{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Skies Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":51.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9353195,"projectId":9342347,"letterContent":"On behalf of my speech and language students, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation. Your support means more than words can convey—it is truly an investment in the future of children who are working hard to overcome communication challenges and reach their full potential.\r\nSpeech and language development is a cornerstone of learning, social interaction, and confidence. For many of our students, progress requires specialized tools, resources, and individualized attention. Your contribution allows us to provide these essential supports, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Whether it's through interactive learning materials, assistive technology, or engaging activities that make therapy fun and effective, your generosity is making a tangible difference in their lives.\r\nEvery day, I witness the incredible determination of our students. Some are learning to articulate their first words, while others are mastering complex language skills that will help them succeed academically and socially. These milestones may seem small to some, but for our students and their families, they represent life-changing achievements. Your donation helps create these moments of triumph.\r\nBeyond the practical impact, your gift sends a powerful message of hope and encouragement. It tells our students that their community believes in them and values their growth. This sense of support fosters confidence and motivation, which are just as critical as the tools we use in therapy. Knowing that people like you care deeply about their success inspires them to keep pushing forward, even when the journey feels challenging.\r\nWe are committed to using your donation wisely and effectively to enhance our programs and provide the highest quality services. From purchasing new therapy materials to organizing engaging group activities, every dollar will be directed toward initiatives that empower our students to communicate, connect, and flourish.\r\nThank you once again for your kindness and generosity. Your support is not just a gift—it is a catalyst for progress and a source of joy for countless families. We are honored to have you as a partner in this important work, and we look forward to sharing updates on the incredible strides our students are making thanks to your contribution.","fullyFundedDate":1757100064613,"projectUrl":"project/additional-materials-for-middle-school-s/9342347/","projectTitle":"Additional Materials for Middle School Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9353195"},{"teacherId":9991388,"projectId":9535573,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our 7th graders are already putting their new spiral notebooks to meaningful use in both science and math. These notebooks have quickly become their go-to space for problem-solving, exploring ideas, and documenting hands-on learning. Having a dedicated, organized space to work in has made their learning more intentional and helped them see growth over time.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our next steps involve using these notebooks to deepen students' ability to explain their reasoning. In upcoming lessons, students will create multi-step solutions, reflect on their learning, and build a personal reference guide they can use all year long. These notebooks will follow them through major units in both subjects, helping them stay organized and engaged as they tackle increasingly challenging concepts.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has made a tangible difference every single day in our classroom. Thank you for investing in our students' learning and helping them feel capable, confident, and excited about math and science.","fullyFundedDate":1758300182090,"projectUrl":"project/help-7th-graders-explore-science-and-mat/9535573/","projectTitle":"Help 7th Graders Explore Science and Math with Spiral Notebooks!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mayer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9991388"},{"teacherId":9991388,"projectId":9381611,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our 7th graders are already putting their new spiral notebooks to meaningful use in both science and math. These notebooks have quickly become their go-to space for problem-solving, exploring ideas, and documenting hands-on learning.\r\n\r\nHaving a dedicated, organized space to work in has made their learning more intentional and helped them see growth over time. Your contribution has made a tangible difference every single day in our classroom. Thank you for investing in our students' learning and helping them feel capable, confident, and excited about math and science.","fullyFundedDate":1750773746457,"projectUrl":"project/help-7th-graders-explore-science-and-mat/9381611/","projectTitle":"Help 7th Graders Explore Science and Math with Spiral Notebooks!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mayer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9991388"},{"teacherId":6203752,"projectId":9350577,"letterContent":"On behalf of our self-contained classroom for students with intellectual disabilities, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of the laminator. This valuable tool will greatly enhance our ability to create durable, engaging learning materials tailored to our students' unique needs.\r\n\r\nYour support helps us provide a more interactive and accessible learning environment, and we truly appreciate your commitment to enriching our classroom. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758299902211,"projectUrl":"project/accessible-learning/9350577/","projectTitle":"Accessible Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6203752_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1547667154557","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ta"},{"teacherId":4749130,"projectId":9463726,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generous support of donors, our classroom has transformed into a vibrant, interactive space where students are deeply engaged in learning science through hands-on and print-rich experiences. The materials—such as chart paper, colored paper, markers, and classroom supplies—have allowed students to construct visual models, create anchor charts, and build vocabulary walls that connect scientific concepts to real-world examples. \r\n\r\nThese resources have made science more accessible to all learners, particularly my English Language Learners, who now have visual and linguistic supports to help them participate confidently in class discussions and investigations.\r\nSince implementing these materials, I've noticed a significant increase in student participation, curiosity, and collaboration. Students now eagerly refer to our anchor charts and word walls to support their explanations, write CER responses, and communicate their thinking with greater accuracy and pride. The colorful displays and student-created visuals have helped reinforce key vocabulary and concepts from each FOSS investigation, allowing students to make stronger connections between phenomena and evidence. For many, this shift has turned science from an abstract subject into something they can see, touch, and understand.\r\n\r\nBeyond academic growth, the project has boosted students' confidence and sense of belonging in science. Many of my students come from low-income households and have limited access to educational materials outside of school. Having these supplies in our classroom ensures that every student—regardless of background—can engage in high-quality, hands-on science learning. This project has not only brightened our classroom walls but has also inspired a community of young scientists who now view themselves as capable, creative, and curious learners!","fullyFundedDate":1755700564065,"projectUrl":"project/science-for-all-building-a-hands-on-pr/9463726/","projectTitle":"Science for All: Building a Hands-On, Print-Rich Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Konyshev","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4749130_orig.jpg?crop=830,830,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669587640241","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/konyshev"},{"teacherId":9353195,"projectId":9330527,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my speech room and all the wonderful kids I get to work with. Your donation has had such an impact on the materials I am able to use for my students.\r\n\r\nMy students have enjoyed the many materials I was able to purchase with your generous donation. Working in a Middle School it is difficult to find material that supports students' needs and age. Most material is for younger elementary school age students so having a gift card to be able to find material for my student's specific needs is wonderful. \r\n\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746785274844,"projectUrl":"project/speech-and-language-materials-for-middle/9330527/","projectTitle":"Speech and Language Materials for Middle School Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9353195"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_125262","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":875,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":72,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":48.9,"schoolId":125262,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Skies Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desert Skies Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/washoe-county-school-district/desert-skies-middle-school/125262"}
Join the 88 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Desert Skies Middle School is
a rural public school
in Sun Valley, Nevada that is part of Washoe County School District.
It serves 875 students
in grades 6 - 8.
Its teachers have had 65 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
73%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Desert Skies Middle School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Jan 15, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Desert Skies Middle School
$69,533
raised using DonorsChoose
65
projects
funded
50
teachers
funded
88
donors
22
projects
for
basic supplies
19
projects for
technology
6
projects for
books
4
projects
for
art supplies
Desert Skies Middle School has received support from
43 individuals from Nevada and
45 individuals out-of-state.