{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"McKay High School","outOfStateSupporters":35.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10645016,"letterContent":"Sometimes it's the simplest things that make the biggest difference in a classroom. A fresh pack of construction paper, a printer that actually works, or having enough scissors for everyone might not seem like much, but these are things that make my job easier and give my students more opportunities to learn. Thanks to you, we now have those resources, and I couldn't be more grateful!\r\n\r\nMy classroom is full of students who are learning English while also adjusting to a new school, a new community, and, for some, a completely new country. I want learning to be more than just sitting at a desk and completing assignments. With these new supplies, we can bring our lessons to life through posters, maps, timelines, and creative projects. Students can work together, practice their English, and share what they know without feeling like they have to find the perfect words every time.\r\n\r\nI'm especially looking forward to filling our classroom walls with student work and photos. I want students to see themselves represented in our classroom and feel proud of what they've created. The rolling whiteboard is another exciting addition because it gives us a place to work through ideas together, make mistakes, erase them, and try again. Sometimes those little moments of working together are where some of the best learning happens.\r\n\r\nThank you again so much!!","fullyFundedDate":1789556137887,"projectUrl":"project/creating-connecting-and-learning-toget/10645016/","projectTitle":"Creating, Connecting, and Learning Together","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10551972,"letterContent":"Thank you so much!!!I can't thank you enough for helping bring this project to life! My students have so many creative ideas, and thanks to your generosity, we now have the tools to actually make those ideas happen. Having a Cricut and heat press in our classroom opens up so many possibilities, from designing our own shirts and stickers to creating things that represent our cultures, interests, and personalities.\r\n\r\nWhat makes this project so special to me is that it's about more than just making cool stuff. I work with many newcomer students who are still finding their place at school, and I want my classroom to be somewhere they feel comfortable, welcomed, and excited to be. I love the idea of a student coming in during lunch with an idea for a shirt and leaving with something they designed and made themselves. These are the kinds of experiences that can help students build confidence, make new friends, and discover talents they might not even know they have.\r\n\r\nAs we get this creative space up and running, I'm excited to see what my students come up with. My hope is to eventually have them create items for school events, work on projects together, and maybe even explore turning some of their ideas into small businesses. I want this to be a space where they can try new things, make mistakes, learn from each other, and have fun along the way.","fullyFundedDate":1788984405934,"projectUrl":"project/designing-our-stories-creativity-in-act/10551972/","projectTitle":"Designing Our Stories: Creativity in Action","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10623085,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project and helping me keep snacks and drinks available for my students. These resources have already become an important part of our classroom and have helped in ways that can sometimes be easy to overlook.\r\nThroughout the day, I have students who come into class hungry, missed breakfast, or simply need something to help them get through the rest of the school day. Now, when a student tells me they are hungry, I can simply offer them something to eat. There doesn't have to be a big conversation or any embarrassment. They can grab a snack, eat, and get back to learning.\r\n\r\nIt has also been fun using some of the snacks as small rewards. I can recognize a student for completing a difficult assignment, participating in class, helping someone else, or having a really good day. It might only be a bag of popcorn or a drink, but students get excited about it, and it gives me another small way to let them know that their effort is noticed.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, these snacks have helped make our classroom a place where students know they are cared for. I want my students to know that if they are hungry, they don't have to sit quietly and struggle through class. Sometimes having something to eat is all a student needs to reset, focus, and have a better rest of their day.\r\n\r\nThank you so much!!!","fullyFundedDate":1789318808596,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-minds-snacks-to-help-students-l/10623085/","projectTitle":"Fueling Minds: Snacks to Help Students Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10545513,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my students and helping bring these games into our classroom! They may seem like simple board and card games, but they have already created some really meaningful moments for my newcomer students.\r\nSince students keep their phones in YONDR pouches during the school day, the games have given them something fun to do during free time, after finishing their work, or when we have a few extra minutes at the end of class. It has been great seeing students gather around a table to play UNO, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, and the other games. Some of my students are still very new to our school and to the United States, so seeing them laugh, teach each other how to play, and include classmates they may not normally talk to has been one of my favorite parts of this project.\r\nWhat I love most is that they are practicing English without really thinking about it as English practice. They are asking questions, learning new words, explaining rules, joking with each other, and figuring out how to communicate when they don't have all the words yet. Those little conversations matter, especially for a student who is still building the confidence to speak English.