{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Northwest Junior High School at Douglass","outOfStateSupporters":23.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8713527,"projectId":9367009,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, we launched our very first middle school Rocketry Club at Douglass Campus, and it was a total blast! Students used the Estes rocket motors funded by this project to assemble, decorate, and launch real rockets, learning the science behind Newton's laws of motion. It became a full-on STEM experience, where students took ownership of their learning, recorded data, and reflected on how real engineers think and work.\r\n\r\nThe moment the rocket kits and motors arrived, my students lit up with excitement. Several of them stayed after school just to help unbox and sort the supplies. One student said, \"I feel like a real NASA engineer!\" The buzz of energy in the classroom was unlike anything I've seen; it gave many students a sense of purpose, pride, and identity in science that they hadn't felt before.\r\n\r\nNow that I've transitioned to teaching high school in a new building, the impact continues. Four of my former middle schoolers who are moving up with me have already contacted me, asking to start a new Rocketry Club in the high school! That kind of enthusiasm shows that this project didn't just spark curiosity; it built lasting motivation. Our next steps are to grow the club at the high school level, recruit new members, and design student-led experiments focused on aerodynamics and propulsion. Thanks to you, this isn't just a one-off activity; it's the beginning of a tradition.","fullyFundedDate":1749135824200,"projectUrl":"project/launching-young-minds-building-a-middle/9367009/","projectTitle":"Launching Young Minds: Building a Middle School Rocketry Club!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713527_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723671336380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-santanacarballo"},{"teacherId":117393,"projectId":9201947,"letterContent":"I just wanted to let you know that I am excited to start a reading challenge with over 500 middle schoolers this year, with buttons as an incentive. I envision asking all ELA teachers to wear a button promoting the challenge, in addition to adding information to the daily announcements. \r\nStudents will be able to wear a button celebrating their accomplishments, for example \"I have read 5 books\", as they progress with their reading throughout the year.\r\nI hope to get kids reading more this year, using the new button maker to encourage participation and progress.\r\nThank you for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1747333198691,"projectUrl":"project/help-special-kids-be-visible/9201947/","projectTitle":"Help Special Kids be Visible!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ortenzi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp117393_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1472432035336","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/117393"},{"teacherId":8713527,"projectId":9085125,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students now have access to a full set of classroom buzzers—and they couldn't be more excited! The moment I introduced the buzzers, the room lit up with energy and curiosity. Students immediately asked, \"Are we doing a game show today?\" and within minutes, they were fully engaged in a review activity that felt more like play than a test.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the buzzers to review science vocabulary, check understanding during warm-ups, and even to kick off friendly competitions between groups during exit ticket challenges. One of the most memorable moments was when a group of students who usually stay quiet in class were suddenly eager to press the buzzer and share their answers. The buzzers have helped level the playing field by encouraging participation from all students, especially my bilingual learners and students with IEPs, who often hesitate to speak up in class.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we'll be using the buzzers in upcoming science units to practice critical thinking and rapid recall of key concepts, especially as we prepare for state assessments. Your contribution didn't just fund a tool—it sparked a new sense of excitement and confidence in my students. Thank you for believing in them and for helping create a classroom where learning is both fun and inclusive.\r\n\r\nWith sincere gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1740332456444,"projectUrl":"project/buzzing-into-learning-interactive-scien/9085125/","projectTitle":"Buzzing Into Learning: Interactive Science Games","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713527_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723671336380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-santanacarballo"},{"teacherId":8713527,"projectId":9077862,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my classroom is now equipped with essential tools that make a real difference in daily learning. The golf pencils and heavy-duty sharpener have solved a small but constant challenge—students no longer lose valuable time searching for writing tools or asking to leave their seats to borrow from others. It has created a smoother start to our lessons and helps maintain focus throughout the class. Meanwhile, the headphones have become crucial for students working on science videos, EdPuzzle assignments, and reading supports, especially for our bilingual learners and those needing quiet concentration.\r\n\r\nI still remember the smiles and curiosity on my students' faces when they first saw the materials. One student even asked, \"Are the pencils free for us to use?\"—a reminder that even small supplies can feel like a luxury in a Title I classroom. Now, students take ownership of their learning tools with pride. We're currently wrapping up a unit on Earth and space science, where students used headphones to watch video models explaining orbital motion, followed by writing their own explanations using their pencils. Next, we'll dive into photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and the headphones will again be essential for supporting independent learning and language development.