{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Agua Caliente Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6309709,"projectId":9750178,"letterContent":"Our classroom bins have been wonderful in keeping the classroom organized. We added classroom labels to them to help students know what is inside each bin. It has helped promote independence, and reinforce learning.\r\n\r\nOur students were very excited to have more storage bins to give us more materials at our hands. Being able to label them has been very visually stimulating and are helping the students understand the structure of the classroom. It has taken an adjustment for them as they learn that the bins get put back in a specific spot now and not just in a random spot. \r\n\r\nOur next steps include more independence with student learning. They are learning where their materials are and are starting to be able to locate what they need without teacher assistance.","fullyFundedDate":1758735158132,"projectUrl":"project/an-organized-classroom/9750178/","projectTitle":"An Organized Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Usher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6309709_orig.jpg?crop=1080,1080,x0,y180&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664331180596","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6309709"},{"teacherId":22006,"projectId":9281517,"letterContent":"As soon as my students saw the boxes of highlighters, folders, and composition notebooks, their faces absolutely lit up. Several students immediately started sorting the folders by color and matching them to their reading and writing groups—already thinking like organized scholars. Others flipped through their new notebooks, excited to decorate the covers and make them their own. One student held up a pack of highlighters and said, \"Now we can annotate like real readers!\" That moment said everything: these materials didn't just arrive—they inspired confidence.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the resources to work. Students are using the highlighters to mark claim, evidence, and reasoning in our informational texts, and suddenly their annotations are clearer and far more purposeful. The colorful folders have transformed our transitions; students now move from reading to writing with ease because everything they need is organized and accessible. And the sturdy composition notebooks have become our daily literacy journals—students write reflections, respond to prompts, and track their progress over time. These tools have helped them stay focused, take ownership of their learning, and build strong habits that will carry them through the year.\r\n\r\nNext up, we're diving into a unit that combines close reading, daily writing practice, and small-group discussion routines. Because of your generosity, my students have the materials they need to fully engage in every part of that process. Your support ensures that each child feels ready, equipped, and excited to learn every single day. Thank you for believing in them and investing in their growth!","fullyFundedDate":1755714331108,"projectUrl":"project/ready-to-read-ready-to-write-ready-to/9281517/","projectTitle":"\"Ready to Read, Ready to Write, Ready to Shine!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Jorge Zaiden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp22006_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755368752424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/22006"},{"teacherId":22006,"projectId":9573678,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our 5th graders have launched into an unforgettable reading adventure with The Wild Robot and will soon start The Wild Robot Escapes. These books have completely transformed our literacy block. Students are practicing key comprehension skills—inferring character motivations, analyzing text evidence, comparing themes from The Wild Robot, and tracking Roz's growth across both novels. Many of my students struggle with stamina and deeper-level thinking, but these high-interest texts hooked them immediately. Because they're so engaged, they're pushing themselves to use academic vocabulary, annotate with purpose, and discuss ideas with confidence.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom looks—and sounds—alive. You'll see students huddled around the text during partner reading, jotting RACE responses on sticky notes, debating why Roz makes certain choices, and sketching survival blueprints that merge STEM and literacy. For many of them, this is the first time they feel like \"real readers,\" not just students completing an assignment. One of my students who usually hesitates to read out loud now volunteers during every discussion. Another student who is fascinated with engineering has connected deeply to the robotics themes and is writing pages of predictions during our notebook time.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just put books on shelves—it opened a world. You gave 100+ students the chance to fall in love with reading, to stretch their thinking, and to see themselves as capable, creative learners. Thank you for believing in our school, our kids, and the power of a story that inspires courage, curiosity, and heart. We are profoundly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1755723415748,"projectUrl":"project/reading-goes-rogue-wild-ride-with-the-w/9573678/","projectTitle":"Reading Goes Rogue: Wild Ride With the Wild Robot Escapes","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Jorge Zaiden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp22006_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755368752424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/22006"},{"teacherId":3555331,"projectId":9815442,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you so much for your immense generosity. Donors like you make a huge difference in students' lives and classroom experience. \r\n\r\nStudents have enjoyed using the paint pens for their possum art. It helped the color of their possums really pop. This was a fun activity because we got to read a book called \"Epossamundos\" and kids had an opportunity to create their own possum.\r\n\r\nStudents have also really enjoyed earning points to get the pencils. They love the smell of the scented pencils. \r\n\r\nThe laminating sheets have also come in handy for the students. They look forward to making more art with the paint pens and earning more smelly pencils.","fullyFundedDate":1760485812804,"projectUrl":"project/incentives-and-art-galore/9815442/","projectTitle":"Incentives and Art Galore","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chaillot","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3555331_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1543592229245","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ericachaillot"},{"teacherId":5345897,"projectId":6846216,"letterContent":"Your support for this project means the world to us here at Agua Caliente Elementary School. Our students are LOVING using highlighters during our phonics lessons. They have their eyes glued to their decodable text, trying to find the phonics/spelling pattern we are working on. \r\n\r\nThey use their white boards multiple times a day- during math and language arts instruction especially. It is such a great tool for both the students and the teacher. The students ALL are participating; there is no opting out. The teacher can see what each student is thinking and provide quick feedback to specific students OR change whole group instruction quickly if many students are not showing understanding. \r\n\r\nIt is so important to have these materials for all students. Thank you for providing these supplies; it makes a large impact on a daily basis.","fullyFundedDate":1663634876539,"projectUrl":"project/letters-reading-and-writing-oh-my/6846216/","projectTitle":"Letters, Reading, and Writing, Oh My!