{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"High School of Commerce","outOfStateSupporters":40.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9325410,"letterContent":"On behalf of the Life Skills Program at Commerce High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation supporting our math and financial literacy learning project.\r\nThanks to your kindness, our classroom now includes a bookshelf stocked with realistic grocery items, price tags, and play food packaging, along with fake money for hands-on practice. These materials have allowed us to create a mock store environment where students can actively learn about pricing, budgeting, counting money, making change, and understanding the value of everyday items.\r\nFinancial literacy is an essential life skill, and these resources help our students learn in a meaningful, engaging, and practical way. By practicing money math and real-world scenarios, students are building confidence and independence that will support them in daily life, future employment, and community experiences.\r\nYour support through DonorsChoose has made a significant difference in our students' learning. We are incredibly grateful for your investment in their future and for helping provide tools that turn lessons into real-life skills.\r\nThank you for believing in our students and supporting hands-on learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746740775135,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-special-learners-through-inte/9325410/","projectTitle":"Empowering Special Learners Through Interactive Market Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"},{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9285055,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your faith in our students and for your investment in their growth. Your kindness and support through DonorsChoose have given our students opportunities that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping make learning meaningful, practical, and empowering. \r\n\r\nOn behalf of the Life Skills Program at Commerce High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, thank you for your incredibly generous donation of kitchen supplies through our DonorsChoose project. Your support has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our students. \r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our classroom is now equipped with essential appliances and tools including a microwave, blenders, an air fryer, mixers, a portable sink, as well as pots, pans, dishes, and silverware. These items have transformed our learning space into a functional kitchen where students can actively practice cooking and meal preparation. \r\n\r\nThe Life Skills Program focuses on helping students build independence and confidence through hands-on, real-world experiences. With the supplies you provided, students are learning how to safely use kitchen appliances, follow recipes, prepare balanced meals, and clean up afterward—skills that are vital for daily living and future success","fullyFundedDate":1746506696061,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-cook/9285055/","projectTitle":"Learning to Cook","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"},{"teacherId":10200745,"projectId":9632377,"letterContent":"On behalf of the School Administration, the students in my different classes and in my own name, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the donors. Since we have had this board and printer, there have been significant positive changes, especially in the quality of the instruction delivered. Passive learning turned into active participation with touch-based activities and multimedia content. \r\nThe smart board fosters collaboration by allowing multiple students to work together on projects, solve problems, and share ideas directly on the board.\r\nThe smart board is helping to support diverse learning styles, caters to visual learners with bright displays, auditory learners with sound, and kinesthetic learners with tactile interaction, improving inclusivity. \r\nFinally, the smart board improves the quality of the lesson delivered. As a teacher, I am able to create dynamic, multimedia-rich lessons, easily access materials, and provide immediate feedback.\r\nMy students are now equipped with essential digital literacy skills that prepare them for the future technology-focused world.","fullyFundedDate":1757544372611,"projectUrl":"project/connected-class-engaged-minds/9632377/","projectTitle":"Connected Class, Engaged Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Diaite","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10200745"},{"teacherId":8644769,"projectId":9600383,"letterContent":"We thank you from the bottom of out hearts for your donations. This year we were able to make Science come alive in our classroom. Students were not only allowed to read and complete written tasks on science concepts; but they were able to get their hands busy and sometimes dirty too.\r\n\r\nOur Forensic Science class saw students creating their own latent prints, using our brush and powders to highlight them and then lift them off surfaces and placed on backgrounds to make them more visible. They were also able to see paper chromatography come alive, by experimenting with various ink samples and see the different components separate (how beautiful). Before we break for the holidays, we hope to do experiments using our DNA and blood type kits. \r\n\r\nAs for Physics, our students created different manipulative and used them to boost their presentations on topics such as Newton's Second Law of Motion. As we get farther into the school year, we hope for greater things to happen, as we link the various science theories to real life application through experimenting.","fullyFundedDate":1757547155592,"projectUrl":"project/science-is-life-lets-bring-it-alive/9600383/","projectTitle":"Science Is Life: Let's Bring It Alive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chambers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8644769"},{"teacherId":10039353,"projectId":9853636,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our Winter 2025–2026 Cheer Team is starting the season feeling confident, prepared, and truly cared for. The moment the girls saw the new bows, water bottles, hair essentials, and snacks, their faces absolutely lit up. They immediately began trying on bows, organizing their hair supplies, and filling up their new water bottles for practice. Watching them gather around the materials—laughing, sharing, and helping one another—was a reminder of just how much these \"small\" items matter. Because of your generosity, every athlete on our team can show up feeling included, supported, and ready to perform at their best.