{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Oakbrook Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10644718,"projectId":10592007,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in supporting our classroom! Your donation has made a meaningful difference in the lives of my students. Because of your support, my students now have access to resources and learning opportunities that help make our classroom a more engaging, welcoming, and inspiring place to learn where they are able to explore new ideas, develop important skills, build confidence, and discover the joy of learning.\r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to open and begin using the new resources supplied. They used their imaginations to create and build. They worked cooperatively with their peers to design and grow as learners. In their words, \"It was the best day ever!\"\r\n\r\nThe impact of your gift goes beyond the materials and supplies you provided. You have shown my students that there are people in their community who believe in them, care about their education, and want to see them succeed. That message is powerful and encouraging.\r\n\r\nAs their teacher, it is rewarding to see students become excited about learning and have the tools they need to reach their full potential. Your support helps make these moments possible, and I cannot thank you enough for being a part of our classroom journey.","fullyFundedDate":1788977407735,"projectUrl":"project/imagination-and-creativity/10592007/","projectTitle":"Imagination and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sanders","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10644718"},{"teacherId":2434712,"projectId":10558402,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my students and our ceramics program! Your donation of glaze, rolling pins, and wire cutters has made a tremendous difference in what my students are able to create in the art room.\r\n\r\nOur district provides us with clay and a kiln, but individual schools are responsible for providing many of the other supplies needed to work with clay. My classroom has paint, but I did not have glaze. Glaze gives finished ceramic artwork a beautiful, shiny, glass-like surface that brings students' creations to life in a way that ordinary classroom paint simply cannot. Unfortunately, my classroom budget only allows me to purchase a limited amount of paper and some watercolors, so purchasing enough glaze for my students would have meant paying for it myself.\r\n\r\nThe rolling pins have also been an enormous help. I had only one rolling pin in my classroom, which we used for a pinch-pot project. With approximately 300 students, preparing clay by hand with one rolling pin would have taken hours of my personal time after school. There was also a very real problem with waiting too long: by the time the students came to class, the clay could have dried out. Having additional rolling pins means that students can work with fresh clay when they are ready to create.\r\n\r\nThe wire cutters have made an equally important difference. Before receiving them, I was trying to separate large amounts of clay by hand. After doing this repeatedly, I broke all of my fingernails and experienced muscle spasms in my hands. Having the proper tools to cut and portion clay has made the process so much easier and safer for me. It is amazing what a difference such a simple tool can make!\r\n\r\nMost importantly, these supplies give my students the opportunity to spend their time doing what they came to art class to do: create. Instead of being limited by the supplies available to us, they can roll, cut, shape, glaze, and finish their own ceramic artwork.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me provide them with the tools they need to experience the full ceramics process. Your generosity has made a difference not only in the quality of their artwork, but also in what is realistically possible in a classroom serving so many young artists.","fullyFundedDate":1790880234905,"projectUrl":"project/clay-creations-for-every-child/10558402/","projectTitle":"Clay Creations for Every Child","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reynolds","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2434712_orig.jpg?crop=1845,1845,x277,y401&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788027313493","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2434712"},{"teacherId":2434712,"projectId":10637938,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my students through your generous donation of quality drawing paper. Your gift may seem like a simple classroom supply, but for my students, good paper makes a tremendous difference.\r\n\r\nWhen students are creating artwork, the quality of the paper matters. Cheap or thin paper can absorb materials unevenly, tear, wrinkle, or otherwise take away from the finished artwork. Without this grant, I would have had to continue purchasing copy paper with my own money for my students to use. While copy paper allows students to practice, it does not give their artwork the quality and presentation it deserves.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students now have paper that allows them to create artwork they can be proud of—and artwork that can be submitted to art projects and competitions throughout South Carolina. That opportunity is especially meaningful because I am teaching my students about artists whose work is represented at the Gibbs Museum of Art, including David Drake, Mary Whyte, Theo Harleston, and Jonathan Green. Learning about artists connected to our state and then creating their own artwork helps my students see that art is something they can participate in, not simply something they look at in a museum.\r\n\r\nYour support gives my students the materials they need to take their ideas from their imaginations to finished works of art. It also tells them that their creativity and artistic voices are worth investing in.