{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":33.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2915450,"projectId":9724222,"letterContent":"We love these new chairs! We use them everyday for natural movement for our naturally wiggly bodies. \r\n\r\nStudents were excited to have 2 more chairs to add to our classroom collection.\r\n\r\nThe low profile of the chairs allows for more space in our classroom so we can have larger spaces for planned movement. They are easy to stack on the table at the end of the day compared to the bulky and heavy school chairs we are given. \r\n\r\nI hope to get 2 more to complete our table set. These chairs will last us for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1758822433384,"projectUrl":"project/natural-movement/9724222/","projectTitle":"Natural Movement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Van Patten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2915450"},{"teacherId":7311085,"projectId":9579104,"letterContent":"It is with immense gratitude that I write this letter to express the profound impact your generosity has had on our classroom. Thanks to your support, we received the moveable teaching white board, which has truly transformed our learning environment!\r\nThe ability to move the white board to different areas of the room has introduced a new level of flexibility and interactive learning. Previously, students in certain parts of the room struggled to see the main board or felt disconnected during group discussions. Now, I can roll the white board to small group tables for targeted instruction, or to the reading corner to visually map out story elements.\r\nA particularly impactful moment occurred during our recent science unit on the water cycle. I used the moveable board to create a collaborative diagram on one side of the room. Students were able to walk up, draw their contributions, and explain their reasoning to their peers, fostering communication and deeper understanding. The energy and engagement were fantastic, far exceeding what was possible with our static wall-mounted board.\r\nThe white board isn't just a piece of equipment; it's a tool for equity, ensuring every student, no matter where they are seated, can actively participate and share their knowledge with confidence. We are no longer confined to a single teaching spot, and learning has literally come to life for my students.\r\nThank you for investing in my students' academic success and for empowering them to learn in a more dynamic and engaging way. Your kindness has made a tangible, positive difference that will benefit our classroom for years to come.\r\nWith deepest appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1757550367748,"projectUrl":"project/lessons-on-the-move-bringing-learning-c/9579104/","projectTitle":"Lessons on the Move: Bringing Learning Closer to Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mcguire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7311085_orig.jpg?crop=1320,1320,x71,y291&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736601532352","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7311085"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":9868918,"letterContent":"My students work so hard in school. They love the challenges and joys that come with all our hard work. And they really love their snacks. Popcorn, applesauce, seaweed, fruit leathers and Pirate's Booty--snacks are a part of their daily routines and expectations. I'm so grateful to be able to provide my students with this food--it fills their bellies, focuses their minds and brings them joy. \r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible and thank you for your incredible generosity--without you this would not be possible.","fullyFundedDate":1762267644076,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-snacks-to-grow-our-minds-and-bod/9868918/","projectTitle":"Healthy Snacks to Grow Our Minds and Bodies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":9563673,"letterContent":"These water bottles are exactly what we needed. The water bottles are of good quality, they have interesting features (this is important to students) and ample space to put stickers (also very important to students). It's so good to see students' basic needs being met--and you did that. \r\n\r\nWe also got some cleaning supplies--most importantly brooms! Thank you! Every student in my class has a job--it's part of our classroom economy (they all have jobs and they all get paid and they all pay rent for their chairs). At the beginning of the year we only had one broom and many floor monitors--we now have a better ratio of floor monitors to brooms. Thank you for making that happen.\r\n\r\nThank you for your great generosity and thoughtfulness. We appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1762213330519,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-my-students-healthy-water-bottl/9563673/","projectTitle":"Keeping My Students Healthy: Water Bottles, Decorations and Cleaning Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":3197349,"projectId":9436051,"letterContent":"Thank you for this incredible gift of books and pictures and experiences for my students. My students love reading, and above all they love reading graphic novels. It takes a lot of books to fan the flames of excitement for books and I am so grateful that my students have these new books to stay excited for reading.\r\n\r\nWhen we opened our boxes of new books, you could hear gasps amongst my students. \"Whoa!\" \"Teacher, can I read that one?\" \"That's the one I want to read.\" It was a thrill as much for me as it was for them. I love that my students love to read, and it's because of having access to amazing books like the ones you sent us.