{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Howard E Heckethorn Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6623757,"projectId":10589277,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in funding our \"Focus on Learning & Regulation\" project! When the boxes arrived, my students were overwhelmed with excitement. Their eyes lit up as we unboxed the new flexible seating options—including the classroom rockers—and sensory regulation tools. They immediately wanted to try everything out, and their initial enthusiasm has turned into a daily routine that makes a tangible difference in our classroom environment.\r\n\r\nThese new resources have transformed how my students engage with their daily lessons. During independent reading and group work, students choose seating and sensory items that help them self-regulate and stay focused. For example, during a recent reading block, a student who usually struggles to stay seated for more than a few minutes grabbed a rocker and a tactile sensory item. They remained calmly engaged with their book for the entire 20-minute session—a major milestone for them! Having these tools available allows students to fulfill their sensory needs in a safe, productive way without interrupting their learning.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are using these flexible setup choices as we dive into our upcoming cross-curricular research projects. With their regulation needs met, students are better equipped to collaborate with peers, maintain attention during longer instructional tasks, and take ownership of their learning. Your support has created a more inclusive, supportive, and focused classroom for every single student.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\n\r\nMs. Dorbeck","fullyFundedDate":1788673088462,"projectUrl":"project/focus-on-learning-regulation/10589277/","projectTitle":"Focus on Learning & Regulation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dorbeck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6623757_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y128&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565500419370","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6623757"},{"teacherId":5086154,"projectId":10578116,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our classroom! Because of your kind donations, my students were able to experience an incredible, hands-on sheep brain dissection to wrap up our brain unit.\r\n\r\nBefore the lab, my students spent weeks diving into the structures and functions of the human brain. They learned how different lobes process sensory information, store memories, and coordinate complex movements. But seeing these anatomical structures in a textbook is one thing—actually holding, observing, and dissecting a real mammalian brain brought their learning to life in a way reading never could.\r\n\r\nDuring the dissection, the excitement in the room was palpable. Students were thrilled to locate the cerebellum, trace the optic nerve, and examine the cerebral cortex up close. They were able to directly connect what we discussed in class to real physical structures, deepening their understanding of neuroscience and sparking a real curiosity for science.\r\n\r\nYour investment in our classroom didn't just fund a lab—it created a memorable, high-impact learning experience that made my students feel like real neuroscientists. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and belief in our students!","fullyFundedDate":1788576501749,"projectUrl":"project/gate-is-gr8t/10578116/","projectTitle":"GATE is GR8T!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lax","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5086154_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1516307545758","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5086154"},{"teacherId":9377341,"projectId":10601347,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students, teachers, and staff, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your generous support. Your contribution has made a immediate and meaningful impact across several of our classrooms.\r\n\r\nThanks to your donation, we were able to purchase new educational materials that have brought learning to life for our Pre-Kindergarten through second-grade students with special needs. These resources have provided them with rich, hands-on opportunities to learn about community helpers and engage in meaningful role-play. Seeing our students explore, collaborate, and express themselves through these interactive experiences has been truly inspiring.\r\n\r\nYour kindness does more than just supply resources—it creates an inclusive, supportive environment where our students can thrive and build key foundational skills.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your commitment to our school community and for making a direct difference in the lives of our young learners.","fullyFundedDate":1788793073579,"projectUrl":"project/dream-discover-do/10601347/","projectTitle":"Dream, Discover & Do","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9377341"},{"teacherId":2931476,"projectId":7979768,"letterContent":"The \"Sprucing Up the Classroom\" project made a meaningful difference by creating a more welcoming, organized, and engaging learning environment for students. The materials helped transform the classroom into a space where students felt comfortable, valued, and excited to learn. Having an inviting and functional environment also supported students in staying focused, accessing materials independently, and taking greater ownership of their learning space.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, this project helped ensure that students had a classroom environment that reflected how important they are. The generosity of our donors allowed us to create a space that supported not only academic learning, but also a sense of belonging, pride, and community.","fullyFundedDate":1699118566133,"projectUrl":"project/sprucing-up-our-classroom/7979768/","projectTitle":"Sprucing Up Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Diggs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2931476_orig.png?crop=386,386,x0,y59&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1681325625279","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2931476"},{"teacherId":9353931,"projectId":10016078,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping provide sensory materials for my students. These items have already become an important part of our classroom, and the students have really enjoyed using them.