{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Rio Plaza Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9902147,"projectId":9464407,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our small-group room has transformed into a vibrant and joyful learning space. My students know you by name, and they proudly mention you throughout the day. I often hear comments like, \"She helped us!\" or \"She got this for us!\" because they are so appreciative of your kindness. Their gratitude is so genuine that each time we use one of the materials you provided, someone always mentions how thankful they are. I feel the same way — we often talk about how lucky we are to have someone who believes in them and supports their learning.\r\n\r\nThe moment your materials arrived, students were filled with excitement. They immediately gravitated toward the bilingual phonics puzzles, magnetic letter boards, vocabulary picture cards, and tracing activities. These small-group games have also provided a gentle, supportive entry point for students who are shy or hesitant to participate — I have seen them slowly open up, take risks, and join in because the activities feel fun and safe. One of the biggest hits has been the mini basketball hoop you funded. Basketball is their favorite sport, and students now earn a turn after completing a phonics sort, counting lesson, or vocabulary challenge. This routine has brought so much joy, motivation, and confidence into our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese materials are now used daily during rotations to support reading, writing, language development, and vocabulary in English and Spanish. I am proof of their growth — I have watched students communicate more, build stronger vocabulary, and participate with greater enthusiasm. Some of my quietest learners are now engaging with peers during games, and I've even seen new friendships form as they collaborate, encourage one another, and celebrate each other's success. Our next steps include applying these foundational skills to more complex reading and writing tasks. Your generosity has made learning exciting, accessible, and meaningful, and my students and I are truly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1754803438043,"projectUrl":"project/small-group-success-interactive-tools-f/9464407/","projectTitle":"Small Group Success: Interactive Tools for English and Spanish Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Magaña","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9902147_orig.jpg?crop=388,388,x0,y130&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737701721752","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9902147"},{"teacherId":10062211,"projectId":9429045,"letterContent":"I wanted to thank you for the donation you made towards my classroom. I can't begin to explain how much it has made a difference in the students' learning. With all of what haas been happening in our community especially the things you were able to contribute to have made an impact on my students. \r\nI was not able to receive one of the things you made a donation to, but what I did receive has made my students so incredibly happy. I knew that the kids were going to enjoy the pillows for reading time, but what Ididn't know was how much they were going to LOVE them! I am not exaggerating when I say that they now enjoy silent reading time because they get to read comfortably with those cozy pillows. I treat it as an incentive; if they behave and are quiet and on task then that student will get to use a pillow, and this has helped with managing behaviors.\r\nWith all the political things going on, the community in which I teach has been severely impacted by the ICE raids and it breaks my heart everyday. However, with your generous donation I have been able to create a safe space that my students enjoy coming into everyday and that puts a smile on my face, so again THANK YOU so much I truly appreciate it!","fullyFundedDate":1753048054735,"projectUrl":"project/safe-spaces-create-great-students/9429045/","projectTitle":"Safe Spaces Create Great Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tovar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10062211_orig.jpg?crop=1118,1118,x640,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750784585386","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10062211"},{"teacherId":3826187,"projectId":8024367,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to my Purple Carpet Saga! My story of having a purple carpet in my classroom goes back at least 20 years and having a wonderful place for students to sit.\r\nMy students are enjoying the carpet and it gives my students a place to sit on the floor and either be closer to me during instruction or a space in order to collaborate with their peers.\r\nThis is my second carpet in the last ten years, my students have worn out the first carpet I had received...so on to a new carpet we have gone.\r\n\r\nAgain, thank you so much for our carpet.","fullyFundedDate":1707942371832,"projectUrl":"project/continuing-the-purple-carpet-saga/8024367/","projectTitle":"Continuing the Purple Carpet Saga","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zarate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3826187_orig.jpg?crop=2320,2320,x0,y525&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1596927853397","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3826187"},{"teacherId":9902147,"projectId":9070600,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support of my DonorsChoose project. As a first-year teacher, this experience has been incredibly eye-opening and humbling. Your donation did far more than provide classroom materials—it helped me create a safe, structured, and joyful environment where my students feel seen, supported, and valued.\r\n\r\nFrom the very first day the materials arrived, my students were thrilled. They were filled with excitement as they walked into a bright, colorful classroom filled with lights they asked me to hang up right away and a motivational wall showcasing famous artists. These simple touches have made a world of difference—they transformed our classroom into a place where students want to be.