{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Harbor Beach High School","outOfStateSupporters":15.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9716372,"letterContent":"My students have been excitedly using the new STEM resources to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic reasoning skills. One memorable moment was during a Ticket to Ride challenge, where students worked in small groups to plan their routes across the board. They had to think ahead, make strategic decisions, and collaborate with teammates to achieve their goals. The Brainometry puzzle sets and other game teasers have been perfect for sparking friendly competition and encouraging students to tackle complex problems with creativity and persistence.\r\n\r\nTheir curiosity and excitement were immediately evident — some jumped right into a Ticket to Ride game, while others started experimenting with the Brainometry puzzles. It was incredible to see them so motivated to learn while having fun.\r\n\r\nNext, students will integrate these games and puzzles into structured STEM challenges where they'll track their problem-solving strategies, reflect on outcomes, and even design their own mini-puzzles for classmates. These resources are helping my students build teamwork, critical thinking, and resilience, and we're excited to continue exploring new ways to apply these skills in future projects.","fullyFundedDate":1758037314662,"projectUrl":"project/future-innovators-growing-critical-thin/9716372/","projectTitle":"Future Innovators: Growing Critical Thinkers Through STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9720789,"letterContent":"My students have been having an amazing time exploring our new STEM and creative materials! The LEGO Gear Bots, Picasso Tiles, and origami sets have brought engineering and design to life in our classroom. The Picasso Tiles became the perfect extension for building structures around their machines, while origami added a creative art connection as students folded paper pieces into decorations or moving parts for their projects. \r\n\r\nStudents couldn't wait to explore the colorful Picasso Tiles or figure out how the LEGO gears worked. For many, it was their first time using materials like these, and the hands-on learning quickly sparked curiosity and creativity. The origami paper also became a surprise favorite — students loved the challenge of following folding directions and creating something beautiful from a simple sheet of paper.\r\n\r\nNext, students will take on a \"STEM Storytelling\" project where they combine all three materials to design a short story scene or invention that moves or changes in some way. They'll use the Gear Bots for motion, Picasso Tiles for structure, and origami for design elements. These resources are helping my students build confidence as creators, engineers, and artists — and we can't wait to keep exploring what's possible!","fullyFundedDate":1758549676987,"projectUrl":"project/building-brains-with-stem/9720789/","projectTitle":"Building Brains with STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9683217,"letterContent":"My students have been thrilled to explore the new STEM tools, especially the marble run and animal builders! We've been using them to learn about engineering concepts like gravity, motion, and design. One of our favorite activities was when students worked in small groups to create marble tracks that slowed down the marble as much as possible — they experimented, tested, and redesigned until their creations worked. The teamwork and problem-solving I saw during that project were amazing!\r\n\r\nTheir excitement was contagious! As soon as we opened the boxes, students immediately started brainstorming what they could build. They couldn't wait to test out the marble run pieces and loved the challenge of figuring out how each part worked together. With the animal builders, they started creating imaginative creatures and discussing how their designs could move or survive in different environments.\r\n\r\nStudents will design and test their own inventions inspired by what they've learned from the marble run and animal builders. They'll record their designs, make predictions, and reflect on what changes improve their builds.","fullyFundedDate":1757880975442,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-building-thinkers-and-pro/9683217/","projectTitle":"Hands-On STEM: Building Thinkers and Problem Solvers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9607890,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project! Your generosity brought new tools into our classroom—a memory game, LEGOs, Magna-Tiles, and a classroom calendar—that are already helping my students grow in problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the boxes of LEGOs and Magna-Tiles, their excitement was contagious. They immediately started brainstorming how to build structures together, and it quickly turned into a lesson on communication, sharing materials, and planning as a group. \r\n\r\nBecause of your support, I've been able to design lessons that go beyond worksheets, giving my students hands-on opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve, and persevere when challenges arise. Our next step is to use these resources in a team challenge where students will work in groups to design and present solutions to a \"real-world\" problem using their building tools. These kinds of projects are building confidence, creativity, and the social skills they'll need well beyond the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755732418752,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-potential-equipping-students/9607890/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Potential: Equipping Students for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9655693,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our financial literacy project! Because of your generosity, my students now have access to engaging and practical tools that make money management come alive in the classroom.