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping me give my students the opportunity to create, learn, and share their artwork beyond our classroom. Your generosity is helping put quality materials into the hands of young artists and opening doors for them to see where their creativity can take them.","fullyFundedDate":1790027242417,"projectUrl":"project/south-carolina-artists-come-to-life-thro/10637938/","projectTitle":"South Carolina Artists Come to Life Through Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reynolds","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2434712_orig.jpg?crop=1845,1845,x277,y401&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788027313493","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2434712"},{"teacherId":9712310,"projectId":10069100,"letterContent":"My students are so excited and grateful for your generosity! Our supplies arrived and when they saw all of the supplies we have for cooking they were jumping with joy! We customized their aprons and hats and talked about kitchen safety. With these supplies we have already completed two cooking Fridays with success! I was even able to add more kids to cooking because of your donation! Thank you so much for taking the time to donate to my classroom and the students. It truly means the world to us.","fullyFundedDate":1773972090740,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-play/10069100/","projectTitle":"Sensory Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Becca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9712310_orig.jpg?crop=1284,1284,x0,y509&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724796845194","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9712310"},{"teacherId":51298,"projectId":10092330,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my DonorsChoose project! Your donations provided multilingual learning materials that have made a meaningful difference for my students.\r\n\r\nI work with multilingual learners in Kindergarten through fifth grade, each with unique language needs and learning experiences. While many of my students quickly gain confidence speaking English, learning to read and write in a new language can be much more challenging. Thanks to your generosity, I was able to provide them with engaging, age-appropriate resources that made learning more accessible, meaningful, and enjoyable.\r\n\r\nMany of our lessons focus on building vocabulary, identifying everyday objects, and developing complete sentences in English. The materials you provided allowed me to scaffold instruction, differentiate lessons, and meet students where they were in their language-learning journey. Having resources that supported both English and students' home languages helped build their confidence and encouraged greater independence.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest classroom favorites was the Bilingual Talking Alphabet Mat. My younger Spanish-speaking students were captivated by the bright illustrations and easy-to-recognize letters. The ability to switch between English and Spanish allowed them to practice independently while strengthening their letter recognition and language skills. Watching their excitement and growing confidence was truly rewarding.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has had a lasting impact on my students' learning and growth. Thank you for believing in them and helping create opportunities for their success. Your generosity has opened doors for our multilingual learners, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1772456984773,"projectUrl":"project/building-language-bridges-for-our-younge/10092330/","projectTitle":"Building Language Bridges for Our Youngest Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilliard","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp51298_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753818727395","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/s-gilliard"},{"teacherId":6060410,"projectId":6990780,"letterContent":"A huge thank you for your donations that ensured my students could have the chair bands! Students are able to quietly bounce their feet which helps them focus on my lesson and on their school work. I even have some students stand with their heels on the band and bounce quietly that way. These bands are extremely sturdy and will last me years and years, which will impact hundreds of students! Other teachers have seen our chair bands and purchased some for their classrooms as well. Therefore, your donations have reached even more children! Thank you, thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1669739129398,"projectUrl":"project/wiggle-wiggle-silently/6990780/","projectTitle":"Wiggle, Wiggle Silently!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cullinane-Headden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6060410_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y30&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784733763338","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6060410"},{"teacherId":399002,"projectId":9991614,"letterContent":"My Read 180 classes were so excited to receive all the boxes with their new incentives to work hard and move to the next level in our reading class. They screamed and yelled whenever we opened the boxes with the the treats.\r\n\r\nWe are so thankful for your donations. It was so nice to get the items and not have to spend out of my pocket. Prizes are getting so expensive now. I appreciate all that you have done for my class of 30 students that are working hard to improve their reading skills.\r\n\r\nSome of my students do not get extra things from home in my school. I am so happy that I have special treats for all my students.","fullyFundedDate":1773936869340,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-loot/9991614/","projectTitle":"Literacy Loot","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Luellen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp399002_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1485577253811","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/399002"},{"teacherId":3522898,"projectId":9984117,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous gift. They are used in a daily basis to help introduce and reinforce concepts. \r\nThe students were so excited when I first showed them the phonics kits. They could not wait to start using them. Being able to move the tiles and then also practice their handwriting skills by writing the word underneath has been incredible. \r\nI've seen a huge increase in effort and participation because they can't wait to get called back to my table to work. This effort has begun to show in their independent work as well.","fullyFundedDate":1768482158958,"projectUrl":"project/interactive-phonics-play/9984117/","projectTitle":"Interactive Phonics Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Macholl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3522898_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1457785495796","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3522898"},{"teacherId":5577642,"projectId":9586054,"letterContent":"First, I want to thank you for supporting public education. As a Read180 teacher, I work with students in both 4th and 5th grade to strengthen their reading comprehension and vocabulary so that they can be fluent readers at their grade level. For my students, reading is a challenge, and by fulfilling this project, you have helped me create a welcoming library where students can focus and enjoy reading.