{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Westerly Hills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":42.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10230821,"projectId":9662144,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting our classroom and believing in my students. Your generosity has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our learning environment, and I am incredibly grateful for the investment you made in our children's success. Because of you, our classroom is no longer just a place where students sit and listen. It is a space where they feel comfortable, motivated, valued, and excited to learn every single day.\r\nFlexible seating has truly transformed the way my students experience learning. Every child is different, and your donation allowed us to honor those differences. Some students focus best when they can gently move, others feel more confident working from a cozy space, and some simply need an option that helps them feel calm and regulated. Having choices empowers students to take ownership of their learning and make decisions that support their success. I have seen students become more engaged, more focused, and more willing to participate simply because they are comfortable in their learning space. That comfort translates directly into confidence, and confidence leads to growth.\r\nIn addition to flexible seating, your support helped provide meaningful rewards that encourage positive behavior, effort, and perseverance. These rewards are not just prizes. They are celebrations of hard work, kindness, responsibility, and determination. When students know their efforts are noticed and valued, it motivates them to keep trying, even when learning feels challenging. I have watched students push themselves academically, support their classmates, and take pride in their accomplishments because they know their growth matters. Your generosity helped create a classroom culture where effort is celebrated and success is shared.\r\nWhat makes your donation even more special is the sense of community it brings into our classroom. My students understand that people they may never meet took the time to support them. That knowledge alone is powerful. It teaches them that learning matters beyond the walls of our school and that there are people in the world who believe in them and want to see them succeed. Many of my students come from diverse backgrounds, and your kindness sends a strong message that they are worthy, capable, and supported.\r\nBecause of you, our classroom feels brighter both physically and emotionally. Students are happier to come to school, more comfortable taking academic risks, and more engaged in lessons. The flexible seating encourages collaboration, movement, and creativity, while the reward system reinforces positive choices and strong work habits. Together, these resources help create an environment where students feel safe, motivated, and eager to learn.\r\nAs a teacher, I see firsthand how resources like these make a difference. They help me better support my students' needs and create lessons that are engaging and inclusive. Your donation did more than provide supplies. It helped create opportunities for focus, growth, confidence, and joy in learning. These are experiences my students will carry with them far beyond this school year.\r\nPlease know that your generosity does not go unnoticed. My students and I are deeply thankful for your support, your kindness, and your belief in education. Because of you, our classroom is a place where flexible seating supports learning, bright minds are nurtured, and big rewards celebrate hard work and progress. Thank you for helping us build a classroom where students feel empowered to learn, grow, and shine.\r\nThe Green Beans (my scholars) are very thankful!💚","fullyFundedDate":1760556472312,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-bright-minds-and-big/9662144/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating, Bright Minds, and Big Rewards!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Green","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10230821_orig.jpg?crop=752,752,x56,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760788364116","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10230821"},{"teacherId":4483907,"projectId":9392524,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, this project has had a clear academic impact on my students. The cozy seating has helped students stay focused for longer periods of time, which has improved their reading stamina and overall engagement during independent and small-group work. The calming environment has also reduced distractions and helped students transition more smoothly between tasks.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has directly supported stronger academic habits and a more productive learning environment. Thank you for investing in my students' success.","fullyFundedDate":1755298430447,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-cozy-learning-space-for-engag/9392524/","projectTitle":"Creating a Cozy Learning Space for Engaged Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Davis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4483907_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747950218139","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4483907"},{"teacherId":7472015,"projectId":9693576,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations to this project. My classroom has been nice and clean because of your generous donations. We have been using the tissue paper, wiping noses and faces left and right. The wipes have been keeping our classroom sanitized and germ free. The ziploc bags have helped to send reading books home. \r\n\r\nThe cold weather is among us and the scholars come to school every day with runny noses. The tissues have made a difference in our kinder room. I am so grateful that every corner has a tissue box. It has helped my scholars to stay germ free.