{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highland Park Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":21.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4813892,"projectId":9300439,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much for fully funding our project, \"Pollinators Welcome! A Garden to Protect and Learn.\" We ended up having a small logistical shift, so instead of an outdoor garden, we used your fantastic materials to build a vibrant indoor learning experience right here in our classroom! We received some basic planting medium from a local source, and we used your containers, initial materials, and tools to get started. This was an amazing way to still address our key learning objectives. The students are now getting a daily, up-close view of a living system in action. They were extremely happy and immediately connected with this new feature in our room, which has significantly enhanced their overall engagement with the subject matter.\r\n\r\nThe reaction to the materials was great, and the students have really taken ownership. They were excited to use the various tools for their assigned tasks, making the abstract concept of nurturing a habitat very real. This project has had a major, positive impact on their understanding of life cycles and the environment. Moving forward, we are using this classroom feature to conduct controlled investigations where small groups manipulate different elements of the growing process. They will document and compare their findings, connecting this practical experience directly to data analysis and the principles of scientific inquiry, which is a key next step in our curriculum.","fullyFundedDate":1746137679885,"projectUrl":"project/pollinators-welcome-a-garden-to-protect/9300439/","projectTitle":"Pollinators Welcome! A Garden to Protect and Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4813892_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679927568977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mandi-jung"},{"teacherId":4813892,"projectId":9170789,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for fully funding our project, \"Power Up with Pencils & Prizes!\" Your generous contribution has provided the most essential tools that have literally transformed the daily learning experience in our classroom. We are now consistently stocked with high-quality pencils, erasers, a reliable sharpener, and a rotating selection of incentives and prizes. This project immediately solved the constant classroom challenge of students lacking basic writing supplies. We no longer waste precious minutes scrambling for a working pencil or dealing with a broken sharpener; instead, every child is ready to start their work immediately. The ability to give students their own high-quality materials and have a reliable reward system in place has significantly boosted the organization and morale of our entire class.\r\n\r\nA Glimpse into Our Classroom ✏️\r\nMy students' reaction to the materials was priceless. They were relieved and excited to have reliable tools that didn't break or run out of lead halfway through a lesson. The biggest impact is on their motivation: the fun prizes are now being used to reward hard work, positive behavior, and hitting specific academic goals. For example, we've launched a new challenge where students who show great effort on their math problem-solving earn a trip to the prize bin, which has resulted in a marked increase in student focus and persistence. The reliable pencils and sharpener allow for a smoother, more consistent flow for our daily writing journals and collaborative assignments. By eliminating the small barriers of missing supplies, your donations have created a powerful engine for sustained focus and achievement across all subjects, ensuring every student feels valued and equipped to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1745342926272,"projectUrl":"project/power-up-with-pencils-prizes/9170789/","projectTitle":"Power Up with Pencils & Prizes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4813892_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679927568977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mandi-jung"},{"teacherId":4813892,"projectId":9621465,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for fully funding our project, \"Fizz, Foam, and Chemistry: Bath Bomb Sci!\" Your generous contribution has transformed our middle school science classroom, providing an essential, hands-on experience for my students. We are actively using the new ingredients—especially the citric acid, Epsom salts, and oils—along with the new, precise measuring tools to conduct our experiment. This project made the core concept of an acid-base chemical reaction visible and tactile. The most impactful moment was watching my students, dressed in their new lab gloves, intently focused on accurately measuring and mixing their formulas. The collective cheer and the subsequent successful fizz and foam from their own completed bath bombs was an invaluable moment of tangible scientific success.\r\n\r\nThe students' reaction when they first saw the materials was one of pure, unadulterated excitement. The professional-looking bags of ingredients and the full sets of lab equipment immediately elevated the project, making them feel like genuine junior chemists rather than just students. They took immense pride in their work and the responsibility of using real-world materials safely. Now that the bath bombs are molded, we are moving into the final stages of the unit. Students are writing formal lab reports to analyze their results, discussing how variables like humidity or slight measurement errors impacted the final product. This real-world application of data analysis is serving as a perfect bridge to our next, more abstract unit: balancing chemical equations. By seeing the reaction that creates carbon dioxide gas firsthand, the symbolic language of chemistry becomes much more meaningful. Thank you again for bringing this exciting, effective, and memorable project to life.","fullyFundedDate":1758667525314,"projectUrl":"project/fizz-foam-and-chemistry-bath-bomb-sci/9621465/","projectTitle":"Fizz, Foam, and Chemistry: Bath Bomb Science in Action!