{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thomas W Mahan Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":46.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10090151,"projectId":9677727,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for the funding of my project, \"Equitable Music Making.\" Thanks to your financial assistance, all students gained access to the music materials they needed this school year. Many students signed up for clarinet and flute this year, and while I had the instruments for them, I did not have enough books. Many students were very excited to receive their very own clarinet and flute book to use this year! Because I have our needed amount, students now get to bring these books home and practice. \r\n\r\nI was able to plan ahead with emergency substitute lessons using \"Trombone Shorty\" and \"Before John Was a Jazz Giant.\" These books allow my younger students to explore the world of music beyond the classroom with renowned musicians Trombone Shorty and John Coltrane. \r\n\r\nMy saxophone students were thrilled to receive comfortable neck straps. Before, they had a hard time playing while the previous saxophone strap irritated their necks. Now, they are eager to practice and can play comfortably! \r\n\r\nFinally, my percussionists are overjoyed to have an official bass drum stand. As we prepare for our winter concert, I look forward to showing it off to our community!\r\n\r\nI am so grateful that I have been able to provide these materials to my students in my first year of teaching. And it is all thanks to you, the donors!","fullyFundedDate":1760693629357,"projectUrl":"project/equitable-music-making/9677727/","projectTitle":"Equitable Music Making","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nonamaker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10090151"},{"teacherId":9459818,"projectId":9323442,"letterContent":"The \"Demonstrate It\" project was a big hit among my students in Norwich. They benefited from the new white board and we are currently using it in our Art and Music Room.\r\n The students are able to draw notes on a staff using white board markers demonstrating which note belongs on which line of the treble clef using FACE for the space notes and using the mnemonic \"Empty Garbage Before Dad Flips\" for the line notes.\r\n This project will help my students to become better at reading music on the treble and bass clefs so they will in turn perform quality concerts for the community and for their parents. \r\n The Art Teacher has been able to use the white board to model how to draw various projects for her students. The students have also been able to come up and show off what they can do by demonstrating it for others. \r\n I appreciate all that you have done to help make this project a reality. Our students will have fun this year and many to come \"demonstrating their abilities\" of reading music and drawing artistically. Thanks you for all that you have contributed.","fullyFundedDate":1752586497286,"projectUrl":"project/demonstrate-it/9323442/","projectTitle":"Demonstrate It!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Scheidel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9459818"},{"teacherId":9459818,"projectId":9323261,"letterContent":"The Community Music Making project was a big hit among my students in Norwich. They benefited from the new music stands and having a stand holder enables me to move the stands more easily from the hallway to the library (our current band room). \r\n All of the Instrumental Books will provide the students with many lessons encouraging them to work on their craft to achieve success. The valve oil and lubricants will keep the instruments in tip-top shape for many future years since many of my students are unable to buy or rent their own instruments. \r\n This project will help my students to become better musicians and produce quality concerts for the community. We will continue serving the community through our musical efforts as a band. \r\n I appreciate all that you have done to help make this project a reality. Our community of music makers thanks you for all that you have contributed.","fullyFundedDate":1752586425039,"projectUrl":"project/community-music-making/9323261/","projectTitle":"Community Music Making","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Scheidel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9459818"},{"teacherId":9459814,"projectId":9149374,"letterContent":"This project has truly changed lives! It has connected medically complex students with a general ed classroom where students can learn and connect with each in a hands on environment. Students were not only able to grow things, they were able to practice everyday skills like communication and math in a real world example. \r\nIt is wonderful to see the connections that were formed academically and with relationship due to your donation. I am no longer with this school this year, but I am in contact with that other teachers that helped me with this project. They are keeping the garden and connections going, so even more students can have this real world experience. 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My students shared how they can relate by sharing things that cheer them up when they are sad. Things like singing, reading, playing with friends. We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with \"Sing With Me - Canta Conmigo\"; \"Feel the Beat\" and \"Mi Ciudad Sings.\" These songs that they knew in English were easy to sing in Spanish because the students already knew the familiar tunes. These books helped students to connect with their feelings while celebrating the art of dance. \"Feel the Beat\"; \"Violet's Music\" and \"Get Up Stand Up\" will be used during Black history month because they have messages of peace and unity. My school mascot is the lion so \"The Lion on the Bus\" and \"Lion Lessons\" were loved by the students because they came up with ways they could earn their Lion diploma and move up to the next grade just by being kind to friends. I have suggested that this be our school book for the start of school next year. 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Thomas W Mahan Elementary School

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About this school

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School is an urban public school in Norwich, Connecticut that is part of Norwich Public Schools. It serves 257 students in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1. Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 5

257 Students

18 Teachers

94 Salem Tpke

Norwich, CT 06360 View local requests

http://www.norwichschools.org/mahan/index.html

Evidence-based impact

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Beaudet-Sandoval

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Thomas W Mahan Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

60%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Thomas W Mahan 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 W Mahan Elementary School

$16,098

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

project for art supplies

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School has received support from 50 individuals from Connecticut and 44 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School

About this school

Equity Focus School

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Thomas W Mahan Elementary School Demographics

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

Thomas W Mahan Elementary School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.