{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Veterans Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":51.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1970008,"projectId":10133635,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our book project with your generous donations. The books in this this project were selected by the students themselves. They created a list of book titles and did the proper research on each one. Upper graders wanted to see other genres added to our library and so they took on the challenge of finding horror, anime, and fantasy titles create an \"upper grade\" section in the library. They wanted more titles that were interesting to them as almost middle schoolers. It was great working with the students to select the books, it gave them a sense of ownership and pride in their library, and that is priceless.","fullyFundedDate":1773010569576,"projectUrl":"project/they-picked-books-for-upper-grades/10133635/","projectTitle":"They Picked! - Books for Upper Grades","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dooley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1970008_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661746332682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jdooley"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":10180635,"letterContent":"Thank you SO very much for helping my students learn about different instruments & cultures! My students were thrilled to find out our class had a new drum from African culture! We learned about where they came from and how they were made! They were excited to know that each student will also learn to play! These drums will help our class lessons, transitions, and help hold their attention! DRUM-DRUM-DRUM. \r\n\r\nHaving each student being responsible for drum beats will keep each on task, attentive, and responsible! When a magic vocabulary word, concept, answer, etc. is shared, the dummer will beat the drum. This ensures that that student is paying attention and knows when to do the beats! They'll make for a much more fun learning environment.\r\n\r\nThank you from the bottom of all of our beating hearts. We love and appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1775567074910,"projectUrl":"project/djembe-drum-djembe-drum-drum/10180635/","projectTitle":"Djembe! Drum! Djembe! Drum, Drum!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":7060248,"projectId":10086361,"letterContent":"I would like to take moment to thank each and every one of you for your extreme generosity and thoughtfulness. Your donations have made it possible for my students to spread kindness throughout our school.\r\n\r\nI believe it's important for young students to be taught early on that an act of kindness, no matter how small it may seem, can have a huge impact on others. I am hoping my students grow up to be kind hearted, giving and generous human beings. Showing them to spread kindness now, will help them develop good habits and actions towards others in the future.\r\n\r\nThe students at our school thank you for your help making this kindness project come to life.","fullyFundedDate":1771340719005,"projectUrl":"project/spreading-kindness/10086361/","projectTitle":"Spreading Kindness","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Pérez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7060248"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":10180616,"letterContent":"Thank you SO very. much for helping so many students get their little hands on physical books, books, books! My students and I are always looking for the next series that will help hold students' attentions more than a video game! Your support has helped with this SO very much! \r\n\r\nThe Good Dog series is SO popular among my students; they were literally jumping for joy when they saw them arrive! The Old Lady Who.. is another popular series as they are so silly! The students LOVE them!\r\n\r\nAt a time when teachers are competing with phones, Play Stations, and other apps, it's tough to find books students love! Your support has helped get books in children's hands oppose to more tech time! Thank you so very much from the bottom of all of our hearts!","fullyFundedDate":1775342365975,"projectUrl":"project/books-books-books/10180616/","projectTitle":"Books! Books! Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":6445491,"projectId":10128521,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Community Exploration Fun\" project. Because of your generosity, my students have been able to engage with new, hands-on resources that bring our lessons to life in meaningful ways. We've been using these materials during our community studies unit, where students explore the people, places, and roles that make up a community. One memorable moment was when students used the new supplies to create their own model neighborhoods, complete with schools, parks, and local businesses. This activity sparked thoughtful conversations about how communities work together and why each role is important.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the excitement in the classroom was immediate and contagious. Students were eager to explore everything, asking questions and sharing ideas before we even began the lesson. Their enthusiasm carried into their work, and I saw increased collaboration, creativity, and confidence as they used the resources. Many students who are typically more reserved became active participants, proudly sharing their ideas with classmates.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to build on this momentum by connecting our classroom learning to the real world. Our next step is to have students apply what they've learned by designing solutions to improve their own community, whether it's creating safer parks or helping local helpers do their jobs more effectively. Your support has not only enriched our current lessons but has also inspired a deeper sense of curiosity and engagement that will continue to grow. Thank you again for making this possible for our students.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nAlma Villegas Greenwald","fullyFundedDate":1774024583499,"projectUrl":"project/community-exploration-fun/10128521/","projectTitle":"Community Exploration Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. V. Greenwald","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6445491_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x388,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1643752967906","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6445491"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":10089577,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for helping our students stay fit: physically & mentally! This new equipment will help our students hula, jump, and hop! They were so excited to see the new jump ropes & hula hopes, but they had never ever seen the Pogo-sticks! Boy, did their eyes widen when they saw them! “What are those,” They asked! \n\nUsing the Pogo-sticks definitely had a learning curve for the students! But, practice made perfect and by the end of the week, they were hopping themselves around the playground! \n\nPlease know you’ve made many students happy & made them so excited to be mentally and physically fit! And, with no complaints! Thank you so very much!!! ","fullyFundedDate":1770641364568,"projectUrl":"project/physically-mentally-fit/10089577/","projectTitle":"Physically & Mentally Fit","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":10059902,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for supporting this project. It means so very much for so many students! There are always those students don't like to play physical games at recess, and they just like to sit and chat. At times, they are sitting alone. These benches will help our students find a friend and not be lonely. This is the way for our students to show compassion, kindness, and friendship.