{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pittsburgh Banksville Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":23.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5389918,"projectId":9868205,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our students will now be able to enjoy a meaningful and memorable end-of-year celebration—something that would not have been possible due to our recent budget freeze. The gift bags, fidget toys, and motivational school supplies you funded will allow us to properly honor our students' hard work and send them off to middle school feeling proud and supported. Because of you, our celebration can truly reflect their accomplishments and the growth they've shown throughout the year.\r\n\r\nWhen I shared with the students that we would have special materials for their celebration, their excitement was immediate. They eagerly asked questions about what the gift bags might include and were thrilled to hear that they would each receive items they could take with them to middle school. Even without seeing the materials yet, they were buzzing with anticipation and gratitude—your generosity has already made them feel valued.\r\n\r\nAs we prepare for our upcoming celebration, these resources will play an important role in recognizing student success and easing the transition to middle school. We'll be using the motivational supplies during our reflection and goal-setting activities, and the fidget toys will be offered as helpful tools to support emotional regulation and focus as students enter a new environment. Thank you again for making this celebration possible and for helping us send our students off with confidence and joy.","fullyFundedDate":1764832932118,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-success-inspiring-future-mi/9868205/","projectTitle":"Celebrating Success: Inspiring Future Middle Schoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beyers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5389918"},{"teacherId":6357115,"projectId":9368995,"letterContent":"Please accept my sincerest apologies for the delay in this note of gratitude. In a last minute change, I was pulled into a principal role in another school. This change literally happened during the first day of school. I was unsure if this change would continue for the remainder of the year, so I was holding out to take photos. \r\n\r\nSince the admin role is continuing, some of my materials were distributed to my replacement sub and some were stored for my return. Therefore, I have no photos to share. However, please know that I am incredible thankful for your support. Teachers are at a severe disadvantage with funding for classroom materials. Platforms like Donor's Choose, keep us up and running. Your generosity literally blesses the students at Banksville. Thank you.\r\n\r\nI wish you a fabulous holiday season and I hope your kindness is repaid tenfold.","fullyFundedDate":1755203882870,"projectUrl":"project/we-cant-see-help/9368995/","projectTitle":"We Can't See. Help!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. DeLeone","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6357115_orig.jpg?crop=363,363,x172,y615&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565357674534","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/deleone113"},{"teacherId":9515057,"projectId":9413005,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, our school year has started off wonderfully in science! The new supplies, like notebooks, glue sticks, dissection tools, balances, and STEM kits have helped create a hands-on, engaging learning environment right from the first week. Students now have the materials they need to explore scientific concepts more deeply and take pride in their work. The notebooks have become science journals where students record experiments and reflections, while the balances and measuring tools have helped us collect precise data during labs.\r\n\r\nOne of the activities my students are most excited about is our upcoming squid dissection lab. For many of them, it will be their first real-life anatomy experience, and they can hardly wait to explore and discover how the structures we've studied in class look in real life. The anticipation in the room is already building as they ask questions and make predictions about what they'll find. In the meantime, our STEM kits and building sets, including LEGO challenges, have already sparked creativity and teamwork, students have been collaborating to design and test structures that explore balance, motion, and engineering principles.\r\n\r\nNext, we will be using the building and measuring tools to dive into a hands-on exploration of mass, density, and volume. Students will investigate how different materials compare by measuring, calculating, and testing which objects sink or float. They'll use balances, graduated cylinders, and other tools to better understand the relationship between mass and volume and how density affects real-world phenomena. The prizes and rewards you helped provide have been wonderful motivators, encouraging students to stay curious, collaborate, and take pride in their discoveries. Your support has truly helped ignite a love of science in my classroom, thank you for giving my students such a strong, exciting start to the year!","fullyFundedDate":1756077678547,"projectUrl":"project/the-science-starter-pack/9413005/","projectTitle":"The Science Starter Pack!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Magliocca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9515057_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715354073916","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9515057"},{"teacherId":1149278,"projectId":9374461,"letterContent":"Please let me tell you about the single BEST piece of furniture I have in my classroom! This new technology storage locker system is a game changer for us. It has allowed for an organized way to store and charge our devices. It also has given my students very easy access to getting devices quickly and safely without risk of damage. Since labeling and numbering the sections, it lets me know who is missing their device or who has left it at school. \r\n\r\nThe day our wonderful custodian arrived with our new locker system, the kids erupted with cheers and high fives. We were on the look out for a surprise that delivery day, but they had no idea how big it would be!