{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sparks Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":46.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2230531,"projectId":7992629,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the wonderful donation you made to my classroom. We are using all the pencils every day. In fact, students have learned that they don't need to ask for them anymore, they just come and pick them up at my desk. I don't even get the excuse anymore that \"I couldn't do my work since I don't have a pencil'\" They already know what my response will be so it isn't even an issue anymore.\r\n\r\nWe are using the colored pencils almost daily basis to draw colorful models in our notebooks and (since the boxes hold other things as well) other work like highlighting text, taping papers into our notebooks. Since each student has their own pencil box (at least for that class period), they are being incredibly responsible for their materials.\r\n\r\nThe other most amazing part of this project was the headphones. We use them on a daily basis when working on iReady math. This allows students to listen to individualized lessons on their computers without disturbing the rest of the class.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1699841017330,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-for-classroom-succe/7992629/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials for Classroom Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kerr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2230531_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1512777044876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-kerr-wcsd"},{"teacherId":2230531,"projectId":6032408,"letterContent":"The new technology has had a positive impact on my students' learning by making lessons more engaging, interactive, and accessible. Students are able to explore content in different ways, receive immediate feedback, and work at their own pace. This has helped improve understanding, participation, and confidence, especially during independent and small-group work.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part of the new product for students is how interactive and easy it is to use. Students enjoy being able to actively participate instead of only listening to instruction. Features such as visuals, instant responses, and interactive activities keep students motivated and focused, making learning feel more enjoyable and meaningful.\r\n\r\nSeveral students have especially warmed to this new technology, particularly those who struggle with traditional learning methods. Students who need extra support benefit from the ability to review material and work at their own pace, while more advanced students enjoy the opportunity to challenge themselves. Additionally, quieter students have become more engaged because the technology gives them a comfortable way to participate and show their understanding.\r\n\r\nOverall, this technology has supported student growth by increasing engagement, encouraging independence, and creating a more inclusive learning environment for all students.","fullyFundedDate":1645140138810,"projectUrl":"project/a-laptop-to-keep-the-covid-19-blues-away/6032408/","projectTitle":"A Laptop To Keep the COVID-19 Blues Away!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kerr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2230531_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1512777044876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-kerr-wcsd"},{"teacherId":2230531,"projectId":9994537,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the wonderful donation you made to my classroom. We are using all the pencils every day. In fact, students have learned that they don't need to ask for them anymore, they just come and pick them up at my desk. I don't even get the excuse anymore that \"I couldn't do my work since I don't have a pencil'\" They already know what my response will be so it isn't even an issue anymore. \r\n\r\nWe are using the pencil boxes with the colored pencils almost daily basis to draw colorful models in our notebooks and (since the boxes hold other things as well) other work like highlighting text, taping papers into our notebooks. Since each student has their own pencil box (at least for that class period), they are being incredibly responsible for their materials. \r\n\r\nThe other most amazing part of this project was the safety glasses. It used to be an issue getting the students to wear the uncomfortable goggles, but now with the glasses, it is no longer a problem to have safety a priority during labs.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1768152453404,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials-for-science-success/9994537/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials for Science Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kerr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2230531_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1512777044876","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-kerr-wcsd"},{"teacherId":8155791,"projectId":10410138,"letterContent":"Each of these classroom supplies can have a positive impact on student learning, organization, and how students feel in the classroom. Giant sticky notes give students a fun and low-pressure way to brainstorm, collaborate, and share their ideas, helping them feel that their voices matter. Clipboards allow students to move around and work in different areas of the classroom, giving them a sense of flexibility and independence. Having pencils available helps students feel prepared and supported because they do not have to worry about having the supplies they need. Hanging folders keep materials and assignments organized, which can help students feel less overwhelmed and more confident. A computer clicker allows the teacher to move around the room and interact with students, helping them feel more connected and engaged in the lesson. Together, these supplies help create a classroom where students feel prepared, supported, comfortable, and excited to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1787273673503,"projectUrl":"project/small-supplies-big-impact/10410138/","projectTitle":"Small Supplies, Big Impact","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8155791"},{"teacherId":8167743,"projectId":10006245,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our band program and providing our students with the basic supplies they need to make music every day. The clarinet and saxophone reeds, trumpet valve oil, and trombone slide oil have been put to use regularly in our classroom. These materials may seem small, but they make a huge difference by helping our students keep their instruments working properly and producing their best sound.