{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Luther Vaughan Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":44.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9567123,"projectId":9937897,"letterContent":"Because of your incredible generosity, our classroom now truly has \"A Safe Space to Feel Big Feelings.\" The calm down corner has become one of the most meaningful spaces in our room. Students are using the fidget spinners, pop its, squishy emotion toys, and stuffed feeling characters to help regulate their bodies and name their emotions. The feelings books have become a powerful teaching tool during morning meetings and small group discussions. Just last week, one of my students began to feel overwhelmed during a math lesson. Instead of shutting down, they independently walked to the calm down corner, chose a squishy emotion toy that matched how they were feeling, and used a fidget while taking deep breaths. After a few minutes, they returned to their seat ready to learn. That moment was such a powerful example of growth and self-regulation.\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate and heartfelt. There were wide eyes, big smiles, and so many questions about how they could use each item. We spent time exploring the tools together and discussing how they are not toys, but tools to help our brains and bodies feel safe and calm. Many students instantly connected with the stuffed emotions and loved matching them to their own feelings. The pop its and fidgets have been especially helpful for students who need sensory input to focus during lessons. It was clear right away that these resources filled a need in our classroom.\r\nMoving forward, we are continuing to build emotional vocabulary and self-regulation skills as part of our daily routine. We are working on identifying feelings, understanding what triggers them, and choosing strategies that help us return to a \"ready to learn\" state. The calm down corner is now integrated into our classroom expectations, and students are beginning to independently recognize when they need a break. Our next steps include creating student-led reflection sheets where children can draw or write about what they felt and which tool helped them most. Because of you, my students are learning that all feelings are welcome, and they now have the tools to navigate them safely and confidently. Your support has made a lasting impact on both their emotional growth and academic success.","fullyFundedDate":1769192078974,"projectUrl":"project/a-safe-space-to-feel-big-feelings/9937897/","projectTitle":"A Safe Space to Feel Big Feelings!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9567123_orig.jpg?crop=1280,1280,x0,y430&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749395512538","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9567123"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_6196","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":399,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":43,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":55.3,"schoolId":6196,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Luther Vaughan Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Luther Vaughan Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/south-carolina/cherokee-county-school-district-1/luther-l-vaughan-elementary-school/6196"}
Join the 47 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Luther Vaughan Elementary School is
a town public school
in Gaffney, South Carolina that is part of Cherokee County School District 1.
It serves 399 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1.
Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Luther Vaughan Elementary School
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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
68%
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.
Luther Vaughan Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 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.
Luther Vaughan Elementary School
$8,429
raised using DonorsChoose
20
projects
funded
15
teachers
funded
47
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
2
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
Luther Vaughan Elementary School has received support from
26 individuals from South Carolina and
21 individuals out-of-state.
