{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Spring Creek Head Start","outOfStateSupporters":40.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":10179765,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping my class with these dress-up clothes. The kids have had so much fun with them, and they have really helped with pretend play, language, and learning how to play together.\r\n\r\nOne child was completely obsessed with the cowboy costume. He would run to it almost every day as soon as he got to class. He would put it on and then go around the room collecting all of the cows he could find. It became his thing.\r\n\r\nSince the other kids wanted to use the costume too, he had to practice sharing and taking turns with it. At first that was hard, but he got really good at it.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest things I noticed was with a child who wasn't using words yet in class. During dress-up play, he started using words while he was pretending and playing with the other kids. That was a really exciting moment for us.\r\n\r\nThe kids also started talking more during their play, telling each other what they were doing, making up ideas together, and using the costumes in all kinds of different ways.\r\n\r\nI loved seeing how much could come from something as simple as dress-up clothes. The kids were using their imaginations, talking, sharing, taking turns, and learning how to play together.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping my class. We've gotten so much use out of these costumes already, and I know we'll keep using them for a long time.","fullyFundedDate":1782162063743,"projectUrl":"project/imagination-builds-language/10179765/","projectTitle":"Imagination Builds Language","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":10138133,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping my class get these cooking supplies. This project ended up being way bigger than I expected. The kids got really curious about what happened when we mixed different things together, and I heard a lot of \"Look, Teacher!\" during our cooking projects.\r\nWe did about one cooking project a month, and we're going to keep doing them this year too. We made smoothies, bread, and healthier snacks. In a couple weeks we're making pumpkin bread, and after that we're going to make salsa to have with chips.\r\nThe kids got a lot out of it. They got really good at taking turns stirring, pouring, and measuring. They also got more willing to try new foods. Even some of my pickiest eaters tried things because they helped make them.\r\nThey used a lot of language too. They talked about what we were making, asked for things, and told me what they noticed. They practiced counting and started noticing that measuring cups come in different sizes. They also learned that you can mix different ingredients together and make something totally different.\r\nOne of my favorite parts was seeing them copy what we did in the home living area. They would pretend to cook and make the same things we had made together. One day I had to eat a lot of pretend cinnamon raisin bread because we had just made some in class.\r\nThank you again for helping us with this project. We've gotten a lot of use out of these supplies already, and we're definitely going to keep using them and adding more cooking projects this year.","fullyFundedDate":1774629018770,"projectUrl":"project/little-chefs-learning-through-cooking/10138133/","projectTitle":"Little Chefs Learning Through Cooking","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":10006857,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping me create so many displays and visuals for my classroom. The children have responded really well to them, and I've been able to see them learning from the displays throughout the day.\r\n\r\nI used the materials to make displays with shapes, numbers, letters, pictures, emotions, and simple words. Having these things at the children's eye level has helped them notice that letters, numbers, pictures, and words are all around them and that they have meaning. The displays have also helped build their language and vocabulary because they are constantly pointing things out, naming what they see, and talking about them with their teachers and friends.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite examples was a display I put on the door we use to go outside. I added different bugs and shapes, and every day the children would stop, point to them, and tell me what they saw. I also made a sign that said, \"Wait for Teacher.\" It got their attention really quickly. They started stopping at the door, pointing to the words, and saying, \"Wait for teacher.\" They were beginning to understand that the words on the sign actually meant something.\r\n\r\nI now have a new group of children for the school year, and I've already been able to make new displays for them too. They especially like the emotions poster. They sit next to it, point to the different faces, and name the emotions. Some of them are already pointing to the words while they do it. They are starting to make that connection between the picture, the spoken word, and the printed word.\r\n\r\nThese materials have allowed me to keep creating and changing displays based on what the children are learning and interested in. I still have several more displays I want to make, so this project will continue helping children with early literacy, math, language, and vocabulary for a long time.