Marina Child Development Center in Marina, California on DonorsChoose

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I've told about donors choose and the wonderful gift you donated.","fullyFundedDate":1767759406942,"projectUrl":"project/read-together-learn-together-at-circle/9952165/","projectTitle":"Read Together, Learn Together at Circle Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Casion","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10379406"},{"teacherId":10336781,"projectId":10186874,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, *Voices Beyond Sound* has made a meaningful difference in my classroom. These books are helping my Deaf and Hard of Hearing students build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and connect language to real-life experiences—especially through visual supports and sign language elements.\r\n\r\nAs an itinerant Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) teacher—and the only DHH specialist in our district—I serve over 30 students from birth through Grade 12. These books allow me to provide consistent, accessible literacy support across multiple schools and age groups. They introduce important skills such as sequencing, retelling, making connections, and self-advocacy—helping students understand their hearing differences and how to express their needs.\r\n\r\nReading in my sessions is highly interactive. We use visuals, guided discussions, repetition, and multimodal communication—including spoken language, gestures, and sign—to ensure full access. Students actively participate by retelling stories, answering questions, and connecting the text to their own experiences.\r\n\r\nSome of my students are especially drawn to books that reflect hearing loss and sign language. They become more engaged, ask thoughtful questions, and show increased confidence when they see themselves represented. Your support is not just providing books—it is helping my students build language, confidence, and a strong sense of identity.","fullyFundedDate":1776445307183,"projectUrl":"project/voices-beyond-sound-books-on-hearing-lo/10186874/","projectTitle":"Voices Beyond Sound: Books on Hearing Loss & Sign Language","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arielle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10336781_orig.jpg?crop=1471,1471,x635,y1572&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761842983241","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10336781"},{"teacherId":10216124,"projectId":9640708,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my students with learning disabilities. Your kindness truly makes a difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nMany of my students have unique learning needs and communicate in different ways. The books you helped provide are now part of our visual supports, encouraging them to explore communication through stories and pictures. During story time in our circle, each learner gets a copy of the book we are reading. This practice helps them build independence, follow simple instructions, and practice imitating words and phrases found in the story.\r\n\r\nThrough these books, my students are developing early language and literacy skills—expressing themselves, connecting ideas, and finding joy in learning. Your contribution has made our classroom a more engaging and inclusive environment, where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow.\r\n\r\nMy students truly enjoy the books and show great enthusiasm during story time. They are always excited to open each page, eagerly pointing to the pictures they see in the book. Your support brings smiles, excitement, and meaningful learning moments to our classroom every day.","fullyFundedDate":1758836207011,"projectUrl":"project/little-readers-big-dreams/9640708/","projectTitle":"Little Readers, Big Dreams","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jenn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10216124_orig.jpg?crop=990,990,x85,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757206101165","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10216124"},{"teacherId":9464026,"projectId":8639149,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and for making our Calming Corner project possible. Your support has had a meaningful impact on my Transitional Kindergarten classroom, and I am truly grateful for your kindness. Because of you, my students have a safe, cozy, and welcoming space where they can take a break, calm their bodies, and return to learning feeling ready and confident.\r\n\r\nMy TK students are just beginning their school journey. For many of them, this is their first experience being in a classroom away from home. Learning how to share, wait their turn, express big emotions, and follow classroom routines can be challenging for young children. Having a calming corner has become an essential part of helping them develop these important social-emotional skills.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students' faces lit up with excitement. They were eager to explore the new space, and they loved the soft, inviting atmosphere we created together. We spent time learning how and when to use the calming corner, practicing breathing techniques, identifying our feelings, and talking about healthy ways to calm our minds and bodies. It quickly became one of the most loved areas in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments happened when a student became upset after struggling with a classroom activity. Instead of crying for an extended period or becoming frustrated, the student remembered our classroom expectations and asked to use the calming corner. After spending a few quiet minutes there, practicing deep breathing and taking time to relax, the student returned with a smile and was ready to try again. Watching such young children begin to recognize their emotions and use positive coping strategies has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThe calming corner has become part of our daily classroom routine. Whether students are feeling overwhelmed, sad, frustrated, or simply need a quiet moment, they know they have a safe place where they can regroup before returning to their learning. Since introducing the calming corner, I have noticed students becoming more independent in managing their emotions, solving small conflicts with friends, and communicating how they feel using their words.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students so much more than classroom supplies. You have helped create a classroom environment where children feel safe, supported, and cared for every single day. These early experiences teach lifelong skills such as emotional regulation, self-awareness, kindness, and resilience—skills that will continue to benefit them far beyond our classroom walls.\r\n\r\nAs we continue learning together, we will keep using our calming corner during our social-emotional learning lessons, morning meetings, and throughout our daily routines. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their growth. 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About this school

Marina Child Development Center is a suburban public school in Marina, California that is part of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. It serves 93 students in grades Pre-K - Pre-K. Its teachers have had 41 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades Pre-K - Pre-K

93 Students

# of teachers unavailable

3066 Lake Dr

Marina, CA 93933 View local requests

http://mpusd.k12.ca.us/earlychildhood

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Marina Child Development Center 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

Marina Child Development Center Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.

Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

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Marina Child Development Center Demographics

56%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

69%

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.

Marina Child Development Center Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jul 25, 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.