{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Balboa High School","outOfStateSupporters":23.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":673902,"projectId":9957747,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for the musical support in my English classroom!\r\n I've had several students pick up the guitar who I never knew played. Often the day starts with a student playing for us and it's a magical way to begin class. Since I can play as well, it has deepened connections between myself and students.\r\n When a Donors Choose project helps students bring their full humanity to class it helps students engage in ways that are more meaningful and that can truly propel their learning. Even after the guitar gets put down, the chords echo in the room.","fullyFundedDate":1766019968416,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-guitar/9957747/","projectTitle":"Classroom Guitar","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Amsler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp673902_orig.jpg?crop=660,660,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723520792567","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/673902"},{"teacherId":3971050,"projectId":9981849,"letterContent":"If you've ever tried to herd thirty high schoolers through a chemistry lab, where the goal is to observe a chemical reaction, not accidentally start a literal one, you know that time is a precious, slippery commodity. Before your generous donation, my classroom was a perpetual \"guess how many minutes are left\" guessing game. It's hard to master the nuances of reaction rates when you're constantly wondering if you have ten minutes or ten seconds left before the bell rings.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, that's all changed. That big, beautiful, luminous clock you funded now commands the front of the room. It has become our silent (and very visible) classroom assistant.\r\n\r\nThe impact? Honestly, it's been transformative. Our students, who juggle so much outside these walls, now have a tangible, visual anchor to help them pace their work. During labs, I see them glancing up, self-correcting their speed, and collaborating more efficiently so they don't get \"caught\" by the clock. They are learning that time management isn't just about making it to class on time, it's about having the agency to control their own productivity. You've given them more than just a way to track the seconds; you've given them a tool to build the habit of responsibility.\r\n\r\nMy students are incredibly grateful, and I am, too. You've brought a sense of calm, professional structure to our chaos that makes every minute in this lab count. You didn't just buy a clock; you invested in their focus, their discipline, and their future.\r\n\r\nThank you for being part of our team here in the Excelsior. You've made a lasting mark on our classroom culture, and we are all better off for it.","fullyFundedDate":1767812362455,"projectUrl":"project/every-minute-counts-supporting-student/9981849/","projectTitle":"Every Minute Counts: Supporting Student Success Through Structure","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Avendano Jr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3971050_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535759068881","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/f-avendanojr"},{"teacherId":8522038,"projectId":9920393,"letterContent":"Your kind donation is helping our classroom library grow. The \"Jerusalem\" books is a part of our 10th grade curriculum which students enjoy reading and learning from a graphic memoir because they are able to analyze what is happening in the book while enjoying the art style. Students will gain skills in vocabulary development, annotations/note taking, critical thinking and problem-solving. \r\n\r\nReading in my classroom looks like students challenging themselves with reading academically rigorous texts that allows them to reflect on their own knowledge and learning. The students are excited to read \"Hunting by the stars\", \"shout\", and \"orphan bachelors\" because they are all from authors we have read from in our class.","fullyFundedDate":1770062864575,"projectUrl":"project/new-books-for-10th-grade-english-class/9920393/","projectTitle":"New Books for 10th Grade English Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fei","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8522038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757033760702","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-fei"},{"teacherId":6045354,"projectId":9835113,"letterContent":"Thank you for continued support of this classroom over the years. Here are some images of the different kinds of collaborative work, projects, and discussion activities in both my three 10th English classes and my 2 11th American Literature classes that your donation of funds helped to make possible. \r\n\r\nAt this time, 10th graders are starting their own comic strip projects either alone, or in pairs/trios. Their work touches on many themes, as of right now popular topics are that of family migration, governments' treatments of different identity groups, but also include fantastical interpretations of the future or alternate worlds. In 11th grade, we concluded a unit based on Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale last week wish fishbowl discussions also known as Socratic seminars. We are now starting a speech unit in which they will consider different arguments for nonviolence or selfdefense as forms of resistance against oppression. They will be studying the work of authors/thinkers such as Thoreau, Malcolm X, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and more.\r\n\r\nWishing you all the best as we hit the mid point of this spring semester.","fullyFundedDate":1764826288016,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-10th-and-11th-english-classes/9835113/","projectTitle":"Books for 10th and 11th English Classes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kristia Castrillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6045354_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541622534314","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mskristia"},{"teacherId":9491355,"projectId":9651293,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation to our library! The gifting of some snacks may not seem like much but small acts like these go a long way to create a warm and welcoming environment in a high school.\r\nSo far, these snacks have been distributed in club meetings, particularly Book Club. Students enjoy the food while discussion our latest read. \r\nThe snacks have also been used as prizes for the multiple contests that we hold here in the library. There have been trivia contests for LatinX Heritage Month, Halloween candy, Winter Holidays, and books.\r\nLastly, there are often students who are in need and are hungry and the snacks you provided gave them a little fuel to get through the day.\r\nAgain, we are very grateful for you and your support of our programs and activities!","fullyFundedDate":1758851000592,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-for-hungry-high-schoolers/9651293/","projectTitle":"Fuel for Hungry High Schoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jeung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9491355"},{"teacherId":10259732,"projectId":9712222,"letterContent":"The impact of this gift to my high school students with extensive support needs has been transformative. For my seven students, hands-on learning is not just helpful, it's essential. The new science materials, cookware, and the art supply cart have allowed me to create a classroom where creativity and curiosity can be encouraged and fulfilled. Students have been able to explore slime-making, acid-base reactions, and other sensory-based experiments. Their faces lit up as they mixed ingredients, observed reactions, and proudly shared what they noticed, all while wearing their super cool new protective eye goggles. When one student mixed baking soda and food coloring on a lemon and exclaimed, \"It looks like Earth!