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4813892_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679927568977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mandi-jung"},{"teacherId":9252530,"projectId":9127397,"letterContent":"I greatly appreciate your support. It means a lot to me, and these students deserve new and exciting things in their classrooms. \r\n\r\nThe students get a lot of enjoyment from seeing their Spanish skills pay off while they're reading. It's a little celebration every time they're surprised at how much they know or when something clicks for them. It's cool to see; thank you for that. \r\n\r\nThis is the third set of books I've been able to acquire for students through Donor's Choose. When I think back to my middle school classrooms, I'm amazed at how much our students are able to do today that my peers couldn't back in the day. \r\n\r\nThank you, again, for enabling us to grow beyond expectation and enjoy new, fun materials while we learn.","fullyFundedDate":1741547926423,"projectUrl":"project/increasing-literacy-in-8th-grade/9127397/","projectTitle":"Increasing Literacy in 8th Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Springer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9252530"},{"teacherId":8432165,"projectId":9334561,"letterContent":"Thank you for your investment in my classroom of young STEM problem solvers. Having a mobile storage cart for science notebooks helps my class run more smoothly. Every student has a slot to store their work in the classroom. Students are encouraged to jot down their ideas frequently (what we're observing, what we're wondering... what we've figured out, what we want to know next) to track the progress of our thinking over time. We work together to move our science thinking forward!\r\n\r\nPlease enjoy the small photo gallery I've shared: you'll see students observing box models as we investigate a phenomena with a one-way mirror (how can something look like a mirror and a window at the same time?), you'll see our initial class consensus models (our first draft!), and some welcome gifts (bookmarks) students made at the end of last year for this year's new students (with your donation of markers).\r\n\r\nYour generous donation helps my class be as engaging as possible for all of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1749727217023,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-biliteracy-in-the-environment/9334561/","projectTitle":"Supporting Biliteracy in the Environmental STEM Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lin-Celeste","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432165_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651199343664","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/linlaoshi"},{"teacherId":8432165,"projectId":9352263,"letterContent":"It was a wonderful spring semester; your generous donation towards calming strips, markers and pencils has directly influenced that!\r\n\r\nThis quarter, in our daily \"Foundations\" class, we focused on our thoughts, emotions and decisions. Students learned how to recognize strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts, and apply strategies for managing their emotions and reducing stress.\r\n\r\nStudents decided to pay it forward by setting next years' new students up for success with a welcoming banner (in Chinese!) and decorated locker signs and bookmarks (which will be added to gift bags with the calm strips and pencils).\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our young eager learners!","fullyFundedDate":1747768841897,"projectUrl":"project/spread-kindness-a-warm-welcome-week/9352263/","projectTitle":"Spread Kindness: A Warm Welcome Week","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lin-Celeste","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432165_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651199343664","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/linlaoshi"},{"teacherId":8432165,"projectId":9204548,"letterContent":"It's been a wonderful school year; your generous donation towards collaborative lab supplies, a compact freezer, and fun incentives has directly influenced that!\r\n\r\nWe engaged in a variety of science and engineering practices this year; my goal was to help my students identify as more than science class students, but as scientists! We began filling our notebooks with noticings, wonderings, and drawing models to represent our initial ideas of this year's opening anchoring phenomenon: bath bombs.\r\n\r\nThe following healing unit began with students hearing about an injury to a student that caused him to need stitches, pins, and a cast, and wondering how he returned to being able to run and jump again.\r\n\r\nMicroscopes came into play as we investigated what the different parts of our body are made of from the macro to the micro scale. The impact on my students was so deep - I had students who were sparked with curiosity and wanted to continue looking at cells at home!\r\n\r\nI will soon be posting an album of photos for you that includes snapshots from units throughout this year. Enjoy!\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our multilingual community of emerging scientists and engineers!","fullyFundedDate":1746670888248,"projectUrl":"project/full-steam-ahead-personalized-learning/9204548/","projectTitle":"Full STEAM Ahead: Personalized Learning with Hands-on Labs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lin-Celeste","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432165_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651199343664","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/linlaoshi"},{"teacherId":8432165,"projectId":9204429,"letterContent":"It's been a wonderful May; your generous donation towards Spring Festival LEGOs and organizational supplies has directly influenced that!\r\n\r\nWhen students were caught up with assignments and assessments, they can join a STEM game station. Students are delighted as they chat about the details hidden in the expansive kits. The bamboo rolling cart is perfect for storing partially completed sets between class periods and at the end of the day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our young multilingual leaders!","fullyFundedDate":1746474204812,"projectUrl":"project/learning-chinese-through-hands-on-experi/9204429/","projectTitle":"Learning Chinese Through Hands-On Experiences II","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lin-Celeste","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8432165_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651199343664","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/linlaoshi"},{"teacherId":4813892,"projectId":9060553,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support in providing our leadership students with new journals! From the moment they saw them, the excitement was clear—many students immediately flipped through the pages, talking about how they couldn't wait to start writing. Some even commented on how having a dedicated journal made them feel like \"real leaders\" who were ready to reflect and grow.