{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mount Vernon Community School","outOfStateSupporters":33.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10223555,"letterContent":"Our new rolling storage cart has made a wonderful difference in our music classroom! It gives us a safe, organized, and convenient place to store and transport our music stands. Students can now help set up and put away equipment more efficiently, allowing us to spend more time making music. This cart also keeps our classroom safer and less cluttered while protecting our music stands so they can be used for years to come. We are so grateful to our DonorsChoose supporters for helping us create a more organized and functional music learning environment!","fullyFundedDate":1786541710741,"projectUrl":"project/rolling-into-rehearsal-a-cart-for-our-m/10223555/","projectTitle":"Rolling Into Rehearsal: A Cart for Our Music Stands","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10247616,"letterContent":"Adding an Orff bass xylophone and an alto metallophone with stands will greatly expand our students' opportunities to create, perform, and collaborate in music class. These instruments will allow students to experience a wider range of pitches and timbres while developing steady beat, rhythm, melody, ensemble skills, and confidence.\r\n\r\nIn the future, students will be able to use these instruments as part of Orff-inspired ensembles, accompanying songs and creating their own musical patterns. The bass xylophone will provide a strong foundation for our ensemble sound, while the alto metallophone will add a beautiful middle range and greater balance. Having sturdy stands will also make the instruments more accessible, comfortable, and safe for students to play.\r\n\r\nThese instruments will become lasting resources that can be used year after year, giving hundreds of elementary music students meaningful opportunities to make music together and develop a strong musical foundation.","fullyFundedDate":1786541790193,"projectUrl":"project/building-our-orff-ensemble-expanding-mu/10247616/","projectTitle":"Building Our Orff Ensemble: Expanding Musical Opportunities","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10280495,"letterContent":"Our students are thrilled to have additional tenor recorders that will create greater balance within our growing recorder ensemble! With these new instruments, more students will have the opportunity to learn the tenor recorder beginning in 4th grade and continue developing their skills in 5th grade.\r\n\r\nStarting early gives students time to build musical skills, confidence, and independence as ensemble musicians. As they progress, they will experience the excitement of playing an important part in a balanced ensemble while developing the teamwork and perseverance that come with making music together. These tenor recorders will make a lasting impact on our students and help our ensemble continue to grow!","fullyFundedDate":1786541722624,"projectUrl":"project/tenor-recorders-for-our-growing-recorder/10280495/","projectTitle":"Tenor Recorders for Our Growing Recorder Ensemble","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10209843,"letterContent":"The puppets and instruments from this DonorsChoose project have brought so much excitement and creativity to our elementary music classroom! Students are using the puppets to sing, tell musical stories, practice expressive movement, and build confidence, while the instruments give them hands-on opportunities to explore rhythm, steady beat, and ensemble playing.\r\n\r\nThese materials have helped transform music lessons into engaging, interactive experiences where students are actively creating rather than simply observing. Seeing students smile, sing, play, and proudly share their musical ideas has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us provide meaningful musical experiences that inspire creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of music!","fullyFundedDate":1786541765736,"projectUrl":"project/making-music-come-alive-with-puppets-and/10209843/","projectTitle":"Making Music Come Alive with Puppets and Hands-On Instruments","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":10482514,"projectId":10205366,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of the Mount Vernon Community School ceramics program! Your generosity has brought a wonderful new tool into our art room and made working with clay easier, more sustainable, and more enjoyable for both my students and me. Every year, several grade levels create artwork using slabs—thick, flat pieces of clay that students cut, shape, and join together to build ceramic artwork. Our 1st graders use slabs to design their own dream houses, thinking about the architectural details that would make a home special to them, while our 4th graders use slabs to create imaginative abstract clay faces inspired by the abstract artwork of Kimmy Cantrell and Pablo Picasso. Working with earth clay is one of the favorite and most memorable experiences of the school year for many of our students. When my students first saw the slab roller, they were fascinated by how it could transform a lumpy piece of clay into a smooth, even slab ready for them to create.\r\n\r\nThe slab roller will also help us make better use of our earth clay by allowing us to reclaim and reuse leftover pieces instead of letting them go to waste. There is something incredibly special about watching a child turn a simple piece of clay into an idea that exists only in their imagination—and then being able to hold that artwork in their hands. Thank you for helping make these meaningful, hands-on experiences possible for our students and for supporting their creativity, confidence, and joy in making art!","fullyFundedDate":1777083866692,"projectUrl":"project/roll-reclaim-create-slab-roller-for-e/10205366/","projectTitle":"Roll, Reclaim, Create: Slab Roller for Elementary Clay Projects","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lovelace","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10482514_orig.jpg?crop=374,374,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1776786260619","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10482514"},{"teacherId":10482514,"projectId":10233932,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring a new opportunity to the young artists at Mount Vernon Community School! Working with clay to create ceramics is often one of our students' favorite—and most memorable—art experiences each year. There is something undeniably special about taking a lump of clay and transforming it into a lasting work of art. Thanks to your generosity, 1 to 2 grade levels of MVCS students will take that experience one exciting step further this school year by learning to glaze their ceramic creations for the very first time.