{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highcroft Drive Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":13.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":10472855,"letterContent":"You made our library a little brighter, our bookshelves a lot more exciting, and our students' reading experiences even more magical!\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our project, Our Students Need New Picture Books!, was fully funded, and our beautiful new books have arrived!\r\n\r\nPicture books are so much more than stories with illustrations. They spark curiosity, build vocabulary, encourage empathy, inspire imagination, and help children discover the joy of reading. Your donations have allowed me to refresh our library collection with engaging, high-quality books that our students will be excited to explore.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite parts of being an elementary school librarian is watching a child's face light up when they discover a book they simply cannot wait to read. Thanks to you, there will be many more of those magical moments!\r\n\r\nI'd love for you to share in our excitement! I created a special unboxing video so you can see the wonderful books your generosity helped bring to our library.\r\n\r\n🎬 Watch Our New Picture Books Unboxing Video: https://youtu.be/MHxMm_NkHPU\r\n\r\nThese books will be enjoyed by hundreds of students, shared during read-alouds, used to support classroom learning, and treasured by young readers for years to come.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in the power of books and the importance of putting wonderful stories into children's hands. You have made a lasting difference in our school library!","fullyFundedDate":1790776610912,"projectUrl":"project/our-students-need-new-picture-books/10472855/","projectTitle":"Our Students Need New Picture Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"},{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":10465254,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, the Highcroft Drive Elementary Media Center has welcomed an exciting collection of award-winning books to our shelves! Our students now have access to extraordinary stories and beautiful illustrations that will spark their imaginations, broaden their perspectives, and inspire a lifelong love of reading.\r\n\r\nYour donations helped us add Newbery Medal winners, recognized for excellence in children's literature, and Caldecott Medal winners, celebrated for their outstanding illustrations. These books introduce our Huskies to unforgettable characters, diverse experiences, important life lessons, and imaginative new worlds.\r\n\r\nBut the impact of your gift goes far beyond the books themselves. Every new title creates opportunities for meaningful conversations, stronger reading skills, greater empathy, and those magical moments when a child discovers a book they simply cannot put down!\r\n\r\nI wanted you to join in the excitement by watching two UNBOXING VIDEOS!\r\n\r\n📚 Our Newbery Medal Winners: Award-Winning Books for Award-Worthy Readers! -\r\nhttps://youtu.be/j-yUCl_9eow\r\n\r\n🎨 Our Caldecott Medal Winners: Award-Winning Illustrations for Award-Worthy Readers! - https://youtu.be/08Dc8r-DWRg \r\n\r\nOne of the things I love most about being an elementary school librarian is knowing that a single book can make a lasting difference in a child's life. Thanks to you, our students have even more opportunities to experience that magic.\r\n\r\nAnd the best part? These books will be enjoyed by hundreds of young readers for years to come. Your generosity is truly a gift that keeps on giving!\r\n\r\nOn behalf of our entire Highcroft Drive Elementary community, thank you for believing in our students, supporting our library, and helping us put exceptional books into the hands of deserving young readers. Because every child deserves a great story—and a beautiful one, too! ❤️💛❤️💛❤️","fullyFundedDate":1787341005088,"projectUrl":"project/award-winning-books-for-award-worthy-stu/10465254/","projectTitle":"Award-Winning Books for Award-Worthy Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"},{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":10069721,"letterContent":"Because of your incredible generosity, our \"Once Upon a Time...\" project has become a reality, and I wanted to share just how much your support has meant to our students.\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the new materials arrived, there was a sense of excitement throughout our media center. Students immediately noticed the new additions and couldn't wait to explore them. What might seem like simple resources have helped transform our library into an even more inviting place where stories come alive and curiosity grows.\r\n\r\nEvery day, I have the privilege of watching students discover books that capture their imaginations, make meaningful connections, and inspire them to ask questions. Your gift has given them new opportunities to experience the joy of reading and learning in ways that will stay with them long after they leave the library.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments has been seeing students eagerly gather around to explore the new materials, excited to share what they've discovered with classmates and teachers. Those moments of wonder and enthusiasm are exactly what every librarian hopes to create, and they were made possible because of your kindness.