{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lavaland Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":42.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2191419,"projectId":9906871,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has truly been transformed. Many of my students do not have access to computers or advanced technology at home, so having the opportunity to work with Sphero robots has opened a door to a world they rarely get to experience. The excitement and curiosity these robots have sparked is incredible. Students who may not always feel confident in traditional academic settings are suddenly fully engaged, asking questions, experimenting, and thinking critically as they learn to code and problem-solve.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting things for students has been using the Sphero robots to simulate the Mars Rover Perseverance mission. Students designed obstacle courses to represent the rough terrain of Mars and programmed their robots to navigate the landscape. Soon they will take on the challenge of collecting \"rock\" samples and delivering them back to a docking station—just like real engineers and scientists. Watching students collaborate in teams to troubleshoot their code, adjust their strategies, and celebrate small successes has been inspiring. The level of engagement has been so high that students often choose to spend their lunch and recess breaks running their Spheros through the obstacle courses, simply because they want to keep learning.\r\n\r\nThis opportunity has deeply impacted one student in particular. He is a special education student who struggles with reading and math and sometimes has difficulty managing his behavior in class. The Sphero robots have become a powerful motivator for him. Completing his work gives him time to code and experiment with the robots, and when he does, you can truly see him come alive. He spends hours each week using trial and error to solve coding challenges and accomplish his goals. Moments like this remind me why access to STEM opportunities matters so much.\r\n\r\nYour generous support has helped my students see possibilities for their futures that they may not have imagined before. You have helped spark curiosity, build confidence, and introduce them to the exciting world of STEM and computer science. Thank you for helping to level the playing field and empower the innovators of tomorrow.","fullyFundedDate":1768440632671,"projectUrl":"project/rolling-into-robotics-empowering-future/9906871/","projectTitle":"Rolling Into Robotics: Empowering Future Innovators with Sphero Robots","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ryan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2191419_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1579569840252","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ryan-steam"},{"teacherId":6610080,"projectId":9755406,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Donors Choose project, *From Beads to Windows: Art That Pops*. Because of you, my students now have the materials they need to explore art in exciting, hands-on ways that truly bring creativity to life.\r\n\r\nWith the beads, tie dye, and other art supplies you provided, students are able to experiment with color and design while developing fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence in their artistic choices. Seeing their artwork \"pop\" through their creations has been both inspiring and empowering for them.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has made a meaningful difference in our classroom. You didn't just donate supplies—you gave my students the opportunity to express themselves, collaborate, and discover the joy of creating art that they are proud of. Their excitement and engagement are a direct result of your generosity.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for supporting creative learning. We are truly grateful for you.","fullyFundedDate":1758854030341,"projectUrl":"project/from-beads-to-windows-art-that-pops/9755406/","projectTitle":"From Beads to Windows: Art That Pops!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Angie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6610080_orig.jpg?crop=612,612,x28,y186&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1676934840592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6610080"},{"teacherId":6957475,"projectId":9558378,"letterContent":"Students and teacher are able to enjoy a cool environment from the evaporative cooler during hot months. It is helpful in months where school systems do not work correctly. Students are able to exchange their earned classroom money to receive prizes play dough erasers and more. Smiles are on their faces from their hard earned work and being rewarded. Thank you for investing in our financial literacy project. It has taught students a lot about earnings and how they can be applied to the real world. Thank you to all donors for showing your love to our classroom students feel special others think of them.","fullyFundedDate":1755521861919,"projectUrl":"project/cool-classroom/9558378/","projectTitle":"Cool Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Amaya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6957475"},{"teacherId":6610080,"projectId":9202969,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom through DonorsChoose! Because of your kindness, our kindergarteners now have access to *Scholastic Let's Find Out* magazines — and the impact has already been incredible.\r\n\r\nThese magazines have opened up a whole new world of learning for my students. Each issue is perfectly tailored to their developmental level, filled with vibrant pictures, engaging nonfiction content, and activities that help build early reading and thinking skills. For many of my students, this is their first experience with a magazine of their own — something they can touch, explore, and even take home to share with their families.\r\n\r\nNot only are we building literacy skills, but we're also learning about science, social studies, and the world around us in ways that are meaningful and exciting. Whether it's learning about how pumpkins grow, understanding community helpers, or exploring animals in different habitats, the magazines spark curiosity and lead to rich discussions in class.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful parts has been watching students take pride in reading and re-reading the issues. They're asking questions, making connections, and feeling more confident as young learners. The joy on their faces when a new issue arrives is truly priceless.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in their education and helping create a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Your generosity has made a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1743803017864,"projectUrl":"project/lets-find-out/9202969/","projectTitle":"Let's Find Out!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Angie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6610080_orig.jpg?crop=612,612,x28,y186&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1676934840592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6610080"},{"teacherId":6610080,"projectId":9203110,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom now has a full set of headphones—and the impact has been incredible.\r\n In today's learning environment, technology plays a crucial role in helping students access personalized instruction, especially in subjects like reading, language arts, and math. With these new headphones, students can now engage with learning platforms like iReady, Amira, and educational videos without distraction, making their experience much more focused and effective.