\r\n\r\nStudents this year will be taking our state tests on their devices. The first grade students will be practicing their typing skills on their devices to prepare for this. Now, the computers are safe and charged and ready to use daily do to your generosity. We are so thankful!","fullyFundedDate":1757788501023,"projectUrl":"project/tech-storage-that-just-clicks/9374461/","projectTitle":"Tech Storage That Just Clicks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K. Hastings","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1149278_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757789964425","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1149278"},{"teacherId":5389918,"projectId":9686972,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting our classroom project! Your contribution is making a meaningful difference in the way our students engage with technology every day.\r\n\r\nMany of our students come to school with access to technology at home, but they haven't always had guidance on how to use it effectively for learning. With the headphones and organizers you donated, our students are now able to fully focus during technology integrations without distractions. They can participate in interactive lessons, listen to educational content, and collaborate more efficiently with their peers. This focused, hands-on engagement is helping them build critical skills in literacy, math, and digital citizenship.\r\n\r\nWhat excites our students the most is how these new tools make learning feel fun and personal. Having their own organized space and quality headphones helps them feel empowered and independent while using technology. They are more confident navigating apps, participating in virtual discussions, and completing projects that require concentration. Your support is helping them see technology as a powerful tool for learning, not just entertainment.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your support and for helping us create a classroom where every student has the tools they need to succeed. Your generosity is inspiring, and we are so grateful for your investment in our students' education.","fullyFundedDate":1758294376374,"projectUrl":"project/plugging-into-learning-headphones-for-e/9686972/","projectTitle":"Plugging into Learning: Headphones for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beyers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5389918"},{"teacherId":1149278,"projectId":9355407,"letterContent":"My students cant get into the classroom fast enough in the morning to get their hands on our new animal books. They are so engaged with each other and asking to volunteer super cool animal facts during free time.\r\n\r\nI have never had this type of response to books in the classroom. The information is presented in such a fun way with the silly illustrations and great captions. The kids have already selected a favorite book and are pushing each other to \"Read Mine!\" It is so amazing to watch such excitement. \r\n\r\nThese informational picture books coincide with our reading unit that we are currently in. These are a great secondary source of information that are helping the students to learn why animal bodies have different features in different environments around the world.","fullyFundedDate":1747707137950,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-get-between-the-pages-of-these-b/9355407/","projectTitle":"Help us get Between the Pages of These Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K. Hastings","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1149278_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757789964425","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1149278"},{"teacherId":5389918,"projectId":9325711,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom! The beautiful new rug has already become a central gathering place where we hold small group instruction and class discussions. It's more than just a cozy spot—it's a space where students feel safe, connected, and ready to engage. One of our favorite moments so far was during a reading circle when a group of students eagerly settled onto the rug, sharing ideas about a story we were reading. Their focus and collaboration were stronger than ever, and it was clear that having a dedicated, comfortable space made a big difference in their learning experience.\r\n\r\nThe \"Adventure Awaits\" bulletin board you helped provide set the tone the moment our students walked into the classroom. Their eyes lit up with excitement as they saw the bright, welcoming theme that matched our school's focus on exploration and discovery. It helped create an atmosphere of curiosity and belonging right from day one. Moving forward, we'll be using this theme throughout the year to guide our classroom goals and projects, including student-led presentations about different cultures and \"adventures\" in learning. Your support has made our classroom a more inviting and purposeful place, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1746787034210,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-comfy-cozy-classroom/9325711/","projectTitle":"Creating a Comfy & Cozy Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beyers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5389918"},{"teacherId":8103553,"projectId":8962605,"letterContent":"When I tell you my students lit up when we first received our bells and glockenspiels is an understatement. A box full of jingle bells obviously sounded enticing enough even before seeing what was inside! When we opened the jingle bells all students were able to play along with the same instrument. I'm looking forward to our next winter concert when we'll really be able to shake some pizzazz into our performance.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, the glockenspiels are opening up my kindergarten music students' curiosity. They have so many questions about now it makes sounds, why there are different sized bars, and so much more. My older students have enjoyed composing music and having an accessible instrument to perform their ideas on. \r\n\r\nOverall, these new additions to our classroom are sparking joy, creativity, and curiosity. Thank you for helping to make this happen.","fullyFundedDate":1734712137101,"projectUrl":"project/ringing-in-a-new-year-with-bells/8962605/","projectTitle":"Ringing in a New Year with Bells!