{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Merrillville Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":45.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9088665,"projectId":10227233,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Write It, Work It, Learn It.\" My students received composition notebooks that we are using for math notes, examples, vocabulary, and practice problems. These notebooks help students keep their thinking in one place, which is so important in 5th grade math.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the notebooks, they were excited to have something of their own to use for learning. We will continue using them during daily lessons, small groups, and review activities. These notebooks will help students stay organized, show their work, and look back at their notes when they need support.","fullyFundedDate":1778288233808,"projectUrl":"project/write-it-work-it-learn-it/10227233/","projectTitle":"Write It, Work It, Learn It","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Grubbs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9088665_orig.jpg?crop=1233,1233,x0,y587&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696091000224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-d-grubbs"},{"teacherId":9088665,"projectId":10229544,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Folders That Can Keep Up With 5th Grade.\" The plastic three-prong folders are helping my students keep their math notes, practice pages, and assignments organized and protected. In 5th grade, papers can get lost or damaged quickly, so having strong folders makes a big difference in our daily routine.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the folders, they were excited that everyone had the same color folder just for math. There was no arguing over colors, and it helped us feel organized from the start. Our next step is to keep adding important notes and examples to the folders so students can use them as a math resource when they need help.","fullyFundedDate":1778288233329,"projectUrl":"project/folders-that-can-keep-up-with-5th-grade/10229544/","projectTitle":"Folders That Can Keep Up With 5th Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Grubbs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9088665_orig.jpg?crop=1233,1233,x0,y587&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696091000224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-d-grubbs"},{"teacherId":9088665,"projectId":10189258,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to our project, \"Keeping Math Class Stocked and Organized.\" Your support truly means a lot to me and my students. In our classroom, these materials are not just extra supplies. They are things we use every single day to help our math class run the way it needs to run. Teaching 5th grade math means there are always papers, pencils, notes, assignments, folders, and materials being used from the moment students walk in until the moment they leave. Having these supplies has helped us stay more organized and prepared, which makes a big difference in how smoothly our day goes. Instead of students worrying about not having what they need, they are able to get started, follow along, and focus on the math in front of them. One moment that stood out to me was during a recent math review activity. My students were able to come in, grab what they needed, get settled, and begin working without me having to stop the lesson several times to find missing supplies. That may sound small, but in a classroom full of 5th graders, those small things matter more than people realize.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were excited. They wanted to help organize everything, put things in the right place, and make sure our classroom looked nice and ready. I love seeing that because it shows that they take pride in our classroom. Many of my students are still learning how to be responsible for their materials, how to keep track of their work, and how to stay organized throughout the day. Having the right resources in the room helps teach those skills in a real and practical way. It also helps my students feel cared for. Some students do not always come to school with everything they need, and I never want that to be the reason they cannot fully participate in class. Because of your donation, students can walk into math class knowing that we have what we need to learn. That gives them confidence and takes away some of the stress that can come with not being prepared. It also helps create a classroom where students know they are supported and expected to do their best.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building strong math habits and growing our confidence as problem solvers. We are working on reviewing important skills, practicing multi-step problems, and learning how to stay organized while showing our work. These materials will continue to support us during whole group lessons, small group instruction, independent practice, and classroom projects. My goal is for my students to understand that math may be challenging at times, but they are capable of doing hard things when they have the right tools, support, and mindset. Your donation helped make our classroom feel more prepared, more organized, and more welcoming. I am truly grateful that you chose to support my students and invest in our classroom. Thank you for helping us keep learning moving in the right direction.","fullyFundedDate":1776096515332,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-math-class-stocked-and-organized/10189258/","projectTitle":"Keeping Math Class Stocked and Organized","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Grubbs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9088665_orig.jpg?crop=1233,1233,x0,y587&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1696091000224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-d-grubbs"},{"teacherId":8482974,"projectId":10160436,"letterContent":"My students are thrilled to be using the resources provided. They were especially excited to unpack and get to