\r\n\r\nBefore the end of 2026, our students will use the new glazes to add color and personality to their finished clay pieces, while I will use the new kiln stilts and kiln wash to protect our kiln shelves during the glaze firings. MVCS artists will make thoughtful choices about color and application, then experience the anticipation of waiting for the kiln to reveal the final colorful results. I know they will be thrilled to see their artwork transformed from plain clay into colorful, glossy ceramics! This will be an entirely new part of the ceramic process for our students, and your donations have made it possible for them to experience the excitement, creativity, and discovery that comes with glazing.\r\n\r\nWe hope this first glazing experience will be the beginning of a wonderful new tradition at MVCS. Our goal is to continue offering glazing to at least one grade level of students each year and eventually expand the experience to additional grade levels. Thank you for investing in our young artists and giving them the opportunity to explore a new dimension of ceramic art. Your support is helping us make their favorite art experiences even more meaningful—and creating memories they will carry with them for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1778441047357,"projectUrl":"project/from-clay-to-color-our-first-glazing-ex/10233932/","projectTitle":"From Clay to Color: Our First Glazing Experience","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lovelace","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10482514_orig.jpg?crop=374,374,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1776786260619","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10482514"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10333741,"letterContent":"Adding two more tenor recorders to our growing recorder ensemble will make a meaningful difference in our students' musical experience. These instruments will allow more students to participate in the tenor section and help us create a more balanced ensemble sound.\r\n\r\nAs our recorder ensemble continues to grow, having additional tenor recorders will give students opportunities to perform lower musical parts, listen closely to one another, and understand how their individual part contributes to the sound of the entire group. Students will build confidence, teamwork, musicianship, and leadership skills while experiencing the excitement of performing as a true ensemble.\r\n\r\nThese two tenor recorders will help us move closer to a full, balanced recorder ensemble where every student can have an important musical role.","fullyFundedDate":1785355563907,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-our-recorder-ensemble-with-ten/10333741/","projectTitle":"Expanding Our Recorder Ensemble with Tenor Recorders","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10186143,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our elementary music classroom is filled with excitement, creativity, and student leadership!\r\n\r\nOur younger musicians have been absolutely thrilled to create their own singing hand puppets. As students cut, assemble, and decorate their puppet friends, they eagerly bring songs and stories to life through imaginative singing and movement. These hands on experiences help even our youngest learners build confidence while making music in a fun and memorable way.\r\n\r\nThe durable plastic folders have also made a tremendous difference for our growing recorder ensemble. Students are taking great pride in keeping their music organized and protected, allowing them to focus on rehearsing and improving rather than replacing worn or damaged materials. Their folders have become an important part of being a responsible ensemble member.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest surprises has been the excitement surrounding the electric whole punch! Students love preparing their own music for their folders, and this simple tool has given them ownership of the organizational process. They proudly punch and file their music independently, building responsibility while learning the routines that successful musicians use every day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in resources that encourage creativity, responsibility, and a lifelong love of music. Your generosity is helping our students grow not only as young musicians but also as confident, independent learners. We are incredibly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1785331495977,"projectUrl":"project/music-supplies-that-last-folders-and-cl/10186143/","projectTitle":"Music Supplies That Last: Folders and Classroom Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":10358828,"projectId":10186354,"letterContent":"The Ozobot Evo fleet transforms abstract STEM concepts into hands-on, visual learning experiences that bridge computer science and core academic skills. By drawing color-coded paths or using block-based programming (OzoBlockly), students directly observe how logical sequences, cause-and-effect relationships, and algorithmic thinking translate into physical motion.\r\nMy students are captivated by the dynamic, highly responsive nature of the Ozobot Evos—especially watching their hand-drawn markers and color combinations instantly control the bot's speed, direction, sound, and LED lights. There is an unmistakable buzz of delight in the room whenever a robot follows a newly drawn track or executes a trick sequence perfectly.