{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sunny Sands Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3438408,"projectId":3260160,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Getting the Basics School Supplies!\" project. Your generosity has helped provide our students with the essential materials they need to learn, participate, and feel successful in the classroom each day.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first received the new supplies, they were excited and eager to begin using them right away. Simple items like pencils, crayons, glue, notebooks, and markers brought huge smiles to their faces and helped students feel prepared and ready to learn. Many students proudly organized their materials and immediately began creating and working with enthusiasm.\r\n\r\nThese supplies are used every day during writing activities, math lessons, art projects, and small-group instruction. One special classroom moment was seeing all students fully participate in a collaborative drawing and writing activity because everyone had the tools they needed. The materials helped students stay engaged, focused, and confident while encouraging creativity and independence.\r\n\r\nThe new resources have also helped create a more organized and supportive learning environment where every student has equal access to classroom materials. As we continue through the school year, students will use these supplies for hands-on projects, literacy centers, creative assignments, and cooperative learning activities that support both academic and social growth.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and helping make learning exciting and accessible for every child. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1525211180303,"projectUrl":"project/getting-the-basics/3260160/","projectTitle":"Getting the Basics!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lozano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3438408"},{"teacherId":3438408,"projectId":4111491,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"School Supplies for Students\" project. Your generosity has helped provide our students with the tools they need to learn, create, and succeed every day in the classroom.\r\nWhen the students first saw the new supplies, they were excited and eager to begin using them right away. Having fresh pencils, crayons, notebooks, markers, and other classroom materials made them feel prepared and confident for learning. Many students proudly organized their supplies and could not wait to start working on classroom activities.\r\nThese resources are being used daily during writing, math, art, and small-group lessons. One memorable moment was watching students fully engage in a collaborative writing and drawing activity because every child had the materials they needed to participate. The supplies have helped students stay focused, creative, and motivated while allowing learning to continue without interruptions.\r\nThe materials have also helped create a more organized and supportive classroom environment where all students have equal access to the tools they need to succeed. Moving forward, students will continue using these supplies for hands-on projects, literacy activities, and collaborative learning experiences that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and academic growth.\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and helping create meaningful learning opportunities each day. Your kindness and support are truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1558719491844,"projectUrl":"project/school-supplies-for-students/4111491/","projectTitle":"School Supplies for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lozano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3438408"},{"teacherId":3438408,"projectId":10202849,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Playground Power! Helping TK Students Move and Grow\" project. Your generosity has made a huge difference for our young learners by giving them new opportunities to play, move, and build important developmental skills every day.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new playground equipment, their excitement was immediate. They could not wait to explore, climb, balance, and play together. Many students were smiling, cheering for one another, and eagerly taking turns trying each activity. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they practiced new physical skills.\r\n\r\nWe use the playground materials daily during outdoor learning and movement breaks. The equipment has helped students strengthen coordination, balance, teamwork, and social skills while staying active and engaged. One special moment was watching students create their own obstacle course together, encouraging classmates and celebrating each other's successes as they completed each challenge.\r\n\r\nThese new resources have also supported our classroom lessons about healthy habits, cooperation, and problem-solving. Moving forward, students will continue using the equipment during structured games and collaborative activities that help build both physical development and positive social interactions.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create a fun, active, and supportive environment where our TK students can learn and grow through play. Your kindness and support are truly appreciated!","fullyFundedDate":1777978910439,"projectUrl":"project/playground-power-helping-tk-students-mo/10202849/","projectTitle":"Playground Power! Helping TK Students Move and Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lozano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3438408"},{"teacherId":3438408,"projectId":10138058,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our \"Tonies to Listen and Enjoy During Centers\" project. The Tonies have quickly become a favorite part of our classroom centers. Students were so excited when they first saw the Toniebox and characters—they immediately gathered around, eager to listen and explore stories independently.\r\n\r\nWe use the Tonies during literacy and listening centers to help build comprehension, vocabulary, and a love of reading. One special moment was watching students retell a story together after listening, using details and character voices they remembered from the audio. Even some of our quieter students became more engaged and confident participating in discussions.\r\n\r\nThe Tonies are also helping students practice important listening and social skills while learning to take turns and work cooperatively during center time. As we continue our literacy lessons, students will use the stories they hear to make predictions, discuss characters and settings, and connect the books to their own experiences.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has created meaningful learning opportunities and joyful moments in our classroom every day. Thank you for making this possible for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1778189159308,"projectUrl":"project/tonies-to-listen-and-enjoy-during-center/10138058/","projectTitle":"Tonies to Listen and Enjoy During Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lozano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3438408"},{"teacherId":3086982,"projectId":10072119,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project and helping bring hands-on learning materials into our Transitional Kindergarten classroom. Your generosity will make a huge difference for my students each and every day.