{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Rio Plaza Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8512148,"projectId":9495911,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been truly transformed by your generous support of the \"Ready, Set, Learn\" project! From the moment the first boxes arrived, my students were buzzing with excitement. The new steel stools were instantly put to use in our small group area, creating an ample and comfortable space where students can collaborate and receive targeted instruction. This flexible seating is not just about comfort; it's about providing an alternative way for my students to engage their bodies while focusing their minds. The real unsung heroes, however, are the new organization tools. The clear storage containers are now filled with our manipulatives, allowing students to easily see and select the tactile tools they need, teaching them responsibility and independence.\r\n\r\nWe are already seeing huge gains in learning, especially in meeting grade-level goals. The manipulatives, like the Jumbo Magnetic Ten-Frames and the Geared Mini-Clocks, are essential because they help address my students' tactile learning needs. Instead of rote memorization, they are physically engaging with math concepts. Just this week, while working on elapsed time, one student said, \"I finally get why the little hand moves!\" after physically turning the gears on the mini-clocks. That tangible connection makes abstract ideas stick. Furthermore, having the cleaning supplies on hand ensures that we can maintain a safe and clean environment, which is vital for focused, healthy learning.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, the foundation you helped us build is allowing us to tackle our next big unit: problem-solving challenges. We will be using our well-organized stations to work in small groups, with each station clearly displaying (in those beautiful clear bins!) the resources needed to solve real-world problems. Your donation didn't just provide supplies; it provided the structured, tactile, and visually clear environment that empowers my students to take risks, meet challenging goals, and ultimately, become confident learners. Thank you for making their success possible!","fullyFundedDate":1757568327999,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-learnhelp-my-students-start/9495911/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Learn—help My Students Start the Year Strong!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vazquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8512148_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725264407761","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8512148"},{"teacherId":8797611,"projectId":9433333,"letterContent":"Thank you again for supporting our Scholastic News subscription. These weekly magazines have become a powerful tool for teaching critical reading skills in our three bilingual 5th-grade classes. Each issue helps us introduce nonfiction strategies such as identifying text features, summarizing key ideas, comparing multiple perspectives, and using evidence to support opinions. Because the articles are current and relevant, students are naturally engaged and motivated to practice these skills in both English and Spanish.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading with Scholastic News is active and collaborative. Students annotate the text, highlight important vocabulary, and discuss topics with partners before sharing ideas in a whole group. They also complete short written responses that help them connect the articles to science, social studies, and civic engagement. It has created an environment where reading is not just an assignment, it's an opportunity for curiosity and conversation. Our bilingual learners especially benefit from having access to the same content in two languages, allowing them to build confidence and deepen comprehension.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have already shown remarkable enthusiasm. One student who previously struggled with nonfiction now raises her hand to share her thoughts during every discussion, especially when the topic relates to animals or technology. Another student, who is developing English skills, loves reading the Spanish version first and then challenging himself to read the English article. Seeing these students light up during reading time is a reminder of how much your generosity matters.\r\n\r\n Your gift is truly shaping the way our students experience literacy this year.","fullyFundedDate":1760719026666,"projectUrl":"project/spanish-scholastic-magazines-for-our-5th/9433333/","projectTitle":"Spanish Scholastic Magazines for Our 5th Grade Dual Language Students","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":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"}],"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"}