\r\nHaving these supplies readily available means that students can spend more time playing and learning instead of losing valuable rehearsal time because of a broken reed, a stuck trumpet valve, or a trombone slide that is not moving properly. The students appreciate having the materials they need right in the band room, and it helps them become more responsible about caring for their instruments.\r\nThanks to your generosity, our students can focus on improving their technique, building confidence, and preparing for rehearsals and performances together. Your support has made a lasting impact on our music classroom, and we are truly grateful for your investment in our young musicians.","fullyFundedDate":1768181549802,"projectUrl":"project/basic-band-supplies-big-musical-impact/10006245/","projectTitle":"Basic Band Supplies, Big Musical Impact","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ramirez Morales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8167743_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y370&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786559812636","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8167743"},{"teacherId":10314488,"projectId":10024840,"letterContent":"As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) working in a Title I school, I serve students who face significant emotional, social, and environmental challenges and limited access to mental health services outside of school. For many families, school-based mental health support is their only consistent resource. The materials donated through this project, books, coloring books, mental health posters, fidgets, crafts and supplies, and a bookshelf, have made a meaningful and immediate difference in how I support students' emotional well-being. These materials directly have addressed the diverse needs of the students I serve. The resources provided have provided developmentally appropriate ways for students to identify and express emotions that may otherwise feel overwhelming or unsafe to verbalize. When the students first saw the materials, they were beyond excited to engage with them and noticed a sense of comfort and enjoyment.\r\nMy goal is to continue to use these resources that were supplied to our school to continue providing trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate therapy, where this donation has helped create a safe and supportive space where students can build resilience, emotional skills, and hope for the future. I am deeply grateful for this support, which has strengthened my ability to serve students with compassion and care and reinforces the belief that every child deserves access to me","fullyFundedDate":1768676733770,"projectUrl":"project/mental-health-in-bloom/10024840/","projectTitle":"Mental health in bloom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Karla","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10314488"},{"teacherId":8157981,"projectId":10008826,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in how my students learn and engage every day.\r\n\r\nWith the new resources, we have been able to create a more structured and welcoming learning environment. The classroom rug has become a central space for small-group instruction, where students gather to practice reading, discuss ideas, and work collaboratively. The organizers have helped students take ownership of their materials, making transitions smoother and maximizing learning time. The soft lighting has also transformed the atmosphere of our classroom, helping students feel calm, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stood out happened during a small-group lesson on vocabulary development. My multilingual learners sat together on the rug, using visuals and discussion to build language skills. Because of the comfortable and organized space, they were more willing to participate, take risks, and support one another. It was powerful to see their confidence grow in real time.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were genuinely excited. Several of them commented on how \"cozy\" and \"different\" the classroom felt. More importantly, they quickly understood that these changes were for them—to help them learn better and feel more comfortable in our classroom.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we will continue using these resources to support small-group instruction, collaborative learning, and language development. Our next steps include deeper work on reading comprehension and academic vocabulary, where students will use the space to engage in discussions, practice speaking, and build confidence in their learning.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped create an environment where students feel valued, supported, and motivated to succeed. Thank you for investing in their future.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1768571247372,"projectUrl":"project/creating-calm-creative-learning-spaces/10008826/","projectTitle":"Creating Calm & Creative Learning Spaces","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8157981"},{"teacherId":10409961,"projectId":10035580,"letterContent":"The materials received have helped me immensely. As a first year school psychologist, I was in need of so many materials that I was able to get through donors choose. It has helped me relieve the stress of the financial burden. I have been able to set my office up for success with needed emotional regulation tools, office materials, puzzles for students, and items to keep my office clean and sanitized. I am so appreciative of donors choose and am so grateful that I have been able to start my first year with so much support.","fullyFundedDate":1768875974740,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-school-psychologist-list/10035580/","projectTitle":"First Year School Psychologist List!