{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sandy Miller Academy for International Studies","outOfStateSupporters":55.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6321191,"projectId":10289220,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom project, \"Transforming Our Resource Room into a Place of Growth.\" Your generosity is making a meaningful difference in the lives of my students.\r\nThe file cabinets will help us keep our learning materials organized and easily accessible. The shelves will help create a welcoming and organized classroom, while the pegboard will give each student a special place to keep and organize their materials.\r\nThese donations are helping us create a resource room that feels safe, comfortable, and inviting—a place where students can focus, learn, build confidence, and feel proud of their accomplishments. Your support is not only providing classroom materials; it is helping create an environment where my students can grow and succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1782152418269,"projectUrl":"project/transforming-our-resource-room-into-a-pl/10289220/","projectTitle":"Transforming Our Resource Room into a Place of Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Portillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6321191"},{"teacherId":8128949,"projectId":10553813,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! My third graders were incredibly excited when they first saw our new Rubik's Cubes, Hilo graphic novels, and puzzle books. The materials quickly became favorites during independent learning and choice time. I especially love watching students work with the Rubik's Cubes—what feels like play to them is also building perseverance, spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills. The Hilo books have been just as exciting, especially for students who are drawn to graphic novels and are discovering that reading can truly be something they look forward to.\r\n\r\nThese resources are helping us create a classroom where students have meaningful, screen-free ways to challenge themselves, read for enjoyment, and learn alongside one another. Moving forward, we will continue using the books for independent reading and discussion and the puzzles and Rubik's Cubes to strengthen critical thinking and perseverance. Thank you for giving my students resources that make them excited to learn, explore, and challenge themselves!","fullyFundedDate":1788462705410,"projectUrl":"project/plot-twists-puzzle-twists-building-br/10553813/","projectTitle":"Plot Twists & Puzzle Twists: Building Brilliant Thinkers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8128949_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1634406866374","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8128949"},{"teacherId":8180900,"projectId":10551004,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous DonorsChoose donors for supporting our classroom! Because of your kindness, our students will have a toy washer and dryer to inspire imaginative play and hands-on learning. These materials will provide opportunities for students to practice everyday skills, build language, and develop creativity through meaningful play.\r\n\r\nWe are also incredibly grateful for the toy emergency cars and garage. These exciting toys will encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative storytelling as students explore the important roles of emergency helpers in our community. Thank you for making a positive difference in our students' learning experiences and for helping create a fun, engaging classroom environment!","fullyFundedDate":1788467251019,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-little-adventures/10551004/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Little Adventures","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Irwin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8180900"},{"teacherId":8571043,"projectId":10014821,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing my students with Sony headphones! They have quickly become an important part of our classroom, especially during center time. Each student has access to their own set of headphones to use with their Chromebook, which allows them to listen to stories and use Rockalingua, our Spanish learning program, without distracting their classmates. This has given my students the freedom to learn at their own pace. They can listen, repeat, and practice as many times as they need while still allowing the other students in the room to focus on their own learning.\r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to have their own headphones and have really enjoyed using them during centers. I have especially noticed students becoming more engaged when they are able to listen to songs, stories, and Spanish activities independently. The headphones have also made our classroom routines easier because they are organized, easy for students to access, and simple to clean up when centers are finished. It may seem like a small addition to our classroom, but these headphones have made a big difference in helping my students become more independent, engaged, and excited about learning. Thank you for making this possible for them!","fullyFundedDate":1778068732231,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-headphones-for-spanish-learnin/10014821/","projectTitle":"Classroom Headphones for Spanish Learning Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8571043_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1663244583700","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sra-reyes"},{"teacherId":8118012,"projectId":9990071,"letterContent":"Our 2nd grade students are using the new books to build their reading and research skills. The science books will be especially helpful as students begin working on research projects throughout the year. Students will use the nonfiction texts to find information, learn how to identify important facts, and explore topics that interest them. We are also using the chapter books to encourage students to read for enjoyment and challenge themselves with new texts. These books will help us begin our classroom book club, where students will read together, discuss characters and important events, and share their thoughts and connections with their classmates.\r\n\r\n### How did your students react when they first saw the materials?\r\n\r\nThe students were incredibly excited when they first saw all of the new books! They immediately wanted to look through the different titles and talk about which books they wanted to read. Many students were excited to see books about topics they already love, while others discovered new subjects that sparked their curiosity. It was wonderful to see students recommending books to one another and getting excited about having new reading choices in our classroom. Their enthusiasm made it clear how meaningful it is for students to have access to a variety of engaging books.\r\n\r\n### What are the next steps for your students on a current classroom lesson or project?