{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highlands Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3301166,"projectId":9582716,"letterContent":"The students and staff are SO thankful to have received these items to support student learning in encore classes. Each of the chairs have been placed in individual rooms to allow for modified seating options along with tools to support engagement and regulation. \r\n\r\nThe students were excited to see \"presents\" in the classroom when first seeing the delivery boxes. Although many of the students have limited language, their exploration of the seats and tools have shared enough about their interest and thankfulness.","fullyFundedDate":1761955236992,"projectUrl":"project/encore-encore-we-need-supports/9582716/","projectTitle":"Encore, Encore, We Need Supports","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Freund","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3301166_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480905407344","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/williamsbritta"},{"teacherId":9936832,"projectId":9145809,"letterContent":"This grant has allowed our third-grade students with autism to engage with learning in a completely new and meaningful way, using the LEGO DUPLO Alphabet Truck kits. I have incorporated these kits into our daily routine to support a variety of skills, including fine motor, communication, and cognitive development. My students thrive on predictable, hands-on activities, and the DUPLO kits provide a perfect blend of sensory-friendly materials and structured play. We use the large, easy-to-handle blocks to build the trucks and load the colorful letter bricks, which helps them refine their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. I often use the alphabet bricks to prompt letter recognition and sequencing during one-on-one time, turning a traditionally abstract academic task into a fun, tactile game. The predictability of the trucks and the feel of the blocks offer a calming and engaging anchor point for our learners, making the classroom a more productive space.\r\nThis month, we used the DUPLO trucks for a project on community helpers. I divided the class into small, guided groups and gave each group a car, along with a collection of extra DUPLO bricks. The task was for each group to transform their truck into a specific type of community vehicle. One group, fixated on emergency services, worked together to create a fire truck, making the pieces into a crane and ladder. The project required them to collaborate, communicate, and solve problems together, skills that are often challenging. I observed students, who usually prefer to work alone, happily negotiating with their peers about which pieces to use. The culminating moment was when they paraded their finished community helper vehicles through a block town we built together, showcasing their creations with immense pride.","fullyFundedDate":1748371255913,"projectUrl":"project/stem-for-all/9145809/","projectTitle":"STEM for ALL","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ghiglieri","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9936832"},{"teacherId":549214,"projectId":9568563,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, Little Learners, Big Start! is already off and running! I am so grateful to share that the donated items have arrived, and they're ready to go just in time for our open house today.\r\n\r\nWhile the pictures don't yet include my little learners, I know without a doubt that we are about to have a big start because of donors like you. Your support means so much, not only to me as a teacher, but to the students who will get to learn, grow, and thrive with these resources.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in education and for investing in my little learners' bright futures.","fullyFundedDate":1755737354761,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-start/9568563/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Big Start","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mohr"},{"teacherId":549214,"projectId":9155283,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting education and my class by donating to our project! Our rug arrived and it was like Christmas when the kids came in and saw that our old rug was gone a there was a brand new one in its place! \r\nThey came in and quickly claimed what spot and color they wanted to be theirs for the rest of the year. Who knew a new rug could bring such excitement?! I have to admit, I was just as excited. ; )\r\nThank you for your generosity and support. I'm hoping this rug will last be for the rest of my teaching career!","fullyFundedDate":1744818942182,"projectUrl":"project/rainbow-rug/9155283/","projectTitle":"Rainbow Rug!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mohr"},{"teacherId":9935905,"projectId":9143311,"letterContent":"My students were very excited to use the new materials in STEM. They were eager to explore and create with the new supplies. I loved seeing their creativity and new designs.\r\n\r\nStudents have been using the materials during engineering exploration days. They have been working in small groups to build, create and test with the new materials. The new supplies have been helping students improve their communication, collaboration and creativity skills. \r\n\r\nThe Lincoln Log Tree house sets were a favorite with my students. They were able to design their own tree house and were excited to share their work with their friends. Students loved that they were able to get a new variety of building materials and loved testing out each one.\r\n\r\nThese materials will be able to be used for many years in my STEM classrooms. Thank you for giving our students a chance to be creative with new hands-on materials!","fullyFundedDate":1741308799713,"projectUrl":"project/creativity-and-critical-thinking-through/9143311/","projectTitle":"Creativity and Critical Thinking Through STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9935905"},{"teacherId":549214,"projectId":9081482,"letterContent":"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing so much music, laughter and smiles to my classroom with the items we received from this project. I wish you could've been there as we opened the boxes and the kids squealed with joy!\r\nThey are loving making music and playing games. They love dancing to Go Danny songs with the Glow Sticks and their giggles and excitement makes my heart so happy.\r\nThank you for not only supporting my classroom project and bringing so much happiness to my kids (and me), but for also supporting education.","fullyFundedDate":1738635786788,"projectUrl":"project/music-and-movement-in-the-classroom/9081482/","projectTitle":"Music and Movement in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mohr"},{"teacherId":3301166,"projectId":8917694,"letterContent":"With your donation I received play items for my classroom to use during specialized instruction to aid in student communication. We know that the youngest learners learn best through play opportunities. This donation provided us with more high interest play items. \r\n\r\nThe students are requesting the NEW play items in a variety of ways - using their mouth words, voice output device, and/or pointing/gesturing. When the students saw the new items, they smiled and wanted to play right away and continue to want to play each day. \r\n\r\nCommunication is key for students, as we all want to be heard but some people communicate differently. This project has allowed students to explore new play items and vocabulary that they may not have been exposed to before. \r\n\r\nThank you again,","fullyFundedDate":1733255337069,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-student-communication-through/8917694/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Student Communication Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Freund","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3301166_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480905407344","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/williamsbritta"},{"teacherId":549214,"projectId":8920702,"letterContent":"Thank you for the early Christmas presents! The kids (and I) got excited every time a package arrived! \r\nWe have been using all the new \"tools\" for ELA and having fun doing so. The kids' favorite thing is the writing tablets. I got them with the intent of using them during our writing lessons as part of instruction, which we do, but they now come out at play time as well because the kids love using them to write and draw.\r\nThank you for your generosity and helping me make learning hands on and fun! Have a Merry Christmas and thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1733155498504,"projectUrl":"project/new-ela-calls-for-new-materials/8920702/","projectTitle":"New ELA Calls for New Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mohr"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_37995","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":491,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":29,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":42,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"10.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":78.1,"schoolId":37995,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highlands Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highlands Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/wisconsin/appleton-area-school-district/highlands-elementary-school/37995"}