\r\n\r\nIn TK, children learn best through play, exploration, and imagination. Because of your kindness, my students will have opportunities to build, create, sort, count, pretend, and work together in meaningful ways that support both academic and social growth.\r\n\r\nThe Playful Penguins Ice Blocks and Animal Kingdom Blocks will encourage problem-solving, teamwork, and early STEM learning as students experiment with building and designing. The animal sets and counters will help strengthen vocabulary, math skills, science concepts, and critical thinking through fun, interactive activities. The castles and dramatic play materials will spark creativity while helping students practice communication, sharing, and cooperation with their classmates.\r\n\r\nThese are more than just toys to my students. They are tools that help young children learn confidence, perseverance, friendship, and a love for school. Your support helps create a classroom where learning feels exciting, engaging, and joyful.\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in my students and investing in their future. Your generosity and kindness are truly appreciated more than words can say.","fullyFundedDate":1778037600577,"projectUrl":"project/from-farm-to-ocean-hands-on-learning-in/10072119/","projectTitle":"From Farm to Ocean: Hands-On Learning in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McKinley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3086982_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1526589961202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-clawrence"},{"teacherId":10278568,"projectId":9757810,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping provide new learning materials for my K students. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom environment and in the daily learning experiences of my students. The moment the supplies arrived, the classroom was filled with excitement, curiosity, and joy. My students were eager to explore the new materials and immediately began asking questions about when they could start using them.\r\n\r\nWe received markers, tissue squares, writing pads, counting puzzles, pipe cleaners, double-sided boards, and newspaper writing paper. These materials have already become an important part of our daily centers, small group instruction, and play-based learning activities. In our classroom, students learn best through hands-on exploration, creativity, and opportunities to collaborate with one another, and these materials have supported all of those experiences.\r\n\r\nOne special classroom moment happened during center time when students began using the counting puzzles together. Some students worked independently while others helped classmates count and match the pieces correctly. I observed students practicing number recognition, counting skills, and one-to-one correspondence while also building communication and teamwork skills. It was exciting to watch students feel confident and proud as they solved the puzzles together. Another memorable moment was seeing students use the pipe cleaners and tissue squares creatively during art and fine motor activities. Students worked carefully to bend, twist, and create shapes, letters, and designs while strengthening the small muscles in their hands that are important for writing development.\r\n\r\nThe writing materials have also had a very positive impact on student engagement. Many students were especially excited about the newspaper writing paper and new writing pads because it made them feel like \"real writers.\" During independent work time, students eagerly practiced drawing pictures, writing letters, attempting words, and sharing stories with their classmates. Some students who are usually hesitant to participate became more willing to engage because the materials felt exciting and new. It has been wonderful to watch students build confidence in their early literacy skills through these meaningful opportunities.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, their reactions were priceless. They smiled, clapped, and immediately wanted to explore every item. Many students carefully examined the markers and double-sided boards while discussing what they wanted to create or practice first. Their excitement reminded me how impactful classroom resources can be for young learners. Something as simple as fresh materials can inspire creativity, encourage participation, and help students feel motivated to learn.\r\n\r\nThese resources will continue supporting our classroom lessons and projects throughout the school year. Our next steps include using the writing materials during interactive writing and storytelling activities to strengthen early literacy and language development skills. We will also continue using the counting puzzles and boards during math centers to support number sense, patterning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Additionally, students will use the art materials during hands-on seasonal projects and collaborative classroom activities that encourage creativity and self-expression.\r\n\r\nYour support is helping create a classroom where students feel excited to learn, explore, and take risks in their learning. Thank you for investing in my students and providing resources that make learning engaging, meaningful, and fun. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated, and the positive impact of your donation will continue to be seen every day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769177902597,"projectUrl":"project/creating-our-way-through-kindergarten/9757810/","projectTitle":"Creating Our Way Through Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10278568"},{"teacherId":3342290,"projectId":9752539,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for these storage containers. The kids love that they are able to reach and find what they are looking for. The bight colors and rainbow order add to the vibrancy on the room. This storage sits on the classroom shelf near the window and adds a brightness to that corner of the classroom. \r\n\r\nThe look on their faces when I first opened the boxes was awesome. They loved that the new colors would help them find the books that they are looking for. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your support of my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1764692552088,"projectUrl":"project/bright-storage-for-bright-learners/9752539/","projectTitle":"Bright Storage for Bright Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3342290_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449264920536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msbrownk6"},{"teacherId":3086982,"projectId":10193432,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, \"Recess Ready: Play, Learn, Grow!\" Because of your generosity, our Transitional Kindergarten students now have new chalk, bubbles, and playground balls to use during recess. These simple items have already made a big difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOur students are learning through play every day. With the chalk, they are practicing writing letters, drawing shapes, and expressing their creativity on the blacktop. The bubbles have brought so much excitement while also helping develop coordination and movement as students chase, pop, and blow them. The playground balls are building teamwork, sharing, and social skills as students learn to play together.