{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thomas Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":9108047,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation that provided our Transitional Kindergarten classroom with a Lakeshore cubby storage unit. This wonderful addition is already making a big difference for our students!\r\n\r\nHaving a designated place to store our block area materials helps our young learners develop independence and responsibility. Now, instead of searching for what they need, students know exactly where to find materials and where to return them when they are finished. This keeps our classroom organized, helps transitions run smoothly, and allows us to spend more time learning and less time managing clutter.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of our students and teaching team, thank you for investing in our classroom and helping us build the foundation for a successful school year.","fullyFundedDate":1746787342586,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-big-organization/9108047/","projectTitle":"Little Hands, Big Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":9143354,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of pants, shorts, underwear, and socks for our transitional kindergarten classroom. These items are a true blessing for our students and make a big difference in their day-to-day school experience. When accidents happen, having clean and comfortable clothing available allows children to quickly change and continue participating in class activities without feeling embarrassed or missing valuable learning time.\r\n\r\nYour thoughtful contribution helps us create a caring and supportive environment where every child feels safe and valued. Because of your generosity, our students are able to stay at school, focus on learning, and build confidence knowing their needs are taken care of. We are truly grateful for your kindness and support of our youngest learners.","fullyFundedDate":1747031621418,"projectUrl":"project/tiny-tigers-threads/9143354/","projectTitle":"Tiny Tigers Threads","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":9059142,"projectId":9263419,"letterContent":"School has begun! We are entering our 3rd week of the new year and are excited for our students as they learn and grow each day in their new classrooms. As a social emotional learning team member, I have been checking in on our students and offering support as needed. We like to let our students settle into their new routines with their teachers before beginning official social emotional support. Therefore, the \"Tiger's Den Store\" is not open for business yet! I am however beginning to put together a list of students that would be great candidates for a meaningful job as well as check-in check-out, where they can earn \"Tiger Bucks\" to spend at the store. I am beyond excited for the students to see the new items in the store because of your generous donation. Being able to provide positive incentives as part of our SEL support has been something our students have really enjoyed and has helped motivate them to have more positive behaviors and more confidence in themselves. Thank you so much for helping us bring joy to our students who need that bit of extra help on their educational and social emotional journey.","fullyFundedDate":1746786346584,"projectUrl":"project/give-a-roar-for-our-tigers-den-store/9263419/","projectTitle":"Give a Roar for Our Tiger's Den Store!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gamble","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9059142_orig.jpg?crop=1950,1950,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685633260612","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059142"},{"teacherId":2670245,"projectId":9019394,"letterContent":"Thank you for making it possible for my students to have more options in flexible seating. Our students were thrilled to discover the new chairs added to our Flexible Seating options! The excitement was contagious—everyone wanted a turn to try them out. We decided to place one of the new chairs in our cozy book nook, creating a perfect spot where students can relax and enjoy a good book.\r\n\r\nThese special seats allow students to wiggle and move while they work, which I've found really helps them focus. Each student now has the opportunity to choose a seat that supports their individual learning style. It's amazing to see how much more engaged and motivated they are when they walk into a classroom that offers them choices. Flexible seating has truly made a positive impact on our learning environment!","fullyFundedDate":1739366802752,"projectUrl":"project/bouncing-to-read/9019394/","projectTitle":"Bouncing to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vallejo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2670245_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1509768400858","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2670245"},{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":8995363,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our block area project! Your donation has made a huge difference in our classroom and brought so much joy to our students. When the new blocks arrived, the kids were beyond excited, one even shouted, \"We can build anything now!\" That day, they worked together to create a whole city, proudly showing off their towers, roads, and animal homes. Since then, the block area has become a daily hub of creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nThe variety of blocks you helped provide has allowed every student to find something that sparks their interest, whether they're building solo or teaming up with friends. It's amazing to see their confidence grow as they experiment, collaborate, and bring their ideas to life. Thank you for helping us build more than just structures—you're helping build curious, confident, and creative learners.","fullyFundedDate":1739366801923,"projectUrl":"project/building-blocks-for-success/8995363/","projectTitle":"Building Blocks For Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":9820409,"projectId":8910732,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generosity in funding this project! Thanks to your support, my students now have access to personalized calming cards that help them navigate their emotions and build essential coping skills. These laminated cards, featuring strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness, and positive affirmations, have quickly become a valuable tool for students who struggle with emotional regulation.\r\n\r\nMany students have expressed excitement about having their own set of coping cards, and they love how durable and easy to use they are. Some students choose to take them home and use them as quick reminders when they start feeling overwhelmed. One student shared that having these cards has helped them feel more in control of their emotions, and another said they use the deep breathing card to ease anxiety.\r\n\r\nBy providing these resources, you have empowered students to develop lifelong emotional regulation skills, creating a more supportive and understanding school environment. Thank you for making a meaningful difference in their lives—your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1731940386534,"projectUrl":"project/calm-and-collected-coping-cards-for-stu/8910732/","projectTitle":"Calm and Collected: Coping Cards for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Daniela","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9820409_orig.png?crop=545,545,x438,y521&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730304515283","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9820409"},{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":8969381,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our transitional kindergarten classroom! The materials you provided have had a tremendous impact on my students' learning and exploration.