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the resources to use during our first few practices. The team has been using the reusable water bottles to stay hydrated during long conditioning sessions, and the granola bars have quickly become an essential part of our pre-practice routine—helping students who may not always have access to snacks fuel up and participate fully. The red and white bows, along with the hair essentials, have helped our cheerleaders present a united, polished look that boosts both their confidence and their pride in representing Commerce. Getting ready together has also strengthened their teamwork and sense of sisterhood.\r\n\r\nAs we prepare for our upcoming winter games and performances, these materials will continue to support our routines, our spirit, and our athletes' well-being. The next step is polishing our halftime performances and bringing even more energy to the court—something the girls are especially excited about now that they feel fully equipped and supported. Thank you for believing in our students and helping them shine this season.","fullyFundedDate":1764703465735,"projectUrl":"project/support-the-commerce-winter-2025-2026-ch/9853636/","projectTitle":"Support the Commerce Winter 2025-2026 Cheer Team !","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hardy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039353_orig.jpg?crop=946,946,x0,y551&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755265390469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronicahardy"},{"teacherId":10039353,"projectId":9850272,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, this professional development experience has already elevated my teaching in meaningful and lasting ways. The new chemistry resources and curriculum guides have helped me deepen my understanding of environmental chemistry and explore richer ways to connect scientific concepts to real-world issues. These materials have strengthened my ability to design lessons that make science relevant, rigorous, and grounded in the social and environmental challenges my students see in their own community.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite classroom moments happened during a discussion inspired by Silent Spring. After reading an excerpt about chemical pollutants and their impact on ecosystems, my students did a deep dive on the pollutants affecting their community- Springfield. When one student realized how chemical contamination can disproportionately affect communities like ours, she said something along the lines of, \"Science isn't just experiments—it's about protecting people.\" Her sister has asthma and she made the connection that it may be influenced by the surrounding environment. Moments like this remind me how powerful it is when students see themselves as scientists and advocates who can contribute to environmental solutions.\r\n\r\nYour support has not only strengthened my teaching now but has opened the door for continued growth. I'm excited to keep building my skills in designing inquiry-based labs that blend chemistry with environmental justice. I'm especially looking forward to our upcoming sustainability unit, where students will investigate real solutions for healthier, greener communities. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping create a classroom where science feels meaningful, empowering, and connected to the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1763598895737,"projectUrl":"project/from-teacher-to-learner-expanding-envir/9850272/","projectTitle":"From Teacher to Learner: Expanding Environmental Chemistry Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hardy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039353_orig.jpg?crop=946,946,x0,y551&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755265390469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronicahardy"},{"teacherId":7615841,"projectId":9335539,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations. The iPads have been especially impactful; they have given our students new ways to communicate, express themselves, and engage during counseling sessions. Your contributions of snacks have supported students facing food insecurity, helping them stay focused and feel cared for throughout the school day. The coloring books and sensory items have also made a meaningful difference by providing calming tools that help students manage stress and participate more fully.\r\n\r\nYour support has created a more compassionate and responsive environment for our students, and we are deeply grateful for the positive change you've made in their daily lives.","fullyFundedDate":1755716667368,"projectUrl":"project/exceptional-learners-in-a-therapeutic-se/9335539/","projectTitle":"Exceptional Learners in a Therapeutic Setting!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jaeger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7615841"},{"teacherId":7615841,"projectId":9325430,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of therapeutic devices and sensory tools. These items have already had a powerful impact in our counseling sessions, especially for students who rely on sensory regulation to feel safe, grounded, and ready to engage.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students who often struggle to express emotions or manage overwhelming feelings now have accessible ways to self-soothe, focus, and participate more meaningfully in their sessions. Tools such as the fidgets, weighted items, tactile objects, and calming devices have helped create a therapeutic environment where students feel more in control and more willing to open up.