{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Battle Creek Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":36.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7455836,"projectId":9650880,"letterContent":"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for fully funding our project, \"Real World Ready: A Personal Finance Journey.\" The resources you provided—especially the play money, cash register, and index card holders—have made a monumental and tangible difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe impact on money handling skills has been immediate. The play money and working cash register have transformed our mini market station into a thriving economy. Students are now proficiently counting change, making calculated purchases, and understanding concepts like budgeting and sales tax. They've moved from abstract numbers on a page to hands-on, real-world application, which has boosted both their confidence and their numeracy skills dramatically.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, your gift of index card holders, which we repurposed as \"family wallets,\" has been a game-changer for organization and responsibility. Each student's wallet now holds their weekly job earnings, classroom bills, and responsibility trackers. This setup has brilliantly simulated the process of \"bill paying,\" teaching them the importance of keeping funds organized and meeting deadlines. It's a fantastic, low-stakes way for them to practice essential life skills.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us turn theoretical lessons into practical, engaging activities. Your generosity isn't just supporting a classroom; it's building a foundation of financial responsibility for our students' futures.","fullyFundedDate":1756479112780,"projectUrl":"project/real-world-ready-a-personal-finance-jou/9650880/","projectTitle":"Real-world Ready: a Personal Finance Journey","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hart-Usher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7455836_orig.jpg?crop=170,170,x0,y1&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756163126143","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7455836"},{"teacherId":3791435,"projectId":9711070,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! Having a wide variety of underwear sizes allows us to ensure students feel comfortable and confident when returning to the classroom. In schools, it can be challenging to find the right size of undergarments or clothing after an accident, which can lead to missed learning time.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has provided us with the resources to respond quickly and compassionately when these situations occur, ensuring students can return to learning with confidence and comfort. \r\n\r\nWe are now better equipped to meet the diverse needs of our students.","fullyFundedDate":1759778243938,"projectUrl":"project/ensuring-our-students-basic-needs-are-m/9711070/","projectTitle":"Ensuring Our Students' Basic Needs are Met in School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brandt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3791435"},{"teacherId":9403400,"projectId":9238509,"letterContent":"On behalf of my English learners and myself, I am writing to express our deepest gratitude for your incredibly generous donation to our classroom library project. The wonderful collection of books, the practical book bins, the soothing chimes, and all the supplementary materials have truly transformed our learning space into a vibrant and welcoming literacy center. \r\n\r\nThe impact of your specific contributions is already being felt daily. The carefully selected books, spanning a wide range of levels, interests, and cultures, mean that every student can find something that speaks to them. The book bins have empowered students to stay organized and take ownership of the library.\r\n\r\nThank you for being strong supporters and partners in our students' educational journey. Your generosity has done more than just supply resources; it has sent a powerful message to our English learners that their growth and success matter. Please know that your kindness is making a significant difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1746787224575,"projectUrl":"project/middle-school-english-learners-classroo/9238509/","projectTitle":"Middle School English Learners' Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Zhang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9403400"},{"teacherId":9059518,"projectId":9416625,"letterContent":"My students were so surprised on the first day of the unit when they had to guess what very valuable substance I had in a box. It took a long time and some hints but they figured it out it was soil! Soil is taken for granted and so students had never given it's important to the ecosytem a second thought. \r\n\r\nWith the materials provided, we dove into investigating soil. The day we did the soil observations was full of excitement. Have the gloves, tweezers, magnifiers and microscope slides to full investigate the soil made it a great experience for students. They were amazed at what we found in a simple sample of soil. \r\n\r\nBy using the equipment, they also discovered that soil was teaming with life. The excitement was tremendous as we discovered organism after organism that called soil its home. By having the right equipment, a whole new world was opened up to students!","fullyFundedDate":1752768292859,"projectUrl":"project/investigating-the-backbone-of-lifesoi/9416625/","projectTitle":"Investigating the Backbone of Life...Soil!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gorman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059518"},{"teacherId":9719460,"projectId":9210194,"letterContent":"am writing to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of my middle school health class for your recent donation of CPR manikins and drunk goggles. Your contribution has profoundly improved our ability to teach critical health and safety concepts in a way that is both engaging and impactful for our students.\r\nBefore your donation, we were limited to showing videos and talking about these topics. While valuable, this approach often left students feeling disconnected from the material. With the new CPR manikins, my students have been able to practice chest compressions and rescue breaths on a realistic model. This hands-on experience has not only helped them master the technique but has also boosted their confidence, empowering them with the skills to potentially save a life one day. It has transformed a theoretical lesson into a vital, practical skill.\r\nSimilarly, the drunk goggles have been an invaluable teaching tool. Instead of simply hearing about the dangers of impaired driving, students have been able to physically experience the effects on their balance, coordination, and depth perception. This powerful, firsthand demonstration has created a lasting and memorable lesson about the importance of making responsible choices.\r\nYour generosity has enabled us to move beyond the textbook and provide an interactive learning experience that truly resonates with middle schoolers. The manikins and goggles have sparked curiosity and encouraged lively discussions, turning passive students into active learners. Thank you for making a tangible difference in our classroom and, most importantly, in the lives of our students.","fullyFundedDate":1746699580951,"projectUrl":"project/cpr-for-tiny-lives-infant-mannequins-ne/9210194/","projectTitle":"CPR for Tiny Lives: Infant Mannequins Needed!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rakestraw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9719460"},{"teacherId":6210005,"projectId":8277741,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the Cricut Hat Press, the iron-on vinyl, and the hats to create the perfect gear needed for our spring sports! Our student artists loved creating the hat design with me for our athletes. The hats have been great for showing school spirit and keeping the sun out of students' eyes.\r\n\r\nThe Cricut Hat Press will be helpful for years to come to make more projects for our student athletes as well as for student created art. It is the perfect addition to our Cricut craft corner of our school library makerspace. \r\n\r\nThe photos I shared had our school name or student names on them, so I was unable to show how amazing the final design was, but please know, it was perfect for our school.