{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Nellie K Parker Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":28.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10304393,"projectId":9846569,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations of STEM materials for our classroom. Because of your support, our students now look forward to Fun Friday, a special time each week when they can explore hands-on STEM activities. These materials allow students to build, code, and create circuits while learning important skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and perseverance. Through trial and error, students learn that mistakes are part of the learning process and that creative thinking can lead to exciting solutions.\r\n\r\nDuring Fun Friday, students are given choices in the STEM activities they explore, which encourages independence and motivation. Whether they are constructing towers, experimenting with simple coding programs, or working together to make circuits light up, students are actively engaged and deeply focused. Many students who may struggle in traditional academic settings truly shine during these activities, showing confidence, creativity, and leadership as they explain their ideas and discoveries to their peers.\r\n\r\nBeyond academic skills, these STEM materials have helped students grow socially as well. Working in small groups encourages communication, collaboration, and teamwork as students share materials, discuss plans, and solve challenges together. Your generosity has helped create a learning environment where curiosity, creativity, and cooperation thrive. Thank you for making Fun Friday such a meaningful and exciting experience for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1763165421365,"projectUrl":"project/future-innovators-bringing-stem-to-life/9846569/","projectTitle":"Future Innovators: Bringing STEM to Life in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yeji Kim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10304393"},{"teacherId":10304393,"projectId":9798412,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations of fall-themed books for our classroom. Because of you, my students have been able to explore engaging stories centered around apples, pumpkins, and the changing seasons. These books are more than just fun to read—they help introduce important literacy skills such as making predictions, identifying story elements, building vocabulary, and making connections between texts and real-life experiences. Many of the nonfiction titles also supported lessons on life cycles, seasons, and how food grows, helping students build background knowledge while strengthening their reading comprehension.\r\nReading in our classroom is an active, joyful experience. Students enjoy listening to these books during read-aloud time, discussing the illustrations, and sharing their thinking with classmates. During independent and small-group reading, the fall-themed books quickly became student favorites, often being reread and discussed with friends. Several students who are usually hesitant readers have been especially excited to choose these books, eager to talk about pumpkins they've carved or apples they've picked, which has helped boost their confidence and engagement.\r\nYour kindness has made a meaningful difference in our classroom. These books helped create a cozy, seasonally rich learning environment that encouraged curiosity, conversation, and a love of reading. Thank you for supporting our students and helping make learning memorable and joyful this fall—we are truly grateful for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1760477958594,"projectUrl":"project/falling-for-books-our-autumn-reading-ad/9798412/","projectTitle":"Falling for Books: Our Autumn Reading Adventure!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yeji Kim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10304393"},{"teacherId":9888859,"projectId":9480548,"letterContent":"Your support has transformed my therapy space by allowing me to create bright and durable bilingual visuals that help students communicate with confidence. These materials give them clear ways to express emotions, ask for help, follow routines, and participate meaningfully. I have watched several children use these visuals independently, showing new pride in their voices and genuine excitement in every session. These resources continue to inspire growth as students build stronger language skills, explore meaningful interactions, and discover new confidence in themselves each day forever.","fullyFundedDate":1755720430383,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-communication-support-for-bi/9480548/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Communication & Support for Bilingual Students in Speech-LanguagTherapy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9888859_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736564558886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9888859"},{"teacherId":9888859,"projectId":9170313,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to receive the new items! I was able to organize all sensory items using the bags I received which makes it easier for some students to reach directly for a specific bag. For example, squishies, visual stimuli like a lava wand, playdoh tools, etc. Use of the Sensi for my Autistic students have assisted their oral motor abilities, and oral sensory needs which assist co-regulation during sessions. A lot of the time it is so tricky to retrieve these tools at a public school as oral motor abilities and feeding are often overlooked! However, they are the most developmentally crucial and foundational aspects to communication, swallowing, and feeding. So thank you again for positively impacting my students' lives!","fullyFundedDate":1746785649343,"projectUrl":"project/foundation-to-aid-communication-and-func/9170313/","projectTitle":"Foundation to Aid Communication and Function","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9888859_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736564558886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9888859"},{"teacherId":9888859,"projectId":9098818,"letterContent":"my students have grown so much having access to a variety of learning and fun toys, books, and games! they are so intrinsically motivated to learn, communicate, and play!