{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Hills Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":38.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9400597,"letterContent":"Thank you so much! We have already jumped in and been enjoying these supplies... but we still have many more fun days to look forward to! A few weeks ago we celebrated National Talk Like A Pirate Day with pirate culture, thinking about the \"arrr\" sound as in car and farm. We did pirate math solving word problems dealing with nasty waves, overboard pirates, and coconuts on the beach.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for helping bring some fun and spice into our classroom to keep learning engaging and exciting... all while learning necessary skills!\r\n\r\nI couldn't do what I do everyday without the amazing support of this fantastic website... and also donors like you! You are so appreciated!! Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1757423379820,"projectUrl":"project/love-for-learning-the-fun-way/9400597/","projectTitle":"Love for Learning... The Fun Way!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":1969298,"projectId":9440191,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all of the items purchased through this project. When we had Pirate Day in September, students had eye patches and hats, and they were so excited to look the part as we immersed ourselves in the world of pirates for our learning day! They loved looking like pirates while they created pirate names for themselves and learned about pirate culture, since we were studying culture in Social Studies. We used a pirate story to teach our reading concepts that day, and students seemed so much more engaged throughout the lesson. The same thing happened with math. I used the treasure box to hide their snack for the day (the Pirate Booty), and they were so excited to see that they not only got a snack (we don't usually have), but that it also fit into our theme and it was unveiled when I opened the box. \r\n\r\nI am so thrilled to use the remaining materials when we have Rock Your School Day in January/February. Students will be able to make their own shiny bracelets going up their arms and have icy popsicles when they get hot from dance breaks in the hall. These special days make learning so much more meaningful for my kiddos!","fullyFundedDate":1754341075198,"projectUrl":"project/loving-learning-special-activities-tha/9440191/","projectTitle":"Loving Learning - Special Activities That Make the Learning \"Stick\"!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dempsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1969298"},{"teacherId":7393538,"projectId":9857741,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving cheer and excitement to our classroom environment. We are so excited to liven it up. The kids could not wait to open the box and wanted to decorate and put everything out on display. Our reading corner is now inviting, and the kids always choose to sit there. They love being creative and use their imaginations when they read their books. The characters, they say remind them of fairytales and how things can be made up when they read and write and use their imaginations to come up with their stories. They are so excited for this reading nook to feel like home.","fullyFundedDate":1761661570182,"projectUrl":"project/cheerful-environments/9857741/","projectTitle":"Cheerful Environments","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fersten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7393538_orig.jpg?crop=803,803,x70,y96&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693699778346","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fersten"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9171759,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making this come to life! The white drawer set is PERFECT for classroom organization and our classroom economy store. Each morning, 3-5 students come and shop. They use their classroom coins which are a tool of positive reinforcement as well as encouraging money standards of counting coin money. \r\n\r\nAlso, thank you so much for speaker! I can't wait to utilize it as We play soft instrumental music daily during work time, transitions, or a measure to keep our indoor voice level in check by monitoring if we can hear the music. Thank you again for being so generous and encouraging to teachers all over our country!","fullyFundedDate":1744200828938,"projectUrl":"project/speakers-for-our-second-grade-selves/9171759/","projectTitle":"Speakers for our Second Grade Selves","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9260424,"letterContent":"Wow! Thank you so much! I am so excited to utilize these for our lessons. The kids are already excited from their table of contents and photographs. It will be a great lesson the first time we pull them out for a reading lesson to further explore with specific purposes! We will use these to explore headings, bold and italic text, photographs, captions and more. A great thing about these text feature rich books... they hit right on our science curriculum standards, too! I can't wait to build background knowledge and reading skills with this set. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1746451925398,"projectUrl":"project/text-features-in-authentic-texts/9260424/","projectTitle":"Text Features in Authentic Texts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":9023723,"projectId":9024561,"letterContent":"The excitement in the library was immediate and palpable. When my students first saw the new reading nooks, their eyes lit up with curiosity and joy. They gravitated toward the cozy flip-back loungers and soft cushions, testing out the different seats and excitedly claiming their favorite spots. It was wonderful to see them so eager to settle in with a book. The nooks have completely transformed the space, making the library feel even more welcoming and personal for each child. It's moments like these that create a relaxed atmosphere where reading becomes an even greater pleasure.\r\n\r\nThe new reading nooks are being used constantly, fostering a deeper sense of community and independent reading. They have become the go-to spot for students looking for a quiet, comfortable escape to enjoy a new book. One of the most rewarding moments so far was seeing a student who often has trouble focusing become completely engrossed in a chapter book while nestled in one of the new inflatable yoga seats. He was completely lost in the story and the magic of reading.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are building on this momentum by launching a \"Reading Heroes\" project. Students will create short book reviews and personalized recommendations to display within the library. The idea is to make our students the experts, sharing their love of literature with their peers. This project is directly inspired by the sense of ownership and excitement the new nooks have brought to the library, and I can't wait to see what our students create next.","fullyFundedDate":1744200829120,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-up-and-read/9024561/","projectTitle":"Cozy Up and Read","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Schultz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9023723_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725731200546","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9023723"},{"teacherId":7393538,"projectId":9321359,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our class feel like a home. We spend so much time here and ant to feel those cozy good feels while we have to be here. We feel welcomed and happy to be in the classroom. This project brings a great environment for the kids rather than the plain and boring classrooms that feel dreary and unwelcoming. The kids are always excited when they walk into the room. They want to be in here and they love showing off our room to others. Thank you for giving them a safe place that they can call their home away from home.","fullyFundedDate":1746787018450,"projectUrl":"project/a-classroom-into-a-home/9321359/","projectTitle":"A Classroom Into a HOME","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fersten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7393538_orig.jpg?crop=803,803,x70,y96&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693699778346","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fersten"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9260267,"letterContent":"THANK YOU! I am so excited to get this idea going for the whole year. I have dabbled with it before, but now I have texts to continue it for the majority of our units. These books will be spotlighted on a special bookshelf in the classroom and rotate as the school year progresses. The books correlate with our reading units and each unit's theme. This selection will be an opportunity for students to make their own choice about what they want to read... but all will be building background knowledge surrounding our topics of reading and conversation. I am excited to use this as a way for students to make connections with the world, themselves, and various texts in authentic ways outside of \"I'm reading this because my teacher told me to.