{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Norma Coombs Alternative Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10170922,"projectId":9865042,"letterContent":"Our students were very excited when the new materials arrived! The moment they saw the jumbo Jenga, cornhole boards, volleyball equipment, and the giant Connect Four, and all the other items their energy immediately filled the space. A group of students gathered around the jumbo Jenga and quickly turned it into a lesson in teamwork and strategy, discussing which blocks to remove and cheering each other on as the tower wobbled higher and higher. On the volleyball court, students practiced communication and coordination, encouraging each other and celebrating every win. These activities created a fun environment where students were not only active but also building collaboration and problem-solving skills.\t\r\nThe materials have also become part of our current classroom projects focused on teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy activity. Students rotate through stations where they practice different games like cornhole for hand-eye coordination and Connect Four for strategic thinking. Along the way, they reflect on what makes a good teammate and how communication helps them succeed in both games and classroom work. Moving forward, students will continue using these resources during structured activity days and small group challenges, where they'll design their own mini-tournaments and set goals for teamwork and participation. We're excited to keep building opportunities for students to learn, move, and connect with one another thanks to your generous support.","fullyFundedDate":1765148415584,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-big-fun-to-our-playground/9865042/","projectTitle":"Bringing Big Fun to Our Playground!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villagrana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10170922"},{"teacherId":10418141,"projectId":10058048,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our school. Because of your support, our students now have gloves to protect their hands and a 50-foot rope that we use during outdoor activities like tug-of-war.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, they were incredibly excited. Tug-of-war is one of their favorite activities, and having proper gloves made them feel prepared and safe while playing. It quickly turned into a fun and memorable moment as students cheered each other on and worked together as teams.\r\n\r\nBeyond the fun, these resources are helping us build teamwork, cooperation, and perseverance. Students are learning how to communicate, encourage one another, and work together toward a common goal. Activities like tug-of-war also help them stay active and engaged during recess and group challenges.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using the rope and gloves during team-building activities and outdoor games that promote collaboration and healthy physical activity. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in creating positive experiences for our students.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our school and giving our students opportunities to learn, play, and grow together!","fullyFundedDate":1769645750302,"projectUrl":"project/pulling-together-teamwork-through-play/10058048/","projectTitle":"Pulling Together: Teamwork Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jessica","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10418141"},{"teacherId":7712132,"projectId":9894530,"letterContent":"We put our fence barriers on this small grassy area we have out back of our classroom. With the barriers, we are able to create a physical and visual safety precaution that lets students know the parameters of the activity area. It also helps create a safe garden area to tend to our raised garden beds. We utilize the outside area as an outdoor classroom as much as we can, and these fences allow us to spend more time outside doing educational activities. If the shared playground is already being used, we are able to go to the back side of the classroom and use this space too. The students enjoy digging in the dirt, planting, watching the birds and squirrels and just having a safe space to do structured activities.","fullyFundedDate":1763550335910,"projectUrl":"project/fence-barrier/9894530/","projectTitle":"Fence Barrier","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7712132_orig.png?crop=661,661,x261,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700844854590","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7712132"},{"teacherId":10381355,"projectId":9954634,"letterContent":"The impact of snacks at Norma Coombs has been a big help for our students. Due to the fires here in Pasadena, California, many families are still displaced and living farther from school. The snacks help keep students comfortable, focused, and supported throughout the school day during this challenging time. Supplies for TK and Kindergarten students will be a great help, especially if students get lost on campus. Name tags and lanyards provide important support for incoming students by helping staff quickly identify and assist them. Norma Coombs extends heartfelt thanks to our donors. Your continued support is truly a blessing and makes a meaningful difference for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1765726703246,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-nces/9954634/","projectTitle":"Supporting NCES","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vasquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10381355"},{"teacherId":7777371,"projectId":9872734,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to our TK class. Receiving the trucks, books about buildings, and imagination dress-up construction clothes has had a meaningful impact on our students and their learning.\r\n\r\nThe trucks have inspired hours of cooperative play, problem-solving, and creativity. Children are building roads, working together, and using rich language as they plan and construct. The books about buildings have sparked curiosity and thoughtful conversations about how structures are made, who builds them, and why they are important in our community.\r\n\r\nThe construction dress-up clothes have been especially powerful in encouraging imaginative play. Our students proudly take on the roles of builders, engineers, and helpers, building confidence as they explore real-world careers through play. We've seen growth in social skills, storytelling, and teamwork as children learn together in these engaging ways.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has helped create a joyful, hands-on learning environment where our students feel excited, capable, and inspired every day. We are truly grateful for your support and for helping us nurture curiosity and imagination in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1763587261111,"projectUrl":"project/little-builders-designing-our-first-str/9872734/","projectTitle":"Little Builders: Designing Our First Structures","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Deidra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7777371_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1656291798009","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7777371"},{"teacherId":7712132,"projectId":9863145,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations. This has been one of the best Donors Choose I ever had funded. The students absolutely love going to \"gardening club\", as we call it. A few times a week, we collaborate with the first grade class and help maintain the flowers they planted by watering them and keeping them healthy. We were also able to plant our own mint and lettuce plants right outside our classroom door. Not only is \"gardening club\" educational, but it gives the students a chance to get outside to learn something new. The connection to nature helps regulate them and learn about plants and nature. Thank you again.","fullyFundedDate":1761761359824,"projectUrl":"project/watering-cans/9863145/","projectTitle":"Watering Cans","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7712132_orig.png?crop=661,661,x261,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700844854590","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7712132"},{"teacherId":10170922,"projectId":9688106,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. This Donors Choose project has improved my classroom by providing engaging materials that support both learning and social-emotional growth. The National Geographic Readers, Lakeshore readers, and Eric Carle books have helped my students develop a love for reading, while the social-emotional books have encouraged meaningful discussions about feelings and friendships. The STEM toys, math card games, and alphabet dough mats have made hands-on learning fun and interactive, strengthening problem-solving and early literacy skills. These resources have truly made our classroom a more joyful and exciting place to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1757691000500,"projectUrl":"project/books-games-and-growth-for-young-learn/9688106/","projectTitle":"Books, Games, and Growth for Young Learners!