\r\n\r\nIn TK, hands-on experiences are essential for understanding the world around us. The manipulatives—translucent shapes, mirrors, and colored lenses—have given my students exciting new ways to explore light and its properties. Through play, they've discovered how shadows change, how colors mix, and how reflections work. These tools have turned abstract science concepts into tangible, engaging experiences, sparking curiosity and encouraging them to think like little scientists.\r\n\r\nThe variety of materials allows for open-ended exploration, and the rack keeps everything organized and easily accessible for the students. This setup not only supports independent learning but also fosters creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly made a difference in our classroom. Thank you for helping make learning meaningful, fun, and full of wonder for my young learners!","fullyFundedDate":1735660767547,"projectUrl":"project/light-explorers/8969381/","projectTitle":"Light Explorers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":8608159,"letterContent":"We are thrilled to share the impact your generous donation has had on our classroom! Thanks to your support, we have been able to incorporate a variety of new literacy materials, including alphabet blocks, phonics cards, and interactive games, into our daily learning activities. These resources are making a world of difference in our students' early literacy development.\r\n\r\nThe students were absolutely excited when they first saw the materials. Their faces lit up as they explored the tactile alphabet blocks, making connections between sounds and letters. One of our favorite moments was when a group of students worked together to spell out their names using the blocks, giggling and celebrating each new name they created. These resources have sparked a love for letters, and the classroom is buzzing with excitement and curiosity.\r\n\r\nYour donation has played a crucial role in supporting our students' growth, and we can't thank you enough for making it possible. We are confident that the skills they are developing now will lay the foundation for their future success as readers and writers.","fullyFundedDate":1731940414101,"projectUrl":"project/learning-letters-in-tk/8608159/","projectTitle":"Learning Letters in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":9059142,"projectId":8949574,"letterContent":"I have been utilizing the new supplies you donated to enhance and keep my social-emotional small groups fun and engaging. My students love to try out new materials when learning how to manage emotions, be kind to others, and make positive choices. The donated items are all used in our support classroom and during my small social skills group sessions, as well as give our students tools to cool down when feeling big emotions. \r\n\r\nOne of my favorite lessons to teach is responsible decision-making. I typically use the same lesson as a visual aid to help my students understand the impact of both positive and negative choices. I love to use the new books donated to enhance the lesson by having the students choose the path of the character in the book. \"What Would Darla Do\" and \"What Would Danny Do\" are small group favorites! \r\n\r\nOur students love the new items that help them cool down when feeling big emotions. \"Globby,\" for example, is a must-have in our classroom to help our students focus on something other than the problem and help them prepare to return to their learning environment. It is also used as a fidget to help my students focus on the lesson and a tool to encourage one student, in particular, to return to class after eloping. \r\n\r\nThank you for making social and emotional learning continue to be fun and engaging, as well as giving our students the tools to cool down and feel confident to return to their learning environment.","fullyFundedDate":1733495584222,"projectUrl":"project/success-through-social-emotional-learnin/8949574/","projectTitle":"Success Through Social-Emotional Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gamble","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9059142_orig.jpg?crop=1950,1950,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685633260612","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059142"},{"teacherId":7240210,"projectId":8607713,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Your contribution has allowed us to add two beautiful rugs—a road rug for our block area and a leaf rug for our calming area. These rugs are already making a difference in our transitional kindergarten class.\r\n\r\nThe road rug has become a hub for imaginative play and collaboration, where students build cities, share ideas, and create stories together. Meanwhile, the leaf rug in our calming area provides a serene and cozy space for children to relax, regroup, and feel at ease.\r\n\r\nRugs like these not only brighten our classroom but also help define spaces, support transitions, and foster a sense of community. They offer a comfortable place for children to gather, share, and learn in an inviting and inclusive environment. The students have loved sharing this comfortable space with each other.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your support in helping us create a warm, engaging, and dynamic space for our young learners. Your kindness is truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1726595948524,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-corners-for-tiny-learners/8607713/","projectTitle":"Cozy Corners for Tiny Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hayashi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7240210_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x0,y437&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642831840058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrshayashi"},{"teacherId":2670245,"projectId":8500317,"letterContent":"My students were excited when they saw the new seating options. I explained that they were going to decide where they wanted to sit and choose the option that worked best for them. \r\nThey love the inflatable cushions because they can bounce and wiggle while they complete their work. Moving helps them focus.\r\nStudents also loved the wobble stools. The stools let them rock and move their bodies. Students have different favorite chairs. They can sit on the donut cushions at the reading center. Several said this was their favorite place in the room. I love seeing their smiles when they choose new seating options.Thank you for supporting my project.","fullyFundedDate":1727289091601,"projectUrl":"project/wiggle-while-they-work/8500317/","projectTitle":"Wiggle While They Work","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vallejo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2670245_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1509768400858","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2670245"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_77738","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":835,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":16,"percentBlack":9,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":61,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"27.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":81.3,"schoolId":77738,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Thomas Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Thomas Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/fresno-unified-school-district/thomas-elementary-school/77738"}
Join the 203 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Thomas Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Fresno, California that is part of Fresno Unified School District.
It serves 835 students
in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 27.8:1.
Its teachers have had 115 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.
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
86%
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.
Thomas Elementary 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.
Thomas Elementary School
$56,595
raised using DonorsChoose
115
projects
funded
28
teachers
funded
203
donors
7
projects
for
basic supplies
13
projects for
technology
11
projects for
books
9
projects
for
art supplies
Thomas Elementary School has received support from
165 individuals from California and
38 individuals out-of-state.