\"\r\n\r\nThank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1746451925501,"projectUrl":"project/reading-for-roots/9260267/","projectTitle":"Reading for Roots!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9272743,"letterContent":"Thank you so much. Thank you not only for the funds, but for the belief in and generosity you have shown my class! I cannot wait to start the school year with these materials. I have used a classroom economy to build accountability before, but am excited for the organization and supplies this project will give! \r\nI think it is so important for students to recognize that yes, their behavior does sometime have consequence that are undesirable.... but also their positive choices can lead to things they want and love! \r\nThis project will help enhance the system that when making good choices, students will get coins. When collecting coins they can buy fun things. However, when they lack responsibility and lose things, those coins must go to supplies we need such as pencils and glue. After a little while, students develop a sense of purpose when knowing that more good things lead to fun things. Also, more organziation and careful choices lead to fun things, too! \r\n\r\nThank you so much for helping me teach my students these life lessons through a classroom economy. I appreciate you BIG! Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1746451925284,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-success-responsibility-sty/9272743/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Success- Responsibility Style","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":9127146,"letterContent":"THANK YOU! I am so appreciate of these materials. I am so excited to plan with these materials next year... but even more so, the kids this year are thrilled to read these titles! Wow, some of the animal titles look so interesting and engaging from the covers... engaging enough I can't wait to read through them!\r\n\r\nNext year we are going full force with background libraries from the beginning of the year and these books are going to supplement the libraries WONDERFULLY! I make time in our schedule for students to read, on their own, with their own choice of materials to help build engagement. I want kids to WANT to read and what better way to encourage that then letting them choose things that interest them! I can provide a small selection so their reading is targeted, but they are still making the choice of what to read. I can't wait to see them make connections between what we're reading in our lessons and what they are discovering on their own.'\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU so much for believing in me, in this project, and believing in my students for utilizing these materials to learn! I am forever grateful for DonorsChoose... which is great.... but only as great as you are at giving!","fullyFundedDate":1744200830713,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-brains/9127146/","projectTitle":"Books for Brains!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"},{"teacherId":9911666,"projectId":9087301,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness regarding the support you have shown my 2nd-grade students! Our classroom was in dire need of a new area rug that would allow the students to transition to an alternative learning area. Previously, we had a small, dirty area rug that never seemed to get clean and did not provide enough space for the entire class to utilize.\r\n\r\nWhen the ginormous box arrived, the students were in awe and venturing guesses about what could be inside. The speculation went on throughout the day; it was so much fun to listen to their ideas of what may be inside. After school that afternoon, I laid out the rug in the front of our room, knowing it was the perfect place for our learning, and it would be the first thing the kids would see in the morning. The kids were astounded when they walked through the door! You would have thought they had just won the lottery! Excitement filled the classroom. Students were going to our front door and telling anyone and everyone who passed our room that we got a new, beautiful rug! We had many friends stopping by to check it out throughout the day! This addition to our classroom has provided the kids with an opportunity for alternative learning locations utilized throughout the day! Every student has plenty of room to be included and learn comfortably.\r\n\r\nIn addition, your donation also provided the students with 4 new wobble cushions, providing the kids who require a bit more movement to remain focused and on task. These wobble cushions provide an opportunity to wiggle and learn, while at the same time not causing disruptions. These wobble cushions are available for use by any student, and all 4 are utilized throughout the day.\r\n\r\nOur classroom is truly thankful and appreciative of the new flexible seating you have provided us with the addition of the 4 wobble seats and the large area rug. We will forever be grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1740603341201,"projectUrl":"project/rugs-for-winners/9087301/","projectTitle":"Rugs for Winners","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9911666_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y609&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739994502423","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dr-melissa-brown"},{"teacherId":2173953,"projectId":8994690,"letterContent":"THANK YOU! Thank you so much for your generous donations. In my classroom, we do not give nightly homework for a grade. However, I still think practice is crucial. Nightly, I send home practice pages that kids can do for practice and parents can utilize as a way to help. When students choose to complete homework practice, they earn a sticker. Randomly they may earn an eraser for 7 stickers, a picnic for 12, and so on. They never know what the reward or the needed amount to keep it novel. These SuperTeacher worksheets are simple skill builders to allow mastery so we can dig deeper and stretch our thinking in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThese worksheets are also utlized for morning work. There is a window of 20 minutes when kids can enter the classroom before they are marked tardy. These are great skill reviews for partners to do together to maximize learning time before lessons begin.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for providing my students with these resources to help solidify their skills and prepare them for third grade, middle school, and their future!\r\n\r\nYOU ARE TRULY THE BEST!","fullyFundedDate":1734708565986,"projectUrl":"project/super-teacher-super-readers/8994690/","projectTitle":"Super Teacher, Super Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Harrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2173953_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1467329425632","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/blairharrison"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_92848","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":753,"numTeachers":50,"percentFrplEligible":54,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":11,"percentWhite":56,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":18,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":61.3,"schoolId":92848,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Hills Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Hills Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/tennessee/knox-county-schools/west-hills-elementary-school/92848"}