{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"La Ballona Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":17.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":976650,"projectId":9901008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. This powerful book introduces students to important lessons about history, identity, and resilience. Through this text, students build skills in critical thinking, empathy, and historical understanding as they learn about a lesser-known chapter of U.S. history and reflect on how policies and decisions impact families and communities.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading looks like shared read-alouds followed by thoughtful discussion. We pause to unpack vocabulary, analyze illustrations, and talk openly about emotions and questions that arise from the text. Books like this one help students practice listening to multiple perspectives, making text-to-self and text-to-world connections, and engaging in respectful dialogue with their peers.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have been especially engaged with this book, particularly those who see connections to their own family histories and cultural backgrounds. They have shared personal stories, asked meaningful questions, and shown pride in seeing history reflected through a lens that feels familiar and validating. Your support made it possible for these conversations to happen, and it has had a lasting impact on our students' learning and sense of belonging. Thank you for helping bring this important story into our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764622161646,"projectUrl":"project/reading-together-inclusive-books-for-ou/9901008/","projectTitle":"Reading Together: Inclusive Books for Our Multicultural School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Haro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp976650_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1461980453372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/haro"},{"teacherId":8020751,"projectId":9760079,"letterContent":"Thank You for the donations!\r\nThank you for the classroom materials such as the posters. The students are using these to showcase their comprehension of the Spanish books they are reading for homework. The timers have helped all students manage their time more efficiently and learn a valuable life skill. The books about kids with big issues have become the favorite during our reading time. The students are especially excited about the new treasure box items, which engage them in participation and make them look forward to a reward.\r\nThank you once again for your support!\r\nBest regards,\r\nMrs. Serrano and her 24 students!","fullyFundedDate":1759380746220,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-minds-motivating-hearts-tool/9760079/","projectTitle":"Engaging Minds & Motivating Hearts: Tools for Thriving Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8020751_orig.jpg?crop=624,624,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630007161755","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8020751"},{"teacherId":4951878,"projectId":9614688,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support and generosity. These learning materials and games will help me reach all of my students and help them continue become more confident about their learning. These tools will especially help my struggling students in a more fun and engaging way. Your support shows my students that so many people care about their education, support their learning and want to see them succeed. This will encourage them to want to try harder and continue learning. Thank you for making all of this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1755718036372,"projectUrl":"project/challenging-and-inspiring-young-minds/9614688/","projectTitle":"Challenging and Inspiring Young Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Perez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4951878_orig.png?crop=328,328,x32,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628727924389","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4951878"},{"teacherId":10275722,"projectId":9751083,"letterContent":"Starting from scratch this year with 18 students in a dual immersion Spanish classroom is how the year started. La Ballona is a Title I school which receives federal funding to help disadvantaged students, particularly from low-income families, meet challenging state academic standards and close achievement gaps. So getting funded by Donors choose for choice items to create a play based learning environment for this Transitional Kindergarten classroom has been one of the most supportive things for my students success. \r\n\r\nOur classroom is a simple bungalow that had no rug and barely any materials. One item that has supported whole class instruction and play based learning in the class was the rug we received from lakeshore. It has given us a place to meet comfortably each morning as a whole and begin the day. Once our morning routine is done the students transition into indoor play. The rug serves as a place for my students vast imagination to flourish. I see students each day sitting on the rug, laying on the rugs and even rolling around on the rug. It has been utilized as a foundation for learning and playing. \r\n\r\nAll the other items received have already been put to good use like the painting materials. I can't thank the donors enough with helping give my students the tools needed for become life long learners.","fullyFundedDate":1758756601752,"projectUrl":"project/painting-our-future/9751083/","projectTitle":"Painting Our Future","teacherDisplayName":"Maestro Castillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10275722"},{"teacherId":8020751,"projectId":9608151,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping give my students a place they want to physically read book and read books about real world problems. \r\n\r\nThey have enjoyed reading the \" a kids book about , racism, empathy, etc\". Kids with difficult learning journeys in my class especially enjoy this library because of the sensory rug. \r\n\r\nStudents I had last year also have came in after school to enjoy the classroom. This is not only being used by one class but sometimes 3 groups of students. Thank you for your donations and the impact it has made on this kids.","fullyFundedDate":1755718036071,"projectUrl":"project/reading-without-borders-bilingual-stori/9608151/","projectTitle":"Reading Without Borders: Bilingual Stories for Title I Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8020751_orig.jpg?crop=624,624,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630007161755","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8020751"},{"teacherId":976650,"projectId":9455369,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our students now have access to wonderful new books through Leo's Book Club. These texts help us introduce important lessons like empathy, celebrating diversity, and thinking critically about the world around us. For example, some stories spark conversations about fairness and kindness, while others highlight the courage of young people who stand up for what they believe in.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading often looks like gathering together for a read-aloud, followed by thoughtful discussions where students share their ideas, questions, and connections. The books also become part of small group lessons and independent reading time, giving students multiple ways to engage with the stories.\r\n\r\nSome of our students have been especially drawn to the books that reflect their own cultures and experiences. One student lit up when she saw a character who speaks Spanish at home, and another was visibly excited to see a character that reminded him of his own family. These moments are powerful reminders of why these books matter so much.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us bring these stories into our students' hands and hearts. You've made a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1754751355151,"projectUrl":"project/reading-together-inclusive-books-for-ou/9455369/","projectTitle":"Reading Together: Inclusive Books for Our Multicultural School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Haro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp976650_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1461980453372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/haro"},{"teacherId":8020751,"projectId":8853692,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the generous donation of flexible seating for our classroom. These new resources have transformed our learning environment, allowing students to choose seating that best suits their learning styles. Recently, during a group project, the students utilized the new seating to collaborate more effectively, sharing ideas and engaging in discussions with enthusiasm. When they first saw the new chairs and tables, their excitement was palpable, and many expressed how much they appreciated having a space that felt more comfortable and inviting.\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to use the flexible seating for an upcoming project. Students will be working in teams to create presentations, and the ability to move and collaborate in different configurations will enhance their creativity and teamwork skills. I know our donors would love to see how their contributions are making a difference and how our classroom continues to evolve. Thank you once again for your support in enriching our students' learning experience.","fullyFundedDate":1734539631658,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-that-will-empowers-four/8853692/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating that Will Empowers Fourth Grades!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8020751_orig.jpg?crop=624,624,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630007161755","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8020751"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_27690","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":556,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":51,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":62,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"22.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.2,"schoolId":27690,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about La Ballona Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"La Ballona Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/culver-city-unified-school-district/la-ballona-elementary-school/27690"}