{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Linda Vista Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":18.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10480648,"projectId":10200183,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to share with you the impact your generosity has already had on my students and our school community. When I first wrote to thank you for funding my Mental Wellness Spot, I shared my hopes for creating a space where students could pause, breathe, reset, and learn how to manage their emotions. Now that the space is in use, I can truly see those hopes coming to life.\r\n\r\nOne of the first things I began hearing from teachers and staff when they walked into my office was, \"Wow, it's so peaceful in here.\" The soft lighting, calming materials, fidgets, games, and intentional setup have completely transformed the atmosphere. What may seem like simple supplies have helped create a space that feels safe, welcoming, and calming for students who may be carrying big emotions into the school day.\r\n\r\nOne student in particular has shown me just how meaningful this space can be.\r\n\r\nLast school year, this student experienced an extremely traumatic background that deeply impacted the way he interacted with the world around him. He struggled with intense anger and frequently became aggressive toward both peers and staff. He often seemed angry at everyone and everything, and it was clear that he was carrying emotions that were much bigger than what he knew how to express or manage.\r\n\r\nAs we prepared for this new school year, we knew we needed to create a plan for him from the very beginning. We wanted him to know that he had a safe place to go when his emotions became overwhelming—a place where he could step away from the stimulation around him, regulate, and regain a sense of control.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, on the first day of school, I was scheduled to be at my other designated school. Even though I could not physically be there, I was able to prepare a space for him in my office using the calming tools your generosity helped provide.\r\n\r\nThat space made an immediate difference.\r\n\r\nThe bottle fidgets have become a tool he can use when he begins to escalate. Watching the movement inside the bottles gives him something calming to focus on and helps redirect his attention when his emotions feel overwhelming. The lamps and soft ambiance of the room create a calmer environment where he can take deep breaths without feeling overstimulated by the bright, busy surroundings of a school day. And the Connect Four game has provided him with an opportunity to take a structured break, connect with an adult, and experience success and positive interaction while he regulates.\r\n\r\nThese moments may seem small, but they are incredibly meaningful.\r\n\r\nInstead of simply telling a student to \"calm down,\" we are giving him actual tools and a physical space to help him learn how to calm his body and manage his emotions. We are showing him that his feelings are valid while also teaching him healthy ways to respond to them.\r\n\r\nYour support made that possible.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, my students now have access to more than just a collection of supplies. They have a space that communicates, \"You are safe here. You can take a breath. You can have a moment. You can try again.\"\r\n\r\nAs a school counselor, these are the moments that remind me why creating emotionally safe spaces for children is so important. Your generosity has helped me turn my office into a place where students can practice self-regulation, build positive coping skills, and learn that they don't have to face big emotions alone.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing not only in materials, but in the emotional well-being of my students. Thank you for helping me create a space where children can feel calm, supported, and understood.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is making a difference—one breath, one break, and one student at a time.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nMarilyn Sevilla\r\nSchool Counselor","fullyFundedDate":1779297335640,"projectUrl":"project/i-counsel-771-studentsin-a-closet-se/10200183/","projectTitle":"I Counsel 771 students...in a Closet (Send Help)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sevilla","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10480648"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_91286","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":283,"numTeachers":15,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":20,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":69,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"18.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":81.6,"schoolId":91286,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Linda Vista Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Linda Vista Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/saddleback-valley-unified-school-district/linda-vista-elementary-school/91286"}