{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kocurek Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":38.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":10174695,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in bringing classic fairy tales and storytelling manipulatives to our classroom!\r\n\r\nThese timeless stories have made a remarkable impact on my students' foundational literacy and critical thinking skills. By weaving hands-on STEAM components into each unit, my students do more than just read, they actively problem-solve. For example, after reading The Gingerbread Man, students designed and built working rafts to help him safely cross the river without needing the fox!\r\n\r\nThanks to the interactive tools and engineering materials provided, I was able to transform traditional reading lessons into cross-curricular design challenges. My students are not only mastering story elements like plot, conflict, and resolution, but they are also building essential engineering skills, testing hypotheses, and learning through trial and error.\r\n\r\nYour generosity allowed me to make early literacy and problem-solving dynamic, memorable, and deeply engaging. We are so grateful for your support in building a strong, creative foundation for our young learners!","fullyFundedDate":1784431049124,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-fairy-tales-to-life-through-ste/10174695/","projectTitle":"Bringing Fairy Tales to Life Through STEAM & Storytelling","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":10265210,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible support in bringing diverse books and interactive manipulatives, like puppets and storytelling tools, to our youngest students!\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our little readers can now see themselves and their peers reflected in the stories they read, honoring a rich variety of backgrounds, cultures, and voices. The addition of creative manipulatives brings these narratives to life, giving students an engaging, hands-on way to retell stories, deepen their reading comprehension, and build crucial literacy skills.\r\n\r\nYou've given our readers both a mirror to see themselves and a window to understand the world, all while making learning fun and interactive. We are so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1779298319552,"projectUrl":"project/stories-that-reflect-us-bringing-books/10265210/","projectTitle":"Stories That Reflect Us: Bringing Books to Life in Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":10178059,"letterContent":"Thank you fro\r\nm the bottom of our hearts for your generous contributions to our Healing Library. Because of your kindness, our shelves are now filled with thoughtful, compassionate books designed to help our students and their families navigate life's hardest moments, from grief and loss to major health challenges, family changes, and divorce.\r\n\r\nWhen a child or family faces a crisis, finding the right words can feel impossible. These books provide a vital bridge, offering comfort, understanding, and practical tools for emotional healing exactly when they are needed most. You haven't just donated funds; you have given our community a gentle place to land during tough times.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your investment in the emotional well-being and resilience of our students. Thank you for making this essential resource a reality.","fullyFundedDate":1777332843427,"projectUrl":"project/healing-library-supporting-students-thr/10178059/","projectTitle":"Healing Library: Supporting Students Through Life’s Hard Moments","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":10198014,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Pre-K classroom and helping bring more nature-based learning into our students' daily experiences. These materials have already sparked so much curiosity, creativity, and joy.\r\n\r\nEven on rainy days, students were able to continue exploring with the natural materials indoors. The wooden branch blocks became everything from homes to bridges to imaginative creations, encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. Students especially loved exploring the emotion stones by making matching facial expressions in mirrors and talking about their feelings with classmates. The weather-safe gardening tools have also been wonderful for rough-and-tough outdoor play, giving students meaningful opportunities to dig, build, and explore the world around them.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is helping create hands-on learning experiences that support not only academics, but also confidence, communication, and connection. We are so grateful for your support of our students and our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1776798976387,"projectUrl":"project/growing-minds-outdoors-nature-play-for/10198014/","projectTitle":"Growing Minds Outdoors: Nature Play for Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":10045587,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making this project possible. These books have quickly become a favorite in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOur students are just beginning to understand how books work, and these board books are perfect for them. Reading in our room looks like little hands turning pages, students pointing to pictures, and proudly \"reading\" stories they've memorized. For our bilingual learners, these books are especially meaningful as they build vocabulary and confidence in both languages.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was seeing a group of students reading the books to their stuffed animals. They were turning pages, using story language, and even explaining what was happening. It was such a sweet and powerful glimpse of them seeing themselves as readers.