{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"James Murray Elementary School 38","outOfStateSupporters":58.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1552573,"projectId":10101077,"letterContent":"Thank You for Supporting Our Care Closet!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous support of our classroom and school community through DonorsChoose! We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and willingness to help provide essential items for our students through our Care Closet. Your donation of hygiene materials, uniform shirts, and snacks will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and help ensure they have access to some of the basic necessities they need to feel comfortable, confident, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nAs educators, we understand that students have needs that go beyond academics. In order to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, students need to feel safe, supported, and cared for. Sometimes, having access to something as simple as personal hygiene supplies, a clean uniform shirt, or a snack can make a tremendous difference in a student's day. These items help remove barriers that may interfere with learning and allow students to focus more fully on their education.\r\n\r\nOur Care Closet is designed to be a place where students can receive support with dignity, comfort, and compassion. The hygiene materials will help students maintain personal cleanliness and feel fresh and confident throughout the school day. The uniform shirts will provide additional support for students who may need a clean shirt or an extra uniform option. The snacks will help students who need a little extra nourishment during the day so they can feel energized, focused, and ready to participate in classroom activities.\r\n\r\nBeyond meeting these important needs, your generosity sends a powerful message to our students: they matter, they are valued, and their school community cares about them. When students know that people are willing to support them, it can strengthen their sense of belonging and help them feel more confident asking for assistance when they need it. We want every student to know that receiving support is nothing to be ashamed of and that our school is a place where kindness, understanding, and respect come first.\r\n\r\nWe also know that families can experience unexpected challenges, and even small expenses can sometimes become difficult to manage. By helping stock our Care Closet with these essential supplies, you are providing practical assistance that can ease some of those burdens. Your contribution allows us to respond to students' needs with care while helping them maintain their dignity and focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and being successful.\r\n\r\nWe are especially thankful that your support extends beyond the classroom and recognizes the importance of caring for the whole child. Education is about more than books, assignments, and grades. It is also about creating an environment where students feel supported emotionally, socially, and physically. Your generosity helps us continue building that kind of environment for every student who walks through our doors.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and helping make our Care Closet possible. Your thoughtfulness will have a lasting impact, and we truly appreciate your willingness to help meet the everyday needs of our school community. Because of you, our students will have greater access to essential supplies, nourishing snacks, and the reassurance that they are not alone.\r\n\r\nYour kindness reminds us that it takes a caring community to help children thrive. Thank you for being part of ours and for helping us make a difference, one student at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1772550510016,"projectUrl":"project/restocking-our-4th-grade-care-closet/10101077/","projectTitle":"Restocking Our 4th Grade Care Closet","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1552573_orig.jpg?crop=348,348,x160,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1592318847216","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmiller318"},{"teacherId":1552573,"projectId":9359525,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our fourth-grade classroom through DonorsChoose! We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and willingness to invest in our students. Your donation of board games will bring so much joy, laughter, and meaningful learning opportunities to our classroom. Because of your generosity, our students will have new ways to connect with one another, build friendships, and enjoy their time together during recess and Fun Friday!\r\n\r\nAs fourth graders, our students are growing academically, socially, and emotionally. While learning core subjects is an important part of their school day, they also need opportunities to relax, recharge, and develop important life skills. Board games provide the perfect opportunity for students to take a break from their busy schedules while continuing to learn in fun and engaging ways. Through playing games, students will practice problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, patience, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. They will learn how to follow directions, take turns, celebrate others' successes, and handle both winning and losing with a positive attitude.\r\n\r\nOur new board games will be especially exciting during Fun Friday, a time our students look forward to each week. Having a variety of games available will give students opportunities to work together, challenge themselves, and enjoy friendly competition with their classmates. These activities will help create a classroom environment where students feel connected, included, and excited to spend time with one another. The games will also provide a wonderful option for indoor recess and other times when students need an enjoyable activity that encourages positive interactions.\r\n\r\nOne of the most special things about board games is that they bring people together. Students who may not always work or play together will have opportunities to build new friendships and discover shared interests. They can encourage one another, learn from mistakes, and experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something as a team. These small moments can make a big difference in helping students feel that they belong and are valued members of our classroom community.\r\n\r\nYour generosity means more than simply providing games. You are helping us create a welcoming, supportive, and joyful learning environment where students can grow beyond academics. You are showing our students that their happiness, friendships, and personal development matter. Your support helps make our classroom a place where learning and fun go hand in hand!\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in our students and supporting our classroom through DonorsChoose. We appreciate every person who helped make this project possible. Your kindness will have a lasting impact as our students enjoy countless hours of laughter, teamwork, friendly competition, and meaningful memories. We cannot wait to see the excitement on their faces as they explore the new games and make the most of recess and Fun Friday.