{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Saul Martinez Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":31.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9938372,"projectId":9960679,"letterContent":"I am writing to share the meaningful impact that musical instruments have had in our autism classroom. Incorporating music into our daily routine has become a powerful instructional and therapeutic tool that supports our students' academic, social, and emotional growth.\r\n\r\nMany of our students have limited verbal communication skills, and musical instruments provide an alternative way for them to express themselves. Through rhythm, sound, and movement, students are able to communicate preferences, participate in group activities, and engage with their peers in ways that traditional instruction does not always allow.\r\n\r\nMusic has also played a key role in increasing student engagement and attention. When instruments are introduced, we consistently see higher levels of participation, improved focus, and longer periods of sustained interaction. Students who may typically struggle to remain engaged are often motivated and excited to join in when music is involved.\r\n\r\nIn addition, musical activities support the development of important skills such as following directions, turn-taking, and motor coordination. Whether students are tapping a drum, shaking a maraca, or using instruments during structured lessons, they are practicing fine and gross motor skills while also building social connections with their classmates.\r\n\r\nMusic also helps regulate emotions and behavior. For many of our students, sensory input from instruments can be calming and provide a structured outlet for self-regulation. This has contributed to a more positive classroom environment and has supported students in transitioning between activities more successfully.\r\n\r\nOverall, the inclusion of musical instruments has significantly enhanced our students' learning experiences. It provides them with opportunities to communicate, connect, and succeed in ways that are meaningful and accessible to their individual needs.\r\n\r\nThank you for your continued support of our classroom and our students.","fullyFundedDate":1771033984664,"projectUrl":"project/music-and-movement/9960679/","projectTitle":"Music and Movement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saquil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9938372_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742935908516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9938372"},{"teacherId":9437079,"projectId":9866059,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom. Your generosity means more than words can express. Because of your support, we are now able to provide healthy snacks like fruit bars, trail mix, crackers, and granola bars to help keep them energized and focused. These snacks are more than just food, they are tools that help my students regulate their emotions, stay engaged during long mornings, and feel successful in the classroom. Whether it's a quick brain break or a moment of encouragement, something as simple as a snack can help a student shift from overwhelmed to ready to learn. Most importantly, your donation shows my students that someone out there cares about them and believes in their success. That feeling of being supported makes a lasting impact. With your help, our classroom is becoming a place where every student feels cared for, valued, and ready to thrive. Once again thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1772208606797,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-focus-and-learning-with-snacks/9866059/","projectTitle":"Fueling Focus and Learning with Snacks!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Aguirre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9437079_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717014433454","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9437079"},{"teacherId":9938372,"projectId":9723999,"letterContent":"I am so incredibly grateful for your generous support of our classroom through DonorsChoose. Because of you, my students now have access to meaningful social-emotional learning materials that are truly making a difference.\r\n\r\nThe books you provided have been absolutely amazing. They are perfectly matched to my students' levels, making it easier for them to understand important concepts like emotions, relationships, and self-awareness. I've already seen growth in their ability to express themselves and connect what they read to their own experiences. The plus also apply a fun component of learning. \r\n\r\nThe plushies have been such a special and powerful addition as well. Having something tangible that they can see, relate to, and physically touch has made learning more engaging and meaningful for them. For many of my students, especially those with special needs, these hands-on supports are essential in helping them process and understand their feelings.\r\n\r\nYour kindness is creating a safe, supportive environment where my students can grow not only academically, but emotionally too. Thank you for investing in them and believing in their potential. Donors like you make our classrooms flourish and for that I will forever be thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1767621900930,"projectUrl":"project/social-emotional-learning/9723999/","projectTitle":"Social Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saquil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9938372_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742935908516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9938372"},{"teacherId":9514636,"projectId":9811189,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Classroom Snack Program. Because of your kindness, our students have access to nutritious snacks that help them stay focused, energized, and ready to learn throughout the day.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, these snacks make a meaningful difference—not only in supporting their physical well-being but also in creating a sense of comfort and care within our classroom community. Your contribution helps remove barriers to learning and allows students to fully engage in their education.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your generosity and for believing in our students. Your support is making a direct and lasting impact every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1762266305880,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-young-minds-with-healthy-snacks/9811189/","projectTitle":"Fueling Young Minds with Healthy Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Mendez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9514636"},{"teacherId":9938372,"projectId":9739132,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and for supporting our Coffee Cart project through DonorsChoose. Because of you, my students now have access to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that go far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nFrom the very beginning, my students were incredibly excited to start the coffee cart. They loved every part of the experience—from preparing the materials and setting up the cart to wearing their aprons and taking pride in their roles. Every detail made the experience feel real and meaningful for them, which greatly increased their engagement and motivation.\r\n\r\nThe coffee cart has become a powerful instructional tool for my students. Through this project, they are practicing essential life and academic skills such as counting money, identifying coins and bills, sequencing steps, preparing orders, and following multi-step directions. Students are also learning how to follow a routine, wait their turn, communicate appropriately with staff, and take responsibility for completing tasks from start to finish.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, hands-on and real-world learning is the most effective way to build understanding and confidence. This project allows them to apply math, communication, and executive functioning skills in an authentic setting while building independence and self-esteem. The excitement and pride they feel when successfully completing an order or interacting with staff members is truly rewarding to witness.\r\n\r\nYour support has made a lasting impact on my students by providing them with opportunities to practice real-life skills in a safe, supportive environment. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their growth and success. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1764710649839,"projectUrl":"project/coffee-cart/9739132/","projectTitle":"Coffee Cart","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saquil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9938372_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742935908516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9938372"},{"teacherId":9560469,"projectId":9115188,"letterContent":"We've been using the new resources every day! Recently, my students responded to a prompt about habitats. The new materials allowed them to draw a habitat of their choosing and be as creative as possible. For example, during independent work students used the materials to demonstrate their understanding and bring their ideas to life. Seeing their creativity and collaboration in action was incredible!\r\n\r\nThey were so excited! Many of them couldn't believe the materials were really for our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese resources will continue to play a big role as students take what they've learned and apply in their journal. I can already see their confidence growing.","fullyFundedDate":1750196045637,"projectUrl":"project/express-it-show-it/9115188/","projectTitle":"Express it! Show it!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jimenez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9560469_orig.jpg?crop=2186,2186,x130,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717702582880","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9560469"},{"teacherId":9938372,"projectId":9723989,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of wobble seats to our autism classroom. These seats have already made a meaningful difference for our students. They provide an outlet for movement and sensory input, helping students stay calm, focused, and grounded throughout the day.\r\n\r\nYour kindness supports our efforts to create a learning environment where every child feels comfortable and ready to learn. Thank you for helping us meet our students' sensory needs in such a practical and compassionate way. Your contribution is truly appreciated by both my staff and students! These boys are so blessed to have been donated such an an amazing gift.","fullyFundedDate":1758838346326,"projectUrl":"project/wobble-seats/9723989/","projectTitle":"Wobble Seats","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saquil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9938372_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742935908516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9938372"},{"teacherId":10008283,"projectId":9294294,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my class. My students were incredibly enthusiastic to come to school and complete their end-of-the-year craft activity.\r\n\r\nThis project was designed to encourage appreciation among students, and it truly made a difference. They were excited and motivated to come to school, reflect on the memories they made throughout the year, and express those moments through the photos they carefully glued onto their canvases.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity—it means so much to us!","fullyFundedDate":1746233009111,"projectUrl":"project/my-class-and-i/9294294/","projectTitle":"\"My Class and I\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lienhard","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10008283"},{"teacherId":6817305,"projectId":9083183,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations. Since receiving the items, students have enjoyed various physical education lessons. They have learned basic body movements, including throwing, kicking, and catching. Students have also learned the basics of baseball with our new equipment. Exercise is an extremely important subject that I am passionate about. Thanks to your help, I have been able to share that passion with my students. Furthermore, thanks to our new equipment, we have learned the concept of offense and defense with fun and collaborative P.E lessons. Once again, THANK YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1739021808555,"projectUrl":"project/pe-for-all/9083183/","projectTitle":"P.E For All","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Carrasco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6817305_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y816&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1624997761592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-e-carrasco"},{"teacherId":1724503,"projectId":9109781,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our robotics project through DonorsChoose! Your generous donation has had an incredible impact on our classroom.\r\n\r\nSince receiving the robotics kits, my students have become more engaged, collaborative, and confident. They're not just building robots—they're learning how to think critically, solve problems, and work as a team. I've seen students who were once shy or hesitant take the lead on coding, troubleshooting, and presenting their work with pride.\r\n\r\nThis project has opened doors for hands-on learning and inspired many of my students to consider future careers in technology and engineering. The excitement they show when the robots come out is something truly special—and it's all thanks to your support.\r\n\r\nYou've made a real difference in our learning journey. We are so grateful.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt thanks,\r\nVeronica De Lara\r\n4th Grade Classroom\r\nSaul Martinez Elementary School","fullyFundedDate":1739850632116,"projectUrl":"project/challenge-my-students-to-think-outside-t/9109781/","projectTitle":"Challenge My Students To Think Outside the Box With CODING!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. De Lara","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1724503"},{"teacherId":6817305,"projectId":8894144,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations. Thanks to the LEGO Spike kits we received, our students have had fantastic learning opportunities. We have learned essential skills in engineering, coding, science, and much more. None of this would have been possible without your help. Students have had the opportunity to think critically in many hands-on projects. Students have been able to build and code a Ferris wheel, a bowling alley, and a mini golf course. These projects have been essential in my students' learning of forces of motion. THANK YOU!","fullyFundedDate":1739040082282,"projectUrl":"project/lego-building-to-learn/8894144/","projectTitle":"LEGO: Building to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Carrasco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6817305_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y816&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1624997761592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-e-carrasco"},{"teacherId":9101194,"projectId":8332609,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when the new PE equipment arrived, they couldn't believe it was all for them! We've been using it during PE and brain breaks to stay active and build teamwork. One highlight was a relay race using cones and jump ropes, where every student got involved. \r\n\r\nMost of my students come from low-income households, and access to sports or fitness equipment outside of school can be limited. Thanks to you, they now have the opportunity to experience the benefits of physical activity in a safe and supportive environment every day. They've told me how much more they enjoy PE and recess now, and I've noticed a big boost in their energy, motivation, and classroom behavior.","fullyFundedDate":1724471053938,"projectUrl":"project/active-fun-for-students/8332609/","projectTitle":"Active Fun for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Regalado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9101194_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724516174201","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9101194"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_66685","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":977,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":98,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"20.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":68.8,"schoolId":66685,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Saul Martinez Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Saul Martinez Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/coachella-valley-unified-school-district/saul-martinez-elementary-school/66685"}