\r\n\r\nI have been able to expand on their social skills, expressive, and receptive communication abilities. They are IN LOVE with Speech with Ms. V! I am often requested even without my presence in their classroom. My students have their sensory and emotional needs met which really assists their self-regulation abilities. \r\n\r\n I am so deeply grateful for your donation. Thank you so much!!","fullyFundedDate":1746786205080,"projectUrl":"project/increasing-self-cognizance/9098818/","projectTitle":"Increasing Self-Cognizance","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9888859_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736564558886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9888859"},{"teacherId":6342159,"projectId":8472913,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project! The books you helped provide are already making a meaningful difference in how my students learn and connect with each other.\r\n\r\nThese new texts are not only fun and engaging, but they also introduce key social-emotional skills such as empathy, conflict resolution, identifying emotions, and working cooperatively. We use these stories as a springboard for rich discussions and role-playing activities that allow students to practice what they're learning in real-life situations.\r\n\r\nIn our sessions, it's about understanding others, learning how to be a good friend, and developing the confidence to express ourselves. They love acting out scenarios and brainstorming ways to be kinder or more helpful in tricky social moments.\r\n\r\nOne student, in particular, who often struggles with group interactions, has really blossomed during our sessions. After reading a story about managing frustration, he shared a personal experience and offered advice to a group member — something he never would've done before implementing these books. These moments are what it's all about.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us build not just better readers, but better humans. Your generosity means the world to us.","fullyFundedDate":1719746980441,"projectUrl":"project/readers-with-character/8472913/","projectTitle":"Readers With Character","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6342159_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758648424407","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6342159"},{"teacherId":9916972,"projectId":9100129,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when they came in and saw the new materials. They couldn't wait for choice time that day so they could pick one of the new activities. I wish you could have seen the joy on their faces. The squigs are really helpful for expressing design ideas and for sensory input. My students are always finding new ways to build with these.\r\n\r\nMy students also love the water droppers. They are fascinated to learn about the world around them. Being able to perform activities and hands on experiments with water has been a valuable tool to my classroom.\r\n\r\nWe thank you so much for making all of this possible. Your support really made a difference in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1742583016283,"projectUrl":"project/we-need-more-fine-motor-skills/9100129/","projectTitle":"We Need More Fine Motor Skills!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Emery","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9916972_orig.jpg?crop=1080,1080,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1740753248078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9916972"},{"teacherId":6545942,"projectId":9121682,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our classroom project! Your generosity has already made a powerful difference in the lives of my bilingual third graders.\r\n\r\nWhen the packages arrived, my students were absolutely thrilled. They gathered around eagerly and helped open each and every box with wide eyes and huge smiles. It was such a joyful moment for all of us.\r\n\r\nMany of my students come from homes where resources are limited, and their families may not be familiar with the developmental benefits of board games and puzzles. Thanks to your support, our classroom now has a wonderful collection of engaging materials that are being used daily to enrich learning in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nThese new games and puzzles have allowed my students to:\r\n\r\nThink critically and solve problems in fun, hands-on ways\r\n\r\nWork together, communicate, and support one another\r\n\r\nDevelop perseverance, patience, and strategic thinking\r\n\r\nStrengthen friendships and build a true sense of classroom community\r\n\r\nWatching them light up with excitement as they explore new games, take on challenges, and even teach each other has been incredibly rewarding. The puzzle table is especially loved—it's a calming space where students take thoughtful breaks, refocus, and build grit one piece at a time.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of play and for helping bring joy, learning, and connection into our classroom. Your generosity means more than words can express.","fullyFundedDate":1744032818766,"projectUrl":"project/building-critical-thinking-community-t/9121682/","projectTitle":"Building Critical Thinking & Community Through Games and Puzzles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moyano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6545942_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1583325299927","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6545942"},{"teacherId":9901193,"projectId":9068955,"letterContent":"Thank you again for supporting my project, \"Sensory Integration Fun!\". Your donations have made such a positive impact on the interventions my students are receiving. My students have been exposed to new and exciting intervention strategies that are individualized to their specific needs, engaging, and best of all, fun! \r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw all of our new therapy materials, they could not believe that they were for US! They could not wait to unbox the materials as they came in and try them out right away! Everyday when my students walk in, they immediately ask questions like, \"Ms. Susie, can we play with the balance beam today?!