Catasauqua High School in Northampton, Pennsylvania on DonorsChoose

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Most importantly, these books allow students to see themselves, their families, and their cultures represented in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nWe began our identity unit with The House on Mango Street, starting with the vignette \"Mi nombre.\" Students connected immediately to the idea that names carry history, language, and emotion. This text opened the door for honest conversations about belonging, family expectations, and how language shapes identity. It has served as a foundation for an ongoing personal identity project in which students explore who they are and where they come from.\r\n\r\nAs we continue, Cajas de cartón will allow students to examine identity through lived experience, resilience, and family responsibility. Students will learn how socioeconomic factors and migration shape childhood, while building empathy and making connections to their own lives or the lives of people they know. This text encourages thoughtful discussion and deeper comprehension without overwhelming students whose reading and writing skills are still developing.\r\n\r\nMe llamo María Isabel I imagine will be especially powerful for students who have navigated school spaces where their names, language, or culture have been misunderstood or minimized. Through this story, students will discuss respect, self-advocacy, and the importance of being seen for who you truly are. Many students have already shared personal stories that mirror María Isabel's experience, making this text both accessible and deeply validating.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom will be interactive and community-based. Students will read aloud, annotate together, discuss in small groups, and respond through frequent writing. The donated markers are already being used daily for brainstorming, group work, and collaborative discussions at the board. The hot glue gun helped me create a welcoming classroom space that reflects students' identities, and the motivational stickers will be used as writing prompts and notebook decor to spark reflection and creativity.\r\n\r\nSome students who were hesitant to participate early on are now writing and sharing openly about their culture and identity. Others have shared that this feels like a safe space—very different from their other classes—where their background is valued rather than overlooked. Even though the course is still new, students are already showing pride in their bilingualism and confidence in their voices.\r\n\r\nI am incredibly grateful for the resources you provided and for your belief in these students. Because of you, they have access to books that affirm who they are and help them grow as readers, writers, and individuals.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping make this classroom possible.","fullyFundedDate":1755688239380,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-bilingual-students-through-sp/9462208/","projectTitle":"Empowering Bilingual Students Through Spanish Literature & Language","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Estrada","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10078991_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y92&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752504300517","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10078991"},{"teacherId":6535636,"projectId":9484188,"letterContent":"Because of your donations our students are being successful with their instruments and building musical skills as they play in the band. Most of our students cannot afford reeds for their instruments due to the price of them. Your donations truly helped our students.\r\nWe had multiple students audition for the PMEA District 10 Instrumental Ensembles because they have the proper equipment that you graciously donated to support! Our student's are building a lot of strong skills because they have the equipment you donated to us for!\r\nI can't thank you all enough for your donations! Many thanks and appreciation goes out to all of you!","fullyFundedDate":1753379073870,"projectUrl":"project/reeding-throughout-the-school-year/9484188/","projectTitle":"Reeding Throughout the School Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Arnold","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6535636_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1563028362898","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6535636"},{"teacherId":6535636,"projectId":8179314,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! Our students have utilized these tuners each and every day in our rehearsals! They are learning and understanding the corkiness of their instruments and are overcoming the challenges faced with each horn!\r\n My students are finally hearing when they are out of tune and are making the proper adjustments! In fact these tuners have helped so much that some of the students are hearing they are out before they even look at the tuner and then use the device to fine tune their notes!\r\n This has been a blessing for our students and they have improved drastically with having them! 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About this school

Catasauqua High School is a suburban public school in Northampton, Pennsylvania that is part of Catasauqua Area School District. It serves 467 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.2:1. Its teachers have had 7 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

467 Students

33 Teachers

2500 W Bullshead Rd

Northampton, PA 18067 View local requests

http://www.cattysd.org

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Catasauqua High School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Catasauqua High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Catasauqua High School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

40%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Catasauqua High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 9, 2026

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