{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ellen Ochoa Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":70.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9812009,"projectId":10688877,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and support in funding our project, \"Fueling Curiosity: Transforming Math Success into STEAM Dreams\"! Your belief in our classroom and our students has provided us with inspiring new technology and resources that are making mathematical concepts come alive through hands-on STEAM exploration. Many of you use technology daily at home for work, streaming, or keeping in touch with loved ones. However, in our school environment, technology serves as an active bridge between abstract, theoretical ideas and concrete, real-world application. In middle school, math can often feel intimidating or overly conceptual when limited to textbooks and worksheets. By integrating interactive technology and STEAM tools directly into our curriculum, students are no longer just solving equations on paper; they are actively testing hypotheses, visualizing spatial relationships, modeling patterns, and analyzing live data. The technology enables them to experiment, learn from trial and error in real time, and see how mathematical principles directly power engineering, design, and scientific innovation. It turns passive learning into an engaging, inquiry-driven experience where every formula has a clear purpose.What excites our students most about these new tools is the immediate, interactive feedback and creative freedom they offer. Middle school students naturally thrive when they can create and experiment. Having access to dedicated STEAM technology allows them to transform abstract mathematical problem-solving into tangible projects—whether they are coding algorithms, designing geometric structures, or visualizing complex data sets. They love being able to adjust parameters, test their ideas instantly, and see the physical or digital results of their math calculations. The interactive nature of the technology makes learning feel less like a series of repetitive drills and more like an exciting challenge where their curiosity leads the way.We have seen inspiring progress among specific students who have warmed to this new technology in remarkable ways. In particular, students who previously struggled with traditional math instruction or lacked confidence in their problem-solving abilities have completely transformed their approach to learning. For example, one student who used to feel overwhelmed by multi-step algebraic problems found new confidence when using interactive visualization models. Seeing how variables directly change geometric outcomes gave them an \"aha!\" moment, completely changing their perspective on math from intimidating to approachable. Another student who was typically soft-spoken during class discussions has stepped up as a natural team leader, eagerly helping peers navigate software tools and troubleshoot design challenges. This technology has unlocked hidden talents and given them a platform to shine.Your generous investment in our classroom is actively fueling our students' curiosity, building their confidence, and inspiring their future dreams in STEAM fields. Thank you for making this transformative experience possible for our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1791207691374,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-curiosity-transforming-math-suc/10688877/","projectTitle":"Fueling Curiosity: Transforming Math Success into STEAM Dreams","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palacios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9812009_orig.jpg?crop=3189,3189,x0,y659&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758648421391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812009"},{"teacherId":9812009,"projectId":10688983,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support in bringing our project, \"Moments That Matter: Finding Focus, Calm Beyond the Clock,\" to life in our classroom! Your contributions have provided our students with an incredible new tool—a digital watch—that is already making a profound difference in our daily classroom routine, focus, and overall learning environment.\r\n\r\nMany of you use technology every day at home for entertainment, productivity, or staying connected. However, in an educational setting, technology serves a very specific, deliberate purpose: it builds foundational skills and empowers students to take ownership of their learning. In middle school, time management and self-regulation are critical skills that students must develop, yet they are often among the hardest to master. The technology provided through this project acts as a gentle, structured anchor throughout our school day. Instead of relying solely on teacher directives or wall clocks that can feel abstract or easy to ignore, students use their watches to track learning intervals, manage personal goal times, monitor quiet reflection breaks, and transition smoothly between tasks. This hands-on, personal access to time tracking helps them connect the concept of time directly to their own actions, building independence, focus, and self-awareness in a way traditional instruction simply cannot match.\r\n\r\nWhat excites our students most about this new watch is the tangible sense of independence and personal control it gives them. Middle schoolers naturally crave autonomy, and having a sleek, dedicated piece of technology on their wrist makes them feel responsible and trusted. They are fascinated by using timers to set their own reading and problem-solving goals, tracking how quickly they can regain focus after transitions, and using structured time limits to guide calm-down routines. Rather than seeing time management as a strict requirement imposed by an adult, they view it as an engaging personal challenge and a practical tool that belongs entirely to them.\r\n\r\nWe have seen remarkable progress among specific students who have especially warmed to this new technology. In particular, several students who frequently experienced classroom anxiety, sensory overload, or difficulty staying focused during independent work have embraced the watch as a stabilizing support system. For instance, one student who previously struggled with task initiation and felt overwhelmed by open-ended assignments now uses simple count-down intervals to break work into manageable steps. Knowing exactly how much focused effort is needed before taking a brief, timed breathing reset has noticeably reduced their stress and significantly increased their task completion. Another student who often found class transitions stressful now proudly monitors our schedule, preparing themselves and assisting peers with smooth, quiet transitions. The watch has transformed what used to be a source of frustration into a source of confidence and calm.