{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Buren Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":47.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4738399,"projectId":10386363,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity! Our library is buzzing with excitement as we launch into our Star Wars theme. Thanks to your support, our supply restock brought in fresh copies of the Origami Yoda books and origami paper, letting students fold characters while building reading skills. The new label maker and lamination sheets keep our galaxy organized and station activities durable for daily use. Plus, the headphone splitters make audio collaboration seamless. May the Force be with you for making a creative impact on our young Padawans!","fullyFundedDate":1784518466234,"projectUrl":"project/library-restock/10386363/","projectTitle":"Library Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4738399_orig.jpg?crop=2432,2432,x0,y608&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752500617092","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4738399"},{"teacherId":5079770,"projectId":10209793,"letterContent":"The classroom microscope has opened up an entirely new way for my pre-K students to explore the world around them. Connected to our classroom TV, it allows every child to see natural objects up close and personal—from leaves, flowers, and seeds to rocks, insects, and other treasures we discover outside. Instead of simply looking at these objects with our eyes, students can now slow down, observe tiny details, and notice things they never would have seen before. The microscope has transformed ordinary objects from our environment into exciting opportunities for investigation and discovery.\r\n\r\n What makes this experience especially meaningful is the excitement and wonder it creates in my students. Their faces light up when a familiar object suddenly becomes something completely new on the big screen. They eagerly make observations, ask questions, share ideas, and wonder aloud about what they are seeing. A tiny leaf vein becomes a pathway, a flower reveals patterns and structures, and a small insect becomes an incredible creature worthy of careful study. These moments encourage curiosity, strengthen observation and language skills, and help young children begin to see themselves as scientists who can ask questions and explore the world around them.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible for our classroom. Your generosity has provided much more than a microscope—you have given my students a new lens through which to experience their world. You have helped turn everyday moments of outdoor exploration into memorable learning experiences filled with curiosity, excitement, and wonder. Most importantly, you have encouraged our youngest learners to look closely, ask questions, and discover that there is so much more to see when we take the time to explore!","fullyFundedDate":1776948917373,"projectUrl":"project/a-big-surprise-for-little-learners-micr/10209793/","projectTitle":"A Big Surprise for Little Learners (Microscopic Edition)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Baker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5079770_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1515523531068","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5079770"},{"teacherId":5479294,"projectId":10392456,"letterContent":"Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for the difference you have made in my classroom. When my students first saw the new materials and snacks, their excitement was immediate. To them, these may have looked like boxes of supplies and food, but to me, they represented something much bigger: my students being seen, cared for, and supported. Knowing that people they may never meet believed they were worth investing in was incredibly special.\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these resources to work! The math materials are helping my third graders build stronger number sense and place-value skills through hands-on practice, while the reusable supplies allow us to practice, make mistakes, erase, and try again. Most importantly, the snacks are helping me make sure hunger does not become a barrier to learning. I can provide food when a student needs something during the school day and discreetly send additional snacks home with students who may need extra support over the weekend. No child should have to sit in a classroom worrying about being hungry or wonder whether there will be something to eat when they get home.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building confident, independent mathematicians who aren't afraid to tackle challenging problems. We will use these materials throughout the year during whole-group lessons, small groups, intervention, math centers, and independent practice. Your generosity has given my students resources they can physically hold in their hands, but you have also given them something that cannot be purchased from a store: the reminder that someone believes in them and wants them to succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for choosing my students. Thank you for helping me care for both their nourished bodies and their brilliant minds. Your kindness will continue making an impact in our classroom long after the boxes have been opened.","fullyFundedDate":1787166648020,"projectUrl":"project/nourished-bodies-brilliant-minds-helpi/10392456/","projectTitle":"Nourished Bodies, Brilliant Minds: Helping Third Graders Thrive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5479294_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566180058174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5479294"},{"teacherId":5479294,"projectId":10207389,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping make \"Caps, Cheers, and Celebrating Our Future Graduates!\" possible! Your generosity gave my students an opportunity to celebrate their hard work, growth, and accomplishments in a way that made them feel truly special. Seeing their excitement when they realized these materials were for them was such a wonderful moment. They were proud, excited, and ready to celebrate everything they had achieved throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nThese resources helped us create a meaningful celebration while also reminding my students that their education and accomplishments are worth celebrating. More importantly, this experience allowed them to picture themselves as future graduates. For young students, those moments matter! We were able to talk about setting goals, continuing to work hard, and how each school year brings them one step closer to walking across a graduation stage of their own someday.