\r\n\r\nWith budgeting games, visuals, and real-world practice tools like mock checks, my students are learning to make smart spending and saving decisions. They are beginning to understand important concepts such as interest, credit, and long-term savings in ways that feel meaningful and relevant to their lives.\r\n\r\nYour donation has given them more than just classroom resources—you've given them the confidence to build lifelong skills that will prepare them for a successful future. I am deeply grateful for your kindness and belief in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1756548822051,"projectUrl":"project/life-skills-through-financial-literacy/9655693/","projectTitle":"Life Skills Through Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":4864202,"projectId":9239470,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support of our book project, our classroom is filled with fresh stories, eager readers, and lots of learning. Many of you shared your love for reading—and now, our students will be experiencing that same joy every day.\r\n\r\nThese books are doing so much more than filling our shelves—they're building essential reading skills. With each new text, students will be practicing decoding strategies, exploring characters, plot, and setting through class discussions, asking questions, making predictions, and strengthening comprehension, discovering new vocabulary and learning how words work, and growing in confidence as independent readers\r\n\r\nI teach students not just to read, but to love reading—and these new books are making that possible. Reading time has become a favorite part of the day. Students are pairing up to read together, chatting about their book and favorite characters, and using free time to read.","fullyFundedDate":1744239965756,"projectUrl":"project/books-to-grow-minds-one-story-at-a-time/9239470/","projectTitle":"Books to Grow Minds: One Story at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Talaski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4864202_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1568811505367","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-l-roberts304"},{"teacherId":9821363,"projectId":8912514,"letterContent":"This year was my first year teaching high school English at our small rural school. I wanted to create a current library of books that students would ignite a passion in my students to want to read. I purchased some this summer with my own money but needed more to make my library complete enough to give all of my students options. With your incredible donations I was able to prepare my classroom room library for students to check out books of their choosing. Every day in class my students now have the opportunity to read their selected books. The students reflect on the characters and situations in writing assignments. Talking about characters in books helps to open up thoughts and reflections for students in a way where they feel less vulnerable. It enables them to learn more about themselves and the world around them. \r\n\r\nI have been encouraging my students to put down their phones outside of school and pick up a book instead. They are doing just that!!! I have students this year who didn't realize they were readers discovering a love books. It has been incredible to watch. I will never know the lifelong impact this love has on my students, their lives, and their mental health. I am incredibly grateful for your generosity in partnering with me in changing lives.","fullyFundedDate":1730557938386,"projectUrl":"project/mindful-reads-enhancing-teen-mental-hea/8912514/","projectTitle":"Mindful Reads: Enhancing Teen Mental Health Through Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Soper","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821363"},{"teacherId":9815816,"projectId":8902907,"letterContent":"A huge THANK YOU for funding this project. We have used it to create the Pirate GOLD project, which is a staff and students moral and recognition program where Administration and staff nominate each other, students, classes or teams for going above and beyond to help support our school climate and culture. This is huge part of our SEL program in our school. \r\n\r\nEach person, class or team that gets recognized gets a reward and a thataboy or thatagal certificate to hang on their wall. Each Pirate Gold slip in turned into Central office and read at a School Board meeting. After the School Board meeting we walk the hallways looking for the person class or team that was nominated to get them their reward and certificate. In a short amount of time it has turned into a thing and now we are noticing an up tick in our school climate and culture. Your efforts in funding this project have helped Harbor Beach's school climate and culture. When a school has a good school climate and culture the mental health of the staff and students in better.","fullyFundedDate":1730041185959,"projectUrl":"project/student-mental-health-or-social-emotiona/8902907/","projectTitle":"Student Mental Health or Social Emotional Learning (SEL) project","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Chilman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9815816_orig.jpg?crop=2974,2974,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729870679306","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9815816"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_68025","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":218,"numTeachers":10,"percentFrplEligible":59,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":93,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"21.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":84.7,"schoolId":68025,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Harbor Beach High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Harbor Beach High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/harbor-beach-community-school-district/harbor-beach-high-school/68025"}