{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Las Estrellas Dual Language Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3816828,"projectId":10181405,"letterContent":"When our kindergarteners first saw the surprise gift bags, the classroom erupted into gasps of pure delight, with children eagerly unwrapping their items and immediately testing out the bubbles, sunglasses, and scented pencils together. We are currently using these wonderful new resources to bridge our daily routines with joyful end-of-year celebrations; the fidget and sensory toys provide grounding support during transition times, while the notepads and scented pencils serve as the stars of our final writing center as students proudly write summer wishes and draw their favorite memories.\r\n\r\nAs we wrap up the school year, our next steps focus on building positive social-emotional transitions and preserving a strong sense of community as students prepare for the jump to first grade. The mini stuffed animals and summer outdoor kits are serving as wonderful bridges between school and home, ensuring that our resilient young learners step into the summer break feeling valued, supported, and ready to carry their joyful confidence forward. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1780433312394,"projectUrl":"project/cheers-to-kindergarten-summer-surprise/10181405/","projectTitle":"Cheers to Kindergarten: Summer Surprise Kits","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Roman-Mendoza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3816828_orig.png?crop=126,126,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755493172531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3816828"},{"teacherId":3816828,"projectId":10075189,"letterContent":"When our boxes finally arrived, my students gasped and crowded around like it was the best day ever—one of them even gently stroked the magnetic tiles and whispered, \"Is this really all for us? WOW!!\" Now, whenever cold weather keeps us trapped inside, those magnetic tiles, marble runs, and sensory toys completely transform our classroom into an active makerspace. Just last week, I watched a team collaborate during indoor recess to engineer a giant, multi-level marble run that spanned across two tables, excitedly troubleshooting together every time a marble veered off track.\r\n\r\nWe are taking all of that incredible collaborative energy and rolling it straight into our regular academic centers, using the blocks to model spatial reasoning in math and map out structures for our science units. Thank you so much for giving our classroom this amazing boost and letting us share a peek into our day—you've completely changed how my students play, learn, and grow together!","fullyFundedDate":1775385726385,"projectUrl":"project/stem-tastic-indoor-recess/10075189/","projectTitle":"STEM-tastic Indoor Recess","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Roman-Mendoza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3816828_orig.png?crop=126,126,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755493172531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3816828"},{"teacherId":10104040,"projectId":10727657,"letterContent":"I am so excited that we finally have a whiteboard in our classroom! This donation will make a world of difference for us. My 4th graders were really excited to see the new whiteboard, and I can't wait to see all the ways we will use it to share our thinking, solve problems together, and learn from each other. In our bilingual classroom, having a space where we can easily share our ideas in both English and Spanish makes a big difference!\r\n\r\nI am especially grateful that this donation came from you. It means a lot to have your support, even as I start this new chapter with a different group of students. We are going to use the whiteboard for math, writing, sharing our learning, and working on group projects. I hope it becomes a place where students feel comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, asking questions, and sharing their ideas with the class. Thank you Blake, Grace and Natalia for helping us make our classroom a better place to learn together!","fullyFundedDate":1791931522694,"projectUrl":"project/making-thinking-visible-with-a-classroom/10727657/","projectTitle":"Making Thinking Visible with a Classroom Whiteboard","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10104040_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y151&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1787360832679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10104040"},{"teacherId":8421626,"projectId":10295679,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making our project, \"Art You Can Touch, Taste, and Explore!\", possible. Your generosity has brought meaningful hands-on learning experiences into our classroom and given my students new ways to explore, create, communicate, and learn. The project provided sensory-friendly art materials, including air-dry clay, specifically selected to make creative activities more accessible to students with different sensory, fine-motor, and communication needs.\r\n\r\nThis autumn, we used the clay to create seasonal crafts inspired by fall. My students rolled, shaped, pressed, combined, and sculpted the clay to build their own creations. What looked like a fun art project was also an opportunity to practice important skills. Students worked on fine-motor strength and coordination, made choices about colors and designs, followed directions, solved problems when their ideas did not work the first time, and experienced the pride of creating something independently.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, we connected art with writing and communication. After completing their clay creations, students practiced recalling and sequencing what they had done. They wrote about the steps of the process using language such as first, next, then, and finally. This allowed us to transform a sensory art experience into a meaningful literacy lesson where students had something concrete and personally meaningful to write about.\r\n\r\nFor students who sometimes find traditional writing tasks challenging, being able to do the activity first and then write about their own experience made the writing more accessible and engaging.\r\n\r\nYour support helped us bring together creativity, sensory exploration, fine-motor development, communication, and writing in one joyful learning experience. \r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students materials that allow them not only to create beautiful things, but also to build confidence, independence, and pride in what they can accomplish.","fullyFundedDate":1779911933292,"projectUrl":"project/art-you-can-touch-taste-and-explore/10295679/","projectTitle":"Art You Can Touch, Taste, and Explore!