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{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Heights Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":49.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8228497,"projectId":10031689,"letterContent":"In a special education classroom, hands on learning materials are the foundation of learning activities to incorporate a multi sensory approach to skill practice and acquisition, as well as to increase participation and engagement with learning. Color cues, fun shapes, and visual supports are necessary for students to learn critical foundational skills and apply them in a novel manner. \r\n\r\nThe materials provided through this project have provided opportunities for my students to engage in a variety of fun activities for Social and Emotional Learning, Math, ELA, and self-help skills. The students love the number rockets and letter dinosaurs, and engage with the hands on SEL materials daily. The environmental items, like the divider and mirror, have facilitated appropriate task attention and self care tasks. The materials provided through this project are used regularly, and are appreciate by all students.","fullyFundedDate":1768700049700,"projectUrl":"project/self-management-in-life-skills/10031689/","projectTitle":"Self- Management in Life Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Archer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8228497"},{"teacherId":9349917,"projectId":10022198,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and for supporting our students. Your donation has made a meaningful difference in our classroom, and we are so grateful.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the materials every day during our speech-language sessions, and they have completely transformed student engagement. One of my favorite moments was during a small group activity using the magnetic scenes and positional word figures. Students were excitedly placing animals \"under,\" \"next to,\" and \"behind\" different objects while practicing giving and following directions. What stood out most was how naturally they began talking with one another—asking questions, describing what they were doing, and even helping each other. It truly turned learning into a fun, interactive experience.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their faces lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to explore everything and immediately began communicating—many of them initiating conversations without prompts. For students who sometimes feel hesitant to speak, this was a huge moment. The hands-on nature of these resources made them feel confident, capable, and eager to participate.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we are using these materials to build even stronger communication skills. Students are beginning to create their own simple stories using the magnetic scenes and dress-up dolls, which helps them practice vocabulary, sentence structure, and creativity. With the projector, we are also able to model and share these stories as a group, encouraging discussion and deeper language use. Our goal is to continue supporting students in becoming more independent and confident communicators in real-life situations.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and helping make learning meaningful, engaging, and fun. Your kindness is truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1768689811852,"projectUrl":"project/where-language-grows-through-play-and-se/10022198/","projectTitle":"Where Language Grows Through Play and Sensory Support","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jenna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9349917"},{"teacherId":10403732,"projectId":10017916,"letterContent":"My students with autism have benefitted most from the divided workspaces and specific expectation supports at each center. The dividers are also being used to help students focus on the task and not be distracted by other students in the classroom. They have been able to better complete tasks and learning by using the dividers. They are also able to utilize the stools for flexible seating and are more comfortable when they are able to choose the stool/chair/pillow they want to sit in. It allows them to better focus on the task. \r\n\r\nMy students are working on independent skills and social skills with their peers as well. The carpet markers help them better understand where they are supposed to stand/sit and wait. It helps them learn spacial awareness, waiting expectations, and gives them more independence when they know where they are supposed to go. \r\n\r\nTh clay and play dough tools help all of them with fine motor tasks and independence because they are able to engage in the activity for a longer period of time. \r\nThey also need access to sensory supports throughout the day.\r\n\r\nThe velcro dots have allowed me to create additional visual supports throughout the classroom for independence and content understanding.","fullyFundedDate":1768691410048,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-organization/10017916/","projectTitle":"Classroom Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brock","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10403732"},{"teacherId":10403641,"projectId":10017583,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of our generous donors for supporting my students and believing in their potential. Your kindness helps create a calm, safe, and nurturing classroom where students with sensory needs can grow in confidence, self-regulation, and learning every day.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, one of my students excitedly said, \"It's Christmas once again!\"—a moment that truly captured the joy and impact of your generosity.\r\n\r\nI am also deeply grateful to the State of Nevada, which is proud to champion Nevada's educators through Senate Bill 90, sponsored by Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop and supported by the Legislature, Governor Joe Lombardo, and State Superintendent Victor Wakefield. This investment reflects a true appreciation for educators and a strong commitment to Nevada's children.\r\n\r\nIt is an honor to receive this support as I continue giving my best to my students each day.","fullyFundedDate":1768678357109,"projectUrl":"project/confident-learners/10017583/","projectTitle":"Confident Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lawrence","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10403641_orig.png?crop=139,139,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768970200519","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10403641"},{"teacherId":9347534,"projectId":9990918,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been making wonderful use of the new resources, especially during our social skills lessons. My students with autism have been actively working on identifying emotions using picture cards and practicing inferencing by answering questions about what others might be thinking or feeling. These activities have led to some really meaningful moments. Students are beginning to recognize emotions not only in the materials but also in each other. In addition, some of my students have greatly benefited from the vibrating pillow, which has become a helpful tool for self-regulation and staying calm and focused during sessions.