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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Sands from La Mesa, CA is requesting lab equipment through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Sands is requesting

Composting Is Cool

Help me give my students an understanding of how food scraps can be recycled and turned into compost for our garden.

FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Sands's classroom raised $292

This project is fully funded

My Students

The students I have the opportunity to work with are creative, innovative, enthusiastic young people who are known to thank their teachers when they leave classrooms. There are over 1,100 students on campus in grades four through eight. It wasn't always like this, but in the past few years, the school has blossomed as the result of a visionary principal, progressive staff, and active parent community. As a result, there is now a lottery and long waitlist for new enrollees.

Parents are coming in droves to visit the campus and see all it has to offer including a wide variety of elective classes that you would normally only have access to in high school or college.

For example, students can take Theater, Dance, Speech, Tap, Ensemble, Encore, Keyboards, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Art just to name a few. They can also get involved in a Community Action Team elective course, Future Teacher elective course, or be a part of ASB, Media or Yearbook. They can even learn how to use a 3D printer in a class designed to teach that skill. The students are noticeably vibrant and well-behaved. Everyone feels fortunate to be there, including me.

My Project

In the culinary class, we have been throwing away all of our food scraps. However, doing so is a wasted opportunity. After all, we have a culinary garden with vegetable beds, citrus trees, and tomato vines.

Creating compost out of our food scraps will not only fertilize our culinary garden, but it will also teach students to do the same thing at home.

When we are actually in school (vs. distance learning), students are given seed packets and encouraged to grow produce or edible flowers at home. For some, it is their first time attempting to grow something. Many students discover their green thumb from the experience and become very interested in horticulture. Learning how to compost and reduce landfill waste is a valuable lesson in that all children should learn.

Ms. Sands La Mesa Arts Academy Grades 6-8

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

La Mesa, CA View local requests

More than a third of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

175 students impacted 4donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Sands is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Nordic Ware Bundt Quartet Pan, quotL x 12.38&quotW x 2.47&Quoth, Gold • Amazon Business $48.26 3 $144.78
BelleMark Kitchen Compost Bin- 1.6 Gal Smell-Proof, Rust-Proof Stainless Steel Insert, Countertop Compost Bin with Lid and Acacia Wood Box - Indoor Compost Bin for Kitchen Countertop • Amazon Business $52.00 1 $52.00

Materials cost

$196.78

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $18.01

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.95

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$247.74

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$43.72

Total project goal

$291.46

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $291.46

3 Donors

-$112.35

Donations toward project cost

-$99.24

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$13.11

match offer

-$174.70

Match offer toward project cost

-$148.50

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$26.20

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$4.40

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Sands and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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