\r\nThis technology has been particularly transformative for our Dual Language Program students, including English language learners and those who sometimes struggle with traditional, text-heavy instruction. Because line coding relies on visual patterns and physical color sequences rather than written instructions, language barriers fade away, allowing students to collaborate, express their logic, and problem-solve in both languages on equal footing.","fullyFundedDate":1778012540808,"projectUrl":"project/pathways-to-the-future-expanding-our-ro/10186354/","projectTitle":"Pathways to the Future: Expanding Our Robotics Program","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ocasio (Ms. O)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10358828"},{"teacherId":9216120,"projectId":10162284,"letterContent":"This bookshelf and set of larger stools will help create a more engaging and comfortable music classroom for my students. The bookshelf will provide easy access to a variety of songbooks, allowing students to independently explore music, discover new songs, and develop a greater appreciation for singing and musical literacy. Having these resources organized and accessible encourages curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.\r\n\r\nThe larger stools will ensure that taller students can sit comfortably and maintain proper posture during music activities. Comfortable seating helps students stay focused, participate more fully, and engage confidently in singing, instrument playing, and other music-making experiences. Together, these resources will create a welcoming learning environment where all students can successfully explore, create, and enjoy music.","fullyFundedDate":1781189509090,"projectUrl":"project/reaching-new-heights-with-a-seat-and-she/10162284/","projectTitle":"Reaching New Heights with a Seat and Shelf","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Gonzalez's Music Class","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9216120_orig.jpg?crop=2047,2047,x0,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692827311360","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/drgonzalezmusicclass"},{"teacherId":9990827,"projectId":10044476,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! Although we received these materials near the end of the school year, they had already begun making a positive impact. The sensory tubes quickly became a favorite among my students. Several students asked to use them during end-of-year activities when they were feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated, and it was wonderful to see how these simple tools helped them regulate their emotions and return to learning with greater confidence. Your generosity has already helped create a calmer, more supportive environment for the students I serve.\r\n\r\nAs a school social worker, I work with students in confidential settings, so I am unable to share personal stories or letters from them. However, I am excited to fully incorporate all of these resources into my individual and small-group sessions this school year. In particular, I look forward to using the bilingual emotional learning materials to help students build emotional awareness, strengthen coping skills, and express their feelings in English and Spanish. Thank you for investing in my students and giving them tools that will support their social-emotional growth throughout this new 2026-2027 school year.","fullyFundedDate":1777978464235,"projectUrl":"project/calm-ready/10044476/","projectTitle":"Calm & Ready","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barajas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9990827"},{"teacherId":10476767,"projectId":10187162,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! My students have been using the STEM Bundle during the final weeks of the school year, where they worked in small groups to design, build, and test their ideas.\r\n\r\nThere were so many great moments—not just one. Students loved testing their structures, creating simple pulley systems to move objects, exploring magnets, and building circuits to create light, sound, and movement with propellers.\r\n\r\nFrom the very beginning, they were engaged and eager to explore. At first, some thought it would be difficult, but once they started working hands-on, they became more confident and proud of what they accomplished. They embraced the trial-and-error process and were excited to keep improving their designs.\r\n\r\nIt was especially meaningful to see them collaborate while using both languages, applying what they've learned in science and math in a real, authentic way. Your support is helping them feel confident, capable, and excited about learning. Thank you, and I look forward to using the STEM Bundle again next school year.","fullyFundedDate":1775948948601,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-engineering-challenge-cent/10187162/","projectTitle":"Hands-On STEM Engineering Challenge Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yanela Ferrer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10476767_orig.jpg?crop=1170,1170,x0,y167&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778023243001","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10476767"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_34664","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":903,"numTeachers":59,"percentFrplEligible":41,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":38,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":51,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":66.7,"schoolId":34664,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mount Vernon Community School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mount Vernon Community School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/alexandria-city-public-school-district/mt-vernon-community-school/34664"}