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were incredibly excited. They were eager to explore everything and immediately asked to try each new item. The wobbly chairs quickly became a favorite, helping students stay engaged and focused during speech activities. They even take turns using them, which has been a great opportunity to practice patience and sharing. It was truly heartwarming to see their enthusiasm and appreciation for the new tools that support their learning.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we will continue building on these skills by working on sequencing, emotional regulation, and answering questions with greater independence. Students will also keep practicing their individual speech and language goals using these engaging materials. These resources have already made such a positive impact, and we are excited to keep growing and learning with them in our daily lessons.","fullyFundedDate":1768159801332,"projectUrl":"project/confident-communication/9990918/","projectTitle":"Confident Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paola","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9347534_orig.jpg?crop=320,320,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757292737970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9347534"},{"teacherId":10398609,"projectId":9989549,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has transformed into a more flexible, engaging, and supportive learning environment for my students. The new materials are being used every single day to help students build independence and stay focused during both whole-group and small-group instruction. For example, during our literacy centers, students are now able to rotate through activities more smoothly using the organized materials and flexible seating options. One special moment that stood out was seeing a student who typically struggles to stay on task become fully engaged while using the new setup—he proudly completed his work and even asked for more!\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new resources, their excitement was immediate and contagious. They were eager to explore, and many expressed how \"comfortable\" and \"fun\" the classroom felt. This sense of ownership has already made a positive impact on their confidence and willingness to learn.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will continue using these materials to strengthen our literacy skills, especially as we work on reading comprehension, writing, and collaborative learning. The next steps include expanding our small-group instruction and giving students more opportunities to take charge of their learning through independent and partner activities.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly made a difference—not just in how our classroom looks, but in how my students feel and learn every day. Thank you for being part of our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1768155822872,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seats-focused-minds/9989549/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seats, Focused Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lawrence","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10398609"},{"teacherId":9347538,"projectId":9989562,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been transformed into a hive of activity and comfort, and it is all thanks to your incredible generosity. When the boxes first arrived, the excitement was palpable. My students were especially thrilled by the vibrant \"candy-colored\" floor pillows; they immediately began claiming their favorite colors and creating cozy nooks for our daily independent reading time. Seeing them rush to the reading corner, pillows in hand, has been a highlight of our week. It has turned a once-stark corner of the room into a sought-after sanctuary where students can truly lose themselves in a book.\r\n\r\nWe have already put the STEM kits to good use. Recently, a group of students used the Bridge Builders and Marble Runners to explore physics and engineering. Meanwhile, the FingerFocus highlighters have become a game-changer for my emerging readers—the \"magic\" of the colorful wands makes tracking text feel like a fun activity rather than a chore. The new storage bins and clipboard holders have also helped us create a much more organized, professional-feeling environment where every student knows exactly where to find the tools they need to succeed.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are moving into a major unit on community service and local ecology. We'll be using the laminating pouches and heavy-duty tape to create durable, weather-resistant educational signs for our school campus as part of our project to protect local bird populations. The bubble wands are waiting in the wings as a special celebration for when we finally install our nesting spaces! These resources have not only provided immediate joy but have built the foundation for an organized and inspiring home stretch of the school year. Thank you for believing in my students.","fullyFundedDate":1768183046079,"projectUrl":"project/creating-an-engaging-and-organized-class/9989562/","projectTitle":"Creating an Engaging and Organized Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Neumann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9347538_orig.jpg?crop=878,878,x164,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698882575589","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9347538"},{"teacherId":7782559,"projectId":10075573,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students were able to bring their vision of protecting local bird populations to life in a meaningful and hands-on way. When the materials first arrived, students were immediately excited—especially the birdhouse kits and binoculars. They eagerly gathered around, asking questions and making plans for how they would design and build safe, welcoming spaces for birds on our campus. One of the most memorable moments was watching students carefully paint and assemble their birdhouses while discussing where birds might feel safest. They took true ownership of the project, treating it not just as an activity, but as a responsibility to care for living things in our shared environment.