Sycamore Rocks Elementary School in Apple Valley, California on DonorsChoose

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The pride on their faces when their structures stood tall was unforgettable. They were fully engaged — and fully believing in themselves.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their eyes lit up. There were gasps, wide smiles, and so many excited questions. They immediately wanted to touch, build, and explore. The birthday bags and trinkets brought a different, but equally meaningful, kind of excitement. For some of my students, having their birthday acknowledged in a special way at school means everything. Watching a child feel seen, celebrated, and valued in front of their peers creates a sense of belonging that carries into their behavior and confidence. It sends the message: You matter here.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, these resources are strengthening our classroom community. Celebrating birthdays and individual milestones fosters kindness and connection. Students are cheering for one another, practicing gratitude, and learning how to celebrate others. It has positively impacted classroom behavior because students feel safe, supported, and included.\r\n\r\nNext Steps\r\n\r\nWe are continuing to integrate the STEM materials into structured problem-solving challenges aligned with grade-level standards. Our next project involves collaborative engineering tasks where students will design solutions to real-world scenarios. We will also continue building our culture of kindness by using the birthday resources to reinforce social-emotional learning, positive behavior expectations, and peer encouragement.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just provide supplies — it provided opportunity, confidence, belonging, and joy. 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The supplies you provided were utilized with fidelity to enrich our students' sensory and learning experiences in the most meaningful way. From sensory bins that offered calming textures to interactive tools that sparked curiosity, every item served a distinct purpose in meeting my students' individual needs. One particular moment that stood out was when my students discovered our new sensory stations for the first time—pure joy lit up their faces as they eagerly explored each material, proudly boasting to one another about their favorites. It was a moment of magic, and one that simply wouldn't have been possible without your kindness.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, the overall quality of our classroom program has significantly improved. The new resources helped create a more engaging and inclusive environment, encouraging my students to participate more actively and confidently. 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About this school

Sycamore Rocks Elementary School is a rural public school in Apple Valley, California that is part of Apple Valley Unified School District. It serves 704 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 25.1:1. Its teachers have had 5 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 6

704 Students

28 Teachers

23450 South Rd

Apple Valley, CA 92307 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Sycamore Rocks Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Sycamore Rocks Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Sycamore Rocks Elementary School Demographics

89%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

64%

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.

Sycamore Rocks Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 23, 2026

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.