{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Santa Ynez Valley Union High School","outOfStateSupporters":10.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10578902,"projectId":10548109,"letterContent":"Our high school special education students had a great time learning and playing horseshoes. Students worked on their underhand tossing skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, and accuracy while learning the rules and scoring of the game. It was great seeing students encourage one another, take turns, and enjoy some friendly competition. The new equipment has been a great addition to our Adapted PE program and gives our students another activity they can enjoy together. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1789572258752,"projectUrl":"project/double-the-fun-adapted-pe-dual-activiti/10548109/","projectTitle":"Double the Fun: Adapted PE Dual Activities","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ibsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10578902_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786387785442","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10578902"},{"teacherId":10578902,"projectId":10486091,"letterContent":"Our badminton unit was a great success with students in grades 1 through 6. Throughout the unit, students developed their foundational skills, including the serve (drop, step, swing, hit), forehand, backhand, and overhead smash. It was great watching their coordination, confidence, and overall skills improve as the unit progressed.\r\n\r\nOne of the highlights was seeing students put their skills into action during 3 on 3 games on our three badminton courts. Students learned the rules of the game, proper badminton etiquette, and the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. They had a blast competing with their classmates and encouraging one another. We look forward to building on these skills throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping provide our students with the equipment and opportunities to enjoy learning new sports.","fullyFundedDate":1787151134264,"projectUrl":"project/badminton-for-all-building-lifelong-ski/10486091/","projectTitle":"Badminton for All: Building Lifelong Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ibsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10578902_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786387785442","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10578902"},{"teacherId":9894675,"projectId":10440093,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous gift! NATIVE SON by Richard Wright is an eye-opening, provocative account of the racism in America that led to Civil Rights, and the text will help my students see the trials and tribulations of Black Americans at that time. \r\n\r\nBecause our English Department is on a tight budget, your gift allows the class to have access to a book that they normally wouldn't read. Further, the book will open up avenues of reading, writing and presentation opportunities that will enhance their academic skills.","fullyFundedDate":1786047106476,"projectUrl":"project/the-road-to-civil-rights/10440093/","projectTitle":"The Road to Civil Rights","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Shattuck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9894675"},{"teacherId":10578902,"projectId":10453639,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our PE program. The students loved our Around the World activity! They rotated from country to country completing different activities and challenges along the way. It was great seeing them moving, staying active, and having fun with their classmates.\r\n\r\nThe new equipment was a huge hit and definitely helped keep the students motivated. Even on a hot day, they were moving, smiling, and excited to see what the next station had for them. We are looking forward to using the equipment for more activities like this throughout the year.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting our students and helping make PE fun!","fullyFundedDate":1786378269110,"projectUrl":"project/around-the-world-movement/10453639/","projectTitle":"Around the World Movement","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ibsen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10578902_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786387785442","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10578902"},{"teacherId":9048111,"projectId":10175314,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. It affords my students the opportunity to read new literature. Engagement in literature is so important to develop life long readers. Reading, as I am sure you know, is such an essential skill to teach students empathy.\r\n\r\nI am excited to see how students react and engage with this text. I hope this text provides my students with a window into another person's life.\r\n\r\nYour continued support of teachers in our area really helps us provide meaningful reading materials for our students. Thank you for that.","fullyFundedDate":1775080800227,"projectUrl":"project/novel-study-infinite-country/10175314/","projectTitle":"Novel Study: Infinite Country","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cathcart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9048111"},{"teacherId":3745207,"projectId":10028637,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your contribution to my classroom library. The books you helped us purchase have been popular with the students, and have added to the breadth and diversity of the literature to which they are exposed. \r\nHaving access to a wide variety of novels is essential for building empathy, vocabulary, and knowledge, and students are much more likely to have buy-in when they are given a choice of what to read. Being able to go to the shelf in the back of my classroom and then put a book directly into the hands of a student is a critical first step in getting a student to connect with a piece of literature, and it also helps to build relationships.