{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Cass Lake - Bena Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":45.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9751232,"projectId":10601206,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to see their new classroom resources! Their enthusiasm was contagious as they explored the games, activities, and materials. It was wonderful to see their curiosity spark and their excitement grow as they realized learning could feel like playing!\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these resources to great use in our classroom. The Lakeshore Grab-and-Go Math and Reading Games have made centers and small-group activities more interactive and engaging. Students are practicing math facts, building problem-solving skills, strengthening vocabulary, and working together to find solutions. The reading comprehension boards are helping students become more thoughtful readers as they practice identifying main ideas, making inferences, sequencing events, and finding text evidence to support their answers.\r\n\r\nHaving plenty of pencils available means students can jump right into their learning without worrying about supplies. The new wall lights were replaced with a digital classroom clock; this has allowed students to be more independent during reading time.\r\n\r\nOne of the best parts has been watching students encourage one another, celebrate their successes, and keep trying when something feels challenging. Whether they are working through a tricky math problem or discussing clues in a reading passage, these materials give them opportunities to build confidence while having fun.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue incorporating these resources into our daily learning routines, math and reading centers, and intervention groups. We will keep challenging ourselves to think critically, work collaboratively, and become stronger, more confident learners.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our classroom! Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our students' everyday learning experiences. Because of you, learning is a little brighter, a little more exciting, and filled with even more opportunities to grow. We are so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1793109908382,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play-growing-math-re/10601206/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play: Growing Math & Reading Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zuehlke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9751232_orig.png?crop=137,137,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1773234967787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9751232"},{"teacherId":6960993,"projectId":10687669,"letterContent":"Our first graders are excited to explore Jory John's new books! His stories are funny, engaging, and full of wonderful lessons that help children learn about themselves and others. Through these books, students practice key reading skills such as predicting what might happen next, retelling stories, identifying characters and their feelings, making connections, and understanding a story's message or lesson. His books also encourage conversations about friendship, kindness, patience, problem-solving, and accepting our differences.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks like a little bit of everything! We enjoy listening to stories read aloud, sharing our thoughts, making predictions, and talking about what we learn from the characters. Students also practice reading independently, with partners, and in small groups as they build confidence, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. We want our students to see reading as both an important skill and something they can truly enjoy.\r\n\r\nOne of the best parts of receiving these new books is seeing how excited our young readers are to discover the stories. Jory John's humor and relatable characters make reading fun and help draw in students who may not always choose a book on their own. The silly situations make our students laugh, think, and want to share their favorite parts with their classmates. These books are helping us build a classroom community of enthusiastic readers while reminding our students that books can teach us important lessons about friendship, emotions, and being kind to one another.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping bring these wonderful books into our classroom. Your generosity is helping our first graders grow as readers, develop a love of books, and discover the joy of learning through stories!","fullyFundedDate":1790779003077,"projectUrl":"project/bigger-giggles/10687669/","projectTitle":"Bigger Giggles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Derby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6960993_orig.jpg?crop=1305,1305,x220,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673357452148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6960993"},{"teacherId":6960993,"projectId":10742434,"letterContent":"The snack donations have made a wonderful difference in our first-grade classroom! Having healthy snacks available helps our students stay fueled, focused, and ready to learn throughout the school day. Some students come to school hungry, and having a snack helps them feel comfortable, cared for, and ready to participate in classroom activities. It is amazing to see how something as simple as a snack can bring smiles to little faces and help students stay focused on learning.\r\n\r\nHow are we using the new resources?\r\nWe use the donated snacks to give students a little boost during the school day, especially when they need extra energy to keep learning. Whether we are working on reading, practicing math skills, or completing hands-on activities, having snacks available helps our little learners stay engaged and ready to do their best. Snack time also allows us to practice kindness, sharing, and building a caring classroom community.\r\n\r\nHow did the students react when they first saw the materials?\r\nThe students were excited and grateful when they saw the snacks! Their smiles and enthusiasm were such a joy to see. They appreciate having something to look forward to, and the donations remind them that others in the community care about them and want them to succeed. These small moments help create a positive classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported.","fullyFundedDate":1792593353219,"projectUrl":"project/snack-attack-fueling-future-leaders/10742434/","projectTitle":"Snack Attack: Fueling Future Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Derby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6960993_orig.jpg?crop=1305,1305,x220,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1673357452148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6960993"},{"teacherId":5518509,"projectId":10246715,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for taking time to donate to our classroom. The children love the games I was able to purchase with the donated money. The games are fun for the kids and learning at the same time. \r\nWe are also able to use our seat sacks to store all of our learning materials. This has made transition times more efficient and helped with organization. They are able to keep their notebooks, whiteboards, folders, and any reading and math manipulatives right at their table spot so everything is easier to get at. The smelly stickers have been a huge hit. They are given smelly stickers when they complete a task and put it on their notebooks and they are so proud watching their notebooks fill up with stickers. These are things that I would not have been able to purchase unless with my own money. Again, so very grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1784725291501,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-organization-and-creati/10246715/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Organization And Creating!