Valders Elementary School in Valders, Wisconsin on DonorsChoose

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Thank you for believing in our kids and helping us build","fullyFundedDate":1772557099325,"projectUrl":"project/calm-stations-for-our-school-community/10086293/","projectTitle":"Calm Stations for Our School Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maertz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10093005_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763171615655","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmaertz"},{"teacherId":10093005,"projectId":9897281,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students have experienced what it truly feels like to be part of a reading community. With multiple copies of each book, every child has been able to hold the same text, turn the same pages, and join the same conversations. This simple shift—everyone reading together—has transformed the way my students see themselves as readers.\r\n\r\nSo far, our class has read four books together, and each one has sparked new layers of discussion, curiosity, and connection. Students who were once hesitant to share their thinking now jump into conversations with confidence, knowing their peers are right there with them in the story. During small‑group time, I've watched students point to passages, debate character choices, and make text‑to‑self connections that feel meaningful and personal. One of my favorite moments was seeing a group huddle around a chapter ending, each student eager to predict what might happen next.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for getting these books into my students hands.","fullyFundedDate":1765503733207,"projectUrl":"project/small-groups-big-hearts-growing-reader/9897281/","projectTitle":"Small Groups, Big Hearts: Growing Readers in Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maertz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10093005_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763171615655","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmaertz"},{"teacherId":10093005,"projectId":9926784,"letterContent":"When our project was fully funded, my students could hardly believe it. The moment the cardstock, markers, glitter, and stickers arrived, the room buzzed with excitement. Several students immediately started planning who they wanted to recognize first—classmates who held doors, helped a friend clean up, or invited someone new to play at recess. They couldn't wait to begin spreading kindness across our school.\r\nThese resources have transformed kindness from something we talk about into something students actively lead. They now walk the halls with purpose, noticing small acts of goodness and turning them into public celebrations. Teachers have started displaying the shout‑outs on classroom doors, and students from other grades stop by to read them. The pride on my students' faces when they see their work making someone's day is priceless.\r\nYour generosity didn't just provide supplies—it empowered my students to become leaders of empathy, recognition, and community. 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About this school

Valders Elementary School is a rural public school in Valders, Wisconsin that is part of Valders Area School District. It serves 404 students in grades Pre-K - 4 with a student/teacher ratio of 19.2:1. Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades Pre-K - 4

404 Students

21 Teachers

331 W Wilson St

Valders, WI 54245 View local requests

http://www.valders.k12.wi.us

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Empower teachers at Valders Elementary School to request what their students need.

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Valders Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Cigler

Ms. Maertz

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Valders Elementary School Demographics

33%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

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.

Valders Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jun 6, 2026

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.