\r\n\r\nThank you again so very much your donation.","fullyFundedDate":1717443931845,"projectUrl":"project/looking-like-a-winning-team/8277741/","projectTitle":"Looking Like a Winning Team","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Orensten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6210005_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y907&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755727738110","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/orenstenlibrary"},{"teacherId":6210005,"projectId":8192127,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Your donation has made a meaningful impact, especially for students who are exploring stop motion animation for the first time.\r\n\r\nThe LEGO photography and animation books have become incredible tools in helping students bring their stories to life. They provide creative inspiration and practical tips for posing figures and developing engaging storylines—skills that are essential for our budding filmmakers.\r\n\r\nThe addition of Stikbots has truly been a game changer. Their flexible design allows students to make small, precise movements, which makes them perfect for independent stop motion projects. It's been amazing to see the excitement and creativity these materials have sparked!\r\n\r\nMy students and I are deeply grateful for your support. These resources will continue to benefit both our classroom and afterschool program, offering students new and exciting opportunities to engage with storytelling through animation.","fullyFundedDate":1715033859636,"projectUrl":"project/3-2-1-stop-motion-action/8192127/","projectTitle":"3-2-1 (Stop Motion) Action!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Orensten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6210005_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y907&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755727738110","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/orenstenlibrary"},{"teacherId":6210005,"projectId":9093494,"letterContent":"Today author Huda Fahmy came to our school to talk about her newest book, Huda F Cares?, the third book in her young adult graphic novel series. Author Fahmy gave a fabulous presentation about what it's like to be an author, specifically a hijab wearing Muslim American woman.\r\n\r\nMs. Fahmy shared about her writing process and how she learned how to draw so she could illustrate her books. The process of a book being published is long, from idea, to agent, to publisher, and so on. She shared about the roles of her literary agent and how her friend is a colorist, meaning she is the artist who adds the color to the graphic novel. Students learned about so many new job opportunities from this presentation.\r\n\r\nThe visit was even more meaningful as students had the opportunity to read the books early due to your generous donations to fund this project. This was an author visit I know my students will not forget. Thank you for helping me give access to Ms. Fahmy's books prior to her visit to our school.","fullyFundedDate":1738855492633,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-an-author-visit/9093494/","projectTitle":"Books for an Author Visit","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Orensten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6210005_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y907&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755727738110","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/orenstenlibrary"},{"teacherId":6210005,"projectId":8844355,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. This project was a HUGE success. Not only did I have brand new books to offer Spanish speakers at my school, but they were purchased from a company that sends them ready to go for libraries. That means that I was able to get the books immediately into the hands of students as they were processed for library circulation.\r\n\r\nMy students LOVE the new books. The graphic novels are constantly checked out; by the time they are checked in and put back on the bookshelf, the next student already selected the book and has it back at the circulation desk.\r\n\r\nThese books were selected specifically as we have most of the copies already in English. This means students can check the same book out in two different languages to ensure that they are able to read and understand the text. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support of my amazing scholars.","fullyFundedDate":1735332228472,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-for-all-novelas-grfica/8844355/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels For All • Novelas Gráficas Para Todos","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Orensten","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6210005_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y907&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755727738110","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/orenstenlibrary"},{"teacherId":9059518,"projectId":8416492,"letterContent":"Students have a huge interest in the places around the world. Thank you so much for the many books that helped them learn about a wide variety of biomes. Each week we spend some time reading, and students always gravitate towards these books because they are curious about the world. Students have also done a variety of projects that stem from what they learned in these books. \r\n\r\nIt is often hard to find resources to bring the curriculum alive so thank you so much for helping to do this. You made our environmental science class so much more engaging!","fullyFundedDate":1724884336678,"projectUrl":"project/biomes-book-set-appreciating-and-unders/8416492/","projectTitle":"Biomes Book Set! Appreciating and Understanding the World Around Us!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gorman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059518"},{"teacherId":9059518,"projectId":8557102,"letterContent":"Students love the books and game about the ecosystem! The game was really challenging for them at first and they learned many skills, not only about the ecosystem, when they played it with each other. They enjoy it so much that I can pull it out for special days to get a chance to play it again. \r\n\r\nThe book made all the concepts very clear. We read it together as a class examining pictures and discussing each concept. Students did a great job of asking questions as we went because their interest was peaked. Together these two resources really added a lot of engagement to our ecosystem unit.","fullyFundedDate":1727987184365,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-in-ecosystem/8557102/","projectTitle":"Engaging in Ecosystem!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gorman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059518"},{"teacherId":9059518,"projectId":8833854,"letterContent":"The students loved the Magic School Bus book about the journey into the solar system. We. had been studying the solar system in class, so when they read the book they knew enough to relate to the story being told. We read it together as a class and talked about every page since there is so much happening in the pictures!\r\n\r\nAfter reading the book, students used their imagination to write their own story about a journey in the solar system. This book gave us the perfect launching off point to do this next assignment. \r\n\r\nI was amazed at how much students remebered from the book. Studies have shown that students remember more when facts are put into story form, and this book really made that evident! Thank you so much.","fullyFundedDate":1735862257682,"projectUrl":"project/launch-into-the-solar-system-with-a-stor/8833854/","projectTitle":"Launch into the Solar System with a Story!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gorman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9059518"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_76087","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":619,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":46,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"11.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.6,"schoolId":76087,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Battle Creek Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Battle Creek Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/battle-creek-middle-school/76087"}