{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Chester Upland School of Arts","outOfStateSupporters":31.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5223015,"projectId":10433182,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our classroom bean bag project! When the new bean bag chairs arrived, my students' faces lit up with excitement.\r\nBefore we had these cozy seats, our reading and independent work time lacked flexible options, and students often struggled to settle into a focused space. Now, our reading corner has become the most sought-after spot in the room. During daily silent reading and small-group rotations, students eagerly choose a bean bag to curl up with a book and a stuffed animal, which has noticeably increased their engagement and stamina during literacy time. \r\n\r\nYour generosity did more than just buy furniture, you created a warm, welcoming, and comfortable space where my students feel relaxed, valued, and excited to learn. From all of us, thank you for believing in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1789484862487,"projectUrl":"project/weve-bean-meaning-to-read-more/10433182/","projectTitle":"We've 'Bean' Meaning to Read More!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Goodwin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5223015_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1520470944954","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5223015"},{"teacherId":2305699,"projectId":10374267,"letterContent":"This project has brought so much excitement and joy into our classroom! Having the ability to instantly capture special moments has allowed my students to see and celebrate their learning in a meaningful way. We have been able to document hands-on activities, classroom accomplishments, friendships, and moments of growth that may otherwise have been forgotten.\r\n\r\nMy first graders especially love seeing themselves in photos and using those pictures to reflect on their experiences. The photos have helped spark conversations, support writing activities, build confidence, and create a stronger sense of classroom community. Most importantly, students now have tangible memories of the learning, laughter, and accomplishments they experienced together. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to capture these special moments and turn them into memories that will last far beyond first grade!","fullyFundedDate":1784170684182,"projectUrl":"project/capture-our-learning-instant-photos-tha/10374267/","projectTitle":"Capture Our Learning: Instant Photos That Make Memories Last","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2305699"},{"teacherId":9871125,"projectId":10431833,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping make this project possible! These resources are already helping us make our classroom a more organized, comfortable, and welcoming place to learn. The cubby bins give us a place to keep books and classroom materials organized and easy for students to access. The rolling storage cart helps keep supplies close at hand, while the wiggle chair bands and colorful floor seats give students more flexible ways to sit and participate during learning activities.\r\n\r\nI am especially excited about how these materials help meet the different needs of my third graders. Whether students are working at their desks, gathering for a small-group lesson, or enjoying time together on the floor, these resources help create spaces where they can feel comfortable and ready to learn. The wiggle bands and floor cushions offer additional seating options, and the storage items help our classroom run more smoothly.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me create a space where they can stay organized, feel supported, and enjoy learning. We are so grateful for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1789484863825,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-every-student-every-day/10431833/","projectTitle":"Supporting Every Student, Every Day","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heidin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9871125_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735774704213","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871125"},{"teacherId":10339831,"projectId":10632392,"letterContent":"These donations will mean so much to my students. Having breakfast, lunch, and snacks available when they are hungry will help them feel cared for, comfortable, and ready to learn. No child should have to sit in a classroom worrying about being hungry. Your support will allow my students to focus on being kids, learning, participating, and enjoying their school day. Most importantly, it will remind them that their school community cares about them and wants them to succeed.\r\n\r\nFor many of my first graders, a snack can make a big difference in how they feel and how they are able to participate in the classroom. A hungry child may have a difficult time listening, concentrating, or completing their work. Having food available gives me the opportunity to meet a basic need while creating a classroom where every child feels supported and included.\r\n\r\nAs their teacher, I want my students to know that they are important and that their needs matter. These donations will help me create a caring classroom where students can come in each day feeling safe, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for helping me take care of my students in such a meaningful way and for giving them one less thing to worry about so they can focus on growing, learning, and being successful.","fullyFundedDate":1790768643593,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-young-minds-one-snack-at-a-time/10632392/","projectTitle":"Fueling Young Minds, One Snack at a Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10339831_orig.png?crop=179,179,x0,y4&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772722953856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10339831"},{"teacherId":5240806,"projectId":10384282,"letterContent":"Where do I begin? This equipment has truly made recess a more fun, active, and engaging time for my students. It came at the perfect time, especially with the state's mandate for 30 minutes of recess. Having these new resources has given my students more opportunities to move, play, and interact with one another in positive ways.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the equipment, they were excited and eager to use it. Since receiving the donation, I have noticed them playing together more often and learning how to share, cooperate, and use the equipment safely. The pedometers have also been a wonderful addition! My students love comparing their steps and movement with one another and celebrating their accomplishments throughout the day.\r\n\r\nThese resources have made a meaningful difference in how my students experience recess. They are not only getting more physical activity, but they are also building friendships, practicing teamwork, and having fun while doing it.