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our fourth graders will have more opportunities to connect, play, learn, and grow together. Thank you for making our classroom a little brighter and our students' days a little more fun!","fullyFundedDate":1757006916556,"projectUrl":"project/games-galore/9359525/","projectTitle":"Games Galore!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1552573_orig.jpg?crop=348,348,x160,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1592318847216","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missmiller318"},{"teacherId":2211129,"projectId":10150999,"letterContent":"The new books have allowed us to introduce a wider range of reading genres in the classroom. Students are practicing comprehension strategies such as identifying main ideas, making inferences, analyzing characters, and supporting their thinking with evidence from the text. Many of the books also expose students to diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences, helping them build empathy and strengthen critical thinking skills. The variety of genres has encouraged students to compare texts, explore different writing styles, and develop a deeper appreciation for reading.\r\n\r\nReading is an active and engaging part of our day. Students read independently, work with partners, and participate in small-group and whole-class discussions. You'll often see students sharing book recommendations, asking questions about characters and plot developments, and making connections between what they read and their own lives. The new books have helped create a classroom environment where students are excited to explore new stories and topics, and where reading feels both enjoyable and meaningful.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have been especially enthusiastic about the new books. Some reluctant readers have become more willing to pick up a book because they were able to find titles that match their interests. Other students who already loved reading have enjoyed discovering new authors and challenging themselves with more advanced texts. One of the most rewarding outcomes has been seeing students eagerly discuss books with their classmates and ask for additional reading time because they are so invested in the stories. The donation has helped every student find something that captures their attention and supports their growth as a reader.","fullyFundedDate":1773844465362,"projectUrl":"project/turning-pages-sparking-imaginations/10150999/","projectTitle":"Turning Pages, Sparking Imaginations","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Densmore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2211129_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758582684715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-decamp"},{"teacherId":10065942,"projectId":9437603,"letterContent":"Thank you to my anonymous donor for reminding me that there are generous people who help others without recognition.\r\nThanks for the TPT gift card and color ink provided through this project, I was able to create meaningful learning experiences that supported creativity, collaboration, and deeper understanding of science concepts. Using the gift card, I purchased interactive review activities such as the \"Speed Dating\" game for cell organelles and the \"Ugly Sweater\" cell review. These activities transformed review sessions into hands-on learning experiences, helping students practice scientific vocabulary in a fun and memorable way. One highlight was the Cell Organelle \"Speed Dating\" activity, where students carefully reviewed functions and characteristics, then explained them to classmates. This approach motivated students to take ownership of their learning and boosted their confidence.\r\nAnother favorite was the Scientist Sweater project, where students researched a scientist and designed a sweater inspired by their discoveries. Students who do not always excel on traditional assessments shined through creativity and clear explanations. These visual, hands-on projects using the glue sticks were especially impactful for English Learners, helping them engage with complex science concepts while building language skills.\r\nAdditionally, having color ink available at school was invaluable for students preparing for the district science fair at Liberty Science Center. Printing poster boards on-site saved families time and money, ensured equitable access to professional-quality materials, and allowed students to focus on learning and presentation.\r\nOverall, this project increased student engagement, confidence, and equity in our classroom. \r\nThank you for your generous support and for making these meaningful learning opportunities possible for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1762871006081,"projectUrl":"project/science-fair-print-supplies/9437603/","projectTitle":"Science Fair Print Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sharma","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10065942_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1788470988227","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10065942"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_81320","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":642,"numTeachers":66,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":22,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":3,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"9.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":41.6,"schoolId":81320,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about James Murray Elementary School 38 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"James Murray Elementary School 38","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/jersey-city-public-school-district/james-murray-elementary-school-38/81320"}
Join the 702 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
James Murray Elementary School 38 is
an urban public school
in Jersey City, New Jersey that is part of Jersey City Public School District.
It serves 642 students
in grades K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 9.7:1.
Its teachers have had 116 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades K - 8
642 Students
66 Teachers
339 Stegman PkwyContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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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
69%
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.
James Murray Elementary School 38 Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Nov 11, 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.
James Murray Elementary School 38
$63,085
raised using DonorsChoose
116
projects
funded
26
teachers
funded
702
donors
4
projects
for
basic supplies
14
projects for
technology
20
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
James Murray Elementary School 38 has received support from
292 individuals from New Jersey and
410 individuals out-of-state.