{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Whittier Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":29.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1139433,"projectId":9936497,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our students, especially during a time when the economy is tough. Your generosity has made a real and immediate difference in our school.\r\nThe supplies you provided are not just \"things\" in a room, they are tools that help students regulate their emotions, reset, and return to learning. For many of our students, that shift is everything. It is the difference between a day lost and a day reclaimed.\r\nI hope a few snapshots from our days help tell the story:\r\n• One student regularly comes in overwhelmed and dysregulated, but finds comfort in something simple, kicking an indoor soccer ball. That small moment of movement helps them reset and return to class ready to learn.\r\n• The game \"Don't Break the Ice\" has become a surprising superstar. It has been used so many times across all grade levels, and students love it. What looks like a simple game is actually building regulation, patience, and social skills in a way that feels safe and fun.\r\nMoments like these happen every single day. They are small on the surface, but they create big changes for our students.\r\nThank you for making this work possible. Your support is felt in every reset, every return to class, and every student who gets another chance to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1772550426900,"projectUrl":"project/warm-walls-ready-learners/9936497/","projectTitle":"Warm Walls, Ready Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Hawkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139433_orig.png?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711740604113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-catherine-hawkins"},{"teacherId":1139433,"projectId":9909742,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom with sports equipment and games. I truly underestimated how powerful these tools would be. I wasn't even sure students would want to play kickball, but it has quickly become a favorite option. It turns out to be a perfect hallway game for students who need a quick energy reset before returning to learning. The structure, movement, and play help students regulate their bodies in a short amount of time.\r\n\r\nThe indoor soccer ball and volleyball have also made a meaningful difference. These provide the kind of deep muscle pressure and movement that many students need to calm their nervous systems and refocus. Watching students regulate through soccer play is genuinely joyful, and I sometimes joke that the spirit of Messi shows up when they're playing. The confidence, engagement, and regulation that come from these moments carry back into the classroom.\r\n\r\nThese items were truly a splurge and not something I would have been able to purchase on my own. Because of your generosity, students now have effective, healthy ways to manage big emotions and return to class ready to learn. Thank you for making such a real and lasting impact on our students.","fullyFundedDate":1764377371628,"projectUrl":"project/better-tools-better-days-prepping-supp/9909742/","projectTitle":"Better Tools, Better Days: Prepping Supports for Every Learner","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Hawkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139433_orig.png?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711740604113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-catherine-hawkins"},{"teacherId":1139433,"projectId":9960427,"letterContent":"The music tools from this project have quickly become some of the most effective regulation options in our classroom. Students often choose the drum pads simply to play and release energy, and having a safe, quiet way to do that has made a meaningful difference. The pads allow students to move their bodies, work through big energy, and reset without disrupting others. For several students, this has become a go-to strategy when they need to regulate before returning to learning.\r\n\r\nThe keyboard is used frequently as well. Students explore melodies freely, sometimes creating simple patterns and sometimes experimenting with new sounds. While the music may be unstructured or creative, the engagement is purposeful. Students enjoy the opportunity to create, focus, and express themselves through sound in a calm, contained way. The keyboard offers a different kind of regulation, one that supports attention, creativity, and emotional expression.\r\n\r\nIn my 20 years of teaching, I have never had access to tools like these, and I can confidently say they are some of the strongest regulation materials I have available. For some students, these music options are the most effective supports we have for helping them calm their bodies, stay engaged, and feel successful at school. Thank you for making this possible and for investing in tools that truly meet students where they are.","fullyFundedDate":1765980036508,"projectUrl":"project/making-music-finding-calm/9960427/","projectTitle":"Making Music, Finding Calm","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Hawkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139433_orig.png?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711740604113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-catherine-hawkins"},{"teacherId":1139433,"projectId":9877045,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project Playful Brains, Strong Skills. Because of your generosity, our classroom now has board games and emotional regulation tools that strengthen cooperation, flexible thinking, and self-regulation through structured play. These materials are already being used in small groups, during calm-down breaks, and in SEL lessons where students practice turn-taking, teamwork, and problem-solving in real time.\r\n\r\nYour donation allows us to create learning moments that feel safe, engaging, and hands-on. Instead of only talking about emotional regulation, students now have concrete ways to practice skills like waiting, managing frustration, communicating needs, and staying connected to peers during challenges. The games have also become a natural way for students to build confidence and social awareness while having positive, shared experiences together.