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my classroom and helping me create an environment where learning is all around the children every day.","fullyFundedDate":1774963628815,"projectUrl":"project/calm-spaces-strong-foundations-in-liter/10006857/","projectTitle":"Calm Spaces, Strong Foundations in Literacy and Math","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":10203394,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us create our outdoor farmers market! I told the kids about it first thing in the morning, and they were excited because they already knew what a farmers market was. They rode the new scooters to the market, stopped to get gas, and used the grocery carts and baskets to shop with play money and their stuffed animals. As they played, they practiced counting, sorting, making choices, describing what they were buying, taking turns, and working together. Afterwards, we brought the fruits and vegetables inside and washed them together. At the end of the day, the kids asked if we could do it again. We definitely will! We also plan to use these materials to create different stores, an animal shelter, and a car wash. Thank you for giving the kids materials that support their language, early math, imagination, physical development, and social skills through play.","fullyFundedDate":1778002855619,"projectUrl":"project/little-shoppers-on-the-move/10203394/","projectTitle":"Little Shoppers on the Move","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":9874325,"letterContent":"Thank you for your help getting the rugs for my class. They have become some of the most loved spaces in the room. We use them every day, and they have helped create a calmer, cozier classroom where children feel more comfortable and play together more.\r\nThe children have learned that bubbles stay on the carpet, and now they remind me! One child even told me, \"Bubbles are safe on the carpet,\" and explained that bubbles can make the tile slippery. It has been so exciting to see toddlers beginning to think about safety and take ownership of caring for their classroom.\r\nThe children have even started playing differently. They are cuddling with stuffed animals, putting babies to sleep, and settling in together in the home living area. There has also been more interest in reading books while cuddling on the carpets. These cozy spaces invite children to slow down, relax their bodies, and enjoy books and play together.\r\nThank you again. You have helped create a softer, safer, and more welcoming environment for my class. Because of your generosity, my class has cozy places to learn through play, build relationships, and feel at home. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference.","fullyFundedDate":1771029865367,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-rugs-for-calm-minds-and-creative-pl/9874325/","projectTitle":"Cozy Rugs for Calm Minds and Creative Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":9914304,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping bring Jelly Blox to our two-year-old learners. When the children first saw the blocks, their curiosity took over right away. They began stacking them, squeezing them, and exploring how the pieces fit together. The soft, sensory blocks quickly became a favorite material for building and experimenting.\r\nOne special moment was when the children worked together to build cars using the Jelly Blox. They proudly showed their creations and enjoyed pushing the cars around the room during play. Through experiences like this, the children are developing problem-solving skills, fine motor strength, and confidence as they explore how different pieces fit and balance together.\r\nBecause of your generosity, these blocks have become a meaningful part of our classroom STEAM play. The children return to them again and again to build, experiment, and create new ideas. Thank you for helping provide joyful, hands-on learning experiences for our youngest learners.","fullyFundedDate":1766460819558,"projectUrl":"project/inclusive-steam-learning-through-hands-o/9914304/","projectTitle":"Inclusive STEAM Learning Through Hands-On Construction","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":9703351,"letterContent":"The resources from this project have been absolutely amazing, and our children are truly thriving with them. The first time I introduced the light table materials as a classroom activity, the children were filled with excitement. They screamed, laughed, and rushed over with enthusiasm, and I had to pause to pour out all of the materials and show them there was enough for everyone. It was exciting to see how engaging and inviting these materials are.\r\n\r\nSince then, we have been using the light table materials weekly as a classroom exhibit. I place the light table along the wall, turn on the color-changing light, and set out buckets of translucent numbers, shape gems, cylinders, and shapes. I also display some pieces directly on the table so children can observe how the light changes their appearance. This setup immediately sparks curiosity and encourages exploration, conversation, and collaboration.\r\n\r\nOne especially meaningful moment involved a child who typically does not use much verbal language. She picked up the number five and repeatedly called it \"two.\" While the number name wasn't exact, her willingness to label a number and engage with it was a huge developmental step for her. She is only two years old, and this was one of the first times she showed sustained interest in numbers and math materials.\r\n\r\nAnother memorable interaction happened when two children noticed the shapes changing colors as the light table shifted. They excitedly debated whether the shapes were green, red, or blue, which led us to turn off the light and investigate their true colors together. This was an opportunity for observation, problem-solving, and rich language.