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for investing in my students and our school. Your generosity has truly made an impact, and we greatly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1785334013814,"projectUrl":"project/sports-matter-4th-grade-fitness-data/10384282/","projectTitle":"Sports Matter: 4th Grade Fitness & Data Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ellis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5240806_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674064463008","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5240806"},{"teacherId":7053676,"projectId":10538820,"letterContent":"This project has made such a positive impact on my students and our classroom! The snacks have allowed me to provide something to eat for students who may come to school hungry or need a little extra fuel throughout the day. Having snacks readily available helps students meet an immediate need so they can refocus, participate, and be ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThe fidgets, toys, and other prize-box items have also been a huge hit with my students. They are used as incentives to recognize positive behavior, hard work, kindness, responsibility, and following classroom expectations. My students love being able to work toward earning a special prize, and the fidgets have also been helpful for students who benefit from having something to keep their hands busy while regulating their energy and attention.\r\n\r\nThe pencils and other school supplies have helped ensure that my students have the materials they need to be successful each day. Instead of worrying about a student not having a pencil or another necessary item, I am able to provide it and keep our learning going. This project has helped me create a classroom where students feel supported, motivated, and prepared. Thank you so much to everyone who donated and helped provide my students with snacks, rewards, fidgets, toys, and essential classroom supplies. Your generosity is making a difference in our classroom every single day!","fullyFundedDate":1789132741493,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-smiles-and-supplies-for-first-g/10538820/","projectTitle":"Snacks, Smiles, and Supplies for First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7053676_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743690801496","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7053676"},{"teacherId":9871125,"projectId":10357947,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! These materials have made a wonderful difference in our daily routines and learning activities. The laminating pouches, magnetic tape, and glue sticks allow me to create and preserve hands-on learning materials that my students can use again and again. The barcode scanner has also been especially helpful for organizing our classroom library and making it easier to keep track of our books and resources. Having these supplies available means I can spend more time focusing on teaching and creating engaging experiences for my students.\r\n\r\nMy students have also enjoyed the fun rewards and sensory stress balls. They love having small incentives to celebrate their hard work, positive choices, and accomplishments. These rewards have helped me encourage positive behavior while keeping students motivated and excited about learning. The eraser caps and other classroom supplies are also being used regularly, helping make sure students have the basic tools they need to be successful.\r\n\r\nBecause of the generosity of our donors, I am able to provide a classroom that is organized, engaging, and supportive while finding creative ways to motivate my students. These resources will continue to be used throughout the school year as we learn, create, and grow together. Thank you for investing in my students and helping make our classroom a place where learning can be fun!","fullyFundedDate":1789132731271,"projectUrl":"project/the-little-things-that-make-a-big-differ/10357947/","projectTitle":"The Little Things That Make a Big Difference","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heidin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9871125_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735774704213","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871125"},{"teacherId":7053676,"projectId":10279731,"letterContent":"Impact Letter\r\n\r\nThe NEX Playground has made such a positive impact in our classroom! My students absolutely love having the opportunity to get up, move, play, and learn together. It has provided a fun and engaging way for them to take movement breaks while also building important skills such as teamwork, coordination, listening, and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nAs a first-grade teacher, I know how important movement is for young learners. The NEX Playground gives my students a chance to release some of their energy in a positive way and return to their learning feeling refreshed and ready to focus. It has also been wonderful to see students encourage one another, laugh together, and build stronger relationships while playing.\r\n\r\nThis resource has become something my students genuinely look forward to using. Whether we are using it as a brain break, a classroom incentive, or simply a fun way to incorporate physical activity into our day, it has brought so much excitement and joy into our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank You\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous support of our classroom and for helping bring the NEX Playground to my students. Your donation has provided them with much more than a game—it has given them opportunities to move, have fun, work together, and create wonderful classroom memories.\r\n\r\nMy students' excitement every time we use the NEX Playground is a reminder of the difference your generosity has made. We are incredibly grateful that you chose to invest in my students and help make our classroom an even more engaging and enjoyable place to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting my students and helping us learn, move, and grow together! 💕","fullyFundedDate":1779580113153,"projectUrl":"project/jump-into-interactive-learning/10279731/","projectTitle":"Jump into Interactive Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7053676_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743690801496","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7053676"},{"teacherId":9871125,"projectId":10243813,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom library! The new bookshelves have made it possible for my students to organize, display, and access our books in a much more inviting way. My students can now easily browse the shelves, choose books that interest them, and take greater ownership of their reading choices. Having our books organized and displayed where students can see them has already made our classroom library feel like a special place to learn and explore.\r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to see the new bookshelves and immediately wanted to help organize the books. They loved being able to see the different books and make their own choices about what they wanted to read. This project has helped turn our library into a more welcoming space that encourages students to read, explore new topics, and share books with their classmates.