{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Polk Central Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":55.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9653374,"projectId":9310623,"letterContent":"I am so grateful to DonorsChoose funders for supporting the Funky Bird Art project. It has been fun to see students interacting with the art supplies. They have only used watercolor paint in art class a few times, so they had a good time experimenting with mixing the acrylic paint colors, learning about primary and secondary colors, learning how to make colors darker and lighter, etc. We talked about holding a paintbrush properly and how paper and canvas absorb paint and reflect light. \r\nBefore we even started the project, students shared the unique strengths they bring to the classroom. Students decided on two values (Brene Brown style) that they want to remember, and wrote those on the back of their bird art - words like sportsmanship, family, integrity and humor. The conversations about living into those values have helped my students show up to class motivated to learn for its intrinsic value. \r\nWe'll enjoy looking at the birds on display all year, reminding us to be serious learners, while using our creativity and humor to be unique individuals. Students will be reading advanced poetry and novels, participating in Paedeia seminar, solving mind-bending logic puzzles and math problems, and creating nature and art projects.\r\nThanks for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1749493369168,"projectUrl":"project/funky-bird-art/9310623/","projectTitle":"Funky Bird Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9653374_orig.jpg?crop=993,994,x0,y102&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730852790776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9653374"},{"teacherId":4773875,"projectId":8947425,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the U-Basses to our classroom! The students were so thrilled when these arrived and were ready to begin learning a new instrument. Within their first lesson, they were already picking up their first basic bass lines and playing along with music. They showing growth in music performance and reaching new levels of achievement in their skills.\r\n\r\nThese instruments have totally revolutionized our instruction, with class time becoming more hands-on, and providing students the skills to accompany their favorite songs. Within a matter of weeks, some students took their new skills to the stage for the first time for a school performance. Some students have also decided to continue bass instruction outside of school. As these students move into middle school, they will have skills in place to play bass in the jazz ensemble which is currently in the development stages at the middle and high school level. Your gift has already made such an impact and will continue to impact both future students and the building of the middle/high jazz program in our district. This work not have been possible without your generous support!","fullyFundedDate":1733846620171,"projectUrl":"project/beginning-with-the-bass-ics-to-become-ja/8947425/","projectTitle":"Beginning with the BASS-ics to Become Jazz Musicians","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cochran","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4773875_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1533082678352","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ourmusicroom"},{"teacherId":9653374,"projectId":8924279,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to my classroom. My students LOVE the games we have played so far. \r\nAs you can see in the photos, the geography game is a big hit with my fifth graders. We had talked about different countries in previous lessons, and I noticed their lack of knowledge. With the promise of future game sessions, students will pay more attention to the many geography facts that they encounter on a daily basis, from sports teams to news broadcasts to produce/product origin stickers. I am so glad to see their enthusiasm with questions that would be challenging to highly educated adults. \r\nMy third graders were very excited to see the SET game, which tests their logic and speed. A few had played before and were able to spark enthusiasm and competition with their peers. I can practically see their brains growing.\r\nThe Vocabulary Building game was tough at first, but after a few rounds, I can see which students have a gift with words. \r\nPlaying board and card games is a lovely way to build classroom community - students shine in unexpected ways and get to know each other in very precious childhood moments. It is an honor to get to share those sparkling moments, and I am grateful for your support. \r\nFinally, the scanner you funded is a great timesaver in my busy schedule! I am able to enter my classroom books in a database so that parents can view the classroom lists conveniently, and students are able to check out books independently. \r\nThank you for your generosity. Best wishes in your future endeavors.","fullyFundedDate":1735676786467,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-games-and-library/8924279/","projectTitle":"Classroom Games and Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9653374_orig.jpg?crop=993,994,x0,y102&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730852790776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9653374"},{"teacherId":4773875,"projectId":8333654,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing new ukuleles and hand bells to our classroom. These instruments are really helping students become more successful learning to read and perform music. Adding these instruments have helped students spend more instructional time learning, and thus allowing them greater levels of achievement. \r\n\r\nStudents were so excited to have these instruments added to the classroom. Now they can have their own instrument to focus on during class instead of having to share with smaller groups. It makes learning more engaging and gives them better opportunities to instill skills. This semester, I am seeing students have greater success in both reading music and performing on instruments. This would likely not have happened without your generosity. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1716584269886,"projectUrl":"project/turning-into-musicians/8333654/","projectTitle":"Turning Into Musicians","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cochran","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4773875_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1533082678352","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ourmusicroom"},{"teacherId":9653374,"projectId":8645208,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to my classroom. I am pleased to report that the students find the books you provided very engaging. \r\nI have used the books in a third grade Advanced Learning unit on space science. Each student has chosen one book and is eager to report on it to their class. We are using a format called a \"Probe\", where students complete a summary activity about their topic. This combination of reading, writing and drawing has the following benefits: it produces a product that students can be proud of and are willing to share with others, and it is a way for students to process and remember what they learned. My students had many follow-up questions about their topics, which is the kind of mental activity and passion that I encourage with these advanced learners. \r\nMy fifth graders are very excited about Civil War book clubs and have agreed to read even outside of class time. They eagerly pursued the books you provided and have selected a variety of genres including nonfiction events-based books, biography/autobiography and novels incorporating historical fiction. I am looking forward to using Depth and Complexity prompts (e.g. multiple perspectives, ethics, change over time, etc.) to help them form a complex understanding of that time period. \r\nThe books you provided will form the core of my Language Arts teaching as I extend the units that students are learning about in their classrooms. The content and processing instruction will assist students to pursue advanced studies. \r\nThank you again for your very generous grant.","fullyFundedDate":1730733529879,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-our-horizons-through-reading/8645208/","projectTitle":"Expanding Our Horizons Through Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9653374_orig.jpg?crop=993,994,x0,y102&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730852790776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9653374"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_3257","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":333,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":80,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":75,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":11,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":44.6,"schoolId":3257,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Polk Central Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Polk Central Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/polk-county-schools/polk-central-school/3257"}