\r\n\r\nWe use the sensory materials during centers, small groups, and at different times throughout the day when students need a chance to slow down, refocus, or explore through play. The students are able to work on fine motor skills, communication, sharing, and taking turns while also getting the sensory input they need.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the students were so excited. They wanted to look at everything, touch the different items, and figure out how each one worked. It was fun to see how interested they were and how quickly they started using the materials with one another.\r\n\r\nAs we move through the school year, I plan to continue adding the sensory items into our classroom themes and lessons. I can change the activities based on what we are learning and what the students need. These materials will continue to give my students another way to learn, play, and feel successful in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my students and helping make our classroom a place where they can learn in ways that work best for them.","fullyFundedDate":1768674183384,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-success/10016078/","projectTitle":"Sensory Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cumbie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9353931"},{"teacherId":10403200,"projectId":10037931,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our elementary school health office. Your kindness has allowed us to provide clean underwear and pants to students who need them most. While these items seem small, having access to clean and comfortable clothes helps our student's feel confident. This can make a big difference in their day. \r\n\r\nYour generosity allows us to meet these needs quickly and compassionately, ensuring that every child feels supported and valued while at school. Thank you again for the positive impact you are making in the lives of our children.","fullyFundedDate":1768767877641,"projectUrl":"project/happy-hearts-and-clean-starts/10037931/","projectTitle":"Happy Hearts and Clean Starts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Woofter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10403200"},{"teacherId":9355773,"projectId":10030947,"letterContent":"Thank you for supplying materials my students need to successfully learn how to read and write. Having proper supplies and supplies that are the same as their peer helps decrease the pressure of having something different. Being in school for the first time is hard enough with the little ones and some don't understand when their supplies are different from the person sitting next to them.\r\nA specific classroom moment is being responsible in keeping things organized. Having folders with pockets allow the students to learn where to keep unfinished work and not just shoving papers into the desk. The students learned that one side kept unfinished work and the other side held papers for future use. Folders also taught the students how to properly place the papers neatly into the pockets...a fine motor skill that they are developing at this time.\r\nOne project was learning about colors, so the 8 jumbo crayons were used to show the difference of lite and dark, soft and hard, colors and tints. They got to understand that when you use the color red and used it softly...they got pink and if they pressed a little harder...they got red. So in all, they don't have 8 different colors, they had 16. With the crayons, they learned that coloring with longer strokes resulted in a neater outcome. Also, using their crayons to scribble using wiggly and curvy lines. These strokes lead to writing their letters easier and strengthening their pencil grip too.\r\nThe class learned a lot of skills and techniques on how to use materials in different ways. They were able to develop and strengthen their fine motor skills...even with something as a crayon. \r\nThank you again for providing the students with opportunity to succeed in whatever they do. Supplies truly provided success in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1768717742431,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-success/10030947/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chun","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9355773"},{"teacherId":6377383,"projectId":9989801,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, these materials have already made a meaningful difference in our classroom. My students have been using them daily to stay engaged, organized, and excited about their learning. One moment that really stood out was during a recent lesson when students were able to fully dive into their work without the usual distractions. Instead of stopping to find supplies or deal with broken materials, they were able to stay focused, collaborate with their peers, and produce thoughtful, high-quality work. It may seem like a small change, but having reliable, accessible resources has completely shifted the flow of our classroom in the best way.