{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Side Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9729334,"projectId":8738324,"letterContent":"Thanks to the incredible support of donors like you, who believe in the power of student dreams and the importance of environmental stewardship, the first year of ECO Ball has officially begun, and I am absolutely thrilled to report that it's going swimmingly!\r\nWhat started as a spark of creativity from three eager students during the 2023 InVenture Prize invention fair has blossomed into something far beyond what any of us could have imagined. Their design placed them third in the Georgia Tech K12 InVenture Prize competition in Atlanta, Georgia, and later led them to the Invention Convention Nationals in Dearborn, Michigan. These bright minds have now brought their vision home to West Side, where they are sharing their innovative recycling project, ECO Ball, with our school community. Their mission began with a simple belief—that by engaging students today, we can create a lasting impact on our planet's future. I couldn't be prouder to be a small part of it all.\r\nECO Ball was originally designed to make recycling fun, interactive, and engaging. By gamifying the process, these students aimed to inspire others to adopt better recycling habits, both at school and at home. Over time, the design has evolved, and we now have a sleek steel recycling bin, placed atop a scale with a detachable display screen that offers real-time feedback on our collective recycling efforts. This new iteration of ECO Ball has become so much more than just the bins we requested donations for. It's the spark of a paper recycling movement at West Side Elementary, driven by a passionate group of 15 students who are dedicated to spreading awareness about conservation and cultivating a culture of responsibility toward waste reduction.\r\nWhen we learned that our Donation Request had been fully funded, we were over the moon! That generous contribution allowed us to immediately roll out the program to all 3rd-5th grade classes, introducing them to ECO Ball and inviting them to sign up for our new club. We shared the exciting news that, in addition to monthly club meetings, students would soon see blue recycling bins popping up in their classrooms. From now on, the goal is for everyone to \"ball\" up paper they would have otherwise tossed in the trash and put it into their classroom's recycling bin. Additionally, bins would be placed in both staff copy rooms to make recycling accessible to everyone.\r\nOnce all of the supplies arrived and the sign-up period concluded, we held our final planning meeting. With great pride, we gave the green light to start our new recycling service pick-up and labeled all of our bins with a logo that the students had designed. In that meeting, we celebrated how far we had come, recognizing that any new initiative will require ongoing adjustments. But with every step forward, we're getting closer to creating something that will have a lasting impact.\r\nAt our first official ECO Ball Club meeting, we introduced all the new members and assigned each class a dedicated club member to assist with the recycling process. We discussed the fascinating gap between the 90% of people who say they care about recycling, and the roughly 35% who actually follow through. One of the key topics our club will continue exploring is Why does this gap exist? To begin answering this question, students researched common misconceptions about recycling, creating infographics using the Canva app. Topics covered included what items are best for recycling, the recycling rules in our area, and why recycling truly matters. I loved hearing their surprised reactions as they learned how much of an impact small actions can have on the environment. These conversations are exactly the kind of change we need to foster, and we're already seeing this shift in our school culture.\r\nThroughout the year, ECO Ball members have the essential task of emptying classroom recycling bins into our ECO Ball unit, located in the Innovations Lab. Depending on how much paper is being recycled, we may need to empty the bins once or twice a week. Our fantastic janitorial staff takes care of emptying the ECO Ball unit into the outdoor recycling bins twice a week, and before each pick-up, I record the total weight of paper recycled. So far, we've already recycled an impressive 650 pounds of paper!\r\nThe ideas behind ECO Ball have continued to evolve, from the creation of our logo to the blend of service and education that happens during club meetings. What truly excites me is the way this initiative has created a tangible difference in our school culture. Each time a student chooses to ball up a piece of paper and put it in their classroom recycling bin, they are contributing to something bigger. Each time a teacher chooses the recycling bin over the trash can, they too are playing a part in this movement. I'm beyond grateful to be part of this new club at West Side, and I couldn't do it without the incredible support from donors like you.\r\nThe ultimate goal of ECO Ball is to make recycling not just a task, but an exciting and educational experience for students. By engaging them in this process, we're fostering a deeper understanding of their role in environmental conservation and empowering them to make a difference. We are already seeing the impact, and it's only the beginning.\r\nThank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping make ECO Ball a reality. 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West Side Elementary School

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About this school

West Side Elementary School is an urban public school in Marietta, Georgia that is part of Marietta City Schools. It serves 556 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1. Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

556 Students

39 Teachers

344 Polk St NW

Marietta, GA 30064 View local requests

http://westside.marietta-city.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

West Side Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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West Side Elementary School Demographics

17%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

16%

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.

West Side 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.

West Side Elementary School

$5,158

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

donors

project for basic supplies

projects for books

project for art supplies

West Side Elementary School has received support from 35 individuals from Georgia and 9 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.

West Side Elementary School

About this school

West Side Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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West Side Elementary School Demographics

West Side Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

West Side Elementary School

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