\r\n\r\nYour support has made a meaningful, daily impact on our students' academic growth and emotional well-being. Thank you for investing in our classroom and believing in our students' potential!","fullyFundedDate":1791207314212,"projectUrl":"project/moments-that-matter-finding-focus-calm/10688983/","projectTitle":"Moments That Matter: Finding Focus, Calm Beyond the Clock","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palacios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9812009_orig.jpg?crop=3189,3189,x0,y659&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758648421391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812009"},{"teacherId":9812009,"projectId":10546234,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in fully funding our calm corner project! Words cannot express how excited and grateful my students and I are to receive all of these wonderful materials. Because of your kindness, our classroom now has a dedicated, peaceful space where students can go to pause, process their feelings, and regulate their emotions whenever they feel overwhelmed or anxious during the day.\r\n\r\nThe sensory resources, cozy seating, and self-regulation tools you provided are already making a profound difference in our daily routine. Having a safe, supportive environment allows my students to learn essential coping strategies, manage sensory needs, and take effective brain breaks. Once they feel balanced and calm, they are able to rejoin classroom activities with renewed focus, confidence, and readiness to learn.\r\n\r\nYour generosity goes far beyond simply providing classroom supplies; you have directly invested in my students' emotional well-being and mental health. Thank you for caring so deeply about our learning community and for helping us build a compassionate environment where every child feels safe, understood, and valued. We are truly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1789786401328,"projectUrl":"project/calm-hearts-ready-minds-our-thinking-c/10546234/","projectTitle":"Calm Hearts, Ready Minds: Our Thinking Corner!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palacios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9812009_orig.jpg?crop=3189,3189,x0,y659&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758648421391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812009"},{"teacherId":9889178,"projectId":10322701,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our soccer project!\r\n\r\nThanks to your donation, our students received new soccer balls that allowed us to organize games, practices, and soccer activities at school. Having enough quality soccer balls made a huge difference because more students could participate actively and spend more time playing and practicing instead of having to share limited equipment.\r\n\r\nAs you can see in the photos, soccer became a wonderful opportunity for our students to be active, have fun, and enjoy playing together. The new balls were used during practices and games and helped us create an environment where students could develop their soccer skills while also learning important values such as teamwork, communication, sportsmanship, and respect.\r\n\r\nThe enthusiasm from our students was incredible. They looked forward to playing, competing with their classmates, and being part of the soccer activities. It was especially rewarding to see students with different skill levels participating together and encouraging one another.\r\n\r\nYour generosity provided much more than soccer balls. You gave our students more opportunities to play, connect with their classmates, stay active, and create great memories at school. These soccer balls will continue to be used and enjoyed by many students in the future.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible and for supporting our students. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1780878726134,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-soccer-to-every-student/10322701/","projectTitle":"Bringing Soccer to Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Raga","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9889178_orig.png?crop=2000,2000,x0,y253&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1769716350111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9889178"},{"teacherId":9812009,"projectId":10238285,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and myself, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our project, \"Because Learning Needs Clean Spaces and Bright Ideas.\"\r\n\r\nThanks to your kindness, our classroom is becoming a cleaner, brighter, and much more welcoming environment. Having a well-maintained and organized space makes a world of difference in how students focus, learn, and feel when they walk through the door each day. Your contribution does not just provide us with physical resources—it shows my students that there is a whole community out there rooting for their success.\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these materials to good use, and seeing the students' faces light up when they arrived was priceless!\r\n\r\nThank you once again for making a direct, positive impact on our classroom experience. We truly appreciate your generosity and belief in our bright ideas!\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt thanks,","fullyFundedDate":1785167221111,"projectUrl":"project/because-learning-needs-clean-spaces-and/10238285/","projectTitle":"Because Learning Needs Clean Spaces and Bright Ideas","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palacios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9812009_orig.jpg?crop=3189,3189,x0,y659&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758648421391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812009"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9958915,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician (Part 2)\" project! Since being funded, I have taken concepts and skills from this method book and have used them in class. I plan on using it more in-depth next school year.\r\n\r\nThe method book is built different than other method books. I like how it starts with exercises on the mouthpiece, mouthpiece and barrel, reed, bocal and reed, and headjoint before playing the first notes in the book. It then has sequential rhythm charts. These same rhythms are then presented with pitches for a seamless transfer to the music students are performing.\r\n\r\nThe sequential introduction of the one-handed breakdown of a percussion rudiment before introducing the rudiment itself.\r\n\r\nThe use of the \"enharmonic ladder\" and the \"call-and-response game\" to learn enharmonic notes.\r\n\r\nTwo pages of slow \"clarinets only\" work that focuses on going over the break and throat tones.\r\n\r\nI truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music.\r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day.\r\n\r\nThank you for your support!