{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Fort Miller Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":44.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7260095,"projectId":10202771,"letterContent":"Indoor composters have had a meaningful impact in our middle school classrooms by turning everyday food scraps into a practical, visible lesson in sustainability. Rather than throwing away apple cores, banana peels, tangerine peels, and other appropriate food scraps, students learned that these materials still have value. The composters gave students a hands-on way to observe how organic waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich material that supports new plant growth.\r\n\r\nThe project connected science learning to daily classroom routines. Students collected food scraps, identified which materials were appropriate for composting, and monitored the composters over time. They noticed changes in texture, moisture, color, and smell, which encouraged observation, discussion, and problem-solving. These experiences helped make concepts such as decomposition, microorganisms, nutrient cycling, and soil health more concrete than a textbook lesson alone could provide.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding outcomes was being able to use the finished compost or compost-enriched soil for classroom plants. Students saw a direct connection between the snack scraps they collected and the healthier growing environment they created for their plants. Adding compost to plant soil reinforced the idea that natural systems are cyclical: food becomes scraps, scraps become soil, and soil helps grow future plants. This process gave students a sense of responsibility and pride because they could see the results of their ongoing care and participation.\r\n\r\nThe indoor composters also supported environmental awareness. Students became more thoughtful about waste and more aware that not everything belongs in a trash can. By diverting food scraps from classroom garbage, they practiced a small but important form of waste reduction. The project opened conversations about landfill waste, reuse of natural materials, gardening, and ways families can make more sustainable choices at home.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the composting routine promoted collaboration. Students shared responsibilities such as collecting scraps, checking the composters, recording observations, and caring for the plants. These tasks provided opportunities for teamwork, communication, and leadership. Students who may not always connect with traditional academic activities were able to participate through hands-on work and see themselves as contributors to a healthier classroom environment.\r\n\r\nOverall, the indoor composters have been beneficial because they combined environmental stewardship, science education, and plant care in an engaging and accessible way. Students did not simply learn about composting; they participated in it, observed its results, and used the soil they helped create to care for living classroom plants.","fullyFundedDate":1777332509889,"projectUrl":"project/indoor-composters-for-sustainable-living/10202771/","projectTitle":"Indoor Composters for Sustainable Living","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Munn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7260095_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1591221133183","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7260095"},{"teacherId":7335678,"projectId":9253106,"letterContent":"Words cannot express the deep gratitude my students and I feel for your incredible generosity. Because of your support, students at our neighboring elementary classroom now have access to a meaningful selection of books and materials that are helping us build a stronger, kinder, and more connected learning environment. Your donation to our DonorsChoose project, Spreading Kindness, One Kit at a Time, is already making a powerful difference!\r\n\r\nThe books you helped fund aren't just any books; they are thoughtfully chosen to nurture empathy, foster inclusivity, and encourage positive social-emotional learning. These texts serve as the foundation for many important reading skills, but even more than that, they provide invaluable lessons in character, perspective, and kindness.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in the power of education and kindness. Your donation has not only enhanced our classroom library, but it has also helped shape a culture of empathy and respect. I can already see students growing into more thoughtful readers and more compassionate people because of your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1744383067386,"projectUrl":"project/spreading-kindness-one-kit-at-a-time/9253106/","projectTitle":"Spreading Kindness, One Kit at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ocegueda Gonzalez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7335678_orig.jpg?crop=1003,1003,x0,y201&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661899867268","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7335678"},{"teacherId":7260095,"projectId":9257301,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our school garden has been transformed with new organization and tools that make both teaching and learning more effective! The heavy-duty shelving unit and utility cart now hold all of our gardening supplies in one central place, which makes it so much easier for students to access materials during class. The solar-powered drip irrigation system has been especially exciting for my students—they were fascinated to see how we could harness the sun to keep our plants watered, even when we're not on campus. The new hardware cloth, they even helped build protective fencing around our seedlings to keep them safe from curious critters and students will have the chance to hand build these structures. These hands-on tasks turned into a real-life STEM lesson that connected science, math, and teamwork.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their reactions were immediate—eyes wide, lots of \"wows.\" They immediately started brainstorming how we could put each item to use. The pruners became part of our plant care toolkit right away, and the shelving and carts gave them a sense of pride in keeping our shared space neat and professional. It made them feel like \"real gardeners,\" not just students experimenting with plants.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next step is to continue expanding our school garden so that it can provide both fresh food and rich learning opportunities. The irrigation system will allow us to maintain healthy plants even as the weather gets hotter, and the organized storage setup means we'll be able to rotate in new projects with ease. My students are already planning a fall planting of cool-weather vegetables, and thanks to your support, they'll have the tools they need to see their efforts grow from seed to harvest.","fullyFundedDate":1745350693667,"projectUrl":"project/materials-needed-in-sustainable-gardenin/9257301/","projectTitle":"Materials Needed in Sustainable Gardening for Our Middle School Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Munn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7260095_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1591221133183","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7260095"},{"teacherId":6609715,"projectId":9246492,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating these books to our classroom. These books will be a lead in helping students understand the world around them, and how impactful these books are on our daily lives today. \r\n\r\nReading is an essential part of our day to day lives, but what is more important, is the impact the books can make in our students lives. Not many students have ever been introduced to books like \"Fahrenheit 451\" and this will serve as a pathway of learning for our students, especially in today's society. \r\n\r\nI believe all our students will be able to enjoy all the novels donated to our classroom. They will continue to learn about the world around them and be able to critically think about our society and our impact on society today. \r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our school and helping our students continue to read!","fullyFundedDate":1753660862157,"projectUrl":"project/critical-thinking-through-novels/9246492/","projectTitle":"Critical Thinking Through Novels","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leyva","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6609715"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_77471","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":606,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":69,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"20.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":55.5,"schoolId":77471,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Fort Miller Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Fort Miller Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/fresno-unified-school-district/ft-miller-middle-school/77471"}