they truly felt like real readers.\r\n\r\nWe've been using these books every day during phonics, small-group instruction, and literacy centers. The stories align perfectly with the sounds we're learning, so students can practice new skills in context. I've seen so much growth already. Students who once hesitated to read are now volunteering to read aloud to their classmates. It's been inspiring to watch their confidence grow with every book they finish.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students now have access to high quality decodable texts that meet them where they are and push them forward. These materials are helping them develop a strong foundation in reading while also building a love for learning. Our next step is to continue expanding our classroom library so that every child has more opportunities to explore new stories and feel proud of their reading accomplishments.","fullyFundedDate":1735657746797,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-readers-building-confidence/8959837/","projectTitle":"Empowering Readers: Building Confidence with Decodable Texts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Valladares","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9343693_orig.png?crop=582,582,x0,y3&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726165510016","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9343693"},{"teacherId":9123034,"projectId":9484183,"letterContent":"When our new classroom supplies arrived, my students were so excited! They immediately noticed the colorful aluminum water bottles and couldn't wait to pick their favorite color. We talked about how having their own reusable bottle helps our planet and keeps us healthy during learning and recess. The pencil pouches were another big hit. My students loved organizing their crayons, pencils, and erasers in them. It was such a small thing, but it made them feel responsible for their materials.\r\n\r\nWe also set up the name plates on each desk. The students proudly traced the alphabet and practiced their best handwriting using the models on their name tags. It's been amazing to see them refer to their plates during writing time for letter formation and spacing. \r\n\r\nThese resources came at the perfect time as we've been working on building independence and organization in our classroom. The water bottles, pouches, and name plates have helped us transition smoothly into our daily routines while keeping learning fun and structured. Our next big step is using these tools during our upcoming writing unit, where students will write and illustrate short stories. Thanks to these donations, they have everything they need to stay focused, hydrated, and inspired!","fullyFundedDate":1755911769874,"projectUrl":"project/starting-strong-the-essentials-they-nee/9484183/","projectTitle":"Starting Strong: The Essentials They Need","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vasquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cvasquez1"},{"teacherId":8440574,"projectId":9223299,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our 2nd grade classes were able to take not one, but two incredible trips to the Harvard Museum of Natural History—and the impact was truly unforgettable! From the moment we arrived, students were wide-eyed with excitement. They explored dazzling exhibits like the Glass Flowers collection, saw life-sized dinosaur skeletons, and discovered real gemstones and minerals up close. The museum's hands-on classes were a huge hit—students got to engage like real scientists, learning about the natural world through touch, inquiry, and exploration.\r\n\r\nOne of the highlights of the trip was learning about different science careers through interactive experiences. Many of our students had never been to a museum like this before, and it opened their eyes to whole new possibilities for their futures. They came back to class asking questions about fossils, ecosystems, and geology—topics we're now building into our science curriculum. The joy on their faces was so genuine; one student told me, \"I want to work here when I grow up!\"\r\n\r\nThe supplies you helped fund—bags, reusable water bottles, and Goldfish snacks—played a huge role in making this trip stress-free and fun. Students didn't have to worry about where their lunch was or carrying too much. Everything was organized and taken care of, and it made the day smooth and comfortable for everyone. Because of you, our students got to focus on learning, bonding, and just enjoying being kids. Thank you for making this meaningful and memorable experience possible!","fullyFundedDate":1743681983629,"projectUrl":"project/harvard-museum-adventure-bags-bites-a/9223299/","projectTitle":"Harvard Museum Adventure: Bags, Bites, and Big Discoveries!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Matthews","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8440574_orig.png?crop=796,796,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752616619666","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8440574"},{"teacherId":1872827,"projectId":8980328,"letterContent":"It is with deep gratitude that I write to thank you for the collection of new books about winter and holidays, which you generously donated to my students for our elementary Library Media Center.\r\n\r\nAs I continue to work on updating our Library Media Center into a 21st century space for students to collaborate and learn, updating our library's book collection is a priority.\r\n\r\nPutting out displays of books for monthly themes and holidays is one way I highlight books for students, and introduce them to new books and characters. Students love to browse the special displays! Our Winter and Winter Holidays collection of books didn't include many newer books and characters that students enjoy. These new books flew off the display shelf throughout December and January, and my youngest students were thrilled to explore these new book choices! \r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students books that they will enjoy and that will motivate them to read. So many students will get to enjoy these books as they are now a part of our library collection! Thank you for helping to foster my students' love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1733290622830,"projectUrl":"project/lets-read-about-winter-and-holidays/8980328/","projectTitle":"Let's Read About Winter and Holidays!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hubert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1872827_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600486087085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-hubert"},{"teacherId":1872827,"projectId":8980182,"letterContent":"It is with deep gratitude that I write to thank you for the twenty warm blankets, which you generously donated to my students. The items were distributed to families during our annual Holiday Shop for families in need.\r\n\r\nBeing warm and safe at home helps our students be more successful in school. You helped us prepare to meet students' basic needs so that they could continue to learn and grow in school.