{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Trail Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":88.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9829655,"letterContent":"Students are thrilled to explore the world through VR headsets — they gasp as virtual skies open and they can see the stars and distant galaxies up close, tracing constellations and nebulae as if they were floating among them. The immersive experience sparks curiosity: learners investigate planetary motion, compare star types, and simulate space missions while applying STEM skills like data analysis, coding simple simulations, and engineering design thinking. These hands‑on technology experiences deepen understanding and make abstract science tangible. A heartfelt thank you to our donors Mr. Pacheco and Anonymous Donor for making this transformative learning opportunity a reality","fullyFundedDate":1761161983907,"projectUrl":"project/technology-helps-us-view-the-world/9829655/","projectTitle":"Technology Helps Us View the World","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":6419882,"projectId":9711723,"letterContent":"I can't even begin to tell you how excited my kids were when our boxes arrived! You should have seen their faces when they spotted those stacking stools. They immediately started asking if they could try them out. \r\n\r\nWe've been using everything daily, and honestly, it's changed our whole classroom dynamic. Those computer mice have been a lifesaver during our computer time. Before, kids were getting frustrated trying to navigate with the limited old mice we had. Last week, we worked on a Google Slides project where they designed their own slides, and I watched kids who normally struggle with technology become the helpers for their classmates.\r\n\r\nThe soccer ball has been such a hit, and not just for brain breaks! We will be using it for our science Motion unit for a data collection project where kids will measure how far they could kick it, then graph the results. And those stools? Game changer. Kids are choosing where and how they want to learn, and I'm seeing better focus from everyone, especially my wiggly learners.","fullyFundedDate":1758897868772,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-motion-tools-to-learn-play-an/9711723/","projectTitle":"STEM in Motion: Tools to Learn, Play, and Create","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Betancourt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6419882_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566512577074","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6419882"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9402691,"letterContent":"What a great tool MagiCore Academy has been for my scholars. Students have embarked on different fun filled journeys during the use of this app. They have found their way through escape rooms and even travelled through many adventures in virtual field trips. Thank you so much for giving my students the opportunity to have experienced this new tool this year will be truly exciting for all of us. Using this amazing tool as a new resource for different subjects such as ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies will create exciting new enhancements for all my students. Thank you so much for bringing this project to life.","fullyFundedDate":1753374529336,"projectUrl":"project/learning-about-cultural-differences-by-t/9402691/","projectTitle":"Learning about Cultural Differences by Traveling All Around the World","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9361483,"letterContent":"Teachers who go above and beyond by engaging in professional development and continuous learning significantly enhance their ability to support students. By acquiring new teaching strategies, technologies, and methodologies, they make lessons more engaging and effective, which helps students understand and retain information better. Staying current with content knowledge ensures that students receive accurate and relevant information, deepening their learning experience. Furthermore, teachers who continually improve their skills are better equipped to personalize instruction, addressing the diverse needs and learning styles of their students. Their enthusiasm for growth also serves as a powerful model of lifelong learning, motivating students to adopt a similar attitude toward their education. Additionally, professional development often equips teachers with better classroom management and social-emotional learning techniques, enabling them to create safe, supportive, and inclusive environments where students feel comfortable and ready to learn. Finally, these teachers can skillfully analyze student data to identify learning gaps and tailor interventions, ultimately helping students achieve better academic outcomes. In all these ways, educators dedicated to continuous improvement foster richer, more dynamic learning experiences that contribute to student success both academically and personally. Thank you for making this happen.","fullyFundedDate":1747836660327,"projectUrl":"project/make-it-simple-with-professional-develop/9361483/","projectTitle":"Make it Simple with Professional Development","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9693614,"letterContent":"What a great way to provide students the materials they need to learn how animatronics work, especially with a fun holiday coming up for Halloween. This will be our fifth annual haunted house and students have been working on using the animatronics to learn how they move and how they sense motion. Thank you so much for bringing this project to Life and for helping the whole school celebrate the holiday by providing all of the materials needed for the haunted house. We truly appreciate your continued support much love and respect always from Mrs. Marquez and her amazing students.","fullyFundedDate":1757537549610,"projectUrl":"project/animatronics-effects-for-stem-night/9693614/","projectTitle":"Animatronics Effects for STEM Night","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9745558,"letterContent":"We are incredibly thankful to our generous donors for providing decorations that made our STEM event feel fun, vibrant, and inviting for everyone involved. Your thoughtful contributions transformed our space into an engaging environment where students and their families felt welcomed and excited to participate. The colorful decorations, banners, and themed accents created a festive atmosphere that sparked joy and enthusiasm, encouraging students to dive into STEM activities with even more curiosity and energy. A welcoming and lively setting is so important in making learning memorable and enjoyable, and your support helped us achieve just that. Beyond the STEM event, we also deeply appreciate your kindness in providing face masks for our Halloween night celebration. Thanks to your generosity, our students were able to safely enjoy a Halloween-themed event surrounded by family and friends, creating lasting memories while honoring important health precautions.","fullyFundedDate":1758737501396,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-stem-success/9745558/","projectTitle":"Celebrating STEM Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9707555,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful to our wonderful donors for providing snacks like chips and cookies for our students, and we want you to know just how much your kindness means to us. Your generous donation has a profound