John Ruhrah School 228 in Baltimore, Maryland on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"John Ruhrah School 228","outOfStateSupporters":46.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":811198,"projectId":5987719,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, \"We Want Rainbow Merch!\" Your generous donation helped our school's Gender and Sexuality Alliance club purchase a Cricut maker and supplies to create club-related crafts and personalized items. With these materials, our club members had the ability to enhance their problem-solving skills, tap into their creativity, develop design skills and work collaboratively. Club members used the machine to design and make rainbow and LGBTQ-themed stickers, posters, signs and banners.\r\n\r\nThanks again for making a difference in my students' lives!","fullyFundedDate":1636848279292,"projectUrl":"project/we-want-rainbow-merch/5987719/","projectTitle":"\"We Want Rainbow Merch!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Joust","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp811198_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1477885762363","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/joust"},{"teacherId":9559687,"projectId":9389806,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my DonorsChoose project. Because of your kindness, our classroom received a new computer along with several books focused on integrating technology into my instruction. These resources have already been incredibly valuable in helping me strengthen my teaching. I have been using the computer to design interactive lessons and manage student work more efficiently. \r\n\r\nIn my Physical Education classroom (gym), time is often lost to explaining activities - attempting to define rules, boundaries, and directions. Thanks to the generous gifts that you have contributed, we are maximizing our class activity time! Using these resources, I have also been able to create visual assistance in modeling movements, skills, and activities. It has helped to breathe life into my classes!\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, I'm eager to continue growing in my ability to design meaningful tech-infused lessons that spark curiosity and deepen learning. I'm especially excited to dive further into the resources from The Google-Infused Classroom as we prepare for upcoming units that incorporate more student collaboration and creativity through digital tools.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in my students and supporting innovation in our learning environment. You truly made a difference, and we are so grateful for your support!\r\nWith appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1749217689699,"projectUrl":"project/leveling-up-pe-professional-development/9389806/","projectTitle":"Leveling Up Pe: Professional Development in EdTech Integration","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Strautin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9559687_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x9,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748817901914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9559687"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":8024392,"letterContent":"Thank you for making this project a reality! Your generosity did not go unnoticed, and I genuinely appreciate your time and your kindness\r\n My students used and still use their behavioral punch cards to track their Dojo points (an app used for parents and students to track points awarded to good choices and points taken away for bad choices) and to receive their rewards. My students were and still are so excited to receive these supplies. Classes become more engaging and my students are coming to school much more often.\r\nYOU ROCK, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1701399680568,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-tools-for-esol-students/8024392/","projectTitle":"Literacy Tools for ESOL Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4134337_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699888447472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-garofollo"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":8025149,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity towards my ESOL students. Your donation allowed my students to have interesting books to read in class and to complete literacy homework at home.\r\n Your generosity allowed my students to have ample access to literacy textbooks. My students are early readers, and I have faith that they will continue to strive for academic success thanks to you. Thank you for believing in the quality of public education, and thank you for believing in the education of minorities and vulnerable students. YOU ROCK!","fullyFundedDate":1699901477328,"projectUrl":"project/books-to-increase-literacy-help-us/8025149/","projectTitle":"Books to Increase Literacy! Help us!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4134337_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699888447472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-garofollo"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":9244110,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating these amazing books to my classroom. My students absolutely LOVE reading all these new books in class. They are reading books for homework and during their Independent Book block in school.\r\n\r\nMy students started to get so excited to read books, and it is a joy to see students read books in Spanish language as well, since the goal is to increase literacy.\r\nI appreciate your loyalty to public education, and I appreciate your generosity towards my international students. Thank you for believing in the quality education in public schools.\r\nYOU ROCK!!","fullyFundedDate":1746457513537,"projectUrl":"project/new-books-for-esol-classroom/9244110/","projectTitle":"New Books for ESOL Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4134337_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699888447472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-garofollo"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":7077347,"letterContent":"Thank you for making this project a reality. I use the supplies to teach lessons in 4th grade in order to increase language acquisition. This project allowed my students to have access to effective supplies that we use daily. These supplies are used daily and provide opportunities for my students to learn English as a Second Language and to have fun during lessons. \r\nI am very thankful for this opportunity and for your kindness. Your donation didn't go unnoticed, and I truly thank you for believing in the quality education in public schools.","fullyFundedDate":1680788138443,"projectUrl":"project/classrooms-supplies-for-esol-4th-grader/7077347/","projectTitle":"Classroom's Supplies for ESOL 4th Graders!