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue incorporating these tools into daily routines, adding them to intervention plans, morning warm-ups, and classwide SEL rotations. With ongoing use, students will have repeated opportunities to strengthen emotional regulation and social connection in a setting that feels supportive and fun. Your support didn't just place materials in our room; it created ongoing opportunities for growth.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us nurture strong, flexible minds through play.","fullyFundedDate":1763648506637,"projectUrl":"project/playful-brains-strong-skills/9877045/","projectTitle":"Playful Brains, Strong Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Hawkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139433_orig.png?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711740604113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-catherine-hawkins"},{"teacherId":1139433,"projectId":9873522,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have new flexible seating options that are helping them learn to manage their emotions and behavior in positive ways. These seats have quickly become one of the most sought-after tools in our classroom. Students use them during calm-down breaks, small group work, and independent reading—times when having the right space makes all the difference.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our lessons on emotional regulation and self-awareness, these flexible seats give students a sense of ownership over their learning environment. Your support didn't just provide furniture; it gave my students tools to succeed and a tangible reminder that people believe in them.","fullyFundedDate":1762367223007,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-big-feelings-busy/9873522/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for Big Feelings & Busy Brains!","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Hawkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139433_orig.png?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711740604113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-catherine-hawkins"},{"teacherId":1941819,"projectId":9589836,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for funding my recent DonorsChoose project. Although the original laptop storage unit I requested did not function as expected, I was able to use the remaining funds to order other essential classroom items that have made a tremendous difference for my students—especially the student headphones.\r\n\r\nThe headphones have been a game changer in our daily learning. My students can now fully focus during reading and math intervention activities, listen to digital stories, and participate in online learning programs without distractions. For many of my young learners, having their own set of working headphones has helped them stay engaged and confident as they practice key skills.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has directly improved the learning experience in our classroom. It's wonderful to see the students so excited and focused during independent learning time. Thank you for supporting my classroom and helping me create a more effective and positive learning environment for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755894983672,"projectUrl":"project/laptop-storage/9589836/","projectTitle":"Laptop Storage","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1941819_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x564,y725&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755466605998","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1941819"},{"teacherId":2624286,"projectId":3657925,"letterContent":"Wow! What an amazing contribution to my classroom! Not only were the prizes super motivational, but the TIME subscription kept them learning and engaged with relevant stories for the entire year. \r\nOne thing I really enjoyed was integrating the prizes with our second grade standard of identifying and adding coins. They would earn fake coins for completing work, participating in class, etc. and then we would hold a store where they would buy prizes with the coins. That game them real practice when it came to counting coins, and even budgeting as well.\r\nThank you again so much for making their year!","fullyFundedDate":1540390708760,"projectUrl":"project/time-for-books-supplies-and-prizes/3657925/","projectTitle":"TIME for Books, Supplies, and Prizes!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kristal Munk Stewart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2624286_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1521595381871","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-munk"},{"teacherId":2624286,"projectId":3380457,"letterContent":"This project was a game changer for me and my sweet kiddos. They were able to keep all of their supplies (including books) safe and sound which led to increased reading and achievement overall. My students were also super excited to have these materials as they were brand new, and they got to decorate them to really make them feel like theirs. They are also waterproof so no need to worry about the inevitable exposure to the elements when they fell out of backpacks, were forgotten outside, etc. they were good to go! Thank you again for making their year!","fullyFundedDate":1530924878748,"projectUrl":"project/keep-it-together/3380457/","projectTitle":"Keep it Together!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kristal Munk Stewart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2624286_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1521595381871","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-munk"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_33247","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":478,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":10,"percentWhite":40,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":31,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":70.8,"schoolId":33247,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Whittier Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Whittier Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/utah/salt-lake-city-school-district/whittier-elementary-school/33247"}