\r\n I want my classroom to be a space where they feel comfortable, build friendships, practice their English, and feel like they belong. Your support helped us create more of those moments. \r\nThank you!!!!!","fullyFundedDate":1789319401891,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-connecting-beyond-the-screen/10545513/","projectTitle":"Game On: Connecting Beyond the Screen","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10300695,"letterContent":"These supplies may seem simple, but they have made a big difference in our classroom. We use the notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, markers, and other materials every single day. My students know that if they come to class without something they need, they can grab it and get started. There is no stress or embarrassment about not having a pencil or notebook. They can just focus on learning.\r\n\r\nMy students were really excited when we opened everything and started organizing the supplies. There is something about a box full of brand-new school supplies that gets everyone excited, even high school students! We've already used them for writing, vocabulary activities, maps, drawings, group work, and other class projects. The cleaning and organization supplies have also helped us keep our classroom comfortable and organized.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, these materials will continue to be part of our everyday learning. For my newcomer students, there are already so many things they are trying to figure out as they adjust to a new language, school, and community. Having the basic things they need waiting for them is one less thing they have to worry about. Thank you for helping us create a classroom where students can walk in, feel prepared, and get right to work!","fullyFundedDate":1784422435321,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-newcomers-through-everyday-es/10300695/","projectTitle":"Supporting Newcomers Through Everyday Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10525181,"letterContent":"This little photo printer has been such a fun addition to our classroom. My students already love taking pictures, but there is something completely different about being able to print a photo right away and actually hold it in their hands. The first few times we used it, students were gathered around waiting for their pictures to come out and were genuinely excited to see the final result.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the printer to connect photography with writing and storytelling. Students can take a picture, print it, and then use that image to write about a memory, experience, person, or place that is important to them. This has been especially helpful for my newcomer students because sometimes they have a lot they want to share, but they are still developing the English to fully explain it. A photograph gives them a starting point and makes writing and conversation feel a little easier.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite things has been seeing how proud students are of their photos. They want to show them to their friends, put them up in the classroom, or take them home. Instead of their pictures just disappearing into a camera roll, their work becomes something real that we can display, write about, and celebrate. Thank you for giving my students another way to be creative and share their stories!","fullyFundedDate":1787824547144,"projectUrl":"project/from-camera-roll-to-classroom/10525181/","projectTitle":"From Camera Roll to Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10300697,"letterContent":"This project has brought a lot of fun and extra motivation into our classroom. My students were especially excited when they saw the World Cup LEGO trophy. Soccer is a huge part of many of their lives, so it immediately got their attention. We've been using the different rewards and snacks to recognize things like completing assignments, participating in class, improving attendance, and simply putting in a little extra effort.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite parts has been seeing how something small can make a big difference. A snack or small reward might not seem like much, but for some of my students, being recognized for their effort really matters. My students are still learning English and adjusting to a new school and community, so I want our classroom to be a place where they feel comfortable taking chances, making mistakes, and continuing to try.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we'll continue using these incentives to celebrate progress and encourage students to set small goals for themselves. Whether that means completing more work, speaking more English in class, improving attendance, or participating when they normally wouldn't, we want to celebrate that growth. Thank you for helping me make our classroom a place where students feel noticed, supported, and motivated!","fullyFundedDate":1787235777643,"projectUrl":"project/small-incentives-big-growth-for-newcome/10300697/","projectTitle":"Small Incentives, Big Growth for Newcomers","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9333502,"projectId":10393739,"letterContent":"These books have been a great addition to our classroom. One of the biggest things I've noticed is that students are much more willing to read when they actually get to choose something they're interested in.\r\nFor many of my students, reading in English can still be challenging, so having soccer books, manga, graphic novels, and other high-interest options makes a huge difference. Students will pick up a book because something catches their attention, and sometimes I'll look over and realize they've been reading for much longer than they probably expected!\r\nWe're still working on important skills like vocabulary, comprehension, and reading stamina, but my favorite part has been seeing students actually enjoy reading. I've even had students recommend books to their friends or ask if they can borrow one to take home.