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the chance to learn with dignity and focus. Your generosity goes beyond the materials—it tells my students that people believe in their success.","fullyFundedDate":1738078797985,"projectUrl":"project/essential-tools-for-focused-learning-and/9077862/","projectTitle":"Essential Tools for Focused Learning and Communication","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713527_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723671336380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-santanacarballo"},{"teacherId":8713527,"projectId":8813069,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been transformed! The tablet has become an essential tool in making my teaching more efficient and engaging for my students. With it, I can move freely around the room while keeping my lesson plan, question prompts, and student progress at my fingertips. \r\n\r\nThis mobility allows me to check in on students working in Google Classroom in real time, provide immediate feedback, and take attendance and notes on the fly without interrupting the lesson. My students are more engaged because I can monitor their work closely and quickly address their questions, keeping them focused and on track. \r\n\r\nHaving this technology has also helped students who need extra support. I can discreetly pull up notes on their progress, adjust my teaching to meet their needs, and ensure no one falls behind. It has truly enhanced our learning experience, making every class more interactive and student-centered. \r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible! Your support has had a real impact on how I teach and how my students learn.","fullyFundedDate":1731996074611,"projectUrl":"project/boosting-engagement-with-a-classroom-tab/8813069/","projectTitle":"Boosting Engagement with a Classroom Tablet","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713527_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723671336380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-santanacarballo"},{"teacherId":8713527,"projectId":8696378,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in supporting our \"Growing Scientists\" project! Thanks to your contributions, my 8th-grade honors students have been able to explore microbiology in a hands-on, exciting way that truly brings science to life.\r\n\r\nAs soon as the materials arrived, my students were eager to dive into experiments. Their excitement was contagious when they unboxed the Petri dishes and set up the incubator in our classroom. We started by testing the effectiveness of handwashing, comparing bacterial growth from washed vs. unwashed hands. But the real magic happened when one student suggested swabbing different parts of the body to see how our own microbiome varies. This idea sparked an incredible investigation! Students swabbed their faces, behind their ears, inside their noses, and even their scalps—revealing just how many different bacterial colonies coexist with us daily. The results were fascinating, leading to deep discussions about the diversity of bacteria, their beneficial roles, and how our bodies maintain balance with these invisible organisms.\r\n\r\nOne student summed it up perfectly: \"I never thought of myself as a walking ecosystem, but now I realize we're all like planets for bacteria!\" Moments like this show how powerful hands-on science can be. Because of you, my students aren't just reading about microbiology—they're experiencing it firsthand, asking meaningful questions, and thinking like real scientists.\r\n\r\nThis project has truly ignited their curiosity and deepened their understanding of biology. Thank you for making this possible and for investing in the next generation of scientists!","fullyFundedDate":1731996078059,"projectUrl":"project/growing-scientists-hands-on-biology-lab/8696378/","projectTitle":"Growing Scientists: Hands-On Biology Labs With Petri Dishes and Incubators!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8713527_orig.jpg?crop=945,945,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723671336380","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-santanacarballo"},{"teacherId":9384258,"projectId":8455494,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support with my music classroom. My students love listening to their compositions and piano playing through the headphones, and it's very helpful for all of our sanity to lower the overall volume of the room a little bit.\r\n\r\nI have the headphones stored in the hanging basket with numbers, and student love taking the initiative to get their assigned headphones when it's time to use them. Most of them have only used earbuds or airpods, so the over-ear headphones feel premium and professional to them. They also have a better sound quality than dollar store earbuds for sure!","fullyFundedDate":1724083723287,"projectUrl":"project/a-music-room-that-wont-blow-your-eardru/8455494/","projectTitle":"A Music Room That Won't Blow Your Eardrums","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Robbins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384258_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718370318350","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384258"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_33989","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":238,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":58,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":31,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":77.0,"schoolId":33989,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Northwest Junior High School at Douglass on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Northwest Junior High School at Douglass","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/rochester-city-school-district/northwest-college-prep-high-school/33989"}