{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Betsy Ross Arts & Design Academy","outOfStateSupporters":46.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3404840,"projectId":10699832,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting our classroom project! Because of your incredible generosity, my students now step into an English classroom that nourishes both their minds and their bodies every single day.\r\nHigh school is such a transformative time for young people, and having access to high-interest, culturally relevant, and modern books has made an immediate difference during our independent reading time. Whether they are diving into high-stakes fiction, graphic novels, inspiring memoirs, or poetry, seeing themselves and their experiences reflected in our new library collection has sparked a renewed joy for reading across the room.\r\nYour kindness does far more than just supply books and snacks—it sends a clear message to my students that their community cares about their well-being, their voices, and their success. You have helped create a warm, welcoming, and energizing environment where they can thrive.\r\nThank you for believing in my students and investing in their education!","fullyFundedDate":1790786677246,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-and-books-and-snacks-for-high-schoo/10699832/","projectTitle":"Fuel and Books and Snacks for High School Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3404840_orig.jpg?crop=308,308,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662074275930","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tricia-harkins"},{"teacherId":3404840,"projectId":10706530,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding a class set of Esmeralda Santiago's When I Was Puerto Rican for our high school English classroom. Your gift provides every student with equitable access to a powerful mentor text both in class and for independent reading.\r\nEvery teenager has a story worth telling, but many struggle to see their lived experiences as literature. Finding texts that deeply resonate with young people while demonstrating high-level narrative non-fiction craft is often a challenge. Santiago's journey—tracing her transition from a rural childhood in Puerto Rico to navigating a new language and culture in New York—offers our students an ideal model for exploring themes of identity, culture, resilience, and belonging.\r\nThroughout this unit, students will engage in close reading, small-group discussions, and daily mentor sentence warm-ups to analyze Santiago's writing techniques, focusing specifically on:\r\nSensory Detail & Setting: Studying how Santiago brings her environment to life through sight, sound, and emotional memory.\r\nReflective Voice: Learning how an author balances recounting past events with mature reflection on how those moments shaped them.\r\nCultural Identity & Transition: Examining how family, heritage, and change build unique perspectives.\r\nUltimately, these books will anchor our multi-week personal memoir workshop. As students draft, peer-edit, revise, and publish their own polished memoir chapters, they will take immense pride in sharing their authentic voices with our school community.\r\nThank you for believing that student voices matter and for putting these transformative books directly into their hands.","fullyFundedDate":1790772160701,"projectUrl":"project/stories-of-identity-crafting-memoirs/10706530/","projectTitle":"Stories of Identity: Crafting Memoirs","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3404840_orig.jpg?crop=308,308,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662074275930","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tricia-harkins"},{"teacherId":3404840,"projectId":10582715,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our professional audio recording equipment! Because of your support, our 3-week Project-Based Learning unit, \"The 'American Dream' Podcast,\" was transformed from an ambitious vision into an unforgettable, professional experience for our students.\r\nIn our English classroom, literature is never just words on a page—it is a mirror reflecting our students' lives, families, and communities. As we immersed ourselves in Lorraine Hansberry's classic play A Raisin in the Sun, students explored how definitions of the \"American Dream\" evolve across generations. Inspired by Mama's traditional values, Walter Lee's financial ambitions, and Beneatha's search for identity, our students stepped out from behind their desks and into the roles of journalists, audio engineers, and oral historians.\r\nBefore your gift arrived, students were limited to muffled smartphone recordings and laptop microphones that picked up heavy background noise. Having access to professional-grade podcasting gear changed everything. With crisp microphones and proper recording tools, students were able to capture crystal-clear interview audio, design empathetic interview protocols, balance vocal tracks, and mix immersive background soundscapes. Operating true studio equipment gave them an immense sense of pride and ownership over their work.\r\nBy funding this project, you did far more than provide equipment—you equipped our students with vital digital literacy skills, workplace-ready media production tools, and an authentic platform to honor the history and heritage of our community. Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their learning!","fullyFundedDate":1789572048054,"projectUrl":"project/podcasting-a-raisin-in-the-sun-and-comm/10582715/","projectTitle":"Podcasting: a Raisin in the Sun and Community Oral Histories","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3404840_orig.jpg?crop=308,308,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662074275930","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tricia-harkins"},{"teacherId":9892875,"projectId":10313297,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all of your help. These tablets have made a large difference in my classroom already. They are compatible with Chromebooks and the students are overcoming the learning curves they have. