{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"El Verano Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":22.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1529707,"projectId":9934594,"letterContent":"I am writing with heartfelt gratitude to thank each of you for your generosity and support of our 5th-grade classroom. Because of you, my students now have access to materials that truly enrich their daily learning experiences and help create a classroom environment where every child feels supported, capable, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nYour donations provided a wide variety of new books for our classroom library, which are already being used every single day. I teach a wonderfully heterogeneous group of students, and having a diverse, high-interest library allows me to meet learners where they are. Some students are just beginning to find confidence in reading, while others are eager to challenge themselves with more complex texts. The books you provided give them choice, ownership, and the opportunity to see themselves reflected in stories while also learning about others. I see students reaching for these books during independent reading, partner work, and even during free moments throughout the day. They are talking about characters, recommending titles to one another, and discovering a genuine love for reading. That alone is an incredible gift.\r\n\r\nIn addition to books, your project supplied art materials such as colored pencils, as well as practical classroom necessities like binders, pencil lead, and Kleenex. These items may seem simple, but they are essential. They support everything we do, from organizing learning to expressing creativity to simply getting through the day comfortably. These are also the kinds of supplies that quickly exceed the limited funds available for classrooms. When budgets are tight and basic needs are high, it becomes extremely difficult to provide all students with consistent access to these tools.\r\n\r\nMany families in our community are facing the rising cost of living, and purchasing school supplies is not always easy or even possible. Because of you, students do not have to worry about whether they have what they need to participate fully. They can focus on learning, creating, collaborating, and growing. Your generosity helps remove barriers and ensures that all students can walk into our classroom each day with dignity and opportunity.\r\n\r\nI truly could not offer my students what I can provide now without the DonorsChoose community. You have helped transform our classroom into a space filled with engaging books, essential materials, and the message that people beyond our school believe in them and care about their success. That message is powerful.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and myself, thank you for investing in our classroom, in public education, and in the potential of every child who walks through our door. Your kindness is felt daily, and it is deeply appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1764557049449,"projectUrl":"project/we-love-tim-and-moby/9934594/","projectTitle":"We Love Tim and Moby!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brandy Melendy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1529707_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506806727058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1529707"},{"teacherId":537866,"projectId":9609770,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for taking the time to support my classroom project and for donating to my class. My students love the opportunity to explore, play and manipulate toys and tools to help them inquire and learn more about all the things that make them curious and excited. We received a variety of things that picturing it all wasn't possible. I am so grateful and appreciative of your generosity and thoughtfulness. I am so excited to have the odds and ends I have been missing and now have more matierials for myself and my students to access.","fullyFundedDate":1758046014763,"projectUrl":"project/odds-ends-and-appealing-things/9609770/","projectTitle":"Odds, Ends and Appealing Things","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McCracken","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-silberman"},{"teacherId":8270946,"projectId":9798147,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the volleyball gear they were elated. \"Is that a new volleyball net?\" \"Is that for us?\" \"When can we play?\" I was bombarded with excited questions about when we could start playing.\r\n\r\nThe set up and take down is quick and easy, and many students are choosing to play volleyball at recess and lunch. Providing a structured sport has led to less conflicts at recess and lunch time. Kids are teaching one another how to play volleyball and are cheering one another on.\r\n\r\nIn the new year, we plan on making teams and running tournaments. Students are excited about this new opportunity and the days we set up the net are always student's favorites. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1760156370420,"projectUrl":"project/volleyball-fanatics/9798147/","projectTitle":"Volleyball Fanatics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Momsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8270946_orig.jpg?crop=328,328,x10,y117&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1645225722602","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8270946"},{"teacherId":2968207,"projectId":9517865,"letterContent":"We want to thank the donors for this project. This school year has been hard without donation from our community. We are grateful for given donations to this project. We use the supplies every day to keep our environment clean and healthy for the children.