\r\n\r\nAs an elementary school media coordinator, I strive to make our library a place where every child feels welcome, every student can find a book that speaks to them, and every visit sparks a new adventure. Your generosity helps make that vision possible.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and investing in their futures. Your support is about so much more than providing materials—it is an investment in literacy, creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our students may never have the opportunity to thank each of you personally, but please know that every smile, every excited book recommendation, and every eager reader turning another page is a reflection of your generosity.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us at Highcroft Drive Elementary, thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of our Huskies. We are deeply grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1778026915102,"projectUrl":"project/once-upon-a-timeneeds-an-update/10069721/","projectTitle":"Once Upon a Time...Needs an Update!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"},{"teacherId":8560119,"projectId":10079785,"letterContent":"Wow! What an exciting year, gaining access to tons of quality audiobooks and kid-friendly technology to access them! Now, with access to the physical texts and the audiobooks, kids are devouring literature even more than previously. It has been so fun to see their eyes light up when they are tracking along and listening, I can remember some of my first exposure to audiobooks and the powerful feeling of that, and I am so thrilled to see it continue to happen for my students. \r\n\r\nThis amazing project came to life because of you, and we could not be more grateful for your generosity. It is projects like these that really create lifelong learners, and I am so excited to continue using them for years to come and inspire new generations of readers to keep reading (and listening!) literature.","fullyFundedDate":1778725458429,"projectUrl":"project/read-along-with-yoto/10079785/","projectTitle":"Read Along with Yoto!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8560119_orig.png?crop=516,516,x6,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659389602666","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8560119"},{"teacherId":20314,"projectId":9882803,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. I recently completed a project with my 4th grade students using the robotics grid mats, and it was both highly engaging and educational. One of the 4th grade science standards I wanted to address was ESS.4.3: Understanding changes caused by human impact on the environment.\r\n\r\nTo introduce the project, I read the book Ocean Soup: A Recipe for You, Me, and a Cleaner Sea by to my students. The book helped students understand how plastic pollution negatively impacts marine life while also teaching them ways they can help protect our oceans.\r\n\r\nAfter listening to the story, each student created an illustration for one page of the book. Students then placed their illustrations onto individual squares of the robotics grid mat. Next, they programmed the Dash robots to travel from one illustration to the next. Finally, students coded the robots to retell their assigned page from the story.\r\n\r\nI am excited to continue creating projects like this that integrate coding into the core curriculum through the use of robots and robotics grid mats. Thank you again for your generous donation, which made this meaningful and engaging learning experience possible for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1764367178221,"projectUrl":"project/inspiring-our-huskies-to-become-tomorrow/9882803/","projectTitle":"Inspiring Our Huskies to Become Tomorrow’s Computer Programmers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/20314"},{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":9973892,"letterContent":"Since these books arrived, the \"Nonfiction\" section has become the busiest corner of the library. Here is how your gift is making a difference every day:\r\n\r\n*Sparking Inquiry: Our students are naturally curious, and these books provide the answers they crave. Whether it's a first grader marveling at the rings of Saturn or a fifth grader researching ancient civilizations, your gift has fueled a new wave of \"Why?\" and \"How?\"\r\n\r\n*Empowering Reluctant Readers: The stunning photography acts as a welcoming bridge. I've watched students who usually struggle with dense text spend entire periods captivated by captions and visual diagrams, building confidence with every page turn.\r\n\r\n*Building Essential Skills: Teachers are already using these resources to help students master nonfiction skills like navigating headings, understanding glossaries, and identifying main ideas.\r\n\r\n*Inclusivity: Because these books cover a wide range of reading levels, every student at Highcroft Drive Elementary—regardless of their background—now has access to high-quality, engaging information.\r\n\r\nI wish you could see the \"huddle\" that happens when a student finds a particularly amazing photo of a shark or a volcano. They immediately want to share what they've learned with their peers, turning independent reading into a collaborative learning experience.\r\n\r\nBy funding \"Our Students Need National Geographic Books!\", you haven't just provided books; you've provided the tools for our students to see themselves as scientists, historians, and global citizens.