{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Spring Mills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2849835,"projectId":9306390,"letterContent":"The deskbells have been an amazing addition to our music room! I was able to introduce them just before summer break to my 5th graders, who loved the challenge of playing some songs using all the bells. It is a great differentiating tool, because students can decide themselves, how many bells they are comfortable using and increase or decrease the difficulty of their song.\r\nSince school started this fall, I had the chance to use the deskbells with 1st through 4th graders! 1st and 2nd graders just recently used them for a Thanksgiving activity, where they were working on playing along with their solfege syllables. 3rd graders worked on a Halloween song with the bells. It was so much fun watching them working together, pointing at the notes in the book, and playing at the same time. 4th graders prepared their song \"Hot Cross Buns\" on the deskbells before getting their recorders.\r\nMy students get excited every time they see either an assortment of different bells waiting for them or the full boxes with all the bells in them. So much fabulous learning is happening! And I can't wait to introduce them to my Kindergarten students after Christmas break and for the first time have enough bells for every student to play!","fullyFundedDate":1746787202387,"projectUrl":"project/ding-ding-bells-are-ringing/9306390/","projectTitle":"Ding-Ding! Bells Are Ringing!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. LaPratt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2849835_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449464164041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-lapratt"},{"teacherId":2324978,"projectId":9593817,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! The chair pockets you provided have given each child their own space to keep books, notebooks, and supplies within easy reach. This has helped us stay organized, save time, and spend more of our day learning.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the chair pockets, they were so excited—several proudly tucked away their things and said, \"Now I won't lose my pencil!\" We've already noticed how quickly we can get started on lessons, especially during math time.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, these chair pockets are teaching my students the habit of staying organized, a skill that will help them far beyond fifth grade. Next, we'll be using them daily as we dive into fractions and math club.\r\n\r\nThank you for making such a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1755609862957,"projectUrl":"project/pocketful-of-learning/9593817/","projectTitle":"Pocketful of Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Aman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2324978_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1479246140252","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/keely-aman"},{"teacherId":2849835,"projectId":9104588,"letterContent":"It was so much fun to use the steelpan during our stations! 2nd through 5th grade students rotated through different stations, one of them being an \"unusual\" instrument station. They got to play the kalimba, the rock'n'roll piano, the joia tubes, a small harp, and our brand new steelpan. The students loved it! They loved the sound, the way it made them feel, the ease of being able to play a song. By the end of the week, I had heard \"Baby Shark\" one too many times...:-)\r\nI am looking forward to exploring this instrument more with my students and finding ways to incorporate it. We already talked about how fun it would be to have a whole steelpan ensemble!\r\nThank you again for your generosity! My students got to experience this instrument thanks to you!","fullyFundedDate":1739392276999,"projectUrl":"project/bring-on-the-caribbean-vibes/9104588/","projectTitle":"Bring On the Caribbean Vibes!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. LaPratt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2849835_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449464164041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-lapratt"},{"teacherId":1784633,"projectId":8936104,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project! Because of you, my students now have access to adapted books that make reading and answering questions more accessible and enjoyable — and they love them.\r\n\r\nThe Llama Llama and Peppa Pig books have been big hits in our classroom, and Pete the Cat has been another favorite. These familiar, engaging stories are helping my students build confidence and practice important communication and comprehension skills.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting changes I've seen is how the kids are starting to answer questions with fewer cues. In fact, one student has even started asking his OWN questions when we read a book that hasn't been adapted — a huge step forward!\r\n\r\nI've also been able to share the adapted books with classroom teachers, which helps students use the same skills across different settings. This kind of generalization is so important, and your support has made it possible.