{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Aspire Monarch Academy","outOfStateSupporters":29.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":244329,"projectId":9173605,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the ukulele hanging rack! My 3rd grade students are thrilled every year that they finally get to learn to play ukuleles, but up until now, so much of our classroom time has been spent getting the ukuleles in and out of cases, dealing with broken zippers on the cases, getting the ukuleles to fit into our bins without damaging them... you get the picture! I had a feeling some kind of rack to store them on would be the ticket to more time with ukuleles in students' hands, and we are all so excited about it!\r\n\r\nMy students were thrilled to see the ukulele rack, and are anticipating the moment when we start to play ukuleles this year. An additional bonus that I hadn't anticipated is that having the ukuleles on display in this way gives students in younger grades a sneak peek at the instruments they will eventually learn to play, and seeing them every time they come to my music classroom will give them familiarity with the instruments that I think will enhance their ability to learn to play even more!\r\n\r\nI truly can't wait to get started with our unit on ukuleles - as you will see in the pictures, my students couldn't wait either, so we got out some instruments and did a few sneak peek lessons with them earlier than usual in the year! Thank you again, it is truly heart-warming to know that there are people out there that still believe in funding the arts, and know the magical potential that making music can unlock in students' lives.","fullyFundedDate":1745496303443,"projectUrl":"project/ukulele-storage-rack-for-budding-musicia/9173605/","projectTitle":"Ukulele Storage Rack for Budding Musicians!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp244329_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y55&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1579733883113","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/erica-dobney"},{"teacherId":9129326,"projectId":8525549,"letterContent":"One of the most meaningful parts of our classroom this year has been the joy that students and families have experienced through books in their home languages and stories that reflect their cultures. When children see themselves, their families, and their traditions represented in literature, it creates a sense of belonging and excitement about reading. Having a classroom and home library filled with books that celebrate our students' diverse identities has not only fostered pride but also deepened their love of literacy.\r\n\r\nStudents were especially drawn to stories that connected with their daily lives and interests. The Sock quickly became one of the most popular books, sparking lively conversations and laughter. The story reflected their enthusiasm for soccer, a game that so many of our children play at recess, in community leagues, or with their families on weekends. This connection between the text and their personal lives reminded us of the power of representation in books—when children see their passions mirrored in stories, they engage more deeply, make stronger connections, and are motivated to read again and again.\r\n\r\nEqually important, families have expressed how much they appreciate being able to read books in their home languages with their children. Parents and caregivers shared that these books have allowed them to enjoy meaningful reading time together, even if English is not their first language. For many families, this was the first time they had access to high-quality children's books in their own language, and it made storytime more comfortable, natural, and joyful. Parents spoke about how special it felt to sit down with their children, share familiar words and phrases, and see their cultural heritage celebrated on the page.\r\n\r\nThis family engagement has had a powerful impact on literacy development. Research shows that when children strengthen their literacy skills in their home language, it supports reading and writing in all languages. Families reading together at home reinforces vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, and helps children develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning. In our classroom, we've seen students grow in confidence as readers because they are practicing at school and at home, in English and in their home languages. They come to class excited to talk about the stories they read with their parents and eager to share them with friends.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful to our donors for making this possible. Your generosity has allowed us to build a diverse and culturally responsive collection of books that not only reflects our students' languages and cultures but also engages their families in meaningful ways. Because of your support, our classroom has become a place where children feel seen, valued, and inspired, and where reading is celebrated both at school and at home.\r\n\r\nFrom sparking laughter over The Sock to strengthening family connections through shared stories, these books are shaping memories, skills, and a love of reading that will last a lifetime. 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Aspire Monarch Academy

Join the 1,290 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Aspire Monarch Academy is an urban public school in Oakland, California that is part of Oakland Unified School District. It serves 402 students in grades Pre-K - 5. Its teachers have had 430 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades Pre-K - 5

402 Students

# of teachers unavailable

1445 101st Ave

Oakland, CA 94603 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Aspire Monarch Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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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.

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Aspire Monarch Academy Demographics

83%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

96%

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.

Aspire Monarch Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 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.

Aspire Monarch Academy

$199,421

raised using DonorsChoose

430

projects funded

teachers funded

1,290

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

Aspire Monarch Academy has received support from 906 individuals from California and 384 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Aspire Monarch Academy

About this school

Equity Focus School

Aspire Monarch Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Aspire Monarch Academy Demographics

Aspire Monarch Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 2025

Aspire Monarch Academy

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.