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alto","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5518509_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531285296290","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5518509"},{"teacherId":9027023,"projectId":10028658,"letterContent":"Thank You for Making a Difference in Our Classroom!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom! Your kindness and support have made a meaningful difference in our students' learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we have been able to provide our students with several new painting and general art supplies. These resources have helped students explore their imagination and creativity. \r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of receiving these donations has been seeing the excitement, engagement, and enthusiasm they bring to our classroom. Your support helps create a learning environment where students feel valued, encouraged, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I am incredibly grateful for individuals like you who recognize the importance of investing in education. Your generosity reaches beyond the materials themselves and helps provide opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and helping make our classroom a better place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1774728289500,"projectUrl":"project/brushes-ready-creativity-steady/10028658/","projectTitle":"Brushes Ready, Creativity Steady","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Maas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9027023_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759492320313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-mcghghy"},{"teacherId":9027023,"projectId":10295220,"letterContent":"Thank You for Making a Difference in Our Classroom!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom! Your kindness and support have made a meaningful difference in our students' learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we have been able to provide our students with math and SEL related games. These resources have helped early finishing students deeper their levels of understanding. It has also helped keep students off of technology, and play more games with their peers. \r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of receiving these donations has been seeing the excitement, engagement, and enthusiasm they bring to our classroom. Your support helps create a learning environment where students feel valued, encouraged, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I am incredibly grateful for individuals like you who recognize the importance of investing in education. Your generosity reaches beyond the materials themselves and helps provide opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and helping make our classroom a better place to learn!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\n\r\nA Very Thankful Teacher and Classroom","fullyFundedDate":1784725290488,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play-games-and-puzzles/10295220/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play: Games and Puzzles for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Maas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9027023_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759492320313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-mcghghy"},{"teacherId":9027023,"projectId":10464503,"letterContent":"Thank You for Making a Difference in Our Classroom! Your kindness and support have made a meaningful difference in our students' learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we have been able to provide our students with several new books. These resources have helped students expand their vocabulary, deepen their understanding of science subjects, and increase their love for reading.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding parts of receiving these donations has been seeing the excitement, engagement, and enthusiasm they bring to our classroom. Your support helps create a learning environment where students feel valued, encouraged, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I am incredibly grateful for individuals like you who recognize the importance of investing in education. Your generosity reaches beyond the materials themselves and helps provide opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and helping make our classroom a better place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1786401548768,"projectUrl":"project/read-think-connect-building-a-classro/10464503/","projectTitle":"Read, Think, Connect: Building a Classroom of Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Maas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9027023_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759492320313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-mcghghy"},{"teacherId":9052708,"projectId":10593434,"letterContent":"Our new Hydration Station has been such a wonderful addition to our classroom! Thanks to the generosity of our incredible donors, my fourth graders now have easy access to fresh drinking water throughout the school day, helping them stay hydrated, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nAs teachers, we know that meeting students' basic needs is one of the most important steps in helping them succeed academically. Something as simple as having water available can make a tremendous difference in a child's ability to concentrate, participate, and feel their best. Our Hydration Station has helped create a classroom environment where students can take care of this basic need without interrupting their learning.\r\n\r\nOne of the greatest benefits of this project is knowing that every student has access to water, regardless of what they may or may not have brought from home. It is one less thing for my students to worry about and one more way I can help make our classroom a place where everyone feels cared for and supported.