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our library and for nurturing a lifelong love of learning in our children. We are so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1769545925524,"projectUrl":"project/our-students-need-national-geographic-bo/9973892/","projectTitle":"Our Students Need National Geographic Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"},{"teacherId":8560119,"projectId":10049007,"letterContent":"Oh my goodness, what a treat these YOTO players have been! We have been so excited to use these audiobook players in the classroom and have been having such a fun time using them to listen to books, podcasts, ambient music and guided meditations. They have become a staple in our free reading time and kids are clambering to use them. \r\n\r\nWe could not have access to the wonderful resources we do without your generous support. Having access to books in an audio format is both encouraging and full of learning for third graders. Listening comprehension is a skill that we practice constantly during daily interactions with people, but listening to text is a very different skill. It is so critical for the development of young brains and I am so excited we have been able to implement some of this in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThanks again for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1770682660803,"projectUrl":"project/awesome-audiobooks/10049007/","projectTitle":"Awesome Audiobooks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8560119_orig.png?crop=516,516,x6,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659389602666","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8560119"},{"teacherId":8560119,"projectId":9877286,"letterContent":"Wow! We can't thank you enough for your generous donations to our classroom! We are absolutely devouring our new books and are so grateful to have the newest stories in some of our favorite series.\r\n\r\nOver the years, kids enjoy different types of books and there is always something new for them to enjoy. It can become very costly to put these all in on my own, so I am incredibly grateful to you for supporting our students and caring about their access to books.\r\n\r\nWe are especially loving the series Bookwanderers, as well as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Babysitter's Club this year, and they are flying off the shelves!\r\n\r\nThank you again for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1764109717211,"projectUrl":"project/complete-our-collections/9877286/","projectTitle":"Complete our Collections","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8560119_orig.png?crop=516,516,x6,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659389602666","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8560119"},{"teacherId":10426610,"projectId":10087031,"letterContent":"The students are so excited by the new furniture! They have loved getting to bounce on the yoga balls, roll on the stools, and rock with the floor seats. The variety is so welcoming to all learning styles and has made the students so excited to get started working.\r\nEveryday when the packages came in they were giddy with excitement. They couldn't wait to see what was inside and try out the new seating. During morning meeting I would \"reveal\" the new seats and give them a chance to test it out. They loved coming into school and seeing what new options we received. \r\nI hope to continue to use this furniture for many classes to come. It is sturdy, high quality chairs so I am optimistic that many students will benefit from this project. I can't wait to get feedback from this class on what was their favorite type of flexible seat. \r\nThank you all so much for your kindness and support in our classroom! There are not enough words for me to describe how grateful I am.","fullyFundedDate":1770682660788,"projectUrl":"project/wiggle-friendly-seats-for-focused-minds/10087031/","projectTitle":"Wiggle-Friendly Seats for Focused Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dhingra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10426610_orig.jpg?crop=2086,2086,x937,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770401661621","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10426610"},{"teacherId":8560119,"projectId":9932315,"letterContent":"Oh my, what a treat these Yoto's are! We have really settled into a routine with these new devices and the class is always a buzz about new features or stories we have found that are amazing. The students are enjoying having an audiobook all to themselves, where they can relax and just listen to a story. They have also loved using them for working music or for stress relief if they've had an especially frustrating moment or day. \r\n\r\nIt has been so fun watching the kids listening to their stories. Some of them are laughing, some following along in a book, some just laying down and soaking it in. It brings joy to my teacher heart seeing them loving the stories I loved as a kid like Charlotte's Web or Magic Treehouse, and watching them experience new things as well like podcasts or stories from the UK. I am so grateful to have your support in providing these learning experiences for kids, and can't wait to see the improvement in my students reading scores as well as their passion for stories. \r\n\r\nWe couldn't do this thing without you!","fullyFundedDate":1764733096364,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-audiobooks/9932315/","projectTitle":"Amazing