{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Paris Gibson Education Center","outOfStateSupporters":7.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8943950,"projectId":9675332,"letterContent":"I would like to say that the speaker has been such a great bonus to my classroom for my students. The students love when there is music being played during our PE time. When I forget the speaker they get mad at me and request I remember it for the next time. \r\nThe bean bag turtles have been a huge hit. We have used them for partner throwing and catching. Seeing if we can throw them into certain locations (buckets, hula hoops, etc.). May of my students love just to shake the turtles as they stim. \r\nI truly am grateful for the addition of these items to my classroom and will use them for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1757173473726,"projectUrl":"project/engagement-through-music-in-pe/9675332/","projectTitle":"Engagement Through Music in PE","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Klosterman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8943950_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725991724751","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8943950"},{"teacherId":3247098,"projectId":8725714,"letterContent":"I wish to thank you very much for helping to provide books and snacks for my classroom book tasting project. \r\n\r\nI teach in an alternative high school environment and getting students to read can be quite challenging. Creating the book tasting project has worked wonderfully.\r\n\r\n I offered the class every Friday. Students would attend with a friend and the students would read the first chapter together. The snacking is a bonus. They would then write a response and recommendation for the book and have a brief discussion with me, their teacher. If they decided to continue with the book, they can return on book Fridays and continue, or they can check out a copy of the book and finish with a packet of questions. The project has worked quite well!","fullyFundedDate":1726514686627,"projectUrl":"project/brown-bag-book-tasting-project/8725714/","projectTitle":"Brown Bag Book Tasting Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. McGonigal","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3247098"},{"teacherId":9782838,"projectId":8860926,"letterContent":"I am writing to thank you for your generous donations for my project, \"Learning through Play...\". The tools that were purchased have been implemented for students with a variety of learning needs and abilities.\r\n\r\nThe art supplies have been used to create paper plate monsters, butterflies, and rainbows so far. In the coming weeks we will be using various pieces for our Easter Bunnies, spring flowers, watermelons, and lady bugs. I will be including pictures of some of the scary monsters that the students created. These encouraged both imagination and fine motor skill development through use of art mediums. \r\n\r\nThe games have been used for students with various developmental disabilities and medical diagnoses. I have a student who has lasting effects from a Traumatic Brain Injury who utilizes the pixel art game to work on visual tracking, fine motor skills, counting, and 1:1 correspondence. I have a student who was born with a genetic condition who struggles to manipulate small objects, and yet will work on these difficult skills when we play the game \"Don't Spill the Beans.\" \r\n\r\nFinally, I have students who are non-verbal and struggle to self-regulate who have found great comfort and calming in the sensory discs and the gel and marble manipulatives. \r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, these students have found that they CAN do hard things and are continuing to learn and develop in their classrooms.","fullyFundedDate":1738283456237,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play-tools-for-teachin/8860926/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play! Tools for Teaching Foundational Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Beerman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9782838"},{"teacherId":9759094,"projectId":8799278,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous donations. The Infographic Guide To Personal Finance has been a great addition to our Financial Literacy Class. The budgeting section has been used the most for this class. This has provided great visuals for my students to understand financial concepts. Like the rule of 72, and the 50,30, 20 budget. \r\n\r\nThe white board has also been a great addition to the classroom. It is very nice to go over concepts of hourly wage and livable wage. My classroom has benefited from this donation and I am grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1727101862619,"projectUrl":"project/financial-literacy/8799278/","projectTitle":"Financial Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Besich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9759094"},{"teacherId":9747804,"projectId":8812530,"letterContent":"the following is my version...of a thank you...and then I did an edited chat gpt version. please reply and tell me which you liked better...if you read the whole thing:) Thanks again.\r\n\r\nHello to you people who helped me buy this drone. If you read this whole thank you, I will be surprised. I actually bought a few drones myself because they are so facinating and incredible. I apologize for not writing this sooner but I really had to jump through some hoops to get permission to fly in restricted airspace. Lock down facilities are hard to get permission to fly drones in. You have to earn a commercial drone pilot's test first. I studied for and took the test in November and December. It is very similar to the test you have to take and pass to fly airplanes. It was really hard but I took an online class and ended up getting a 92 on the test. I think a minimum of 70 is what you need. \r\n\r\nAfter earning my commercial license, I had to learn how to request to fly in restricted airspace...after I learned all about airspace. LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is an automated system that allows drone pilots to quickly get airspace authorizations for flying in controlled airspace near airports. It facilitates near-instant approvals by connecting pilots with FAA air traffic control through approved service providers. That is what laanc is and to get it too happen quickly takes a little bit of time:) I also had to request the Drone Company DJI to unlock zones on my drones so that I could fly from the Detention center. I am still awaiting their approval. I had to do the same thing on my trip to hawaii in order to fly my drones there.\r\n\r\nIn any case I have LAANC permission to fly my drones in and around the JDC now as long as I monitor the Air Traffic Control as there is a Helicopter Helipad less than a half mile from the JDC Center.\r\n\r\nFinally, again if you read this entire thank you, I applaud you. I have loved learning about drones and now I have a commercial drone pilot's license which may or may not do me any good. I tell my students that you can't be an effective teacher unless you are an effective learner first...I truly believe that...and when I get passionate about something I am a pretty good learner. My students have trouble getting excited about anything that has anything to do with learning...but during this whole experience...A few of them showed some real enthusiasm for something regarding learning. Not all of them...but some...this is a difficult population to motivate...but I have managed to motivate a few of them...So thank you for your support of this project and trust in me as a teacher. I am very passionate about my job and grateful I have been able to spend my life working with and learning with people who struggle, because I can relate to people who struggle...because I have struggled over the course of my life and helping them has helped me.