\r\n\r\nI have seen students who typically enter dysregulated become calmer within minutes simply by using the sensory supports you helped provide. Others have used the tools to communicate needs they previously could not express. These may seem like small moments, but they are essential steps in helping students build coping skills, emotional awareness, and trust.","fullyFundedDate":1746740775256,"projectUrl":"project/mental-health-and-social-emotional-learn/9325430/","projectTitle":"Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jaeger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7615841"},{"teacherId":8644769,"projectId":9380739,"letterContent":"Thank your for always believing in our students. Our project \"Representation Through Literature\" has been impactful and continues to be. Our cabinet has been stacked with our varying books representing the population of our students. From students who live and breathe basketball, to our students that want a little history to present their culture throughout their Hispanic Heritage month, to our students that embrace their natural curly hair. \r\n\r\nOur cabinet not only holds our books but it adds to the aesthetics of our classroom, storing also plants that beautifies and purifies our classroom. Our storage bins have been useful in packing and storing snacks that our students enjoy so much. They also store calculators and small items from our science kits that will ensure they are secured and easy to reach. Our mobile easel has been a statement piece, where students get to model and present their ideas, especially when working on group activities.\r\n\r\nYour donations have definitely made a positive impact and we are so thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1755693302116,"projectUrl":"project/representation-through-literature/9380739/","projectTitle":"Representation Through Literature","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chambers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8644769"},{"teacherId":9852021,"projectId":9478921,"letterContent":"The new resources provided through **\"Stock the Classroom, Fuel the Mind\"** have transformed the flow of learning in my classroom. My students use these materials daily to reinforce their problem-solving, collaboration, and independent practice skills. Whether using manipulatives to model math concepts, participating in literacy activities during small group rotations, or applying organizational tools to support executive functioning, the resources have made our learning environment more dynamic, structured, and accessible. Snacks have served as incentives and motivation during the impactful Math in Motion project. Having tangible tools and resources for engagement and participation allowed them to go beyond abstract explanations and confidently articulate their mathematical thinking.","fullyFundedDate":1757553678025,"projectUrl":"project/stock-the-classroom-fuel-the-mind/9478921/","projectTitle":"Stock the Classroom, Fuel the Mind","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Quinones-Vazquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9852021_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753141018625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9852021"},{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9285044,"letterContent":"My students amaze me every single day. They come to school with so much strength, curiosity, and determination, even when life outside the classroom isn't always easy. I've learned that when kids feel safe, supported, and seen, they grow in incredible ways—not just academically, but emotionally too.\r\nThe tools we've requested will help make our classroom a place where that kind of growth can happen every day. A mobile document scanner will help students keep their work organized, giving them a sense of ownership and pride. A webcam will open new opportunities for connection—whether it's meeting with virtual mentors or sharing their learning with others in creative ways. And an iPad with a sturdy case will give them flexible access to learning tools, calming apps, and creative outlets, providing individualized support exactly when they need it.\r\nEven simple things like pens, desk organizers, and sanitizing supplies help create a clean, calm, and welcoming environment where students know they're cared for. Every item in this project is about helping students feel confident, capable, and ready to learn, no matter what challenges they may be carrying with them.\r\nYour support would provide more than tools—it would give my students the ability to explore, create, and grow in a classroom that truly meets their needs. Thank you for helping make this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1746743307388,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-tomorrow-building-independenc/9285044/","projectTitle":"Tools for Tomorrow: Building Independence Through Real-World Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"},{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9352533,"letterContent":"I'm thrilled to share a project that could make a big difference for my life skills students: building a greenhouse right in our classroom! Many of my students have limited access to green spaces and nature, and this project would give them hands-on opportunities to explore science, sustainability, and healthy living.\r\nThe supplies we need—including greenhouse kits, seeds, pots, gardening tools, grow lights, and watering systems—will allow students to care for plants from seed to harvest, teaching responsibility, planning, and problem-solving along the way. Even small successes, like seeing their first seedlings sprout, have a huge impact on their confidence and engagement.\r\nYour support would help us create a space where students can connect with nature, explore science, and develop practical life skills. It's more than just gardening—it's about giving students the tools to grow, both in the classroom and in life. Thank you for helping make this hands-on learning experience possible!","fullyFundedDate":1747487780112,"projectUrl":"project/growing-young-minds-with-a-school-gree/9352533/","projectTitle":"\"Growing\" Young Minds with a School Greenhouse","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60900","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":966,"numTeachers":93,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":72,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"10.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":59.9,"schoolId":60900,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about High School of Commerce on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"High School of Commerce","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/springfield-public-school-district/high-school-of-commerce/60900"}