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me create memories that extend beyond our everyday classroom lessons. Your support allowed my students to end this chapter feeling celebrated, encouraged, and proud of themselves. As they move forward, I hope they carry that same excitement and confidence into their next grade level and continue believing in everything they are capable of accomplishing. We are incredibly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1778115836964,"projectUrl":"project/caps-cheers-and-celebrating-our-future/10207389/","projectTitle":"Caps, Cheers, and Celebrating Our Future Graduates!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5479294_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566180058174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5479294"},{"teacherId":3913825,"projectId":9951985,"letterContent":"The vibration plate purchased through DonorsChoose has been an incredible support for our students with severe special needs. Many of our students benefit from sensory input throughout the day, and the vibration plate provides calming and regulating sensory stimulation that helps them feel more comfortable, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nOur students use the vibration plate as part of their sensory routines to help meet individual sensory needs, improve body awareness, and support self-regulation. Since receiving this resource, we have seen students become more engaged during activities, tolerate transitions more successfully, and demonstrate improved participation in classroom tasks and therapies.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has provided our students with an important tool that supports both their emotional and physical well-being. The vibration plate has created meaningful opportunities for comfort, regulation, and success throughout the school day, and we are deeply grateful for the positive impact it has made in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1765829511667,"projectUrl":"project/vibration-station/9951985/","projectTitle":"Vibration Station","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wright","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3913825_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y46&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598359695992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/amber-wright"},{"teacherId":4738399,"projectId":10148531,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our school library! When the boxes of new books arrived, our students were thrilled. The fresh, engaging titles caught their attention right away, and our library has been buzzing with excitement ever since. Students are eagerly browsing the shelves, sharing recommendations, and lining up to check out their favorite new reads. Your generosity has brought so much joy and inspired a renewed love for reading across our entire school community. We are deeply grateful for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1774374684051,"projectUrl":"project/library-books/10148531/","projectTitle":"Library Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4738399_orig.jpg?crop=2432,2432,x0,y608&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752500617092","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4738399"},{"teacherId":4738399,"projectId":10001395,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting this project to help our library grow. This yoto is part of the audio library material explanation. Our students have enjoyed the limited amount of audio resources we currently have and these yotos will open up the door for more engagement. \r\n\r\nThe kids are beyond excited to use the players. There is a special kind of magic in watching a student's face light up as they realize they can control their own learning just by swapping a card. You haven't just given us \"materials\"; you've given my students the autonomy to explore the subjects they are most passionate about.","fullyFundedDate":1773233982028,"projectUrl":"project/yoto-players/10001395/","projectTitle":"Yoto Players","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4738399_orig.jpg?crop=2432,2432,x0,y608&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752500617092","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4738399"},{"teacherId":5479294,"projectId":9735482,"letterContent":"Because of you, \"Talk, Teach, and Tidy: Tools for 4th Grade Success!\" has truly transformed the way my students learn every single day. The technology you provided is not just something \"extra\" in our classroom — it is now a core tool that supports instruction, engagement, and organization. Many of my students attend a Title I school and do not have consistent access to updated technology at home. Having reliable tools in our classroom means they can practice skills in real time, receive immediate feedback, collaborate with one another, and take ownership of their learning. Instead of waiting passively, they are interacting, responding, discussing, and thinking more deeply than ever before.\r\n\r\nWhat excites them most is that the technology makes learning feel active and empowering. Whether they are using it to solve math problems, participate in interactive lessons, record their thinking, or keep their materials organized, they feel like real scholars. It has also helped tremendously with classroom structure — when tools are organized and accessible, students transition faster, stay focused longer, and spend more time actually learning. That may seem small, but in a 4th grade classroom, every saved minute matters.\r\n\r\nI've especially seen growth in some of my quieter and more hesitant learners. Students who once struggled to participate now eagerly engage because the technology gives them a safe way to share their thinking. A few of my students who often felt overwhelmed are now more confident because they can clearly see instructions, follow structured systems, and receive immediate feedback. You didn't just donate supplies — you helped build confidence, independence, and excitement for learning.