{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Vista La Mesa Academy","outOfStateSupporters":27.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8477012,"projectId":9535204,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our playground has been filled with energy, teamwork, and laughter! The new soccer balls and goals have transformed recess and PE time into something my students look forward to every single day. Before, they often had to improvise with worn-out balls and makeshift goals, but now they can truly experience the game the way it's meant to be played. One special moment was watching an entire class come together for their very first full-field game using the new goals—students who don't usually join in were excited to participate, and it was wonderful to see the teamwork and sportsmanship shine through.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the brand-new soccer equipment, their faces lit up with excitement. They immediately wanted to organize matches, practice penalty kicks, and even set up mini-tournaments during recess. Having the right equipment has not only made playtime more engaging, but it has also built confidence in students who are learning the game for the first time.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we plan to use the soccer balls and goals during both structured PE lessons and unstructured recess time to continue teaching skills like cooperation, communication, and perseverance. These resources have made our play space feel like a real soccer field and given my students an outlet to stay active, build friendships, and develop a love for the sport. We are so grateful to you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1755749820542,"projectUrl":"project/kickstart-our-soccer-fun/9535204/","projectTitle":"Kickstart Our Soccer Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kelleher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8477012_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657141428225","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8477012"},{"teacherId":8477012,"projectId":9345861,"letterContent":"Thanks to your kindness, our classroom feels brighter, more focused, and better equipped for learning each day. The class set of headphones has been a game-changer for independent work. My students are now able to listen to reading passages, educational videos, and personalized learning programs without distractions, which has made our small-group rotations run more smoothly. One memorable moment was during a reading intervention block—students slipped on their new headphones, and the room instantly transformed into a space full of quiet concentration. Several students even commented how much easier it was to stay focused on their stories.\r\n\r\nThe colored ink for our printer has brought new life to our projects. My students lit up when they saw their work printed in color for the first time—everything from research reports to art-infused writing pieces looked more professional and exciting. The pencils are a small but mighty gift; with a class of eager writers, they disappear quickly, and having a fresh supply ensures no student is ever held back from expressing their ideas. The string lights were the final touch, creating a cozy, welcoming environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and sharing their voices.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our current units in reading and writing, these resources will help my students dig deeper into their learning with confidence. They are not only using the tools daily but also building pride in their work and ownership of our classroom space. Your generosity has turned everyday lessons into something special, and we are so grateful that you chose to support us.","fullyFundedDate":1750774650687,"projectUrl":"project/stay-organized-learn-better-with-seat-s/9345861/","projectTitle":"Stay Organized, Learn Better With Seat Sacks!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kelleher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8477012_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657141428225","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8477012"},{"teacherId":8477012,"projectId":9318644,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been transformed with tools that help my students learn more effectively each day. The wireless voice amplifier has been an incredible addition—my students can hear instructions clearly no matter where they sit in the room. This has been especially helpful for my students who struggle with focus or need repeated directions. It allows me to preserve my voice while ensuring every child feels included in our lessons.\r\n\r\nThe dry erase lap boards have quickly become a classroom favorite. My students love the hands-on practice they get during math and writing activities, and I love that I can instantly see who is grasping a concept and who needs extra support. It has turned review sessions into an engaging, interactive experience. The excitement on their faces when they hold up their answers all at once is priceless!\r\n\r\nBeyond that, the backpack has been a personal lifesaver in keeping my teaching materials organized, and the laminating pouches help me create reusable resources that will last for years to come. Even the Lysol spray has made a difference—helping us maintain a healthier and more welcoming environment during the school day. I've noticed that several students who are usually more hesitant to participate have really warmed up to using the new boards and confidently share their work now. Your support has brought both joy and practicality to our classroom, and I'm so grateful for the impact it has had on my students' learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746633420043,"projectUrl":"project/hear-us-roar-tools-to-boost-learning-an/9318644/","projectTitle":"Hear Us Roar: Tools to Boost Learning and Spirit","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kelleher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8477012_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657141428225","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8477012"},{"teacherId":9815537,"projectId":8902296,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has become a more supportive, emotionally safe, and engaging place for students to grow. The A Little Spot of Emotion books have been a game-changer—students are not only learning how to identify and express their feelings but are also developing critical coping strategies and a deeper sense of empathy. These books have sparked meaningful conversations and created a space where students feel heard and understood.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the new PE equipment has brought a renewed sense of energy and teamwork to our physical activities. Students are learning to collaborate, communicate, and support one another through games and structured play. These experiences are helping them build strong social bonds and practice the kind of teamwork that leads to success both inside and outside the classroom.