\r\n\r\nWe've already started using the journals in meaningful ways. One powerful moment happened during a lesson on goal setting. I asked students to write about a leader they admire and then set personal leadership goals for the semester. Seeing them thoughtfully write, erase, and revise their goals showed me just how seriously they were taking this opportunity. Some even shared their goals with the class, sparking great discussions on perseverance and growth.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, these journals will continue to play a big role in our class. Students will use them for daily reflections, team-building exercises, and tracking their progress on leadership projects. We're also planning a gratitude exercise where students will write letters to someone who has inspired them. Your generosity has not only provided a place for their thoughts but also a space for personal growth and self-discovery.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible—you are helping shape the next generation of leaders, one journal entry at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1737675175059,"projectUrl":"project/building-tomorrows-leaders-tools-for-r/9060553/","projectTitle":"Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: Tools for Reflection and Teamwork","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4813892_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679927568977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mandi-jung"},{"teacherId":4813892,"projectId":8893323,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your generosity in bringing new recess supplies to our students! The excitement was off the charts the moment they saw the new equipment. Their eyes lit up, and cheers filled the playground as they rushed to try out the new balls, jump ropes, and frisbees. It was like watching pure joy unfold!\r\n\r\nSince receiving the supplies, we've seen such a positive shift in how students engage during recess. They are more active, cooperative, and creative in their play. One of my favorite moments was watching a group of students organize their own mini soccer tournament—setting up teams, making fair rules, and cheering each other on. It was a perfect example of teamwork and leadership in action!\r\n\r\nBeyond just recess, these supplies have also helped reinforce important classroom lessons about communication, problem-solving, and sportsmanship. As we continue working on leadership skills in class, I know these moments of play will translate into stronger collaboration and confidence in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for making such a meaningful difference in our students' daily lives. Your kindness has not only given them the tools for fun but also for growth and learning. We can't wait to keep you updated on all the wonderful things happening in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1730428524393,"projectUrl":"project/recess-supplies-for-hpms/8893323/","projectTitle":"Recess Supplies for HPMS","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4813892_orig.jpg?crop=2268,2268,x0,y362&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679927568977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mandi-jung"},{"teacherId":8429458,"projectId":9047388,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to make our 7th grade service-learning project a great success. Students worked in groups to pack backpacks for students experiencing homelessness, hygiene kits for unhoused neighbors, made door decorations for residents at a local nursing home, and packed diapers for mothers in need. The students were excited to be helping out in their community and it was a great relief to the staff that we did not have to charge our students to volunteer.\r\n\r\nBefore the students got to work on their projects we had some high school students come and get the students hyped up to others in their community. With the energy students got from hearing from their peers and your donations, they were able to pack 100 backs, make 100 hygiene kits, create 60 door decorations, and pack 2500 diapers. This means that we were able to help make 260 peoples' day brighter and hopefully easier.","fullyFundedDate":1737497309465,"projectUrl":"project/help-7th-graders-make-a-difference-in-ou/9047388/","projectTitle":"Help 7th Graders Make a Difference in Our Community!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Propson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8429458_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y184&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736534957318","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8429458"},{"teacherId":9821039,"projectId":8911921,"letterContent":"I want to thank you ALL for your support in our classroom. From this project, students received brand new headphones and art supplies. Within the last month, students finished their unit by creating poster's describing the impact of migration in Minnesota and the importance of immigration to our community. The art supplies were key in allowing this final project to come together and helping student's display their learning in creative ways. \r\n\r\nThe headphones have been useful to listening to first-person interviews and news stories, including local news from MPR. My students in my Spanish Language Arts class have also been able to use their headphones daily as they review vocabulary and grammar. I am looking forward to using these supplies in the spring as we learn about climate justice in our state.\r\n\r\nI believe having access to quality, working school supplies is something every student deserves. Sometimes, we need to ask for help from our communities to help support every person in the classroom. I really appreciate the time and donation that you made to help make this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1730868910879,"projectUrl":"project/climate-justice-project-in-middle-school/8911921/","projectTitle":"Climate Justice Project in Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sofía","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9821039_orig.png?crop=1088,1088,x0,y65&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1739401387470","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821039"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_76107","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":811,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":48,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":78.9,"schoolId":76107,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highland Park Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highland Park Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/highland-park-junior-high-school/76107"}