{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Valley Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5490231,"projectId":8724763,"letterContent":"The students are utilizing new resources for their drafting projects while simultaneously enhancing their math skills. They have been measuring lengths in sixteenths and making connections to equivalent fractions. For instance, when they measure a line that is 3 8/16, they recognize that this is also equal to 3 1/2.\r\n\r\nThese math skills are directly relevant to their projects, and we are working to help them generalize these concepts to other fractions.\r\n\r\nThe students were excited to see the new materials when they arrived and wanted to use them immediately.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, they will continue to strengthen the relationship between their projects and their math skills.","fullyFundedDate":1735697236459,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-math-in-engineering/8724763/","projectTitle":"Supporting Math in Engineering","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dierenfield","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5490231"},{"teacherId":9865666,"projectId":8992362,"letterContent":"The first CAD/3D printing class at my school has just wrapped up and I would call it a success! The curriculum would have been unattainable without your generous donation. The course is designed to teach students how to use digital design tools to create a model and then take the next step and 3D print the design. We had two older printers that had been used by a 3D printing club. After a great deal of repair, these two printers were usable but, the time required to print the projects was almost double that of the new printers. For example the desk organizer shown in the photos was printed in 4.5 hours on the new printer; it would have taken over 9 hours on the older models. Each of the 44 students in the class was able to print 3 different designs which they drew themselves on CAD programs. \r\n\r\nComing up next for the printers is our rocketry class. Students will have the ability to add 3d printed items to rockets that they design for the city-wide \"rocket rally\". A few are already working on their plans for components made on the printers to help ensure the safety of their egg in the \"Egg Survival\" portion of the rocketry competition. When I took this class on, I wasn't sure how I would keep the focus on creating designs for 3D printing when the students knew they would only get to print one item. Your help made it possible for the students to not only learn a new skill, but see their efforts at design become a tangible product.","fullyFundedDate":1734192355261,"projectUrl":"project/students-learn-3d-printing/8992362/","projectTitle":"Students Learn 3D Printing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9865666"},{"teacherId":5307602,"projectId":8821365,"letterContent":"Thank you for supplying the funds to grant my book project. The graphic novels purchased with this grant have been thoroughly enjoyed and read by many students. In my 3rd grade classroom, I have a large classroom library. Students are welcome to come and check out my books, even if they are in a different 3rd grade class or former students. So, not only do the graphic novels support the readers in my 3rd grade classroom, but many students outside of my room as well. Part of our daily reading routine is to have a time called \"book love\". This is typically 15 minutes where students can read a book of their choice. The graphic novels purchased with this grant have been chosen on a daily basis. A few of the most popular graphic novels have a student wait list, created by the students, to get the book to the next interested reader in an organized manner. I also have several reluctant readers. Before the grant, these students would typically grab a book or two but just flip through it without great interest. However, after the graphic novels arrived, the reluctant readers became very excited about the sports themed books and have been digging into them daily. Now when it's book time, the kids go straight to the books with excitement and enthusiasm. These books have brought the joy of reading into the hands of children.","fullyFundedDate":1727488115469,"projectUrl":"project/help-3rd-graders-get-graphic-novels/8821365/","projectTitle":"Help 3rd Graders Get Graphic Novels!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Knudsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5307602_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1523416519900","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5307602"},{"teacherId":2101623,"projectId":8712475,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous gift of these books! Thanks to you, we now have a wide variety of Lewis & Clark supplemental materials that will enrich our students' classroom experience. Using these books, students work in small, self-designated literature groups. They choose which book they'll read, they read at their own pace, and they document their learning by presenting what they've learned to the rest of the class. In short, they become confident, competent experts on their topic!\r\n\r\nStudents are focusing on Sacagawea, York, and Seaman (the Newfoundland dog), as well as Lewis and Clark. They are deepening their understanding of the historical context in which the Corps of Discovery went forward, and they are recognizing pictures of President Jefferson and Napoleon, as well as maps of the Louisiana Purchase territory. It's heartening to see their personal investment in the topic!\r\n\r\nThese books will be used not only in my own classroom, but in the other 3 fourth-grade classrooms here at West Valley. Your generosity is exponential.","fullyFundedDate":1726676886380,"projectUrl":"project/a-reading-path-to-adventure/8712475/","projectTitle":"A Reading Path to Adventure!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2101623_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725925548179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2101623"},{"teacherId":2101623,"projectId":8754902,"letterContent":"These books have allowed my students to become experts on the Lewis & Clark expedition. Having an extensive array of choices and topics is exciting and motivating! \r\n\r\nWorking in groups of 2-3, students choose which book they'll read and, by extension, who they'll focus on! The books are written from the points of view of Sacagawea, York, Seaman (Lewis' Newfoundland), as well as Lewis and Clark. Once students finish reading a book, they compile their newfound knowledge and share it with the class, via a slide presentation. They become the teachers!\r\n\r\nHaving these physical books in the classroom is so much more valuable than doing research online. The fact that these books are new and shiny doesn't hurt, either! The books offer a range of reading styles and levels, as well, so they're accessible for all students. My more advanced students naturally lean toward the more complex chapter books, while my struggling readers are more comfortable with the graphic novel format. Regardless, all students are able to garner information from these sources and feel knowledgeable and confident in what they've learned.","fullyFundedDate":1726256798743,"projectUrl":"project/journey-into-the-past/8754902/","projectTitle":"Journey Into the Past","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2101623_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725925548179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2101623"},{"teacherId":9774877,"projectId":8815436,"letterContent":"When my students learned our project was funded, their excitement was overwhelming—they couldn't wait to dive into the new middle school books for our classroom library! This enthusiasm reflects the joy and gratitude filling our classroom, thanks to your incredible generosity. As a first-year teacher, I was thrilled yet anxious about creating an engaging learning environment. The day we unboxed the books, whiteboards, markers, card-stock, and graphing paper was unforgettable. It turned a regular school day into a celebration of learning, with students eagerly organizing and imagining how to use each item.