{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Scholars Academy","outOfStateSupporters":62.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8468394,"projectId":9301812,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for our new categorization tool! We are using it to sort the toys in many different ways. The students are sorting the animals by home, balls by type, people, and more. Not only are we working on an early semantic task to build their vocabulary skills, our room is much more organized. We can easily find what we need. The students are using the new shelves every day!\r\n\r\nOur students are working hard to develop their communication skills. Having the necessary tools and resources to develop their educational, social, and cognitive foundations is important. Your generous donation provides us with the support we need to educate our children. We are grateful for your contributions.","fullyFundedDate":1750774692422,"projectUrl":"project/farm-forest-jungle-or-sea-where-shou/9301812/","projectTitle":"Farm, Forest, Jungle, or Sea? Where Should You Be?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Simons","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8468394_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652099889585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8468394"},{"teacherId":8468394,"projectId":9139829,"letterContent":"Thank you! These popping toys have been a hit! The students request them again and again. We have used them to develop the students' communication skills in almost every session.\r\n\r\nTwo students said their first words when using these new toys. Another said her first sentence! These engaging toys help to maintain their attention. They provide opportunities to take turns, request, comment, and more! Many of the students have just turned three years old. They are in a new school with a structured schedule. These new materials provide a fun outlet while the children develop their receptive and expressive language skills. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your thoughtful donation. We greatly appreciate these new materials and will use them for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1748882772875,"projectUrl":"project/popping-toys-for-preschool-language-deve/9139829/","projectTitle":"Popping Toys for Preschool Language Development","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Simons","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8468394_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652099889585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8468394"},{"teacherId":8468394,"projectId":9431041,"letterContent":"\"Wow!\" The preschoolers' voices echoed through our room as they entered and saw our new decor. Each child that entered, pointed out the new decorations on our walls. They love it!\r\n\r\nOur classroom is a welcoming oasis filled with toys. Many refer to it as a Disneyland that the students don't want to leave. The bare cement walls contrasted starkly with the our therapy room vibe. Now the walls welcome the children and reflect our message. \"Play!\" \"Imagination!\" \"Together!\" \r\n\r\nWe greatly appreciate each generous donation that funded this project. Together your support created a beautiful and welcoming space for our students to develop and grow in. Thank you from each student and our staff.","fullyFundedDate":1758807172356,"projectUrl":"project/new-decor-for-threes-and-fours/9431041/","projectTitle":"New Decor for Threes and Fours!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Simons","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8468394_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652099889585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8468394"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":9594467,"letterContent":"Our classroom has never been so alive with energy — quite literally! Thanks to your generosity, this project became one of those rare learning experiences that lit up every corner of our room (and echoed down the hallways with laughter, \"whoas!\", and \"I got it!\" moments).\r\n\r\nEach week, students arrived bursting with curiosity, ready to test, tweak, and tinker. They raced balloon cars, launched mousetrap racers, and watched energy transfer from one motion to another — not because it was in a textbook, but because they could see it, feel it, and build it. The materials you provided turned abstract physics concepts into something tangible, joyful, and deeply understood.\r\n\r\nWhen it came time to design their pinball machines, everything they had explored suddenly clicked. They debated angles, adjusted friction, redesigned flippers, and celebrated every successful launch with pride that only comes from true ownership. They weren't just following directions — they were thinking like engineers, collaborating like teammates, and discovering the power of persistence.\r\n\r\nYour support made this magic possible. You gave our students the tools — and the belief — that they could turn ideas into motion and imagination into innovation. The pride on their faces as they showed off their working machines said it all: They built this. They understand this. And they love this.\r\n\r\nThank you for fueling their curiosity, amplifying their confidence, and helping them see science not as something to memorize, but as something they can make come alive.","fullyFundedDate":1757507933657,"projectUrl":"project/from-force-to-fun-the-science-behind-ou/9594467/","projectTitle":"From Force to Fun: The Science Behind Our Favorite Games","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":9594206,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has become a hub of creativity, innovation, and hope for a more sustainable future! \r\n\r\nOur students jumped into this urban planning project with contagious enthusiasm. From the moment they began sprouting microgreens and designing their own vertical gardens, their imaginations took off. They've been experimenting, sketching, and sharing bold ideas for how cities can grow food, reduce waste, and build thriving, sustainable communities. Every day, they bring new energy and curiosity—testing what works, learning from what doesn't, and thinking like real-world problem solvers.\r\n\r\nYour support made these experiences possible. Because of you, students aren't just learning about sustainability—they're living it. They've grown food in small spaces, explored farm-to-table systems, and designed models of zero-waste neighborhoods they can be proud of. Their excitement and sense of ownership have been inspiring; they see themselves as changemakers who can shape the future of their city.\r\n\r\nFrom every seed sprouted and every idea shared, your generosity continues to grow. Thank you for believing in our students, their creativity, and their vision for a healthier, more sustainable world.","fullyFundedDate":1757503440872,"projectUrl":"project/sprouting-solutions-for-our-city/9594206/","projectTitle":"Sprouting Solutions for Our City","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":9678569,"letterContent":"Thank you for transforming our classroom into a launchpad for wonder. Your generosity didn't just fund materials—it lit the spark that turned curiosity into discovery, and discovery into pride.