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1761929183015,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-books-for-amazing-4th-grade-read/9436051/","projectTitle":"Amazing Books for Amazing 4th Grade Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Solis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3197349_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449115591957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197349"},{"teacherId":6816691,"projectId":9750762,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project. My Pre-K students were so excited to use our new manipulatives. They love exploring with the light table toys from Lakeshore along with the clear light table counting and sorting trays. They are having a blast creating letters and numbers with the Transluscent Letter Builders on the light table. \r\n\r\nMy class of Pre-K students are using the new manipulatives and toys on a daily basis. \r\nJust this week, we played the candy counting game to practice counting to ten. We played with the white play dough as snow and made animal tracks in it. We also used the playdough to make the letters in our names. \r\n\r\nAll of these new toys are sparking the students interest in learning and keeping them engaged in learning through play. Since we have a great variety of items to play and explore with, I am able to rotate what they are using and keep them excited about learning. Thank you for helping not only this class, but many more students to come, learn through play.","fullyFundedDate":1759345145112,"projectUrl":"project/future-engineers-and-mathematicians-lear/9750762/","projectTitle":"Future Engineers and Mathematicians Learning Through Play in Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Matter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6816691_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697425322476","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6816691"},{"teacherId":2915450,"projectId":9691172,"letterContent":"My students are loving the sensory tools that were gifted. We use them to talk about ways to keep our hands and bodies busy in an appropriate way (instead of poking our peers during lesson time). We discuss how our bodies look and feel when we may want to use a sensory tool to help us regulate our emotions that play into our words nad actions in class. \r\n\r\nStudents love when we introduce a new tool and it is fun to see which students gravitate towards which tools. \r\n\r\nI will continue to use these tools with my highest needs students as they tend to be the most dysregulated and not totally ready to learn. We do mini lessons daily to discuss strategies for regulation and how to get into our learning brains.","fullyFundedDate":1757508409549,"projectUrl":"project/creative-sensory-exploration/9691172/","projectTitle":"Creative Sensory Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Van Patten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2915450"},{"teacherId":9311445,"projectId":9674135,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our project \"Green Hands: Creating and Sowing in First Grade\" possible! The impact on my young students has been immediate and profoundly meaningful. From the day the materials arrived, the classroom was filled with palpable excitement. As we opened the boxes, their eyes lit up with wonder. Seeing the little terracotta pots, the vibrant watercolor sets, and the colorful modeling clay sparked an irresistible curiosity. It was like unboxing treasures, and every child wanted to touch, observe, and ask what each thing was for. That initial spark of enthusiasm was the greatest gift they could have received.\r\n\r\nWe are using these incredible resources for an integrated project we've called \"From Seed to Work of Art.\" On one hand, the hydroponics system and seeds have allowed us to create our very first indoor classroom garden. The children are responsible for observing the daily growth of the herbs, recording the changes in their notebooks, and learning what plants need to live. On the other hand, the creative process is flourishing in our \"Artist's Corner.\" The children paint the different growth stages of their plants on their canvases and have used the clay to model fruits, vegetables, and the pots they grow in. They have fused science and art in the most beautiful way.\r\n\r\nThe next steps for us are thrilling. Our lettuce and basil in the hydroponic system are almost ready for our first \"class harvest,\" where we will prepare a small salad to celebrate. In parallel, the children are working on their final canvases, which will be a representation of their favorite plant in all its splendor. With these works of art, we will organize a gallery to invite other classes and show them the fruits of their learning and creativity. This project has not only taught them about nature and art but also about patience, responsibility, and the pride of creating something with their own hands. You have planted a seed of curiosity and creativity in these little ones that I am sure will continue to grow for a long time to come.