\r\n\r\nOur bench will be placed between two pods of classrooms. When students see someone sitting on this bench, our students will practice these virtues by approaching the students and asking them if they are okay, if they want to chat, or if they just need a friend. With a lot of modeling and practicing, these skills will become second nature! \r\n\r\nThank you, again, for helping our school learn some very important virtues that will help students throughout their entire lives. You are appreciated more than you know!","fullyFundedDate":1770404849271,"projectUrl":"project/friendship-benches/10059902/","projectTitle":"Friendship Benches","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":1970008,"projectId":9734668,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our school and our amazing students. This project was so special because it was all about being creative. It is incredible how something so simple like a brand new drawing pencil and some \"how-to\" drawing books can spark creativity and self expression. The students were so excited to walk into the library the day we unveiled our new items. Usually as soon as they come in they ask for plain paper so they can go doodle. This time I was able to set up a table with our new books and pencils and erasers and told them to just have fun! They did! We keep forgetting how important it is to provide just a few simple tools to allow kids to use their imaginations. No screens needed! Thank you for supporting us.","fullyFundedDate":1766711799404,"projectUrl":"project/doodle-and-sketch-everyone-can-draw/9734668/","projectTitle":"Doodle and Sketch: Everyone Can Draw!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dooley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1970008_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661746332682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jdooley"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":9977390,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for ALL your support! Being able to celebrate the Lunar New Year with my students was amazing! We were able to learn about different cultures through books & celebrated with stickers, chocolate, and red envelopes filled with coins. Yay!\r\n\r\nThe students are always excited to celebrate each other's cultures! But, they were especially excited to learn about a new culture. Some students had not heard of and had not celebrated the Chinese New Year! Two students beamed with pride as they shared how they celebrate in their own homes. \r\n\r\nIt was so sweet to see my two shy students beam with pride and actually speak up in front of their peers. \r\n\r\nThank you so very much from the bottom of all hearts! Happy New Year to you!","fullyFundedDate":1767409084580,"projectUrl":"project/chinese-lunar-new-year/9977390/","projectTitle":"Chinese Lunar New Year","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":9949181,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for helping our class celebrate the Chinese Lunar New year! It's important for students to understand and appreciate the differences in all cultures, languages, traditions, etc. Knowing, understanding, and living differences help us connect with one another despite our differences. Those that celebrate non-traditional holidays feel recognized, important, and valued. You should see the smiles on their faces!\r\n\r\nThese books, stickers, and snacks will all help my students understand the differences in cultures and will help us they celebrate the new year, too. We will begin by learning about the Chinese New Year with read alouds and with books available for students to read in our classroom setting. Additionally, receiving red envelopes with a quarter inside will be so exciting for us all! Chocolate, stickers, and art will all accompany our unit, too! \r\n\r\nThank you so very much for helping my students and I celebrate the Chinese New Year! Please know you are making a difference in a child's life!","fullyFundedDate":1766875855915,"projectUrl":"project/lunar-new-year-2026/9949181/","projectTitle":"Lunar New Year 2026","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":531084,"projectId":9317572,"letterContent":"Thank you SO very much for always being our biggest cheerleader and supporter! You have no idea just how much this means to me and how much it means to my students. \r\n\r\nMy students absolutely love using our spin wheel to determine prizes, activities to do, and just about anything that needs a decision. They always say: Let's spin the wheel. Luckily, it's a white-board and this allow us to write & erase for every time we need to make a decision. :). It saves my sanity, too, as the wheel makes a lot of our decisions. \r\n\r\nYour support goes way beyond the classroom. They students feel confident, loved, and cared for every single day. They know they are important and that people outside our school love and care for them. My students have memories beyond learning letters & numbers- they'll forever remember the fun we had!\r\n\r\nWe love you, too! Every time we look around our classroom, our playground, our school- you have played a role! We could never thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1746442913995,"projectUrl":"project/answer-spin-hammock/9317572/","projectTitle":"Answer, Spin, & Hammock","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Escarcega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp531084_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610493418198","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-escarcega"},{"teacherId":1970008,"projectId":9734592,"letterContent":"This was such a fun project and we are so thankful that it was so generously funded. Our kids spend so much time with electronics and are really missing out on the fun, and skills, that toys bring. This project consisting of several biographical books about the inventors of some of the most popular toys ever made. The idea was to spark their curiosity through reading and then introduce them to the actual toys. Many of our kids had never played with play-doh, or built something with Lego blocks. Now they know a little about the creative geniuses that invented them. Thank you for making this happen for our amazing students!","fullyFundedDate":1762265328088,"projectUrl":"project/stem-books-toy-edition/9734592/","projectTitle":"STEM Books: Toy Edition","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dooley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1970008_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661746332682","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jdooley"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30950","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":814,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":35,"percentAsian":22,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":52,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":8,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"22.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":49.0,"schoolId":30950,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Veterans Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Veterans Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/chula-vista-elementary-school-district/veterans-elementary-school/30950"}