{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Niu Valley Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":10.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7932784,"projectId":10103070,"letterContent":"I am grateful for the contributions which led to the purchase of these items. I am not sure if anyone actually reads these letters, but if you notice, I am purchasing items which are necessary to teach my class. Music classes are expensive to fund, and we are at the point where many resources are directed towards standardized testing. These are not nice-to-have items such as snacks or pillows which some people are purchasing. I hope that this will be taken into consideration for future projects. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1771439016990,"projectUrl":"project/strings-and-things/10103070/","projectTitle":"Strings and Things","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fanning","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7932784_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720470882813","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7932784"},{"teacherId":9470029,"projectId":10105266,"letterContent":"The moment our packages arrived, the energy in our classroom completely transformed. When my seventh and eighth graders walked in to see new, comfortable chairs, a shelf of board games, and a fully stocked snack station, they were absolutely thrilled. Middle schoolers can be tough to impress, but their faces lit up with immediate excitement. For many of my students, seeing these resources made them feel genuinely seen, valued, and cared for. They couldn't wait to try out the new seating and, of course, find out how they could earn the snacks.\r\n\r\nWe integrated these resources into our daily routine right away. During our recent social studies unit, the impact was clear. Students who usually struggle to focus were settled comfortably in our new chairs, fueled by a warm cup of noodles or a quick snack, and completely locked into the lesson. We used the new board games during community-building Friday sessions, where students practiced collaboration, strategic thinking, and historical trivia. The snacks have become a wonderful tool for positive reinforcement, boosting morale, and keeping everyone's \"brain fuel\" high during long afternoon blocks.\r\n\r\nWith our classroom environment now feeling so supportive and inclusive, my students are ready for their next big challenge. We are wrapping up a collaborative research project where students worked in teams to analyze different historical perspectives. Thanks to your support, they have a comfortable space to collaborate, the stamina to focus on deep research, and a classroom community that feels like a second home. Thank you for making this vibrant learning environment possible!","fullyFundedDate":1771627734027,"projectUrl":"project/creating-an-inclusive-collaborative-cl/10105266/","projectTitle":"Creating an Inclusive & Collaborative Classroom That Feels Like Home","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Millan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9470029_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758735521801","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9470029"},{"teacherId":7941437,"projectId":10111121,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Because of your support, our classroom is now fully stocked with the essential tools my students need to create, collaborate, and thrive. When the boxes arrived, the students couldn't wait to dive into the new materials.\r\n\r\nThe vibrant cardstock papers have brought so much color into our room and student binders. We used them as dividers for our new math units. Glue sticks and hot gun glue sticks are the ultimate classroom essentials for a crafty classroom! The mini whiteboards have completely transformed our partner practice. Instead of just passively listening, students are now actively writing, erasing, and teaching one another. It has made our review sessions incredibly dynamic, and the students love the hands-on, low-stakes way to practice new skills!\r\n\r\nYour kindness has given my students the freedom to create without limits and the tools to work together more effectively. Thank you for being such an important part of our learning community and for showing my students that their education matters.","fullyFundedDate":1771781077241,"projectUrl":"project/crafty-students/10111121/","projectTitle":"Crafty Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7941437_orig.jpg?crop=1338,1338,x1142,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667273622261","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7941437"},{"teacherId":7941437,"projectId":10103969,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and for investing in our classroom! Your support has truly transformed our daily environment, and the students were absolutely thrilled when the packages arrived.\r\n\r\nThe Nintendo Switch has become a fantastic tool for building community, rewarding positive behavior, and encouraging teamwork among the students. Having a reliable supply of snacks makes a massive difference. It ensures that every student is energized, focused, and ready to learn without any distractions.","fullyFundedDate":1771774057111,"projectUrl":"project/switching-up-advisory/10103969/","projectTitle":"Switching Up Advisory","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Yo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7941437_orig.jpg?crop=1338,1338,x1142,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667273622261","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7941437"},{"teacherId":9804591,"projectId":10103239,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity. My students love working on their feet but keeping a vertical classroom running requires a mountain of resources. The dry erase markers make a huge difference. Your gift ensures that every single student has the tools they need to keep collaborating, taking risks, and making their thinking visible without interruption. \r\n\r\nAdditionally, the colored paper has been fantastic for injecting creativity into our math projects and interactive notebooks. Just today I had a student give a happy \"oooh\" when seeing the wonderful choices to create her box plot poster. The puzzle mats are also a wonderful flexible seating alternative for students. Some students work better when they're able to stretch and relax while thinking. \r\n\r\nThank you for recognizing the value of active learning and for giving us the fuel we need to keep our momentum going strong!","fullyFundedDate":1771696813338,"projectUrl":"project/lets-problem-solve-together/10103239/","projectTitle":"Let's Problem-Solve Together!