\r\n\r\nThe $500 worth of materials has already made a huge impact. The whiteboards and markers are essential for interactive math practice, engaging all 90 students. The graphing paper helps them build precision in creating tables and graphs, while the card-stock has become a creative resource for projects like mini books, graphic organizers, and hands-on math activities. Most importantly, the new books have sparked a love of reading, encouraging discussions and deeper connections among students.\r\n\r\nYour support has transformed our classroom into a more dynamic and collaborative space. These materials are shaping my students' education and inspiring the creativity every day. Thank you for your generosity and for believing in our potential.","fullyFundedDate":1727139225108,"projectUrl":"project/help-create-a-better-math-and-reading-en/8815436/","projectTitle":"Help Create a Better Math and Reading Environment","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mower","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9774877"},{"teacherId":3978820,"projectId":8814835,"letterContent":"The excitement was great as the books started to arrive in our classroom! Every time a box would show up in our class, students would gather around and cheer as it was opened. These books have made a tremendous impact on students in our classroom. Thanks to you, they have a wide variety of high-interest books to keep them engaged in reading. \r\nTo find out what books my students really wanted, I had them write the titles on the large whiteboard in the classroom. With this funding, I was able to get just about all the titles or parts of the series they were interested in. Graphic novels hook kids into reading, and can spark a love of reading. I have one little boy who has a nose in the Dog Man books almost all the time. Even though it's hard, he has to put the books down to do other things, like math. He would prefer to sit and read all day, though. \r\nStudents are so excited about these books that they want to keep stacks of them at their desk. We talk about how to share the books, and they can read them when others are done. Sometimes we have to have limits on how many books they can keep at their desk. They also love to check them out from our classroom library so they can continue the reading at home. These books have made a great difference! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1727125158656,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-for-3rd-graders/8814835/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels for 3rd Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Miss Ruonavaara","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3978820_orig.jpg?crop=2590,2590,x131,y887&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665497587686","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ruonavaara"},{"teacherId":3161376,"projectId":8811140,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting reading in our classroom! The students in our 6th grade class have been very excited about the new books in our classroom library and engaged during independent reading time. There is just something about being the first to read a brand new book, and these books have been flying off of the shelves (if they even make it to the shelf before being snatched up). They have been used for students to independently apply the concepts we have been focusing on in class, like theme, plot structure, and character development. Students are required to read books from a variety of genres, and these new books have helped spark an interest and try different genres while still have choice. The earbuds have also helped students listen to audiobooks.","fullyFundedDate":1727057145379,"projectUrl":"project/reading-is-an-adventure-inspiring-read/8811140/","projectTitle":"Reading Is an Adventure! Inspiring Readers Through Engaging Reading Choices","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McDonald","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3161376_orig.jpg?crop=341,341,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659671987685","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3161376"},{"teacherId":9126498,"projectId":8792467,"letterContent":"We appreciate the donation of the clipboards! They have helped my students work in other places in the room. This is important to help learners become confident and proud of their work. They are leaning to go to a spot in the room where there are not distractions and they can work on their own or with a partner.\r\n\r\nWe love the Story works magazines! They offer practice for the Reading skills we are already practicing. The articles are engaging and students like the magazine format. \r\n\r\nThank you for providing these resources for us!","fullyFundedDate":1726601845670,"projectUrl":"project/reading-resources-for-4th-grade/8792467/","projectTitle":"Reading Resources for 4th grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Funderburgh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9126498_orig.png?crop=336,336,x0,y32&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759418109940","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9126498"},{"teacherId":5303954,"projectId":8796059,"letterContent":"Thank you for contributing to our classroom. The students were so excited to see the additions that were made. They have truly enjoyed being able to move around the classroom each day, using the alternative seating options that have been provided as well as being able to work in groups using the new connectors. Students were overjoyed when they walked into the room the day after I opened the new stools that you were able to provide for our classroom. Each time we are able to do independent or group work, students are eager to grab one and head to a spot in the room where they can go and work on their assignments. We do a lot of group work as we are moving towards project based learning this year, so the stools have been a huge help in allowing students to work together in groups. The connectors that were purchased have also been beneficial as well. Students were excited to be able to work together on one computer. We have been able to use the connectors when going through a science unit. Students worked in groups to watch how our bodies move and then put together a mechanical finger, all while being able to work together on one computer verses trying to maneuver through several computers running at one time. Thank you again for providing a way for our classroom to grow and learn together.","fullyFundedDate":1726624987189,"projectUrl":"project/our-move-to-project-based-learning/8796059/","projectTitle":"Our Move To Project Based Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kalenga","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5303954"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_78419","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":764,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":30,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":90,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"29.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":70.4,"schoolId":78419,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Valley Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Valley Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/montana/west-valley-school-district-1/west-valley-elementary-school/78419"}