\r\nThank you for helping us build a classroom library that my students are genuinely excited to use!","fullyFundedDate":1786402728762,"projectUrl":"project/a-library-built-around-student-choice/10393739/","projectTitle":"A Library Built Around Student Choice","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9333502_orig.jpg?crop=3853,3853,x656,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726692805705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9333502"},{"teacherId":9201736,"projectId":10243452,"letterContent":"Thank you for the donations. Your generous donations gave me a wide variety of supplies that are incredibly useful in my day to day teaching. Supplies like pencils are incredibly critical to learning, but they are also a supply that constantly seems to disappear from my classroom. It is a horrible feeling when a student asks you for a pencil, but you don't have any to give them. Thanks to your donations, I have an ample supply of pencils for students to use that will hopefully last me this year if not several years. \r\n\r\nOther supplies like colored pens, markers, and paper help to engage students in learning activities that allow students to use their creativity. It is always amazing to see students complete creative projects to demonstrate their learning. Your donations mean a lot to me and my students.","fullyFundedDate":1778177508122,"projectUrl":"project/basic-supplies-for-my-classroom/10243452/","projectTitle":"Basic Supplies for my Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9201736"},{"teacherId":8430768,"projectId":10037883,"letterContent":"Here's a longer and more heartfelt version of your DonorsChoose thank you note:\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom project! Your support means more than words can express, and we are incredibly grateful for your investment in our students and their learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our students will now have access to fetal development models as well as detailed 3D representations of male and female anatomy. These hands-on learning tools will make an enormous impact in our classroom by helping students better visualize and understand concepts that can often feel abstract when only viewed in textbooks or slideshows.\r\n\r\nThese resources will allow students to engage more deeply in lessons surrounding human growth, development, anatomy, and overall health education. By being able to physically explore and interact with these models, students will gain a stronger understanding of how the human body develops and functions. This kind of experiential learning not only improves comprehension, but also encourages curiosity, discussion, and confidence in learning about important health topics.\r\n\r\nYour donation is helping create a more engaging, inclusive, and meaningful learning environment for our students. Opportunities like this help bring science and health education to life in ways that students will remember long after they leave the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our students, our classroom, and the future of education. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are excited to put these materials to use!","fullyFundedDate":1771032323177,"projectUrl":"project/model-of-male-female-anatomy/10037883/","projectTitle":"Model of Male & Female Anatomy","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8430768_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753302746566","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8430768"},{"teacherId":8430768,"projectId":9974093,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our classroom project! Your support means more than words can express, and we are incredibly grateful for your investment in our students and their learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our students will now have access to fetal development models as well as detailed 3D representations of male and female anatomy. These hands-on learning tools will make an enormous impact in our classroom by helping students better visualize and understand concepts that can often feel abstract when only viewed in textbooks or slideshows.\r\n\r\nThese resources will allow students to engage more deeply in lessons surrounding human growth, development, anatomy, and overall health education. By being able to physically explore and interact with these models, students will gain a stronger understanding of how the human body develops and functions. This kind of experiential learning not only improves comprehension, but also encourages curiosity, discussion, and confidence in learning about important health topics.\r\n\r\nYour donation is helping create a more engaging, inclusive, and meaningful learning environment for our students. Opportunities like this help bring science and health education to life in ways that students will remember long after they leave the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our students, our classroom, and the future of education. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are excited to put these materials to use!","fullyFundedDate":1771032323370,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-human-anatomy-to-life-with-hand/9974093/","projectTitle":"Bringing Human Anatomy to Life With Hands-on Models","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8430768_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753302746566","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8430768"},{"teacherId":9201736,"projectId":9893156,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation to support my classroom. I host an after school book club and we are currently reading The Bell Jar. One of my students said \"it is cool seeing things from the perspective of a mentally unstable person--Esther\". Another student said \"I really enjoy Plath's vivid descriptions of food. Sometimes it makes me cackle\". It is great to see students engaging with a text that both interests and challenges them. Your generosity has enabled my students in book club to read this book, but it will also give my future students the opportunity to read it as well.","fullyFundedDate":1772228699926,"projectUrl":"project/classic-novels-for-book-club/9893156/","projectTitle":"Classic Novels for Book Club","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9201736"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_47225","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":2281,"numTeachers":100,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":73,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":4,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"22.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":64.1,"schoolId":47225,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about McKay High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"McKay High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/salem-keizer-school-district-24j/mckay-high-school/47225"}