{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"South County High School","outOfStateSupporters":17.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9370491,"projectId":9722639,"letterContent":"A Breath of Fresh Air: Our New Learning Environment\r\nThanks to your generous donations, the Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chairs have brought an incredible wave of positive energy and focus to our classroom! The impact on my students' learning and overall well-being has been immediately noticeable, and we're so grateful you made this possible.\r\n\r\nUsing Our New Flexible Seating\r\nThe balance ball chairs are now the most popular seating option in our room. Students are actively choosing them throughout the day, whether they are working on group projects, reading independently, or listening to a lesson. The gentle movement they allow is exactly what many of my active learners needed.\r\n\r\nA specific moment that highlights their impact occurred during our recent \"Invent a Habitat\" science project. This task requires sustained concentration as students research a unique ecosystem and design an animal to live within it. Before we had the new chairs, several students would frequently fidget, get up, or lean back in their standard chairs, disrupting their focus and that of their neighbors. Now, with the subtle bouncing and core engagement the balance chairs provide, those same students were able to stay engaged, settled, and on-task for much longer periods. One student, who used to take frequent breaks, worked through an entire 45-minute block, confidently sketching and labeling her animal's adaptations!\r\n\r\nStudent Reactions\r\nThe students' reaction when the chairs arrived was pure joy and excitement! They were immediately curious about the blue and green stability balls and the unique bases. They saw them as a fun, special addition to our room.\r\n\r\nThe most common reaction, once they sat down, was a smile and a quiet, \"Whoa, this is cool!\" They instinctively understood that these weren't just chairs—they were tools to help them be active learners. The shift from seeing seating as something passive to something that helps their body and brain work better has been wonderful to observe.\r\n\r\nOur Next Steps\r\nWe are building on this newfound engagement as we move into our next project: Storytelling Through Digital Media. This involves students using their writing skills to draft a narrative and then using a suite of computer programs to animate a scene from their story.\r\n\r\nThe balance ball chairs will continue to be a crucial resource for this project. They will help students maintain the focus and ergonomic comfort needed for extended periods of focused writing, coding, and design work at our desks.\r\n\r\nYour generosity didn't just provide chairs; you provided an alternative learning environment that supports the unique needs of every child. We are so excited to continue our learning journey with more comfort, focus, and flexibility! Thank you again for being a vital part of our classroom's success.","fullyFundedDate":1758502878914,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-focused-minds/9722639/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for Focused Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Straughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9370491_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700257767412","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9370491"},{"teacherId":9823948,"projectId":8915723,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of headsets to our Spanish classroom. Your gift has made a significant impact on our student's learning experience, especially when it comes to practicing listening and speaking skills - two of the most important and often challenging aspects of language acquisition. \r\n\r\nWith these headsets, students can engage more fully with audio activities, language apps, and pronunciation excercises, all while maintaining focus in a classroom environment. It has already made noticeable difference in their confidence and participation. \r\n\r\nWe're incredibly grateful for your support and investment in our students' education. Your generosity helps create a more dynamic, engaging, and effective learning environment. \r\n\r\n¡Muchísimas gracias!","fullyFundedDate":1738024090197,"projectUrl":"project/aydanos-a-practicar-nuestro-espaol/8915723/","projectTitle":"¡Ayúdanos a Practicar Nuestro Español!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gonzalez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9823948_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730501382679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9823948"},{"teacherId":9370491,"projectId":9198548,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donation, our students now have access to high-quality headphones with microphones, transforming the way they engage with language learning and digital assignments. In our Spanish classes, these headphones allow students to practice speaking and listening skills with greater confidence, as they can clearly hear pronunciation exercises and record their own responses without distraction. The ability to replay their recordings and receive immediate feedback has significantly improved their fluency and comprehension. Additionally, students working on individualized projects can focus better, reducing classroom noise and creating an environment that supports all learners.\r\n\r\nThe excitement in the classroom has been incredible. Students love the interactive elements of our lessons now that they can fully engage with language-learning apps, virtual conversations, and collaborative activities without feeling self-conscious. For many, especially those who were hesitant to participate in speaking exercises before, these headphones have provided a sense of privacy and security, encouraging them to practice more freely. One student, who previously struggled with pronunciation, now eagerly records and refines their responses, showing remarkable progress in both confidence and skill.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly made a difference in our students' learning experience. These headphones are more than just a tool; they are helping students find their voices in a new language, fostering engagement, and making learning more accessible for everyone. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1742922534284,"projectUrl":"project/sounding-success-empowering-learning-wi/9198548/","projectTitle":"Sounding Success: Empowering Learning With Headphones & Microphones!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Straughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9370491_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700257767412","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9370491"},{"teacherId":9746547,"projectId":8774726,"letterContent":"First, we wish to convey our gratitude and appreciation to start this impact letter. The willingness of Google's Teen Initiative to support our efforts to increase the coping skills and the mental health wellness of the students in our pyramid. With the guided breathing dog and meditation pillow, our students have begun to learn how to center themselves. They are using breathwork to calm their minds and tune into their bodies. They have started to come down to ground themselves when they are feeling overwhelmed or distressed. We have been able to have insightful conversations and connect while using the coping skills cards. The thinking putty is a FAVORITE. Most students are drawn to the extra soft, and soft putty. As they are speaking they use it to help gather their thoughts. Learning about our stress and survival mechanisms within our bodies and how to handle elevated emotions through the anger game has been a positive influence. These materials have been wonderful to have!\r\n\r\nOur students were surprised and excited when they saw the new materials. Having access to mental health and mindfulness activities is encouraging our students to overcome ambivalence and with this newfound awareness, they are taking actions to help themselves feel better. Again, thank you for your donation! We thank you that our students have an abundance of resources that we can use in school, even though that may not be the case elsewhere.","fullyFundedDate":1726427155767,"projectUrl":"project/balanced-mental-emotional-and-physical/8774726/","projectTitle":"Balanced Mental, Emotional, and Physical Health Matters to Student Success.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9746547_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758383894653","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9746547"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30978","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":2107,"numTeachers":144,"percentFrplEligible":37,"percentAsian":17,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":15,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.3,"schoolId":30978,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about South County High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"South County High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/fairfax-county-public-schools/south-co-secondary-school/30978"}