{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mount Vernon Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10008038,"projectId":9762029,"letterContent":"Our Family Literacy Night was such a joyful experience, and it wouldn't have been possible without you! Thanks to your support, our students and their families were able to gather together to celebrate stories, explore new books, and discover just how much fun reading can be.\r\n\r\nThe new texts introduced so many important early-literacy skills—things like building vocabulary, noticing story patterns, talking about characters' feelings, and retelling what happened in the beginning, middle, and end. These skills might sound small, but in Kindergarten and 1st grade they are huge building blocks that help children become confident readers.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading feels lively and playful. Students curl up with partners to read picture books, act out scenes with puppets, use hands-on materials to retell stories, and excitedly share new words they've learned. During Literacy Night, families got to try these activities too—laughing, reading together, and learning simple strategies they can now use at home.\r\n\r\nYour generosity made these moments happen. You helped our students strengthen their early reading skills, and you brought families and school closer together in such a positive, memorable way. Thank you for giving our kids a night full of connection, confidence, and the pure joy of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1758863448634,"projectUrl":"project/stories-that-connect-a-family-literacy/9762029/","projectTitle":"Stories That Connect: A Family Literacy Night","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Macias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10008038"},{"teacherId":10258797,"projectId":9710974,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to our library! We have spent all summer trying to make our space comforting and welcoming to all, now thanks to you it has become the most inviting it has ever been. In the library we have been able to create library reading zones thanks to your donations. Also, because of your support our students now have access to a variety of genres that we highlight each month! The supplies you donated allows us to have examples of genres that they can look through, check out and enjoy. Your kindness has allowed us to create a more engaging and inspiring space where our students can see the diverse reading materials offered to them. Each new book helps them grow stronger as readers and develop confidence in what they love to read. Their curiosity in finding new material to read and discovering new genres has boosted their reading and test scores! Your contributions truly make a difference everyday here in our busy bee library. Thank you for helping our students build a love for reading!","fullyFundedDate":1758679182131,"projectUrl":"project/books-from-well-loved-to-new-loved/9710974/","projectTitle":"Books! From Well Loved to New-Loved","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Saldana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10258797_orig.jpg?crop=1772,1772,x451,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758560814121","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10258797"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9768878,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! The story stone supplies you helped fund were a huge hit at our recent Literacy Night — an event that turned out to be one of the most memorable we've had all year.\r\n\r\nStudents of all ages gathered around to create their own story stones, letting their imaginations soar. The activity quickly became one of the most popular stations of the night! It was amazing to see just how many creative and unique stones were designed — each one telling its own story. From one eyed monsters to flashy feathered friends, our kids truly brought their stories to life.\r\n\r\nThe joy and excitement on their faces were unforgettable. Your support helped provide not just materials, but an opportunity for students to engage deeply with storytelling in a hands-on, creative way.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible. You made a difference in our classroom and beyond!.","fullyFundedDate":1759094355907,"projectUrl":"project/pebble-pals-story-stones-crafting-cre/9768878/","projectTitle":"Pebble Pals & Story Stones: Crafting Creativity for Literacy Night","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9723910,"letterContent":"My students absolutely loved using the new cushions during reading time. The fluffy, colorful cushions came in a variety of fun styles—flower shapes, star shapes, and some with a wood-look finish—that made choosing a favorite spot even more exciting. Reading quickly became one of the most anticipated parts of our day. The cushions made it easy for my class to relax, get comfortable, and really focus on their books.\r\n\r\nWe even brought the cushions to the library, where my students settled in to listen to the librarian read a story. It was wonderful to see how calm, focused, and engaged they were. The cushions truly helped create a warm and inviting environment that encouraged imagination and a genuine love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1758864949832,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-cushions-for-reading-time/9723910/","projectTitle":"Cozy Cushions for Reading Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9425661,"letterContent":"My students were absolutely thrilled to use the large containers of dough to create their own imaginative creatures. They had never seen such huge tubs of dough before, and their excitement grew as they explored all the different parts available—eyes, ears, hats, arms, and legs—to bring their creations to life. This hands-on experience encouraged every student to use their imagination and creativity in new ways. The activity not only engaged them artistically but also inspired rich, descriptive writing about the unique creatures they made.","fullyFundedDate":1757423941681,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-with-squishy-creations/9425661/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Learning with Squishy Creations!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":10008038,"projectId":9490407,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! The day the sitting cushions, art smocks, and new books arrived, my students were beyond excited. They immediately started choosing their favorite cushions for reading time, and it was amazing to see how something so simple made such a big difference. Our classroom feels more comfortable and inviting now, and students are more focused and engaged during independent reading. The new books have been a huge hit—students were trading titles, recommending stories to friends, and some even asked if they could take books home to keep reading!\r\n\r\nThe art smocks were perfect for our recent painting projects. For the first time, students could really dive into their artwork without worrying about getting messy. It gave them the freedom to be creative, and they took so much pride in their finished pieces. Watching them work together, laugh, and enjoy the process was such a joy. Your support helped create those moments, and we're all so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1754587554900,"projectUrl":"project/learning-in-style-materials-for-a-creat/9490407/","projectTitle":"Learning in Style: Materials for a Creative Kindergarten Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Macias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10008038"},{"teacherId":9592089,"projectId":9293269,"letterContent":"I want to apologize for the delay in sending this impact letter. My current transitional kindergarten students are not yet reading independently, but I was able to track down some of my former students from last year to use the decodable books in small groups.