\r\n\r\nThese books are also helping us teach big feelings, kindness, and self-control, and students return to them throughout the day, especially in our calm-down spaces. Most importantly, they see themselves in these stories and feel proud of who they are. Thank you for giving our students something they truly love.","fullyFundedDate":1769117053829,"projectUrl":"project/every-language-belongs-spanish-board-bo/10045587/","projectTitle":"Every Language Belongs: Spanish Board Books for Pre-K","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":203134,"projectId":9908707,"letterContent":"Your generous donation has made a tremendous impact on our campus! Thanks to the addition of this laptop, we are now able to broadcast our Essential Areas News to the TV in the Fine Arts hallway—creating an exciting platform to showcase the incredible work of our students.\r\n\r\nEach week, students eagerly gather to see what will be featured and to find out who will be recognized as our \"Super Star of the Week.\" This new opportunity has brought added energy, pride, and celebration to our school community.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your support and for helping us highlight the amazing accomplishments of our students. Thank you for investing in their success!","fullyFundedDate":1763759803563,"projectUrl":"project/standing-ovation-honoring-our-students/9908707/","projectTitle":"Standing Ovation: Honoring Our Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Van","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp203134_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1488039765025","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrvansclass"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":9128854,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making \"A Kid-Safe Power Tool for Cutting Cardboard!\" a reality for our students. Because of your generosity, cardboard has officially become our most powerful learning material.\r\n\r\nWe put the new tool to use right away during our Cardboard Arcade Day, and it completely changed what students were able to design and build. Instead of struggling with safety scissors or waiting for adult help, students were able to independently cut precise shapes, experiment with more complex structures, and revise their designs in real time. One group redesigned their entire arcade game mid-build because they realized they could safely cut curved ramps and moving parts. That moment (when they said, \"Wait, we can actually make this work\") was pure STEM joy.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the tool, their reaction was equal parts excitement and pride. They immediately recognized that this was a \"real\" tool made just for them, not a workaround. Several students said things like, \"This feels like what engineers use,\" and they took ownership of using it responsibly. The confidence boost was instant.\r\n\r\nNext, students are continuing to iterate on their arcade designs using the design-thinking process: planning, building, testing, and improving. They are now working on durability, user experience, and collaboration across teams as we prepare to open the arcade for the rest of the school. This project has grown beyond a single lesson into a shared school experience, where students see their ideas turn into something others can play, enjoy, and learn from.\r\n\r\nYour support didn't just fund a tool. It gave our students independence, confidence, and the chance to see themselves as builders, designers, and problem-solvers. Thank you for being a hero to our classroom and for investing in curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning.","fullyFundedDate":1742942204071,"projectUrl":"project/a-kid-safe-power-tool-for-cutting-cardbo/9128854/","projectTitle":"A Kid-Safe Power Tool for Cutting Cardboard!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":8564368,"projectId":9707322,"letterContent":"This note is long overdue, but our gratitude is heartfelt. My third-grade team and I are incredibly thankful for your generous donation.\r\n\r\nWe work at a small Title I school where funds are limited, and our main copy machine frequently breaks down. Thanks to your support, this new copy machine has allowed us to continue our lessons and student activities without interruption or delay. It has also been an invaluable resource for our Special Education teachers, whose essential work on our campus is now better supported as well.\r\n\r\nOverall, your gift has impacted far more students than we initially anticipated and has lifted a significant burden from our teachers' shoulders. Thank you so much for your generosity. We are deeply grateful and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on our students because of your support..","fullyFundedDate":1758218630595,"projectUrl":"project/copies-that-count-a-reliable-copy-machi/9707322/","projectTitle":"Copies that Count: A Reliable Copy Machine for Teachers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mendez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8564368_orig.png?crop=256,256,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746727489282","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8564368"},{"teacherId":203134,"projectId":9825231,"letterContent":"Wow—thank you so much for your generous donation! I truly appreciate your support, and I want you to know how much it means to us. When my students walked into the music room and saw the new boomwhackers, their faces absolutely lit up. They were beyond excited!