\r\n\r\nI am thankful for the wipes because all of the tables and desks are cleaned every day. The scholars love to help keep the room fresh and cleaned. The ziploc bags served so many purposes in the classroom. It helps to organize their desks such as the crayons, pencils and reading books. It's used to stored snacks and manipulatives. We are so thankful for the generous giving to make this project funded.","fullyFundedDate":1758220886762,"projectUrl":"project/clean-students/9693576/","projectTitle":"Clean Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7472015"},{"teacherId":8397047,"projectId":9239393,"letterContent":"Your gifts have and will continue to spark joy and creativity! Thank you for always loving our students and giving them opportunities to grow. While we haven't started the projects yet either the cyanotype papers I know they will be excited to try them out. This will be a brand new art experience that will really enhance their creativity. They have enjoyed using the Kwik sticks to make various projects already. It is a very popular medium in the art room. I am excited see how their projects come out. And I know they will be so proud of what they will accomplish. Thank you again for giving these art making opportunities to my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755298430792,"projectUrl":"project/creativity-and-cultural-exploration-with/9239393/","projectTitle":"Creativity and Cultural Exploration Within Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Insley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8397047"},{"teacherId":8397047,"projectId":9341604,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for investing in my students and the art room! With the supplies you gifted, my students will learn and make connections between art and the environment. They will also get to explore the importance of pollinators. The hope is to have the projects done in February so when spring comes around their projects are ready for the bees. As well as recycled paper Mother's Day cards and earth day artwork created with the paper making screens. \r\nI know the students will be so excited to try new art processes and I can hardly wait to see that excitement. Thank you again for always supporting our scholars.","fullyFundedDate":1755298430637,"projectUrl":"project/recycled-paper-making-and-beepollinator/9341604/","projectTitle":"Recycled Paper Making and Bee/Pollinator Cups","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Insley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8397047"},{"teacherId":2760932,"projectId":9298136,"letterContent":"Students and community members came together to promote good hygiene through a meaningful initiative that provided essential hygiene items to those in need. The effort reflects the importance of caring for one another and supporting the basic needs of every member of the community.\r\n\r\nThe students were especially enthusiastic about both donating and distributing the items. Their excitement showed a genuine desire to make a positive impact and contribute to a cause greater than themselves. Through this project, they not only learned the value of giving but also experienced the joy that comes from helping others and working together for a shared purpose.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, this initiative has inspired continued commitment to community service. By building on the success of this project, they hope to strengthen community bonds and encourage others to take part in making a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1747684748820,"projectUrl":"project/self-care-for-all-community-service-proj/9298136/","projectTitle":"Self-Care for All Community Service Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mumford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2760932_orig.jpg?crop=719,719,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724173030971","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2760932"},{"teacherId":464743,"projectId":9287788,"letterContent":"I would like to thank you for your kindness to my scholars. They are enjoying the math manipulative. These hands on items have made a big difference in their performance in math. They are also working so much better with their peers. \r\nStudents are able to use these materials to help them work out problems at the must do center's. These supports give them the confidence they need in order to be successful in math and during our small groups. They also use these materials to explain to their classmates how to solve problems. Their communication skills are improving. Thanks for the love and support.","fullyFundedDate":1755298430027,"projectUrl":"project/this-plus-that/9287788/","projectTitle":"This Plus That","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Duru","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp464743_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1477542373369","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsgoodenlabran"},{"teacherId":5928199,"projectId":5745056,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations. This project gave me the tools and confidence to employ high-level scientific inquiry in my classroom, helping me show my students how to think like real scientists.\r\n\r\nYour donations to fund my project provided me with opportunities for more hands-on activities that stimulated curiosity and motivation among students who might otherwise be less engaged in traditional lectures, as my lessons were more engaging and interactive. It helped improve my student's confidence and skills through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences. This also helped boost engagement and develop my students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by applying classroom lessons to real-world applications. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity. This project had a tremendous impact on my me and my students as it inspired and motivated my students with an interest in science.","fullyFundedDate":1638300611922,"projectUrl":"project/an-apple-for-this-teacher-to-grow-scient/5745056/","projectTitle":"An Apple for this Teacher To Grow Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rai","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5928199_orig.jpg?crop=622,622,x273,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566157511970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5928199"},{"teacherId":10054247,"projectId":9582321,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your amazing generosity in supporting our classroom! The supplies have already made such a positive difference in our scholars learning on a daily basis. The digital timer helps us stay on track during lessons. The headphones allow students to listen to personalized lessons, the book baggies and pencil cases keep the scholars organized, and the reading corner is even cozier now with the addition of the pillowcases! The rest of the materials have made a huge impact by giving my scholars the tools they need to work more independently and take ownership of their learning. These tools and resources have helped the scholars stay focused, engaged, and proud of their space.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and showing my scholars that their learning matters. Your kindness has truly brightened our school year.","fullyFundedDate":1755298430056,"projectUrl":"project/gearing-up-for-a-great-2nd-grade-year/9582321/","projectTitle":"Gearing Up for a Great 2nd Grade Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Joiner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10054247_orig.jpg?crop=1358,1358,x341,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755031502414","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10054247"},{"teacherId":464743,"projectId":9424420,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support. My students are able to use these materials during recess. They are enjoying themselves even more. \r\n\r\nWe use the materials and talk about different movements and the verbs that go along with those actions. They are able to work on the gross motor skills as well. We are also working to help master some of the skills needed in their physical education class. \r\nOur next step is to use the parachute. I plan to use it during our Force ans Motion unit in Science. We have been able to have great conversations around our play. We connect it back to their learning and we have you to thank for that.","fullyFundedDate":1751363196825,"projectUrl":"project/play-and-learn/9424420/","projectTitle":"Play and Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Duru","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp464743_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1477542373369","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsgoodenlabran"},{"teacherId":9871934,"projectId":9338867,"letterContent":"Your generous donation has made a wonderful difference in our Pre-K classroom. The new area carpet has quickly become the heart of our learning space, giving our students a cozy and welcoming place to gather for circle time, stories, and group activities.\r\n\r\nWhen the carpet first arrived, the students' faces lit up with excitement. They immediately rushed over, pointing out the bright letters, numbers, and shapes. It has truly become their favorite spot in the room.\r\n\r\nWe are already using it to bring lessons to life. During a recent letter recognition activity, students hopped to the letters as we called them out, turning learning into a fun, interactive game. Next, we'll use it for group math activities where students will practice number and shape recognition through hands-on games.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our routines are smoother, children are more engaged, and the space encourages social skills, cooperation, and focus.","fullyFundedDate":1749409863004,"projectUrl":"project/a-new-area-carpet-for-preschoolers/9338867/","projectTitle":"A New Area Carpet for Preschoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sprinkle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9871934_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747273215772","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871934"},{"teacherId":3325944,"projectId":9351826,"letterContent":"Wow what a way to start off the year! We are so thankful for your support and helping us start the year off with new item that help us be organized, ready to learn and excited for the year .\r\n\r\nThe children loved seeing the items we had gotten. The most exciting was our green flexible chairs which we started learning right away how we got to use those. Being able to practice the first week while we are learning procedures ensures that they know how to use the the flexible chairs the right way and how we earn the chance to sit in them. \r\n\r\nThe binders and organizer drawers help us keep all our items together and make sure our things do not get lost!\r\n\r\nI appreciate all your support and it means so much to me that you have invested in my class this year!","fullyFundedDate":1755298430862,"projectUrl":"project/starting-the-year-strong/9351826/","projectTitle":"Starting the Year Strong","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Melahn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3325944_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1452692404380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3325944"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1696","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":507,"numTeachers":45,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":62,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":57.6,"schoolId":1696,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Westerly Hills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Westerly Hills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/charlotte-mecklenburg-school-district/westerly-hills-elementary-school/1696"}