{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Paularino Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8479653,"projectId":9480117,"letterContent":"From the very bottom of my heart, thank you. Your generosity in funding my project \"Calm, Cool, and Supported: Flexible Seating for Our Sensory Corner\" means so much to me and to the nine incredible students I teach at Paularino Elementary School in Costa Mesa. When I think of all the ways your gift will impact our classroom, I'm filled with hope and gratitude.\r\n\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, we will be able to bring in cozy saucer chairs and balance-ball chairs to our sensory corner. Ones that are sturdy, safe, and built for children who need more calming movement or comfortable seating. As I described in the project, our old beanbags kept tearing and spilling beads; we knew we needed something better so that every student,can use the space and feel supported. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYour gift helps us build a space where each student can regulate big feelings, refocus their body, and know: I am seen. I am safe. I belong. I am committed to creating a loving, inclusive classroom where students with autism, special needs, or physical supports thrive and you have helped make that more possible. Because of you, I can give them tools, not just academically, but emotionally and physically. That help them learn, connect, and flourish.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne particular moment I look forward to: when a student who is frustrated or anxious can choose a saucer chair, lean into the curve, and breathe. Or when another student who finds it hard to stay still can bounce gently on the balance-ball chair and feel grounded. Your kindness sets that in motion.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students. Thank you for investing in their well-being, their comfort, their potential. I promise I will use every chair and cushion and tool with intention and I will share photos and reflections so you can see the difference your gift makes day by day.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith deepest gratitude and admiration,","fullyFundedDate":1757016368292,"projectUrl":"project/calm-cool-and-supported-flexible-seat/9480117/","projectTitle":"Calm, Cool, and Supported: Flexible Seating for Our Sensory Corner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Etchechury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8479653_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653071516644","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8479653"},{"teacherId":7997932,"projectId":9503434,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity and support in helping bring our classroom rug to life! The moment it arrived, my students' faces absolutely lit up. They could hardly contain their excitement as we rolled it out and officially declared it our new \"learning spot.\"\r\n\r\nThe rug has quickly become the heart of our classroom. It's where we start every morning with our class meeting, where we build community, and where we dive into phonics, read-alouds, and math lessons together. Having a soft, cozy space has made a world of difference — students are more comfortable, more focused, and genuinely eager to gather and learn.\r\n\r\nThis carpet has also helped create a sense of belonging. My first graders naturally gravitate toward it to read, collaborate, and share ideas. It's amazing how something as simple as a rug can completely transform the feeling of our classroom — making it warmer, calmer, and more inviting for everyone.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and in the power of a welcoming classroom environment. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on our learning community, and we will think of you every day as we gather on our beautiful new rug to learn and grow together.","fullyFundedDate":1754026721860,"projectUrl":"project/a-peaceful-place-to-learn-and-grow/9503434/","projectTitle":"A Peaceful Place to Learn and Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gentry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7997932_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653024977734","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/miss-gentry"},{"teacherId":741778,"projectId":9561221,"letterContent":"I want to extend my sincere thanks for the generous resources you provided to our classroom. The sensory area I was able to create has been an incredible asset for the students—offering them a space to regulate, refocus, and feel comfortable throughout the day.\r\n\r\nThe seat sacks have also made a big difference, allowing students to keep their materials organized and within easy reach, which helps them stay more engaged and independent.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for thinking of our classroom and for supporting our students' growth and success. Your kindness and generosity have truly made a meaningful impact.","fullyFundedDate":1757016325787,"projectUrl":"project/restock-reignite-equipping-students-f/9561221/","projectTitle":"Restock & Reignite: Equipping Students for Academic Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McDevitt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp741778_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490994159597","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/741778"},{"teacherId":9910169,"projectId":9083988,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the puppets, puppet theatre and puppet tree. Your generosity has sparked creativity and joy in my students. Since receiving the new materials my students have been buzzing with excitement. They have shown creativity in their performances. Watching them perform and cheer each other on has been nothing short of inspiring.\r\nThe beautiful surprise has been how much they love being the audience. They sit with wide eyes and big smiles, completely captivated by their classmates. It's building their confidence as well their appreciation for each other's talents.\r\nYour support has allowed imagination to be a part of our daily learning environment. Thank you for helping my students discover the joy of expression and shared laughter.","fullyFundedDate":1747168018137,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-language-through-puppetry-pla/9083988/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Language Through Puppetry Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wilson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9910169_orig.png?crop=272,272,x19,y187&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738037900207","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9910169"},{"teacherId":8479653,"projectId":9271290,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our \"Books That Build Confidence and Joy\" project has genuinely transformed my classroom. My special education students are excited to have books that match their reading levels and interests. They especially love taking them home and reading for 30 minutes each day.\r\n\r\nOne of our classroom's highlights is SSR (Sustained Silent Reading). My students look forward to this time daily. It has become a moment of calm, focus, and joy when they get to choose stories that speak to them. Their confidence as readers is growing, and I can already see the pride they feel in themselves.\r\n\r\nYour support has given my students not just books, but the gift of believing in their ability to read and enjoy them. Thank you for helping create a classroom full of excitement, growth, and joy.","fullyFundedDate":1746785867074,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-build-confidence-and-joy/9271290/","projectTitle":"Books That Build Confidence and Joy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Etchechury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8479653_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653071516644","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8479653"},{"teacherId":7997932,"projectId":8965183,"letterContent":"I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for supporting my DonorsChoose project. Thanks to your generosity, the new shelf and organizing cubes are now in our classroom—and they've already made a world of difference!\r\n\r\nWith the shelf in place, I've been able to organize all of our math manipulatives in one central location. Now, instead of me passing out materials, my students can independently grab exactly what they need for their lessons. It has been so empowering for them and has helped foster responsibility and confidence during our math block.\r\n\r\nThe organizing cubes have been just as impactful. Each student now has a designated space for their headphones, making transitions to digital learning smoother and more efficient. No more tangled cords or lost headphones—just calm, organized access that allows us to maximize our learning time.\r\n\r\nYour kindness and support have created a more functional, student-centered classroom. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping bring this vision to life.","fullyFundedDate":1735688756554,"projectUrl":"project/shelves-of-success-building-an-organize/8965183/","projectTitle":"Shelves of Success: Building an Organized Future","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gentry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7997932_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653024977734","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/miss-gentry"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_92275","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":356,"numTeachers":22,"percentFrplEligible":63,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"16.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":81.9,"schoolId":92275,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Paularino Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Paularino Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/newport-mesa-unified-school-district/paularino-elementary-school/92275"}
Join the 204 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Paularino Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Costa Mesa, California that is part of Newport Mesa Unified School District.
It serves 356 students
in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.2:1.
Its teachers have had 75 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for our school's classrooms. Share this page with friends and family who want to make a difference. If you're a teacher, sign up to get started!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
74%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Paularino Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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.
Paularino Elementary School
$53,429
raised using DonorsChoose
75
projects
funded
23
teachers
funded
204
donors
7
projects
for
basic supplies
8
projects for
technology
21
projects for
books
4
projects
for
art supplies
Paularino Elementary School has received support from
167 individuals from California and
37 individuals out-of-state.