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue building our classroom reading community by using the library during independent reading, partner reading, and literacy activities. Students will continue exploring different genres and authors while practicing making thoughtful book choices. Thank you for helping us create a classroom library that encourages curiosity, independence, and a genuine love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1785203688564,"projectUrl":"project/inspiring-a-love-for-reading-one-shelf/10243813/","projectTitle":"Inspiring a Love for Reading, One Shelf at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heidin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9871125_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735774704213","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871125"},{"teacherId":9871125,"projectId":10222177,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! Your generosity has provided my students with resources that we use every day to make learning more engaging, hands-on, and accessible. The place value boards have been especially helpful during our math lessons because students can physically build and represent numbers while strengthening their understanding of place value. The headphones have also made a wonderful difference during Chromebook activities, allowing students to work independently and stay focused without distractions.\r\n\r\nMy students were so excited when they saw the new materials arrive. They especially loved the colorful pencils, wristbands, magnetic building tiles, and fidget toys. These items have brought excitement into our classroom while also giving students tools to help them stay focused, comfortable, and ready to learn. Even the everyday supplies, such as tissues, disinfecting wipes, pencils, and printer ink, make a tremendous difference because they allow us to keep our classroom clean, prepared, and running smoothly.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue putting these resources to work as we begin new lessons and projects throughout the school year. My students will use the math boards during upcoming place value and number sense activities, while the magnetic tiles and sensory resources will support hands-on learning, creativity, and positive classroom experiences. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me provide them with a classroom where they can learn, explore, and feel supported. Your kindness truly makes a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1778688005464,"projectUrl":"project/calm-clean-and-ready-to-learn/10222177/","projectTitle":"Calm, Clean and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Heidin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9871125_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1735774704213","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871125"},{"teacherId":2305699,"projectId":10095141,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our Nex Playground a reality! From the moment we unboxed it, my students were filled with excitement. Their eyes lit up as they watched the games come to life, and they couldn't wait to jump, move, and play together. Hearing their laughter and seeing every child eager to participate was an unforgettable moment. The Nex Playground has quickly become one of the most anticipated parts of our school day.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the Nex Playground during brain breaks, indoor recess, and as a reward for demonstrating positive behavior and teamwork. It has also been a wonderful tool for building cooperation, communication, and problem-solving skills as students encourage one another and celebrate each other's successes. One of my favorite moments was watching students who are usually hesitant to participate become confident leaders as they helped classmates learn new games. The active play has kept students engaged while giving them a healthy way to move, recharge, and return to learning with renewed focus.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we plan to continue incorporating the Nex Playground into our classroom routines to support both academic and social-emotional growth. We are excited to connect movement with learning by using the games before challenging lessons to improve focus and after assessments to celebrate hard work. Your generosity has provided much more than a new piece of technology—it has created joyful experiences, strengthened our classroom community, and given my students opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun together. Thank you for believing in our classroom and for making such a meaningful difference in the lives of my students!","fullyFundedDate":1778017853849,"projectUrl":"project/active-minds-active-bodies-bringing-ne/10095141/","projectTitle":"Active Minds, Active Bodies: Bringing Nex Playground to Our Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2305699"},{"teacherId":5240806,"projectId":10135000,"letterContent":"The Nex Playground System has already made a big difference for my students. Very soon after it arrived, our area was hit with a heat wave, and we were unable to go outside for recess several days in a row. Normally, that kind of change is really hard for my students, but the Nex Playground gave us an engaging, structured indoor option that still let them move, play, and be together.\r\n\r\nWhen we first rolled the travel case into the room and set the system up, the students were immediately curious and excited. They crowded around, asking questions and making guesses about how it worked. As we learned the games together, they practiced taking turns, encouraging one another, and figuring out the controls as a team. Even I joined in the games with them, which they loved—they were cheering for me and giving me tips just like I do for them in class. That shared experience helped strengthen our classroom community and gave students a positive, active outlet during a time when they were disappointed about missing outdoor recess.\r\n\r\nWe are now building the Nex Playground into our regular routine for indoor recess, movement breaks, and even as a reward for meeting behavior or academic goals. Our next steps are to have students work in small groups to choose specific games that match skills we are practicing—such as cooperation, following directions, and persistence—and then reflect on how they used those skills during play. This will help us keep connecting the fun of the Nex Playground to the social‑emotional and academic growth we are working on every day.","fullyFundedDate":1778017854063,"projectUrl":"project/active-bodies-ready-minds-nex-playgrou/10135000/","projectTitle":"Active Bodies, Ready Minds: Nex Playground for Our Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ellis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5240806_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1674064463008","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5240806"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_96704","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":384,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":85,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":68.5,"schoolId":96704,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Chester Upland School of Arts on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Chester Upland School of Arts","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/chester-upland-school-district/chester-upland-school-of-arts/96704"}