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Noelia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8421626_orig.jpg?crop=768,768,x256,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722461597876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8421626"},{"teacherId":10054386,"projectId":9905358,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! your support, we were able to provide new books and toys for our children and families. Our families were especially thankful for the new Spanish-language books, which helped us encourage families to read with their children and understand the importance of reading from an early age.\r\n\r\nThis small project was a wonderful way to guide and support our families while creating opportunities for children and parents to learn and play together. Wipes help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming space for our children and families.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us make a meaningful difference in the lives of our children and families!","fullyFundedDate":1763905560017,"projectUrl":"project/explore-learn/9905358/","projectTitle":"Explore Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Zhagui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10054386"},{"teacherId":10104040,"projectId":10596794,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! My students were so excited when they first saw our new Calm Corner and all of the resources. We talked about how the Calm Corner is a safe space where they can take a break, calm down, and use different strategies when they are feeling overwhelmed. A couple of my students have already started using the space when they need a moment to themselves. One moment that really stood out to me was when a student noticed that they were starting to have a big emotion and asked if they could go to the Calm Corner before it became too much. Seeing them recognize what they were feeling and ask for what they needed was really special to me.\r\n\r\nWe are still learning and practicing different ways to manage our emotions and take care of ourselves. I want my students to feel comfortable using the Calm Corner when they need it and, over time, become more independent in recognizing their emotions and choosing a strategy that works for them. I am so grateful to the donors who helped make this possible because having these resources has given my students a welcoming space where they can pause, reset, and then come back to our classroom ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1789584160600,"projectUrl":"project/calm-classroom-confident-learners/10596794/","projectTitle":"Calm Classroom, Confident Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10104040_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y151&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1787360832679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10104040"},{"teacherId":8421626,"projectId":10170902,"letterContent":"Thank you for believing in my students and helping bring our \"Building Real-World Math & STEAM Skills Through Hands-On Learning\" project to life!\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students opportunities to learn math and STEAM concepts in ways that are meaningful, engaging, and accessible to them. For many of my students, especially those who learn best through visual, tactile, and interactive experiences, having materials they can touch, move, build with, and explore makes a tremendous difference.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students can now use hands-on math manipulatives to explore number relationships, place value, patterns, sequencing, and problem-solving. They can investigate geometry by building and creating with shapes, develop spatial reasoning through hands-on activities, and practice measurement and sequencing through real-world experiences such as gardening.\r\n\r\nWhat makes these materials especially valuable is that they allow students to experience mathematical ideas rather than simply hear about them. A student can physically build a number, manipulate shapes to understand geometry, organize objects to recognize patterns, or measure and care for something they have planted. These experiences help turn abstract concepts into something they can see, feel, understand, and remember.\r\n\r\nI have also seen how hands-on learning can build much more than academic skills. As students work with these materials, they practice communication, fine-motor skills, critical thinking, persistence, decision-making, and independence. Most importantly, they have opportunities to experience success—and to see themselves as capable mathematicians, problem-solvers, creators, and learners.\r\n\r\nYour support is especially meaningful because these resources are helping make learning more equitable for students in a historically underfunded classroom. You have helped provide access to learning tools that might otherwise have been difficult for our classroom to obtain.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing not only in classroom materials, but in possibility. Your generosity is helping my students make connections between what they learn in school and the world around them. You are helping them build skills, confidence, and a belief that they can tackle challenging problems.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us in our classroom, thank you for helping our students learn by doing, discover through exploration, and grow through meaningful experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1777550638043,"projectUrl":"project/building-real-world-math-steam-skills/10170902/","projectTitle":"Building Real-World Math & STEAM Skills Through Hands-On Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Noelia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8421626_orig.jpg?crop=768,768,x256,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722461597876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8421626"},{"teacherId":10097398,"projectId":9507920,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting Snacks & Support: Fueling Minds and Emotions. Your generosity has made a difference for our elementary students.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donations, students have healthy snacks to help them stay focused and social-emotional learning books that help them understand feelings, build friendships, solve problems, and learn positive coping skills. These resources create a welcoming space where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for caring about the well-being of our students and for helping them grow both emotionally and academically. Your kindness is truly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1754980148727,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-support-fueling-minds-and-emot/9507920/","projectTitle":"Snacks & Support: Fueling Minds and Emotions","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Payan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10097398_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y181&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753733626853","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10097398"},{"teacherId":8421626,"projectId":10118405,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, we've also been able to make a meaningful impact in our nurse office/health space, and the difference is immediately noticeable.