sit in the flexible floor seats and on the donut yoga balls. They met in a small group, sat in the seats and began discussing their group projects. The chart paper and markers were used to organize their thoughts and jobs within the group. They will continue to meet weekly and present their final collaborative group project. Your extremely kind donation brought absolute joy to my students and encouraged them to take true ownership of their learning as they also collaborated.","fullyFundedDate":1778520765370,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-team-meetings/10160436/","projectTitle":"Flexible Team Meetings","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bacon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8482974_orig.jpg?crop=388,388,x16,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653500778541","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8482974"},{"teacherId":8482974,"projectId":10237877,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations which allowed my students to spread kindness through our grade. The students lived writing kindness notes on post its and sticking them to lockers throughout the school. These little symbols of kindness brought joy to many kids who needed to feel seen by their peers. The snacks also helped spread kindness in response to the notes in the mailbox. The snacks made a huge impact on kids, some of which are food insecure. Thank you again for your kindness as it has a huge impact on greater character development.","fullyFundedDate":1778873909907,"projectUrl":"project/spreading-kindess/10237877/","projectTitle":"Spreading Kindess","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bacon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8482974_orig.jpg?crop=388,388,x16,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653500778541","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8482974"},{"teacherId":8482974,"projectId":10190445,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for facilitating the donation of chart paper, markers, and the pencil sharpener to our classroom. Your generosity has provided us with essential supplies that we rely on daily, and we are deeply grateful for the thoughtfulness behind this gift.\r\nThese materials have had an immediate and meaningful impact on our students. With chart paper and markers, our ten-year-old learners are able to brainstorm, plan, and prototype STEM projects that address real problems they care about. The pencil sharpener has kept their tools ready and their work uninterrupted, allowing deeper focus and more sustained creativity during design and testing phases.\r\nBecause of your support, students are engaging in hands-on problem solving, collaborating more effectively, and showing increased confidence in proposing solutions to challenges they experience as ten-year-olds. Your contribution is helping to build not only projects, but also critical thinking and teamwork skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Thank you for making this work possible.","fullyFundedDate":1776190496122,"projectUrl":"project/sharpen-and-chart-stem/10190445/","projectTitle":"Sharpen and Chart Stem","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bacon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8482974_orig.jpg?crop=388,388,x16,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653500778541","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8482974"},{"teacherId":9592109,"projectId":9558887,"letterContent":"Students are enjoying growing their seeds in the hydropnics systems. They were extremely excited to learn that you can grow plants in just water! Students chose seeds and packed them in the growwers and learned the benefits of growing your own food. Stduents gave reasons as to why to grow your foods, such as, you know the ingredients, avoid pesticides and chemicals, feed the family for cheaper than buyign it at the store, and the stress relief of working with plants. This has been a fun expreince for the students and myself and it is a skill they can take with them as they grow older. Thank you fro providing the tools to create this learning opportunity to the students.","fullyFundedDate":1758202621405,"projectUrl":"project/the-unseen-garden-fostering-sustainable/9558887/","projectTitle":"The Unseen Garden: Fostering Sustainable Habits in Our Youth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pierce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9592109_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y368&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720934628729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mspierceclass"},{"teacherId":9060885,"projectId":9797266,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generosity in supporting our classroom with Storyworks and Scholastic magazines. Because of you, my 6th grade students now have access to engaging, high-quality texts that are transforming the way they experience reading every day.\r\n\r\nThese magazines have allowed us to focus on essential literacy skills in a way that feels meaningful and relevant. Students are practicing close reading, analyzing nonfiction and fiction texts, identifying central ideas, and supporting their thinking with evidence. We are also building vocabulary, improving writing skills through text-based responses, and strengthening critical thinking as students discuss real-world topics presented in each issue. The variety of genres—articles, plays, debates, and narratives—helps reach all types of learners.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become interactive and student-centered. You'll often see students annotating texts, highlighting key ideas, and engaging in thoughtful discussions with their peers. We read together, independently, and in small groups. The excitement is noticeable—students are more willing to participate, share opinions, and ask deeper questions.