{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pontiac Academy for Excellence","outOfStateSupporters":28.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10033017,"projectId":9347233,"letterContent":"We are so greatful that you are there to support our needs. Me together with my students we really appreciate your kindness. We already use the supplies it will help my students to encourage them to do their work in our subjects. All the students has a individual notebook, they dont need to ask every body to have papers. They already used the colores and markers in their activities. Those cleaning materials are very useful in my class to disinfect the rooms and to smells good. Tha k tou very much for your support. Hoping you will help all the needy teachers struggling financialy. Godbless you more.","fullyFundedDate":1748640301338,"projectUrl":"project/my-students-are-my-kids/9347233/","projectTitle":"My Students are My Kids","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ala","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10033017_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757540136659","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10033017"},{"teacherId":9419722,"projectId":9362267,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible support! While many of you use technology and tools in your daily lives, we wanted to take a moment to share how your donated supplies are directly impacting learning in our classroom.\r\n\r\nHow the technology and supplies are helping students learn:\r\nThe Scotch Thermal Laminator and organizer bins have transformed how we prepare and manage materials. Laminating learning aids—like flashcards, visual schedules, and instructional charts—means we can reuse them, keeping materials clean, durable, and accessible for all students. The clear storage bins help us keep everything organized and visible, making transitions smoother and encouraging student independence.\r\n\r\nYour contributions of journals, markers, crayons, scissors, and glue sticks are also essential. These hands-on tools allow students to express themselves creatively, practice writing, and engage in tactile learning, which supports memory and motor skills development.\r\n\r\nWhat's most exciting to the students:\r\nThe Crayola Pip-Squeaks Marker Tower is a huge hit! The rotating tower design is fun and visually appealing, and it gives students a sense of choice and ownership when selecting colors for their projects. Similarly, the reusable water bottles are popular—students feel proud to bring them to class and take responsibility for staying hydrated throughout the day.\r\n\r\nStudents who've especially warmed to the new materials:\r\nOne of our quieter students, who usually shies away from art projects, has really taken to the Pip-Squeaks markers and now eagerly participates in creative assignments. Another student who struggles with organization now enjoys helping distribute and collect supplies, thanks to the clear storage bins—they can quickly identify where things go and feel confident in their role. It's amazing how simple tools can empower students and help them thrive in new ways.\r\n\r\nThanks again for investing in our classroom. Every item you've donated is being used to make learning more engaging, organized, and fun. Your support is not only appreciated—it's making a real difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1747742605611,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-learning-tools-for-creativit/9362267/","projectTitle":"Empowering Learning: Tools for Creativity, Hydration, and Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rogers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msjrogersh"},{"teacherId":9419722,"projectId":9257542,"letterContent":"What does reading look like in your classroom?\r\n\r\nReading time is one of the most exciting parts of our day! You'll often see students spread out in small groups or curled up with a book in our cozy reading nook. We balance independent reading, partner discussions, and guided reading groups, where we model strategies like asking questions, summarizing, or making connections.\r\n\r\nWe also incorporate interactive read-alouds, where students can hear expressive reading and participate in conversations that build comprehension and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nAre there particular students who are especially enjoying the new books?\r\n\r\nAbsolutely! One student who usually hesitated to pick up a book is now flying through Goosebumps, proudly sharing summaries with classmates. Another, who once struggled with chapter books, has connected deeply with Junie B. Jones, laughing out loud and volunteering to read aloud during group time. And our students who enjoy graphic novels are devouring The Bad Guys—they're using them to create their own comic strips!\r\n\r\nThanks to these new books, we're not just teaching reading—we're building readers.","fullyFundedDate":1746444241538,"projectUrl":"project/turning-pages-sparking-minds-a-2nd-gra/9257542/","projectTitle":"Turning Pages, Sparking Minds: A 2nd Grade Book Adventure","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rogers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msjrogersh"},{"teacherId":9558650,"projectId":8743521,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for your generous donation of flexible seating, chapter books, and Project-Based Learning (PBL) materials. These resources have already made a significant impact in our classroom. The flexible seating has allowed my students to take ownership of their learning space, choosing where and how they work most comfortably. They have been using the chapter books during independent reading time, diving into new stories and building their reading stamina. The new materials have given them the tools to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork in ways that are both meaningful and fun.