{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Harder Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10167755,"projectId":9572587,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to my classroom project, \"Bringing the Outdoors In: Artful Nature Journals for Our Class\". Students were thrilled to receive their nature journaling pouches with their very own notebook, colored pencils, and clipboard. We discussed the connection between their new materials and how \"real\" scientists observed the world. Embracing this connection between themselves and the habits of scientists, students were very excited to go outside and start their observations. \r\n\r\nWe have already spent several sessions in our school garden drawing plants and creatures that capture students' attention. Students are learning to slow down, observe closely, notice patterns, and pay attention to change. The class has become more curious about the world around them! My students would not be able to have these meaningful, hands-on learning experiences without your support.","fullyFundedDate":1755872685216,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-the-outdoors-in-artful-nature/9572587/","projectTitle":"Bringing the Outdoors In: Artful Nature Journals for Our Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mangewala","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10167755"},{"teacherId":1038930,"projectId":9175753,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support and generous donations that helped fully fund our project. My transitional kindergarteners enjoyed learning with all the resources purchased through this project. The light tables were a wonderful resource to enhance our science exploration of water and light. Several students have never completed a puzzle before coming into kindergarten and now absolutely love puzzles! The legos are used every single morning during our activity time and our students were able to create not just the models from the kits but also their own creations. In the Spring, we raised caterpillars and all five metamorphosized into beautiful butterflies that we set free on our kindergarten playground. I am so incredibly thankful for all the resources we have received.","fullyFundedDate":1742961485937,"projectUrl":"project/puzzles-legos-light-tables-and-more/9175753/","projectTitle":"Puzzles, Legos, Light Tables and More!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Padania","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1038930_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490548753715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mnguyen"},{"teacherId":8136809,"projectId":9089516,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support of my classroom project. Your contribution made such a meaningful difference in providing students with the tools they need to succeed.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, my goal is to create an engaging, supportive, and productive learning environment. However, limited supplies often hinder our ability to fully explore and enjoy learning. Your donation helped us acquire essential materials, such as glue sticks, art supplies, organizational tools, and sensory items, all of which will enhance our classroom experience.\r\n\r\nThanks to your kindness, I was able to create a welcoming space with a classroom rug for discussions, provide art supplies for creative projects, and incorporate sensory tools to support emotional regulation. These resources have fostered even better student engagement, collaboration, and focus, ensuring that every child can thrive.\r\n\r\nYour support not only supplied our classroom with necessary materials but also inspired and motivated our students to reach their full potential. My students and I are incredibly grateful for your generosity and belief in the importance of empowering young learners.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for making a difference in our students' lives!","fullyFundedDate":1740023525357,"projectUrl":"project/equipping-young-minds-classroom-essenti/9089516/","projectTitle":"Equipping Young Minds: Classroom Essentials for a Successful Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lulu","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8136809_orig.jpg?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693580928901","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8136809"},{"teacherId":9068276,"projectId":8904079,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom is now filled with new, engaging materials that are making a real difference in how my students learn. The letter tiles, base ten blocks, stamps, and phonics games have brought so much excitement and energy to our daily lessons.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the letter tiles and phonics games during our literacy centers, and the impact has been immediate. One small group activity had students using the tiles to build word families, and you could see the light bulbs going off as they made connections between sounds and spelling. One student proudly exclaimed, \"I made six real words in a row!\"\r\n\r\nIn math, the base ten blocks have transformed abstract concepts into something tangible. When we worked on place value, students were able to physically build numbers, making it so much easier to understand tens and ones. Even our more reluctant learners became confident when they could \"see\" the math in their hands.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the classroom buzzed with excitement. The kids couldn't wait to dig into the games and tools. Some even asked if they could stay in during recess to keep playing and learning!\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be using the stamps and tiles for a writing unit where students will stamp out words before writing full sentences. It's all about building confidence and fluency, and thanks to you, we have the tools to do that in fun, hands-on ways.\r\n\r\nYour support has turned everyday lessons into joyful, memorable learning experiences. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to grow and thrive!","fullyFundedDate":1740416538526,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning/8904079/","projectTitle":"Hands on Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vanessa Vargas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9068276_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727737664977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/vanev"},{"teacherId":1038930,"projectId":8932517,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support and generous donations. Our transitional kindergartners absolutely love using the resources and materials that this project provided. They had so much fun making snowman in January and we had a lot of great discussions about using descriptive words to describe their snowman. Several of the materials like the magnetiles, construction vehicles, and kinetic sand have been used daily since we received them. Our students have created and built many different types of structures with the magnetiles such as homes for their little play people, garages for their little cars and even zoos for the little play animals. We will start using the baking soda and vinegar to experiment in our last couple months of TK. I am so incredibly grateful that the additional resources in this project have made school more fun and engaging for our youngest learners. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1731520625300,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-tk/8932517/","projectTitle":"STEM in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Padania","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1038930_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490548753715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mnguyen"},{"teacherId":9207078,"projectId":8807376,"letterContent":"Since receiving the popup soccer goals and baseball equipment, I've incorporated them into our P.E. curriculum in dynamic and exciting ways. With the popup soccer goals, we've been focusing on skill-building drills, such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. A recent highlight was a small-sided soccer game where the students worked on teamwork and strategy while also having fun. It was exciting to see their confidence grow as they practiced their skills with the new goals, which gave the activity a more authentic and engaging feel. The popup goals make the setup quick and easy, so we can focus more on the activities itself. Although I haven't yet used the baseball equipment in full, I'm preparing to introduce it in the upcoming months. I plan to use the plastic bats and bases for a game that will teach students fundamental skills such as hitting, running the bases, and teamwork. I'm eager to see how they respond to these new tools once they get the chance to try them out.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new popup soccer goals, it immediately drew their attention, and they were eager to start practicing with them. It sparked a renewed sense of interest in the activities we were doing. As for the baseball equipment, the students are eagerly awaiting the chance to use the bats and bases. Even though we haven't yet introduced the equipment in a full lesson, the sight of the plastic bats and bases has already piqued their curiosity. At recess and during conversations I've had with many students during and away from class, they've started to talk about the games and skills they're excited to try, showing me they are excited and anticipating the day we finally get started.\r\n\r\nThe next steps for my students will involve further skill development and exploration. With the soccer goals, we'll be focusing on more advanced drills that challenge their dribbling and shooting techniques. These goals allow me to create a more interactive and engaging learning environment, where students can practice in a more realistic, game-like setting. As for the baseball equipment, we'll start with basic skills like hitting off a tee, learning proper bat grip, and practicing running the bases. I'm excited to see how the students will engage with these resources and how they will contribute to a more diverse and enjoyable P.E. experience!","fullyFundedDate":1734473650978,"projectUrl":"project/field-of-dreams/8807376/","projectTitle":"Field of Dreams!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rosenblum","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9207078_orig.jpg?crop=500,500,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701670814832","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9207078"},{"teacherId":1038930,"projectId":8829103,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support and generous donations towards our book project. We have read every single book in this project (at least once)! We have also had our principal, reading specialist, and other Spanish bilingual teachers come and read the books to our class. Our TK students really enjoyed listening to the stories read to them and they also love looking through the bilingual books (especially the board books) on their own and with a fellow classmate. I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to provide engaging books to our TK students.","fullyFundedDate":1727965217220,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-tk/8829103/","projectTitle":"Books For TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Padania","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1038930_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490548753715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mnguyen"},{"teacherId":1038930,"projectId":8698194,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly appreciative of your support and generous donations of our project. Our students love the wooden train set; for many it is their first time playing with a train set. They were so excited to connect the pieces to make their own train set. The play food, bbq set, and shopping cart are used daily for cooperative play. I love seeing my students practice skills like taking turns, role playing, and smiling and laughing as they dress up in the play clothes. The stamps, play dough, kinetic sand, and pocket sleeve protectors are used daily during our morning activities to practice a variety of different skills. The resources and materials have made learning incredibly fun for our transitional kindergartners.","fullyFundedDate":1726665906907,"projectUrl":"project/lets-have-fun-in-tk/8698194/","projectTitle":"Let's Have Fun in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Padania","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1038930_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490548753715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mnguyen"},{"teacherId":9207078,"projectId":8533020,"letterContent":"I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of my students and myself, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our physical education fundraising project. Thanks to your kindness, we were able to purchase new scooter boards for our students!\r\n\r\nFor many of them, this was the their first time riding on scooter boards. When the students first saw the scooter boards, it brought a new level of excitement as they challenged themselves to try something new! We recently used them in a Holiday Scooter activity where they were seated on the scooters, while being pulled or softly pushed by a classmate. It was amazing to see the joy, smiles, and laughter on the students' faces. Their enthusiasm reinforced just how impactful your contribution has been.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to incorporate the scooter boards for not only different holiday games, but also various activities where students will can work on their coordination, balance, and core strength. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to continue finding innovative ways to use these resources to keep our students active and engaged.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the importance of physical education and for helping create a space where all children can thrive, grow, and discover the joys of movement. Your support has truly made a difference, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our school community!","fullyFundedDate":1727443910537,"projectUrl":"project/roll-with-it-scooter-boards-for-all/8533020/","projectTitle":"Roll With It: Scooter Boards for All!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rosenblum","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9207078_orig.jpg?crop=500,500,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701670814832","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9207078"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_3832","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":666,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":10,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":73,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"27.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.4,"schoolId":3832,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Harder Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Harder Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/hayward-unified-school-district/harder-elementary-school/3832"}
Join the 590 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Harder Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Hayward, California that is part of Hayward Unified School District.
It serves 666 students
in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 27.8:1.
Its teachers have had 191 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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
89%
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.
Harder Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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.
Harder Elementary School
$94,035
raised using DonorsChoose
191
projects
funded
49
teachers
funded
590
donors
17
projects
for
basic supplies
13
projects for
technology
32
projects for
books
13
projects
for
art supplies
Harder Elementary School has received support from
380 individuals from California and
210 individuals out-of-state.