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for investing in my students. Your generosity is making a lasting impact in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1767189696415,"projectUrl":"project/talk-teach-and-tidy-tools-for-4th-gra/9735482/","projectTitle":"Talk, Teach, and Tidy: Tools for 4th Grade Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5479294_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566180058174","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5479294"},{"teacherId":6619914,"projectId":9775747,"letterContent":"My first grade students are obsessed with STEM. The first 25 minutes of their day the students are allowed to pick a STEM bin to play with. They love to play with the magnetic blocks, marble run, and the STEM games. This play based learning helps them with critical thinking skills, creativity, focusing, and working well together.\r\n\r\nTheir little faces light up when they see boxes arrive to our classroom with more activities to play with. Most importantly these children are learning that they are many people who care about their education. I explain to them that all these activities and games are provided from people all over the United States. They are so thankful and grateful for all of you! Thank you for caring!","fullyFundedDate":1763510263636,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-love-stem-a-lot/9775747/","projectTitle":"First Graders Love Stem A Lot!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Noel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6619914"},{"teacherId":4738399,"projectId":9945289,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of science literature to our school library. We are thrilled to have these new resources on our shelves, and the timing couldn't be better.\r\n\r\nOur teachers have already started diving into the collection. Having high-quality, engaging science books makes a world of difference when planning upcoming units. Instead of relying solely on standard textbooks, our staff can now incorporate vibrant, accessible stories that bring complex topics to life.\r\n\r\nFor our students—especially those who are learning English as a second language—these books are invaluable. The clear visuals and narrative styles help bridge the gap between language development and scientific discovery. You haven't just provided books; you've provided the tools our teachers need to make science more inclusive and exciting for every student.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your investment in our library and our community. Thank you for helping us foster a love for both reading and science!","fullyFundedDate":1765147636133,"projectUrl":"project/science-literature/9945289/","projectTitle":"Science Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4738399_orig.jpg?crop=2432,2432,x0,y608&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752500617092","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4738399"},{"teacherId":9993933,"projectId":9545227,"letterContent":"The project, Rock, Relax and Refocus: Sensory Seating for Little Learners has been a wonderful hit in my classroom with students. I put the light covers on all but two of our double fluorescent lighting fixtures in the ceiling and the light is much more tolerable for all of the students and myself. When you walk in from the hallway, it gives an immediate calming vibe. \r\n\r\nThe additional flexible seating has been great for my students who need movement while learning on the carpet and students also get to take turns using the flex seating during ipad time. \r\n\r\nThe green rug also gives a great space to put all of our new flexible seating and provides a wonderful place for students to play with blocks while also providing some noise reduction for this activity. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for all of your help making our classroom more comfortable peaceful and calming, we are all loving it!","fullyFundedDate":1762976644220,"projectUrl":"project/rock-relax-and-refocus-sensory-seatin/9545227/","projectTitle":"Rock, Relax, and Refocus: Sensory Seating for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Briscoe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9993933_orig.jpg?crop=2059,2059,x50,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744166535122","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9993933"},{"teacherId":6619914,"projectId":9695341,"letterContent":"My first grade students are beyond excited when a box arrives in our classroom. I explain to them that a very nice person decided to donate these resources for all of you to use. We open the box together and their faces are so excited and they can't wait to use it. \r\n I usually request hands on activities that they can use during small group time. Play based learning is of course their favorite time. The stem activities ignite their creativity beyond anything I can teach them. They absolutely love building and creating all sorts of things with the stem activities. \r\n I also love the math games. They learn to count and recognize numbers. They also are adding and subtracting while playing a game. This is so much more fun than just completing a worksheet. The more they are hands on with an activity increases their learning far more than a worksheet.\r\n Thank you so much for your contribution. We are so grateful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757423207908,"projectUrl":"project/stem-and-play/9695341/","projectTitle":"STEM and Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Noel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6619914"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_69271","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":279,"numTeachers":21,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":84,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 4","studentTeacherRatio":"13.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":52.5,"schoolId":69271,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Van Buren Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Van Buren Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oklahoma/oklahoma-city-school-district/van-buren-elementary-school/69271"}