{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"John M Smyth Magnet School","outOfStateSupporters":27.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8423164,"projectId":9567859,"letterContent":"The new materials have transformed our classroom into a more organized and inspiring learning space! My students were so excited when they saw the new bulletin boards and storage bins — they immediately began helping me organize supplies and pin up their favorite pieces of work. The rotating pencil holders have made it easier for them to find what they need quickly, promoting independence and responsibility.\r\n\r\nOne special moment was when a few students proudly used the cork boards to display their \"All About Me\" projects. Seeing their work showcased boosted their confidence and sparked conversations among classmates about each other's interests and strengths.\r\n\r\nNow that our classroom is more functional and inviting, my students can focus more on their learning projects and creative tasks. Our next step is to use these spaces to feature ongoing STEM and art projects, helping students share their learning journeys and celebrate their growth together.","fullyFundedDate":1762266327193,"projectUrl":"project/providing-essential-tools-for-a-creative/9567859/","projectTitle":"Providing Essential Tools For A Creative And Focused Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. ORN","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8423164_orig.jpg?crop=1310,1310,x191,y853&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748746434273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missorn"},{"teacherId":8423164,"projectId":9366649,"letterContent":"The moment our new sewing machine and heavy-duty scissors arrived, my students were filled with excitement and curiosity! Many of them had never seen a real sewing machine before, and their faces lit up with anticipation when I explained we'd be using it to make real items — like pencil pouches, mini pillows, and sensory-friendly fidget tools.\r\n\r\nWe started by learning the names of each part of the sewing machine, then practiced with threading and guiding fabric. For some of my students with fine motor or sensory needs, even just pushing fabric through with two hands was a big win! The scissors were perfect for students who needed extra grip support, and they've become a tool we use daily across art, life skills, and even math (measuring fabric!).\r\n\r\nOne of the most beautiful moments was watching a student with limited verbal skills complete their first stitching line with pride — they beamed and immediately asked to make something for their mom. Projects like these aren't just crafts — they build confidence, patience, and independence.\r\n\r\nUp next, we're working on a classroom quilt where each student designs a square that represents them. This project will allow them to express their identity while practicing skills like measuring, cutting, and following a pattern. Your donation made all of this possible — and our classroom is buzzing with creativity because of you!","fullyFundedDate":1756496078150,"projectUrl":"project/sew-much-potential-stitching-life-skill/9366649/","projectTitle":"Sew Much Potential: Stitching Life Skills for Special Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. ORN","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8423164_orig.jpg?crop=1310,1310,x191,y853&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748746434273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/missorn"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9663773,"letterContent":"These math essentials have been such game changers in our classroom! Especially our magnetic base ten blocks! We have used them for just about everything that has to do with math! We are using them to decompose numbers, carrying in addition and borrowing in subtraction. They have really enjoyed visually seeing how numbers work! \r\nThe stapler and stapler removers have also been game changers in our classroom! We use staples a lot in here with our bulletins, sight words, and learning posters. And the staple remover makes taking down our bulletin boards every month so much easier! Thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1760297819844,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-mathathon/9663773/","projectTitle":"Classroom Mathathon!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9374753,"letterContent":"Thank you for all of our new classroom decor! Our room looks so bright and shiny and it is all thanks to you! The amazing new additions have given our classroom more life and color and the students are truly loving them! They have been using the calming strategies very often when they are upset and using the feelings chart to identify how they are feeling when they are unable to orally state it! They have been beyond helpful with creating a more positive classroom atmosphere. We are using our vocabulary and animal posters to learn about new things we haven't learned before. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1758829004178,"projectUrl":"project/sy-25-26-classroom-renovation/9374753/","projectTitle":"SY 25-26 Classroom Renovation!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9342099,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for choosing our classroom! These dividers have been such a game changer for our classroom. They have allowed us to be able to divide our room into different sections to get students to concentrate more while they are learning during small groups! When they are not being used to divide up the room, they are acting as a barrier to our toy area so students do not get distracted while doing whole group learning. They truly are an amazing addition to our room! The new colorful bins have also been amazing for keeping our toy area looking tidy and beautiful! It has given our classroom more life, thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1757514166048,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-space-update/9342099/","projectTitle":"Classroom Space Update!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9704989,"letterContent":"These snacks have made a huge difference for our students! They love that they have a variety of snacks to choose from and they leave school with a very satisfied tummy! It is thanks to donors like you that we are able to provide a snack time to our students and we could not thank you enough for that!\r\nThe snacks are so bountiful that we truly have not even made a dent in them yet! Thank you so much from me and my amazing students. They are being set up for success and our classroom staff feels so supported.","fullyFundedDate":1758222076702,"projectUrl":"project/snack-attack/9704989/","projectTitle":"Snack Attack!