{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Menominee Early Childhood Services - Head Start","outOfStateSupporters":25.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9794608,"projectId":9187187,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our \"Sensory Tools Support Student Self-Regulation\" project! Your generosity has given my students the gift of tools that help them manage their emotions, refocus their energy, and feel more in control of their learning experience. When the materials first arrived, the students were immediately drawn to them with curiosity and excitement. I'll never forget watching one student who often struggles with anxiety gently run their fingers across the mermaid sequin panel, watching the colors shift from blue to silver. They looked up at me with a smile and said, \"This makes my brain feel quiet.\" That moment perfectly captured why these tools are so transformative for our classroom community.\r\nWe are using these sensory tools throughout the day in meaningful ways. Our large bean bag chair has become a sought-after space for students who need a calming break or a comfortable spot to read and reset. The puzzle cubes sit in our self-regulation station, where students can engage their hands and minds when they're feeling overwhelmed or need to channel their energy productively. The 3D pin art toys have been especially popular during transition times, giving students a tactile way to process their thoughts between activities. We've also been using the calming essential oils during our mindfulness moments at the start of each day, and students have noticed how the scents help them feel more centered and ready to learn. The mermaid sequin panel has become a favorite tool for students across all needs—some use it when they're anxious, others when they need a brain break, and everyone loves the sensory feedback it provides.\r\nThe impact on our classroom has been remarkable. Students are developing a better understanding of their own emotions and learning to recognize when they need a sensory tool to help them self-regulate. We've had powerful conversations about how everyone's brain and body have different needs, and these tools have helped reduce stigma around asking for support. Moving forward, we're working on creating personal regulation plans where each student will identify which sensory tools work best for them and when they might need to use them. We're also developing a buddy system where students can remind and support each other in using these tools effectively. Because of your kindness and support, my students now have concrete resources to help them navigate their emotions and become more confident, self-aware learners. Thank you for investing in their social-emotional growth and well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1749822082641,"projectUrl":"project/our-sensory-tools-support-student-self-r/9187187/","projectTitle":"Our Sensory Tools Support Student Self-Regulation","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaunda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9794608_orig.jpg?crop=536,536,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749867406902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9794608"},{"teacherId":9794608,"projectId":9179871,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making our \"Dive Into Learning, And When We Learn We Grow\" classroom transformation a reality! Your generous donations have created a learning sanctuary that my students walk into with wonder every single day. The moment they first entered our newly decorated space, their faces lit up with excitement. One student exclaimed, \"It feels like we're learning in a peaceful garden and under the ocean at the same time!\" The calming eucalyptus greenery combined with our ocean-themed elements has transformed our classroom into an environment where students feel both energized and at peace.\r\nWe are using these materials in ways that go far beyond decoration. Our sensory bubble lamp has become a calming tool for students who need a moment to reset and refocus, particularly benefiting those with sensory needs. The fairy lights and ocean-themed decorations have created cozy reading corners where students eagerly dive into their books during independent reading time. The eucalyptus bulletin boards now display our \"When We Learn We Grow\" affirmations, which we read together each morning to build confidence and a growth mindset. Students have also been creating ocean-themed research projects, and they take such pride in displaying their work on our beautiful new bulletin boards surrounded by sea creatures and positive messages.\r\nThe impact on our classroom community has been profound. Students are more engaged, more respectful of our learning space, and genuinely excited to come to school each day. Next, we'll be launching a class project where students will create their own \"growth stories\" personal reflections on how they've grown as learners this year, which we'll display on our eucalyptus boards. We're also planning a \"Dive Into Reading\" challenge where students will track their reading progress on our ocean-themed calendar. Because of your generosity, my students now have a classroom that reflects the care and investment we all have in their learning journey. Thank you for believing in us and for helping create a space where every student feels valued and inspired to grow.","fullyFundedDate":1746786885131,"projectUrl":"project/dive-into-learning-and-when-we-learn-we/9179871/","projectTitle":"Dive Into Learning And When We Learn We Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaunda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9794608_orig.jpg?crop=536,536,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749867406902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9794608"},{"teacherId":9794608,"projectId":8911840,"letterContent":"When those boxes of math manipulatives and file folder games arrived at our preschool classroom, you didn't just send educational materials—you sent opportunity, excitement, and a whole new way of learning for our youngest mathematicians.