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\nMr. A\r\n\r\nEdited Version:\r\n\r\nHello to everyone who helped me buy this drone. If you read this entire thank-you note, I'll be impressed!\r\n\r\nI actually ended up buying a few drones myself because they're so fascinating and incredible. I apologize for not writing this sooner, but I had to jump through quite a few hoops to get permission to fly in restricted airspace. Flying drones in secured facilities isn't easy—you first need a commercial drone pilot's license.\r\n\r\nSo, I spent November and December studying for the FAA Part 107 test, which is very similar to the exam required to fly airplanes. It was tough, but I took an online course and scored a 92% (the passing score is 70%).\r\n\r\nAfter earning my license, I had to learn how to request authorization to fly in restricted airspace—after first learning all about airspace regulations! The LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) system allows drone pilots to get quick airspace approvals by connecting with FAA air traffic control. But even though LAANC is designed for fast approvals, it still takes some effort to get it all set up.\r\n\r\nI also had to request DJI (the drone company) to unlock restricted zones on my drones so I could fly from the detention center. I'm still waiting on their approval. I had to go through a similar process for my trip to Hawaii.\r\n\r\nIn any case, I now have LAANC authorization to fly around the JDC, as long as I monitor Air Traffic Control—especially since there's a helicopter helipad less than half a mile away.\r\n\r\nFinally, if you've made it this far, I applaud you! Learning about drones has been an amazing journey, and now I have a commercial drone pilot's license—which may or may not come in handy, but it's been an incredible experience.\r\n\r\nI always tell my students: You can't be an effective teacher unless you're an effective learner first. I truly believe that. When I'm passionate about something, I'm a dedicated learner. Many of my students struggle to get excited about anything related to learning, but through this experience, a few of them actually showed enthusiasm. Not all—but some. And in this environment, any spark of motivation is a win.\r\n\r\nSo, thank you for supporting this project and trusting me as a teacher. I'm deeply passionate about my work, and I'm grateful to spend my life learning alongside those who struggle—because I can relate. Helping them has helped me.","fullyFundedDate":1727443804737,"projectUrl":"project/a-dji-mini-4k-drone-to-help-our-other-pr/8812530/","projectTitle":"A DJI Mini 4K Drone to Help Our Other Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. A","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9747804_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y671&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726251298265","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9747804"},{"teacherId":9711341,"projectId":8710698,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to help supply my classroom with sets of books, paper people, Lysol wipes, and other small group activity items. \r\n\r\nStudents were able to create themselves as paper people to be added to my classroom bulletin board. This provided them with a fun opportunity to be creative and express themselves. It also gives them a sense of belonging here at the school. \r\n\r\nAfter receiving the set of Educated books, 32 students attended a 10-day special offering where we read this inspiring memoir. We explored the author's organization, purpose, and narrative decisions. Additionally, we analyzed the characters and situations described within the novel. Students were able to identify ways which they personally connect to different people or events within the story. Overall, this novel allowed us as a group to engage in many rich discussions. Several students expressed great interest in the novel and a few even stated it was their new favorite book. \r\n\r\nI truly believe these items have and will continue to drastically enhance the educational experiences of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1725025616057,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-foster-a-love-for-reading/8710698/","projectTitle":"Help Me Foster A Love For Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Schleve","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9711341"},{"teacherId":9747804,"projectId":8777802,"letterContent":"The drones have been a transformative experience for many of our students, turning abstract STEM concepts into engaging, hands-on learning opportunities. Through this project, students explored aerodynamics, physics, and technology in a fun and practical way. With the rapid advancement of drone safety and technology, it's exciting to see new careers emerging across various industries, offering our students a glimpse into potential futures.\r\n\r\nFlying drones and operating the drone cameras were undoubtedly the highlights for our students. Operating the drones required teamwork—one student managed the camera, capturing video and photo footage, while the other piloted the drone. This setup fostered collaboration and helped students develop a range of skills. The process of earning FAA recreational drone licenses further instilled responsibility and perseverance, as they dedicated themselves to studying and passing formal tests. These activities not only deepened their understanding of academic content but also strengthened critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.\r\n\r\nMany of our students have struggled in traditional classrooms, but the drones and related activities motivated, engaged, and entertained them in ways few other programs have. For our at-risk population, this project has been a game-changer, sparking curiosity and building confidence. Although we are currently limited to indoor flights due to legal restrictions, we're actively exploring solutions to expand into outdoor areas. The teacher has earned a commercial drone pilot's license to enable students to fly in the recreation yard—a testament to our commitment to this program's success.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your generosity. Your support has made this opportunity possible. Thank you for believing in their potential.","fullyFundedDate":1726510496493,"projectUrl":"project/flight-to-success-empowering-youth-thro/8777802/","projectTitle":"Flight to Success: Empowering Youth Through Drone Technology and Teamwork","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. A","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9747804_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y671&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726251298265","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9747804"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_54818","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":265,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":62,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":71,"percentIndigenous":7,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":92.3,"schoolId":54818,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Paris Gibson Education Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Paris Gibson Education Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/montana/great-falls-school-district-1a/skyline-alternative-high-school/54818"}