{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mar Vista Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9636134,"projectId":9543957,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom through DonorsChoose! Your generosity made it possible for us to bring meaningful prizes and incentives into our learning environment—and they are already making a huge impact on my students.\r\n\r\nThese incentives have helped create a more positive, motivated, and engaging classroom culture. Students are working hard not just for rewards, but because they feel seen, encouraged, and excited about their progress. Whether it's earning a small prize for meeting a goal or receiving recognition for positive behavior, these moments have boosted confidence and helped students stay focused on learning.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, these incentives make school feel more fun, welcoming, and achievable. I've seen hesitant students participate more, shy students take academic risks, and groups of students cheer each other on. Your donation didn't just provide physical prizes—it helped build community, strengthen motivation, and make success feel attainable for every child.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and investing in the day-to-day experiences that matter so much. Your kindness has truly made a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1757519766078,"projectUrl":"project/motivation-matters-rewards-to-inspire-m/9543957/","projectTitle":"Motivation Matters: Rewards to Inspire Middle School Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wafford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9636134"},{"teacherId":9636134,"projectId":9628912,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Because of your donation, my students now have access to hands-on math and science games that bring learning to life in exciting, meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nThese new materials are already making a huge difference. Students who once felt unsure or hesitant are now eagerly jumping into activities, collaborating with classmates, and using problem-solving skills in real time. The games encourage them to think creatively, explore new ideas, and build confidence as mathematicians and scientists.\r\n\r\nIn our class, learning doesn't just happen on paper—it happens through movement, discovery, and play. Your kindness has helped create a space where every student can engage, experiment, and feel successful. You've given them tools that make learning fun and memorable, and we are truly grateful.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and investing in my students' futures. Your support means more than you know.","fullyFundedDate":1758324579044,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-math-science-games-for-engage/9628912/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Math & Science Games for Engaged Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wafford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9636134"},{"teacherId":9636134,"projectId":9209969,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in providing our classroom with new book sets! My students are already so excited to dive into these stories together. Having multiple copies of the same book allows us to read, discuss, and explore ideas as a community of learners. It helps build a love for reading while also strengthening comprehension and \r\ncritical thinking skills.\r\n\r\nFor many students, having access to high-interest books makes all the difference in how engaged and motivated they feel. These book sets give us opportunities for shared reading, literature circles, and meaningful discussions that we simply could not have without your support.\r\n\r\nYour gift has not only provided books, but also created opportunities for deeper connections, curiosity, and confidence in reading. Thank you for believing in my students and in the power of literature to shape young minds.","fullyFundedDate":1744250688628,"projectUrl":"project/help-build-our-literature-circle-library/9209969/","projectTitle":"Help Build our Literature Circle Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wafford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9636134"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9549170,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our 3D puzzle and highlighter project! When the materials arrived, my students were instantly excited—gathering around with curiosity and excitement as we unboxed the colorful, engaging puzzle sets. It's been fun to watch students light up as they snap pieces together, test strategies, and collaborate to build something from scratch. We've started using the puzzles every week during our collaboration/elective time. \r\n\r\nAs we continue our STEAM-focused work this year, these 3D puzzles will remain a key part of our classroom toolkit. They help students practice persistence, spatial reasoning, and collaboration—skills that are just as essential in the English classroom as they are in math and science. The confidence and perseverance they will build through these puzzles will directly support their success. Your donation will give our sixth & seventh graders a chance to stretch their minds in new directions and to explore their creativity.\r\n\r\nThank you for this opportunity to grow as thinkers, builders, and writers. Your generosity has made a real and lasting impact in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755536769541,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-create/9549170/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Create!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9510315,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our binder project! Because of you, each of my students now has a dedicated space to collect and showcase their hard work throughout the year. The binders just arrived, and my students were absolutely thrilled. They will collect their narratives, essays, artwork, and even their handmade clay tablets into protective sleeves—organizing them carefully, decorating the covers, and flipping through the pages with real joy. \r\n\r\nThe first pieces of work will be their Name Poems and Letters to the Teacher. Some added illustrations or typed their poems in creative fonts, while others asked to include drafts alongside their finals to show how far they'd come. These binders will be more than just a tool—they're a growing portfolio, a source of confidence, and something they can share with their families at Open House.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward in the school year, students will continue to add new work. Your generosity has made this possible, and we are so grateful that you invested in our classroom. Thank you for giving my students a meaningful way to preserve their stories.","fullyFundedDate":1756165201530,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-showcase/9510315/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Showcase!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9256109,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! With your help, we now have a new set of high quality, comfortable headphones that are already making a big difference in our daily learning. In our classroom, students use Chromebooks for reading, research, and assessments, and many rely on headphones to fully access their ELA and Social Studies content—especially for audiobooks, educational videos, and interactive learning tools. Before this project was funded, we had only a few working pairs, and students often had to share.\r\n\r\nThese new headphones have brought a lot of excitement into our room! Students were thrilled to open the box and immediately noticed how much more comfortable and reliable these are compared to our older ones. Your donation didn't just provide headphones—it gave students the tools they need to access learning in a way that works best for them.","fullyFundedDate":1752426609132,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-audio/9256109/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Audio!