\r\n\r\nThis project has also provided wonderful opportunities to encourage healthy habits, independence, and personal responsibility. My students are learning the importance of staying hydrated and taking care of their bodies so their minds are ready for all the wonderful things we do in fourth grade!\r\n\r\nTo our amazing donors, THANK YOU for recognizing that sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference. Your generosity has provided so much more than drinking water. You have helped create a healthier, happier, and more equitable learning environment for my students.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us keep our water bottles full, our minds focused, and our fourth-grade hearts grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1788982704772,"projectUrl":"project/hydration-station/10593434/","projectTitle":"Hydration Station","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Broden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9052708_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785852649745","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9052708"},{"teacherId":9052708,"projectId":10437098,"letterContent":"Our new classroom rug has already made such a wonderful difference in our learning environment! What may seem like a simple addition to a classroom has become so much more. It has given my students a warm, welcoming space where we can come together as a classroom family to learn, share ideas, collaborate, and grow.\r\n\r\nIn fourth grade, students still need opportunities to gather together, connect with one another, and feel that sense of belonging. Our beautiful new rug has created the perfect space for morning meetings, read-alouds, class discussions, mini-lessons, and those special moments when we simply come together as a community of learners.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite things about this new addition is that it makes our classroom feel a little more like home. My students now have a comfortable, inviting place where everyone has a spot and every voice matters. It is helping us build relationships, encourage participation, and create an environment where students feel safe, valued, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nTo our incredible donors, thank you for seeing the importance of the little things that make such a BIG difference in a child's school day. Your generosity has provided far more than a rug. You have helped create a space for connection, confidence, learning, and countless memories that will be made throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our fourth-grade hearts, THANK YOU for helping make our classroom an even more wonderful place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1789570992496,"projectUrl":"project/gathering-together-one-rug-at-a-time/10437098/","projectTitle":"Gathering Together, One Rug at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Broden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9052708_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785852649745","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9052708"},{"teacherId":8213011,"projectId":10010436,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generosity by funding our project, Snacks for Success! I have a handful of students that are especially impacted by your donation, as they consistently arrive late missing our breakfast cutoff, without having had any breakfast. They arrive, shoulders slumped, are offered a cup breakfast bar and a fruit cup or applesauce, and soon they are sitting a little taller, and ready to begin their day! This group will smile and ask for a breakfast snack, as soon as they walk in the door now, eat and quickly join us the rug. We are so grateful for the morning pick me up- it truly does keep them going through our long morning! MiiGwech!","fullyFundedDate":1777910547351,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-success/10010436/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johnsrud","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8213011_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1638333065884","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erica-johnsrud"},{"teacherId":7570722,"projectId":10270601,"letterContent":"These materials have made our classroom more organized, engaging, and student-friendly. The TPT resources allow me to provide meaningful, standards aligned activities, while the laminating supplies, dry erase materials, magnets, and organizational tools help me create reusable resources that students can use throughout the year. The rolling cart and storage supplies also keep materials accessible and organized.\r\n\r\n The fun pencils, pencil toppers, neon sign, and classroom displays help create a welcoming environment where students feel excited to learn. These resources have allowed me to spend less time searching for and recreating materials and more time focusing on instruction, student engagement, and meeting the individual needs of my 4th grade learners.","fullyFundedDate":1788473599123,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-learn-a-fresh-start-for-our/10270601/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Learn: A Fresh Start for Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ruzek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7570722_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758069231859","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7570722"},{"teacherId":7570722,"projectId":10200763,"letterContent":"These organization supplies have already made a meaningful impact in our fourth grade classroom! The hanging folders, colored folders, and rolling storage carts help us keep student work, instructional materials, and classroom resources organized and easy to access. Having designated spaces for materials reduces clutter and helps our classroom run more smoothly each day.\r\n\r\nBecause everything is organized and readily available, I can spend less time searching for materials and more time teaching and supporting my students. The carts also make it easy to keep materials accessible for whole group lessons, small group instruction, and individual student needs. These supplies have helped create a more efficient, organized, and productive learning environment!","fullyFundedDate":1784725289464,"projectUrl":"project/storage-solutions-for-student-success/10200763/","projectTitle":"Storage Solutions for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ruzek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7570722_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758069231859","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7570722"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_74404","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":547,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":94,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":55.0,"schoolId":74404,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Cass Lake - Bena Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Cass Lake - Bena Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/cass-lake-bena-public-schools/cass-lake-bena-elementary-school/74404"}