\r\n\r\nFrom the very first day, our students—gifted, talented, and endlessly inventive—leaned in with wide eyes and busy hands. We watched \"Ah-Ha!\" moments ripple across the room: when a balloon rocket shot down the line and they saw force instead of just reading about it; when an Alka-Seltzer rocket fizzed to life and they predicted, tested, and revised like real scientists; when homemade \"alien hovercrafts\" skimmed across the floor and air pressure suddenly made sense; when vortex blasters traced spirals through air; when Oobleck and space slime challenged them to argue, with evidence, \"Is it a solid or a liquid—or both?\"\r\n\r\nThose moments weren't just exciting—they were personal. IThey didn't just get excited—they started claiming science. With goggles on and notebooks open, they talked like investigators, argued like engineers, and backed up ideas with evidence. We centered stories of innovators who look like them and come from communities like theirs, and something shifted. We began hearing, \"I can do this—this is me.\" Questions got bolder, perseverance got stronger, and their confidence grew right alongside their data. In that space, they weren't pretending to be scientists; they were scientists. That simple mindset shift changed how they showed up and gave them a powerful sense that their ideas matter.\r\n\r\nIn teams, they argued like engineers, designed fair tests, collected data, and made sense of results. They wore safety goggles like badges of honor, filled notebooks with sketches and claims-evidence-reasoning, and practiced the most important part of science—trying again. The awe on their faces when predictions matched outcomes (and the determination when they didn't) is something we'll never forget. They didn't just learn science; they lived it. And when they presented their findings, they stood taller—proud of the work, the process, and the story they now know they're part of.\r\n\r\nYour support gave them tools, time, and trust to explore the line from inspiration to innovation—and to believe it's a path they can walk themselves. Thank you for helping our students imagine themselves as scientists and engineers, for fueling their curiosity with hands-on experiences, and for giving them a community of role models that says, \"You belong here.\" \r\n\r\nThis spring's Living Museum will be their moment to shine—and with the tools you provided, they're ready to thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1757544868914,"projectUrl":"project/from-inspiration-to-innovation-the-powe/9678569/","projectTitle":"From Inspiration to Innovation: the Power of Curiosity & Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":9047187,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping our Scholars Academy students turn a dream of belonging into something they can wear with pride.\r\n\r\nOur gifted learners come from eight different schools across the district, and—because of their asynchronous development—friendships can be tricky to build and maintain with same-age peers. In our program, they finally meet like-minded classmates who share their passions. What we were missing was a visible way to say, \"We belong to each other.\" Your generosity changed that.\r\n\r\nFrom day one, the design process was electric. Students formed teams, sketched ideas, debated fonts and symbols, and practiced real collaboration—listening, revising, and merging the best parts of multiple concepts. When the final design was selected, the student whose artwork was chosen lit up—beaming with a mix of pride and humility—and the entire class erupted in cheers. It wasn't just a \"win\"; it was a celebration of community effort, thoughtful feedback, and shared ownership.\r\n\r\nThanks to the printer you funded, students got to bring their vision to life—layer by layer—learning the craft of layout, color, and heat press technique along the way. The first time they pulled a warm shirt from the press, the room filled with gasps and happy laughter. Now, when they slip on their Scholars Academy shirts, you can see the transformation: straighter posture, bigger smiles, and that quiet confidence that comes from being seen.\r\n\r\nThe impact reaches far beyond our classroom. These shirts connect our students wherever they go—on the bus back to their home schools, in the library, at competitions, and out in the community. They've become conversation starters (\"What's Scholars Academy?\"), friendship signals (\"Hey, you're in it too!\"), and a tangible reminder that they have a place where curiosity, kindness, and deep thinking are celebrated.\r\n\r\nYou didn't just fund equipment—you helped our students practice collaboration and compromise, experience the joy of creative success, and carry their community with them. Thank you for giving them something special they built together and can be proud of every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1737414424161,"projectUrl":"project/plan-print-press/9047187/","projectTitle":"Plan, Print, Press!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":9087025,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for believing in our kids and funding our hands-on STEM car kits. Your gift didn't just purchase materials—it sparked a wave of curiosity, collaboration, and pure joy in our classroom.\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the kits arrived, students were buzzing with ideas. They sketched designs, debated wheel placement, and asked wonderfully nerdy questions. They made connections between what we've learned about force and motion, cause and effect, and real-world engineering—then put those ideas to the test.\r\n\r\nWe watched them build, test, measure, and iterate: adjusting axles, changing mass to see how it affects motion, timing runs and graphing results, celebrating the wins—and treating failures as \"data we haven't learned from yet.\"\r\n\r\nThe human impact has been beautiful. Students who are usually quiet found their voices as team \"test engineers.\" Natural leaders learned to listen. Kids who struggle with perfection discovered the thrill of iteration—\"One more test!\" became a chorus. The room filled with laughter, excited countdowns, and proud high-fives as each car zipped across our track. Race day wasn't just a competition; it was a community of young scientists cheering each other on.\r\n\r\nYour support empowers them to think like designers and problem-solvers, to create rather than just consume, and to see themselves in STEM futures they're excited to chase. Their passion inspires me daily to keep feeding that curiosity and to encourage them to explore every \"I wonder...\"\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students got to: build and modify vehicles with purpose, apply core concepts of force, motion, and energy, practice creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork, and experience the joy of testing, learning, and improving.