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw our new library with flexible seating, noise canceling headphones, and pillows, they were so excited for their independent reading time, which is rare! Many of my students struggle to focus on reading and often read aloud to themselves, so the noise canceling headphones have helped tremendously. My students love being in the library now, which is truly amazing.\r\n\r\nI make keychains for my students to win each time they finish a Read180 segment which is a big challenge for them. Throughout the year, I was purchasing the supplies for these keychains with my own money, but with your support, I was able to order new bead sets and string for the remainder of the year to make my students their keychain rewards. The students love to wear their keychains proudly. \r\n\r\nI truly cannot thank you enough. Thank you for supporting my readers and thank you for supporting public education!","fullyFundedDate":1764692480088,"projectUrl":"project/a-welcoming-library-that-celebrates-read/9586054/","projectTitle":"A Welcoming Library that Celebrates Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stasek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5577642_orig.jpg?crop=2456,2456,x0,y114&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723159506831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5577642"},{"teacherId":51298,"projectId":9791188,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, *Building Strong Readers with UFLI Blending Boards*. Because of your generosity, my second-grade students now have access to the **Lakeshore All-In-One Magnetic Phonics Kits**, and these materials have made a powerful difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nMy students use the blending boards daily during our UFLI phonics instruction. The magnetic letters allow them to build, manipulate, and blend sounds as they practice decoding words. For second graders who are still strengthening foundational reading skills, this hands-on practice is essential. The boards help students clearly see how sounds work together to form words, which supports both reading and spelling development.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were thrilled! They were excited to touch the magnetic letters and immediately wanted to start building words. Many students said the boards made learning phonics feel like a game, and their enthusiasm carried right into our lessons. Seeing their excitement confirmed just how engaging and meaningful these resources are for young learners.\r\n\r\nThanks to this project, the next steps for my students include applying their phonics and blending skills to reading longer words and more complex texts. We are currently working on improving fluency and comprehension, and these blending boards give students the confidence they need to tackle unfamiliar words independently. This project has had a direct impact on student learning by strengthening decoding skills and helping students become more confident readers.","fullyFundedDate":1764692479845,"projectUrl":"project/building-strong-readers-with-ufli-blendi/9791188/","projectTitle":"Building Strong Readers With UFLI Blending Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilliard","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp51298_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y120&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753818727395","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/s-gilliard"},{"teacherId":8207610,"projectId":9815090,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when our new phonics and small group materials arrived! When I showed them the new tools we would be using during reading groups, they immediately wanted to explore and start learning with them. The hands-on materials made our classroom feel even more like a place where learning is fun and engaging.\r\n\r\nWe have already started using these manipulatives during our small group literacy time. Students are using the materials to practice building words, stretching sounds, and strengthening their phonics skills. One special moment was watching students use the tools to sound out and build words together. They were excited to physically move the pieces while working through the sounds, which helped them stay engaged and confident as readers.\r\n\r\nThese resources have made our phonics instruction more interactive and meaningful. Thank you for helping create a classroom where my students can explore language, build their skills, and grow as readers every day. Your generosity is truly making a difference in our learning community.","fullyFundedDate":1764692480297,"projectUrl":"project/small-group-manipulatives/9815090/","projectTitle":"Small Group Manipulatives","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Whiteside","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8207610_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y642&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760118262684","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8207610"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7829","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":641,"numTeachers":48,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":44,"percentWhite":30,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":8,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.6,"schoolId":7829,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Oakbrook Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Oakbrook Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/south-carolina/dorchester-school-district-two/oakbrook-elementary-school/7829"}