{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bill Libbon Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":11.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2014492,"projectId":9554476,"letterContent":"The new historical fiction books have significantly enriched our curriculum, offering students engaging opportunities to practice literary elements such as similes, metaphors, and personification. Beyond literary practice, these captivating stories boost comprehension, as students become engrossed in the narrative, more readily recalling events and making connections to their existing knowledge of the time period and literary techniques. They also introduce students to diverse historical vocabulary and vernacular.\r\n\r\nCrucially, these texts have facilitated deeper examination of perspective, moving beyond simple first- or third-person narration to explore different identities and lived experiences. For example, Zia shared the perspective of a young Native American facing the cruel and complex treatment from missionaries and soldiers during the Mission period. Riding Freedom about Charley Parkhurst sparked discussion about why she chose to conceal her identity from age 13 until her death. The Earth Dragon Awakes introduced the experiences of Chinese immigrants, Chin and Ah Sing, during the early 1900s amidst the Chinese Exclusion Act. By exploring these narratives, we not only teach literary structure and authorial choices but also foster invaluable lessons in empathy and compassion.\r\n\r\nReading these books has become a highly anticipated part of our school day. Students become deeply invested, eager to discover what happens next. As I am familiar with the stories, I often strategically pause the reading at exciting or suspenseful moments to maintain engagement. Our reading time is typically a relaxed period where students can immerse themselves in the story, finding a comfortable spot on the carpet or at their desks while I read aloud. We frequently pause to clarify vocabulary, link the text to our social studies lessons, discuss plot points, and share predictions. We also have several classmates who enjoy reading and share the task of reading aloud to the class. My goal is to instill a genuine love for reading, demonstrating that it can be a profoundly enjoyable experience even while learning important historical content.\r\n\r\nOverall, the new books appear to be a great success. I often laugh when we finish a book because the students experience a mix of joy in the resolution and sadness that the story is over. Occasionally, there is resistance when introducing a new book because they want to reread the finished one or wish the story would continue. Some students appreciate the books as a more engaging way to learn history, while others simply love the pleasure of reading a new story.\r\n\r\nThank-you again for making all of this possible. I really cannot express how much this means to me as an educator to find support from the community in this way.","fullyFundedDate":1761927047743,"projectUrl":"project/california-history/9554476/","projectTitle":"California History","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gary","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2014492"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_126317","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":739,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":88,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":88.7,"schoolId":126317,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bill Libbon Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bill Libbon Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/santa-maria-bonita-school-dist/bill-libbon-elementary/126317"}
Join the 53 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Bill Libbon Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Santa Maria, California that is part of Santa Maria-bonita School Dist.
It serves 739 students
in grades Pre-K - 6.
Its teachers have had 36 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
92%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Bill Libbon Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Apr 30, 2026
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Bill Libbon Elementary School
$16,127
raised using DonorsChoose
36
projects
funded
11
teachers
funded
53
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
10
projects for
books
3
projects
for
art supplies
Bill Libbon Elementary School has received support from
47 individuals from California and
6 individuals out-of-state.