\r\n\r\nSince receiving these resources, students have been actively working in teams to build, decorate, and prepare birdhouses for installation around the school. They have also begun using the binoculars and clipboards to observe bird activity, recording what they see and discussing patterns in where birds visit. This has turned into an ongoing, student-led inquiry project where they are learning to be patient observers, thoughtful caretakers, and problem-solvers. The addition of bird seed has allowed them to continue supporting local wildlife beyond the initial build, reinforcing the importance of long-term care and stewardship.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students are excited to expand this work by monitoring the birdhouses over time and sharing their findings with other classes. They are planning to create presentations and displays to raise awareness about protecting animals and caring for shared outdoor spaces within our school community. Thanks to your support, this project has become more than a lesson—it is an authentic experience that has empowered students to see themselves as leaders who can make a positive impact on the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1770405509339,"projectUrl":"project/student-led-community-service-protectin/10075573/","projectTitle":"Student-Led Community Service: Protecting Local Birds and Building Habitats","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7782559_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721712470059","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7782559"},{"teacherId":6599412,"projectId":10018991,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for sponsoring our classroom project. We are so grateful for the exciting learning that we have got to experience so far. Every group of young English Language Learner Readers have gotten the opportunity to learn through play and experiences with these materials. The syllable race and compound words puzzles have been the favorites so far. \r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my two EL assistants were giddy with excitement to have new hands on materials to help their groups and quickly everything was unboxed and organized. The students are still getting new materials each week as we work through the learning kits and are engaged and ready to participate.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to continuing to learn using these wonderful reading kits.","fullyFundedDate":1768667040596,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-literacy-support-for-young-engl/10018991/","projectTitle":"Hands On Literacy Support for Young English Language Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Diem","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6599412_orig.jpg?crop=2767,2768,x0,y424&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633955115539","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6599412"},{"teacherId":7941714,"projectId":9987321,"letterContent":"We are already using the new resources to create a welcoming and engaging classroom where students feel proud and excited to learn. Recently, students worked on \"All About Me\" canvases using the crayons, markers, watercolor sets, and washi tape, which helped them build fine motor skills, express their creativity, and share their personalities with the class. When they first saw the materials, their faces lit up—students eagerly explored the art supplies, listened to read-alouds from books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Oh, The Places You'll Go!, and were excited to use the headphones and classroom organizers to focus and keep their space neat. Next, we will continue using these materials to integrate art with literacy and math lessons, display student work on bulletin boards, and encourage independent learning and reflection. These resources are helping students build confidence, creativity, literacy, and a love of learning every day.","fullyFundedDate":1768000255988,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-bright-minds-help-us-build-the/9987321/","projectTitle":"“Fueling Bright Minds: Help Us Build the Classroom They Deserve”","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sachs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7941714"},{"teacherId":9484581,"projectId":9997055,"letterContent":"The students are so excited to be able to use the materials from this project when they need to regulate their emotions. They seek out these new resources and it has helped them calm themselves down. For example, one student comes in when his emotions take over and uses the Lincoln Logs to calm his brain and body. It is so nice to see student learning how to regulate their emotions.\r\n\r\nI have also used the soccer balls and goals for the younger grades to work on teamwork and good sportsmanship and it has been going well. Having proper equipment has help with following the rules of the game and being kind to each other. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for your donation. We couldn't do it without you.","fullyFundedDate":1768516505544,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-manage-emotions-and-be-a-goo/9997055/","projectTitle":"Learning to Manage Emotions and Be a Good Sport","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Veil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9484581_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721446166936","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9484581"},{"teacherId":8231122,"projectId":9999638,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation! I used it to buy many basic classroom supplies for daily use. The colored file folders were utilized to create individual student schedules. The different colored file folders allowed me to use a different color for each day of the week, creating an organized environment within the classroom. \r\n\r\nI used the velcro strips and velcro dots to create things like token boards, matching books for individual students, and first/then boards. The lamination pages also were used so I could laminate these materials for long-term use.","fullyFundedDate":1768185894444,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-spectacular-students/9999638/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Spectacular Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paulson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8231122_orig.jpg?crop=731,731,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659426930268","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8231122"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_61221","uses�ǿմ�ý":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":474,"numTeachers":32,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":29,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":49,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":50.5,"schoolId":61221,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Heights Elementary School on @�ǿմ�ý:","schoolName":"Desert Heights Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/washoe-county-school-district/desert-heights-elementary-school/61221"}