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to assign a full project using these tablets because the Chromebooks cannot run drawing programs nor change the settings on the tablet to accommodate student needs. We have been able to practice a little on Canva, though! Hopefully I can get the technology I need to better use these tablets, and I'm so happy I have them in the meantime. My future illustrators are having a blast!","fullyFundedDate":1784032110116,"projectUrl":"project/tablets-for-digital-illustration/10313297/","projectTitle":"Tablets for Digital Illustration","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Highsmith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9892875"},{"teacherId":6473396,"projectId":10339058,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and for believing in our 7th and 8th-grade math students! Because of your support, our classroom will be fully equipped and ready to hit the ground running on day one of the new school year.\r\n\r\nYour contributions are providing the essential tools—binders, pencils, pens, highlighters, and tissues—that allow my students to build confidence and stay organized. In our extra support math class, being able to color-code mistakes and visually track progress transforms frustration into meaningful growth. Having these dedicated materials means my students can focus entirely on mastering foundational concepts without worrying about having the supplies they need. Additionally, replacing our broken teacher chair restores a functional workspace where I can plan targeted interventions and analyze student data to best serve them every day.\r\n\r\nThank you for creating a comfortable, supportive, and empowering learning environment for our scholars. We are deeply grateful for your investment in their mathematical journey!","fullyFundedDate":1785517600826,"projectUrl":"project/thinking-ahead-to-next-year/10339058/","projectTitle":"Thinking Ahead to Next Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duncan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6473396_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1655935380351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6473396"},{"teacherId":6473396,"projectId":10097378,"letterContent":"The new supplies for our PBIS \"Reward Cart\" have contributed to helping the culture of encouragement in our school! Every week, this mobile celebration of success rolls through our hallways to honor middle schoolers who consistently demonstrate positive behavior and meet their character goals. \r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the freshly restocked Reward Cart roll into the cafeteria, their reaction was pure excitement and joy! For middle schoolers navigating complex social dynamics and developing their identities, having access to high-quality incentives like favorite snacks, refreshing drinks, and cool school supplies makes \"doing the right thing\" feel truly celebrated. They couldn't wait to check out the new selection, and seeing the cart fully loaded immediately created a buzz across the entire school community, reinforcing positive choices as the standard for everyone.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps are to use the Reward Cart to maintain this momentum and continue to reinforce school-wide PBIS expectations. Having a steady supply of rewards allows us to set higher behavioral benchmarks and introduce new goal-tracking initiatives in our classrooms. As students work through upcoming academic units and hallway expectations, the cart will continue visiting weekly to keep them focused, motivated, and feeling valued. Thank you for investing in the emotional and behavioral growth of our scholars and providing the \"fuel\" they need to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1775067818351,"projectUrl":"project/pbis-school-reward-cart/10097378/","projectTitle":"PBIS School Reward Cart","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duncan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6473396_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1655935380351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6473396"},{"teacherId":9313180,"projectId":10024574,"letterContent":"Thank you again so much for your generous donation!\r\n\r\nAn English classroom needs books, especially in a middle school with plenty of reluctant readers! So the high-interest books provided were an invaluable addition to our classroom library.\r\n\r\nAnd while snacks may seem a bit frivolous, they're anything but for a student who didn't eat the night before.\r\n\r\nNow, not all of the materials supplied to my classroom were that exciting, but those necessities are what keep everything comfortable and running smoothly, and that leads to our kids' long-term success.","fullyFundedDate":1778176675848,"projectUrl":"project/books-snacks-and-essential-supplies/10024574/","projectTitle":"Books, Snacks, and Essential Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Viebranz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9313180_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y136&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696188714844","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9313180"},{"teacherId":6473396,"projectId":10269760,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding our new headphones and plastic bag storage holders! In our classroom, technology plays a vital role in personalizing learning, especially during our daily independent i-Ready math lessons. While technology at home is often used for entertainment or communication, in our classroom, these headphones transform chromebooks into interactive, adaptive learning hubs. The i-Ready program uses real-time audio instructions, guided visual prompts, and immediate feedback to meet each student at their exact skill level. Having dedicated, clear audio allows students to focus deeply on complex math concepts, hear step-by-step explanations without classroom distractions, and master key skills at their own individual pace.