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Raaum","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5345897_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1527458455578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5345897"},{"teacherId":8719605,"projectId":9295783,"letterContent":"When the Secret Stories resources arrived, I started to put them up right away, but just a few at a time. This really piqued my students' curiosity, and they couldn't wait to find out what each \"secret\" meant. One moment that stood out was when a student who usually struggles with reading pointed to a poster and said, \"I know that one!\" He was so proud to use it while reading a new word.\r\n\r\nWe've started weaving the stories into our phonics lessons, and the kids are beginning to recognize and apply the patterns in their reading and writing. Our next step is to keep building their independence so they can use the secrets on their own with new words.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping bring these resources into our classroom. They're already making reading feel more engaging and fun for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1746787389706,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-the-reading-code-with-secret-s/9295783/","projectTitle":"Unlocking the Reading Code with Secret Stories!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mitre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8719605_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686530582303","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmitre-aguacaliente"},{"teacherId":9574435,"projectId":8982364,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous donation of art supplies to our classroom. We were so excited to receive glitter, paint, paper, googly eyes, and so much more—it truly felt like the holidays came early!\r\n\r\nThe joy on my students' faces was priceless. They dove into the supplies right away and have been creating beautiful, imaginative projects every week since. Because of your support, we never had to pause and ask, \"Do we have what we need?\"—we had everything we needed and more. These materials helped my students express themselves, build fine motor skills, and, most importantly, have fun while learning.\r\n\r\nYour kindness made a real difference in our classroom, and we are beyond grateful. Thank you for helping us bring creativity to life.","fullyFundedDate":1739373222621,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-art-within-a-special-education-c/8982364/","projectTitle":"Sensory Art within a Special Education Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lucy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9574435_orig.jpg?crop=612,612,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720638343834","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9574435"},{"teacherId":8713059,"projectId":9214479,"letterContent":"When the materials first arrived, my students were bursting with excitement—they couldn't wait to open the boxes and explore what was inside. We immediately began using the new books and supplies during our reading rotations and small group lessons. One memorable moment was when we launched a class book club using several of the donated novels. Students formed their own discussion groups, created character maps, and even acted out key scenes. The materials brought our lessons to life in a way that sparked curiosity and built confidence in even the most reluctant readers.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, my students will continue using these resources to deepen their understanding of literary elements and strengthen their reading fluency and comprehension. We're currently working on a culminating project where students choose a favorite book, identify the theme, and create a visual presentation to share with the class. These kinds of activities wouldn't be possible without your support—thank you for giving my students the tools they need to grow and succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1746785676920,"projectUrl":"project/reading-and-fostering-a-creative-mindset/9214479/","projectTitle":"Reading and Fostering a Creative Mindset","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Milward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713059_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664413545415","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8713059"},{"teacherId":8713059,"projectId":9211551,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, my 5th-grade classroom is now filled with engaging books and essential materials that are truly making a difference. With these new texts, my students are exploring key reading skills like making inferences, analyzing character development, and identifying themes across genres. We've also been able to hold meaningful discussions and use graphic organizers to help students dig deeper into the stories they read. These materials have supported both whole-group instruction and small-group guided reading, giving students the tools they need to become thoughtful and confident readers.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become something students genuinely look forward to. You'll often see kids curled up with their new books during independent reading time or excitedly sharing their thoughts in book club discussions. One of my students, who used to struggle with reading motivation, now races to grab her favorite novel each day and even writes about the characters in her journal. Your support has created a classroom environment where reading feels joyful, purposeful, and personal—thank you for making that possible!","fullyFundedDate":1746786045764,"projectUrl":"project/knowledge-is-power-read-now/9211551/","projectTitle":"Knowledge is Power! Read Now!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Milward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713059_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664413545415","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8713059"},{"teacherId":8729313,"projectId":8972331,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing seat back organizers for my 24 Transitional Kindergarten students. These organizers have already made a big difference in helping us stay organized and ready to learn each day.\r\n\r\nThe students were so excited when they saw them and loved having their own space to store supplies. It's helped cut down on lost materials and made transitions smoother—giving us more time to focus on learning.