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their reactions were priceless! They were so excited and immediately began exploring the flexible seating options, trying out different seating arrangements and sharing their thoughts on what worked best for them. They were thrilled to have new books to read and couldn't wait to start reading them during class. As we dive deeper into our current PBL project, students are using the materials to research and present their ideas to the class. Your donation has made it possible for them to take their learning to the next level, and we can't thank you enough for that.","fullyFundedDate":1728740294229,"projectUrl":"project/help-make-our-class-feel-like-home/8743521/","projectTitle":"Help Make Our Class Feel Like Home","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hinton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9558650"},{"teacherId":7243222,"projectId":7949410,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your support of our middle school science classroom! The \r\n vibrant posters bring energy to our walls, sparking curiosity and excitement for \r\n learning. The organizational materials help create a structured space where students can focus and thrive. Your generosity enhances our classroom environment, making science more engaging and accessible. Thank you for making a lasting impact on our students' education—we truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1703110219320,"projectUrl":"project/out-of-this-world-class/7949410/","projectTitle":"Out of This World Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brewington","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7243222_orig.jpg?crop=640,640,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1590168348511","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jasmine-brewington"},{"teacherId":9743395,"projectId":8765402,"letterContent":"This donation has helped in our classroom tremendously. Students have started their preparation for the PSAT and SAT which takes place in April. There are so many sites that have useful videos to give more in-depth explanations and practice in order to prepare for these tests. In particular, my classes have been using Khan Academy, which has multiple videos on information they will see on the test. These headphones have given students the opportunity to explore these topics during their independent work time, giving them a more individualized approach to practice. This has also helped me because I can monitor students' progress while practicing with these videos, then work more with them on that concept. \r\n\r\nThese have also helped students during independent practice who utilize music as a focus tool. My classes have all benefitted greatly from having this classroom set of headphones. In addition, the pencils are always a great resource to have when students need materials.","fullyFundedDate":1733264140048,"projectUrl":"project/an-ear-resistable-approach-to-learning/8765402/","projectTitle":"An Ear-Resistable Approach to Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9743395"},{"teacherId":9624105,"projectId":8549511,"letterContent":"The overwhelming support we've received from you all has been amazing! My students absolutely love the classroom and have been enjoying their first year of music class, to say the least ! The first day of school, each class was surprised and amazed at how different this former classroom looked since last year. Immediately they felt comfortable in the class and didn't feel like they were in a generalized classroom. Instead they saw it as a safe atmosphere for creative expression and thought. \r\nNone of this would have been possible without your support and unwavering compassion. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and will cherish these moments we create in this room forever!","fullyFundedDate":1723638751212,"projectUrl":"project/mr-jays-musical-maestros/8549511/","projectTitle":"Mr. Jay’s Musical Maestros","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Jay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9624105"},{"teacherId":9419722,"projectId":8745298,"letterContent":"I hope this note finds you well. On behalf of myself and my students, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation to our classroom. The pencils, notebooks, dry erase markers, erasers, composition notebooks, and the government and civic posters have already made a tremendous difference in our learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their faces lit up with excitement and gratitude. They were especially thrilled about the vibrant civic posters, which have sparked many conversations about their role as future citizens. The dry erase markers were immediately put to use in small group activities, where students enthusiastically worked on problem-solving and collaborative brainstorming.\r\n\r\nOne specific project we've been working on is a unit about government and civic engagement. With the help of your resources, students are creating interactive presentations about how local and federal governments function. The posters you provided serve as daily inspiration, helping them visualize concepts like the branches of government and the responsibilities of citizenship.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, the next steps for our class include a mock election, where students will campaign for class roles, write speeches, and simulate the voting process. These activities are helping them develop critical thinking, public speaking, and collaboration skills—all while making connections to real-world civic engagement.\r\n\r\nYour support has provided more than just supplies; it has enriched our classroom and inspired curiosity and creativity in my students. Thank you for being a part of their educational journey and for making such a meaningful impact.","fullyFundedDate":1728740500628,"projectUrl":"project/soaring-through-the-second-grade/8745298/","projectTitle":"Soaring Through The Second Grade!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rogers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msjrogersh"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_66484","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":553,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":68,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"34.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":71.4,"schoolId":66484,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pontiac Academy for Excellence on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pontiac Academy for Excellence","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/michigan-department-of-education/pontiac-academy-for-excellence/66484"}