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMr. Dignen","fullyFundedDate":1771091719118,"projectUrl":"project/habits-of-a-successful-beginner-band-mus/9958915/","projectTitle":"Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician (Part 2)","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9958931,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician (Part 1)\" project! Since being funded, I have taken concepts and skills from this method book and have used them in class. I plan on using it more in-depth next school year. \r\n\r\nThe method book is built different than other method books. I like how it starts with exercises on the mouthpiece, mouthpiece and barrel, reed, bocal and reed, and headjoint before playing the first notes in the book. It then has sequential rhythm charts. These same rhythms are then presented with pitches for a seamless transfer to the music students are performing. \r\n\r\nThe sequential introduction of the one-handed breakdown of a percussion rudiment before introducing the rudiment itself. \r\n\r\nThe use of the \"enharmonic ladder\" and the \"call-and-response game\" to learn enharmonic notes.\r\n \r\nTwo pages of slow \"clarinets only\" work that focuses on going over the break and throat tones. \r\n\r\nI truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music. \r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1768446809232,"projectUrl":"project/habits-of-a-successful-beginner-band-mus/9958931/","projectTitle":"Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician (Part 1)","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9615846,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Reed Guards\" project! Since being funded, I have given out reeds to students to replenish the ones that were no longer useful due to cracks or simply worn out, and also gave them a reed guard. \r\n\r\nA quality reed goes a long way, and with their reed guards, they are learning how to take care of their reeds so that they last a lot longer. The reed guards hold 4 reeds, and they rotate one reed each time they play. I truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music. \r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1765683516779,"projectUrl":"project/reed-guards-needed-for-woodwind-students/9615846/","projectTitle":"Reed Guards Needed for Woodwind Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9615832,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Trumpets need Mutes\" project! Since being funded, I showed the trumpets our mutes, and one of them asked, \"What is that?\" I chuckled and showed them on my own trumpet what it was and what it does to their sound. I then let them try it on their own instrument. \r\n\r\nThese are quality straight mutes. Music that we currently play includes straight mutes. We were unable to play the music with the mutes until now. I truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music. \r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1765684408458,"projectUrl":"project/trumpets-need-mutes/9615832/","projectTitle":"Trumpets need Mutes!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9615805,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Shoulder Rests & Stoppers for Excellent Orchestra Posture\"! Since being funded, I have given shoulder rests and stoppers to all violin, viola, and cellists in our two orchestras. \r\n\r\nQuality shoulder rests and stoppers go a long way. I truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music. \r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1765684027341,"projectUrl":"project/shoulder-rests-stoppers-for-excellent/9615805/","projectTitle":"Shoulder Rests & Stoppers for Excellent Orchestra Posture!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":650279,"projectId":9504912,"letterContent":"Thank you for fully funding our \"Our Printer Needs Toner\" project! Since being funded, I have printed and copied numerous sheets of music and material for the students that were not able to be taken care of before this project due to the toner running extremely low. \r\n\r\nIt's important to have a good stock of toner for printing and copying so that the music can be seen clearly. I cannot tell you how many times I've copied music and you can barely see the lines of the staff because the copier is almost empty or there are streaks across the paper because the copier is dirty. \r\n\r\nI truly appreciate you for taking the time to scroll past our project and show my students how much you care about them and music. \r\n\r\nI appreciate DonorsChoose and what they do to help teachers like me get the necessary resources we need to make wonderful music every day. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1765684505737,"projectUrl":"project/our-printer-needs-toner/9504912/","projectTitle":"Our Printer Needs Toner!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dignen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp650279_orig.jpg?crop=1346,1346,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692936778690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/tdignen"},{"teacherId":10060415,"projectId":9878998,"letterContent":"Our classroom technology project has transformed the way my 6th grade students engage with learning by turning them into creators rather than just consumers of content. Using the iPad, tripod, ring light, and microphones, students are now able to plan, record, and edit their own videos as part of our Technology class. This process integrates multiple skills at once: writing scripts, organizing ideas, collaborating in teams, and developing digital literacy. Instead of completing traditional assignments, students bring their ideas to life through video projects, which has significantly increased both their motivation and the quality of their work.\r\n\r\nWhat excites students most about this new equipment is the sense of professionalism it brings to their projects. They take pride in setting up their \"studio,\" experimenting with camera angles, and improving sound quality. Editing their videos is often their favorite part, as they can add effects, transitions, and refine their storytelling. This hands-on experience helps them better understand how media is created and encourages creativity in a way that traditional tools simply cannot match.\r\n\r\nI have seen particularly strong engagement from students who do not always excel in more traditional academic tasks. This technology has created an inclusive environment where every student can contribute in a meaningful way and discover new strengths.","fullyFundedDate":1769178280198,"projectUrl":"project/future-filmmakers-telling-stories-throu/9878998/","projectTitle":"Future Filmmakers: Telling Stories Through Video","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Serra Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10060415_orig.jpg?crop=1056,1056,x309,y144&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750433278257","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10060415"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_133923","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1122,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":70,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":29.2,"schoolId":133923,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ellen Ochoa Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ellen Ochoa Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/prince-george-s-county-public-schools/ellen-ochoa-middle-school/133923"}