Clay International Academy in South Bend, Indiana on DonorsChoose

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Having brand new markers and other high quality materials is so meaningful to each of my students, and to me. These materials become tools in lessons that prompt my four year old students to practice writing, counting, and other academic skills while engaged in artistic exploration. I am so grateful and thankful to you for this incredible investment in my classroom. I cannot thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1774963783847,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-creations-curious-minds-buil/10078414/","projectTitle":"Colorful Creations & Curious Minds: Building Stem Skills Through Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schaeffer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8682167"},{"teacherId":8505165,"projectId":9864984,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for caring out my students. They were so excited to make the slime and learn about chemical reactions. Without your help this wouldn't have been possible. Science is all around us, and through projects like this students learn that. \r\n\r\nBeing hands on in school is much more fun than studying from a book or computer and you made that possible. The kids still talk about it with others. So once again we thank you for the support and opportunity you gave us. You matter so much to students everywhere when you invest in their education!","fullyFundedDate":1762266359719,"projectUrl":"project/science-slime/9864984/","projectTitle":"Science Slime","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Laskowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505165_orig.png?crop=1373,1374,x0,y27&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724000915997","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505165"},{"teacherId":8682167,"projectId":9815201,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for your support of my classroom! \r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived in the classroom, my whole group of 4 year olds gathered around and and audibly gasped as I removed each item from the box. I work with a population of children who are largely from low income households, and the new toys were treated with joy, excitement and even reverence! There was such interest and excitement that day we had to do a sign up sheet to take turns playing math games. \r\n\r\nYour donation supported us in adding a beautiful array of new math materials for our classroom-- puzzles to solve! Beads to sort and count! And counters to make math exploration hands on and exciting. I know these materials are making math learning more meaningful and exciting to my students, and they are spending longer and working harder during math lessons. Your generous gift means they are better prepared for math learning, next year in kindergarten and beyond! They will enhance my classroom for many years to come and inspire many more children to learn and grow. I cannot thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1764777517528,"projectUrl":"project/math-in-motion-manipulatives-for-little/9815201/","projectTitle":"Math in Motion: Manipulatives for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schaeffer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8682167"},{"teacherId":8505165,"projectId":8680131,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for caring about these athletes. This year we went to city championship again and won! Without your support these girls would not have had the opportunity to practice with the appropriate equipment. \r\n\r\nThe last 3 years I got to watch them grow as athletes and become the best at the middle school level. I can't wait to see how they grow in high school and beyond. This is all because of you and your generosity. \r\n\r\nI wish I could convey in this letter how amazing they are and how well they did but hopefully the pictures help.","fullyFundedDate":1729697311699,"projectUrl":"project/rebuilding-cia-volleyball/8680131/","projectTitle":"Rebuilding CIA Volleyball","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Laskowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8505165_orig.png?crop=1373,1374,x0,y27&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724000915997","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8505165"},{"teacherId":8682167,"projectId":9697444,"letterContent":"The day my light table arrived, all of my 4-year old students were buzzing with excitement. They knew immediately from the big box that something exciting was happened, so we all gathered around and opened it together! From the moment it arrived in the classroom, the children were all eager for an opportunity to play with and explore it. It has been such an impactful addition to our classroom that the children sign up each day (an amazing chance for building early writing and literacy skills!) for their turn to use it.\r\n\r\nAs an educator, it is so beautiful and rewarding to watch the learning taking place at the light table. The children are exploring conservation of mass, the way colors mix and change, and the way light can penetrate some objects (but not others!) and more. I am so grateful for your incredible generosity, and I know this beautiful light table will benefit many many classes over the upcoming years.\r\n\r\nPersonally, I am excited for the upcoming lessons which will incorporate this amazing piece of technology. I look forward to an upcoming geometry lesson where students will build two dimensional shapes on the light table, and to adding translucent letters for students to build their names and early words. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for the amazing learning you have made possible in my classroom. 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About this school

Clay International Academy is a suburban public school in South Bend, Indiana that is part of South Bend Community School Corporation. It serves 496 students in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.0:1. Its teachers have had 25 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 8

496 Students

31 Teachers

52900 Lily Rd

South Bend, IN 46637 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Clay International Academy to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Clay International Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

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Clay International Academy Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

46%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Clay International Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated May 22, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.