{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Como Park Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":401994,"projectId":10142552,"letterContent":"I wish you could have been here for the unboxing of the books. My fifth graders were so excited about the Anime books. Did you know that you have to read them backwards. I am also excited to have a nice set of Dog Man books. Students have been in and out of my room everyday to check out books. It's so fun to see the students actually want to read a real book (not on their ipads). Sadly, I can never afford these books. I know that these books will be a hit for years to come. Thank you for supporting my classroom and the students in it!","fullyFundedDate":1773891751352,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-older-readers/10142552/","projectTitle":"Books for Older Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. VanKampen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp401994_orig.png?crop=307,307,x32,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630275212474","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/401994"},{"teacherId":401994,"projectId":10134167,"letterContent":"I want to begin by thanking you for donating to my project. Explore Magnetism was about getting some STEM supplies into the hands of some of the students I work with. The first and second graders were super excited about the new tile pieces added to the Magna-tiles. They were especially excited about the animals and want more. \r\n The magnet building cubes came with an idea book and the students love to be able to create what's in the books. Legos are always a must and the little kids even got some fun magnet shapes to play with as well. I am excited to use these with my first graders this summer.","fullyFundedDate":1773163595753,"projectUrl":"project/explore-magnetism/10134167/","projectTitle":"Explore Magnetism","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. VanKampen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp401994_orig.png?crop=307,307,x32,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630275212474","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/401994"},{"teacherId":3894043,"projectId":10179562,"letterContent":"A Special Place for Our Hard Work\r\nOur new classroom mailbox system has quickly become the most important \"stop\" in our daily routine. Before these arrived, papers often ended up crumpled in the bottom of backpacks. Now, my students have a dedicated, professional space to store their creations until it's time to head home.\r\n\r\nThe Big Reveal: \"My Very Own Spot!\"\r\nWhen the students first saw the mailbox with their individual names labeled on each slot, they were incredibly impressed. One student ran his hand over his cubby and said, \"It's like a locker for my art!\" They felt an immediate sense of \"grown-up\" responsibility. Seeing their names printed clearly on their own personal \"office\" gave them a huge boost of belonging and pride in our classroom space.\r\n\r\nA Specific Classroom Moment: The \"Gallery\" Walk\r\nYesterday, after we finished a big project on watercolor patterns, I watched a student carefully carry her wet painting over to the mailbox.\r\n\r\nThe Action: Instead of just dropping it on a messy pile, she stood on her tiptoes to slide it perfectly into her slot.\r\n\r\nThe Pride: She looked at me and said, \"I'm keeping this safe for my Mom to see tonight.\" * The Impact: It wasn't just about storage; it was about the value she placed on her work. Because she had a \"special\" place to put it, the work itself felt more special.\r\n\r\nWhat's Next: Ownership and Independence\r\nNow that our \"Mailbox Hub\" is established, we are using it to build the students' independence and organizational skills.\r\n\r\nOur Next Steps:\r\nThe \"Check-Out\" Routine: We are practicing a new end-of-day routine where students \"clear their desk\" and check their mailboxes independently, ensuring they have all their notices and artwork ready for their families.\r\n\r\nSelf-Assessment: Before a paper goes into the mailbox, students are learning to do a \"Five-Star Check\" (Name, Date, Best Effort) to make sure their \"Mailbox-ready\" work is their very best.\r\n\r\nFamily Connection: We are starting a \"Friday Folder\" tradition where special certificates or \"Star Student\" notes are placed in the mailboxes for families to discover together over the weekend.\r\n\r\n\"Your gift has taught my students that their work is worth protecting. Thank you for helping us turn 'going-home time' into a moment of pride and organization!\"\r\n\r\nThank you again for making our classroom feel like a professional, organized place to grow!","fullyFundedDate":1776190234512,"projectUrl":"project/youve-got-mail-a-mail-organizer-for-a/10179562/","projectTitle":"You've Got Mail! A Mail Organizer for a Kindergarten Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amaya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3894043_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480702308049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3894043"},{"teacherId":10431853,"projectId":10091381,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting \"Hands-On STEM & Sensory Supports for Growing Learners\"!\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students are engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences every single day.\r\n\r\nIn one activity, students explored paint in a sensory-based art project. They experimented with colors, textures, and movement, using their hands and tools to create unique designs. This was more than just art; it supported fine motor development, creativity, and gave students a safe, engaging way to explore sensory input.\r\n\r\nIn another moment, a student used slime to create a replica of one of our rubber fish. This was such a powerful example of creativity and problem-solving. The student carefully observed the fish, then used the slime to shape and recreate it demonstrating focus, attention to detail, and imaginative thinking. Experiences like this help build critical skills while allowing students to express themselves in ways that feel natural and exciting.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials were first introduced, students were immediately curious and eager to explore. There was so much joy, engagement, and hands-on discovery right from the start especially from students who don't always jump into new activities right away.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using these materials to support sensory exploration, creativity, and early STEM skills. We are excited to build on these experiences with more opportunities for students to create, problem-solve, and learn through hands-on play.