{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"W.H. Taylor Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":44.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3422970,"projectId":9697807,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Fun and Inclusive PE: Tennis Balls & Bean Bags.\" Because of your generosity, my students now have access to safe, versatile equipment that has made a noticeable difference in our physical education classes. We are using the tennis balls and bean bags daily for throwing, catching, rolling, striking, and cooperative games. One of my favorite moments was watching students who are usually hesitant jump right in—smiling, laughing, and confidently participating because the equipment feels approachable and success-friendly.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate. They couldn't wait to try them out and were eager to help organize and set up activities. The soft, lightweight nature of the equipment has helped all students feel comfortable taking risks and practicing skills without fear, which has been especially important for our younger learners and students with varying ability levels. I've already seen improvements in hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and overall engagement during class.\r\n\r\nNext, we are building on these skills through small-group challenges, target games, and inclusive stations that allow every student to progress at their own pace. The materials you provided will continue to support lessons focused on cooperation, movement confidence, and lifelong physical activity habits. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to learn, move, and succeed in such a positive and inclusive way—your support truly makes a lasting impact in our PE program.","fullyFundedDate":1762849357923,"projectUrl":"project/fun-and-inclusive-pe-tennis-balls-bea/9697807/","projectTitle":"Fun and Inclusive PE: Tennis Balls & Bean Bags","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Melshen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3422970_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1475892630182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3422970"},{"teacherId":3422970,"projectId":9638654,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our After School Swiftie Club! Because of your generosity, our students now have a safe, joyful space after school where they can connect through music, creativity, and friendship. We are using these resources during weekly club meetings to explore different Taylor Swift eras through listening activities, lyric games, trivia, movement breaks, and collaborative projects. One of our favorite moments so far was watching students work together during our debut-era lyric hunt, cheering each other on as they made connections and shared their favorite lines.\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate and contagious. Smiles, gasps, and happy chatter filled the room as they realized this was a club created just for them. Many students who are usually quiet during the school day found their voices here—singing along, volunteering answers, and confidently sharing their ideas. The club has quickly become a place where students feel included, celebrated, and comfortable being themselves.\r\nThanks to your support, our next steps include continuing our journey through additional eras, incorporating more student-led activities, and building in opportunities for reflection, teamwork, and positive self-expression. The Swiftie Club has become much more than an after-school activity—it's a community that promotes belonging, creativity, and joy. We are incredibly grateful for your role in making this experience possible for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1761374572688,"projectUrl":"project/after-school-swiftie-club/9638654/","projectTitle":"After School Swiftie Club","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Melshen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3422970_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1475892630182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3422970"},{"teacherId":3422970,"projectId":9896867,"letterContent":"The big scooters have already made a huge impact in our classroom. We've been using them during our movement and STEM stations, where students work on balance, coordination, teamwork, and problem-solving. They've quickly become a favorite resource for combining physical activity with hands-on learning. \r\nMy students use the scooters to complete relay challenges, measure distance and time during math integration lessons, and collaborate in small groups to design obstacle paths that require strategy and communication.\r\nWhen my students first saw the scooters, the room practically erupted. There were cheers, wide eyes, and so many excited questions. A few students even asked if the materials were \"really for us.\" It was a joyful moment of surprise and appreciation—they couldn't believe they now had equipment like this in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764632569038,"projectUrl":"project/scooters-for-all-learners-all-sizes/9896867/","projectTitle":"Scooters for All Learners, All Sizes","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Melshen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3422970_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1475892630182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3422970"},{"teacherId":3422970,"projectId":9907816,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project, \"Foam Balls, Batons, and Hockey Sticks—Energizing Our PE Program.\" Because of you, our students now have access to safe, high-quality equipment that allows every child to participate confidently. We are using the foam balls for striking and throwing skills, the batons for relay and teamwork activities, and the hockey sticks for introductory floor hockey lessons. These tools have helped us focus on skill development, cooperation, and movement in a way that is both engaging and inclusive.\r\nWhen the students first saw the new equipment, their excitement was immediate and contagious. Many couldn't wait to try the hockey sticks, while others were eager to practice with the foam balls and batons. The soft, student-friendly materials helped even our more hesitant learners feel comfortable jumping in and giving new skills a try. It was wonderful to see smiles, teamwork, and confidence growing right from the first lesson.\r\nNext, we will continue building on these skills through small-group stations, lead-up games, and cooperative challenges that emphasize sportsmanship and lifelong fitness. Your support has truly energized our PE program and created meaningful learning experiences for every student. Thank you for investing in our students and helping make physical education fun, safe, and accessible for all!","fullyFundedDate":1764076062948,"projectUrl":"project/foam-balls-batons-and-hockey-sticksen/9907816/","projectTitle":"Foam Balls, Batons, and Hockey Sticks—Energizing Our PE Program","teacherDisplayName":"Teacher Melshen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3422970_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1475892630182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3422970"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9591303,"letterContent":"We all know the benefits of play: cooperation, strategy, sportsmanship, brain development, stress relief, stimulating the mind, and boosting creativity just to name a few! With your generous donation I was able to provide my class a selection of new games, STEM activities, and brainstorming activities that are right up their alley! I was also to provide some new seating for reading, as well as folders to keep us organized and treats for my gluten and peanut free allergy students.\r\n\r\nWith your help I am helping put the FUN back into learning the FUNDAMENTALS! Learning how to play cooperatively, how to win and loose graciously, and learning that learning can be fun are lifelong skills that I hope to encourage and foster throughout the school year! Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1755697728683,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-boosts/9591303/","projectTitle":"Classroom Boosts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9510575,"letterContent":"Headphones are essential to our classroom. Working headphones allow students to concentrate and complete their assigned online lessons. Unfortunately, because headphones do not last forever, there is a constant need for new headphones. While it would be ideal for each student to bring their own headphones, unfortunately, not all students' families can afford new headphones.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous donation to help supply headphones that will allow success for my students. The headphones are being used with their Chromebooks on a daily basis and are used during blended learning for all subjects. My students, as well as students from other classes have been using them since week one of school!! Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1753925365765,"projectUrl":"project/do-you-hear-what-i-hear/9510575/","projectTitle":"Do You Hear What I Hear?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9510466,"letterContent":"With your help, I was able to provide supplies that are always needed and always appreciated! New composition books for their daily journal writings, a classroom set of colored pencils to help add a pop of color to our projects, and construction paper of all sizes and colors have been a wonderful start to their new school year!\r\n\r\nHaving these supplies ready to go at the start of the year was a wonderful relief and comfort for me and for my students! These supplies were a wonderful addition to our classroom! Thank you again!!","fullyFundedDate":1753924143262,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-fresh-start/9510466/","projectTitle":"New Year, Fresh Start","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9510493,"letterContent":"Alternative seating has become such a necessity in today's classrooms! Many kids need a spot by themselves or a quiet space with a buddy, and because of you, I was able to provide some alternative seating spots for the kids in my classroom, as well as get a new teacher chair for myself. After teaching for 28 years, a new chair that isn't a hand-me down is a real treat. My old chair is now the special seat for my small groups. Each year, I have tried to add one or two new seating spots, and they are always quickly chosen as \"the place\" to be.\r\n\r\nThank you again so much for helping provide these resources in my classroom! These new seating options are a great place to offer my students an alternative learning space!","fullyFundedDate":1753928256523,"projectUrl":"project/introduce-your-bottom-to-the-chair/9510493/","projectTitle":"Introduce Your Bottom to the Chair","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":6586485,"projectId":9788011,"letterContent":"Thanks to you all my students are able to organize and charge their Chromebook's on a daily basis! Also, we have an extra storage pouch for supplies that are used to hang up classroom items. Lastly, the whiteboard paper is available for me to model solving math problems and writing instructional information because I am lacking board space! My students and I feel like these items have helped to improve our classroom culture and the way we remain organized throughout the school year. Many thanks for your contributions!","fullyFundedDate":1759694010314,"projectUrl":"project/ms-browns-scholars-are-in-need/9788011/","projectTitle":"Ms. Browns Scholars are in Need","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6586485_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1564716523818","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6586485"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9240591,"letterContent":"My class and I had such a great time-sharing books with each other over this past school year. Fact or fiction, picture books or chapter books, we loved them all! One of the favorites was Third Grade Angels, by Jerry Spinelli. I knew I wanted to share with them the sequel, Fourth Grade Rats, but we ran out of time.\r\n\r\nThanks to your help and donations, I was able to gift them a copy of each book as their End-of-the-Year send off!! The kids were actually excited to take the books home to add to their own library, as well as to find out what happened to the characters!!\r\n\r\nThank you again for your support of my students, and our love of reading!","fullyFundedDate":1744197583260,"projectUrl":"project/books-to-help-my-third-graders-bloom/9240591/","projectTitle":"Books to Help My Third Graders Bloom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":4497335,"projectId":9194083,"letterContent":"I cannot even begin to express the impact our class store had on the motivation and success of our entire third grade this past year! The kids absolutely LOVED using their Owl \"money\" they earned during the week to either spend it or save for it on their treasures!\r\n\r\nAlong with the other third grade teachers, we chose students to completely run the store! It was amazing to see the benefits of the leadership as well as the benefits of student's choice. The kids gave input on the items they would like to see in the store, as well as the value of each kind of items.\r\n\r\nThank you again for this amazing opportunity for our third graders!","fullyFundedDate":1742919722032,"projectUrl":"project/owl-store-treats/9194083/","projectTitle":"Owl Store Treats","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Turgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4497335_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x302,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566532409886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sturgeonteaching"},{"teacherId":9803661,"projectId":8876641,"letterContent":"I am writing on behalf of the kindergarteners at WH Taylor Elementary School to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation. Your support has made a significant difference in how we showcased our students' artwork. \r\n\r\nBecause of you, all of the kindergarten collages, inspired by artist Sam Gilliam, were able to fit beautifully on one side of the wall. This arrangement gave the display a cohesive, gallery-like feel. The extra space on the back side of the wall allowed us to include a collaborative fabric painting art piece created by the all 3 of the kindergarten classes at the school, which enriched the exhibit even further. \r\n\r\nSince these children are in their first year at our school, it was especially meaningful for them to see their own work presented at such a professional level. Displaying their artwork in this elevated way taught them how professional art exhibitions are arranged. It also gave each child a tremendous sense of pride and confidence in their own creativity and hard work. \r\n\r\nWe cannot thank you enough for your generosity. Your support helped us celebrate our students' hard work and creativity in a truly memorable way. The children were delighted to see their artwork honored so prominently; your kindness has made a lasting impact on our kindergarten community. Thank you again for believing in our young artists and for helping to make their first art exhibition a remarkable success.","fullyFundedDate":1735087273564,"projectUrl":"project/art-show-2025/8876641/","projectTitle":"Art Show 2025","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tyler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9803661"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_34887","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":403,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":38,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":55.2,"schoolId":34887,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about W.H. Taylor Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"W.H. Taylor Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/norfolk-public-schools/w-h-taylor-elementary-school/34887"}