{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Richard Henry Dana Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":15.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2628982,"projectId":9735556,"letterContent":"Donations of storage and tablecloths have transformed the Giving Room into a more dignified, organized, and welcoming space for students and families. With proper storage, clothing, food, and hygiene products can be sorted, protected, and displayed neatly, making it easier for visitors to quickly find what they need. A clean, store-like setup—enhanced by tablecloths—helps reduce embarrassment, promotes confidence, and ensures that every person who walks in feels respected and valued. These donations also strengthen the overall sustainability and efficiency of the program.","fullyFundedDate":1760844336789,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-organize-our-giving-room-for-stu/9735556/","projectTitle":"Help Us Organize Our Giving Room for Students in Need","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Duckworth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2628982_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1702318311047","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2628982"},{"teacherId":133521,"projectId":9413082,"letterContent":"On behalf of the Dana Middle School AVID Program, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of furniture that helped bring the AVID Den to life. Your contribution didn't just fill a room—it created a safe, welcoming, and inspiring space where students feel valued, focused, and connected every single day.\r\n\r\nBefore the furniture arrived, our AVID classroom functioned well academically, but it lacked a dedicated space where students could decompress, collaborate, and truly feel at home on campus. The addition of comfortable couches, lounge chairs, beanbags, and flexible seating completely changed the energy of the room. When students walk into the Den now, their faces light up. They often describe it as their \"college lounge,\" a place where they can study, reflect, and recharge between their rigorous academic commitments.\r\n\r\nThe transformation has been remarkable. During tutorial sessions, students now gather in collaborative groups around the coffee tables, using the relaxed seating to have more natural, engaging discussions about their point of confusion. In the afternoons, the Den becomes a hub for independent reading. Our first independent reading book this semester, All the Bright Places, was a huge success—students were reading 80 to 100 pages between meetings and coming in eager to talk about what they'd read. These conversations naturally flowed into deeper topics such as mental health, resilience, and how to support peers through difficult times. Having a cozy, comfortable environment allowed students to open up more freely, listen with empathy, and truly connect with each other on a human level.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stands out was when a student who usually keeps to himself quietly said, \"I actually like coming here now. It feels like I belong.\" That simple statement captured exactly what the Den has become—a space of belonging and empowerment. Students don't just see the AVID Den as a classroom; they see it as their space—a place that reflects who they are and who they're becoming.\r\n\r\nYour donation has also enhanced student leadership and responsibility. The \"Den Ambassadors,\" a small group of AVID students, now take turns maintaining the space—organizing the seating area, watering the plants, and ensuring the Den stays inviting for everyone. This ownership has translated into pride and accountability that carries into their academics.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, the Den has become a place for mentorship and growth. Older AVID students mentor younger ones in this environment, offering guidance on study habits, college readiness, and even personal challenges. We've hosted reflection circles, goal-setting sessions, and college talks—all in this beautiful, comfortable space that you made possible.\r\n\r\nOne afternoon, an administrator visited during our reflection time and remarked, \"This doesn't feel like a middle school classroom—it feels like a college prep lounge.\" That comment summed up exactly what your generosity achieved: a tangible, lasting example of what higher education feels like, right here in our school.\r\n\r\nYour gift has given my students more than furniture—it's given them pride, purpose, and a place where learning feels alive. They sit taller, speak more confidently, and take more ownership of their goals. Every discussion, every tutorial, and every reflection that happens in the AVID Den is a direct reflection of your kindness and investment in their future.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our students and in the power of environment to shape learning and leadership. Your generosity will continue to impact hundreds of Dana Middle School AVID students for years to come.\r\n\r\nWith sincere appreciation,\r\nMs. Chinita Williams\r\nAVID Coordinator & Elective Teacher\r\nDana Middle School","fullyFundedDate":1750565010873,"projectUrl":"project/avid-den-furniture/9413082/","projectTitle":"AVID Den Furniture","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. W.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/133521"},{"teacherId":3490967,"projectId":9475917,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support in helping me purchase a full class set of The City of Ember for my 7th-grade English students. Thanks to you, every student was able to have their own copy in hand as we explored the story together — and the impact has been incredible.\r\n\r\nReading The City of Ember didn't just engage my students as readers — it also inspired them as creators. As part of our Project-Based Learning unit, students used the novel to imagine and design their own future cities. They drew inspiration from Ember's challenges to think about how a city can meet its citizens' needs for food, energy, water, and safety, and how to keep communities healthy and happy. Many students developed innovative solutions to real-world problems, such as eliminating food waste, creating sustainable power systems, and ensuring that everyone has access to clean air and water.\r\n\r\nThis story gave my students a shared vision to build on — a way to see that imagination and problem-solving go hand in hand. It has truly sparked curiosity, creativity, and meaningful discussion about how people can work together to make a better world.