\r\nThank you for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1768952044743,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-seniors/10028637/","projectTitle":"Books for Seniors","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3745207_orig.jpg?crop=1111,1111,x2161,y476&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1553554305485","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mustangsread"},{"teacherId":4815859,"projectId":9896842,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom book fund! Because of you, my 9th grade English students now have access to shared class texts that we will use all year long. Having these books in their hands helps students feel included, prepared, and excited to read and it makes our classroom learning stronger every single day.\r\n\r\nYour contribution supports more than just our class; it helps build community literacy and ensures that students have access to meaningful, engaging texts throughout the year. Many of my students depend on school resources to experience literature, and your generosity opens the door for deeper conversations, stronger reading skills, and a genuine love of stories.\r\n\r\nThank you for always supporting my classroom and our students here at Santa Ynez High!","fullyFundedDate":1764692219598,"projectUrl":"project/ready-readers/9896842/","projectTitle":"Ready Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Pendry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4815859_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755525021267","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrspendrysclass"},{"teacherId":10113469,"projectId":9540381,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation of bar-height tables to my classroom. Your support has made a truly meaningful difference in both the physical space and the learning experience of my students, and I cannot thank you enough for your investment in our classroom community.\r\n\r\nOne of the primary goals of this project was to create a learning environment that is more accessible, engaging, and responsive to student needs. The addition of the bar-height tables has dramatically improved the visibility and accessibility of my instructional monitors and teaching materials, allowing all students to more easily follow lessons and stay engaged. The new layout is not only more visually appealing, but it also feels intentional and welcoming—transforming the classroom into a space where students are encouraged to participate, collaborate, and take ownership of their learning.\r\n\r\nBeyond the aesthetic improvements, the impact on classroom management has been significant. The new seating arrangement allows me to move more freely throughout the room, making it easier to circulate, check in with students, and provide timely support. This increased mobility has helped me better monitor student engagement, ensure students remain on task, and respond quickly when a student needs clarification or encouragement. As a result, transitions are smoother, disruptions are reduced, and instructional time is used more effectively.\r\n\r\nThe bar-height tables have also expanded the possibilities for collaboration. I now have greater flexibility in creating purposeful group work areas, whether students are working on discussions, projects, or problem-solving activities. The seating naturally encourages communication and teamwork, and students have responded positively to the opportunity to work together in a space that feels both comfortable and professional. This has fostered stronger peer interactions and a more collaborative classroom culture overall.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, your donation has helped elevate the classroom into a space that supports learning at a higher level. Students have expressed appreciation for the new setup, and I have seen increased engagement and focus as a direct result. The tables have enabled me to better meet the diverse needs of my students while creating an environment that reflects high expectations and mutual respect.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity and belief in the importance of thoughtful learning spaces. Your contribution has had a lasting and meaningful impact on my classroom, and it will continue to benefit students for years to come. I am deeply grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1758142002286,"projectUrl":"project/a-space-above/9540381/","projectTitle":"A Space Above","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Morrell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10113469"},{"teacherId":9894675,"projectId":9709072,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for providing the materials for the junior project, \"Hamlet in the 21st Century.\" Students learned a lot of new vocabulary along with a lot of writing skills. They learned how to craft thesis statements, and they learned how to support claims with textual evidence. Further, the enjoyed the magic of project-based learning.\r\n\r\nReading in my classroom is a party! Students were able to choose the parts they wanted to read and also act out those parts. There was a lot of cheering, laughing and learning.\r\n\r\nBecause this version of Hamlet had the modern English translations, my EL students were able to enjoy this classic play and attain new vocabulary along the way!","fullyFundedDate":1757956023511,"projectUrl":"project/hamlet-in-the-21st-century/9709072/","projectTitle":"Hamlet in the 21st Century","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Shattuck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9894675"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_40032","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":729,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":34,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":44,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":49,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":89.4,"schoolId":40032,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Santa Ynez Valley Union High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Santa Ynez Valley Union High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/santa-ynez-valley-union-hsd/santa-ynez-valley-union-high-school/40032"}