\r\n\r\nYour support has made all of this possible. You've helped create a classroom environment where students feel safe, connected, and empowered—and for that, we are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1739370494553,"projectUrl":"project/mrs-mejias-social-emotional-learning/8902296/","projectTitle":"Mrs. Mejia's Social Emotional Learning Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mejia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9815537"},{"teacherId":9754241,"projectId":9207935,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring The Hunger Games to my classroom! Because of your generosity, every student now has access to their own high-quality copy of the book—and the impact has been immediate and powerful.\r\n\r\nHaving a full class set in good condition means that every student can follow along without distraction, annotate as they read, and fully immerse themselves in the story. Engagement has skyrocketed. Students are leaning in—literally—eager to connect with the characters and debate the choices they face. With a book in every hand, our discussions have become richer and more meaningful, and I've seen students who rarely participate start raising their hands and making thoughtful, critical observations.\r\n\r\nThis novel opens the door to conversations about justice, resistance, empathy, and survival—and now, thanks to you, my students can walk through that door together. You've helped fuel not just literacy, but confidence, connection, and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nOne student said, \"I've never finished a book this fast before. I couldn't stop reading—and I actually wanted to talk about it in class!\" That excitement is exactly what every teacher hopes for, and you helped make it happen.","fullyFundedDate":1746747915151,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-minds-with-fire-class-set-of-t/9207935/","projectTitle":"Fueling Minds with Fire: Class Set of \"The Hunger Games\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Carr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9754241_orig.jpg?crop=457,457,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726589276313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9754241"},{"teacherId":9754241,"projectId":8954660,"letterContent":"Last Friday was a \"Fun Friday\"! We played Boggle in my seventh and eighth-grade English classes. My students earned a day of play by completing their assigned work and scoring well on quizzes last week. But I'm a teacher, so even our play has a purpose. In a school where more than 20% of our student body are second language learners, opportunities to practice spelling, spatial awareness, vocabulary, and speaking are priceless. Playing Boggle with my students and using the whiteboards your generosity provided allowed us to laugh, play, and have fun while learning and practicing. \r\n\r\nIn addition to playing games, we use the whiteboards for sentence writing and editing practice. I write a sentence with errors on the board, and students write the corrected sentence on their whiteboard. Another activity is parts of speech practice; I provide an adjective or adverb, and students build a sentence that correctly uses that word. We use the whiteboards at least twice a week, and every time I pass them out, students get excited. These tools have proven to be invaluable in my classroom, and my students are learning and growing thanks to your gift. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1733165786155,"projectUrl":"project/write-it-a-white-board-for-every-studen/8954660/","projectTitle":"Write it! A White Board for Every Student!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Carr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9754241_orig.jpg?crop=457,457,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726589276313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9754241"},{"teacherId":9754241,"projectId":8794044,"letterContent":"Having the opportunity to take, edit, and publish photos has changed the tenor of our newsletter and increased my students' enthusiasm. Everyone is excited when it's their turn to be the \"staff photographer\" at a school event. They are thrilled to come and ask, \"Ms. Carr, may we go take pictures of...?\" They're even more thrilled when I hand them a press pass and a camera to be creative as they capture the illustrations for the various stories in our newsletter. \r\n\r\nThe new cameras have been instrumental in helping some of my students express themselves. There may not be anything more frustrating than being handed a camera and given instructions to take specific photos then getting to your location and finding that your camera won't turn on, shuts off after two pictures, or doesn't recognize the memory card. All of these are scenarios experienced by my students, which prompted me to post this project. Having this project fully funded so quickly was a tremendous boost to our fledgling newsletter and brand-new journalism elective.","fullyFundedDate":1731334999861,"projectUrl":"project/1000-words-illustrating-our-stories/8794044/","projectTitle":"1000 Words: Illustrating Our Stories!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Carr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9754241_orig.jpg?crop=457,457,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726589276313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9754241"},{"teacherId":9754241,"projectId":8944062,"letterContent":"I cannot begin to tell you how much your generosity has helped my students and me. By having a copy of the novel for each student, I can teach note-taking skills, vocabulary, and plot structure. We are reading the book now, and students are engaged, inquisitive, and invested. We pause to allow time for note-taking on important events in the story and to ask questions. I have provided graphic organizers and thought catchers so that my students can keep track of their ideas and thoughts while we're reading. Using Post-it notes, I model how to annotate reading. I have two classes currently reading the same novel. With enough books for each student, they can use the same book daily and keep their notes straight. Reading is a centerpiece in my classroom, and teaching my students how to engage with text is a task I take very seriously. \r\n\r\nHaving enough copies for each student is priceless. One of my objectives is to prepare my students for high school. My students need skills to take notes, process and analyze text, and carry on a discussion as they continue their education. Coming into class, knowing that the notes they took the day (or days) before will still be there because only one other person is using that book may seem small, but to my students, it represents a level of academic security. Thank you for providing the means to ensure that.","fullyFundedDate":1732220572559,"projectUrl":"project/all-the-stars-a-class-set-to-read-and-g/8944062/","projectTitle":"All The Stars: A Class set to Read and Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Carr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9754241_orig.jpg?crop=457,457,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726589276313","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9754241"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36986","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":531,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":59,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"19.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":72.6,"schoolId":36986,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Vista La Mesa Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Vista La Mesa Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/lemon-grove-school-district/vista-la-mesa-elementary-school/36986"}