{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Palm Springs Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":32.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7182249,"projectId":9615166,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to thank you again for your kindness. \"Outdoor Leisure - Disc Golf for a Lifetime of Fun\" was a BIG hit, thanks to your support. I like to offer my students NEW and different games and activities. What I like about disc golf is it can be played at any age and at any level of ability. It is nice to go outside and get fresh air, enjoy time with friends and even if you are not great at disc golf you at least get lots of steps in (if you are counting) and hopefully have lots of fun. \r\nI taught them a few basic throws and modified the game. First, we just threw at one target as each day we learned a few more \"rules of the game\". Then we started moving around to different targets. Different targets had different challenges. Some targets were straight ahead and a shorter distance. Some targets were further away. Some others had obstacles like trees in the path. The differences at each target made it more fun. \r\nSometimes when I introduce something NEW, especially something my students have never heard of, I have my fair share of skeptics. \"Is this going to be one of those dumb games not a real sport.\" I overheard one of my serious soccer players say. After we had been playing for a while I watched him play taking it seriously, and I asked him Do you like this sport? He said he really did like it. That is just one example of how Donors Choose makes me a better teacher, when I teach a student something they don't already know and then they like it. Sometimes my students just need to trust and get out of their comfort zone. This opens their world beyond what they already know.\r\nOne of the best things about this donation is I know that I have this equipment that I can use in many classes for many years to come. I am very excited to continue to learn the best way to teach disc golf and I really love it when students find their joy. We appreciate all that has been done so I may offer new opportunities to my students.","fullyFundedDate":1758803112800,"projectUrl":"project/outdoor-leisure-disc-golf-for-a-lifeti/9615166/","projectTitle":"Outdoor Leisure - Disc Golf for a Lifetime of Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Henderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7182249_orig.jpg?crop=1948,1948,x1034,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745865243399","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7182249"},{"teacherId":7182249,"projectId":9289711,"letterContent":"First, I would like to thank all the donors for their support for my physical education programs. My students were very excited when they saw me unboxing and building the targets (goals) for Disc Golf they said Coach what is that I have never seen that before? Only 2 of my 200 students knew about Disc Golf. None have ever played it though. So, they were very excited to get started. \r\n\r\nMy students are now just beginning to use the materials. If you are a local supporter, you know why, it has rained almost every day since the materials have arrived. I am currently teaching them the different types of throws and when to use different discs. The different discs have different weights so some fly further and straighter than others. My students are learning the rules and how different discs glide or curve. \r\n\r\nMy next step with this project is to get more discs. Playing disc golf optimally each student should have 3 different weighed discs. A putter, a mid-range, and a distance driver. Not to mention specialty discs that curve at different degrees when trying to get around an obstacle in the fairway. In physical education we tend to have larger classes and there is no greater challenge when teachers do not have enough equipment for all students to be active, at least in small groups. \r\n\r\nAlso, with part of the funding I was able to replenish materials for other sports that we currently play. For example, I requested additional soft baseballs. So, we could continue to play wiffle ball (like baseball but easier), we were running low on materials. I requested and received a 12-foot parachute for rainy days so we can still be physically active even though we needed to move indoors for the class. We additionally received 2 playground balls. Sometimes we play boxball or four-square.\r\n\r\nThis year I created a new project \"Outdoor Leisure - Disc Golf for a Lifetime of Fun\" so that I can get the rest of the supplies to have enough for each student to play together. Currently I have to let some students play disc golf while others play another sport then they switch on a different day. It makes it a little harder to focus and teach all students. But great teachers make it work.\r\nThank you again for your contribution to my classroom and my students.","fullyFundedDate":1748027376691,"projectUrl":"project/great-physical-education-classes-leading/9289711/","projectTitle":"GREAT Physical Education Classes Leading to GREAT Learning in Students.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Henderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7182249_orig.jpg?crop=1948,1948,x1034,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745865243399","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7182249"},{"teacherId":10055448,"projectId":9414447,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my English Language Learners became true artists and storytellers! 🎨✏️ Using the materials you helped provide, they created drawing stories that reflected their daily lives, hopes, and dreams. They all practiced English in a fun, meaningful way while gaining confidence and pride in their work. Every smile, every new word learned, and every proud \"I did it!\" was made possible by your kindness. Thank you, my family and everyone who believed in my students' voices! 💝🫶","fullyFundedDate":1750632385288,"projectUrl":"project/my-daily-life-photo-story/9414447/","projectTitle":"\"My Daily Life Photo Story\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Banos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10055448_orig.jpg?crop=1538,1538,x626,y1028&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749922422454","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10055448"},{"teacherId":10055448,"projectId":9502465,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, my ELL students used the new materials to share stories, create posters, and write reflections that strengthened their English skills.They were excited and proud when the supplies arrived. \r\nThe highlight was assembling compassion kits and delivering them to a group of diverse local people which helped them feel confident, connected, and inspired.\r\n Your big generosity made a lasting and meaningful impact on their learning and and their hearts. You empowered their kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1754435331537,"projectUrl":"project/walking-in-their-shoes-compassion-in-ac/9502465/","projectTitle":"Walking in Their Shoes: Compassion in Action","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Banos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10055448_orig.jpg?crop=1538,1538,x626,y1028&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749922422454","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10055448"},{"teacherId":9776936,"projectId":8818539,"letterContent":"I can't begin to thank you on the amazing opportunity to have received jazz shoes for my students to use in the dance class. My students and I are using the resources for every dance class to warm up, stretch and learn different routines. When the students walk into the class, there is a structured routine which is to walk right to the shoe box and put on the dance shoes to begin the class. \r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were ecstatic because they knew that having the shoes would help them succeed. Being that my school is a Title I school and the students don't have the funds to get the shoes, having the materials available gives them motivation to learn and strive for high goals. \r\n\r\nThe next steps for my students on a current lesson or project is to be able to use the shoes for our upcoming spring dance show where their family and friends come to watch. Their parents will be happy to see their children dancing like beautiful ballerinas!","fullyFundedDate":1729563534596,"projectUrl":"project/dance-shoes-prepare-my-students-to-succe/8818539/","projectTitle":"Dance Shoes Prepare My Students to Succeed in Dance Class!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9776936"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_45733","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":698,"numTeachers":68,"percentFrplEligible":65,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":96,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"10.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.1,"schoolId":45733,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Palm Springs Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Palm Springs Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/miami-dade-county-public-schools/palm-springs-middle-school/45733"}