\r\n\r\nThank you for making that possible. Your generosity has not only provided books, but also opened up a world of critical thinking and collaboration for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1753630366646,"projectUrl":"project/imagining-the-future-project-based-lea/9475917/","projectTitle":"Imagining the Future - Project-Based Learning Style!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Oh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3490967_orig.jpg?crop=768,768,x748,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752785082478","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3490967"},{"teacherId":9746349,"projectId":9210821,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Having enough copies for every student allowed us to engage in meaningful activities together and it made such a difference in how they connected to the story.\r\n\r\nOne of the most impactful lessons we did was a snapshot story activity. Students were given an image of Bruno's bedroom scene and using narrative elements wrote their own versions of what Bruno and his sister might have seen outside the window. This activity encouraged them to think deeply from the characters' perspectives and gave them a powerful way to explore the holocaust through the eyes of children their own age.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students didn't just read about history they imagined, empathized, and reflected. They walked away with a stronger understanding of perspective, compassion, and the importance of remembering the past.\r\n\r\nWe truly are grateful for your generosity and for helping make such a meaningful learning experience possible.","fullyFundedDate":1743010720909,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-spark-debate-argumentative-u/9210821/","projectTitle":"Books That Spark Debate: Argumentative Unit","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9746349_orig.jpg?crop=1394,1394,x0,y37&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742928950710","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9746349"},{"teacherId":1254261,"projectId":7951252,"letterContent":"I want to thank you for providing this for me. It has been a joy to see kids playing soccer on the field during lunch. Kids use the soccer nets during nutrition, lunch, and after school! Teens still enjoy playing like little kids. And thanks to your generous donation, many students have played with joy. \r\n\r\n\r\nSadly the soccer nets get used so much that I will need new ones soon again!\r\nI have used the nets during lunchtime soccer tournaments. I even give the winning team a trophy. Your generous donation has helped me to entertain teenagers.","fullyFundedDate":1704223329506,"projectUrl":"project/goals-needed-to-reach-out-goals/7951252/","projectTitle":"Goals Needed to Reach Out Goals","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Valles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1254261_orig.jpg?crop=1941,1942,x0,y245&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1587500208649","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-valles"},{"teacherId":1254261,"projectId":4884908,"letterContent":"I want to thank you for providing this for me. To be honest, I used this product during the lock down of Covid. It was a very difficult time. I used your product to stay in touch with my students. I was very thankful for this because tech issues were a huge challenge. My school issued laptop would crash or freeze quite often.\r\nWith your donation, I was better able to connect to the internet and to deliver my lessons.\r\n\r\nI'm sorry I took so long to write this letter. Maybe I wanted to forget all about the lockdown era. But I am grateful that we got thru it together.","fullyFundedDate":1594061925476,"projectUrl":"project/near-my-heart-yet-far-away/4884908/","projectTitle":"Near My Heart Yet Far Away","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Valles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1254261_orig.jpg?crop=1941,1942,x0,y245&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1587500208649","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-valles"},{"teacherId":1254261,"projectId":4878084,"letterContent":"Thank you for your continued generosity and support. Your contributions make it possible for our students to access innovative tools that enrich their learning in ways we couldn't have imagined just a few years ago.\r\n\r\nThanks to your donation, I was able to stay in touch with my students during distance learning. \r\n\r\nWhat excites students most about the new product?\r\nWhat's most exciting to our students is the creativity and independence this tool unlocks. They enjoy collaborating with technology to write stories, debate historical events, or even brainstorm science project ideas. It makes learning feel more interactive and personalized.\r\n\r\n**Are there students who've especially warmed to this technology?**\r\nYes—especially students who often feel overlooked in traditional classrooms. One student who has struggled with reading and writing now feels more confident using ChatGPT to draft ideas and get unstuck when writing essays. Another English language learner uses it to practice vocabulary and conversational English. The confidence boost and engagement we've seen are truly remarkable.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support, which allows us to continue introducing tools that prepare our students not just for academic success—but for a future where technology and human creativity work hand in hand.","fullyFundedDate":1588725574948,"projectUrl":"project/lets-keep-in-touch/4878084/","projectTitle":"Let's Keep in Touch","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Valles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1254261_orig.jpg?crop=1941,1942,x0,y245&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1587500208649","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-valles"},{"teacherId":8671105,"projectId":8987219,"letterContent":"This project has made a huge difference in helping to keep our students healthy throughout the winter season. Our elective team did not have a budget for any items this year and all of our classrooms needed soap, paper towels, tissues and wipes.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, our instrument mouthpieces, career lab materials and leadership supplies can all be cleaned and maintained throughout the year.