{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Milaca Area Learning Center","outOfStateSupporters":75.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10352236,"projectId":10189036,"letterContent":"Our ALC students have been using the sewing machine to explore fashion design, creativity, and practical life skills! One student is even currently working on making her own dress. She started by deconstructing an existing dress and is using those pieces as a template to create something new. It's been so fun watching her work through the process, from figuring out how the original dress was constructed to learning how to piece everything back together, how to set up and use the sewing machine, and even how to use an iron. Projects like this give students the opportunity to problem-solve, think creatively, and learn skills they can use well beyond the classroom!\r\n\r\nThe students were confused when they first saw the sewing machine. They also had a slight look of fear when I told them they would all learn how to use it this year - seeing others start to use it has helped change that fear into excitement.\r\n\r\nWe hope to expand into more student projects that allow them to explore their interests while building practical skills like measuring, planning, troubleshooting, and following a process from start to finish. Having this sewing machine has given our students another creative outlet and an opportunity to experience the pride that comes with making something with their own hands. Thank you for making these opportunities possible!","fullyFundedDate":1784432679164,"projectUrl":"project/stitching-confidence-at-the-alc/10189036/","projectTitle":"Stitching Confidence at the ALC","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam Stuckey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10352236_orig.png?crop=1241,1241,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763324873117","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10352236"},{"teacherId":10352236,"projectId":10182681,"letterContent":"Our students have been using the guitar to bring music into lessons that might not traditionally involve it! One of our recent assignments was about identity theft and a student did not want to complete the written assignment, so instead they wrote their own jingle about identity theft. It's been a fun way to make important real-world topics more engaging and memorable. In our alternative learning environment, finding creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding is so important and having access to instruments like this allows us to make learning a little more exciting!\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we're excited to continue finding creative ways to incorporate music into our classroom projects. Students will have opportunities to experiment with songwriting, rhythm, and musical expression while connecting those skills to what they're learning in other subjects. The identity theft jingle project is just one example of how music can help students take information they've learned and turn it into something creative and meaningful (and hopefully something they will remember for longer). Thank you for helping us bring a little more music and creativity into our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1779385307664,"projectUrl":"project/helping-alc-students-find-their-voice-th/10182681/","projectTitle":"Helping ALC Students Find Their Voice Through Music","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam Stuckey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10352236_orig.png?crop=1241,1241,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763324873117","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10352236"},{"teacherId":10352236,"projectId":10158132,"letterContent":"Our students have been using the 3D printer to explore creativity, design, and problem-solving in a hands-on way! It has been an exciting addition to our classroom, giving students the opportunity to take an idea from something they imagine on a screen to an actual object they can hold. Students are learning about the design process, experimenting with different creations, and discovering how technology and art can work together. One of the coolest parts has been seeing students get excited about creating something completely their own! We even had a senior create a capstone project in which she did a mixed media art project on mental health.\r\n\r\nStudents were incredibly excited when they saw the 3D printer (and so was I)! For many of them this was their first opportunity to experience 3D printing up close. We took it out right away and the students took over reading the directions and setting it up. Once it got going they were fascinated watching the printer build objects layer by layer and immediately started brainstorming things they wanted to create. It's been especially fun seeing students who don't always get excited about traditional classroom assignments become interested in learning something new.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building our students' skills in 3D design and printing while encouraging them to take on more independent projects. We're also excited to explore ways to connect 3D printing to other subjects and real-world applications and hope to open a fundraiser type business creating custom 3D prints for other teachers, students, and maybe even the community. This printer has opened up so many possibilities for our students, and we're incredibly grateful to our donors for helping bring this technology into our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1775569916037,"projectUrl":"project/tech-for-learning-business-fundraising/10158132/","projectTitle":"Tech for Learning, Business, Fundraising, and Life Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam Stuckey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10352236_orig.png?crop=1241,1241,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763324873117","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10352236"},{"teacherId":10352236,"projectId":10182832,"letterContent":"Our ALC students are using the walking treadmill as a way to add movement into their day without having to step away from their their other course work. We have a lot of students currently that get extra fidgety throughout the day. The treadmill gives students an opportunity to get some movement in while continuing to work on assignments. It's been a great addition to our classroom and another way we can meet students where they're at!\r\n\r\nThe students were so curious when they first saw the walking treadmill! Having something like this available in a classroom isn't something they're used to and they started arguing right away over who would get to try it first. It has also been fun encouraging the unexcited ones to try it out and then watching them realize that it actually does help them focus while they work.\r\n\r\nWe plan to continue having the treadmill available to students by request. Our goal is to help students recognize how movement can impact their focus, energy, and overall well-being. Thank you for helping us create a learning environment that supports students in more ways than one!","fullyFundedDate":1778227166353,"projectUrl":"project/fitness-for-focus/10182832/","projectTitle":"Fitness for Focus","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam Stuckey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10352236_orig.png?crop=1241,1241,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763324873117","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10352236"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_68009","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":17,"numTeachers":3,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":75,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":12,"gradesServed":"10 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"5.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":25.0,"schoolId":68009,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Milaca Area Learning Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Milaca Area Learning Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/milaca-independent-school-district-912/milaca-area-learning-center/68009"}