\r\n\r\nThere are several students who have especially connected with these materials. Some who previously struggled to stay engaged are now eager to read aloud or volunteer their thoughts. Others who already loved reading are being challenged in new ways, diving deeper into analysis and making connections beyond the text. It has been powerful to watch their confidence grow.\r\n\r\nYour support has not just provided reading materials—it has opened doors for curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. Thank you for investing in my students and helping create a classroom where reading truly comes to life.","fullyFundedDate":1769177216035,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-nonfiction-literacy-and-vocabu/9797266/","projectTitle":"Fostering Nonfiction Literacy and Vocabulary Acquisition","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bushnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9060885_orig.jpg?crop=540,540,x0,y135&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754524575036","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9060885"},{"teacherId":9710437,"projectId":9919038,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our \"From Foam to Copper\" project. When our supplies arrived, the students and I were incredibly excited! Many of my students had never worked with these mediums before, and for some, this may be their only opportunity to explore such specialized materials.\r\nWe first used the foam sheets to dive into printmaking. After studying the history of Pop Art, from icons like Andy Warhol to modern masters like Takashi Murakami, students planned and refined their own designs. Seeing their ideas come to life from foam prints was a highlight; they were completely hooked on the process and are already asking to explore the medium again in the future.\r\nThe copper foil truly came to life during our \"Make Your Own Coin\" project. Students researched the history and evolution of currency, even discussing current news regarding the penny. Using this context, they drafted original coin designs and embossed them into the foil using various tools. The results were stunning. Beyond the art itself, this project taught them persistence; those who pushed through the technical challenges walked away with both a beautiful piece and a newfound sense of resilience.\r\nThank you for providing the tools that make these hands-on discovery moments possible!","fullyFundedDate":1769177215491,"projectUrl":"project/from-foam-to-copper-exploring-art-techn/9919038/","projectTitle":"From Foam to Copper: Exploring Art Techniques","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9710437"},{"teacherId":9494416,"projectId":10144610,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to engaging, high-interest novels that are transforming our classroom. During independent reading and small group discussions, students are strengthening skills like making inferences, analyzing characters, and identifying themes. One student who previously struggled to stay engaged in reading recently told me, \"I can't wait to see what happens next,\" while reading The Lightning Thief. Moments like this show just how impactful these books have been.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is now more exciting and accessible because students can easily find books they enjoy in our newly organized library. The label maker has helped create a system where students can quickly locate books by genre and interest, giving them ownership of their reading choices. Your support has created a space where every student feels confident, excited, and inspired to read.","fullyFundedDate":1773859669530,"projectUrl":"project/books-within-reach-for-every-reader/10144610/","projectTitle":"Books Within Reach for Every Reader","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9494416_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715784584391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9494416"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":10060571,"letterContent":"Because of all of your genetous donations, my students have unlimited supplies for their interactive notebooks. These supplies are so plentiful that they will last for the remainder of the s hood year. Our cabinets and bins are stocked with all of the supplies needed for students to continues to learn without interruption. Students who do not have supplies or who run out of supplies, can now go to the cabinet and retrieve any supply needed. This cuts down on classroom interruptions, and it also ensures that each and every student feels a sense of security in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769479330835,"projectUrl":"project/interactive-notebook-supplies/10060571/","projectTitle":"Interactive Notebook Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":9644940,"letterContent":"My wonderfully creative students were able to create numerous projects because of your generous donations. Each and every student now has access to plenty of supplies for the remainder of the school year. We have also completed numerous projects, including play doh governments, interactive posters, and lanterns because our classroom is now stocked with supplies. Thank you so much for all of your donations. My students have put the supplies to great use. With your help, we are able to have a more hands-on classroom where everyone feels included.","fullyFundedDate":1765993016137,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-all/9644940/","projectTitle":"Supplies for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_19884","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":788,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":85,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":64,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":6,"gradesServed":"5 - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"16.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":54.3,"schoolId":19884,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Merrillville Intermediate School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Merrillville Intermediate School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/indiana/merrillville-community-school-district/merrillville-interm-school/19884"}