\r\n\r\nThe interactive learning games, like the Splash sets for multiplication, division, CVC words, blends, vowel teams, and sight words, have become a favorite part of our day. My students beg to play them because they love learning while having fun and supporting each other. It's been so rewarding to watch them grow academically and socially through these activities.\r\n\r\nYour donation has also allowed me to implement a meaningful reward system. With the prizes, stickers, and snacks you provided, we created a classroom economy where students earn \"money\" for acts of kindness or academic effort. Every two weeks, they can shop from a treasure box—an event they look forward to and work hard for. Many of my students face serious challenges at home, including unstable living conditions, exposure to domestic violence, and a lack of academic support due to language barriers. These realities make it difficult for them to stay motivated. But your contribution has brought light, consistency, and joy to their day.\r\n\r\nIf there's one thing I've learned working in this community, it's that our students need to know someone will show up for them and believe in them. Through the IEP meetings I've attended, I've learned more about my students' lives—not just academically, but emotionally. These stories have touched my heart and shaped the way I teach. I now understand how essential it is to provide structure, routine, and stability in the classroom.\r\n\r\nWith the pocket folders, laminated sheets, Velcro, visual schedules, pocket charts, and binders you helped fund, I've been able to offer just that. These tools have helped create consistent routines and organizational systems that my students rely on daily. They know what to expect, where to go, and how to start their day. The binders, in particular, have been a huge help in keeping us all organized and on track.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and in me. Your kindness has had a lasting impact, and I will carry this experience with me throughout my teaching career. You have helped build more than a classroom—you've helped build a community of learners who know they matter.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, I hope to deepen our learning by incorporating more real-life and social-emotional lessons that connect with my students' personal experiences and future goals. One focus area will be introducing career exploration projects, where students can learn about different professions and reflect on their own interests and strengths. I also plan to integrate more technology to support 21st-century skills and creativity. Additionally, I want to strengthen the home-to-school connection by creating opportunities for students and families to collaborate—such as family interviews or at-home cultural projects. These activities will not only enhance learning, but also strengthen student relationships with their families, build classroom community, and help students see the value they bring to both their home and school environments. Ultimately, my goal is to help each student feel connected, important, and proud of who they are and where they come from.","fullyFundedDate":1740851514005,"projectUrl":"project/resource-teacher-supporting-students-in/9070600/","projectTitle":"Resource Teacher Supporting Students in a Dual Immersion Low-Income Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Magaña","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9902147_orig.jpg?crop=388,388,x0,y130&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737701721752","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9902147"},{"teacherId":6239157,"projectId":9218168,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom is now filled with excitement and curiosity as we dive into math with our new hands-on tools! The class set of student clocks and jumbo magnetic money has brought a whole new level of engagement to our lessons. My students were so excited to have a class set of their own, and I could see the joy on their faces when I announced that we got a donor. One student shouted, \"We get our own clocks?!\" It was such a happy and memorable moment.\r\n\r\nWe recently used the student clocks during a lesson on telling time, and it made a big difference. My student teacher was also able to fulfill her lesson plans using the new clocks. What a great addition to our classroom! Before this project, we had to borrow from my teacher partner, but now we're fully equipped. Our jumbo magnetic money is now displayed on our Number Corner wall, where students can easily reference it during math lessons or whenever they need support with identifying coins and bills. It's a great visual resource that reinforces daily learning.\r\n\r\nAs we continue through the year, we'll keep building on these skills with engaging, hands-on activities that prepare students for second grade. These resources were very much needed and have made a lasting impact on our learning environment. Thank you for helping us grow and thrive. We're so grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1744389143666,"projectUrl":"project/counting-on-learning/9218168/","projectTitle":"Counting on Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Juárez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6239157_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1561874429998","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6239157"},{"teacherId":2771287,"projectId":8846096,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for brining these books into our classroom. My students enjoyed reading the story of Maniac Magee and learning about his adventures. My ELD class had a great time reading the story but then also got to truly dive into the story by recreating it as a Graphic Novel. The students used Pixton to take the book Maniac Magee and turn it into a Graphic novel by animating and creating each chapter. The students worked individually on different chapters to build out the entire novel in their own interpretation of the stories. \r\nThe students enjoyed being able to have the novel with them as they explored ways to transform the words on the page into comic book style animations. They worked for multiple months to read and interpret each chapter of the story to be able to reimagine it in a new medium. The ability for them to explore this amazing novel and then transform its story into a new presentation was a great project for them to be able to do. I am truly grateful for being able to do this activity with my students this year.","fullyFundedDate":1727983984469,"projectUrl":"project/making-meaning-with-maniac-magee/8846096/","projectTitle":"Making Meaning With Maniac Magee","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Romano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2771287_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x344,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690991222332","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/david-romano"},{"teacherId":2771287,"projectId":8665513,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the playground balls for our class. The students love being able to use the many types of balls to play all sorts of games each recess and during PE class. Students will play foursquare, football, soccer, and also basketball games each recess.