{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Grayling Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":25.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8927394,"projectId":10030287,"letterContent":"Our classroom book clubs have come to life with the addition of engaging titles like The Enormous Egg, How to Eat Fried Worms, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. These stories have sparked lively discussions, laughter, and deeper thinking among my students. \r\nEach group takes ownership of their reading, sharing predictions, debating character choices, and making connections to their own lives. I've watched even my quieter students find their voice as they participate in meaningful conversations with their peers. These books have not only strengthened reading comprehension but also built a strong sense of community and collaboration within our classroom.\r\n\r\nWhen the books first arrived, the excitement was immediate and contagious. Students eagerly flipped through the pages, making guesses about the stories and characters before we even began reading. Many were especially drawn to the humor and adventure within the texts, which helped hook even reluctant readers right away. Seeing their enthusiasm reminded me how powerful the right books can be in shaping a love of reading.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps include deepening our book club routines by assigning student roles and encouraging more thoughtful discussions and written responses. Students will begin working on small projects connected to their books, such as character diaries, alternate endings, and creative presentations. Thanks to your generosity, these book clubs are not just improving literacy skills—they are helping students grow as confident readers, thinkers, and collaborators.","fullyFundedDate":1772832372621,"projectUrl":"project/book-clubs-are-fun/10030287/","projectTitle":"Book Clubs are Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gurzynski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927394_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673882449919","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927394"},{"teacherId":8927394,"projectId":9658308,"letterContent":"Our new snowshoes have completely transformed how we experience learning, especially during the winter months. Instead of staying indoors, we've been able to take our lessons outside and explore nature in a hands-on way. One of our favorite moments was using the snowshoes during a science lesson on animal tracks. Students walked through fresh snow, observing and comparing footprints, then created their own \"track trails\" for classmates to investigate. It turned into a fun, interactive mystery that blended science, movement, and teamwork.\r\n\r\nWhen the snowshoes first arrived, the excitement in the room was electric. Students were full of questions and could hardly wait to try them on. For many, it was their first time seeing or using snowshoes, and they were amazed at how they could walk across deep snow without sinking. Their curiosity quickly turned into confidence as they practiced and encouraged one another outside.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to incorporate the snowshoes into more cross-curricular lessons. Students will begin a writing project where they document their outdoor experiences, combining descriptive writing with scientific observations. We also hope to explore mapping and measurement by tracking distances and creating simple trail maps. Thanks to this generous donation, learning has become an adventure that extends far beyond the classroom walls.","fullyFundedDate":1772558028857,"projectUrl":"project/snow-much-fun/9658308/","projectTitle":"Snow Much Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gurzynski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927394_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673882449919","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927394"},{"teacherId":10245552,"projectId":9691915,"letterContent":"The addition of new books has had a meaningful impact on our classroom. Students have been able to use these books for many purposes and have become invested in them. In our English unit on famous Americans, students were able to make connections with other famous individuals, such as Coretta Scott King, not covered in the unit. Similarly, during our unit on fearless women, the new book on Rosa Parks aided students in making connections between texts. They also used these books for research during our informative writing unit on powerful people. These resources also supported my informational small groups. It gave students a wider variety of texts to explore topics such as Civil Rights and the American Revolution. Through this, they were able to work collaboratively and independently to gather important facts and information.\r\n\r\nStudents now enjoy daily free choice reading time, which has become a highlight of the day. They were especially excited to organize and fill their new book bins, where they can keep up to four self-selected books at a time. This sense of ownership has encouraged them to take pride in their reading choices and stay actively engaged. They frequently ask if they can get new books from the library to trade out the others they'd chosen. Popular series like \"The Bad Guys\" have been in high demand, with many students quickly reading through the entire collection. Others have become deeply invested in the \"Harry Potter\" series, often asking to take the books home so they can continue reading beyond the school day.\r\n\r\nOverall, the new books have fostered a stronger reading culture in the classroom. Before, my students really weren't overly interested readers. However, with the enthusiasm and independence of the new books, I can see a genuine love of reading developing.","fullyFundedDate":1767621898857,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library/9691915/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tedford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10245552"},{"teacherId":8927394,"projectId":9873336,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom STEM kits. Because of you, my students now have hands-on learning tools that are making a meaningful impact not only in our classroom, but also in their home lives. Your support has truly opened doors for my students to explore, create, and learn in ways that many of them have never experienced before. \r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students are developing important skills like teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance. They are learning that it's okay to make mistakes, because mistakes lead to new ideas and better solutions.","fullyFundedDate":1762740000272,"projectUrl":"project/christmas-stem-at-home/9873336/","projectTitle":"Christmas, STEM at Home!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gurzynski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927394_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673882449919","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927394"},{"teacherId":8927394,"projectId":9864156,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting our classroom by providing prizes for students who make good choices. Your support has had a meaningful impact on both student behavior and the overall learning environment in our classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of these prizes, students are highly motivated to demonstrate positive behaviors such as kindness, responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance. They are excited to work toward goals, follow classroom expectations, and make thoughtful choices throughout the school day. Recognizing their efforts in this way has helped reinforce positive habits and build confidence in their ability to succeed.\r\n\r\nThese incentives have allowed me to encourage positive behavior proactively, rather than focusing on corrections. As a result, I am able to spend more instructional time teaching and engaging with students, while fostering a classroom culture built on respect and encouragement. Students take pride in earning rewards and celebrate one another's successes, which has strengthened our sense of community.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping create a positive, motivating learning environment. Your kindness and support truly make a difference every day, and we are incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1762266367539,"projectUrl":"project/good-choice-prizes/9864156/","projectTitle":"Good Choice Prizes","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gurzynski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927394_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673882449919","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927394"},{"teacherId":8927394,"projectId":9717768,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our third grade classroom! Because of you, our students were excited to receive Goldfish snacks, Crayola watercolor paint palettes, and chew necklaces.\r\n\r\nThe Goldfish have been a big hit and help keep our students energized and focused throughout the school day. The watercolor paint palettes have already inspired creativity, allowing students to explore art, color mixing, and self-expression in a hands-on way. The chew necklaces have made a meaningful difference for students who benefit from sensory tools, helping them stay calm, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYour kindness and generosity directly impact our students every day. These supplies not only meet academic and sensory needs, but they also help create a positive, supportive classroom environment where all learners can thrive.\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in our students and investing in their success. We are truly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1762266351365,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-and-creativity/9717768/","projectTitle":"Snacks and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gurzynski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927394_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673882449919","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927394"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_67489","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":579,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":92,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"13.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":74.5,"schoolId":67489,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Grayling Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Grayling Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/crawford-ausable-school-district/grayling-elementary-school/67489"}