\" The materials donated from the project include a wide variety of intervention tools focused on addressing sensory integration and have greatly impacted my students' ability to understand what tools and strategies they can use for their specific needs. \r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you so much again for choosing to invest in my students!","fullyFundedDate":1738249281418,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-integration-fun/9068955/","projectTitle":"Sensory Integration Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Susie (Ottomanelli)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9901193_orig.jpg?crop=213,213,x0,y23&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737134973976","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9901193"},{"teacherId":183313,"projectId":8822827,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, the decodable books we received have made a huge difference in our classroom! These books have introduced a variety of essential skills that are helping my students build a solid reading foundation. For example, the texts help reinforce phonics skills, allowing my students to practice sounding out words and improving their decoding abilities. Each book is carefully leveled to match my students' growing skills, so they experience success every time they turn the page, boosting their confidence and fluency.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is a vibrant, interactive experience. We begin by introducing a new book as a class, discussing its pictures and words to make predictions. Then, each student reads the book aloud, either independently or with a partner. This gives them a chance to apply their phonics knowledge in real-time. We also celebrate their progress and encourage them to share their thoughts on the stories, helping to foster a love for reading.\r\n\r\nSome of my students have really connected with these new books. One student, who previously struggled with blending sounds, has made remarkable progress. He now reads with more enthusiasm and even takes books home to practice with his family! Another student, who has always been an avid reader, loves the challenge of moving through the books at her level, and she's been especially excited to see how quickly she's able to complete them on her own.\r\n\r\nYour donation has given my students the tools they need to grow as confident readers. These books don't just teach them how to read—they're sparking joy and excitement for learning that will last a lifetime. Thank you for helping us make that happen!","fullyFundedDate":1733361338961,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-reading-magic-books-to-build/8822827/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Reading Magic: Books to Build Confident Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp183313_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1544992787801","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/bookstoinspire"},{"teacherId":9888859,"projectId":9035989,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for assisting in making this project possible! My students were thrilled to open the packages with me- it felt like everyone's birthday! \r\n\r\nSo far, my students have benefited from the purchased materials by bringing emotions to life, helping fidgeting fingers, and learning how to work together during exciting social games! They are learning how to match high frequency vocabulary, engage in creative and imaginative play, and how to make socially appropriate choices. \r\n\r\nLastly, I can finally provide a written and color coded prompt hierarchy as visual cues to learning. These hierarchies are helpful in social-emotional activities, reading/writing activities, oral expression activities, and so much more! I can see my students understanding concepts with greater ease and increased intrinsic motivation as they are the ones who desire to better understand with hands on learning. This project has proved that learning CAN be fun when motivation is intrinsic and the environment is functional and fit to the student's social-emotional needs and current abilities.","fullyFundedDate":1736442158018,"projectUrl":"project/communication-motivation/9035989/","projectTitle":"Communication Motivation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9888859_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736564558886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9888859"},{"teacherId":8391599,"projectId":8739403,"letterContent":"The addition of Play-Doh to our classroom brought creativity and hands-on learning to life. This versatile tool became a favorite among students, fostering fine motor skills as they rolled, shaped, and molded their ideas.\r\n\r\nPlay-Doh was a key component in activities like forming letters and numbers, building shapes, creating story scenes, and making abstract concepts tangible and engaging. It also encouraged teamwork and imaginative play, helping students develop social skills while having fun.\r\n\r\nYour support in providing Play-Doh transformed learning into an interactive and joyful experience. Thank you for helping our students learn through play!","fullyFundedDate":1725483664464,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-shipment-2024-09-0/8739403/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials Shipment: 2024-09-04","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. King","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8391599_orig.jpg?crop=2016,2016,x0,y463&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649380727838","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8391599"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_80579","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":571,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":47,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":21,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":59,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"12.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":71.8,"schoolId":80579,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Nellie K Parker Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Nellie K Parker Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/hackensack-public-schools/nellie-k-parker-elementary-school/80579"}