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villagrana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10170922"},{"teacherId":10170922,"projectId":9583915,"letterContent":"Thanks to your donations, our classroom has become a brighter and more engaging learning space. The new whiteboard easel has been a game changer during small-group instruction. My students love using it to share their ideas and solve math problems. It has made lessons more interactive and allowed me to model skills. The happy face carpet has created a welcoming area where students can gather for quite reading time. Your donations have made our classroom a space that promotes community, comfort, and collaboration.\r\nThe fidgets and individual whiteboards have also had a great impact on student focus and participation.The fidgets help students self-regulate during lessons, allowing them to stay calm and attentive. The personal whiteboards give every student a fun way to practice skills and share their thinking. I really enjoy seeing how proud students are to use their whiteboards during our math sessions. Your support has truly helped create a classroom where students feel happy and are excited to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1755789184548,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-success/9583915/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villagrana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10170922"},{"teacherId":10170922,"projectId":9578977,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been transformed thanks to your generous donations! The sensory gel floor tiles have become an favorite among my students. They use them during sensory breaks to help regulate their energy and refocus before returning to academic tasks. It's amazing to see how something so simple can make such a big difference in helping students stay calm and ready to learn. The gel floor tiles have even sparked creative play and teamwork as students design their own movement paths across the classroom.\r\nThe double-sided magnetic letter tiles, phonics games, and journal paper have brought a new level of excitement to our literacy lessons. During small-group reading time, students build words and practice phonics patterns using the magnetic tiles. One of my favorite moments was watching a student who had struggled with decoding finally sound out a full sentence independently using the new materials. Writing has also become more engaging. My students now look forward to journaling and sharing their stories on paper.\r\nIn math, the dry erase number lines and math toys have helped students grasp concepts like addition, subtraction, and place value. We recently used the toys to build hands-on math stations where students worked together to solve problems and explain their thinking. Our next step is to continue integrating these tools into daily lessons, giving students more opportunities to learn through play. Thanks to your support, my students are now more motivated and excited about learning than ever before!","fullyFundedDate":1755737055667,"projectUrl":"project/learning-tools-to-unlock-potential-in-ev/9578977/","projectTitle":"Learning Tools to Unlock Potential in Every Child","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Villagrana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10170922"},{"teacherId":8731184,"projectId":9333462,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring a new collection of books into our TK classroom! When the books arrived, my students were so excited, they immediately started exploring, flipping through the pages, and sharing what they noticed with each other. Their curiosity and enthusiasm were contagious, and it was such a joy to see.\r\nThese books are already making a big difference in our daily learning. Titles like The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The Wild Robot, and Charlie Makes a Splash! are helping students understand feelings, friendship, inclusion, and problem-solving. \r\n The A Little SPOT series and Fill a Bucket are giving kids ways to recognize and manage their emotions in positive ways. They're not just reading stories—they're having important conversations, practicing empathy, and learning how to support one another.\r\n Next, we'll continue using these books in read-alouds and in class discussions. The students keep coming back to them again and again, and each time, there's a new discovery or a new conversation sparked. Thanks to your support, our classroom is a place where every child can see themselves in the stories we read, build confidence, and grow as compassionate, thoughtful learners. We are so grateful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1747142246138,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-build-empathy-inclusion-and/9333462/","projectTitle":"Books That Build Empathy, Inclusion, and Imagination","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8731184_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664864614741","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8731184"},{"teacherId":8731184,"projectId":8984027,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our TK classroom now has a high-quality teaching easel, and it has quickly become the heart of our learning time on the rug! The children were immediately drawn to it, excited to explore all the ways they could use it.\r\nWe use it every morning to learn each other's names, work on speaking in front of each other, and it hold our songs, charts, and big books. It also serves as a door for our shared classroom. \r\n It really has become the heart of our classroom. I am working on creating visuals to use on pocket charts for songs, poems, and other things are we are learning. The shelf below is used to store our extra clothes and a sensory bin for kids who need a break. I have a soft rug near the easel and bin. \r\n Thank you for supporting me and the students I teach. You have impacted our daily life with the gift of this easel. Thank you for supporting my classroom and education. You are a good person.","fullyFundedDate":1742565030431,"projectUrl":"project/oh-what-an-easel-would-do/8984027/","projectTitle":"Oh, What an Easel Would Do!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Parker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8731184_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664864614741","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8731184"},{"teacherId":7712132,"projectId":9314934,"letterContent":"Craft time is always such a special time in my classroom. It's not only a time when students can stretch their creative muscles, but it's a time when I am able to sit in small groups and have casual conversations with them. Sometimes I give them a craft prompt, but normally I just put out the various materials and let them create their own art. The fun part is listening to them brainstorm and create from that single idea. They are more proud of their work when it is something they have created on their own versus a teacher led craft project. Thank you again.","fullyFundedDate":1747336274669,"projectUrl":"project/craft-time/9314934/","projectTitle":"Craft Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7712132_orig.png?crop=661,661,x261,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700844854590","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7712132"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28654","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":387,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":60,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"20.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":67.6,"schoolId":28654,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Norma Coombs Alternative Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Norma Coombs Alternative Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/pasadena-unified-school-district/norma-coombs-alternative-elementary-school/28654"}