\r\n\r\nThey truly have the potential to change the world—and your generosity put real tools in their hands to start doing it. Thank you for making our classroom a place where dreams roll forward on four wheels.","fullyFundedDate":1744032971387,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-stem/9087025/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":3511947,"projectId":8951100,"letterContent":"Thank you, from the bottom of our (very full) hearts.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our spring Life Science unit blossomed into something unforgettable. We hatched both chicks and ducklings in our classroom, and the excitement was contagious—students arrived early, checked temperatures like real scientists, whispered to the eggs, and celebrated each tiny peep. One morning, a baby bird fell from a nest by our window; we safely tucked it into the warm brooder until a local wildlife rescue arrived. My students saw compassion and science working hand-in-hand, and it changed the tone of our room for the better.\r\n\r\nBefore your gift, I drove ducklings over an hour each way so they wouldn't be alone after school. On days with appointments, I couldn't bring them at all—and my students missed precious time observing them. Your funded brooder boxes made all the difference. Our ducklings stayed safe and warm at school, and the kids could watch them grow every single day—no stressful transports, no missed moments, just consistent, caring observation.\r\n\r\nThe learning has been rich and joyful. Across grades Pre-K through 7th (nearly 300 students!), our classes used the ducklings and chicks to explore how mothers care for their young, adaptations, structure and function, and science writing and research. We sketched bills and feet, compared down to feathers, wrote observation journals, and asked the very best \"why\" and \"how\" questions. You didn't just fund equipment—you ignited curiosity and helped students see themselves as scientists, caretakers, and problem-solvers.\r\n\r\nWe're still getting updates from the farm about our graduates, and every new photo sparks another round of smiles and \"remember when\" stories. Spring has always been our favorite time of year, but this spring—thanks to you—felt magical. Our classroom is warmer, kinder, and more engaged because of your support.","fullyFundedDate":1733289862811,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-coop/8951100/","projectTitle":"Cozy Coop","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dormann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3511947_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726404160168","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsdgt"},{"teacherId":8468394,"projectId":8984048,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our preschoolers. Your donation provided us with fresh kinetic sand and new toys. The students loved the addition of the sand, sand toys, and roll toy to our speech and language therapy sessions. The new materials have been used again and again!\r\n\r\nMy students are working hard to develop their speech and language skills. These new materials engage the students while providing multiple opportunities for targeting the students' communication skills. These quality resources will be used in speech and language therapy sessions for many years to come. \r\n\r\nWarm regards,\r\nMs. Simons and her students","fullyFundedDate":1740699148101,"projectUrl":"project/lets-play-in-the-sand/8984048/","projectTitle":"Let's Play in the Sand!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Simons","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8468394_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652099889585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8468394"},{"teacherId":8468394,"projectId":8932736,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our students' communication development. Our students communicate in many ways. These new communication buttons are a wonderful support. \r\n\r\nThe students have used the buttons to request the bathroom, favorite toys, and activities. They also have used them to communicate excitement and to greet. \r\n\r\nSeveral of our students have requested \"want\" and \"open\" for the first time using these new buttons! Shortly after, one child started using the buttons and mouth words to request some items. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for your donation. It was greatly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1733244855219,"projectUrl":"project/i-want-to-communicate/8932736/","projectTitle":"I Want to Communicate.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Simons","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8468394_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652099889585","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8468394"},{"teacherId":1877296,"projectId":8905067,"letterContent":"On behalf of our middle school yoga and meditation club, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support. Your contribution has made a meaningful impact on our students, providing them with a space to move, breathe, and reflect in ways that nurture both their bodies and minds. \r\n\r\nEach week, our students explore the 8 Limbs of Yoga, learning not only about movement but also about mindfulness, kindness, and self-awareness. They eagerly flow through vinyasa sequences, discovering strength and flexibility, both physically and emotionally. Perhaps the most cherished moment of class is Savasana, where they embrace stillness, finding peace in simply being. \r\n\r\nThrough this practice, our students reflect on joy, happiness, new beginnings, and self-love—lessons that extend far beyond the yoga mat. Your generosity has allowed them to engage in this journey of self-discovery, building confidence and inner calm that will serve them well in all aspects of their lives. \r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of yoga and mindfulness for young minds. Your support is truly a gift, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our community.","fullyFundedDate":1731123873935,"projectUrl":"project/empower-minds-inspire-calm-support-our/8905067/","projectTitle":"Empower Minds, Inspire Calm: Support Our Yoga & Wellness Journey","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Slota","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1877296_orig.jpg?crop=1216,1216,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730074577232","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1877296"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_109032","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":80,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":74,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":45,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":49,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":37.7,"schoolId":109032,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Scholars Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Scholars Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/orange-public-schools/scholars-academy/109032"}