{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Great Lakes Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":28.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3565816,"projectId":10177683,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for helping me to give my students the gift of combination locks and a special memory book as they wrapped up their time in elementary school and head to middle school. These locks were so appreciated by both students and parents/guardians alike. We had a few minutes left on the day that I gave them to students, and it allowed for each student to open, appreciate, attempt, be frustrated, attempt again, succeed or help others to succeed opening their lock, and then realize that they have the summer to practice this skill so that they are pros when school starts in the fall. \r\nThe books are always an added bonus, an extra special touch to love on kids and their lasting memories that we shared. I always write a unique, special message to each student in their copy of the book. It is a reminder that I am always there for them if they need me and that I loved having them as a student. Your generous donations help me to make my dreams realities in my classroom. I am so grateful for the Donors Choose programs and for people and organizations that partner with them to support us.","fullyFundedDate":1777301798898,"projectUrl":"project/unlock-your-future-wish-for-more/10177683/","projectTitle":"Unlock Your Future & Wish for More!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kuiper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3565816_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466617906692","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kuiper"},{"teacherId":8721279,"projectId":10043986,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the amazing building toys you donated to our first grade classroom! They have quickly become some of our students' favorite materials to explore during choice time. The magnetic blocks are by far the biggest hit, and it has been incredible to watch students work together to build towers, castles, vehicles, and so many other creative designs. They are constantly challenging themselves to think bigger and solve problems as they build.\r\n\r\nThe stone blocks have also inspired endless creativity as students design neighborhoods, roads, animal habitats, and imaginative worlds where they create stories together. All of these building materials have provided our students with meaningful, hands-on play that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Thank you for giving our first graders opportunities to learn through play while making our classroom an even more joyful and engaging place to learn. Your generosity has made a lasting impact, and we are so grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1769190232404,"projectUrl":"project/1st-grade-build-and-explore/10043986/","projectTitle":"1st Grade Build and Explore","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tulgestke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8721279_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665005258831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8721279"},{"teacherId":8721279,"projectId":9410452,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your thoughtful donation of materials that support Science of Reading instruction in our first grade classroom. The books, small-group cards, and picture books have become valuable tools during both whole-group and small-group instruction. These resources allow me to provide explicit, engaging lessons that meet students where they are and give them the support they need to become successful readers.\r\n\r\nThe picture books have been especially helpful for building comprehension skills and sparking meaningful conversations about what we read together. During small-group instruction, the resources help me provide targeted practice so every child can continue growing in confidence and ability. Because of your generosity, our students have access to high-quality materials that make learning both engaging and effective. Thank you for investing in our classroom and helping our first graders build a strong foundation for a lifetime of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1754325001682,"projectUrl":"project/science-of-reading/9410452/","projectTitle":"Science of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tulgestke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8721279_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665005258831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8721279"},{"teacherId":8721279,"projectId":8709027,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the amazing building toys you donated to our first grade classroom! They have quickly become some of our students' favorite materials to explore during choice time. The magnetic blocks are by far the biggest hit, and it has been incredible to watch students work together to build towers, castles, vehicles, and so many other creative designs. They are constantly challenging themselves to think bigger and solve problems as they build.\r\n\r\nThe stone blocks have also inspired endless creativity as students design neighborhoods, roads, animal habitats, and imaginative worlds where they create stories together. All of these building materials have provided our students with meaningful, hands-on play that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Thank you for giving our first graders opportunities to learn through play while making our classroom an even more joyful and engaging place to learn. Your generosity has made a lasting impact, and we are so grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1726665587062,"projectUrl":"project/building-and-creativity-expand-the-math/8709027/","projectTitle":"Building and Creativity Expand the Math Mind","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tulgestke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8721279_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665005258831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8721279"},{"teacherId":8721279,"projectId":8484685,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and support of our first grade classroom. Your kindness has helped create a learning environment that is warm, inviting, and full of opportunities for our students to grow. The cozy reading spots have quickly become some of our students' favorite places to curl up with a good book, and the new read-aloud books have already brought so much excitement, laughter, and meaningful discussion into our classroom. Your gifts are making reading an experience our students truly look forward to each day.\r\n\r\nWe are also so grateful for the lamps and classroom materials that help create a calm, welcoming atmosphere and support a positive classroom management system. These thoughtful additions help make our classroom feel like a place where every child is safe, valued, and ready to learn. Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their education. Your generosity is making a lasting difference in the lives of our first graders, and we are incredibly thankful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1723655701482,"projectUrl":"project/a-classroom-we-love/8484685/","projectTitle":"A Classroom We Love","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tulgestke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8721279_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665005258831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8721279"},{"teacherId":8721279,"projectId":8493838,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for filling our classroom library with incredible books for our first graders! Your generosity has given our students access to books that match the authors and genres we explore during our shared reading time. As students discover an author they love, they can continue reading more of that author's books on their own. This helps build excitement for reading, strengthens comprehension, and encourages students to see themselves as confident, capable readers.