Ms. Huerta's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 9

• Dance Class Essentials

  Funded Sep 18, 2024

  This mobile classroom whiteboard and accessories has truly transformed our classroom into a hybrid space, where we can both dance and learn. This type of traditional dancing has a lot of significance, history and symbolism and it is essential to know the meaning behind the dance to create a truly robust cultural dance program. We are now able to do that with your generous donation.

  Students have performed several times in beautiful regalia, for their school community and the community at large. These students are extremely proud to share this cultural dance.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and one other donor.

• Mobile Classroom

  Funded Sep 18, 2024

  This mobile classroom whiteboard and accessories has truly transformed our classroom into a hybrid space, where we can both dance and learn. This type of traditional dancing has a lot of significance, history and symbolism and it is essential to know the meaning behind the dance to create a truly robust cultural dance program. We are now able to do that with your generous donation.

  Students have performed several times in beautiful regalia, for their school community and the community at large. These students are extremely proud to share this cultural dance.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Charles Schwab Foundation and one other donor.

• Aztec Dance Outfits

  Funded Dec 27, 2023

  Our Aztec Dance program is growing and our classroom is coming together. Your donations have helped us create an organized space for our instruments and regalia. This allows our students, for the first time since this program started, to perform for community members in full Aztec regalia. It also allows. me to teach them about the significance of the regalia and instruments, and how to care for them. The students feel that this is a legitimate aspect of our school's performing arts program now, and I can sense the pride with which they care for their Aztec dance equipment.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

• Storing our instruments for Aztec Dance and Music

  Funded Nov 27, 2023

  Your donation helped us to complete a project that has been in the works since 2020. During the pandemic, I began collecting instruments for students to use at home during our zoom dance classes.

  As we returned to school, I was able to secure funding for more instruments including class drums.

  With a set of 24 ankle instruments and rattles, we were in desperate need to keep these instruments organized and safe. Your donation helped us to purchase a cubby corner for these precious instruments. We now proudly use this space daily and it has added a much needed ambience to our classroom. Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

• Aztec Dance art and craft Project

  Funded Nov 29, 2023

  My students were so excited to receive the supplies to create their first art project. This project was for a special ceremony that we held to honor the young people in our group. They were able to learn about the Mexica deity called Tezcatlipoca, which means smoking mirror, and we discussed the symbolism of the mirror.

  We learned about the importance of reflection and thinking about our own consciousness.

  We then created keepsakes that students could take home and share with their families.

  This was a memorable project, made possible by your generous donations.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.

• Professional Development Social Studies

  Funded May 9, 2023

  The books that were purchased with this generous donation will drive our professional development in the social studies department for the next few years. Goldy Muhammad's book particularly will anchor our curriculum development and help us think about culturally relevant literacy.

  A few of us are3 spending the summer reading these books and will collaborate on some teaching strategies that address the learning needs of students of color after the pandemic.

  These books will bring new learning and joy to our department and we truly appreciate the opportunity to extend our learning.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Foundation and one other donor.

• Aztec Dance Regalia

  Funded Dec 9, 2022

  Thank you so much for the donation that helped us purchase a sewing machine and scissors for my Aztec Dance classroom! The sewing machine will allow us to take our performances to the next level by creating our own regalia. Aztec Dance regalia is very intricate and time consuming to make, but the sewing machine will help us get started on the year long project of making our own sacred clothing.

  The students are very excited to choose their colors for their regalia. We researched our birthday symbols according to the Aztec calendar and we have begun designing what our regalia will look like. I am donating fabric and thread to the classroom so that we can begin this project. It will take all semester, but our end-of-semester performances will be truly enhanced. I am proud to pass on the indigenous Mexican art form of regalia making, and study the connections between this art and other indigenous art forms like beading and embroidery. There is no other class in our District that is doing this very important work.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and 9 other donors.

• Aztec Dance Class in East Los Angeles

  Funded Sep 7, 2021

  The donations have made an amazing impact on my class! With the money, I was able to purchase ankle shells and rattles for my dance class. These are instruments that are made by hand by traditional Mexican indigenous communities, and the students appreciated the craftsmanship. We were also able to purchase feathers, which we use to adorn our headpieces. The feathers are beautiful and I was able to share the sacred meaning of the feathers with the students.

  Putting together an authentic outfit using sacred instruments and regalia has really brought this class to life. I am a practitioner of Aztec Dance with 20 years of experience, but I have never had the opportunity to really bring the culture and practice of the dance into the classroom before. Having the correct instruments means so much to the students. Many of them have indigenous Mexican backgrounds and some of their families speak indigenous languages. Allowing them to connect with their family culture has been amazing.

  We were able to put on one performance this year. The performance was at lunch and the crowd of students who gathered to watch was huge! The entire school community, including adminsitrators and staff, were in awe. This would not have been possible with the instruments and regalia purchased with Donors Choose funds.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta

  This classroom project was brought to life by Emerson Collective and 9 other donors.

• Aztec Dance-Virtual Visit and Instruments

  Funded Nov 15, 2020

  The instruments purchased for my Aztec dance class have made the spirit of dance come alive. Teaching class on Zoom has been difficult, because the essence of this art form is moving in rhythm with the drums and flutes. Now that each student has their own instruments to use as we dance, they are able to experience collective rhythm making, and they love it. Even family members who hear the instruments being used in the house are interested, and appreciate what this has brought to their students in the midst of a pandemic. We cannot wait to dance together in person, but this gift has made this virtual Aztec dance class more memorable for them.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Huerta