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making a real difference. Your donation helped create more meaningful reading experiences, and we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1737860143851,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-learn-to-answer-questions/8936104/","projectTitle":"Help Us Learn To Answer Questions","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walls","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1784633"},{"teacherId":2324978,"projectId":9223041,"letterContent":"Having Blood on the River in our classroom for historical fiction book clubs has made an incredible difference for my 5th graders. With each student holding their own copy, engagement and interest in both the story and the historical fiction genre soared. Students connected deeply to the characters, which helped them build a more personal, meaningful understanding of life during the early colonial period. That emotional connection made the events of the Jamestown settlement come alive, enriching not just their reading experience but also their grasp of our social studies curriculum on colonial settlement and exploration of the New World.\r\n\r\nThis shared text gave students important background knowledge for our broader historical fiction unit, helping them navigate complex historical concepts through the lens of relatable characters and real events. The rich discussions that grew from our reading strengthened critical reading skills like summarizing, questioning, and analyzing texts at a much higher level. By tying literature directly into history, students weren't just learning facts—they were developing empathy, deeper comprehension, and a love of learning that crossed subjects. Blood on the River didn't just improve their reading; it opened up a whole new way for them to experience and understand history.","fullyFundedDate":1744219343021,"projectUrl":"project/blood-on-the-river-where-literacy-meets/9223041/","projectTitle":"Blood on the River: Where Literacy Meets History","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Aman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2324978_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1479246140252","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/keely-aman"},{"teacherId":2324978,"projectId":9244919,"letterContent":"Having The Thief of Always available for our 5th grade fantasy book clubs has made a powerful difference in our classroom. With every student able to fully engage with their own copy, interest in the story—and the fantasy genre as a whole—has skyrocketed. Students who were once hesitant readers have become invested in the plot twists, character journeys, and deeper themes.\r\n\r\nAccess to a rich, shared text has also strengthened their understanding of fantasy as a genre, providing essential background knowledge for our future units of study. Our book club discussions have blossomed into thoughtful, critical conversations where students make connections, analyze character motivations, and explore author's craft. As a result, I've seen real growth in their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence when speaking about complex stories.\r\n\r\nThe Thief of Always hasn't just sparked excitement—it's built skills that will carry these young readers forward, not just as fantasy fans, but as stronger, more thoughtful learners.","fullyFundedDate":1744236921051,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-imaginations-with-the-thief-of-a/9244919/","projectTitle":"Fueling Imaginations with The Thief of Always","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Aman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2324978_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1479246140252","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/keely-aman"},{"teacherId":2849835,"projectId":9053044,"letterContent":"In our most recent \"stations week\" in March, I had for the first time prepared our new \"listening station\". It was a huge hit!! All students in 2nd through 5th grade got a chance to visit the listening station in my back room. I had darkened the room, lit it with a dim flower light, set up the pillows and cushions, and prepared the CD players with classical music CDs. Every student was excited to go in there and to just relax for five minutes. It was amazing to watch how many students closed their eyes and just listened to the music. Some even fell asleep! In our busy lives and in their busy school day, it felt great to take a little time-out. Most kids came out of the room saying: \"this was amazing\" or \"that was my favorite station\".\r\nIt was interesting that many students had never used a CD player and so there was a small learning curve involved. I'm looking forward to exploring different kinds of music styles, maybe even using the CD players for pre-recoded musical stories. It was such a big hit that I have had other teachers in my school inquire about the idea and some are thinking about adding a space like this in their classroom as well.\r\nThis would not have been possible without your generosity. My students and I are very grateful for your support of our music classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1736966804178,"projectUrl":"project/open-your-ears-and-minds-to-music/9053044/","projectTitle":"Open Your Ears And Minds To Music!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. LaPratt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2849835_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449464164041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-lapratt"},{"teacherId":1459650,"projectId":4524719,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in helping fund our 5th-grade camp experience! Your donation is made a world of difference for our students, allowing them to explore new activities, build confidence, and develop essential teamwork skills. With your help, our students had the opportunity to face challenges like zip-lining, kayaking, and hiking through nature, all while building lifelong memories and friendships.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your contribution to this incredible journey that will impact their lives for years to come. Thank you for helping make this transformative experience possible!","fullyFundedDate":1571094718905,"projectUrl":"project/fishing-kayaking-and-exploring-oh-my/4524719/","projectTitle":"Fishing, Kayaking and Exploring, Oh My! Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Day","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1459650_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569975187729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1459650"},{"teacherId":1784633,"projectId":8982745,"letterContent":"A HUGE Thank You for Sending Us Some Good Vibes!\r\n\r\nI'm beyond thrilled to share just how much my students LOVE the toys you helped us get through the \"Send Us Some Good Vibes\" project! Honestly, they're a bigger hit than I ever could've imagined. Not only do my students with autism absolutely adore them, but even my general education students have joined in on the fun. They REQUEST these toys at every single session. One of my students, couldn't find \"sloth\" on her AAC device, so she did the best she could and used \"penguin\" to describe the Jiggler (of course Sloth and Unicorn are on all the devices now!) Talk about making learning even more exciting and fun!\r\n\r\nThe vibrating toys (Jigglers) have been a game-changer, helping kids manage sensory overload and providing them with the comfort they need to focus during therapy. And the teethers? Perfect! They've been amazing for allowing multiple students to use the vibrating toys since they can be easily switched out. It's been such a wonderful addition to our sessions, and it's making a real difference!\r\n\r\nI can't thank you enough for your generosity and support. You've helped create a positive, soothing environment that's making speech therapy even more fun and effective.","fullyFundedDate":1734546141385,"projectUrl":"project/send-us-some-good-vibes/8982745/","projectTitle":"Send Us Some Good Vibes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walls","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1784633"},{"teacherId":2666703,"projectId":8930896,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to fund this project. The kids were so excited to get the magna tiles, and have pieces that move. In JK we do a lot of learning through play. Through play we learn how to share, communicate, practice self control, and regulate or emotions among many other things. Thank you for the extra materials to help support this in our room. I love that these tiles help with our creativity, and focus. The kids will try new ways to make something if it doesn't stay up or needs extra support. They really enjoy these magna tiles!","fullyFundedDate":1732034114469,"projectUrl":"project/magnetic-mania/8930896/","projectTitle":"Magnetic Mania!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. LaFontaine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2666703"},{"teacherId":1784633,"projectId":8871961,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to this project. My students love having something to do while they are waiting for their turn. These games have not only given my students something to do, but are teaching them valuable skills.\r\n\r\nI can really see their minds turning as they try to figure a challenging puzzle out. In larger groups, my student work together to complete the tasks associated with the game. I can see their language improving as they talk out what they need to do. These games also show kids they can do hard things. I have had more than one student want to give up when they thought a challenge was \"too hard\" for them to complete. Given little encouragement, they have all been able to finish and you can see how proud they are when they are done. I have one student that wanted to skip the easy levels and went right to the master level. He worked on it for multiple sessions before he was able to complete it. He was so excited when he finished!\r\n\r\nThanks again for your donation. These games have really made a difference in my speech sessions.","fullyFundedDate":1732034523939,"projectUrl":"project/from-idle-to-engaged-strategy-games-for/8871961/","projectTitle":"From Idle to Engaged: Strategy Games for Productive Waiting","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walls","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1784633"},{"teacherId":1459650,"projectId":4529673,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our 5th-grade camp experience! Your support helped our students embark on a life-changing adventure where they built confidence, strengthened friendships, and faced challenges together. Thanks to you, they had the opportunity to explore activities like zip-lining, kayaking, and team-building exercises that fostered growth and created lasting memories.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your kindness and belief in the power of hands-on learning and teamwork. Thank you for making this amazing experience possible!","fullyFundedDate":1570571125979,"projectUrl":"project/outdoor-learning-experience/4529673/","projectTitle":"Outdoor Learning Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Day","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1459650_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569975187729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1459650"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_71727","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":424,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":35,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":92,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.6,"schoolId":71727,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Spring Mills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Spring Mills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/huron-valley-school-district/spring-mills-elementary-school/71727"}