{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Donald Stewart ECC 51","outOfStateSupporters":39.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":10167368,"letterContent":"The seeds and garden tools from our project allowed us to bring learning outside of the classroom and into our garden. Students had the opportunity to plant seeds, dig in the soil, water their plants, and observe the changes that happened as the garden began to grow.\r\n\r\nThese hands-on experiences helped us introduce important early science concepts such as what plants need to grow, the life cycle of a plant, changes in nature, and the importance of caring for living things. Students also practiced math skills by counting seeds, comparing sizes, measuring growth, and noticing patterns in the garden.\r\n\r\nThe garden became an extension of our classroom. Instead of only learning about plants through pictures and books, students were able to touch the soil, use real gardening tools, make observations, ask questions, and participate directly in the growing process. This made the lessons much more meaningful and memorable for them.\r\n\r\nThe project also supported social-emotional and motor development. Students practiced taking turns with the tools, working together, following routines, and taking responsibility for caring for the garden. Digging, planting, scooping, and watering also helped strengthen their fine- and gross-motor skills.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the garden gave our students a sense of excitement and ownership in their learning. They looked forward to going outside to check on their plants and were proud to see the results of their care and hard work. The materials helped us turn our outdoor space into a hands-on learning environment where science, math, language, creativity, and teamwork could all come together.","fullyFundedDate":1775680737086,"projectUrl":"project/growing-minds-building-skills-through-p/10167368/","projectTitle":"Growing Minds: Building Skills Through Play, Nature, and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"},{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":10017635,"letterContent":"The donation of bilingual books has made a wonderful impact on our little learners. These books have helped us strengthen early literacy skills in both Spanish and English while also making reading more meaningful and accessible for our students.\r\n\r\nThrough these new texts, students are learning important skills such as identifying characters and settings, making predictions, retelling stories, building vocabulary, recognizing print, and connecting illustrations to the words they hear. The bilingual format also allows students to make connections between Spanish and English, helping them develop confidence and understanding in both languages.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is interactive and engaging. We read together during whole-group time, revisit favorite books in smaller groups, and give students opportunities to explore books independently in our classroom library. We encourage students to talk about what they notice, answer questions, make connections to their own experiences, and use pictures to help tell the story.\r\n\r\nOur students have been especially excited to see books that include words they recognize in both languages. Some children enjoy pointing out familiar Spanish words, while others are beginning to connect those words with their English equivalents. The books have sparked more conversations, participation, and excitement during story time.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create a classroom where our little learners can see their language, culture, and experiences represented in the books they read. Your generosity is helping us build a love of reading while supporting their language development, confidence, and early literacy skills.","fullyFundedDate":1774963720343,"projectUrl":"project/bilingual-books-for-our-little-learners/10017635/","projectTitle":"Bilingual Books for Our Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"},{"teacherId":2221051,"projectId":10331438,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our Little Spots of Emotions project! Your generosity is making it possible for my young learners to have meaningful, hands-on opportunities to explore and understand their emotions in a fun and engaging way. At this young age, children are learning how to identify their feelings, express themselves, and understand the emotions of others. The materials from this project will help make these important social-emotional lessons more concrete, enjoyable, and accessible to every child in our classroom.\r\n\r\nYour support will have a lasting positive impact on my students by helping them develop self-awareness, communication skills, empathy, and positive ways to manage their feelings. Through stories, activities, play, and hands-on learning, my students will have opportunities to build confidence and learn that all feelings are important. Thank you for investing in our little learners and helping create a classroom where children feel safe, understood, and empowered to express their emotions!","fullyFundedDate":1790687054356,"projectUrl":"project/little-spots-of-emotions/10331438/","projectTitle":"Little Spots of Emotions","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2221051_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458046495705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2221051"},{"teacherId":2221051,"projectId":10331404,"letterContent":"The LEGO project will have a meaningful impact on our students' learning by providing engaging, hands-on opportunities to explore, create, and learn through play. Building with LEGO bricks encourages children to use their imagination, think creatively, solve problems, and develop early math and spatial awareness skills. As students connect, stack, and manipulate the pieces, they will strengthen their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and finger dexterity, which are essential for developing early writing skills. This project will also encourage teamwork, communication, and perseverance as children share ideas, collaborate, and bring their creations to life. These materials will make learning fun, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate for our young learners.","fullyFundedDate":1790687055237,"projectUrl":"project/building-with-blocks-at-home/10331404/","projectTitle":"Building with Blocks at Home","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2221051_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458046495705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2221051"},{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":10046561,"letterContent":"Our classroom was so excited to receive the lunch bags that were generously donated to our Pre-K students. We began using them right away during snack and lunchtime, and it has made a big difference in helping our students feel more independent and responsible. One special moment was when the children practiced unpacking and packing their own lunch bags. We turned it into a small routine where they learned how to take care of their belongings, and they were so proud of themselves for doing it \"all by themselves.