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9353421,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to this amazing project! I am so grateful to you all for supporting my classroom. The Poly Spots are a big hit in the classroom! We use them during our movement breaks so that students respect their space and don't bump into each other and it works great! The time clock is also a game changer, students not only have a visual timer on the board but also they are able to see the clock time be less and less. It has also been handy to start to teach them the concept of time! Thank you so much donors for being so good to us!","fullyFundedDate":1752846470008,"projectUrl":"project/beneficial-classroom-tools/9353421/","projectTitle":"Beneficial Classroom Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":433136,"projectId":8510292,"letterContent":"Most third grade students have the gift for gab! However, when given a list of options for choice time they often gravitate towards laptops and electronic games. Your generous donation has given our class the opportunity to be thoughtfully engaged with one another outside of academic learning time. Some of my students had never experienced games such as Master Mind or Don't Spill the Beans. It was incredible to see them learning to play and also choosing to engage others to share how to play the game. Some students also made connections between the games and content areas we have studied. For example, Connect Four was a great visual of horizontal and vertical lines! Chess was another favorite. Many students wanted to learn how to play and couldn't wait to challenge each other. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your wonderful donation. I can't wait to share it with next year's class.","fullyFundedDate":1726697915252,"projectUrl":"project/checkmate-improving-thinking-social/8510292/","projectTitle":"Checkmate! Improving Thinking & Social Skills With Games","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp433136_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x716,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1660053243611","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/433136"},{"teacherId":2247834,"projectId":9158556,"letterContent":"We look forward to reading the Scholastic News magazines every month. Scholastic news allows students to have digital access so they can read with their families at home. The students will learn about different current events happening. They will be able to share what we've learned with others. Students will be able to have the experience of reading informative text and coming up with questions so they can enhance their collaborative discussions with their peers. Thank you for your generosity and continued support. We really appreciate you taking the time to donate to our project.","fullyFundedDate":1743442571952,"projectUrl":"project/news-we-can-use/9158556/","projectTitle":"News We Can Use","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cipriani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2247834_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677582708774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-cipriani"},{"teacherId":8569426,"projectId":9065041,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations. I'm excited to share how my students are using the new literacy resources and ABC games donated by our generous donors. One of the highlight moments has been when students first saw the colorful, engaging materials they were immediately curious and eager to explore. I watched as their faces lit up with excitement, and they eagerly started playing the ABC games independently, reinforcing their letter recognition and phonemic awareness.\r\n\r\nSince receiving these resources, my students have become much more engaged and confident in their learning. They love practicing their alphabet skills through interactive games, which have made learning both fun and meaningful. The students are now taking more initiative, working in pairs or small groups to complete activities, which has fostered collaboration and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, the next step for my students is to apply what they've learned by creating their own simple stories and words using the alphabet tools. This will help them connect literacy concepts with their own creativity and develop stronger reading and writing skills. I am grateful for your support as these resources are making a significant difference in my students' literacy skills.","fullyFundedDate":1742566720662,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-read-and-work-independently/9065041/","projectTitle":"Learning to Read and Work Independently!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Winston","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8569426_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1672532441417","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8569426"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9104174,"letterContent":"Thank you for choosing our classroom to support! With times like these it is hard to get the support needed not only for schools but for classrooms with students with disabilities. I will continue to fight for my students and whatever they require to become their best selves and reach their highest potential! Thank you for helping me be able to achieve that! Promoting student independence has always been a priority for me as a teacher and these materials will help me do just that, my students have already gained so much practice thanks to you!","fullyFundedDate":1746785455981,"projectUrl":"project/promoting-student-independence/9104174/","projectTitle":"Promoting Student Independence!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"},{"teacherId":9100822,"projectId":9311558,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to allow us to celebrate the end of a beautiful school year. All of our students had so much fun and are still talking about the amazing bubble party they were able to experience thanks to YOU. I truly would not have been able to put something so amazing together without your support. It meant a lot to not only me but the other Cluster Classrooms that we invited to celebrate this amazing day with. We were able to learn about the science behind bubbles and play with them for such a long time it was a great experience and I cannot wait to continue to do this year after year. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746637882479,"projectUrl":"project/end-of-the-year-bubble-party/9311558/","projectTitle":"End Of the Year Bubble Party!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9100822_orig.jpg?crop=1243,1243,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693324319640","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9100822"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5828","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":364,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":90,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":94,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":73.0,"schoolId":5828,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about John M Smyth Magnet School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"John M Smyth Magnet School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/john-n-smyth-magnet-school/5828"}