{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Vista Grande Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":61.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":189063,"projectId":9913005,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project. Because of you, my students now have calming desk lamps that have already made a noticeable difference in our classroom environment. We use them primarily when doing STEAM note booking and calming drawings. \r\n\r\nThe soft, focused light helps create a calmer and more comfortable space for learning. Students are more relaxed, better able to concentrate, and proud to take responsibility for their own learning spaces. These lamps have been especially helpful during independent work, reading time, and creative activities, allowing students to focus without the harshness of overhead lighting.\r\n\r\nYour kindness directly impacts my students every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1764615178419,"projectUrl":"project/shine-a-light-on-steam/9913005/","projectTitle":"Shine a Light on STEAM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp189063_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662913139351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kallard"},{"teacherId":10274487,"projectId":9877003,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation of materials for our transitional kindergarten classroom. Our students were thrilled to explore the new magnet tiles, animal manipulatives, paints, arts and crafts supplies, and dramatic play materials. The joy and curiosity were immediate—children eagerly built, painted, role-played, and used their imaginations in ways that filled our classrooms with creativity, collaboration, and excitement.\r\n\r\nThese materials play a vital role in supporting early learning and development. Through hands-on building, artistic expression, and dramatic play, students strengthen fine motor skills, language development, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth. The open-ended nature of these resources allows children to explore, create, and learn at their own pace while building a strong foundation for future academic success. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for helping us create engaging, enriching learning environments for our youngest learners.","fullyFundedDate":1762664109661,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-in-tk/9877003/","projectTitle":"Hands-On in TK!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Clarke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10274487"},{"teacherId":10274487,"projectId":9747371,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous contribution of literacy supplies to my literacy classroom. When the materials arrived, our students' excitement was immediate and heartfelt—eyes lit up as they explored new books, eagerly flipped through pages, and shared stories with one another. \r\nThe books and games have already made a meaningful impact on our reading instruction. With diverse, high-quality texts and hands-on resources, I can better differentiate lessons, support developing readers, and foster a love of reading across all levels. The supplies have strengthened engagement, improved confidence, and created richer opportunities for discussion and comprehension. Your generosity is helping build strong readers and lifelong learners, and we are deeply grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1758664083825,"projectUrl":"project/reading-and-language-fun/9747371/","projectTitle":"Reading and Language Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Clarke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10274487"},{"teacherId":9816213,"projectId":9213455,"letterContent":"My students and I have been using the new resources in creative and meaningful ways. We recently completed a winter-themed art project where students used the paint brushes, flair pens, and watercolors to decorate snowflakes and create other winter-inspired crafts. This project allowed them to explore color, patterns, and fine motor skills while expressing their creativity.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they were beyond excited. Many of them had never used watercolors or flair pens before, and they were eager to try every tool. Their excitement was contagious, and the classroom was filled with focused energy, smiles, and pride as they worked on their designs.\r\n\r\nThanks to our donors, students now have access to quality art supplies that enhance learning and engagement. Next, we will build on these skills by incorporating the materials into seasonal writing and art projects, where students will illustrate stories and reflect on their artwork. These resources will continue to support creativity, confidence, and hands-on learning throughout the year.","fullyFundedDate":1749245349547,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-artists-at-work/9213455/","projectTitle":"Amazing Artists at Work!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Monko","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9816213"},{"teacherId":189063,"projectId":9790083,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Teachers Pay Teachers gift card project! Your contribution allows me to purchase high-quality, creative resources that directly support my students' learning in STEAM and art.\r\n\r\nWith this gift card, I'm able to bring fresh lessons, engaging activities, and meaningful extensions into my classroom—materials that truly enhance both instruction and student excitement. Your kindness helps me meet my students' needs in thoughtful and effective ways.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our classroom and for making a real difference in my students' daily learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1763592400919,"projectUrl":"project/tpt-resources-for-enhancing-learning/9790083/","projectTitle":"TPT Resources for Enhancing Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp189063_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662913139351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kallard"},{"teacherId":189063,"projectId":9873048,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom rewards project! Because of your generosity, my students now have exciting new prizes—including mystery packs and adorable mini resin axolotls and koalas—that will be used as part of our STEAM Hall of Fame awards.\r\n\r\nThese special items bring so much joy and motivation to my students. They love the fun surprises, and the rewards help encourage positive choices, persistence, and creativity during our STEAM lessons. Your kindness truly makes a difference in our classroom every single day.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping make learning even more exciting!","fullyFundedDate":1763570265146,"projectUrl":"project/steam-hall-of-fame-awards/9873048/","projectTitle":"STEAM Hall of Fame Awards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp189063_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662913139351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kallard"},{"teacherId":189063,"projectId":9463510,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom with the calligraphy pens! Your generosity provided both black and colorful sets that my students will use to explore creativity, fine motor skills, and artistic expression in our STEAM and art lessons.\r\n\r\nThese pens bring so much excitement to writing and design activities. Students are motivated to try new techniques, experiment with color, and take pride in their work. Your support makes a real difference in fostering both learning and joy in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1762111879385,"projectUrl":"project/lessons-in-lettering-with-calligraphy/9463510/","projectTitle":"Lessons in Lettering with Calligraphy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp189063_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662913139351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kallard"},{"teacherId":1610477,"projectId":9710720,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Our third graders have been absolutely ecstatic about the wonderful materials you provided. Because of you, our classroom has been filled with excitement, creativity, and meaningful hands-on learning.