\r\nThe supplies, mainly gloves and Clorox wipes, we use to clean tables, countertops, toys, toilets and much more. Every time we have a project at the tables we have to sanitize them. Also when a child goes to the toilet, we have to clean it every time. \r\nThank you again from all El Verano staff and children!","fullyFundedDate":1758573882922,"projectUrl":"project/cleaning-supplies-for-preschool/9517865/","projectTitle":"Cleaning Supplies for Preschool","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sonya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2968207_orig.jpg?crop=1932,1932,x0,y57&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632957880578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2968207"},{"teacherId":999477,"projectId":9510831,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping supply our class with the necessary school supplies to be prepared for the year. We have been putting everything to great use and we will continue to use the supplies for the rest of the school year. \r\n\r\nWe particularly love the fact that we have what we need when we need it rather than having to go to the store to fill in gaps. \r\n\r\nWe love that every child has their own scissors and their own box of crayons. We have been using the journals everyday. \r\n\r\nWe can never have enough pencils. It is like the washing machine and socks. They have a tendency to just evaporate into thin air. Thank you for giving us a stash that will last us a little while longer.","fullyFundedDate":1754069725181,"projectUrl":"project/fill-the-pencil-boxes/9510831/","projectTitle":"Fill the Pencil Boxes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Albright","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp999477_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1539233296872","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-a-short"},{"teacherId":3779177,"projectId":9585321,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Kindness Club Project at El Verano and Sassarini Elementary Schools! Your generous donations helped provide the supplies our students needed to spread kindness across both campuses, and their excitement has been incredible.\r\n\r\nAt El Verano, our Kindness Club kicked off the year by hosting Kindness Book Talks. Fourth and fifth graders visited classrooms in grades K–3 to read stories about kindness and lead their younger peers in creating classroom kindness pledges. These moments sparked meaningful conversations and inspired younger students to think about how they can show kindness every day.\r\n\r\nAt Sassarini, the Kindness Club is busy planning a Kindness Spirit Week with fun lunchtime kindness challenges. Thanks to your support, students will use the bracelets, pencils, and stickers provided by this grant as prizes for participants who take part in spreading positivity and compassion throughout the school.\r\n\r\nYour donations made these projects—and many more to come—possible. Because of you, our students have the tools and inspiration to make kindness a daily habit and a shared value in our school communities.","fullyFundedDate":1755707237529,"projectUrl":"project/help-spread-kindness-in-elementary-schoo/9585321/","projectTitle":"Help Spread Kindness in Elementary School!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bellach","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3779177"},{"teacherId":8270946,"projectId":9553787,"letterContent":"My students and I are using our new resources on a daily basis. It is so nice to be able to say, \"Take out a pencil,\" and have every student in the room grab a pencil from their PenPal. We use whiteboards everyday in either math or spelling. I don't have anxiety about students markers drying out, because I know I have spares for them. Thanks to the donation, they also all have whiteboard erasers, so I know parents are happy that students aren't being sent home with blackened shirtsleeves! \r\n\r\nThe students are always excited and grateful to be given new materials. They enjoyed choosing the color of their pencil pouch, and their desk is much more organized now that they have a place to store their pens, pencils, glue sticks, and erasers. They also enjoy choosing the color of their eraser tops when they need another eraser.\r\n\r\nParents are loving students' writing binders. This wouldn't be possible without the clear plastic sleeves. Students are proud of the work they are creating, and it feels more meaningful when they have a clean and designated spot to showcase their work. Thanks again for making all this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1754952424717,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-basics/9553787/","projectTitle":"Back To School Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Momsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8270946_orig.jpg?crop=328,328,x10,y117&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1645225722602","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8270946"},{"teacherId":2968207,"projectId":9521908,"letterContent":"Your donations has made it easy for us to do the art projects with the kids, all the materials play an essential role. Google eyes, watercolors and glue sticks are essential for the monthly projects. The kids love to see the Google eyes on their projects from crocodiles to sheep and letters of the week. They also love using the glue sticks for all their wonderful projects. They like using watercolors to draw flowers, plants, rainbows and mixed all the colors to make their own paintings. The kids are happy because they have the supplies they need.\r\n\r\nWe appreciate you very much!","fullyFundedDate":1754952423619,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-needed-in-preschool/9521908/","projectTitle":"Supplies Needed in Preschool","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sonya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2968207_orig.jpg?crop=1932,1932,x0,y57&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632957880578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2968207"},{"teacherId":2968207,"projectId":9130640,"letterContent":"Gloves are so important in the preschool world. The preschool teachers use gloves for a variety of cleaning activities in the classroom, kitchen and bathrooms.\r\nTeachers wipe tables, chairs and counters so that the children enjoy their clean environment, germ free.\r\nTeachers serve breakfast and lunch wearing gloves and following meal procedures.\r\nTeachers sanitized toilets every time a child uses the toilet. \r\nWe are grateful to your donation because we are able to have an environment that its sanitized and germ free.