\r\nThe room now feels much more organized, calm, and clearly structured thanks to the new materials and resources. Supplies are easier to locate, everything has a designated place, and the space as a whole looks more intentional and welcoming. \r\n\r\nWhat used to feel a bit cluttered or rushed now feels clean, efficient, and ready to support students in a calm and caring way when they need it most.\r\n\r\nStudents have responded to the change as well. Even though they may not always say it directly, they notice the environment. The clearer setup helps them feel more at ease when they visit, and it reinforces that this is a safe, well-prepared space where they will be taken care of.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the improved organization has made day-to-day support smoother and more efficient. It's easier to respond quickly to student needs, restock supplies, and maintain a consistent system that works well during busy school days.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, in the classroom we're continuing to build on the momentum from your donations. Students are actively using the new materials during lessons and hands-on activities, and we are moving into more independent and collaborative work where they can apply what they've learned in deeper, more meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped improve both learning spaces and care spaces in our school, and the impact is seen every day in how smoothly things run and how supported students feel.","fullyFundedDate":1778261677355,"projectUrl":"project/growing-strong-minds-and-healthy-hearts/10118405/","projectTitle":"Growing Strong Minds and Healthy Hearts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Noelia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8421626_orig.jpg?crop=768,768,x256,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722461597876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8421626"},{"teacherId":10424776,"projectId":10074409,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of materials for our 3rd-grade Forces and Interactions science unit. Because of your support, our students have the opportunity to explore science through hands-on investigations and exciting experiments.\r\n\r\nThe materials you provided allow students to discover how forces such as pushes, pulls, gravity, and magnetism affect the world around them. Through building, testing, and observing, students are developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while deepening their understanding of scientific concepts.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has created meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and a love of science. Our students are excited to engage with the materials and learn through active exploration. The impact of your donation reaches far beyond the classroom by helping students build confidence and enthusiasm for learning.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your investment in our education and for making science come alive for our students. Thank you for helping us create memorable learning opportunities and for supporting the success of every child in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1770223611305,"projectUrl":"project/forces-and-interaction/10074409/","projectTitle":"Forces and Interaction","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duran","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10424776_orig.png?crop=555,555,x74,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770212299706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10424776"},{"teacherId":3816828,"projectId":10065229,"letterContent":"Setting everything up was definitely a challenge for our fifth graders. One of the sensors was not working the way we expected, and there were moments of frustration as students tried to figure out what had gone wrong. They needed some grown-up support along the way, but they stayed focused and kept trying. Even when things did not work right away, they worked together, asked questions, tested ideas, and did their best to problem-solve.\r\n\r\nIt was so meaningful to watch them stick with it. Instead of giving up, they kept adjusting and trying again until we were finally able to get everything working. When we finished, there was a real sense of excitement and pride in the room. The students were proud not just because the project worked, but because they had worked through a challenge together.\r\n\r\nMoments like this remind students that learning is not always about getting the right answer right away. Sometimes it means trying different solutions, asking for help, and not giving up when something feels hard. Our fifth graders showed patience, teamwork, and determination, and they walked away feeling more confident in their ability to solve problems and keep going through challenges.","fullyFundedDate":1769808957014,"projectUrl":"project/dream-it-build-it-print-it/10065229/","projectTitle":"Dream It, Build It, Print It","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Roman-Mendoza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3816828_orig.png?crop=126,126,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755493172531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3816828"},{"teacherId":1528285,"projectId":10247210,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to restock our Music, Language and Culture classroom by replacing some much loved items and then also providing some new materials that will add some new learning to our units.\r\n\r\nThe beanbag chair is in the take a break spot, and it's presence was noticed right away by many students! They have been trying it out as needed. We use markers often, as we have systems for color coding language and notes. The tuner for the ukeleles helps us to be able to tune, even with a classroom full of students because it picks up the vibrations. Other tuners require silence to pick up the sound, so you can imagine how this kind of tuner would be helpful :). Lastly, some new books to add to our classroom library! They will be available for students, but I will also incorporate some into our units of study.\r\n\r\nThanks again for helping to freshen up and restock our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1778017630862,"projectUrl":"project/mlc-classroom-restock/10247210/","projectTitle":"Mlc Classroom Restock!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Olson de Alvarez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1528285_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507759780729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/emilyolsondealvarez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_53163","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":387,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":76,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.4,"schoolId":53163,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Las Estrellas Dual Language Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Las Estrellas Dual Language Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/minneapolis-public-schools/sheridan-global-arts-school/53163"}