\r\n\r\nWith endless gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1758636539511,"projectUrl":"project/green-hands-creating-and-sowing-in-firs/9674135/","projectTitle":"Green Hands: Creating and Sowing in First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Villalobos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9311445_orig.jpg?crop=708,708,x229,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696282266310","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9311445"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":9707695,"letterContent":"We are tremendously grateful for your generous donation that has provided our classroom with essential technology solutions! The new charging stations for our iPads are a game-changer, ensuring all devices are organized, secure, and charged, maximizing instructional time. \r\n\r\nFurthermore, the Lightning adaptors are invaluable, allowing us to seamlessly integrate and continue using our existing accessories, which saves us significant funding. Your support demonstrates a commitment to both efficiency and maximizing the resources available to our students. Thank you for this thoughtful contribution that directly enhances our technology integration and student learning every day!","fullyFundedDate":1762265318714,"projectUrl":"project/equity-in-technology/9707695/","projectTitle":"Equity in Technology","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":8570302,"projectId":9429706,"letterContent":"We extend our sincere thanks for your wonderful generosity in supporting our elementary classroom! Your donation of charging cables for our iPads means that technology is consistently available and ready, greatly enhancing our students' digital learning experiences. The new visual timer is a fantastic addition, helping our students manage transitions, stay focused on tasks, and develop crucial time awareness skills. \r\n\r\nThese tools are immediately impacting our daily routines, creating a smoother and more effective learning environment for every child. Thank you for investing in the resources that directly improve engagement and academic success in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1757604245955,"projectUrl":"project/need-energy-to-work/9429706/","projectTitle":"Need Energy to Work","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8570302_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y251&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760668214049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/zyang"},{"teacherId":9237388,"projectId":8952303,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our STEM for Bilingual 3rd Graders: Grow Our Brains project. Your generous contribution has brought excitement, curiosity, and hands-on learning opportunities directly into our classroom. The moment the materials arrived, our students' faces lit up with anticipation. They couldn't wait to explore, experiment, and dive into real STEM challenges that help them think like scientists, engineers, and problem solvers.\r\n\r\nAs bilingual learners, many of our students thrive when they can use visuals, activities, and real-world experiences to connect new vocabulary and concepts. Your support has made that possible. With these materials, students can build, test, question, and discover in meaningful ways that strengthen both their academic language and their confidence. They are not just learning facts—they are learning how to think, communicate, and collaborate.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the potential of bilingual students and for investing in their futures. We are truly grateful for your support and for the opportunities you have brought to our classroom. Because of you, our 3rd graders can dream bigger, explore deeper, and grow stronger in both their STEM skills and their language abilities.","fullyFundedDate":1735669691512,"projectUrl":"project/stem-for-bilingual-3rd-graders-grow-our/8952303/","projectTitle":"STEM for Bilingual 3rd Graders: Grow Our Brains","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Garza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9237388_orig.jpg?crop=1244,1244,x0,y481&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694724791095","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9237388"},{"teacherId":9237388,"projectId":9048453,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom through the Amazing Books for Amazing 3rd Grade Readers! project. Your support has brought an incredible burst of excitement, curiosity, and joy to our students. The moment the books arrived, the room was filled with eager hands, bright eyes, and countless smiles. It was truly heartwarming to see how quickly our students connected with the new stories and how proud they felt to explore books chosen especially for them.\r\n\r\nThese books are doing more than filling our shelves—they are opening doors. Each story gives my students a new opportunity to imagine, dream, and learn. Many of our readers are finding characters they relate to, topics that spark their interests, and books that make reading feel fun and magical. Your kindness is helping to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and shape a positive relationship with reading that will follow them for years to come.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you once again for supporting our students and investing in their love for reading. We appreciate you more than words can express.","fullyFundedDate":1738776274605,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-books-for-amazing-3rd-grade-read/9048453/","projectTitle":"Amazing Books for Amazing 3rd Grade Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Garza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9237388_orig.jpg?crop=1244,1244,x0,y481&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694724791095","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9237388"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_54728","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":492,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":48,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":66.2,"schoolId":54728,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/paul-sheila-wellstone-elementary-school/54728"}