\r\nWe Appreciate you very much. We couldn't do it without your donation.","fullyFundedDate":1746472719758,"projectUrl":"project/gloves-are-so-important-in-the-preschool/9130640/","projectTitle":"Gloves Are So Important in the Preschool World","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sonya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2968207_orig.jpg?crop=1932,1932,x0,y57&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1632957880578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2968207"},{"teacherId":5429615,"projectId":8523087,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity to my project and helping me bring these amazing materials into my classroom! These materials were of great support to help with my students continued learning. My students had to much fun playing these games and using their newly learned English vocabulary. These games helped my students practice their English in safe environment where they felt confortable using what they are learning at school. Thank you again for allowing me to bring fun and engaging games to continue teaching my students English.","fullyFundedDate":1723658026970,"projectUrl":"project/learning-english-while-having-fun/8523087/","projectTitle":"Learning English While Having Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pulido","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5429615"},{"teacherId":1529707,"projectId":9271086,"letterContent":"I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our classroom through DonorsChoose. Your kindness has made a meaningful difference in both my teaching and my students' daily learning experience. Because of you, we were able to receive a variety of essential classroom supplies, including pencils, erasers, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, tissues, and more—resources that are not provided by our school district but are vital to maintaining a productive, clean, and supportive learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhen the boxes arrived, the students were thrilled. There was a buzz of excitement as we unpacked everything together. You would have thought it was a birthday party with all the cheering and smiling faces! For many of my students, having their pencils and erasers, or simply having tissues available during allergy season, may seem like small things—but to them, it signaled that someone out there truly cares about their success and well-being. The moment we opened those boxes will remain one of the most joyful and heartwarming experiences I've had as a teacher.\r\n\r\nThe supplies have had a daily impact on our routines. With the constant use of pencils in math, writing, and science, having enough sharpened pencils has saved us time and stress. No longer do we have to stop mid-lesson because a student's pencil broke and we're out of replacements. Our sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer help us maintain a clean and healthy classroom, especially during cold and flu season. Students have taken great ownership of keeping their desks clean and practicing good hygiene, which in turn promotes better attendance and fewer disruptions to learning.\r\n\r\nA recent project that highlights the impact of your donation was our \"Opinion Writing\" unit. Each student was asked to choose a topic they cared deeply about and write a persuasive essay. Thanks to the new supplies, every student had the tools they needed to draft, revise, and finalize their essays without delay. I watched students thoughtfully erase and rewrite their work with their new erasers, use sharpened pencils to create neat drafts, and take pride in the final versions they presented to the class. One student, who previously struggled with writing, was so excited to have the right materials that he turned in the best writing sample he's ever done.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we're starting a new science unit on ecosystems. Students are currently working in small groups to research different biomes and will soon present their findings in a creative format of their choice: posters, models, or digital slideshows. Your donation allows me to provide each group with the tools and materials they need—like paper, markers, and glue—for their presentations. Knowing we have the necessary supplies means that I can focus on teaching and guiding their learning, rather than scrambling to figure out how to make the most of limited resources.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, your support has shown my students that their education matters—not just to me, but to people they've never even met. That kind of encouragement is powerful, and it inspires them to try harder, care more, and believe in themselves.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us in Room 44, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your generosity has made a lasting impact, and we're so grateful you chose to invest in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746787310838,"projectUrl":"project/get-equipped/9271086/","projectTitle":"Get Equipped!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brandy Melendy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1529707_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506806727058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1529707"},{"teacherId":1529707,"projectId":9199146,"letterContent":"As this year winds down and I begin to think about impactful interventions for summer school, it brings a smile to my face to know that I have what I need to make it memorable and meaningful for the students. Your generosity and kindness are appreciated.\r\n\r\nNot only did you help to replace worn-out materials, but you also purchased prizes and other fun incentives that encourage kids to cooperate and have the best possible attitude while attending school during the summer months. I'm a dedicated educator to the students in this community, and you are a devoted community member for supporting us in this way. Thank you very much.","fullyFundedDate":1743362092353,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-summer-school/9199146/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Summer School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brandy Melendy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1529707_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1506806727058","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1529707"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5211","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":257,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":73,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":84,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.5,"schoolId":5211,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about El Verano Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"El Verano Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/sonoma-valley-unified-school-district/el-verano-elementary-school/5211"}