\"\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the lunchbags, their faces lit up with excitement. Many of them immediately wanted to explore them, open and close them, and talk about what they would bring inside. For some of my students, having their own lunch bag made them feel important and more connected to our classroom routines. It also helped create a sense of belonging, as everyone had something special that was theirs.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our learning, we will use the lunch bags to support lessons about daily routines, healthy habits, and responsibility. We are also planning to connect this to our conversations about caring for our materials and making good choices throughout the day. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our classroom—it truly made a meaningful impact on my students.","fullyFundedDate":1769129613697,"projectUrl":"project/care-safety-and-independence/10046561/","projectTitle":"Care, Safety, and Independence","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"},{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":9898775,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for the generous donation of seeds, watering cans, and planting materials for our classroom. These resources have brought so much excitement and hands-on learning into our daily routine.\r\n\r\nOur students are using the materials as part of our new plant unit, where they are learning how plants grow and what they need to survive. Each child had the opportunity to plant their own seeds, carefully adding soil, placing the seeds, and watering them using the new watering cans. This has been a very meaningful experience, especially in our dual language classroom, as we are learning and using new vocabulary in both English and Spanish while exploring nature.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their faces lit up with excitement. They were eager to get started and asked many questions about how seeds grow. It was a beautiful moment watching them take ownership of their learning, showing curiosity and care as they planted and watered their seeds.\r\n\r\nAs we continue this project, our next steps include observing and documenting plant growth, discussing changes we see each day, and learning about pollinators and how they help plants grow. We are also planning to create a small pollinator garden, where students will apply what they've learned in a real-world way.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and helping us create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1765985729356,"projectUrl":"project/seeds-of-stem-planting-young-minds/9898775/","projectTitle":"Seeds of STEM: Planting Young Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"},{"teacherId":4406195,"projectId":9684878,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your thoughtful donations. We truly appreciate your generosity. Your support helps make our classroom a place where students can learn, grow, and thrive. Your donations helped to provide valuable science resources for our students to explore daily. \r\nBecause of your kindness, our students have the supplies and materials they need to explore various scientific concepts. \r\nYou have helped create a positive learning environment in our classroom. A place where we can provide our students with the tools they need to succeed through their academic career. \r\nWe are incredibly thankful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1764693006104,"projectUrl":"project/mini-scientists/9684878/","projectTitle":"Mini Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Demarest","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4406195_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1491409299932","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4406195"},{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":9538182,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous contributions, my students are having so much fun exploring and learning with our new resources! The Battat Balancing Beams and Stepping Stones, Roylco Body Poetry Yoga Cards, and Kimbo Bean Bag Activities CD have quickly become some of their favorite materials in the classroom.\r\n\r\nOne special moment was during our active movement time, when students worked together to create an obstacle course using the balancing beams and stepping stones. They carefully planned the path, took turns, and cheered each other on as they tested their balance. At the same time, some students were practicing yoga poses from the Body Poetry cards, laughing and guiding each other through the different levels of difficulty. It was amazing to see their focus, cooperation, and joy all at once.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to explore, touch, and try every activity. The energy in the room was contagious, and it was clear how much these resources sparked curiosity and engagement.","fullyFundedDate":1764824381059,"projectUrl":"project/moving-minds-and-growing-bodies/9538182/","projectTitle":"Moving Minds and Growing Bodies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"},{"teacherId":8696121,"projectId":9866937,"letterContent":"Thanks to our donors, our classroom library now includes beloved classic preschool books in Spanish, and they are already making a meaningful impact on learning. These texts introduce essential early literacy skills such as vocabulary development, story sequencing, print awareness, and listening comprehension. Many of the books also reinforce social emotional lessons such as friendship, kindness, curiosity, and problem-solving while exposing students to rich language patterns through repetition, rhyme, and predictable text. Having these classics in Spanish supports language development while honoring students' home language and culture.