{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Lowndes Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":70.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8912513,"projectId":10496666,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping us make math matter! Your generosity has transformed our math time into an active learning experience where my fourth graders can touch, build, model, discuss, and truly make sense of mathematics. Using our new hands-on center materials, students are working together to explore concepts such as place value, fractions, number relationships, and computation. One of my favorite moments is hearing students explain their thinking to one another and watching a classmate suddenly light up and say, \"Oh! Now I get it!\" Those moments are exactly what I hoped these materials would create.\r\n\r\nThe excitement was immediate when students first saw the new resources. Math suddenly felt less like completing problems on a page and more like something they could investigate and discover. Our centers give students opportunities to try different strategies, learn from mistakes, engage in productive struggle, and communicate their mathematical thinking. I am especially encouraged by students who once approached math hesitantly but are now more willing to participate, take risks, and proudly share how they solved a problem.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, students will use these materials with increasing independence and tackle more challenging, multi-step problems. My goal is for them to become confident problem-solvers who understand not only how to find an answer, but why their strategy works. Thank you for giving my students the tools to build understanding, confidence, and a belief that \"I CAN do math!\" ➗✏️💙💛\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nMrs. Darla Poutoa & Her Fourth-Grade Mathematicians","fullyFundedDate":1789561820027,"projectUrl":"project/making-math-matter-hands-on-centers-for/10496666/","projectTitle":"Making Math Matter: Hands-On Centers for Fourth Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Poutoa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8912513_orig.jpg?crop=248,248,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784773925654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspoutoa"},{"teacherId":8912513,"projectId":10428384,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping us show our fourth graders that science has a place for everyone—and that they can see themselves as scientists, inventors, engineers, and future STEM leaders. The books and resources you provided are introducing my students to scientists from diverse backgrounds while also strengthening essential literacy skills. Students are learning to identify main ideas and supporting details, use text features, build academic vocabulary, make connections, ask meaningful questions, and cite evidence from what they read.\r\n\r\nReading these texts has become much more than a literacy lesson. Students study the photographs, discuss the scientists' journeys, connect their discoveries to our science curriculum, and talk about the challenges they overcame. Some of my most meaningful moments have come from students discovering someone in STEM who looks like them, comes from a similar background, or has a story they can relate to. I can see the excitement when that connection happens—the person in the book suddenly makes a future in science feel more possible.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has allowed me to teach an important lesson that reaches far beyond the pages of a book: who students see matters, and representation can help shape who they believe they can become. Thank you for helping me grow not only stronger readers and curious scientists, but children who are beginning to dream bigger about their own possibilities. 🔬📚💙💛\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nMrs. Darla Poutoa & Her Future STEM Leaders","fullyFundedDate":1789561818910,"projectUrl":"project/representation-matters-growing-curious/10428384/","projectTitle":"Representation Matters: Growing Curious Scientists & Future STEM Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Poutoa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8912513_orig.jpg?crop=248,248,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784773925654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspoutoa"},{"teacherId":8912513,"projectId":10497059,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping us make science come alive through reading! Because of your generosity, my fourth graders now have engaging nonfiction texts that invite them to read with a purpose—not simply to find an answer, but to wonder, question, connect ideas, and discover. These resources are helping us strengthen important literacy skills such as identifying main ideas and supporting details, using text features, building science vocabulary, making inferences, and citing evidence—all while learning fascinating science content.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become much more interactive. Students examine photographs and diagrams, discuss surprising facts, ask \"why\" and \"how,\" and connect what they read to our science lessons and the world around them. One of the greatest joys has been watching students who may not always reach eagerly for a traditional book become excited about these visually engaging science texts. There is something wonderful about hearing, \"Mrs. Poutoa, did you know this?\" and then watching that discovery spark a conversation with classmates.\r\n\r\nYour gift has helped me show my students that reading is one of the ways scientists discover, investigate, and understand their world. Thank you for putting resources into their hands that are growing stronger readers, more curious thinkers, and enthusiastic young scientists. We are so grateful that you chose to invest in their learning and their future! 🔬📚💙💛\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nMrs. Darla Poutoa & Her Fourth-Grade Scientists","fullyFundedDate":1789561819813,"projectUrl":"project/science-comes-alive-read-it-see-it-d/10497059/","projectTitle":"Science Comes Alive: Read It, See It, Discover It!