{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"J.G. McCracken Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":33.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8562929,"projectId":9425187,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Popping with Progress: Celebrating iReady Goals with Popcorn Fridays!\" Your kindness has brought excitement, motivation, and a sense of celebration into our classroom.\r\n\r\nMy students work hard each week on their iReady reading and math lessons, setting personal growth goals and tracking their progress. With the help of the popcorn supplies you provided, we celebrate students who meet their goals or show strong effort with Popcorn Fridays. This small reward has made a huge difference in motivation. One Friday, when students realized they had earned popcorn for meeting their lesson goals, the entire class erupted in cheers. It turned a regular academic milestone into a moment of pride and celebration.\r\n\r\nThe first time students saw the popcorn supplies, they were thrilled. Many of them immediately started asking how they could earn the reward and began encouraging each other to stay focused during their iReady lessons. It created a positive atmosphere where students celebrate one another's growth and effort.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, these celebrations are about much more than a snack. They reinforce the idea that hard work, persistence, and progress matter. Students now check their iReady dashboards more frequently, track their completed lessons, and push themselves to meet their weekly goals.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building this culture of goal-setting and reflection. Students are beginning to analyze their iReady data, set personal improvement targets, and celebrate not just reaching goals but also showing perseverance when learning gets challenging.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students are learning that progress is something to be proud of—and sometimes it's worth celebrating with a little popcorn!\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and encouraging my students to keep striving for success.","fullyFundedDate":1758636747692,"projectUrl":"project/popping-with-progress-celebrating-iread/9425187/","projectTitle":"Popping with Progress: Celebrating iReady Goals with Popcorn Fridays!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Francis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8562929_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y97&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659486188392","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-francis1"},{"teacherId":8562929,"projectId":9778940,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Unlocking Mysteries at the Biltmore: Graphic Novels for 6th Grade.\" Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom, and my students were beyond excited when the books arrived!\r\n\r\nGraphic novels have become a powerful tool for helping my 6th graders develop important literacy skills. Through these texts, students are learning how to analyze dialogue, interpret visual clues, determine theme, and make inferences using both words and images. The combination of illustrations and text helps students strengthen comprehension strategies such as identifying central ideas, understanding character development, and tracking plot structure. These books also support vocabulary development and encourage students to think critically about how authors and illustrators work together to tell a story.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is an active and engaging experience. Students participate in small group discussions, partner reading, and independent reading time where they analyze scenes, make predictions, and connect the story to larger themes. Graphic novels provide a unique opportunity for students to slow down, closely examine details, and practice citing evidence from both the text and the illustrations.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who were previously hesitant readers have become especially excited about these books. Some students who often struggled to stay engaged during reading time are now eager to pick up a book and discuss what they discovered on each page. One student even shared that the graphic novel format helped them understand the story more clearly because the illustrations supported the text. Seeing students build confidence and enthusiasm for reading has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, my students are not only reading more—they are thinking more deeply about what they read and discovering that books can be exciting, meaningful, and fun.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in my students and helping bring stories to life in our classroom.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMrs. Francis\r\n6th Grade ELA Teacher","fullyFundedDate":1761849624938,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-mysteries-at-the-biltmore-gra/9778940/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Mysteries at the Biltmore: Graphic Novels for 6th Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Francis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8562929_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y97&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659486188392","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-francis1"},{"teacherId":7096175,"projectId":9934046,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generous support of our classroom project. Because of your kindness, we were able to receive several copies of The Hobbit, and the impact on my students has been immediate and meaningful.\r\n\r\nHaving class sets of a high-quality novel has transformed the way we experience literature together. Instead of sharing limited copies or relying solely on excerpts, each student now has direct access to the text. This allows them to annotate, track character development, and gather textual evidence more effectively—skills that are essential at the 8th-grade level. Most importantly, it gives every student equal access to the same rich learning opportunity.\r\n\r\nThe Hobbit has been especially beneficial because it engages students who may not always see themselves as readers. The adventure, vivid imagery, and character growth spark curiosity and thoughtful discussion. Students have been eager to analyze Bilbo's transformation and explore themes of courage, loyalty, and personal growth. Our classroom conversations have become deeper and more student-driven because they can reference specific passages confidently.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has not only provided books—it has provided opportunity. You have helped foster stronger reading skills, greater confidence, and a shared literary experience that builds community within our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and their love of learning. Your support truly makes a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1765233096187,"projectUrl":"project/into-the-misty-mountains-funding-our-ho/9934046/","projectTitle":"Into the Misty Mountains: Funding Our Hobbit Adventure","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Matheson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7096175"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":9841182,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my 8th graders this year with your generous donation. Having community partners and friends and family give to this project allowed for me to do this project without a hiccup. I am forever grateful :)\r\n\r\nAs you can see from the photos, the materials have already been used to make our first round of spectroscopes. The kids loved using their materials and I had plenty of tape for the dispensers so that no one had to wait to get theirs for the project. I also have enough to allow the classes next year to make theirs. It is because of donors like you that I can continue to make science a verb where kids can learn while also using their hands to see how things work.","fullyFundedDate":1764723291504,"projectUrl":"project/star-light-star-bright/9841182/","projectTitle":"Star Light, Star Bright","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"},{"teacherId":4104489,"projectId":9862939,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations to allow us to have a digital scoreboard for our wrestling room and use during matches and tournaments. As our team has grown and expanded to now has an official sanctioned girls team along side the guys team this scoreboard has filled a void that we had.\r\nBeing able to have the digital scoreboard allows for the team to be able to see the clock and score in real time. The scoreboard also allows for those working the clock to more easily keep track of the events going on as it is all in one place versus stopwatches, and paper pencil bout scores.