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9191790,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our toner cartridge project through DonorsChoose. While it might seem like a small piece of equipment, this high-yield toner is making a huge difference across our entire TK–7 school community—supporting so many students and dedicated teachers. For my sixth and seventh grade writers in particular, it's helping bring their ideas to life in ways that feel real, meaningful, and lasting.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, writing is a process—we draft, edit, revise, and ultimately publish our work. With this toner, we're able to print student essays, personal narratives, and explanatory writing to share with families and include in end-of-year portfolios. The ability to hold a polished version of their work in their hands is incredibly motivating for my students; they beam with pride when they see their final drafts printed and ready to share. It validates their hard work and gives them a real audience beyond the classroom. Parents especially enjoy seeing their finished pieces. \r\n\r\nBecause of you, we're not just printing pages—we're creating opportunities for learning, growth, and celebration.","fullyFundedDate":1752426608985,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-print/9191790/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Print!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9191816,"letterContent":"THANK YOU for your most generous gifts to our classroom. These will be used every day! Each of my students was thrilled to receive these materials to use for our learning and motivate them to learn and give their best effort. The snacks, Pokemon cards, playing cards, among many items have brought an exciting and meaningful boost to our learning environment. When the packages arrived, my students could hardly believe the treasures inside. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the Pokemon cards, and the snack packs have quickly become a highly anticipated reward for hard work and good choices throughout the day.\r\n\r\nWe've incorporated these items into our classroom reward system and enrichment activities. Students can earn cards or snacks for meeting behavior goals, showing kindness, or going above and beyond on their assignments. The playing cards have also been a great way to build community through fun group activities. These resources have not only added fun and motivation to our days—they've helped create a stronger, more joyful classroom culture.\r\n\r\nYour partnership with our classroom is so valuable, and this project is a reminder of how fortunate we are to have your support in our community. So very thankful!","fullyFundedDate":1752208422453,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-power-up/9191816/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Power Up!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"},{"teacherId":9570491,"projectId":9315702,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! \r\n\r\nYour generous donation helped us add the final piece to our flexible, student-centered space with new desks that bring comfort, organization, and cohesion to our room. My second graders, along with TK–6 students in our after-school programs, now have a space that supports both focused learning and creative expression. These desks allow students to choose where and how they work best, whether they're solving math problems, collaborating on homework, or exploring art. Your support has made our classroom more functional, inviting, and supportive of every child's needs. \r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1746787366430,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-cohesive-and-complete-flexibl/9315702/","projectTitle":"Creating a Cohesive and Complete Flexible Classroom for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Risa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9570491_orig.jpg?crop=393,393,x0,y44&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722003923440","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/risa-schwartz"},{"teacherId":9570491,"projectId":9315601,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Because of you, our classroom is becoming a more modern, comfortable, and cohesive space for learning. The new chairs will not only support my second graders during the school day, but also benefit TK–6th grade students in our after-school program. With seating that fits their needs and promotes focus, movement, and calm, students will feel more at ease and ready to learn. Your kindness is making a lasting difference. Thank you for being part of our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1746787121487,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-a-modern-comfortab/9315601/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for a Modern, Comfortable, and Cohesive Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Risa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9570491_orig.jpg?crop=393,393,x0,y44&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722003923440","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/risa-schwartz"},{"teacherId":9570491,"projectId":9431756,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project!\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, we now have one more of the final pieces needed to complete our calm, flexible learning space. These natural-colored tables bring a sense of harmony and peace to our room, helping students feel grounded, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThey'll be used daily for small-group work, independent study, and flexible seating—supporting both collaboration and emotional well-being. This project wasn't just about furniture; it was about creating a space that truly puts students' needs first.\r\nWe're so grateful for your support in making that vision a reality.","fullyFundedDate":1753659880398,"projectUrl":"project/completing-our-calming-classroom-with-na/9431756/","projectTitle":"Completing Our Calming Classroom with Natural Tables","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Risa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9570491_orig.jpg?crop=393,393,x0,y44&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722003923440","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/risa-schwartz"},{"teacherId":9691776,"projectId":9224382,"letterContent":"This project and your generosity had such a big impact on my sixth graders. They worked so hard all year developing their writing and reading skills and crafting many essays and responses to what they learned. These erasable pens were truly motivating to keep them writing and stretching their creativity. The quality they produced and their excitement to write with these pens was genuine, and the refills were their reward for continued effort and productivity. The UNO cards allowed us to develop our number sense and play games when our work was done. Your support of my school, students, and teachers like me is commendable. Thank you for making a difference in my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1745423972313,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-write/9224382/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Write!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Asha","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691776_orig.jpg?crop=2232,2232,x0,y111&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725333929060","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691776"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_40068","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":311,"numTeachers":20,"percentFrplEligible":42,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":47,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":41,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"15.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":79.6,"schoolId":40068,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mar Vista Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mar Vista Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/pajaro-valley-unified-school-district/mar-vista-elementary-school/40068"}