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bassani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8103553_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760552819545","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-bassani"},{"teacherId":6243198,"projectId":8930940,"letterContent":"This project is having a real and lasting impact on my students, especially those who are English language learners (ELLs). By giving them hands-on, interactive learning opportunities, I'm seeing them actively engage in ways that I haven't seen before. For example, when we use the alphabet sound tubs, I watch as they eagerly dive into identifying objects that represent different sounds. It's one thing to teach a concept, but when students can physically hold an object like a toy car or a hat and make the sound, the learning comes to life. They're not just memorizing words—they're connecting them to real-world experiences, which makes it more meaningful.\r\n\r\nAnd it's not just about language skills. I've noticed a big change in their confidence and social interactions. The Sorry! game and I Spy game, for instance, has become favorites in our classroom. The students start off focused on winning the game, but soon they are laughing together, giving each other tips on how to play, and, most importantly, encouraging each other to speak in English. It's been a powerful tool for them to practice social skills like patience, turn-taking, and how to handle both winning and losing. I can see them building friendships in ways that go beyond just sitting next to each other—there's real collaboration happening.\r\n\r\nThese resources have helped create an environment where my students feel more comfortable taking risks, whether it's speaking in front of the class or practicing new skills with classmates. Their enthusiasm for using the materials has been noticeable, and it's clear that the hands-on nature of the activities is making a difference. I'm seeing students become more confident in expressing themselves and more willing to engage with their peers. They're developing the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and feel more at ease navigating their new language environment.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your donation!!","fullyFundedDate":1732200158528,"projectUrl":"project/voices-in-play-empowering-ells-through/8930940/","projectTitle":"Voices in Play: Empowering ELLs Through Connection and Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Donovan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6243198"},{"teacherId":6618054,"projectId":8974081,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to this project! Students have been able to work together on collaborative projects using the chart paper - they can write or draw to explain their own thoughts and comment on others' ideas in a gallery walk. The students LOVE the new legos and building supplies, and their creativity has soared thanks to the new pieces and colors! All of the supplies in this project have helped increase student creativity and engagement, as well as the feeling of community in the classroom. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1733266670264,"projectUrl":"project/steam-and-beyond/8974081/","projectTitle":"STEAM and Beyond!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kukunas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6618054_orig.jpg?crop=3840,3840,x640,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565710578078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kukunas"},{"teacherId":6357115,"projectId":8512813,"letterContent":"I apologize for the delay in showing my gratitude to your generosity. Things have been busy around here, at Banksville. There is always lots to do.\r\n\r\nThese games have been amazing. We implemented Enrichment Clubs and the whole student population is divided up and assigned a space to further their learning in a fun way. These games have helped so much! I was assigned to a board game club for students in kindergarten through Grade 2. I am so incredibly thankful to have these resources. The Hi Ho Cheerio game is a big hit along with the the math manipulatives with the 10-frames. \r\n\r\nMy class is growing this season because of your support. I wish you a very blessed spring. 🌻🌼🌷🪻","fullyFundedDate":1731521189665,"projectUrl":"project/new-grade-level-means-a-need-for-new-ga/8512813/","projectTitle":"New Grade Level Means a Need for New Games","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. DeLeone","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6357115_orig.jpg?crop=363,363,x172,y615&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565357674534","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/deleone113"},{"teacherId":8117647,"projectId":8534502,"letterContent":"I can't not thank you enough for helping me to provide snacks, supplies and prizes for my students. This made not only made my transition to a new school easier but allowed me to provide things for my students that they can not afford themselves. \r\nThey were so excited to see all the options they had to pick from. They having choices for snacks and being able to choose from a variety of prizes. I use a reward system to only motivate student but to show that hard works pays. Not having to spend my own money has helped me financially too. \r\nMy classroom is made of ESL students with learning disabilities too. All of these choices and items make school more fun and a place students want to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1728751191481,"projectUrl":"project/new-school-new-classroom-new-students/8534502/","projectTitle":"New School, New Classroom, New Students= Great Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jennifer Gruber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8117647_orig.jpg?crop=1860,1860,x386,y748&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661279355227","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8117647"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65966","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":322,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":31,"percentBlack":14,"percentWhite":31,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":76.9,"schoolId":65966,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pittsburgh Banksville Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pittsburgh Banksville Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/pittsburgh-public-schools/pittsburgh-banksville-elementary-school/65966"}