{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School","outOfStateSupporters":15.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9215373,"projectId":8699660,"letterContent":"Just about anything with a \"Smiley face\" emoji works magic in my classroom. From stickers to pencils, coloring books, name tags and borders. So, just image the uproar of excitement when I unveiled our new carpet, covered with smiley faces.\r\nThere are no words to describe the gleeful faces and the giggles of my students as they raced towards the new addition to their classroom. They jumped, they rolled, they laughed and some even basked in the smell of its newness. They could not contain their excitement. All visitors to the classroom were duly informed, \"We have a new carpet, come see it\".\r\nWhat a change one item can make. Now all students are excited about participating in Morning Community Meeting and whole group reading. To add to the excitement, each student gets to choose to sit on their favorite color smiley face. Our independent reading sessions and cooperative play times have been more successful and organized now that there's an additional comfort zone for students to relax, read and play. \r\nOn behalf of my students, I say thank you for making all this possible. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nmeetings.","fullyFundedDate":1734633688148,"projectUrl":"project/reading-in-comfort/8699660/","projectTitle":"Reading in Comfort","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilling-Fong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9215373"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60896","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":304,"numTeachers":22,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":56,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":84.8,"schoolId":60896,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/springfield-public-school-district/mary-a-dryden-veterans-mem-school/60896"}
Join the 79 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School is
an urban public school
in Springfield, Massachusetts that is part of Springfield Public School District.
It serves 304 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.8:1.
Its teachers have had 33 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.
Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School Demographics
95%
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
78%
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.
Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial 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.
Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School
$23,346
raised using DonorsChoose
33
projects
funded
16
teachers
funded
79
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
2
projects for
technology
3
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
Mary A Dryden Veterans Memorial School has received support from
67 individuals from Massachusetts and
12 individuals out-of-state.