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Green","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9804591"},{"teacherId":8305871,"projectId":10108194,"letterContent":"​I want to express my deepest gratitude for your generosity in bringing this project to life. The moment the boxes containing our new books, puzzles, and wobble chairs arrived, the classroom was filled with pure joy. When the students first saw the new wobble chairs, there was an immediate rush of excitement to try them out! Their eyes lit up as they explored the vibrant new books and beautifully designed puzzles. It felt like a holiday in our classroom, and it instantly signaled to my students that their comfort, curiosity, and learning are deeply valued by people outside our school walls.\r\n​We wasted no time putting these fantastic resources to work, and they have already completely transformed our daily routine. The wobble chairs have been a game-changer for active learning; students who used to struggle to sit still are now channeling their extra energy productively, staying focused and engaged during independent reading time with our new books. Just this week, I watched a pair of students who often struggle to cooperate sit together with one of the new puzzles. They worked seamlessly to problem-solve, communicating beautifully to piece it together. Seeing them completely absorbed in a task, comfortable in their environment, and learning through play has been the absolute highlight of introducing these materials.\r\n​Looking ahead, we are excited to keep this momentum going. Our next step is to integrate the puzzles into our morning routine to help students wake up their brains and practice critical thinking before our formal lessons begin. We are also launching a new reading challenge where students will use the wobble chairs as a special \"active reading zone\" to dive into our new book collection. Your support hasn't just provided us with physical objects; it has created a dynamic, flexible, and joyful learning environment. Thank you for investing in my students and making our classroom a place where everyone can thrive!\r\n​With sincere appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1771733399929,"projectUrl":"project/focus-read-break-time/10108194/","projectTitle":"Focus, Read, Break Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Justan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8305871_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771523986630","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8305871"},{"teacherId":10264159,"projectId":10106020,"letterContent":"The supplies and resources I received have already made a meaningful impact in my classroom community. My students were immediately excited to see new games, puzzles, and activities available for them to use. One of the most popular resources has been the puzzles, which students frequently work on together throughout the day. These moments have created opportunities for collaboration, conversation, and relationship-building, as students naturally communicate and problem-solve with one another while working toward a common goal. I often join in as well, which has helped strengthen connections between myself and my students in a relaxed and positive environment.\r\n\r\nBeyond simply having fun, these resources are helping students develop important communication and social skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Many of the games require students to explain ideas, think strategically, follow rules, and work cooperatively with peers. Even when students encounter games that seem challenging or unfamiliar, they have shown a willingness to step outside of their comfort zones and try something new. Watching students gain confidence while learning new activities has been incredibly rewarding and has encouraged a classroom culture where students feel safe taking risks and supporting one another.\r\n\r\nOverall, these resources are helping students build stronger relationships with each other while deepening their engagement with learning in a collaborative and engaging way.","fullyFundedDate":1771624462035,"projectUrl":"project/sel-activities-feeling-connected/10106020/","projectTitle":"SEL Activities: Feeling Connected","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Viloria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10264159"},{"teacherId":8823507,"projectId":10103073,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom. When the boxes arrived with the lap desks, floor chairs, wobble chairs, and lamp, my eighth graders tried their best to act casual, but their excitement definitely broke through. There was a lot of immediate inspecting of the new gear and quite a few competitive claims over who got to sit where first.\r\n\r\nThe supplies were epecially useful in our essay writing units, where I require students to write initial drafts by hand. These new resources made the writing blocks much more productive. My students love to spread out when they write rather than being stuck at standard desks. On a recent writing day, the classroom looked entirely different: I had students working on the beanbags using the lap desks, a few others locked into their zones in the floor chairs, and a couple of restless writers burning off energy on the wobble chairs. We also turned off the harsh overhead lights and turned on the new lamp, which instantly gave the room a calmer, more focused atmosphere.\r\n\r\nThe seating was also very useful when we created a whole class found poetry, during which we circles up around the front of the class. Seeing students chilling in chairs while collaborating and creating was inspiring.