\r\n\r\nThese materials are not limited to the light table and are being used throughout the classroom as versatile manipulatives. Children have used them at tables for sorting and classifying by shape and type, creating piles of squares, stars, cylinders, and other shapes. We have also used the pieces to explore early geometry by talking about how many corners and lines different shapes have, such as comparing squares and stars. This helps children build foundational math concepts through play.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we plan to expand their use even further by incorporating the materials into our dramatic play area. By removing traditional food items and encouraging children to use these pieces as pretend food, the materials will become loose parts that support imagination, creativity, and symbolic play. These supplies will continue to be a meaningful part of our classroom across many learning areas.\r\n\r\nThank you for making these joyful, meaningful learning experiences possible for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1761954977291,"projectUrl":"project/glow-and-grow-math-discovery-on-the-lig/9703351/","projectTitle":"Glow and Grow: Math Discovery on the Light Table","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":9579478,"letterContent":"I really want to say thank you for helping us teach STEAM learning in our classroom for toddlers. When the kids saw the finger puppets for the time they were so excited. They loved the finger puppets. They started playing with them right away. The kids looked at all the animals on the finger puppets and then they started using them when we sang songs and had circle time. The finger puppets became a part of what we do every day in our toddler classroom, with STEAM learning.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe kids really like playing with the puppets. They make animal noises with the puppets. Count how many puppets they have. They also sort the puppets by how big they're what kind of animal they are. When we all sit together in a circle the kids bring their puppets. We sing fun songs like Old MacDonald, The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe kids use the puppets in many different ways. One of the kids who's new to our group loves the spider puppet a lot. The spider puppet is his favorite. When this kid starts to feel sad he gets out the spider puppet. We sing The Itsy Bitsy Spider together, with the spider puppet. The puppets are really helpful when the kids feel sad. Other kids naturally come over to join us. That turns those moments into times we all feel comfortable together we feel connected and we enjoy the music.\r\n\r\n\r\nNext, we will continue building on the children's interest by using the puppets for storytelling, simple science conversations about animals and bugs, and more counting and sorting activities. These hands-on materials are helping my students learn through play while building language, social skills, and confidence. Thank you for making these joyful and meaningful learning moments possible for my little learners.","fullyFundedDate":1757423402145,"projectUrl":"project/help-bring-steam-learning-to-life/9579478/","projectTitle":"Help Bring STEAM Learning to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"},{"teacherId":8866286,"projectId":9707119,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your support. It means so much to me and my class.\r\nThe Feltala shapes were an instant hit. Almost right away, the kids started using them in ways I never would have planned.\r\nI put them in the sensory table one day with some other toys. The kids pulled out the shapes and started stacking them. They experimented with how tall they could stack them. Then they counted them. When they fell over, everyone screamed with joy.\r\nI left them at the table one day with some animals. The kids used them as animal food. One kid mentioned that animals eat hay. Then we talked about what all of the animals eat. Now they are very interested in animals. From there they took them to the home living area and made them into food for their friends.\r\nWe have one little friend that doesn't know English. He loved the shapes and was very interested in the squares. While playing with them, he said his first word in English, Square.\r\nNext we are working on getting rugs for our room. These new rugs for our room will be really helpful because they will keep the kids safe from falls and keep the kids comfortable. We will also continue making our room feel like a museum environment with the rugs, for our room.\r\nI want to say thank you for everything you have done for us. You have helped us a lot. We are very thankful, for that.","fullyFundedDate":1761149048044,"projectUrl":"project/inventing-with-feltala-hands-on-stem-ca/9707119/","projectTitle":"Inventing With Feltala: Hands On STEM Career Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8866286_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756300511483","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/teachercindyspeaks"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_111718","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":60,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":79,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"US Census Data for the surrounding geographic area","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"Census ZCTA","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":60.0,"schoolId":111718,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Spring Creek Head Start on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Spring Creek Head Start","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/office-of-head-start/wichita-center/111718"}