impact on our students' daily school experience by ensuring they never have to worry about being hungry while learning. \r\n\r\nHunger can be a significant barrier to concentration and academic success, and thanks to your support, our students can focus fully on their lessons and projects rather than on an empty stomach. Having access to snacks throughout the day helps keep their energy levels up and their minds sharp, allowing them to engage more actively, think more clearly, and participate more confidently in their learning activities. \r\n\r\nThis support is especially important during our after-school STEM events, where students dedicate extra time practicing and exploring STEM concepts with enthusiasm and curiosity. Staying after school to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and math requires sustained focus and motivation, and your snacks play a crucial role in fueling their determination and endurance during these extended hours.","fullyFundedDate":1757891698603,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-please/9707555/","projectTitle":"Snacks Please","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9733614,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our generous donors for your incredible support in helping our students explore the exciting world of STEM through robotics and for providing snacks for our annual STEM event. Your contributions have made a meaningful difference in our students' learning experiences, especially for those living in rural, low-income communities where access to cutting-edge educational tools can often be limited. By providing robots, you have given our students the opportunity to engage hands-on with technology that sparks their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking—key skills that are essential for success in the 21st century. These tools allow students to experiment, problem-solve, and collaborate in ways that prepare them for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, no matter their background or location. The snacks you provide may seem small but play a vital role in keeping our students energized and focused during long days of discovery and innovation at our STEM event. Your support sends a powerful message that every student deserves the resources and encouragement to dream big and achieve their potential. Thank you for helping us create an inclusive learning environment where all students have the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed in an ever-changing world.","fullyFundedDate":1758990125502,"projectUrl":"project/robots-and-lego-oh-my-what-fun/9733614/","projectTitle":"Robots and LEGO: Oh, My! What Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":6727502,"projectId":9365671,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Your contribution has enabled me to invest in professional development resources focused on mathematics, differentiation, and a deeper understanding of sensory processing challenges, which has truly transformed my approach to teaching. I love diving into the materials, highlighting key strategies, and jotting down ideas in the margins, whether I'm at my desk in the evenings or enjoying a coffee in the morning.\r\n\r\nThis year, I've been able to create lessons that cater to diverse learning styles, using techniques such as scaffolding and offering students choices in how they demonstrate their understanding. It has been rewarding to see my students engage with math in new ways, especially those who were previously hesitant, and to support diverse students with different strategies. \r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was during a small group activity where a student who usually struggles with participation confidently explained their thinking to the group. It reminded me that when we meet students where they are, we can foster success for everyone. Your support has made these moments possible, and I truly appreciate your investment in my growth as an educator and in the learning journey of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755362220306,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-student-success-through-profe/9365671/","projectTitle":"Empowering Student Success Through Professional Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arroyo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6727502_orig.jpg?crop=303,303,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633485705292","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6727502"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9652018,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when they found out our project had crossed the finish line. Thank you so much for providing all of these games that my students will enjoy during our stem event. Allowing students the possibility of using board games as well as technology games is crucial for them to understand the possibilities in stem careers. Thank you so much for bringing all of these items to our classroom. We were also able to fill our treasure box with new fidget toys and items that were hand selected by my students. Thank you for making our classroom so much fun and engaging for all of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1756492381251,"projectUrl":"project/steming-our-way-to-success/9652018/","projectTitle":"STEMing Our Way to Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9578043,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for sending our rocket for this program that we are implementing at school. Our annual steam event is approaching in October and we are thrilled that we will be able to print colorful posters to hang around our school campus. Thank you so much for the materials we can't wait for this event. Students are looking forward to learning about stem careers in the field of engineering and technology. We could not have done this without your kindness and generosity. Thank you once again for being part of this project.","fullyFundedDate":1755196829348,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-the-classroom/9578043/","projectTitle":"STEM in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9397077,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for allowing my students to take part in a community service project. Students were really excited to learn about the different ways of helping the community through their kind efforts. We could not have done this without your support. Thank you for being part of this project and for allowing my students to see the whole world as a whole and understand that they although young can make a huge difference. Much love and respect always. From all of my students we are sending warm. Hugs from New Mexico to your house. Thank you for being our donor Angel.","fullyFundedDate":1753912483972,"projectUrl":"project/compassion-towards-others-to-help-us-bec/9397077/","projectTitle":"Compassion Towards Others to Help Us Become Better Citizens!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_62589","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":471,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":95,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"10.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":11.7,"schoolId":62589,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Trail Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desert Trail Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-mexico/gadsden-independent-school-district/desert-trail-elementary/62589"}