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part of this new arrival for my students has been the independence and responsibility that come with the full setup. They love having crisp, comfortable sound for their lessons, but they are equally thrilled with the plastic bag holders! Each student now has a clean, organized spot to keep their headphones safe and untangled. This simple storage solution gives them a sense of ownership over their learning tools—they take immense pride in retrieving their gear, setting up their workspace efficiently, and putting everything neatly away when math time wraps up.","fullyFundedDate":1780430114018,"projectUrl":"project/learning-with-clarity/10269760/","projectTitle":"Learning with Clarity","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duncan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6473396_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1655935380351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6473396"},{"teacherId":8056069,"projectId":10443803,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to our project. These materials have already started to make an impact in our classroom today when we started using the materials to play a math game. Students were excited to use the materials.\r\n\r\nMy class is heavily supported through Donor's Choose. You have joined a community of amazing people, and my classroom runs smoother and more efficiently because of people like you who believe in us enough to make sure we have the things we need. Thank you for making the difference!","fullyFundedDate":1787347969391,"projectUrl":"project/odds-and-ends/10443803/","projectTitle":"Odds and Ends","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murawski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8056069_orig.jpg?crop=481,481,x0,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639590710471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8056069"},{"teacherId":8056069,"projectId":10379809,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation towards our project. The excitement on their faces as the boxes were delivered were priceless. New snacks, what could be better?\r\n\r\nStudents are working hard to earn rewards, staying focused, and just being great kids. These snacks are encouragement to be their best selves and to help one another do better.\r\n\r\nI love being the teacher that is there to provide them with a snack when they need it. I also love being the teacher who gives them snacks as rewards for winning math games. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be that teacher!","fullyFundedDate":1784248136508,"projectUrl":"project/snack-attack/10379809/","projectTitle":"Snack Attack","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murawski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8056069_orig.jpg?crop=481,481,x0,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639590710471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8056069"},{"teacherId":8056069,"projectId":10340450,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to our project. These materials have already started to make an impact in our classroom. Today when students entered the classroom, they were excited to see the cabinet doors all decorated necely with the wood themed paper. It makes the room feel kind and finished. \r\n\r\nMy class is heavily supported through Donor's Choose. You have joined a community of amazing people, and my classroom runs smoother and more efficiently because of people like you who believe in us enough to make sure we have the things we need. Thank you for making the difference!","fullyFundedDate":1782169276341,"projectUrl":"project/walking-in-the-woods/10340450/","projectTitle":"Walking in the Woods","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murawski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8056069_orig.jpg?crop=481,481,x0,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639590710471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8056069"},{"teacherId":9714095,"projectId":10236879,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting Comfort That Supports Confidence. Your generosity provided deodorant for both male and female students, along with body wash wipes—items that have had an immediate and meaningful impact on our classroom community.\r\n\r\nMany of my students come to school carrying challenges that aren't always visible. Having access to hygiene supplies has helped them feel more comfortable, confident, and ready to learn. Several students expressed relief knowing they could discreetly take what they needed without embarrassment\r\n\r\nYour kindness has created a more supportive, inclusive environment—one where students can focus on academics instead of basic needs. Thank you for helping us provide care that truly matters.","fullyFundedDate":1785259749887,"projectUrl":"project/comfort-that-supports-confidence/10236879/","projectTitle":"Comfort That Supports Confidence","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Courtney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9714095"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_44013","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":305,"numTeachers":41,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":39,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":41,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"6 - 9","studentTeacherRatio":"7.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":53.7,"schoolId":44013,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Betsy Ross Arts & Design Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Betsy Ross Arts & Design Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/new-haven-public-schools/betsy-ross-arts-magnet-school/44013"}