{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thomas J McMahon Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":47.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4848838,"projectId":8942025,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for the sensory items that McMahon Elementary received for a school-wide sensory walk. McMahon is located in Maine and the items were received during our messy winter season where wet boots, dirt, salt, and eventually mud gets tracked through the building. After careful consideration, I decided to wait to apply the decals to the floor until this summer when the floors have had a chance to be scrubbed and waxed and the halls will be kid free. This will allow for the decals to have a longer lifespan, so the kids will be able to enjoy them for as long as humanly possible.\r\n\r\nThis also gives me the opportunity to start plotting out the length of each decal along with the length of hallways, so that I can spread the wealth of your generous donations throughout the school building. I have all of the dimensions and will be using some graph paper to plot it all out. I am excited to see how it all plays out on paper before the final reveal this summer. \r\n\r\nYour kindness and generous donation will help nearly 500 students at our school. Many of our students have difficulty sitting still and paying attention, many students do not have a place to play outside at their homes to release their energy, many students go home and play on a device preventing them from participating in gross motor activities and creates a sedentary lifestyle, many of our students have a history of trauma that can lead to some unexpected behaviors, many students are coming in to school without the basic foundational skills that they need in order to be successful at school. Many of these students who need the most help end up receiving help through 504 plans or IEP's. But there are other students who do not receive special education who still have difficulty in their classrooms and would benefit from a break or have sensory needs that are not being addressed. Your generosity will help ALL students by providing an opportunity to meet their motor and sensory needs. These breaks will give students a reset, before returning to their classrooms, ready to learn and making them more successful in their classroom environment. \r\n\r\nAccording to the TeachingChannel.com \"Brain breaks are short classroom breaks that allow students to rest their minds rather than becoming overwhelmed. These breaks are much shorter but offer a reprise and allow students to return to work refreshed and more productive. They also allow students a chance to boost their social skills by interacting with classmates.\" Students have short attention spans and when they have to sit for long lessons it can be very challenging. The TeachingChannel.com also states, \"By \"replenishing attention,\" students are able to learn and retain more. Their academic progress will improve, and they'll gain more from classes as a whole.\" (https://www.teachingchannel.com/k12-hub/blog/breaks-school/) Proving that movement and brain breaks are vital to keep kids engaged in their learning.\r\n\r\nIn closing, I want to thank you for your generous donation to fund this project. Next fall the students will be so happy to see the beautiful decals adhered to the floor. This will allow the whole school an opportunity to use these tools as a means to regulate their bodies, give them a brain break, increase strength and coordination, and allow staff to see some beautiful smiles with the joy that these materials will bring to the students. Thank you for giving our students an outlet to release some stress, boost attention, and improve their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1734099005201,"projectUrl":"project/successful-sensory-superstars/8942025/","projectTitle":"Successful Sensory Superstars","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4848838_orig.jpg?crop=2022,2022,x293,y301&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731517441667","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4848838"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65185","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":488,"numTeachers":56,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":33,"percentWhite":54,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"8.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":52.4,"schoolId":65185,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Thomas J McMahon Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Thomas J McMahon Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maine/lewiston-public-schools/thomas-j-mcmahon-elementary-school/65185"}

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School

Join the 418 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School is an urban public school in Lewiston, Maine that is part of Lewiston Public Schools. It serves 488 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 8.7:1. Its teachers have had 165 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 6

488 Students

56 Teachers

151 N Temple St

Lewiston, ME 04240 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Demographics

92%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

36%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School

$66,873

raised using DonorsChoose

165

projects funded

teachers funded

418

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

project for art supplies

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School has received support from 219 individuals from Maine and 199 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School

About this school

Equity Focus School

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Demographics

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

Thomas J McMahon Elementary School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.