{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Benton Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":42.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10388527,"projectId":9967930,"letterContent":"Many of the students I serve have complex sensory and visual needs that require intentional, hands-on instruction. Sensory and tactile materials help students regulate their bodies, build attention, and actively engage in learning. For students with visual impairments, learning is often supported through touch, movement, and sensory exploration, especially when vision alone is not reliable.\r\nThe sensory and tactile items in this project support foundational skills such as exploration, cause-and-effect understanding, fine motor development, and sustained engagement. These materials allow students to safely explore objects through touch while pairing tactile information with visual input.\r\nI also work with students who have low vision and rely on their remaining vision to access instruction. The handheld magnifiers included in this project allow students to read print, view classroom materials, and participate more independently. Magnifiers support visual efficiency and reduce eye fatigue.\r\nMany students I serve have cerebral (cortical) visual impairment (CVI), a neurological condition in which the eyes may be healthy, but the brain has difficulty processing visual information. For students with CVI, vision must be intentionally taught using materials that reduce visual complexity and strengthen visual processing.\r\nThe items in this project support visual attention, visual recognition, and visual-motor integration. Light-up, brightly colored, and high-contrast toys help attract visual attention and encourage intentional visual use. Switch-activated toys allow students to activate lighted or high-contrast objects, reinforcing visual engagement.\r\nBooks designed for students with CVI feature simplified images, high contrast, and reduced clutter, supporting early literacy and visual recognition. Large-knob puzzles are used to develop visual-motor skills; we paint puzzle backgrounds black to eliminate clutter and increase contrast, a well-established CVI strategy.\r\nA classroom chair supports instruction at eye level, which is critical for students using wheelchairs or specialized seating.\r\nThese materials are intentional instructional tools and are essential for helping students with CVI and other visual impairments access learning and build independence.","fullyFundedDate":1767118230045,"projectUrl":"project/low-vision-cvi/9967930/","projectTitle":"Low Vision/ CVI","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Westfall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10388527"},{"teacherId":6218790,"projectId":9987076,"letterContent":"Your generous support has made a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our middle school students. The hygiene items you helped provide—such as deodorant and feminine care products—are being used regularly by students who may not otherwise have access to them. These essentials are discreetly available in the library and restrooms, allowing students to take what they need with dignity and privacy. By meeting these basic needs, you are helping remove barriers to learning and allowing students to focus more fully on their education.\r\n\r\nThe impact has been immediate and deeply positive. Students have expressed gratitude, often quietly but sincerely, and there has been a noticeable increase in confidence among those who benefit from these items. Some students who were previously self-conscious are now more comfortable participating in class and social interactions. Others have shared how relieved they feel knowing these supplies are available when they need them.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our school environment is more supportive, inclusive, and compassionate. You've helped create a space where students feel cared for and respected, and that sense of security carries over into their academic success and personal growth. Thank you for investing in our students' well-being and helping them show up each day ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1773751064845,"projectUrl":"project/clean-confident-and-ready-to-learn/9987076/","projectTitle":"Clean, Confident, and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bean","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6218790_orig.jpg?crop=2320,2320,x0,y487&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1614262991370","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6218790"},{"teacherId":2049272,"projectId":8418173,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support of my DonorsChoose project. Last year, you funded my request for student incentives in my Success Strategies class, and the results have been nothing short of transformative for my students. Because of your contribution, I was able to implement a structured incentive system that has motivated students not only in my classroom but also in their core subjects.\r\n\r\nSuccess Strategies is a unique class in our school designed to provide support to students who are performing below grade level or need additional help in organization, study skills, and self-confidence. Many of the students who enter my classroom struggle with motivation and often feel discouraged when faced with the challenges of their coursework. When you funded our project, you gave me the tools to create a positive and encouraging environment where students could see tangible rewards for their hard work and dedication.\r\n\r\nThe \"treats\" provided through your support became more than just small prizes or snacks. They quickly developed into symbols of achievement and perseverance. Students earn points in our class by completing assignments, participating in discussions, staying on task, and reaching their individual goals. They can also gain points by showing improvement in their core classes, which creates a ripple effect of motivation beyond the walls of my classroom. Once students reach specific point milestones, they can choose from the incentives you helped make possible.\r\n\r\nThe impact of this program has been tremendous. Students who once hesitated to participate or avoided turning in work are now fully engaged. They are not only working harder but also taking greater pride in their accomplishments. One student who had rarely completed assignments at the start of the year began earning points consistently, and within a few weeks, she was proudly trading her points for her first incentive. She told me, \"I feel like I can actually do this now.\" That moment of pride and confidence would not have been possible without your support.\r\n\r\nBeyond individual stories, the overall classroom culture has shifted. Instead of dreading the work, students now encourage one another to stay focused and earn their points. They celebrate each other's milestones and cheer when someone earns a treat. This sense of community has made my classroom a place where students want to be, and that positive energy carries with them to their math, reading, science, and social studies classes. Teachers across the building have noticed the improvement in attitude and effort from many of my students.\r\n\r\nIn terms of measurable growth, we have seen increases in both academic performance and classroom behavior. Students who participate in the incentive program are submitting more assignments, showing fewer behavior concerns, and improving their test scores. While the treats themselves may seem like small items, the motivation they provide has sparked big changes in effort, consistency, and determination.\r\n\r\nSonic, your generosity has made this possible. You invested in students who needed encouragement, and your gift has paid off in lasting ways. Thank you for believing in our classroom, in my students, and in the power of a simple incentive to change a child's perspective. The growth we have seen this year is proof that when students feel supported, they can rise to meet any challenge.","fullyFundedDate":1724791398843,"projectUrl":"project/crushing-our-goals-with-sparkling-incent/8418173/","projectTitle":"Crushing Our Goals With Sparkling Incentives for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Royer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2049272_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1484950416110","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/emilyroyer"},{"teacherId":6218790,"projectId":9595395,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project, \"Stock the Hygiene Closet\". Thanks to your donations, we were able to provide essential hygiene products to our middle school students—items that many of them otherwise go without.\r\n\r\nYour kindness made a tangible difference. Students received items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and feminine hygiene products—all basic needs that have a huge impact on a child's confidence and comfort throughout the school day. Several students shared how grateful they were to have access to these items, and I saw firsthand how it positively affected their demeanor, participation, and overall self-esteem.\r\n\r\nFor some of our students, being able to take care of their personal hygiene helps them focus more on learning and less on worrying about things beyond their control. One student quietly told me, \"I feel better coming to school now. I'm not embarrassed anymore if I forget deodorant at home.\" That one sentence captures the heart of what you helped make possible.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our classroom—and our school—feels more inclusive, safe, and dignified for every student. You've reminded them that they are seen, supported, and cared for by people they may never meet.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your generosity has created real change.","fullyFundedDate":1755701445732,"projectUrl":"project/stock-the-hygiene-closet/9595395/","projectTitle":"Stock the Hygiene Closet!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bean","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6218790_orig.jpg?crop=2320,2320,x0,y487&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1614262991370","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6218790"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_10759","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":818,"numTeachers":51,"percentFrplEligible":34,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":74,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":57.1,"schoolId":10759,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Benton Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Benton Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/louisiana/bossier-parish-school-district/benton-middle-school/10759"}