{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Gorder Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8620460,"projectId":9991363,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and making these new resources possible. Your generosity has already made a meaningful impact on my students and the way we learn together each day.\r\n\r\nSince receiving the materials, my students and I have been using them during our daily lessons to help bring concepts to life in a more hands-on and engaging way. One moment that really stood out happened during a recent classroom activity when students used the new resources to work through a collaborative project. Instead of simply listening to instruction, they were able to explore, discuss, and problem-solve together. Watching them take ownership of their learning and confidently explain their thinking to their classmates was incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate. They were eager to open everything and started asking questions about when they would get to use them. The energy in the room shifted right away—students who are sometimes hesitant to participate were suddenly volunteering and wanting to be involved. It reminded me how powerful the right tools can be in sparking curiosity and motivation.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, these resources will continue to play an important role in our upcoming lessons and projects. My students will be building on what they've started by applying their new skills in more complex activities, including small group collaboration and student-led problem solving. These experiences will help deepen their understanding and give them more opportunities to practice critical thinking and communication.\r\n\r\nYour support has given my students opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in their learning. Your kindness truly makes a difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1768413187110,"projectUrl":"project/building-brilliance-in-first-grade/9991363/","projectTitle":"Building Brilliance in First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Barlow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8620460"},{"teacherId":2644916,"projectId":9991481,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom project. Students use the STEM bins to explore hands-on building and engineering challenges. They work together to create structures, test ideas, and improve designs. \r\n\r\nI love to watch their excitement as they experiment, build, and proudly share their creations with classmates. \r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue to use STEM bins during centers to strengthen their problem-solving and collaboration skills. These hands-on materials will help students develop 21st-century skills. \r\n\r\nThanks to your support, STEM learning will continue to be an exciting and meaningful part of my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1768078836472,"projectUrl":"project/think-build-create/9991481/","projectTitle":"Think, Build, Create!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Penney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2644916_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1527044161468","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2644916"},{"teacherId":8179896,"projectId":10005459,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support in funding \"Help the Youngest Learners Build Early Readiness Skills!\" My students were so excited to see new toys/materials in our classroom! They were smiling and so ready to play with the new toys/materials. They really enjoyed playing with the toys/materials while learning! At this age my students learn through play and interacting with each other. While playing my students are increasing their pre-academic and social emotional skills. The new materials are placed in different centers of the classroom that are available daily. The students have loved using the measuring tapes to measure friends, teachers, and items in the classroom. They are learning how to read a tape measure at the same time. You can see examples of this in the pictures. Thank you again! We really appreciate it!","fullyFundedDate":1768180486797,"projectUrl":"project/help-the-youngest-learners-build-early-r/10005459/","projectTitle":"Help the Youngest Learners Build Early Readiness Skills!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8179896"},{"teacherId":8134050,"projectId":9996530,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations. My students have made winter art using their new art supplies. We will also be making Mother's Day gifts with our new paints, sharpies, and canvases. They have been working hard on their fluency timing each other with the new stopwatches. We use the sticky chart paper for lots of anchor charts to help us with math, science and such studies. I have one student with special needs who loves art. He has been very excited to use the tempera paint sticks as it makes painting so much easier and mess free.","fullyFundedDate":1768157909739,"projectUrl":"project/improve-reading-fluency-and-create-art/9996530/","projectTitle":"Improve Reading Fluency and Create Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8134050"},{"teacherId":9367472,"projectId":9997886,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the USB-C compatible headphones. Thanks to these headphones, my students can work in a quiet environment. Every student has headphones that allow them to hear and focus on the learning programs on their Ipads. The learning programs on the IPads require students to listen, follow directions, listen to and read stories and solve math problems. In most instances students must use audio. Before your generous gift of headphones, students had to listen out loud to these programs. Now students have the tools necessary to succeed in a quiet environment.","fullyFundedDate":1768153031396,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-to-help-every-child-hear-foc/9997886/","projectTitle":"Headphones to Help Every Child Hear, Focus, and Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Charter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9367472"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_69848","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":649,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":14,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":66,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":79.8,"schoolId":69848,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Van Gorder Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Van Gorder Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/washoe-county-school-district/edward-w-van-gorder-elementary-school/69848"}
Join the 129 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Van Gorder Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Sparks, Nevada that is part of Washoe County School District.
It serves 649 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1.
Its teachers have had 110 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades Pre-K - 5
649 Students
44 Teachers
7650 Campello DrContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Share and help support Van Gorder Elementary School
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.
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.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
23%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Van Gorder Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Mar 20, 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.
Van Gorder Elementary School
$81,670
raised using DonorsChoose
110
projects
funded
56
teachers
funded
129
donors
9
projects
for
basic supplies
32
projects for
technology
10
projects for
books
5
projects
for
art supplies
Van Gorder Elementary School has received support from
103 individuals from Nevada and
26 individuals out-of-state.
