{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sam Houston Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6502518,"projectId":9713311,"letterContent":"When the iPad and Apple Pencil arrived in our classroom, I honestly wasn't sure how quickly my fifth graders would take to them but they surprised me. Within the first week, students who used to rush through their science notes were suddenly taking their time, sketching diagrams of ecosystems and annotating their observations with a level of detail I hadn't seen before. The Apple Pencil in particular has been a game changer. There's something about being able to actually draw directly on the screen that clicks for kids this age science stops feeling like something you just read about and starts feeling like something you do.\r\nOne student who has always struggled to express himself in writing has really blossomed with this tool. He'll spend extra time after we finish an activity adding labels to his diagrams or color-coding the parts of a cell. It's become his thing, and his confidence has grown noticeably because of it. Other students crowd around to see what he's working on, which says a lot.\r\nWe've used the iPad for everything from researching ecosystems to recording short video explanations of scientific concepts something I call \"teach it back,\" where students explain a topic as if they're the teacher. Watching a ten-year-old confidently narrate a diagram they drew themselves is something I won't forget. These tools have made science feel personal and creative in a way that a textbook simply can't. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1762022125707,"projectUrl":"project/opening-doors-with-digital-tools/9713311/","projectTitle":"Opening Doors with Digital Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Martin Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6502518_orig.png?crop=272,272,x60,y64&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683649550774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/chavezwisd"},{"teacherId":10351345,"projectId":9897395,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our classroom through the WriteSolve Learn project! Because of your kindness, my students now have access to dry erase markers and highlighters that are already making a meaningful difference in their learning.\r\n\r\nThese tools are helping my fourth graders actively engage in math every single day. They are able to solve problems, show their thinking, and revise their work with confidence. The highlighters are especially helpful as students identify key information, break down multi-step problems, and make sense of what they are learning.\r\n\r\nYour support is not just providing supplies, it is creating opportunities for collaboration, confidence, and deeper understanding. My students feel excited and empowered, and that joy is directly because of you.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our classroom and believing in my students. We are truly grateful! P990","fullyFundedDate":1765828696417,"projectUrl":"project/write-solve-learn-dry-erase-markers-/9897395/","projectTitle":"Write, Solve, Learn: Dry Erase Markers & Highlighters for Math","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Campos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10351345_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763166653639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10351345"},{"teacherId":6502518,"projectId":9363290,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my profound gratitude for your generous donation of three LCD TVs to support our elementary school eSports team, the Shadow Cats. Your gift arrives at a pivotal moment in our program and will have a lasting impact on our students' lives.\r\n\r\nMany of our students come from low-income households and face challenges that extend far beyond the classroom. Yet they arrive each day with remarkable energy, determination, and an authentic love for learning. Our eSports team has become something truly special a safe, empowering space where they can grow socially, emotionally, and academically in ways traditional settings sometimes cannot reach.\r\n\r\nThese LCD displays will transform our classroom into a genuine team arena where our Shadow Cats can thrive. With larger screens for optimal visibility, students will be able to compete and practice together with improved communication and coordination. More importantly, they'll be able to review matches as a team, analyzing gameplay to build strategy and critical thinking skills. These TVs will also allow us to host and showcase tournaments that celebrate our students' achievements, build school spirit, and create inclusive opportunities for every member of our community.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, this is their first real access to gaming equipment and the collaborative experiences it enables. Gaming at home simply isn't an option for them. Your support provides something irreplaceable: a structured, safe space where they can explore their passions, develop essential twenty-first century skills, and discover what they're capable of when given the right tools and opportunities.\r\n\r\nThrough eSports, our students are learning far more than gameplay. They're building teamwork, communication, leadership, and confidence skills that will serve them in every aspect of their lives. They're learning what it feels like to be part of something bigger than themselves, to support one another, and to grow together.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our Shadow Cats and for investing in their futures. Your generosity has given them the tools not just to succeed in games, but to thrive in life.","fullyFundedDate":1757006792488,"projectUrl":"project/from-pixels-to-potential/9363290/","projectTitle":"From Pixels to Potential","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Martin Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6502518_orig.png?crop=272,272,x60,y64&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683649550774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/chavezwisd"},{"teacherId":6502518,"projectId":9615611,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for giving my students the gift of The Wild Robot chapter books. Your support has brought a new level of excitement and curiosity into our classroom. These texts allow us to dive deep into important reading skills such as making inferences, analyzing character development, identifying themes, and comparing how characters respond to challenges. With these books, my students are learning not just how to read but how to think like real readers who make connections, predictions, and deeper interpretations as they move through a story.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has transformed into something magical. Students gather in small groups during independent reading, following along eagerly during our read-alouds, and using their books to discuss evidence, vocabulary, and figurative language. I've seen even my reluctant readers participate with enthusiasm, excited to share their thoughts about Roz, Brightbill, and the wilderness around them. One student in particular, who normally hesitates with chapter books, now asks if we can read \"just one more chapter\" every single day. These moments show the true impact of your generosity.