\r\n\r\nThese new instruments will open up wonderful opportunities for learning, creativity, and performance in our music class. They have already made a positive impact, especially for students who aren't as enthusiastic about singing but absolutely come alive when playing instruments. This definitely captured their attention and brought a whole new level of excitement to the room.\r\n\r\nIt's amazing how a single gift can make such a meaningful difference in students' daily experiences, and I am incredibly grateful. Thank you for helping us make music education even more engaging and joyful!","fullyFundedDate":1760693746985,"projectUrl":"project/here-comes-the-boomwhackers-color-s/9825231/","projectTitle":"Here Comes the Boom...whackers: Color, Sound, and Creativity!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Van","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp203134_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1488039765025","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrvansclass"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":9727674,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Koala Packs project. Your generosity helped us fill these literacy backpacks with high-quality books, simple comprehension questions, and academic games that families can use at home.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, our students now have meaningful ways to read, talk, and play with their families while building skills that matter. These packs will travel home again and again, and your impact will be felt every single time a child opens a book or a parent sits down to learn with them.\r\n\r\nWe're grateful for your partnership and your belief in our Kocurek kids. Thank you for helping us grow strong readers and curious learners.","fullyFundedDate":1758838125312,"projectUrl":"project/from-school-to-home-building-bridges-wi/9727674/","projectTitle":"From School to Home: Building Bridges with Books & Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"},{"teacherId":10028896,"projectId":9336878,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation to my classroom!\r\nOne especially meaningful impact came from giving our weekly character awards. I started this routine to help instill ownership and pride in my students' learning and who they show up to be each day. Having our special bar stool has helped students look forward to giving the award to another student themselves so we all see the good in one another. The chair is special so the time to give awards is also a special time and truly helps us realize good qualities in each of us.\r\n\r\nThe book series \"Story Thieves\" is making an impact on a particular voracious reader. This student almost immediately started devouring the first book in the series and quickly made a connection! In the first book, the author James Riley alludes to another book \"Fablehaven.\" The author of this book, Brandon Mull, had come recently for an author's visit to our school and the student recognized this and became so excited!\r\n\r\nThe mailboxes I was able to purchase have helped keep our classroom organized tremendously! I have a student helper to sort graded papers and flyers into the mailboxes and students check it each day to take the papers home. The small ice packs we received have helped students feel cared for without needing to leave class and go to the nurse. \r\n\r\nThe small vacuum, light plug ins with a remote control, dry erasers and electronic slide show remote have all helped make our classroom cleaner and run smoother. This has helped create a clean space for my students where the environment is filled with peace and learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757103271703,"projectUrl":"project/ms-dragicevics-return-to-the-classroom/9336878/","projectTitle":"Ms. Dragicevic's Return to the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dragicevic","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10028896"},{"teacherId":596790,"projectId":9462873,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring our calming space to life! The new sensory tools have already made such a difference for our students. Just this week, one of our kindergartners came in after a tough morning. He sat with the breathing pal, watched the light guide his breaths, and quietly said, \"I feel better now.\" Then he got up, smiled, and went back to class ready to learn.\r\n\r\nMoments like that happen every day because of your generosity. The fidget tubes, bubble poppers, and soft baskets full of sensory tools give kids what they need to pause, reset, and feel safe again.\r\n\r\nYou've helped us create a space that teaches calm, kindness, and self-awareness. We're so grateful for the difference you've made for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758219361377,"projectUrl":"project/a-calming-corner-for-big-feelings-helpi/9462873/","projectTitle":"A Calming Corner for Big Feelings: Helping Students Self-Regulate","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cruser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp596790_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x58,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1744904577188","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/596790"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_12226","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":476,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":85,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":61,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.0,"schoolId":12226,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kocurek Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kocurek Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/austin-independent-school-district/kocurek-elementary-school/12226"}