{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Penn Hills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10077485,"projectId":9459650,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations in support of our autistic support classroom. Your kindness has made a meaningful impact—our students absolutely loved the new sensory items, and the calming decor has helped create a peaceful and welcoming environment where they can thrive. We are deeply grateful for your support and the difference you've made in their daily learning experience!\r\nI personally love coming into such a calm and soothing environment each day—it truly sets a positive tone for both teaching and learning. Others who visit often comment on the serene atmosphere, and it's clear that your contributions have created a space that supports not just our students, but everyone who walks through the door","fullyFundedDate":1752766588124,"projectUrl":"project/calm-corner-help-create-a-sensory-frien/9459650/","projectTitle":"Calm Corner: Help Create a Sensory-Friendly Autistic Support Room","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shugats","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10077485_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752534977708","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10077485"},{"teacherId":1648609,"projectId":8857213,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project, Supplies for Success: Organizing Our Classroom for Learning! With your help, our special education resource classroom has become a more structured, calm, and engaging space where students can focus on learning rather than feeling overwhelmed by clutter or confusion. The letter trays, folders, organizers, and supplies you provided have made a big difference in how we manage our centers, materials, and daily routines.\r\n\r\nYou have given my students tools that promote independence and confidence. The organizers have made it so much easier for students to access materials during small group work and learning centers, and transitions between activities have become smoother and less stressful.\r\n\r\nThe new folders and trays are helping students take ownership of their work and recognize their achievements. These changes aren't just about neatness—they're helping create a classroom where every student feels capable, supported, and proud of their learning space. Thank you again for helping us build a foundation for success!","fullyFundedDate":1738936564100,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-success-organizing-our-cla/8857213/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Success: Organizing Our Classroom for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chapman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1648609_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507230302626","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1648609"},{"teacherId":3092332,"projectId":8188961,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated through DonorsChoose to support our project, \"A Playground Indoors.\" Your generosity made it possible for us to purchase essential recess supplies that help transform our indoor space into a fun, calming, and engaging environment for our students.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, students now have access to games, sensory tools, and activities that promote movement, creativity, and relaxation during recess—even when it has to be held indoors. These new resources have helped create a more peaceful, inclusive, and joyful recess experience, allowing students to recharge and return to class ready to learn.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making a difference. Your kindness truly means the world to us!","fullyFundedDate":1713615310700,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-serene-playground/8188961/","projectTitle":"Creating a Serene Playground","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bauer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3092332_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x349,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1587421554473","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3092332"},{"teacherId":1625124,"projectId":8950718,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations that enabled us to acquire the books needed for our enrichment reading event. The students truly enjoyed all the titles, and we are excited to donate them to our school library for even more students to experience the joy of reading.\r\n\r\nAt the beginning of April, my students eagerly attended the enrichment reading event. They had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Matthew Holm, the illustrator of various book series such as Squish, Baby Mouse, and Sunny Side Up, which he creates alongside his sister, Jennifer Holm. Additionally, the students participated in a \"Battle of the Books,\" where they answered trivia questions about the eight selected titles for this year. Moreover, students who read Max in the House of Spies have been invited to join a virtual book club with author Adam Gidwitz later this week. \r\n\r\nThis could not have been possible without the donations to our project.","fullyFundedDate":1733283788504,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-a-love-of-reading/8950718/","projectTitle":"Fostering a Love of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1625124_orig.jpg?crop=856,856,x1384,y376&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1668536159435","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1625124"},{"teacherId":9698857,"projectId":8690850,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your generosity in donating to my \"Soar to Success Through Reading\" project. The books that were purchased will be used in a 5th grade small group reading intervention class. This class over the course of the week sees around 38 students. This class provides additional time for struggling readers to have additional time to work on their reading skills.