\r\n\r\nSince introducing Building Little Readers: Decodable Books for Big Success! into our classroom, I have been amazed at how much joy and confidence these books bring to young readers. Students are excited to explore the stories, practice letter sounds, and try reading words on their own. Even children who are usually hesitant about reading have been encouraged to participate and celebrate their successes.\r\n\r\nOne moment that truly stood out was when a former student, who had struggled with reading, confidently read a simple sentence aloud in our small group. The pride on his face, and the cheer from his classmates, reminded me why resources like this make such a difference. These books also allow me to meet each student where they are, giving every child a chance to succeed and feel proud of their progress.\r\n\r\nAlthough the donor choice was made in May and the funding was received over summer break, these books have already become a beloved part of our classroom and are helping my students grow in both reading skills and confidence. I am so grateful for your support in making this possible.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in the love of reading and helping children feel proud of their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746549764472,"projectUrl":"project/building-little-readers-decodable-books/9293269/","projectTitle":"Building Little Readers: Decodable Books for Big Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9592089_orig.png?crop=358,358,x357,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724816558606","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9592089"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9390148,"letterContent":"I currently find myself in a unique situation with my math shakers. At this point in the school year, my current students are not quite ready for addition and number decomposition, so we haven't yet had the opportunity to use them in our classroom. This project was originally created at the end of last school year with my former students in mind.\r\n\r\nThat said, I'm happy to report that the math shakers are not just sitting unused on a shelf. I've lent them to the first-grade teachers, who are now using them with my former students. The teachers were excited to receive them and have found them to be a valuable resource in supporting their math instruction.\r\n\r\nI'm confident that my current students will benefit from the shakers later in the year, once we begin exploring addition and decomposition. I'm looking forward to introducing them when the time is right.","fullyFundedDate":1752671564204,"projectUrl":"project/adding-excitement-to-math/9390148/","projectTitle":"Adding Excitement to Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":10008038,"projectId":9293241,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom now has a warm and welcoming reading nook that has already made a big difference for my kindergarteners. The new couch has become a favorite spot where students can curl up with books, practice sight words, and enjoy quiet moments immersed in stories. It's amazing how something so simple can inspire so much excitement for reading—and give students the comfort and confidence they need to grow as readers.\r\n\r\nEven more exciting is knowing that this cozy couch will benefit many more students in the years to come. Each new group of kindergartners will have a special place to begin their reading journey—laughing through picture books, exploring new words, and building a love for stories. This isn't just furniture—it's a lasting part of our classroom that will continue to spark joy, imagination, and learning for years. Thank you for helping us create a space where reading feels magical!","fullyFundedDate":1746785385559,"projectUrl":"project/a-cozy-spot-for-little-book-explorers/9293241/","projectTitle":"A Cozy Spot for Little Book Explorers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Macias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10008038"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9287481,"letterContent":"My kindergarteners get so excited when we have free play in the class and get to use our magnetic shapes to build towers and structures, so I knew right away these alphabet tiles would be a hit, and they were.\r\nWhen they saw the magnetic letter tiles—they thought they're just another toy to play with, but they're actually learning so much more! They loved exploring and building new words and learning what letter combinations work together to make words. It feels like play, but it's really helping them grow as readers. The best part is, these tiles are sturdy and will keep helping future classes learn and have fun too!\r\nI was excited to watch my students use the tiles to build new words and watch them decode their words after they strung several consonants together without any vowels.","fullyFundedDate":1746787172339,"projectUrl":"project/abc-magnets-learning-that-sticks/9287481/","projectTitle":"ABC Magnets: Learning That Sticks!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":2855048,"projectId":9273549,"letterContent":"When my students saw the Alphabet Arcs for the first time, they were so excited—they couldn't wait to get their hands on them! Right away, they started exploring the letters, matching them to the letters in the arc, and trying to make words. It was amazing to see how something so fun could help them learn so much. They were laughing, sharing, and totally engaged. These arcs turned learning letters and sounds into a game, and it made a big difference in how confident they felt while reading and writing. Thanks to your support, learning has never been more fun!","fullyFundedDate":1746545080813,"projectUrl":"project/curves-of-learning-abc-arc-fun/9273549/","projectTitle":"Curves of Learning: ABC Arc Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tanner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2855048_orig.jpg?crop=859,859,x33,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748810041851","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2855048"},{"teacherId":2916591,"projectId":9119306,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating flexible seating to our 4th-grade classroom! When the new exercise balls, wobble cushions, and fidget chair bands arrived, our whole class cheered with excitement. It was like Christmas morning!\r\n\r\nThe new seating choices are helping us stay awake and focused during lessons. Now, students can pick where they feel most comfortable to work. Some prefer to sit on bouncy balls or wobble cushions, while others like the simplicity of fidgets.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has made our classroom a happier place to learn. Before, we all sat in the same kind of chair all day long. Now, our classroom feels more like home. We can choose where we sit based on what we're doing and how we're feeling.","fullyFundedDate":1743537659163,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-a-focused-classroom/9119306/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for a Focused Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Black","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2916591_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724436787070","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2916591"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_35299","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":477,"numTeachers":21,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":93,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"22.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":69.8,"schoolId":35299,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mount Vernon Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mount Vernon Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/san-bernardino-city-unified-school-district/mt-vernon-elementary-school/35299"}