Audiobooks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8560119_orig.png?crop=516,516,x6,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659389602666","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8560119"},{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":9919481,"letterContent":"Thank you for making my project, \"Building Friendship Through Books: Popular Series Our Students Crave\" a reality for our school community! Because of your generosity, our library now includes highly sought-after book series that students are eager to read—and that eagerness matters. These books introduce essential literacy skills such as character development, understanding friendships and social dynamics, making predictions across a series, and building reading stamina as students move from one title to the next. Series books also help students practice comprehension strategies like tracking story arcs, noticing character growth, and making connections between texts.\r\n\r\nIn our library, reading is active, social, and joyful. Students browse with purpose, recommend books to one another, and excitedly return to share what happened next in a story. These new series have transformed reading time into a shared experience—students talk about characters as if they are friends, eagerly place holds on the next book, and feel confident choosing texts they know they will enjoy. This sense of belonging around books helps students see themselves as readers and strengthens our reading community.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who were previously reluctant readers are now among the most enthusiastic library visitors - especially because of the extremely popular, \"Pizza & Taco\" series, which we've never owned before! Because the characters feel familiar and the stories are accessible yet engaging, students are motivated to keep reading—and that consistency is key to building fluency, confidence, and a genuine love of books. Thanks to you, our students are not only improving their reading skills, they are building friendships through stories that truly resonate with them.","fullyFundedDate":1766446978105,"projectUrl":"project/building-friendship-through-books-popul/9919481/","projectTitle":"Building Friendship Through Books: Popular Series Our Students Crave","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"},{"teacherId":4545141,"projectId":9884558,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to a rich collection of inquiry-based books that are changing how they learn and explore the world. These texts help students move beyond simply reading facts to asking thoughtful questions, researching topics, and using evidence to explain what they've learned. Through these books, students are building essential skills such as locating information using text features, comparing ideas across sources, and thinking critically—skills that support reading, science, and social studies learning every day.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom and library, reading is active and engaging. Students browse with curiosity, pause to record questions, revisit texts to confirm ideas, and eagerly share discoveries with classmates. Inquiry books naturally invite discussion, collaboration, and excitement, making reading a shared and meaningful experience rather than a solitary task. \r\n\r\nThe addition of these books has been hugely impactful for our new project-based learning (PBL) research lessons. For example, after hearing the book Crossings, by Katy Duffield, students are challenged to create their own animal crossings to help animals cross over, under, around, and through human construction to lessen the impact of humans on the natural world. To successfully design a crossing, they have to research their animal's habitat and use materials that would entice a wild animal to choose their crossing over a more direct but dangerous path. This book and books like it inspire students, through storytelling, to solve real-world problems. \r\n\r\nThese books have been especially impactful for students who are naturally curious, visual learners, and those who may struggle with traditional chapter books. Many reluctant readers are now choosing to read independently because the topics feel relevant and empowering. Thank you for investing in resources that spark curiosity, build confidence, and help my students see themselves as capable researchers and learners. Your support has made a lasting difference in our school.","fullyFundedDate":1764733096044,"projectUrl":"project/our-students-need-inquiry-books/9884558/","projectTitle":"Our Students Need Inquiry Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fiedler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4545141_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504271665751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4545141"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_3724","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":687,"numTeachers":58,"percentFrplEligible":9,"percentAsian":50,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":30,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":6,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":86.4,"schoolId":3724,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highcroft Drive Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highcroft Drive Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/wake-county-public-school-system/highcroft-drive-elementary-school/3724"}