\r\n\r\nThe students in my classroom work on reading and spelling multisyllable words, vocabulary, writing, and reading a variety of material fiction and nonfiction. We will pull out vocabulary words and break the words apart and discuss the various stories. The students have been working on paragraph shrinking (summarizing sections of what was read in a 10 word sentence). \r\n\r\nThe students are excited to be able to read the variety of stories about courage, hope, laughter, and the character building stories as we continue reading through the end of the year. Thank you again for supporting my project!","fullyFundedDate":1733894281783,"projectUrl":"project/soar-to-success-through-reading/8690850/","projectTitle":"Soar to Success Through Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Madden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9698857"},{"teacherId":9698855,"projectId":8690849,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your donations! We were able to get 2 different books for my reading intervention students to read! These books have over 160 short stories and some famous cartoons that they never had a chance to see or read! \r\n These stories cover such a variety of real life topics. Some have happy endings and some can leave you in tears. This gives the kids a chance to see that others have experienced hard things too and to see how they persevered. \r\n They are loving these stories! One girl said that she sounds good when she reads! Another girl wanted to read one of the stories from last week again! One of my boys that really struggled is pointing and reading under his breath even when it's not his turn! They are improving and \r\nengaged.","fullyFundedDate":1733894281398,"projectUrl":"project/foster-a-love-of-reading/8690849/","projectTitle":"Foster a Love of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. MARINO","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9698855"},{"teacherId":4841775,"projectId":8265012,"letterContent":"Your generous donations have helped make our playground at Penn Hills Elementary so much more inclusive for students! The giant connect 4 game has become a big hit and is used everyday during recess! We have also used it for a more inclusive \"Math Night\" with families and students last spring. We were able to mount the chimes on our fence so students can play music and sounds. Students have also loved the bubble machine during spring and fall recess times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making school recess more enjoyable and inclusive for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1711074944547,"projectUrl":"project/project-playground/8265012/","projectTitle":"Project Playground!!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stupakis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4841775_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700536413602","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4841775"},{"teacherId":9085087,"projectId":8650446,"letterContent":"Because of your contributions to my Attendance Accolades project, my students celebrated their successes! There was no mention of the project until the first quarter ended. Therefore, the \"party/celebration\" was a huge secret, which yielded such excitement and pride from all involved students.\r\n\r\nOnce the first quarter report cards were posted, my pod of teachers and I calculated the data to see which students earned the celebration. We included honor roll students along with those with exceptional attendance. After the list was made, I designed and printed certificates for each student and used it as an invitation to the celebration. Some students earned TWO certificates because there attendance and final grades earned them that right. Their faces brought tears to my eyes. They had no idea that they were going to be recognized and rewarded for just putting forth their very best effort during the first 45 days of school. The entire afternoon was set aside for our party/ I had two disco lights going, music playing (Kidz Bop 2024 Sing Along), bins of prizes for each student to choose from, a dog tag necklace, pencil, and certificate for each student participating. Their eyes lite up. I received hugs, thank yous, and comments like, \"This is the best!\" \"Really, all of this for just coming to school and doing my work.\" What a celebration! My eyes welled up with tears just from their appreciative faces. \r\n\r\nFor those students who did not reach the threshold this time, they were encouraged to meet the criteria for this second quarter. Some commented that they \"need to come to school more often\". Others commented, \"I can do better next time.\" My students know each of them has the opportunity to achieve great things, but each must put forth an honest, best effort. Success must be EARNED. That is a motivator. For the next celebration, I will be considering those student who have shown growth/improvement. We will be celebrating that as a success!\r\n\r\nWith your donations, none of this would be possible! The kids are so ready for the second party! Thank you from a teacher who truly appreciates those individuals who value the field of education.","fullyFundedDate":1723685293963,"projectUrl":"project/attendance-accolades/8650446/","projectTitle":"Attendance Accolades","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Clemence","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9085087"},{"teacherId":1648609,"projectId":8803747,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible support of my classroom project, A Little Spot of Kindness! Your generosity has made it possible to bring Diane Alber's Social Emotional Learning (SEL) series into the hands of my students, and I cannot express how much this means to me and my class. These books are more than just stories—they are tools that will help my students navigate the complexities of emotions, relationships, and empathy. From learning how to handle anger and anxiety to discovering the importance of kindness and gratitude, these lessons will empower my students to grow not just academically but also as compassionate individuals. Seeing their excitement as they explore these colorful and relatable stories has already been heartwarming, and I know the impact of your gift will last far beyond this school year.\r\n\r\nYour contribution is a true investment in the future. In a world that sometimes feels overwhelming for young minds, these resources provide a safe and engaging way for students to develop critical life skills. Thanks to you, my classroom is now a space where emotional intelligence is celebrated, and kindness is at the forefront of everything we do. As we read through these stories together and engage in meaningful discussions, I see my students forming deeper connections with each other and themselves. You have given us the tools to build a more understanding and supportive community, and for that, I am endlessly grateful. Thank you for believing in this project and for making such a meaningful difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1727979369598,"projectUrl":"project/a-little-spot-of-kindness/8803747/","projectTitle":"A Little Spot of Kindness","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chapman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1648609_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507230302626","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1648609"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88654","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1232,"numTeachers":82,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":61,"percentWhite":20,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":5,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.0,"schoolId":88654,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Penn Hills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Penn Hills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/penn-hills-school-district/forbes-elementary-school/88654"}