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10409961"},{"teacherId":8158485,"projectId":9995134,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the scooters! We have really enjoyed incorporating the scooters into different activities in the gym. We have played games such as scooter soccer, hockey, and relay races. The students really enjoyed playing a version of Hungry, Hungry, Hippo in which the students got to be hippos in the classic board game.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the scooters they were so excited!! They really enjoyed how easily they rolled across the gym floor. They were easy to ride for every student no matter their size or weight. We are looking forward to more opportunities to use the scooters in the physical education program and seeing the joy on our student's faces! Thank you again for your donation.","fullyFundedDate":1768329638661,"projectUrl":"project/pe-scooters/9995134/","projectTitle":"PE Scooters","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Coats","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8158485"},{"teacherId":9374342,"projectId":10005380,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping out with this project. We were able to use our supplies for a Valentine's Day Dance hosted at our school, and students in my class were excited to hear and see their peers enjoy the backdrop that they designed. Many of their peers were also very excited to take pictures with their friends. \r\n\r\nIt is with immense gratitude that I write this, as many of our students are not used to having supplies that they need or even want to express their creativity. It is absolutely magnificent to see their faces light up when I tell them the new things we have and how much care they have for these things. Once again, THANK YOU! <3","fullyFundedDate":1768186872625,"projectUrl":"project/yearbook-supplies/10005380/","projectTitle":"Yearbook Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Martinez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9374342_orig.jpg?crop=1103,1103,x654,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700339444087","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9374342"},{"teacherId":7138699,"projectId":9995557,"letterContent":"In these times when funds are being reduced at record speed to support teachers and students, the impact your donation made to my classroom is incredible. I learned a long time ago that there are just some hills I don't want to die on....and making sure my students had a pencil to use while in my class has got to be at the top of the list. So thank you for funding all the awesomeness with pencils for us! \r\n\r\nOur coffee cart has been a huge hit! My Leadership students have taken on this challenge with a level of sophistication that could only happen with the proper supplies that you provided with the funding of our new coffee pitchers and coffee pot!\r\n\r\nThank you again for all the help you gave to us!","fullyFundedDate":1768582468954,"projectUrl":"project/new-is-nifty/9995557/","projectTitle":"New is Nifty!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shirley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7138699"},{"teacherId":9353210,"projectId":9759306,"letterContent":"The new Harry Potter books we received from Donors Choose have been a tremendous hit with our students. Our school library was missing books from the series, so students were forced to look for copies from other sources (i.e. bookstores or the public library) – or they had to wait until another school library could loan them a copy. It's difficult for avid readers to wait when they're eager to dive into the next book in the series without losing momentum! Because of your generous donation to my Donors Choose project, I now have at least two copies of every book in the series – plus the illustrated versions.\r\n\r\nStudents are mesmerized by the beautiful pictures in the illustrated versions of Harry Potter. Even reluctant readers have enjoyed thumbing through the books – asking questions and commenting on the neat images. I recently facilitated a Valentines-themed lesson called \"Book Speed Dating,\" in which students sat at tables decorated with a wide variety of books. Aligned with the theme of falling in love, the goal was for each student to fall in love with the perfect book that met his/her interests. Students decided which books they got to preview, and the new, illustrated Harry Potter books were some of the first items to get snatched up – either by fans who can't get enough of the magical world created by JK Rowling or by curious students who've never read Harry Potter. I was thrilled to see reluctant readers checking out the new materials – especially knowing what's in store for them!\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in my students' lives. Reading is a gift that many of them take for granted. I love sparking their interest by placing quality materials in their hands and watching them walk away with smiles on their faces. I appreciate your generous support which has made it all possible.","fullyFundedDate":1764648370991,"projectUrl":"project/wizarding-wonders-harry-potter-books-to/9759306/","projectTitle":"Wizarding Wonders: Harry Potter Books to Inspire Young Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Brown","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9353210_orig.jpg?crop=2839,2839,x0,y189&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699406018111","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9353210"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_83116","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":611,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":2,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":53.6,"schoolId":83116,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sparks Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sparks Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/washoe-county-school-district/sparks-middle-school/83116"}