\r\n\r\nYour donation has done more than provide books it has created opportunities, sparked imagination, and built confidence. Thank you for believing in my students, our classroom, and the power of stories. We are truly grateful for your kindness and support.","fullyFundedDate":1757006731907,"projectUrl":"project/from-circuits-to-stories-inspiring-read/9615611/","projectTitle":"From Circuits to Stories: Inspiring Readers With the Wild Robot","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Martin Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6502518_orig.png?crop=272,272,x60,y64&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683649550774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/chavezwisd"},{"teacherId":8890342,"projectId":9572989,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom library. Your gift has transformed our reading space into a vibrant, welcoming place where students are discovering new stories, new ideas, and new confidence in themselves as readers. The excitement in our room each time a student reaches for a new book is a direct result of your kindness.\r\nThese texts have helped us introduce essential reading skills in ways that feel meaningful to students. With the variety you provided—ranging from early chapter books to rich nonfiction—students are practicing strategies like identifying themes, analyzing characters' motivations, making predictions, and building vocabulary in context. Many of our new titles also lend themselves beautifully to lessons in empathy, cultural awareness, and critical thinking. With so many genres now available, students are learning not just how to read better, but why reading matters.\r\nReading in our classroom now looks like a community at work. During independent reading, you can see students tucked into corners with books they genuinely chose for themselves. During small-group discussions, they hold their books open and excitedly point out passages that surprised, confused, or moved them. And during read-aloud time—an anchor of our day—you can hear audible gasps, laughter, and thoughtful silence as we travel through stories together. The room simply feels different: calmer, brighter, and more joyful.\r\nSeveral students have already formed strong connections with the new books. One student who previously struggled to find anything interesting discovered a graphic novel series from our new collection and now reads every day without prompting. These moments—small but powerful—are shaping their identities as lifelong readers.\r\nYour generosity has given my students more than books; you've given them opportunities to see themselves, to explore worlds beyond their own, and to grow as learners. Thank you for believing in the power of stories and for investing in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1757006815271,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-classroom-library-for-lifelon/9572989/","projectTitle":"Building a Classroom Library for Lifelong Reader","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Benitez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8890342_orig.jpg?crop=2177,2177,x138,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754871939585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8890342"},{"teacherId":9155830,"projectId":9523314,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your generous book donation to our classroom. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on my students and their learning experience.\r\n\r\nMy classroom is made up primarily of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and many of them do not have access to new or high-quality books at home. Because of your donation, my students now have the opportunity to read engaging, up-to-date titles that spark their curiosity and encourage a love for reading.\r\n\r\nIt has been incredible to see their excitement as they explore new stories and authors. The joy on their faces when they discovered books that reflect their interests and imaginations is something I will never forget. Your donation has not only expanded our classroom library but has also opened doors to new ideas, vocabulary, and perspectives for my students.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly enriched our classroom community and reminded my students that there are people who care deeply about their education and future. Thank you for investing in their growth and for helping foster a lifelong love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1754270527889,"projectUrl":"project/turning-pages-opening-minds/9523314/","projectTitle":"Turning Pages, Opening Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leal","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9155830_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692573374159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9155830"},{"teacherId":9155825,"projectId":9548409,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been enjoying the addition of the Stories Without Limits: Graphic Novels and Wordless Wonders collection. These new texts have helped some students explore story structure, visual literacy, and inferencing in ways that makes it exciting and fun. Many of my students are discovering that reading isn't about decoding words but about interpreting expressions and building meaning from details the author and artist include in the picture books.\r\n\r\nStudents during independent reading grab the graphic novels and even my hesitant readers are suddenly learning to share predictions to one another as they figure something out without a single printed sentence in the book. They are reading longer and talking about books with confidence than before. Students are citing images as evidence and using the stories to make connections to their lives.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who strugggled to stay engaged reading, now look forward to independent reading. My English learner students use the wordless stories to practice storytelling in English without being afraid to get the words wrong.\r\nThank you for believing in my students and giving them tools that let them see themselves as readers.","fullyFundedDate":1757006758619,"projectUrl":"project/stories-without-limits-graphic-novels-a/9548409/","projectTitle":"Stories Without Limits: Graphic Novels and Wordless Wonders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ortiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9155825_orig.jpg?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695432209410","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9155825"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_102815","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":764,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":98,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"17.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":81.0,"schoolId":102815,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sam Houston Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sam Houston Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/weslaco-independent-school-district/sam-houston-elementary-school/102815"}