{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"G.R. Whitfield Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10573711,"projectId":10435126,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for helping bring these wonderful reading resources into my classroom! Your generosity has given my 6th graders more opportunities to explore new topics, strengthen their comprehension, and become more independent readers. We have been using the books to work on skills such as drawing conclusions, recognizing how authors develop ideas, and explaining our thinking using evidence from the text. Students are also learning how to approach challenging questions, eliminate incorrect answer choices, and explain why an answer is supported by what they have read. These are skills that will benefit them far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite parts of teaching reading is watching students become more comfortable sharing their thoughts and discovering that their ideas matter. During our reading groups, students have opportunities to ask questions, discuss different interpretations, and make connections to what they already know. Having a selection of books with varying levels of complexity has made it easier for students to engage with the material without becoming overwhelmed or discouraged. It is especially rewarding to see students who are typically hesitant about reading begin to participate in discussions and take pride in their understanding. Those small moments of progress are what make such a big difference.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has provided opportunities that will reach approximately 60 students this year and many more in the future. More importantly, you have helped make reading a more positive and rewarding experience for my students. Knowing that people outside our classroom care about their education sends a powerful message. **Thank you for believing in my students and for helping me give them the tools, encouragement, and opportunities they need to succeed!**","fullyFundedDate":1785800590662,"projectUrl":"project/high-interest-books-for-high-achieving-r/10435126/","projectTitle":"High Interest Books for High Achieving Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Golike","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10573711"},{"teacherId":8799264,"projectId":10357929,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation toward our new circle time rug! Your kindness and support mean so much to us and to the children in our preschool classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our little learners will have a welcoming and comfortable space to gather together each day. Our circle time rug will be a special place where children can listen to stories, sing songs, learn new concepts, share their thoughts, build friendships, and create wonderful memories.\r\n\r\nSomething as simple as a classroom rug can make such a big difference in the lives of young children. It gives each child a place to belong, encourages togetherness, and helps make learning fun and engaging. Your donation will be part of so many special moments, from morning greetings to exciting learning adventures.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our children and helping us create a classroom environment where every child feels welcomed, valued, and ready to learn. Your generosity is making a lasting impact on our little learners, and we are truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1783451980445,"projectUrl":"project/pastel-circle-time-rug/10357929/","projectTitle":"Pastel Circle Time Rug","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lavin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8799264_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677333729415","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8799264"},{"teacherId":4632525,"projectId":10418552,"letterContent":"I cannot express how incredibly thankful I am to Donors Choose and the amazing company that generously funded our classroom project! Your kindness and generosity have made such a wonderful difference in our classroom, and we are beyond grateful! When my students walked into the classroom and saw their brand-new desks and chairs, their excitement was absolutely priceless! They were SO excited to sit in desks that had just come straight out of the packaging! Their smiles, reactions, and genuine appreciation reminded me just how much something like this can mean to a student. They could not stop talking about how nice everything looked and how thankful they were to have brand-new furniture in their classroom!\r\n\r\nAs 8th graders, having enough space to spread out their notebooks, assignments, and other materials is so important, and these new desks provide exactly that! My students absolutely LOVE having a spacious, smooth, and clean writing surface without scratches, dents, or damage. They can now comfortably take notes, complete assignments, and work through math problems without struggling to find enough room. The new chairs have been just as exciting! My students immediately commented on how comfortable they were, and it has been such a joy watching them enjoy their new learning environment. It may seem like a simple change, but to my students, it has made our classroom feel completely refreshed and special!\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to Donors Choose and our generous donors for making this project possible! As a teacher, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing my students feel excited, comfortable, and proud of their classroom. Your generosity has provided so much more than just desks and chairs. You have given my students a beautiful, comfortable space where they can focus, learn, and grow every single day. We are truly beyond grateful for your support and for investing in the education of my students. Please know that your kindness has made a lasting impact on our classroom, and we will appreciate these wonderful gifts for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1787585593084,"projectUrl":"project/math-class-where-every-student-has-a-s/10418552/","projectTitle":"Math Class: Where Every Student Has a Seat to Succeed","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Congleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4632525_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y181&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785266898598","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4632525"},{"teacherId":9803578,"projectId":10081414,"letterContent":"Our students were thrilled when they saw the carpet for the first time! They have enjoyed a bright clean and colorful learning space! They love learning new games that utilize the color squares with specific music elements. \r\n\r\nSince we have the rug, our kindergarteners have their own square and space to keep things orderly. It also helps to keep our rhythm in time. They know that Red is beat one! They also learn their colors in time!