\r\nThe colors have allowed students to form teams and take better care of each of the balls. \r\n\r\nThe students have worked to take care of the balls and equipment each time they use them. The students and I are so appreciative to be able to have so much equipment for our recess and PE time. Without the addition of these materials, PE and recess would be very limited in what games and activities we can do. Thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1725882613361,"projectUrl":"project/get-the-ball-rolling-with-some-playgroun/8665513/","projectTitle":"Get the Ball Rolling with Some Playground Balls","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Romano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2771287_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x344,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690991222332","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/david-romano"},{"teacherId":8797611,"projectId":8853038,"letterContent":"(I want to share the letter I wrote for our Amazing Supporter. All it took, was ONE generous person to get my 5th grade students to enjoy reading a story most of them can relate to. My students LOVED reading the book \"Lucky Broken Girl\" by Ruth Behar.)\r\n\r\nI wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to our classroom. The book Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar has had a profound impact on my 5th-grade students, opening their eyes to the complexities of overcoming obstacles and persevering in the face of adversity. Through the story of Ruthie, many students saw their own challenges reflected, particularly the struggle of starting life in a new country and learning a new language. One student shared, \"I feel like Ruthie because I had to leave my home country, and learning English has been so hard, but I won't give up.\"\r\nThe themes of hope, resilience, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams have resonated deeply with our class. Many students have talked about how the book inspired them to continue pushing forward, even when things feel impossible. For others, it has been a reminder of loved ones who have passed away, and the way Ruthie's story brings back memories of their own personal losses. One student said, \"It made me think of my grandma, and how much I miss her.\" The emotional connection they've formed with the book is a testament to the power of storytelling and how books like Lucky Broken Girl can make a real difference in their lives.\r\nOnce again, thank you for making this possible. Your support has helped us grow, learn, and understand each other in ways we never expected.\r\n\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n\r\n Ruben Castillo\r\n 5th Grade Teacher","fullyFundedDate":1729052332180,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-dual-language-students-discover/8853038/","projectTitle":"Help Our Dual Language Students Discover Latin Culture Through Literature!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Castillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8797611_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1751333072618","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8797611"},{"teacherId":6239157,"projectId":8749439,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support! The stools you provided for our math and literacy intervention groups have truly transformed our classroom environment. The moment the students saw the new stools, their faces lit up with excitement. They eagerly chose their spots and remarked how \"cool\" and comfortable they were, which instantly set a positive tone for our small group sessions.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the stools during our focused interventions, where students work on skills like phonics, number sense, and problem-solving strategies. Recently, during a math session, the flexibility of the seating allowed students to collaborate more easily around a shared space, sparking a lively discussion about different ways to solve a tricky problem. It was incredible to see their confidence grow as they learned from each other.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, the students will continue to use these resources as we dive deeper into skill-building activities. In literacy, for instance, we're starting a book club for struggling readers, where the seating helps create a cozy, inviting space that feels special and inclusive. These stools have done more than provide a place to sit—they've fostered a collaborative and engaging learning atmosphere. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1726705299542,"projectUrl":"project/stool-ution-for-small-group-success/8749439/","projectTitle":"Stool-ution for Small Group Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Juárez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6239157_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1561874429998","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6239157"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_40883","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":455,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":96,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"17.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":78.4,"schoolId":40883,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Rio Plaza Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Rio Plaza Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/rio-elementary-school-district/rio-plaza-elementary-school/40883"}