\r\n\r\nOur students are special because they persevere through the middle school experience with unique projects they wouldn't have in a mainstream classroom. Our career lab, robotics, instrumental music AND leadership class students are SO THANKFUL!","fullyFundedDate":1736182021079,"projectUrl":"project/elective-team-clean/8987219/","projectTitle":"Elective Team = Clean","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Belch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8671105_orig.jpg?crop=1080,1080,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683744573628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8671105"},{"teacherId":8671105,"projectId":8975947,"letterContent":"My students really enjoyed our 2024 Holiday Belch Bucks Bazaar! This year, I set up the auction items with a holiday fireplace created by one of my students and some decorations to give the event extra flair and it worked out great! One of the items auctioned off was a violin that I provided, and it was the item that had the highest amount of Belch bucks bid!\r\n\r\nOur auction was held one day before winter break and items were handed out the last day to encourage attendance AND fun! The thank you letters the students wrote were very heartfelt - a couple students were so thankful for the items they received because they thought they wouldn't be getting much for Christmas. :-(\r\n\r\nThe students are looking forward to the next Belch Bucks auction and it wouldn't be happening if it weren't for donors like you!","fullyFundedDate":1733000013089,"projectUrl":"project/belch-bucks-holiday-bazaar-2024/8975947/","projectTitle":"Belch Bucks Holiday Bazaar 2024","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Belch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8671105_orig.jpg?crop=1080,1080,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683744573628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8671105"},{"teacherId":8480017,"projectId":8514157,"letterContent":"Educational posters, colorful displays, and inspiring quotes transform the room into a stimulating and welcoming space. These decorations grab students' attention and encourage a deeper engagement with the stories we read. For instance, if we're exploring themes of courage, a wall of inspirational quotes from famous figures can spark thoughtful discussions and make the stories more relatable.\r\n\r\nComfortable seating enhances this experience further. When physically relaxed, students can better focus on the text and participate more actively in discussions. Whether curled up in a cozy chair with a novel or seated in a small group for a book discussion, various seating options support different learning styles and preferences. One of my students, for example, has found a favorite spot in our reading corner and now spends extra time exploring books they might not have picked up otherwise.\r\n\r\nBy fostering a visually engaging and physically inviting classroom, I am helping my students feel valued and motivated to learn. A thoughtfully designed environment promotes academic achievement and emotional well-being, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning.\r\n\r\nWith your support, we can create a vibrant and inspiring classroom that nurtures our students' minds and hearts. Thank you for helping us make this vision a reality!","fullyFundedDate":1728312622071,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-place-to-call-home/8514157/","projectTitle":"Building A Place To Call Home","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Campos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8480017_orig.jpg?crop=2643,2643,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743611268721","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-campos9"},{"teacherId":8480017,"projectId":8513997,"letterContent":"Reading in my classroom is interactive and dynamic. It isn't just about words on a page; it's about connecting stories to our lives and building a space where students feel safe exploring their emotions. In particular, social-emotional learning (SEL) books allow students to see themselves in relatable characters, helping them develop empathy and resilience. Books that teach coping strategies or self-awareness spark thoughtful discussions and give students tools to manage their feelings.\r\n\r\nSure, students have already found joy in these new books—one of my students, for example, has been captivated by spooky stories. These tales fuel their imagination while also building comprehension and vocabulary skills. Meanwhile, others are drawn to SEL books that provide guidance and comfort as they navigate challenges in and out of the classroom.\r\n\r\nThese resources matter because they support academic success and emotional intelligence. With them, I can create a nurturing space where students thrive academically and feel empowered to manage their emotions. Thank you for considering this project. Your support will help us create a classroom where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.","fullyFundedDate":1728312623666,"projectUrl":"project/quietly-checking-our-rizz/8513997/","projectTitle":"Quietly Checking Our Rizz","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Campos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8480017_orig.jpg?crop=2643,2643,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743611268721","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-campos9"},{"teacherId":1254261,"projectId":4752740,"letterContent":"I want to thank you for providing this for me. To be honest, I used this product after the lock down of Covid. It was a very difficult time. I used your product to help kids get reacquainted with playing again after isolation. It has been a joy to see kids playing ith the parachute. Seeing joy and hearing laughter. Teens still enjoy playing like little kids. And thanks to your generous donation, many students have played with joy.\r\n\r\n\r\nI'm sorry I took so long to write this letter. Maybe I wanted to forget all about the lockdown era. Covid was tough. But I am grateful that we got thru it together.","fullyFundedDate":1583528814693,"projectUrl":"project/jump-around/4752740/","projectTitle":"Jump Around","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Valles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1254261_orig.jpg?crop=1941,1942,x0,y245&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1587500208649","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-valles"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7642","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1391,"numTeachers":63,"percentFrplEligible":93,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":74,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"22.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":84.9,"schoolId":7642,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Richard Henry Dana Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Richard Henry Dana Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/los-angeles-unified-school-district/richard-henry-dana-middle-school/7642"}