\r\nThe scoreboard has allowed the team to enter into the modern era and they are all very excited to use the new equipment for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1767143357782,"projectUrl":"project/scoreboard-for-the-win/9862939/","projectTitle":"Scoreboard for the Win!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Purdy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4104489_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480385299359","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4104489"},{"teacherId":9122283,"projectId":9277363,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our classroom book project. Because of you, my students will have access to engaging, high-quality books that spark curiosity, strengthen literacy skills, and inspire a love of reading.\r\n\r\nIn a 7th grade classroom, the right book can make all the difference. It can help a student discover a new passion for science, see themselves reflected in a story, or build confidence as a reader. Your donation is not just adding books to our shelves — it is creating opportunities for growth, imagination, and learning every single day.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful for your kindness and belief in my students. Your support directly impacts their success, and we cannot wait to dive into these new books together!","fullyFundedDate":1746785698717,"projectUrl":"project/reading-is-sweetand-so-is-science/9277363/","projectTitle":"Reading Is Sweet...and So Is Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9122283_orig.jpg?crop=549,549,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690678552521","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9122283"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":9325996,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much for your donation to bringing these art supplies to my classroom. We use colored pencils and markers almost everyday, so it does not take long to use up the ones that I have and need to replenish. \r\n\r\nMy students have especially loved having the Colors of the World twistables. They like that they don't have to be sharpened and the colors are not ones that are found in other packs of colored pencils, so it gives them some more options. Their doodle notes have never looked better:). I am also so thankful for the bulk box of markers because there are enough of the colors without me having to open new boxes just to get the colors that are needed at the moment, like when we are doing blackout poems (the black gets all used up fast!!)\r\n\r\nI am so grateful to have you partnering with me to provide the very best materials for my students and helping them have what they need to do their best work.","fullyFundedDate":1755736852280,"projectUrl":"project/coloring-science-beautiful/9325996/","projectTitle":"Coloring Science Beautiful","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":8744173,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding this project that we used to wrap up our Electricity and Magnetism unit. It was the perfect thing for today since the weather was so nice outside!! We had the best time today using the compasses and clipboards to find places that had been mapped out and then collecting letters that spelled out a special message. The kids were all engaged in the activity as they ran to the places and had smiles on their faces the whole time. \r\n\r\nI cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it was to see them all love what they were doing and having fun. Thank you again for your generosity and for helping me teach my students that learning can take place everywhere:)","fullyFundedDate":1730844490790,"projectUrl":"project/which-way-do-i-go/8744173/","projectTitle":"Which Way Do I Go?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":9517007,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping fund this project for new calculators and stop watches in my classroom. We have already been able to use both of these with labs demonstrating Newton's Laws and Speed. I love the colors and I always can locate my students in a group because they are the ones with the cool tools:). \r\n\r\nDonors like you make such a difference to teachers in the schools. Today's kids are so eager to apply what they are learning and always want to know how they are going to use the information in the future. You are helping me teach content that they are going to be able to hopefully remember and make it fun while they are doing it.\r\n\r\nThanks again for your generosity:)","fullyFundedDate":1757709066696,"projectUrl":"project/counting-on-science/9517007/","projectTitle":"Counting on Science","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"},{"teacherId":4104489,"projectId":9603936,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! Because of your generosity, students can now cut materials like cardboard more safely, efficiently, and with greater enjoyment. The Chomp Saw has transformed what used to be a difficult, rushed step of project preparation into an activity students genuinely look forward to.\r\n\r\nThey are taking their time, sharing turns, and paying closer attention to detail. As a result, their projects are coming together with cleaner, more precise pieces, which is directly improving the quality of their final work.\r\n\r\nYour gift has not only provided us with a safer tool but has also sparked excitement and pride in the creative process. We are truly grateful for your impact on our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755874527391,"projectUrl":"project/chomp-into-art-safe-cutting-tools-for-c/9603936/","projectTitle":"Chomp Into Art! Safe Cutting Tools for Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Purdy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4104489_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480385299359","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4104489"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":9278074,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your part in funding this project for my classroom. All of the materials have already been put to use in these first few weeks. In the past 2 weeks, we have completed some standardized testing and I was thankful to have the new fidgets that I could pass out to the kids as they were working. I could see their nervous energy turn into concentration when they had them in their hands. Since all of the fidgets are quiet, they did not disrupt anyone as they were working and everyone was satisfied. \r\n\r\nI have also enjoyed having the keyboard to free me up to move more around the room and I can monitor the students as they work much easier.\r\n\r\nAs I said, all of the materials are either being used or will be used soon to help the students keep learning at the highest level.","fullyFundedDate":1746462605158,"projectUrl":"project/fidget-while-i-work-in-science/9278074/","projectTitle":"Fidget While I Work in Science","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"},{"teacherId":6793619,"projectId":9490338,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and funding for these back to school basics. We are doing many projects right now in all of my classes and the materials are being put to good use. I don't have to run around the room with tape and staplers because I have the table buckets that I can put out for them to use. I can't wait to display some of their projects and that will be when the Mavalus tape will come in very handy since it is strong but will not damage my walls. I always love using colored paper to make my letters for displays and to run important reference sheets, such as the periodic table and common ion sheets. \r\n\r\n I know that my students are so supported and for that, I am grateful to each of you.","fullyFundedDate":1755720574132,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-the-basics-for-school/9490338/","projectTitle":"Back to the Basics... For School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jami Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6793619"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_6534","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":937,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":35,"percentWhite":47,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":11,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"17.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":66.5,"schoolId":6534,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about J.G. McCracken Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"J.G. McCracken Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/south-carolina/spartanburg-school-district-7/j-g-mccracken-junior-high-school/6534"}