{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":73.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7970164,"projectId":9084938,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, our preschool classroom received a wonderful supply of snacks to fuel our students' learning each day. Your support made a real difference in helping our young learners stay energized, focused, and ready to explore the world around them.\r\n\r\nBefore this project, many of our students came to school without enough to eat, and snack time was sometimes a challenge. Now, with snacks available daily, every child can participate fully in classroom activities without distraction or hunger.\r\n\r\nThese snacks have also turned into meaningful moments for building community, children gather to share, practice manners, and learn about making healthy choices. The smiles on their faces during snack time remind us that small gestures of kindness can have a lasting impact.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our students feel cared for and supported.","fullyFundedDate":1746785848015,"projectUrl":"project/successful-snack-time/9084938/","projectTitle":"Successful Snack Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Curtis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7970164_orig.jpg?crop=433,433,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630111928465","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7970164"},{"teacherId":7859002,"projectId":9396192,"letterContent":"When our new Play-Doh, moon sand, and dot markers arrived, the students could hardly wait to explore them. During center time, we set up tables with each material, and the children rotated through to create, build, and experiment. One of the most memorable projects was when the class used Play-Doh to sculpt animals from a story we had just read. They were so proud to show off their tiny lions, elephants, and birds, and it was a wonderful way to connect literacy with hands-on creativity. The moon sand has also become a favorite—students love using it to mold shapes and practice fine motor skills while engaging in imaginative play.\r\n\r\nTheir initial reactions were full of pure joy—several children clapped when they spotted the bright dot markers, while others dove straight into squishing the Play-Doh between their fingers with big grins. A few even shouted, \"This is so much fun!\" The excitement was contagious, and it quickly turned into a collaborative experience, with children sharing tools, trading colors, and helping each other with new ideas.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we will use these materials for a unit on community helpers. The children will use dot markers to create uniforms for different helpers, Play-Doh to build tools and vehicles, and moon sand to construct small \"job sites\" like a bakery or construction area. These projects will not only strengthen their creativity and fine motor skills but also deepen their understanding of the people who help our community each day. The donated supplies are making our lessons more engaging, hands-on, and meaningful for every student!","fullyFundedDate":1750773723301,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-art-materials/9396192/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Art Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7859002_orig.png?crop=1592,1592,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732082115166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7859002"},{"teacherId":3577349,"projectId":9376760,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations! These headphones have helped my students focus on online programs. We have online programs for math, reading, and for new English learners. \r\n\r\n Students love how comfortable these are. They fit well and do not hurt their ears like some of the hard plastic headphones do. \r\n\r\nI always appreciate the generosity shown to my class and students. It truly takes a village to prepare young children to have their brightest futures. \r\n\r\nThank you so much again for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1748214215278,"projectUrl":"project/comfy-headphones/9376760/","projectTitle":"Comfy Headphones","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3577349_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472089194772","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cathy-lee"},{"teacherId":2503309,"projectId":6709418,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping support my classroom. My students have a fantastically safe and comfortable environment to come into each day because of your generous donations! I appreciate everything you did to help me acheive my vision for my classroom. The first time the kids came in and saw the new furniture that screamed with excitment. We have a schedule so everybody gets to use all the chairs every week. They look forward to their turn to read from those child size chairs each week. Our carpet has given us a great space for our meetings to take place.","fullyFundedDate":1664979678385,"projectUrl":"project/have-a-seat-and-stay-a-while/6709418/","projectTitle":"Have a Seat and Stay a While","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gautreaux","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2503309_orig.jpg?crop=532,532,x0,y63&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1654524141120","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsgautreaux"},{"teacherId":7859002,"projectId":8955012,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution! My students and I are absolutely loving the new resources, especially our light table center. It has quickly become a favorite spot in our classroom, where students explore colors, patterns, and shapes in a whole new way. One of our most exciting activities so far has been using translucent blocks and colorful manipulatives to build and create glowing designs. The students are mesmerized by how the light transforms everyday objects, making learning feel like magic!\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were in awe. Their eyes lit up as we turned on the light table for the first time, and they couldn't wait to start experimenting. They eagerly took turns placing different materials on the surface, watching how colors mixed and changed. The excitement and curiosity in the room were incredible, and it has been wonderful to see them so engaged in hands-on discovery.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will be using the light table to enhance our lessons on colors, letters, and storytelling. The students are already using it to trace letters, explore color mixing, and even create their own shadow stories. This resource has truly enriched our classroom, sparking creativity and deeper learning every day. Thank you for making this possible—we are so grateful for your support!\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1735673260075,"projectUrl":"project/prek-classroom-supplies/8955012/","projectTitle":"PreK Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7859002_orig.png?crop=1592,1592,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732082115166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7859002"},{"teacherId":7970164,"projectId":8736634,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for your generosity, which has had a significant impact on my preschool students. Thanks to your support, we've been able to provide healthy and nourishing snacks that fuel their learning and growth every day.\r\n\r\nA particularly memorable moment came during a lesson on healthy eating. With the new snacks, we were able to not only enjoy tasty treats but also have conversations about nutrition, the importance of a balanced diet, and how certain foods help us stay energized. The kids loved getting involved in picking their snacks and learning how each one helps them grow stronger.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, the next step in our classroom routine is to continue using snack time as an opportunity to teach social skills like sharing, patience, and making healthy choices. We will also integrate simple lessons about where food comes from and how it supports our bodies. The snacks will not only nourish them but will continue to play a key role in our learning throughout the year.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for making this possible. Your support has truly enriched our classroom, and it's helping our little learners grow in more ways than one.","fullyFundedDate":1726678205598,"projectUrl":"project/snack-time-smiles/8736634/","projectTitle":"Snack Time Smiles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Curtis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7970164_orig.jpg?crop=433,433,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630111928465","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7970164"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_77066","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":384,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":19,"percentWhite":48,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":26.8,"schoolId":77066,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/missouri/independence-school-district-30/benton-elementary-school/77066"}