\r\n\r\nWe'll continue working on routines that promote independence and responsibility. Your support has truly helped set the tone for a successful and organized classroom. We are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1739373221797,"projectUrl":"project/seats-fit-for-scholars-storing-success/8972331/","projectTitle":"Seats Fit for Scholars: Storing Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Spike's Scholars","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8729313_orig.jpg?crop=1890,1890,x19,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665610582264","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8729313"},{"teacherId":22006,"projectId":9155722,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my 5th grade students have been experiencing literacy and math in brand-new, meaningful ways—and the results have been inspiring.\r\n\r\nLet's start with El Deafo. This powerful graphic novel has completely transformed the way my students approach reading and empathy. Most of them had never read a story that centers the perspective of a deaf character, and Cece's journey has opened their hearts and minds in ways I couldn't have imagined. From the very first few pages, they were captivated, not just by the engaging illustrations, but by the raw honesty, humor, and courage that Cece brings to her story. As we read together, students connected with themes of identity, fitting in, and self-advocacy, and these themes sparked some of the richest classroom conversations we've had all year.\r\n\r\nIn terms of academic growth, this book has given us countless opportunities to strengthen core reading skills. We've practiced making inferences by analyzing Cece's internal thoughts versus how others treat her. We've explored figurative language, character motivation, and theme, all through a story that students actually want to read. Because El Deafo is a graphic novel, it has also been a great scaffold for struggling readers and English language learners. The visuals support their comprehension, giving them confidence to participate in discussions and write about the text with greater detail and clarity.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful moments came from a student who rarely speaks up in class. After a chapter where Cece is left out of a sleepover, this student quietly raised her hand and said, \"I think Cece's starting to believe she doesn't belong, but she does. She just needs someone to understand her.\" That insight sparked a 20 minute conversation about friendship, empathy, and how we treat others who might be different from us. That one moment made it clear: the book didn't just improve literacy, it opened emotional doors too.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, the whiteboards and markers have made an equally meaningful impact during math time. Students now solve problems with greater ease and enthusiasm, knowing they can share their thinking, take risks, and make mistakes without the pressure of a permanent worksheet. Every student has a voice during math lessons, whether they're holding up their whiteboard during number talks, collaborating in pairs to compare strategies, or receiving on-the-spot feedback as I circulate the room.\r\n\r\nThis low-stakes, hands-on approach has boosted both confidence and accuracy. I've seen students who used to shy away from math now jump in with excitement, proud to show how they solved a problem or to try again after a mistake. Math has become a subject of collaboration and curiosity, not just calculation. Because everyone is writing and sharing at the same time, it's easier for me to spot misconceptions, offer support, and celebrate breakthroughs in real time.\r\n\r\nWhat makes this project so special is that it supports *both* the academic growth and emotional development of my students. When they connect deeply with a character like Cece and confidently show their math thinking to the class, they are engaging with learning in a full, empowered way. They're building skills, yes, but they're also building empathy, self-worth, and the courage to be themselves.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have asked if we can read more books like El Deafo, about real kids who are different but still awesome. That kind of request tells me everything I need to know about the impact this story has had.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, my students are becoming stronger readers, more thoughtful mathematicians, and more compassionate human beings. Thank you for investing in their growth, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. You've helped create a classroom where every voice is heard, and every learner feels seen.","fullyFundedDate":1744290644312,"projectUrl":"project/reading-math-adventures-in-learning/9155722/","projectTitle":"Reading + Math = Adventures in Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Jorge Zaiden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp22006_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755368752424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/22006"},{"teacherId":8719605,"projectId":9131404,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in helping us get a color printer for our classroom! Your donation has truly made a difference in how my students learn and stay motivated.\r\n\r\nMany of you use technology at home, but in schools, even a single piece of equipment, like a color printer, can open new doors for learning. With this printer, I've been able to create colorful vocabulary cards, anchor charts and visuals for all subjects. These tools are especially helpful for my English learners, who benefit from bright, clear visuals that connect words with meaning.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting things for my kids is receiving a certificate printed in color for their hard work. Whether it's for passing a reading level, completing a math unit, or showing strong effort, these certificates mean so much to them. It turns recognition into something they can hold and be proud of.\r\n\r\nThis simple reward has had a big impact on one particular student who usually needs extra encouragement. When he received his first color-printed certificate, his face lit up. Since then, he has been more focused, eager to learn, and excited to earn the next one. Something as simple as a colorful award helped shift his mindset and motivated him to keep pushing forward.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, our classroom is now more engaging, supportive, and full of positive energy. Thank you for helping my students feel seen, celebrated, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1740848795756,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-resources-for-literacy-langua/9131404/","projectTitle":"Colorful Resources for Literacy & Language Development","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mitre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8719605_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686530582303","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmitre-aguacaliente"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_32662","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":617,"numTeachers":22,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":93,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"28.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.7,"schoolId":32662,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Agua Caliente Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Agua Caliente Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/palm-springs-unified-school-district/agua-caliente-elementary-school/32662"}