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students these cozy blankets to stay warm at home, so that they will continue to be safe and healthy, and able to do their best learning in school. Thank you for caring about my students' needs and their education!","fullyFundedDate":1734575809412,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-blankets-this-winter-season/8980182/","projectTitle":"Cozy Blankets This Winter Season","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hubert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1872827_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600486087085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-hubert"},{"teacherId":1872827,"projectId":9242628,"letterContent":"It is with deep gratitude that I write to thank you for the collection of engaging new books, which you generously donated to my students for our elementary Library Media Center.\r\n\r\nAs I continue to work on updating our Library Media Center into a 21st century space for students to collaborate and learn, updating our library's book collection is a priority. The books you provided are in high demand by students -- not a day goes by without a student asking for books about Sonic, Moana, Princesses, and of course the newest titles in our popular series like Dork Diaries! Students are thrilled to have these new options--most were checked out before they made it to the shelves! It's so important for students to have access to the books that they want to read, to keep them motivated!\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the books that they are asking for. So many students will be impacted as they read these books, become immersed in the stories, and grow as readers. Thank you for helping to foster my students' love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1744211318092,"projectUrl":"project/sparkling-new-books-for-our-library-shel/9242628/","projectTitle":"Sparkling New Books for Our Library Shelves!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hubert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1872827_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600486087085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-hubert"},{"teacherId":1872827,"projectId":8980367,"letterContent":"It is with deep gratitude that I write to thank you for the collection of new books about favorite characters, which you generously donated to my students for our elementary Library Media Center.\r\n\r\nAs I continue to work on updating our Library Media Center into a 21st century space for students to collaborate and learn, updating our library's book collection is a priority. The books you provided are in high demand by students -- not a day goes by without a student asking for books about Stitch, Bluey, Ninja Turtles, and other popular characters! Students are thrilled to have these new options--most were checke out before they made it to the shelves! It's so important for students to have access to the books that they want to read, to keep them motivated!\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the books that they are asking for. So many students will be impacted as they read these books, become immersed in the stories, and grow as readers. Thank you for helping to foster my students' love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1742920583897,"projectUrl":"project/filling-our-shelves-with-favorite-charac/8980367/","projectTitle":"Filling Our Shelves with Favorite Characters!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hubert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1872827_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600486087085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-hubert"},{"teacherId":8405422,"projectId":8860134,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all my donors for their generous contributions to my classroom. The whiteboard has been a game-changer for small group instruction, allowing my para and me to engage our students more effectively. It has created an interactive learning environment where students can participate actively, enhancing their understanding of the material. The phonics books have also been invaluable, providing diverse resources that cater to different learning styles and helping students develop essential literacy skills.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the dry erase markers, stress balls, laminating sheets, and fidgets have made a significant impact on our classroom dynamics. The markers enable us to create visual aids on the whiteboard, fostering collaboration and creativity. The stress balls and fidgets support students in managing their focus and anxiety, creating a more conducive learning atmosphere. Thank you for believing in our mission and for your support in providing these essential tools that make a difference in our students' education.","fullyFundedDate":1735657693856,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-for-eager-learners/8860134/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials For Eager Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. DiChiara","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8405422_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724891833471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8405422"},{"teacherId":1872827,"projectId":8713015,"letterContent":"It is with deep gratitude that I write to thank you for the school library subscription plan for Novel Effect, which you generously funded for my students!\r\n\r\nNovel Effect brings stories alive during read alouds with music and sound effects that engage readers and support comprehension. With the school library subscription renewal, my teachers and I will continue to have access to the large and constantly growing library of available book soundscapes. We also received additional bluetooth speakers to use with the app, which teachers can borrow to use in their classrooms. With access for 30 student licenses and stickers to label library books that work with Novel Effect, students can also access this engaging app so that they can practice reading with the sound effects. For our reluctant readers, this is a great motivator to practice reading aloud. Older students can also practice reading to younger students in the library!\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students access to Novel Effect, an engaging app that will help to foster a love of reading for many, m","fullyFundedDate":1735657683755,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-more-stories-to-life-with-novel/8713015/","projectTitle":"Bringing More Stories to Life With Novel Effect","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hubert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1872827_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600486087085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/laura-hubert"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_93783","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":455,"numTeachers":32,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":88,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"1 - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":33.3,"schoolId":93783,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about William Berkowitz Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"William Berkowitz Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/chelsea-public-schools/william-berkowitz-elementary-school/93783"}