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has given my students a comfortable space where they can relax, spread out, and actually focus on their writing. Thank you for making our classroom a much better place to work.","fullyFundedDate":1771524204516,"projectUrl":"project/writers-corner/10103073/","projectTitle":"Writer's Corner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Roney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8823507_orig.jpg?crop=2351,2351,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667242028142","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8823507"},{"teacherId":8405113,"projectId":10103245,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your thoughtful generosity. It means more than you know! The standing desk especially was useful in this last quarter of the year when we did presentations! It worked as a podium for students which helped relieve some of their anxiety about being up in front of their peers. Students commented that it actually made them feel more professional as well!\r\n\r\nThe standing desk also allows me to now present from various spots in the classroom. In a couple of my classes, I have more than a handful of students who need preferential seating, especially closer to the teacher. This has allowed me to separate these students and still be able to stay close to them throughout the class period! \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you and know that you have made a big difference in our class!","fullyFundedDate":1771495551478,"projectUrl":"project/flexibility-and-visibility-in-the-classr/10103245/","projectTitle":"Flexibility and Visibility in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kim","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8405113"},{"teacherId":8821581,"projectId":10162097,"letterContent":"Subject: Thank you for building history with us!\r\n\r\nDear Donor,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous gift of Lego baseplates for our classroom. This project has turned our students into active creators. By providing these materials, you have allowed them to build a physical, three-dimensional picture of history that truly sticks.\r\n\r\nWhen students physically build a landmark or a battlefield, they gain a much deeper understanding of the \"how\" and \"why\" of history than they ever could by just reading about it. Best of all, these creations help turn abstract lessons into a tangible experience they can touch and feel. Your kindness is helping our students build a stronger connection to the world's story, one brick at a time.","fullyFundedDate":1774812688780,"projectUrl":"project/lego-building/10162097/","projectTitle":"Lego Building","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bookatz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8821581_orig.jpg?crop=667,667,x185,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667899419856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821581"},{"teacherId":8821581,"projectId":10106182,"letterContent":"I am thrilled we've secured the supplies to create these interactive books. In Social Studies, visual learning is the key to bridging the gap between a distant past and a student's modern reality. By transforming flat maps and historical timelines into three-dimensional, visual experiences, we aren't just teaching facts—we're building a sense of place and time.\r\n\r\nBy incorporating hand-drawn cartography into these books, we offer students a much deeper connection to the world. When a student draws a map, they aren't just 'reading' about a location—they are inhabiting it. Tracing the curve of a coastline or the jagged peaks of a mountain range forces a closer look into the geography, climate, and strategic layout of a place in a way that a printed page never could.","fullyFundedDate":1771619771219,"projectUrl":"project/book-creations/10106182/","projectTitle":"Book Creations","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bookatz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8821581_orig.jpg?crop=667,667,x185,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667899419856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821581"},{"teacherId":7938231,"projectId":10105490,"letterContent":"What a wonderful surprise it was to see the announcement of a Department of Education donor supporting our classrooms. I was so happy that I would be able to capitalize on this opportunity once again. Your generosity has made it possible for me to support my students in a multitude of ways.\r\n In the classroom, I was able to provide them with incentives: I ordered some candies, snacks, and mints to help them get through tough days. I used some mints during our statewide testing sessions so students could stay alert and focused. The other snacks were used as incentives for good behavior and for having one-to-one conferences. After the conferences, students were able to choose their favorite snack, and always seemed to be ready to snack on something when to get them through the long days at school.\r\n In the garden, the 2 compost bins were built by the students and immediately put to use. We havIe so far only put leaves and a few banana peels. Thanks to the compost bins, the feral pigs in our neighborhood will have more challenges when it comes to chomping on things from the garden. This summer, the bins will be used to teach students lessons about the cycling and flow of matter in a garden ecosystem. I am excited to see what \"grows\" as a result of our new bins!","fullyFundedDate":1771633129533,"projectUrl":"project/sustainable-science/10105490/","projectTitle":"Sustainable Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7938231"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50863","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":786,"numTeachers":49,"percentFrplEligible":12,"percentAsian":33,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":6,"percentMultiracialImputed":28,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":90.0,"schoolId":50863,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Niu Valley Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Niu Valley Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/honolulu-school-district/niu-valley-middle-school/50863"}