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Poutoa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8912513_orig.jpg?crop=248,248,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784773925654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspoutoa"},{"teacherId":8912513,"projectId":10457634,"letterContent":"\"Equipping Young Scientists for Authentic Discovery\"\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped transform science from something my fourth graders simply read about into something they can actually DO! The excitement was immediate when they saw their new science materials. Suddenly, our lessons included real tools that allowed students to observe more closely, investigate questions, collect evidence, and experience what it feels like to work as young scientists. One of my favorite moments has been watching students eagerly gather around an investigation, sharing observations and debating what they think is happening. Those conversations are exactly the kind of curiosity and critical thinking I hoped these resources would inspire.\r\n\r\nThese materials are also helping my students understand that science isn't always about knowing the answer—it begins with wondering, questioning, testing, and discovering. Students who might hesitate to participate during a traditional lesson become excited contributors when they have materials in their hands and a problem to solve. They are learning to work collaboratively, use scientific vocabulary, record observations, and support their ideas with evidence. Most importantly, they are beginning to see themselves as capable scientists.\r\n\r\nAnd we are just getting started! As we continue through our science units, students will use these resources for increasingly independent investigations where they can ask questions, make predictions, collect and analyze data, and communicate their findings. Thank you for giving my students the tools to turn their natural curiosity into authentic scientific discovery. You didn't simply provide supplies—you provided opportunities to wonder, explore, and discover what is possible. 🔬💙💛\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nMrs. Darla Poutoa & Her Young Scientists","fullyFundedDate":1789561819607,"projectUrl":"project/equipping-young-scientists-for-authenti/10457634/","projectTitle":"Equipping Young Scientists for Authentic Discovery","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Poutoa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8912513_orig.jpg?crop=248,248,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784773925654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspoutoa"},{"teacherId":8912513,"projectId":10428101,"letterContent":"Dear Generous Donors,\r\n\r\nYour generosity has brought so much more than books and learning materials into our classroom—you have brought possibility, belonging, confidence, and joy. Through Representation Matters: Building Confident Readers & Fearless Mathematicians, our students are discovering that the people in the books they read can look like them, come from communities like theirs, face challenges they recognize, and still dream boldly and accomplish extraordinary things. There is something incredibly powerful about watching a child recognize a piece of themselves in a story. These books have opened the door to meaningful conversations about character, perseverance, problem-solving, point of view, making connections, drawing conclusions, and using evidence from a text to support our thinking. Most importantly, they are helping our students understand that their own stories, ideas, voices, and dreams matter too.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is becoming an experience of discovery rather than simply an assignment. Students read independently, share books with classmates, discuss characters and their choices, make connections between stories and their own lives, and practice expressing what they think and why. Some of the most meaningful moments are the quiet ones—a student lingering over a page, eagerly showing a classmate something they discovered, or choosing to keep reading when the required reading time has already ended. Those moments tell us that we are developing more than reading skills; we are developing readers. And as we connect literacy with mathematics, our students are also learning that being a \"math person\" isn't something you are born knowing how to do. Mathematicians wonder, make mistakes, try different strategies, explain their reasoning, persevere, and try again. We are working to replace \"I can't do this\" with \"I haven't figured it out yet.\"\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students enough to invest in them. Your gifts have helped us create a classroom where children can see themselves represented, feel safe taking academic risks, and begin imagining possibilities for their futures that may once have seemed out of reach. Every book opened, every difficult problem attempted, every hand raised with newfound confidence, and every child who begins to think \"Maybe I can do this\" is part of the impact you have made. We hope you know that your generosity reaches far beyond the materials you provided. You have helped us tell our students: You belong here. You are capable. Your voice matters. You can be a reader. You can be a mathematician. And there is no limit to what you can become. For that extraordinary gift, we are deeply and sincerely grateful.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,\r\n\r\nMrs. Darla Poutoa & Her Fearless Readers and Mathematicians\r\nWest Lowndes Elementary School","fullyFundedDate":1787171708727,"projectUrl":"project/representation-matters-building-confide/10428101/","projectTitle":"Representation Matters: Building Confident Readers & Fearless Mathematicians","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Poutoa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8912513_orig.jpg?crop=248,248,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784773925654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspoutoa"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_17400","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":284,"numTeachers":22,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":97,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"12.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":30.0,"schoolId":17400,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Lowndes Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Lowndes Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/mississippi/lowndes-county-school-district/west-lowndes-elementary-school/17400"}