\r\n\r\nRecess is more than just a break. It is a time where children grow socially, emotionally, and physically. Because of you, our students are more active, engaged, and connected with one another. You have helped create a positive space where they can learn important life skills while having fun.\r\n\r\nYour support means more than you know. You have directly impacted our students' daily experiences and helped bring joy to their school day. Thank you for investing in our classroom and in the growth of our students.","fullyFundedDate":1776442029509,"projectUrl":"project/recess-ready-play-learn-grow/10193432/","projectTitle":"Recess Ready: Play, Learn, Grow!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McKinley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3086982_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1526589961202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-clawrence"},{"teacherId":3342290,"projectId":9749344,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping us to get paint sticks that match our skin, paint sticks in pastel colors and stickers. The students love to be able to create art that they want with materials that are meant for them :) \r\n\r\nThe students love to use the paint sticks during student choice time. They love that they are in charge of the process from start to finish. They can get their own paper, hang it up on the easel and choose the paint sticks that they want to use. \r\n\r\nThank you again. We will appreciate it.","fullyFundedDate":1758724587440,"projectUrl":"project/a-colorful-tk-experience/9749344/","projectTitle":"A Colorful TK Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3342290_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449264920536","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msbrownk6"},{"teacherId":3438408,"projectId":10137839,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for supporting the \"Dancing and Listening Our Way through the School Day\" project. Because of your generosity, our kindergarten students now have access to musical instruments, listening tools, and engaging books that truly make a difference in their daily learning.\r\n\r\nAt this age, students learn best when they are active and involved. With these new materials, they are able to move, listen, and explore in ways that build confidence and excitement for learning. Whether they are participating in a read-aloud, using Tonies during center time, or playing rhythm games, they are strengthening important skills like focus, coordination, language development, and social interaction.\r\n\r\nMany of my students benefit from hands-on, movement-based learning, and your support allows me to meet those needs in a meaningful way. I am already seeing how music and storytelling are helping them express themselves, work together, and stay engaged throughout the day.\r\n\r\nYou have helped create a classroom environment filled with joy, creativity, and opportunity. Thank you for investing in my students and for helping them grow both academically and socially.","fullyFundedDate":1773972089215,"projectUrl":"project/dancing-and-listening-our-way-through-th/10137839/","projectTitle":"Dancing and Listening Our Way through the School Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lozano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3438408"},{"teacherId":3086982,"projectId":10161576,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our classroom. Because of you, our DonorsChoose project was fully funded, and my Transitional Kindergarten students now have the opportunity to experience science in a way that is meaningful, hands-on, and exciting.\r\n\r\nYour donation is already making a direct impact on my students. At this age, children learn best by seeing, touching, and exploring. Instead of just hearing about life cycles, they are watching caterpillars grow and change each day. They are observing ants working together and beginning to understand concepts like teamwork and structure. As they interact with ladybugs, they are learning about living things, habitats, and how we care for the world around us.\r\n\r\nThese experiences are building more than just science knowledge. My students are developing language skills as they describe what they see, ask questions, and share their ideas with classmates. They are practicing patience as they wait and observe changes over time. They are also building confidence as they take part in real scientific exploration.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, this is their first time experiencing science in such a hands-on way. Your support is helping create moments of wonder and curiosity that will stay with them as they continue their education. You are helping lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.\r\n\r\nI am truly grateful for your generosity and for the difference you are making in the lives of my students.\r\n\r\nSincerely,","fullyFundedDate":1773972089462,"projectUrl":"project/little-scientists-exploring-life-and-sc/10161576/","projectTitle":"Little Scientists: Exploring Life and Science in TK","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McKinley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3086982_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1526589961202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-clawrence"},{"teacherId":9129334,"projectId":9486535,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the Snack Cart and supplies for my students and our classroom. My students' were so excited to see the beautiful cart and boxes of supplies. It is a highlight of the children's morning when they get to select a snack of their choice for recess or morning break. Not all children have time in the morning for breakfast, or make it to the school kitchen to grab breakfast, and so knowing they will have an opportunity to get a breakfast snack in the classroom is a blessing. \r\n\r\nI know as a mother of three I made sure to pack a little extra snack for morning break. Some days that was hard if we ran out of food, or I didn't get to the store. As a mom I always wanted my kids to do their best in school and not worry about things like a hunger. As a teacher I still feel the same. I want my students to do their very best and feel cared for each day. Thank you for helping me to achieve that goal and help families in my community.","fullyFundedDate":1761758346920,"projectUrl":"project/whitcombs-snack-cart/9486535/","projectTitle":"Whitcomb's Snack Cart","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Whitcomb","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9129334_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x864,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690827780789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9129334"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_54866","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":684,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":84,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"22.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.5,"schoolId":54866,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sunny Sands Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sunny Sands Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/palm-springs-unified-school-district/sunny-sands-elementary-school/54866"}