\" it showed how engaging and meaningful these experiences are. \r\n\r\nThank so much for these tools and supplies you have generously provided. My students can now fully participate, explore, and express themselves. The impact of the donation can be felt every single day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759417122683,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-for-unique-learners/9712222/","projectTitle":"Hands-on Learning for Unique Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. P","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10259732_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758584142219","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10259732"},{"teacherId":4849430,"projectId":9614170,"letterContent":"We are now 12 weeks into the school year and students are still benefitting from your donations. Students were able to get binders and dividers to remain organized throughout the year. We have been able to stock our pencil and eraser supply twice since the beginning of the year, and I've been able to replace the tissue boxes every week. We are so grateful to have such a generous community that will fully fund our classroom. \r\n\r\nBecause of your donations the classroom feels welcoming and bright. Even students that aren't enrolled in my classes are enjoying the space during our free periods. Thank you for supporting education!","fullyFundedDate":1755753435550,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-refresh/9614170/","projectTitle":"New Year Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Medina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4849430"},{"teacherId":673902,"projectId":9584426,"letterContent":"This project was designed to put \"just right\" books into the hands of students. For many struggling readers, going to the library or pulling a book off a shelf usually ends in a deeper sense of \"I don't like to read\" or \"books are boring.\" However, when I can use my knowledge of books, along with the physical copies at my fingertips, we can really challenge those two false ideas.\r\n With books like Becoming Muhammad Ali, Kareem, Ophelia and others, I've been able to have several moments where students have finished reading their first book, enjoyed their first book, and are more eager for their second.\r\n Thanks so much for making this a possibility in my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755721915094,"projectUrl":"project/sure-start-reading/9584426/","projectTitle":"Sure Start Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Amsler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp673902_orig.jpg?crop=660,660,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723520792567","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/673902"},{"teacherId":8522038,"projectId":9767511,"letterContent":"When my students and I received the new materials—mason jars, clipboards, cleaning wipes, presentation clickers, fans, and stress balls—they were so excited! The classroom instantly felt more organized and comfortable. We used the mason jars for a mindfulness and gratitude activity where students decorated jars and filled them with positive notes about themselves and their classmates. The clipboards have been a huge help during group projects and gallery walks, allowing students to move around the room and take notes easily. The fans have made a big difference during warm afternoons, keeping everyone focused and comfortable, while the stress balls have been great for students who need a quiet way to release tension during lessons.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up—they were amazed that people cared enough to donate items to support their learning. Many of them immediately started brainstorming ways to use the supplies creatively. Next, we'll be using the clipboards and clickers for student-led presentations and peer feedback sessions. The mason jars will continue to be used in our \"gratitude corner,\" and the stress balls will stay in our calm-down station to promote emotional wellness. Thanks to these donations, my students feel more engaged, supported, and ready to learn every day.","fullyFundedDate":1760534054890,"projectUrl":"project/keep-the-classroom-clean-and-organized/9767511/","projectTitle":"Keep The Classroom Clean and Organized","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fei","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8522038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757033760702","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-fei"},{"teacherId":8522038,"projectId":9692584,"letterContent":"We want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation. Your support has made such a positive impact on our classroom. Because of your kindness, we now have more resources to read, learn, and grow. Donations like yours make it possible for us to explore new ideas, have meaningful discussions, and experience learning in ways we might not have had before.\r\nYour gift is more than just materials or funds—it shows us that people outside of our classroom believe in us and want to see us succeed. That encouragement motivates us to work harder and reminds us that our education really matters. It's inspiring to know that someone cared enough to invest in our future.\r\nAs students, we often talk about how the right books, supplies, and opportunities can completely change the way we see learning. Your donation has already started doing that for us. You've helped create an environment where we can focus on building skills, expressing ourselves, and finding confidence in our voices.\r\nWe are so grateful for your generosity, and we will make the most of the opportunities your donation has given us. Thank you again for believing in students like us.\r\n\r\nWith appreciation,\r\n9th Grade classes for Ms. Fei Chen, Mr. Amsler, Mr. Pasternack and Ms. Tomsha","fullyFundedDate":1758133388068,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-part-4-used-across-7-cla/9692584/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels Part 4 (Used Across 7 Classes)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fei","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8522038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757033760702","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-fei"},{"teacherId":6045354,"projectId":9495942,"letterContent":"Students have been very appreciative to starting the year off with supplies and a some guidance in getting organized. Thank you for helping us making learning about writing, reading, and literature a little more creative, experiential and interactive as well. Here is a glimpse at some of the different kinds of work they have been doing in conjunction with reading, annotating, and writing in response to texts or analyzing evidence.\r\n\r\nThank you all so much for your your continued to support over the years!","fullyFundedDate":1753810276950,"projectUrl":"project/organization-101-for-my-incoming-student/9495942/","projectTitle":"Organization 101 for My Incoming Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kristia Castrillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6045354_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541622534314","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mskristia"},{"teacherId":8522038,"projectId":9415146,"letterContent":"Reading Speak as a graphic novel made a big impact on us. The story is emotional and powerful, and the pictures helped us really understand what the main character was going through. It showed us what it can feel like to go through something hard and not have the words to talk about it.\r\n\r\nBecause of this book, we had honest conversations about empathy, compassion, and the importance of speaking up and listening to others. It helped us think more deeply about how we treat people and what others might be going through, even if they don't say anything out loud.\r\nThank you again for supporting our learning. Your kindness helped bring this important book into our hands, and it truly made a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1752505725858,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-part-2/9415146/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fei","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8522038_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757033760702","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-fei"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4391","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1251,"numTeachers":65,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":50,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":32,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"19.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":76.1,"schoolId":4391,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Balboa High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Balboa High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/san-francisco-unified-school-district/balboa-high-school/4391"}