\r\n\r\nThank you for making these meaningful moments possible for my students. Your support truly makes a difference in their learning and growth every day!","fullyFundedDate":1772046309213,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-sensory-supports-for-gro/10091381/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Stem & Sensory Supports for Growing Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tessa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10431853_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770682814358","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10431853"},{"teacherId":9210926,"projectId":10091436,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in funding this project. I support more than 35 preschool through second grade aged students with varying levels of communication skills. Many have profound disabilities and are learning to communicate using communication devices. The resources that you have provided have been so engaging and exciting for all of my young learners! Each time a new material was brought out into sessions, students eagerly explored and had so much shared joy with myself and one another! \r\n\r\nMany of the resources accompany current themes I utilize in therapy that align with classroom curriculum, including insects, polar animals, and foods. The students do not always have the ability to participate in all of their general education classroom activities, due to their high need for specialized services and supports. These materials help to provide them with sensory regulation and opportunities to explore STEM-based materials that are high-quality. These are materials that are not typically accessible for my students and materials that I cannot afford to provide them myself. These resources not only impact the current students I have this school year, but the countless others to come. \r\n\r\nI wish I could find sufficient words to express our appreciation. What a gift you have given us.","fullyFundedDate":1771034997108,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-speech-therapy/10091436/","projectTitle":"STEM in Speech Therapy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Emily","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9210926_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y201&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692657192910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9210926"},{"teacherId":9210926,"projectId":9898146,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in funding this project. I support more than 35 preschool through second grade aged students with varying levels of communication skills. Many have profound disabilities and are learning to communicate using communication devices. The resources that you have provided have been so engaging and exciting for all of my young learners! Each time a new material was brought out into sessions, students eagerly explored and had so much shared joy with myself and one another! \r\n\r\nMany of the resources accompany current themes I utilize in therapy that align with classroom curriculum, including insects, polar animals, and foods. The students do not always have the ability to participate in all of their general education classroom activities, due to their high need for specialized services and supports. These materials help to provide them with sensory regulation and opportunities to explore STEM-based materials that are high-quality. These are materials that are not typically accessible for my students and materials that I cannot afford to provide them myself. These resources not only impact the current students I have this school year, but the countless others to come. \r\n\r\nI wish I could find sufficient words to express our appreciation. What a gift you have given us.","fullyFundedDate":1770647775905,"projectUrl":"project/stem-and-sensory-in-speech-therapy/9898146/","projectTitle":"STEM and Sensory in Speech Therapy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Emily","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9210926_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y201&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692657192910","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9210926"},{"teacherId":2217135,"projectId":10091424,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of this project! My students have been delighted to use these new materials! Right before this project was funded both sand and playdough were running very low in my classroom. All of my students were so excited to be able to use the playdough and Kinetic sand (in new colors!). Sensory materials like playdough and sand help my young learners to regulate their bodies. When regulated, they are able to take in new information and learn new things. Having access to a variety of high quality sensory materials is an essential in my classroom for learner engagement.\r\nThis year I have many students who are very interested and engaged with building type materials. After years of being well-loved, building toys new to be replaced/refreshed. Access to more Magnatiles has increased students ability to begin to share materials. Now there are enough to go around!\r\nThis project also helped me to purchase materials for our very popular light table! Students who struggle to interact with toys or others have gravitated to the light table and all of the new materials. A student (who for awhile would not leave their one specific preferred chair during choice time), immediately saw these new materials and went to stand next to the table to observe. Everyday after that this student would got to the table to explore each new item with interest! \r\nThank you so much again for bringing joy to my students during a very challenging winter here in Minnesota.","fullyFundedDate":1771027040884,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-materials-for-prek-special/10091424/","projectTitle":"Hands On STEM Materials for PreK Special Ed","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Strohmeier","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2217135_orig.jpg?crop=2463,2463,x582,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667963929937","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2217135"},{"teacherId":10455836,"projectId":10129019,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"STEM Tools for Sensory Regulation Education and Fun.\" These materials have already made a meaningful impact for my students. The therapy putty has become a highly motivating tool for building fine motor strength, hand coordination, and bimanual skills needed for classroom activities like writing, cutting, and using school tools. I placed small beads inside personal-sized therapy putty containers, and students use both hands to stretch, pull, pinch, and manipulate the putty to find and retrieve the beads. They were excited right away and love the challenge of finding all the hidden pieces.