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4134337_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699888447472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-garofollo"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":6089659,"letterContent":"Thank you for making this project a reality. I use the laptop to teach lessons in another class far from my classroom. This project allowed my students to have access to websites that we use daily. Websites that provide opportunities for my students to learn English as a Second Language and to have fun during lessons. \r\nI am very thankful for this opportunity and for your kindness. Your donation didn't go unnoticed, and I truly thank you for believing in the quality education in public schools.\r\nYOU ROCK!","fullyFundedDate":1646919372844,"projectUrl":"project/new-classroom-computer-to-esol-classroom/6089659/","projectTitle":"New Classroom Computer to ESOL Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4134337_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699888447472","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-garofollo"},{"teacherId":2184303,"projectId":8430674,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support! Your generosity will make a huge impact as I continue to work with my students to improve their foundational literacy.\r\n\r\nWith the purchased materials, I can increase my knowledge of how best to teach my multi-lingual students and improve their literacy. The materials will be used in small groups to practice and teach fluency skills. Students will also be able to complete dictation activities using the materials. \r\n\r\nLastly, I will be able to share what I learn from the academic text with my peers. We are all striving to make learning productive, meaningful, and interactive for our students. As teachers, we continue to learn and grow in order to meet the needs of our changing world. I appreciate your continued support.","fullyFundedDate":1717191649534,"projectUrl":"project/reading-writing-and-remarkable-learner/8430674/","projectTitle":"Reading, Writing, and Remarkable Learners!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harrington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2184303_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458001309843","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jessica-harrington"},{"teacherId":2184303,"projectId":7997679,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support, yet again! My students are dedicated and persistent, and are deserving of the necessary materials to enrich their learning.\r\n\r\nMy students loved playing Blah, Blah, Blah -- even the students who were not the target audience! The hands-on materials were a welcome break from the reading curriculum and encouraged discussions between students. \r\n\r\nWith these materials and a strong literacy curriculum, I feel confident that I am providing the best forms of instruction. I will continue to use these materials with small groups of struggling readers for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1699276123770,"projectUrl":"project/everyone-deserves-to-read/7997679/","projectTitle":"Everyone Deserves to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harrington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2184303_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458001309843","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jessica-harrington"},{"teacherId":2184303,"projectId":5869202,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity and for believing in my students. With your help, I was able to purchase the color printer. The printer has been a tremendous help not only to my students but also to other students in my building. I've shared the use of the printer with other teachers, and they too send their thanks!\r\n\r\nWith color prints, my students are better able to see details in images. Images are more interesting and capture the students' attention. In addition, the color printer has allowed me to save money on classroom supplies. In many cases, instead of purchasing classroom materials, I am able to make my own.\r\n\r\nThank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1633322491181,"projectUrl":"project/learning-in-color/5869202/","projectTitle":"Learning in Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harrington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2184303_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458001309843","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jessica-harrington"},{"teacherId":9420677,"projectId":8116929,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for your generous support through DonorsChoose. Thanks to your kindness, our classroom is now equipped with the tools we need to learn, create, and grow every day. The equipment you provided has already made a big difference in how we engage with our lessons and in how confident my students feel in their learning space.\r\n\r\nYour gift didn't just supply materials—it brought excitement, curiosity, and a renewed sense of hope into our room. Every time my students interact with the visual materials during class time I'm reminded of the impact your generosity has made.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us—thank you for believing in our class. Your support means more than words can express!","fullyFundedDate":1708626459437,"projectUrl":"project/print-future/8116929/","projectTitle":"Print Future","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arrofo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9420677"},{"teacherId":4134337,"projectId":5953497,"letterContent":"Your donation made this project a reality for my immigrant students. We appreciate your generosity and commitment to the education of public school students.\r\nAfter my ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) students received these books, reading in class has become a norm and an enjoyable time. ESOL students are now able to take the books home for an entire week so they can complete their reading homework. My students are much more engaged in reading lessons, and even their English language acquisition has improved.\r\n\r\nYOU made this a reality. 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About this school

John Ruhrah School 228 is an urban public school in Baltimore, Maryland that is part of Baltimore City Public School District. It serves 1,061 students in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.3:1. Its teachers have had 374 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 8

1,061 Students

58 Teachers

701 Rappolla St

Baltimore, MD 21224 View local requests

http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/228

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

John Ruhrah School 228 Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Garofollo- John Ruhrah EMS #228

Ms. Holly Fredrickson

See more teachers from John Ruhrah School 228

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John Ruhrah School 228 Demographics

87%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

91%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

John Ruhrah School 228 Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.