Tatham Elementary School in West Springfield, Massachusetts on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Tatham Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9736005,"projectId":9051903,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support and for providing our physical education class with the pocket dice, hotspots, and poly arrows. The students were thrilled when the materials arrived, and their excitement grew even more when they realized they could invent their own challenges to put inside the pocket dice. This creative opportunity gave them a sense of ownership in their learning and made our activities even more engaging.\r\n\r\nWith these resources, we've been able to put a fun new spin on many of our fitness activities. The dice have added variety and surprise to our routines, the hotspots help us organize games in exciting ways, and the poly arrows have opened up new possibilities for movement challenges. Even our \"tried and true\" games feel fresh and exciting again thanks to these additions. So far we have been able to create a tricked out version of the classic \"Around the World\" basketball shooting game and add a spicy fitness twist to the classic game of \"Four Corners\".\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly energized our class and inspired my students to move, think creatively, and collaborate with one another. We are so grateful for your kindness and for helping us create such meaningful learning experiences in physical education.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1742746800135,"projectUrl":"project/spots-and-dots/9051903/","projectTitle":"Spots and Dots","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Findlay-Wetherell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9736005"},{"teacherId":9736005,"projectId":8749199,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generous donation! So far my students have been able to use these resources to compare their heart rates at rest and after running. They also wore the pedometers for the duration of the class while they completed activities like volleyball, climbing a cargo net, and some gymnastic activities. Some of the students were trying to \"cheat\" the step count by holding the pedometer and swinging their arms or doing other odd body movements. This opened us up to a pretty funny discussion about how they were actually still getting exercise by doing that. The mini dry erase easels have been great for labeling stations! \r\n\r\nWhen I submitted this project I didn't think the students would be excited for the materials, but I thought the concepts of how heart rate and steps effect fitness were important for the students to understand. When I pulled these out the students went nuts for them! They instantly started running laps around the gym to make their heart rates increase. Their level of excitement was amazing.\r\n\r\nThe goal for next year is to have the students use the heart rate monitors and pedometers at least once per unit and record their results on a tracking sheet. This will enable us to have some great discussions about the intensity of different types of exercise and how that effects their fitness levels. By the time they move on to middle school I want to help them understand that an activity like running for 15 minutes is equal to completing a lower intensity exercise like walking for a much longer duration.\r\n\r\nThe students understanding of fitness will certainly be growing thanks to your contribution!","fullyFundedDate":1735658195959,"projectUrl":"project/step-by-step-measuring-fitness-levels/8749199/","projectTitle":"Step by Step: Measuring Fitness Levels","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Findlay-Wetherell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9736005"},{"teacherId":9736005,"projectId":8748754,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity. I wasn't sure exactly what type of reaction to expect from my students when I submitted this project, but my teaching philosophy places a high level of importance on teaching students \"life-long\" physical activities that they might not otherwise be introduced to. My student population already has easy access and a high level of interest in the more common sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, and football. Your donation has enabled them to have exposure to the less common sport of disc golf! This is important because, unlike the afore mentioned sports, the students can play disc golf for most of their lives without needing to find a team or league.\r\n\r\nI was uncertain about how my students would react to the new disc golf baskets and discs, but they went nuts when they first saw them! A couple of students had played before with their families and loved it. Their enthusiasm carried over to most of their peers. So far we have only been able to set up a couple of stations with these in the gym. The kids had a blast playing the disc golf versions of \"Around the World\" and \"H-O-R-S-E\". As our fields dry out after this very wet winter, the plan is to set up a 6 hole disc golf course and take the students out to play a round during P.E.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping build my student's fitness intelligence!","fullyFundedDate":1735658179346,"projectUrl":"project/lifelong-physical-activity-with-disc-gol/8748754/","projectTitle":"Lifelong Physical Activity With Disc Golf","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Findlay-Wetherell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9736005"},{"teacherId":8589765,"projectId":8922507,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! The students had no idea this order was coming, and they are so excited to be playing. Our students took to drumming like ducks to water. They have mastered our physical and musical warmups, and had their concert on May 20th. I had 21 students sign up to solo at their portion of the concert, and I'm glad to say it was the crowd favorite! \r\n\r\nThese materials are used by our 5th grade students, and by helping me take care of them, they will last for years to come. The students are thrilled to have brand new materials. They have taken extra care of them and remind classmates to use them correctly. \r\n\r\nStudents have taken on leadership roles in the classroom and help hand out, collect, and store materials when not in use. We've had fewer behavior issues during music class, and I've also had some students step up and take on a teaching role with their classmates. This gives students more ownership of their learning, and a deeper understanding of the material. \r\n\r\nThank you all again for your support. I would never have been able to purchase all this equipment by myself, and the students have directly benefitted from it as well, both musically and behaviorally.","fullyFundedDate":1735658173952,"projectUrl":"project/drumming-up-success-percussion-instrume/8922507/","projectTitle":"Drumming Up Success: Percussion Instruments for Thriving Young Musicians","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shea","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8589765_orig.jpg?crop=3072,3072,x0,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730925974951","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8589765"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60922","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":277,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":69,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.6,"schoolId":60922,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Tatham Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Tatham Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/west-springfield-school-district/tatham-elementary-school/60922"}

About this school

Tatham Elementary School is a suburban public school in West Springfield, Massachusetts that is part of West Springfield School District. It serves 277 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.6:1. Its teachers have had 40 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

277 Students

19 Teachers

61 Laurel Rd

West Springfield, MA 01089 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

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

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Tatham Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Chapman

Mrs. Findlay-Wetherell

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Tatham Elementary School Demographics

91%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

24%

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.

Tatham Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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