\r\n\r\nOne of the greatest joys is watching students eagerly browse the shelves looking for their next favorite book. They are so proud when they recognize an author's name or successfully read a book independently that connects to our classroom learning. Your thoughtful gift has sparked curiosity, nurtured a love of reading, and helped create a classroom where books are treasured every single day. Thank you for investing in our students and helping them become lifelong readers.","fullyFundedDate":1723655701367,"projectUrl":"project/for-the-love-of-books/8493838/","projectTitle":"For the Love of Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tulgestke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8721279_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665005258831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8721279"},{"teacherId":9310836,"projectId":9889951,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous gift to my classroom! The headphones have made a huge difference to my students! They were so excited when I opened the boxes. Many of the students were trying to make do with broken headphones or ear buds. This was leading to a lot of frustration for the kids. The new headphones have been a game changer, especially for taking online assessments, which are required for the students several times a year. The kids now have the tools they need to appropriately take the tests as well as complete online math lessons and skills practice! \r\n\r\nWe appreciate you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1763557938324,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-3rd-graders/9889951/","projectTitle":"Headphones for 3rd Graders!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vander Kolk","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9310836"},{"teacherId":1936914,"projectId":9798921,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful support of our classroom project. We are truly grateful for each and every donation that helped make this possible. Because of your generosity, our classroom now has a fun and engaging reward system that has already made a meaningful impact on our students' daily learning experiences!\r\n\r\nThe pens you helped provide have quickly become a favorite in our classroom! They are exciting, motivating, and something the students genuinely look forward to earning. What may seem like a small item has made a big difference in how students approach their work. They also have loved reading their new non fiction books. Replenishing the old outdated books was long overdue. Thank you so much for making our classroom a better place!","fullyFundedDate":1761931777299,"projectUrl":"project/non-fiction-books/9798921/","projectTitle":"Non-Fiction Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tucker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1936914_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1454601751554","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/pfosta"},{"teacherId":9310836,"projectId":9542261,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to our classroom! The kids have loved using the toys to explore and build! They things they have built and the ideas they have created have been so interesting. \r\n\r\nWhen the students first opened the tubs with the toys, they were so excited! Its been a long time since they've had access to such great STEM toys! \r\n\r\nWe had a science unit where we explored chain reactions. The students were able to use the toys to create their chain reactions. It was so fun watching them learn and explore!","fullyFundedDate":1755693798917,"projectUrl":"project/3rd-grade-stem-toys/9542261/","projectTitle":"3rd Grade STEM Toys","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vander Kolk","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9310836"},{"teacherId":1867305,"projectId":9413790,"letterContent":"We are delighted and profoundly grateful to report that our mission—to transform the K–5 science classroom into an \"out-of-this-world learning galaxy\"—has been completed, and the results have already exceeded our highest expectations. Because of your exceptional generosity, our young scientists have officially achieved liftoff!\r\n\r\nYour support was the fuel we needed to launch this ambitious project. On behalf of every curious Kindergartener, every energetic First Grader, and every aspiring Astronomer up through Fifth Grade, thank you. You didn't just fund a classroom renovation; you invested in a catalyst for lifelong curiosity and empowerment.","fullyFundedDate":1750796754938,"projectUrl":"project/blast-off-into-learning/9413790/","projectTitle":"Blast Off Into Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1867305_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718655487055","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sherwood"},{"teacherId":1867305,"projectId":9438069,"letterContent":"We are absolutely thrilled to share the incredible success of our science discovery classroom transformation, a project made possible entirely by your generous support! Thanks to you, our space has officially transformed from \"just okay\" to a source of daily wonder and inspiration for our K–5 students. The new calming light covers filter sunlight softly, a cheerful welcome sign greets every explorer, and the beautiful pond-themed rug now serves as the central gathering place for curious minds. These thoughtful details haven't just decorated a room; they have established a beautiful, nature-rich environment that instantly sets a tone for joy, focus, and creativity.\r\n\r\nThe true measure of your impact is visible in the daily lives of our young scientists. We are seeing a marked difference in how students engage with their lessons. Instead of stiff chairs, our explorers now perch on plush tree stump pillows, allowing them to feel truly immersed—like they are deep in the forest—while discussing complex topics like the water cycle or the mysteries of the world around them. This feeling of safety and connection to their environment is invaluable; it encourages their imaginations to flourish and helps them focus on the wonders of science. You have helped us create a space where every child feels like a valued part of our science story.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in the power of an inspiring learning environment. Your contribution is more than a donation; it is an investment in fostering a deep, lifelong love of learning and curiosity. Because of your kindness, our science discovery classroom is now a place where learning blooms daily and students are encouraged to let their curiosity grow wild. We are profoundly grateful for your partnership in helping our students shine!","fullyFundedDate":1754325001979,"projectUrl":"project/our-cozy-science-spot-where-nature-meet/9438069/","projectTitle":"Our Cozy Science Spot: Where Nature Meets Discovery","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1867305_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718655487055","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sherwood"},{"teacherId":3565816,"projectId":9453028,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your generosity and support! The white writing folders, composition books, LED magic erase boards, and Trapper Keeper binders have made such a difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nMy students are now more organized, engaged, and confident in their learning. The folders and binders have helped them keep track of their writing drafts and resources, making the writing process smoother and more meaningful. The composition books are being filled with creative stories, thoughtful reflections, and daily journal entries that showcase how much they've grown as writers.\r\n\r\nThe LED magic erase boards have quickly become a class favorite! They make practicing spelling, editing sentences, and brainstorming ideas fun and interactive. Students are eager to participate and collaborate because they can easily share and revise their thinking in real time.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, our classroom feels more purposeful, creative, and inspired. Your kindness has not only provided materials — it has encouraged my students to see themselves as real writers and learners.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1754325002192,"projectUrl":"project/word-by-word-our-journey-through-storie/9453028/","projectTitle":"Word by Word: Our Journey Through Stories and Writing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kuiper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3565816_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1466617906692","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kuiper"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_68171","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":404,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":24,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":53,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":71.6,"schoolId":68171,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Great Lakes Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Great Lakes Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/west-ottawa-public-school-district/great-lakes-elementary-school/68171"}