Kennedy Gardens Elementary School in Calexico, California on DonorsChoose

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Even the Clorox wipes are encouraging responsibility, as students now help clean up at the end of each day.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll connect these rewards to academic projects, such as small reading groups, where students can track their progress and celebrate their successes. Thanks to your generosity, my students feel supported, motivated, and proud of their hard work every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1746786053135,"projectUrl":"project/rewards-for-regulation/9116250/","projectTitle":"Rewards for Regulation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Soriano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9925282_orig.png?crop=466,466,x65,y31&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739670250476","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9925282"},{"teacherId":9925282,"projectId":9116228,"letterContent":"I express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation to our special education classroom. Your kindness has made a powerful and lasting impact on our students, and I want to share just how meaningful your support has been.\r\n\r\nThanks to your contribution, we are creating a **Calming Corner.** This space transformed our classroom into a more supportive and nurturing environment. These additions give our students a haven to practice self-regulation, manage big emotions, and develop social-emotional skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nThe day the materials arrived, the experience alone was unforgettable. The students' eyes lit up with excitement and wonder. They eagerly explored the new sensory tools, fascinated by the textures, colors, and calming elements. One of our students, who often struggles with emotional overwhelm, sat quietly in the Calming Corner with a weighted blanket and sensory toy and whispered, \"This helps me feel better.\" That quiet moment of peace spoke volumes.\r\n\r\nWe've since incorporated the new resources into a classroom project called **My Feelings Toolbox.** Each student is creating an essential set of strategies for managing emotions, using the Calming Corner to discover what works best for them. Whether it's deep breathing, squeezing a sensory ball, or spending a few moments with a calming visual, our students are learning how to take charge of their emotional well-being.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we continue teaching our students how to recognize their emotions and independently use calming strategies throughout the day. 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About this school

Kennedy Gardens Elementary School is a town public school in Calexico, California that is part of Calexico Unified School District. It serves 529 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 21.2:1. Its teachers have had 7 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

529 Students

25 Teachers

2300 Rockwood Ave

Calexico, CA 92231 View local requests

http://wwwww2.cusdk12.org

Evidence-based impact

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

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Kennedy Gardens Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Rodriguez

Mrs. Sanchez-Nunez

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Kennedy Gardens Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

98%

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.

Kennedy Gardens Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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