\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to begin using the science books as students learn how to conduct research and gather information from nonfiction texts. Students will choose topics, ask questions, locate important information, and eventually use what they have learned to create their own research projects. We will also begin our classroom book club, where students will practice reading, discussing, and responding to chapter books with their peers. These resources will give students opportunities to become more independent readers, researchers, and thinkers while building confidence in their abilities. We are excited to see where their curiosity takes them this year!","fullyFundedDate":1768060871498,"projectUrl":"project/2nd-grade-project-supplies/9990071/","projectTitle":"2nd Grade Project Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Underwood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8118012"},{"teacherId":8114289,"projectId":5881964,"letterContent":"### The Impact of Connecting Through Common Family Games\r\n\r\nThis project has had a tremendous impact on my students by giving them opportunities to learn, play, communicate, and connect through games that many of them recognize from family gatherings and community events. With the addition of ladder ball, Kan Jam, Spikeball, and cornhole, my students have been able to experience physical education in a way that feels familiar, social, and relevant to their lives outside of school.\r\n\r\nWe have been using these games as part of our cooperative and recreational activities units. Rather than simply focusing on traditional competitive sports, students are learning how to participate in activities that can be enjoyed by people of different ages, skill levels, and athletic abilities. Students work with partners and small groups to learn the rules, practice skills, develop strategies, and communicate with one another. The games have provided a great opportunity to teach sportsmanship, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and respectful competition.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was watching students who initially were hesitant to participate become completely engaged once they started playing. When the equipment first arrived, students were immediately curious. They recognized some of the games from family parties, parks, or gatherings with friends and were excited to see those activities brought into the PE setting. I heard students saying things like, \"I have this at home!\" and \"We play this at my family's cookouts!\" That excitement created an immediate connection between what we were doing in class and what students experience with their families.\r\n\r\nThe games have also helped students discover that physical activity does not always have to involve traditional sports such as basketball, football, or soccer. Students who may not consider themselves \"athletes\" have found activities where they can participate, contribute to a team, and experience success. This has helped create a more inclusive environment in which students can be active while developing skills that will remain useful long after they leave high school.\r\n\r\nA particularly rewarding part of this project has been seeing students teach and encourage one another. Once students became comfortable with the rules, they began helping classmates understand how to play, offering suggestions, and developing their own strategies. Instead of relying solely on the teacher for instruction, students have increasingly taken ownership of their learning. They are learning that being a good teammate means communicating, encouraging others, accepting mistakes, and celebrating improvement.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue building on these experiences by expanding our recreational games unit. Students will rotate through different stations featuring ladder ball, Kan Jam, Spikeball, and cornhole. As they become more familiar with each activity, they will begin creating strategies, keeping score, officiating games, and helping organize class tournaments. I also want students to reflect on which activities they enjoy most and identify games they could realistically play with their families, friends, and community members outside of school.\r\n\r\nUltimately, this project has helped me show my students that physical education is about much more than traditional sports or competition. It is about finding enjoyable ways to stay active, building relationships, learning how to work with others, and developing healthy recreational habits that can continue throughout life.\r\n\r\nI am incredibly grateful to the donors who made this project possible. Your support has brought new energy and excitement into our PE classes and has given my students meaningful opportunities to connect physical activity with their lives beyond the school day. Every game, every new skill, and every encouraging interaction is helping my students understand that being active can be something they enjoy together—with classmates, friends, and their families.","fullyFundedDate":1633643521435,"projectUrl":"project/connecting-school-and-home-with-fun-game/5881964/","projectTitle":"Connecting School and Home With Fun Games for All!","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Simonini","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8114289_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633377500848","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8114289"},{"teacherId":5407074,"projectId":9996008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for making this learning experience possible — your generosity truly means the world to our students and to me.\r\n\r\nOur new materials have sparked curiosity and creativity in ways that have surprised and delighted us. We're using them in two main ways: hands-on science exploration and poetry inspired by that science.\r\n\r\nWhen the boxes arrived, their faces lit up — hands flew to open the lids, and many students announced, \"I want to be the scientist today!\" They treated the tools with care and a sense of importance. On the poetry side, students were eager to turn their observation notes into lines and images; one student laughed and said, \"I never thought a leaf could sound so loud,\" then crafted a poem filled with surprising, sensory language.\r\n\r\nNext steps for the classroom In the coming weeks we'll analyze our data and turn measurements into simple graphs. Students will write short lab reports and choose one poem to include as a personal reflection on what they learned. We're planning a small showcase for families and donors where students will display posters that combine their experiment results, microscope photos, and their poems. It will be such a joy to watch them share both their scientific thinking and their creative voices.","fullyFundedDate":1768181924623,"projectUrl":"project/science-tastic-and-poetic/9996008/","projectTitle":"Science-tastic and Poetic!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Khamis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5407074_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565646212982","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-khamis"},{"teacherId":8180900,"projectId":10022771,"letterContent":"I am so grateful to the generous supporters who made it possible for my preschool students to receive new toys, learning materials, and art supplies through DonorsChoose. Your kindness has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom!\r\n\r\nThese new materials give my students more opportunities to learn through hands-on play, creativity, and exploration. The toys encourage them to practice important skills such as communication, problem-solving, sharing, turn-taking, fine motor development, and imaginative play. The art supplies allow them to express themselves creatively while strengthening the small-muscle skills they need for writing and other everyday tasks.\r\n\r\nFor my preschoolers, learning is most meaningful when they can touch, build, create, pretend, and explore. Seeing their excitement as they discover and use new materials is incredibly rewarding. These resources help me create a classroom where every child has opportunities to learn in ways that are engaging, fun, and developmentally appropriate.