\r\n\r\n## Hands-On Learning in Action\r\n\r\nEach morning during our math center time, I now watch as small hands eagerly sort colorful counters, stack geometric blocks, and trace number puzzles. The abstract concepts that once seemed so challenging have become tangible experiences. Just last week, we conducted our \"Shape Detective\" project where students used their new geometric blocks to identify shapes in our classroom environment. \r\n\r\nFour-year-old Mia, who previously struggled with shape recognition, proudly announced, \"Look, Ms. Johnson! The clock is a circle, the door is a rectangle, and my cereal bowl is an oval!\" The confidence in her voice was the direct result of having those tangible shapes in her hands first, creating a bridge between abstract concepts and the real world.\r\n\r\n## The Moment of Discovery\r\n\r\nI wish you could have seen their faces when we first unpacked the materials. Eyes wide with wonder, they approached the colorful manipulatives cautiously at first, then with increasing excitement. \"Are these all for us?\" asked Jayden in disbelief. Within minutes, the classroom buzzed with activity as students sorted buttons by size, created patterns with colored bears, and constructed block towers while counting aloud.\r\n\r\nWhat touched me most was seeing how the hands-on materials immediately engaged our more hesitant learners. Carlos, who typically hangs back during math time, spent nearly 30 minutes arranging number tiles in sequence—the longest he's ever focused on a math activity.\r\n\r\n## Building Mathematical Foundations\r\n\r\nThe file folder games have been particularly transformative for our independent learning stations. Students who finish their work early now have meaningful activities to reinforce key concepts. The \"Big and Small\" sorting game has become a classroom favorite, helping students develop crucial comparison skills while they work cooperatively.\r\n\r\nDuring our parent observation day, Eliza's mother tearfully shared how her daughter had never shown interest in numbers before, but now counts everything at home—from stairs to crackers on her plate. \"She's not afraid of math anymore,\" she told me. \"Now she thinks it's fun.\"\r\n\r\n## Looking Ahead\r\n\r\nYour generosity has set the stage for our upcoming project on measurement and comparison. Next week, we'll begin our \"Growth Garden,\" where students will plant seeds in our classroom window boxes, using the measuring tools you provided to track and compare plant heights over time. They'll create graphs with colorful manipulatives to visualize their findings, combining math skills with scientific observation.\r\n\r\nWe're also developing take-home math kits using the pattern blocks and counting bears, allowing families to reinforce these concepts at home. Many of our students don't have access to educational materials outside the classroom, making this home-school connection invaluable.\r\n\r\n## The Ripple Effect\r\n\r\nWhat you've given extends far beyond these physical materials. You've helped create a classroom where math feels like play rather than work, where curiosity leads to discovery, and where every child—regardless of their starting point—can experience success with numbers, shapes, and patterns.\r\n\r\nThe confidence these young learners are developing now will follow them throughout their educational journey. As they move forward to kindergarten and beyond, they'll carry with them not just mathematical knowledge, but the powerful belief that they can be successful in math.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us in Room 4, thank you for making math come alive in our classroom. Your generosity has truly made a difference that will last a lifetime.","fullyFundedDate":1739455214643,"projectUrl":"project/prek-math-adventure/8911840/","projectTitle":"PreK Math Adventure","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaunda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9794608_orig.jpg?crop=536,536,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749867406902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9794608"},{"teacherId":9794608,"projectId":8878760,"letterContent":"Thanks you for your donations and making our class project come to life. These sensory bin materials make it easy make adaptions to meet the needs of individual students with diverse learning styles and sensory sensitivities. \r\n\r\nThe students enjoy the sensory bins it allows them to interact with their peers and the sensory play encourages exploration and experimentation, promoting creative thinking and problem-solving skills. \r\n\r\nThese sensory bins are helping my students learn to regulate their energy levels and self-calm, as kids become absorbed in these activities and find comfort in them.","fullyFundedDate":1733253513117,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-bins/8878760/","projectTitle":"Sensory Bins","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaunda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9794608_orig.jpg?crop=536,536,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749867406902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9794608"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_127387","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":93,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":61,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":75.0,"schoolId":127387,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Menominee Early Childhood Services - Head Start on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Menominee Early Childhood Services - Head Start","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/wisconsin/menominee-indian-school-district/menominee-early-childhood-services-head-start/127387"}