\r\n\r\nWith the clay you donated, students sculpted animals they had researched. They were so excited to bring their animal studies to life, and their creativity truly shined as they molded ears, feathers, tails, and tiny details they had learned about. The colored-pencil sharpener was also a huge hit—students could finally keep their pencils sharp enough to shade and add texture to their artwork, which made them feel like real young artists.\r\n\r\nThe animal figures were another incredible gift. Students used them to decide whether each animal was a predator or prey and to analyze special adaptations that help them survive. Holding the animals in their hands and observing them from different angles helped them understand concepts in a much deeper way. They even explored life cycles by matching animals to their different stages—it was amazing to see their eyes light up as everything \"clicked.\"\r\n\r\nThanks to your art paper, students were also able to paint with watercolors and create festive scarecrows. These projects brought so much joy and excitement into our classroom, and they allowed students to express themselves in new and meaningful ways.\r\n\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and inspiring our students to learn, create, and care for others.","fullyFundedDate":1758674902287,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-make-science-come-to-life/9710720/","projectTitle":"Help Us Make Science Come to Life!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Quach","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1610477_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1470265713522","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmimi"},{"teacherId":189063,"projectId":9872933,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project! Because of your generosity, we now have engaging Mystery Image books and a collaborative poster that my students can enjoy both as rewards and as early-finisher activities.\r\n\r\nThese materials are perfect for building focus, perseverance, and problem-solving skills. My students love the challenge and excitement of uncovering hidden images, and the poster gives them a fun way to work together toward a shared goal. Your kindness has brought a spark of joy and calm productivity into our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping create meaningful learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1762977497119,"projectUrl":"project/mystery-images-projects/9872933/","projectTitle":"Mystery Images Projects","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Allard's STEAM Lab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp189063_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662913139351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kallard"},{"teacherId":10274487,"projectId":9490602,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Transitional Kindergarten classroom. Because of your kindness, our young learners now have access to exciting new art supplies that spark imagination, encourage creativity, and help them express themselves in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, this is their first school experience, and having high-quality materials makes a world of difference. Your donation has brought so much joy—little hands are painting, drawing, building, and exploring with enthusiasm every day. These creative opportunities help our students develop fine motor skills, confidence, and a love for learning.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your generosity and belief in our classroom. You have made a lasting impact on our students, and we can't thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1754850812667,"projectUrl":"project/small-yet-mighty-artists/9490602/","projectTitle":"Small, Yet Mighty Artists!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Clarke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10274487"},{"teacherId":9169194,"projectId":9405748,"letterContent":"I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support in funding my classroom project. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on my students and on our learning environment.\r\n\r\nWith the new flexible seating options, my students have truly taken ownership of their learning. They love being able to choose where and how they work best, whether it's on a wobble stool, floor chair, or rug spot. This flexibility has encouraged collaboration, independence, and engagement in ways that have been inspiring to see. One memorable moment came during a recent small-group reading activity: students naturally gravitated toward their chosen seating spots, and without any prompting, they organized themselves into productive, focused groups. It was a perfect example of how choice and comfort can support deeper learning.\r\n\r\nWhen the new classroom rug arrived, the excitement was contagious! The students could hardly wait to gather on it for our first morning meeting. They were so enthusiastic some even prefer the rug over their desk for most of the day. The rug has quickly become a special place for us to come together for discussions, lessons, and community-building activities. It provides a safe, clean, and welcoming space where everyone feels included.\r\n\r\nCurrently, our class is working on a collaborative project focused on goal-setting and reflection. Students are using their flexible seating choices to find comfortable spaces where they can write, share ideas, and work with partners. The new layout has supported their ability to move freely, think creatively, and connect meaningfully with one another. Our next steps will include student-led presentations, where they will share their learning goals and personal reflections with their parents for student led conferences. I believe this will be even more impactful in our new, student-centered environment.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has transformed not only our classroom setup but also the way my students think about learning and community. Thank you for helping me create a space that empowers students to take charge of their learning, feel comfortable in their environment, and come together as a classroom family.","fullyFundedDate":1759178662144,"projectUrl":"project/rug-and-flexible-seating/9405748/","projectTitle":"Rug and Flexible Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kraus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9169194"},{"teacherId":10023733,"projectId":9520233,"letterContent":"I want to thank you for your generous support of our Comfort, Math, and Charts Project. Your contributions have made a big difference in my classroom and in the learning experiences of my students.\r\nThanks to you, our classroom is now a more engaging and welcoming space. The rug has helped create an inviting space where students feel comfortable and ready to learn. The math materials and charts have brought lessons to life, allowing my students to visualize concepts more clearly.\r\nYour support not only improved our classroom, but also reminded my students that there are people who care deeply about their education and success.\r\nThank you again for believing in our project and helping us make learning fun.","fullyFundedDate":1759178772496,"projectUrl":"project/comfort-charts-and-creative-learning/9520233/","projectTitle":"Comfort, Charts, and Creative Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nichols","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10023733_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746585732098","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10023733"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_44961","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":392,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":43,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"24.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":38.3,"schoolId":44961,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Vista Grande Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Vista Grande Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/san-diego-unified-school-district/vista-grande-elementary-school/44961"}