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is joyful, interactive, and hands-on. We read these books aloud during large group read alouds, revisit favorites in small groups, and make them available in our library for independent exploration. Students love chiming in on repeated phrases, acting out stories, and connecting the illustrations to their own experiences. These books naturally spark conversations, questions, and cross-curricular connections with art, movement, and play-based learning.\r\n\r\nSeveral students are especially excited about the new books, particularly our Spanish-speaking learners. Seeing familiar stories and characters in Spanish builds confidence and encourages participation, even from students who are usually quiet during read-alouds. Other students are eager to learn new words and phrases, proudly \"reading\" along with their classmates. These books are not just building literacy skills; they are helping all students feel included, capable, and excited about reading.","fullyFundedDate":1765985413076,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-love-of-readingen-espaol/9866937/","projectTitle":"Building a Love of Reading—¡En Español!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paniagua","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8696121_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715274199002","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8696121"},{"teacherId":8696121,"projectId":9842884,"letterContent":"The new materials have brought our preschool science area to life. Students are using the Lakeshore Science Center to explore sink or float, mirrors, and magnification, while the ramp allows them to experiment with speed and motion. One favorite moment was watching students predict which objects would sink or float and cheering as they tested their ideas. The science books and earth and space viewer inspire daily conversations and questions about the world around us.\r\nThe students were thrilled and immediately curious. They couldn't wait to touch, explore, and ask questions. The earth and space viewer and ramps especially captured their attention and sparked excitement and wonder.\r\nNext, students will use the shake and reveal science cards to practice making predictions and observations. We will continue exploring motion with the ramp and begin connecting earth and space concepts to weather and nature studies.","fullyFundedDate":1764726800567,"projectUrl":"project/little-scientists-big-discoveries/9842884/","projectTitle":"Little Scientists, Big Discoveries!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paniagua","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8696121_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715274199002","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8696121"},{"teacherId":4452432,"projectId":9148743,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all of these beautiful additions to our classroom! Our Art area looks great with all these new additions! My students are already excited and curious to explore everything. Art is one of our favorite things to do, and my students are already bursting with excitement to create and explore. Your support truly helps us create a joyful and engaging space for learning each day! You rock and we are beyond grateful for all the support you give each and every day for our future leaders!","fullyFundedDate":1745846950601,"projectUrl":"project/art-material-for-pre-k/9148743/","projectTitle":"Art Material for Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Yuelling","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4452432_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1516407324099","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4452432"},{"teacherId":9247671,"projectId":9117149,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our project \"Counting, Sorting, and Learning: Hands-On Math for Preschoolers!\" has brought so much excitement and engagement into our classroom! My students are now learning math in a fun, hands-on way using the new manipulatives and small toys you helped provide.\r\n\r\nWhen I first introduced the materials, my students' faces lit up with curiosity and joy. They couldn't wait to touch, explore, and start sorting and counting. Some children began grouping by color and shape, while others challenged themselves to build tall towers or make patterns. It was amazing to watch them work together, share ideas, and use new math vocabulary as they played.\r\n\r\nThese materials have made math time one of their favorite parts of the day! The manipulatives are helping my students strengthen their fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence with numbers. They are now more engaged during small group activities and eager to show what they've learned.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue using these resources to explore early addition, compare quantities, and create simple math games together. Every day, I see how your donation is helping my preschoolers build a strong foundation for future learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and giving them the tools to count, sort, and learn through play!","fullyFundedDate":1746785720589,"projectUrl":"project/counting-sorting-and-learning-hands-o/9117149/","projectTitle":"Counting, Sorting, and Learning: Hands-On Math for Preschoolers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Regalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9247671_orig.jpg?crop=2277,2277,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693531080136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9247671"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_75674","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":310,"numTeachers":23,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":17,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":74,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"13.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":60.2,"schoolId":75674,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Donald Stewart ECC 51 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Donald Stewart ECC 51","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/elizabeth-public-schools/donald-stewart-ecc-51/75674"}