\r\n\r\nThe crash pad has also been a wonderful addition to our motor room. Students use it during active play time as a safe way to seek vestibular and proprioceptive input. For many students, this type of movement and deep-pressure input helps their bodies feel more organized, whether they need to get energy out, calm down, or prepare to return to classroom learning. The students absolutely love using the crash pad, and it has quickly become a favorite regulation tool.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students now have more engaging, hands-on ways to strengthen their bodies, build important school skills, and regulate their sensory systems so they can participate more successfully in class. These tools will continue to be used throughout the year during occupational therapy sessions, motor room activities, and sensory regulation routines. Thank you for helping make learning more accessible, active, and fun for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1772744523162,"projectUrl":"project/stem-tools-for-sensory-regulation-educat/10129019/","projectTitle":"STEM Tools for Sensory Regulation Education and Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ronnie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10455836_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y138&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772569071160","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10455836"},{"teacherId":8950180,"projectId":10090566,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support to get the materials to build this fantastic wind tunnel. My students love it, and it has become a staple during music therapy, and other large movement activities. My students in special education use the tunnel to work on learning cause effect, taking turns, and practicing waiting. Having a wide variety of different play materials allows us to rotate stations, and continue to keep students engaged and trying new things.\r\n\r\nAs the weather warms in Minnesota, it warms my heart to see all of my students back in the building after the horrific tragedies they endured this year. Thank you for your support in giving materials that inspire my students, and makes them excited to come to school.","fullyFundedDate":1770679491024,"projectUrl":"project/help-give-my-students-a-stem-experience/10090566/","projectTitle":"Help Give My Students a STEM Experience!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wojciechowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8950180_orig.png?crop=686,686,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1675431884488","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8950180"},{"teacherId":8950180,"projectId":10098355,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support of my project! All of my different learners with individualized education plans (IEP's) LOVE making slime, and we are able to work on taking turns and following a recipe at the same time! It is also a helpful tool for sensory processing with our occupational therapists. Who knew slime activator can be so expensive.\r\n\r\nYour support for this project will allow me to continue to make more slime this year, and many school years to come. I look forward to sharing photos of our many slimy adventures!","fullyFundedDate":1771159979739,"projectUrl":"project/a-slimy-sensory-social-skills-spectacula/10098355/","projectTitle":"A slimy sensory social skills spectacular","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wojciechowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8950180_orig.png?crop=686,686,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1675431884488","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8950180"},{"teacherId":8950180,"projectId":10129050,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support to get the materials to build this fantastic lego space. My students love it, and it has become a staple in my self contained special education classroom. My students in special education use this space daily to work on sharing, waiting, and expanding their play skills. Having a wide variety of different play materials allows us to rotate stations, and continue to keep students engaged and trying new things.\r\n\r\nAs the weather warms in Minnesota, it warms my heart to see all of my students back in the building after the horrific tragedies they endured this year. Thank you for your support in giving materials that inspire my students, and makes them excited to come to school.","fullyFundedDate":1774279022992,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-lego-experience/10129050/","projectTitle":"Hands on Stem Lego Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wojciechowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8950180_orig.png?crop=686,686,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1675431884488","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8950180"},{"teacherId":8950180,"projectId":10125173,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support to get the materials to build this fantastic light table. My students love it, and it has become a staple in my self contained special education classroom. My students in special education use this space daily to work on sharing, waiting, and expanding their play skills. Having a wide variety of different play materials allows us to rotate stations, and continue to keep students engaged and trying new things.\r\n\r\nAs the weather warms in Minnesota, it warms my heart to see all of my students back in the building after the horrific tragedies they endured this year. Thank you for your support in giving materials that inspire my students, and makes them excited to come to school.","fullyFundedDate":1772553891253,"projectUrl":"project/stem-light-table-for-sensory-room/10125173/","projectTitle":"STEM Light Table for Sensory Room","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wojciechowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8950180_orig.png?crop=686,686,x0,y109&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1675431884488","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8950180"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_76093","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":387,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":41,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.4,"schoolId":76093,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Como Park Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Como Park Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/como-park-elementary-school/76093"}