{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mount Vernon Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1581289,"projectId":9590341,"letterContent":"The materials from the \"Exciting Math in 5th and 6th\" project have made a powerful and immediate impact on both my classroom environment and my students' learning experiences. These resources transformed math from something many students once approached with anxiety into a subject filled with hands-on exploration, collaboration, and excitement.\r\n\r\nThe Power Pen Math Quiz Cards, Math Bingo Library, and Mastering Math Dominoes have completely changed how my students practice their skills. Instead of passive worksheets, students now engage in interactive games that build fluency, reinforce concepts, and promote teamwork. I've seen students who were once hesitant to participate become confident leaders during math centers, eagerly volunteering to explain strategies to their peers.\r\n\r\nThe Giant Magnetic Fraction Circles & Bars have been especially impactful for both my 5th and 6th graders. These visuals made abstract fraction concepts concrete and accessible, allowing students to physically manipulate and compare fractions. This has significantly improved comprehension, particularly for my bilingual learners, who benefit greatly from visual and tactile instruction.\r\n\r\nThe digital wall timer has helped bring structure and focus to our lessons. Students now manage their work time more effectively, transitions are smoother, and accountability during math centers has greatly increased.\r\n\r\nThe labeling tools, thermal printer, and laminating supplies have helped me organize stations, materials, and student tools in a professional, accessible way. I'm able to create durable, color-coded resources, vocabulary supports, and student reference tools that students can use daily—something my classroom did not have before.\r\n\r\nThe math-themed books and STEM career texts have been incredibly meaningful. Stories like Hidden Figures, Counting on Katherine, and The Girl With a Mind for Math have inspired my students while showing them that mathematicians and scientists look like them. These books have sparked rich discussions about perseverance, representation, and future careers, helping students connect math to real-world purpose.\r\n\r\nThe dice, stickers, posters, and Velcro dots enhanced both instruction and classroom culture. Math is now visually celebrated on our walls, reinforced through movement-based activities, and rewarded in positive, motivating ways.\r\n\r\nOverall, these materials have elevated student engagement, confidence, and achievement. My classroom is now a vibrant, interactive space where students feel excited to learn math every single day. This project didn't just provide supplies—it changed mindsets, built confidence, and brought joy back into math learning for my 5th and 6th graders. I am deeply grateful for the support that made this transformation possible.","fullyFundedDate":1764671420795,"projectUrl":"project/exciting-math-in-5th-6th/9590341/","projectTitle":"Exciting Math in 5th & 6th!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Y. Ortiz Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1581289_orig.jpg?crop=473,474,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691687763645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-yramirez"},{"teacherId":1581289,"projectId":9247534,"letterContent":"The materials received through the Vibrant Imaging in 5th & 6th project—specifically the EPSON 232 ink cartridge combo packs and the Rohon 952XL compatible ink cartridges—have had a tremendous impact on my classroom. As I teach two grade levels (5th & 6th Bilingual), having enough ink to last is essential to meeting the daily instructional needs of all my students. These materials allow us to print resources as needed without limitation, ensuring that instruction remains consistent, engaging, and accessible.\r\n\r\nBecause of this support, I am able to provide my students with colorful manipulatives, visuals, and learning materials that they would otherwise not have access to at home. In our bilingual classroom, all materials must be presented in both English and Spanish, each with their respective color coding. Color is not just helpful—it is essential. It attracts student attention, supports visual learning, and helps students distinguish between languages while strengthening comprehension.\r\n\r\nBeing able to print in color has made learning more exciting for my students and has increased their willingness to actively participate. They are more engaged, more confident, and more eager to interact with the materials placed in front of them. These resources have helped transform our classroom into a vibrant, visually rich, fun, and exciting learning environment where all students feel supported and motivated to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1746533031687,"projectUrl":"project/vibrant-imaging-in-5th-6th/9247534/","projectTitle":"Vibrant Imaging in 5th & 6th!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Y. Ortiz Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1581289_orig.jpg?crop=473,474,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691687763645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-yramirez"},{"teacherId":1581289,"projectId":9521355,"letterContent":"This project, Exciting Science in 5th & 6th, has significantly transformed my classroom by increasing student engagement, curiosity, and confidence in science learning. Through hands-on experiments, inquiry-based lessons, and real-world problem-solving, students are no longer passive learners—they are actively exploring, questioning, and discovering. I have seen a noticeable improvement in student participation, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. Students who were once hesitant to engage now take ownership of their learning and eagerly contribute to discussions and group investigations. Additionally, the project has strengthened cross-curricular connections, especially in reading, writing, and math, as students analyze data, explain their thinking, and support their findings with evidence. Overall, Exciting Science in 5th & 6th has created a more dynamic, student-centered learning environment that fosters curiosity, resilience, and a genuine excitement for science.","fullyFundedDate":1759164723668,"projectUrl":"project/exciting-science-in-5th-6th/9521355/","projectTitle":"Exciting Science in 5th & 6th!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Y. Ortiz Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1581289_orig.jpg?crop=473,474,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691687763645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-yramirez"},{"teacherId":8237913,"projectId":9110794,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us get cozy! We set up a lovely little library area with cozy things to help us get comfortable. We put out bean bags, the couch fort and an array of books. \r\nYour donations have helped our classroom truly become a special safe space for our imaginations to grow, our brains to continue nourishing with education and our corner has built new friendships through comfort and books. We work hard to maintain a climate of community in our room and sometimes we like to take a break from the responsibilities we have and just relax with a good book! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1739985032034,"projectUrl":"project/get-comfortable-reading-in-the-cozy-corn/9110794/","projectTitle":"Get Comfortable Reading in the Cozy Corner!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bilani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8237913_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705861617803","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missbilani"},{"teacherId":9698226,"projectId":8689992,"letterContent":"Thank you providing a comfortable space for my students to read. Each day we have independent reading time. The students rotate using the rugs each day. They look forward to our independent reading time. The donation has brought a sense of joy to the reading experience. There are days when the students ask for 5 more minutes, please! Reading is the most fundamental part of their education. Providing a comfortable space to read has given them a chance to grow their reading skills. The students were so excited the day the rugs arrived and continue the excitement each day.","fullyFundedDate":1732363026760,"projectUrl":"project/soft-comfy-rugs-happy-student-reading/8689992/","projectTitle":"Soft Comfy Rugs = Happy Student Reading & Calming Areas","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pecoraro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9698226"},{"teacherId":8237913,"projectId":8723094,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support in our classroom! We have used all the materials to get creative while learning- like building models, creating art work, and finding ways to show our work in creative ways like drawing diagrams. \r\nBy providing certain materials, you have allowed me, the teacher, to make these memories last a lifetime by laminating them for the students to keep forever. The magnet tiles have been an incredible addition to our activity bins that we use when we need to spark our brains, use our hands or even take a break sometimes. As always, your collaboration warms my heart and motivates me to work harder for my scholars. We are grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1725903550762,"projectUrl":"project/students-love-stem/8723094/","projectTitle":"Students Love STEM!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bilani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8237913_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705861617803","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missbilani"},{"teacherId":9698226,"projectId":8774113,"letterContent":"It it with the utmost gratitude that I write this letter to you. This year my class went from a math only class to an inclusive all subject class. When the students arrived there was a limited amount of books for them to read. I let them know about Donors Choose and that I requested a library for our classroom. Each day we have a 15 minute Independent Reading session. Since there was a limited selection of books, I noticed some students reading the same book several times. The day I informed the students that a donor chose our class to receive a new library of books was a very happy one! The day the books arrived we set up the library. Now the students have a variety of books to choose. Thank you for supporting our class with your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1727288389776,"projectUrl":"project/adventures-in-reading-for-grade-4/8774113/","projectTitle":"Adventures in Reading for Grade 4","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pecoraro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9698226"},{"teacherId":8237913,"projectId":8590333,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your constant support in making education more equitable and engaging for our students. We use these materials on a daily basis and have see growth in the students. My students were so excited to get these materials so that they could get right to work. The wobbly chairs have been a flex seating SAVIOR!!! They were a huge hit. Our bulletin boards have a new life to them with all the new updates so that we can proudly show off our work as you will see in the photos to come. We take pride in our class and our work and are grateful for people like you, who support us in doing so.","fullyFundedDate":1724990451625,"projectUrl":"project/help-grade-4-get-the-classroom-of-their/8590333/","projectTitle":"Help Grade 4 Get The Classroom of Their Dreams!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bilani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8237913_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1705861617803","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missbilani"},{"teacherId":1581289,"projectId":8337203,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity. Thanks to you, my kiddos have the opportunity to experience the magic of STEM, Coding & 3D Printing! We have begun the process of coding and choosing their final 3D project and they couldn't be more excited...that is all thanks to you! \r\n\r\nWe no longer have to wait extensive minutes for things to load, reboot 4-5 times to get something to work, or loose instructional time! This laptop is fast and efficient and such a needed addition to our classroom. It also works effortlessly with our Smart Board so I am able to display the process for the entire class to see together.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your amazing generosity, for believing in what I do, and for believing that my kiddos deserve all the best we can give them.","fullyFundedDate":1718023954437,"projectUrl":"project/stem-coding-3d-printing-come-to-life/8337203/","projectTitle":"STEM, Coding & 3D Printing Come To Life!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Y. Ortiz Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1581289_orig.jpg?crop=473,474,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691687763645","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-yramirez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_81160","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":878,"numTeachers":49,"percentFrplEligible":73,"percentAsian":11,"percentBlack":36,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":50,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":65.7,"schoolId":81160,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mount Vernon Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mount Vernon Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/newark-public-schools/mt-vernon-elementary-school/81160"}