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping make our classroom a more engaging and exciting place to learn. your generosity is helping my students grow, create, explore, and build skills that will benefit them for years to come. We truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1779461981764,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play/10022771/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Irwin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8180900"},{"teacherId":7661113,"projectId":9990848,"letterContent":"During our literacy and math centers, my students now use the magnetic word-building boards, CVC activity dice, and math manipulatives to physically build words and solve problems together. The write-and-wipe lapboards have made daily practice low-stress and engaging, allowing me to give quick feedback, while the classroom headphones help everyone stay focused during digital reading stations.\r\n\r\nHaving these daily supplies—from laminating pouches for reusable centers to organized art materials—has transformed our room into a focused, joyful space. As our next steps, my young learners are using these tools to launch into independent sentence writing and addition lessons with complete confidence. Thank you so much for investing in my kindergarteners and helping build their academic foundation and love of learning!","fullyFundedDate":1768318884582,"projectUrl":"project/small-tools-big-kindergarten-growth/9990848/","projectTitle":"Small Tools, Big Kindergarten Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Becerra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7661113"},{"teacherId":9706943,"projectId":9991380,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project! Your generous donation has made a meaningful difference in our students' daily learning experiences. The new printer has allowed us to quickly create instructional materials, practice activities, and student resources without delays. The rolling whiteboard has become a central part of our classroom, giving students a larger, interactive space to solve problems, share ideas, and collaborate with their peers. The colorful highlighters and organizational folders help students stay engaged and keep track of their work, fostering important organizational skills that support academic success.\r\n\r\nThe hands-on math base blocks have been especially exciting for our students. Many young learners understand mathematical concepts more easily when they can see and touch them. These manipulatives help students build a concrete understanding of place value, addition, subtraction, and number relationships. Students are eager to use the blocks during math lessons, and they often ask for opportunities to practice with them during independent work time. The whiteboard has also encouraged greater participation, as students enjoy coming to the board to demonstrate their thinking and explain their problem-solving strategies.\r\n\r\nSeveral students who previously struggled with confidence in math have particularly benefited from these new resources. The base blocks allow them to visualize concepts that once seemed confusing, helping them develop a stronger understanding and greater confidence in their abilities. The folders and classroom supplies have also helped students take ownership of their learning by keeping materials organized and accessible. Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is better equipped to provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences that support the success of every student. We are truly grateful for your investment in our students and their future.","fullyFundedDate":1768077493520,"projectUrl":"project/learning-starts-with-the-right-resources/9991380/","projectTitle":"Learning Starts With the Right Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Guzon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9706943"},{"teacherId":8128949,"projectId":10251438,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our students are already putting these new resources to great use! They have been practicing their penmanship daily, and we are already seeing a noticeable difference in their handwriting, confidence, and attention to detail. One special classroom moment was seeing students eagerly help one another form letters correctly and proudly show off their improved writing.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the students were beyond excited. They immediately wanted to start using them and could not wait to practice their writing skills. Their enthusiasm made the classroom feel even more positive and engaging.\r\n\r\nAs we continue building these skills, our next step is to have students write letters to loved ones and to each other. This will not only strengthen their penmanship, but also encourage meaningful communication, kindness, and connection with others. Thank you for helping make learning exciting and impactful for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1778025662329,"projectUrl":"project/small-supplies-big-learning-gains/10251438/","projectTitle":"Small Supplies, Big Learning Gains","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hughes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8128949_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1634406866374","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8128949"},{"teacherId":5347761,"projectId":9991485,"letterContent":"We have been actively using the new resources in meaningful and engaging ways in our classroom. One specific moment that stands out is during our math forums, where students used anchor chart paper to create and display different problem-solving strategies. They also used the large Post-it sticky notes, Sharpies, and markers to share their thinking, explain their reasoning, and collaborate with peers. These materials have truly supported student discourse and made their learning visible. Additionally, students had the opportunity to use the Cricut machine for their IB Exhibition projects, which allowed them to bring creativity and innovation into their work.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, their reactions were priceless. They were excited, incredibly thankful, and even relieved to have access to supplies beyond what their families or I had provided at the beginning of the year. It created a sense of pride and ownership in our classroom environment.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps include helping students deepen their understanding of how to use the Cricut machine. They will begin learning how to independently design and create more complex projects, integrating both technology and creativity into their learning. These experiences will continue to build their confidence, collaboration skills, and ability to express their ideas in new and meaningful ways.","fullyFundedDate":1768078668880,"projectUrl":"project/building-brighter-futures-one-tool-at-a/9991485/","projectTitle":"Building Brighter Futures, One Tool at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alba","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5347761_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746500401220","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5347761"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_73601","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":575,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":8,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":75,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":44.7,"schoolId":73601,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sandy Miller Academy for International Studies on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sandy Miller Academy for International Studies","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/clark-county-school-district/sandy-s-miller-magnet-school/73601"}