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate and genuine. There were smiles, \"oohs,\" and lots of questions about when they could start using everything. For many of them, something as simple as a fresh set of supplies or a new resource makes them feel valued and motivated. It created a sense of pride and ownership in our classroom, and that energy has carried into their work ever since.","fullyFundedDate":1768502494586,"projectUrl":"project/building-readers-leaders-and-community/9989801/","projectTitle":"Building Readers, Leaders, and Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Herbert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6377383_orig.jpg?crop=478,478,x4,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620173075203","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sherbert"},{"teacherId":7942858,"projectId":10016129,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to provide the supplies my students needed to make some incredibly amazing and detailed dioramas! \r\n\r\nMy students had just finished reading the book Bridge to Terabithia and used what they read in the book to visualize their own version of Terabithia for the dioramas they created. As a class, they were so excited to be able to build their dioramas and when they saw all the amazing supplies that were donated, they were truly so blown away and impressed with the generosity. \r\n\r\nAfter completing their dioramas, my students were able to take time to put words to what they had created to describe their specific dioramas and how they related to what they read. \r\n\r\nThank you again for donating to our classroom project and allowing my students to become creative hands on learners with an eye for detail!","fullyFundedDate":1769925430197,"projectUrl":"project/dioramas-bringing-details-to-life/10016129/","projectTitle":"Dioramas Bringing Details to Life!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reichert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7942858_orig.jpg?crop=1284,1284,x0,y184&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1634134922236","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/brittney-reichert"},{"teacherId":3585828,"projectId":9992768,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our engagement and motivation project! Your contributions have already made a meaningful difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOur new student store items have become a powerful tool for encouraging positive behavior, effort, and participation. Students earn points through hard work, kindness, and staying focused, and they are able to \"shop\" for rewards they truly value. One memorable moment happened during a recent group project: students were so motivated to collaborate respectfully and stay on task that they reminded each other of expectations without my prompting. Watching them take ownership of their learning environment was incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate and contagious. There were smiles, cheers, and lots of questions about how they could earn rewards. More importantly, that excitement has translated into sustained motivation—students are more engaged, eager to participate, and proud of their accomplishments.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, we are now building on this momentum. Our next steps include integrating the student store into ongoing lessons, especially during reading and math centers, where students can set personal goals and track their progress. We are also beginning a class project focused on goal-setting and reflection, helping students connect their efforts to their achievements in a more meaningful way.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has not only brought joy to our classroom but has also helped foster responsibility, teamwork, and a love of learning. Thank you for being an important part of our students' success!","fullyFundedDate":1768180216600,"projectUrl":"project/engagement-and-motivation-in-3rd-grade/9992768/","projectTitle":"Engagement and Motivation in 3rd Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jodi Maren","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3585828_orig.png?crop=385,385,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1644076181685","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jodimaren"},{"teacherId":8152701,"projectId":10030498,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all the amazing support. We really appreciate your generosity and math supplies that we were able to acquire with your money. The kids were super excited to use the new stuff. The chair pockets are amazing. The kids really love to store their head phones and workbooks in them. This way their desks are not so crowded. The students really love the new whiteboards to work on. Some of mine were old so it was nice to replace those. We're love the new math games to help us learn new concepts.","fullyFundedDate":1768755738712,"projectUrl":"project/let-the-math-fun-begin/10030498/","projectTitle":"Let the Math Fun Begin","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ledgerwood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8152701"},{"teacherId":8142048,"projectId":10012167,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding this project! The organizational materials have made a big impact on our daily routine. Students are able to access all of their materials easily now, making transitions smoother and quicker. The time we save adds up quickly over the week meaning we are able to devote more time to curriculum. The incentive materials were a huge hit with the kids! Students asked for what motivated them and they work hard for the chance to choose a prize. Thank you, again, for the donation. Sometimes it is all the \"little things\" that make the biggest difference.","fullyFundedDate":1768754434159,"projectUrl":"project/a-place-for-everything/10012167/","projectTitle":"A Place For Everything","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Eecklor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8142048"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_70507","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":740,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":37,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":32,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":12,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"18.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.2,"schoolId":70507,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Howard E Heckethorn Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Howard E Heckethorn Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/clark-county-school-district/howard-heckethorn-elementary-school/70507"}