\r\n\r\nThis rug helps reinforce our learning goals by providing ways for students to move and respond to music in ways they have not been able to before. \r\n\r\nOur students and I appreciate this donation so very much. It is so much more that a rug. It makes my classroom come alive every day!","fullyFundedDate":1773507301190,"projectUrl":"project/the-rhythm-rug/10081414/","projectTitle":"The Rhythm Rug","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Haddock","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9803578"},{"teacherId":408615,"projectId":10003945,"letterContent":"When the materials arrived, my students were immediately excited to get started. After reading *Ada's Violin*, my 2nd graders used the cardboard to design and build their own guitars. They carefully measured, cut, and decorated, and they were so proud to share what they made.\r\n\r\nMy middle school students are using the same materials in their welding design briefs. They are building sculptures with cardboard and using hot glue to practice welding strokes. It's been great to see them plan, adjust, and improve their designs as they work.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students across grade levels are building, creating, and thinking in new ways. We'll keep using these materials for future design challenges that help students grow in confidence and problem-solving.","fullyFundedDate":1768855301454,"projectUrl":"project/cut-create-build-a-cardboard-engineer/10003945/","projectTitle":"Cut, Create, Build: A Cardboard Engineering Station for Grades K-8","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. D.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp408615_orig.jpg?crop=4284,4284,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767997198713","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/408615"},{"teacherId":8799264,"projectId":9691023,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in helping us fund a new sensory table for our Pre-K classroom. Your kindness has already made a meaningful difference in our students' daily learning experiences.\r\n\r\nThe sensory table has quickly become a favorite learning space for our children. Through hands-on exploration, students are developing important skills such as fine motor control, problem-solving, language development, and social interaction. As they scoop, pour, explore textures, and work alongside their classmates, they are learning to communicate, cooperate, and engage their curiosity in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nFor many of our young learners, sensory play also provides a calming and inclusive environment where they feel confident to explore and learn at their own pace. Because of your generosity, our classroom is richer, more engaging, and better equipped to support the diverse needs of our students.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your investment in early childhood education and for helping create joyful, impactful learning opportunities for our Pre-K students. Thank you for being an important part of their learning journey.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation","fullyFundedDate":1764600561141,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-table-for-prek/9691023/","projectTitle":"Sensory table for PreK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lavin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8799264_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677333729415","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8799264"},{"teacherId":10056246,"projectId":9413560,"letterContent":"Overview of Skills and Lessons Introduced\r\n\r\nThe new texts purchased through this grant have significantly expanded the literacy and social-emotional learning opportunities in our classroom. Academically, students are using these books to practice inferencing, determine central ideas, analyze characterization, and identify how authors develop tone and mood. Many of the novels address themes such as anxiety, depression, internal conflict, and resilience. This has allowed us to incorporate lessons on how authors portray mental health experiences, how characters navigate challenges, and how readers can make meaningful text-to-self connections. These texts have strengthened both academic reading skills and emotional awareness.\r\n\r\nWhat Reading Looks Like in the Classroom Now\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become more student-driven and authentic since adding these books to our library. I introduced each title and briefly explained its themes—especially those related to anxiety and depression—to reduce stigma and encourage curiosity. Initially, students were hesitant to pick up books dealing with mental health. However, over the past month I have watched them choose these titles more freely and confidently. Students now select them during independent reading, carry them to lunch, and discuss them openly with one another. Reading time feels focused, calm, and purposeful as students immerse themselves deeply in stories that reflect the real emotions and struggles many young people face.\r\n\r\nStudent Impact\r\n\r\nSeveral students have connected strongly with the new texts. One 8th-grade boy who typically avoids emotional content was recently fully engrossed in a novel about a character experiencing panic attacks. He read intently for the entire class period and returned the next day asking for more books by the same author.\r\n\r\nA girl who normally prefers graphic novels selected a story about a young teen navigating depression after hearing my introduction. By the end of the week, she was enthusiastically recommending it to peers and asking thoughtful questions during lessons on tone and internal conflict.\r\n\r\nStudents are now reading these books unashamedly, seeing their feelings reflected in literature and recognizing that they are not alone. This shift—toward openness, empathy, and genuine engagement—has been one of the most meaningful outcomes of the grant.","fullyFundedDate":1751116892076,"projectUrl":"project/excercising-mental-health-towards-learni/9413560/","projectTitle":"Excercising Mental Health Towards Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cherry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10056246"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_3239","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":543,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":19,"percentWhite":52,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.4,"schoolId":3239,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about G.R. Whitfield Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"G.R. Whitfield Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/pitt-county-schools/g-r-whitfield-elementary-school/3239"}