\r\n Before we had enough headphones, students had to share or go without, which made it harder for them to concentrate and get the most out of the content. Now, every student has what they need to work at their own pace. The result? Fewer distractions, more confidence, and a deeper engagement with their learning.\r\n These headphones have done more than just improve sound quality—they've opened doors. They've helped our classroom run more smoothly, supported diverse learning needs, and allowed students to take ownership of their learning in a way that wasn't possible before.\r\n Thank you for making this possible. Your gift is helping shape a classroom full of curious, confident, and tech-savvy learners.","fullyFundedDate":1743155610157,"projectUrl":"project/clear-listening-better-learning-headp/9203110/","projectTitle":"\"Clear Listening, Better Learning: Headphones for Our Classroom\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Angie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6610080_orig.jpg?crop=612,612,x28,y186&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1676934840592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6610080"},{"teacherId":9749922,"projectId":9364671,"letterContent":"Dear Supporters,\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting Create, Build, and Bloom in the Kindergarten Room! Your generosity means that my youngest learners will have access to materials that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and joyful exploration every day in our classroom.\r\n\r\nKindergarten is a time when children discover how to express themselves, how to work together, and how to see themselves as capable learners. The resources from this project will give them the chance to build with their hands, create with their imaginations, and bloom with confidence as they explore new skills. Whether it's designing with STEM building sets, experimenting with art materials, or engaging in cooperative play, each activity will nurture both academic growth and social-emotional development.\r\n\r\nThese opportunities not only support early literacy and math but also help my students practice persistence, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that will carry them far beyond the kindergarten year. Most importantly, these resources will create a classroom environment filled with joy, curiosity, and wonder.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping our kindergarten room bloom! Because of your support, my students will grow as learners, creators, and caring community members.","fullyFundedDate":1750183976710,"projectUrl":"project/create-build-and-bloom-in-the-kinderga/9364671/","projectTitle":"Create, Build, and Bloom in the Kindergarten Room!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rosa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9749922"},{"teacherId":9749922,"projectId":9171870,"letterContent":"The moment my students saw the colorful new math manipulatives arrive, their eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity! They couldn't wait to dive in—and they did just that. From counting bears and linking cubes to number lines and ten frames, these hands-on tools quickly became a favorite part of our math routine.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the materials during daily math centers, where students rotate through activities focused on number sense, pattern recognition, and basic addition and subtraction. One unforgettable moment was during a recent small group lesson: a student who had struggled with understanding place value used the base-ten blocks to build the number 42, then proudly explained his thinking to the group. His confidence soared, and his classmates even clapped for him. That's the kind of joyful, engaged learning these resources have made possible.\r\n\r\nAs I transition to teaching kindergarten next school year, these manipulatives will continue to be a vital part of our learning environment. In fact, their impact will grow as I introduce foundational math concepts to our youngest learners. These tools are perfect for helping kindergartners visualize numbers, explore patterns, and build number fluency in a fun, developmentally appropriate way.\r\n\r\nNext, we're launching a class project called \"Math in Our World,\" where students will use their new tools to solve real-world problems—like organizing items in a pretend store and figuring out how many items they can \"buy\" with a set number of counters. It's hands-on, collaborative, and rooted in critical thinking.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, math is no longer just something my students do—it's something they experience. You've helped build a bridge to understanding that will benefit not only this class, but many future kindergarteners to come. Thank you for being part of our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1746677546310,"projectUrl":"project/counting-on-success-hands-on-math-for-y/9171870/","projectTitle":"Counting on Success: Hands-On Math for Young Learners!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rosa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9749922"},{"teacherId":9749922,"projectId":8918233,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generous support of donors—and the incredible contribution from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation—our heritage language classroom has been transformed into a vibrant hub of literacy and cultural pride!\r\n\r\nWe recently launched a \"Word and Story Match\" activity using the new multilingual picture books, vocabulary cards, and magnetic letters from Kaplan Early Learning. Students worked in small groups to match words with images in their heritage language and English, then built sentences using the magnetic letters. It was amazing to watch their confidence and excitement grow as they made connections between classroom learning and their home languages.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their joy was immediate and heartfelt.\r\nOne student pointed to a book and said, \"She looks like me!\"\r\nAnother shared, \"My grandma tells me stories like this!\"\r\nDuring a word-building activity, a proud voice said, \"I made a real sentence all by myself!\"\r\n\r\nThese are the moments your support made possible—when students feel seen, capable, and excited about learning.\r\n\r\nWhat's next?\r\nWe'll use these materials to help students write short stories inspired by their cultural traditions. They'll also practice retelling familiar heritage stories to build fluency and comprehension in both their home language and English. These tools help us provide hands-on, differentiated instruction that honors each child's unique background.\r\n\r\nThank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in our classroom. And a special thank-you to the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation—your investment is not just helping students learn to read; it's helping them see the beauty of who they are.","fullyFundedDate":1733445025066,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-heritage-learners-through-lit/8918233/","projectTitle":"Empowering Heritage Learners Through Literacy: Building Reading & Writing Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rosa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9749922"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_82480","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":393,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":91,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":58.0,"schoolId":82480,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lavaland Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lavaland Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-mexico/albuquerque-public-schools/lavaland-elementary-school/82480"}