{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sterling Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":33.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8255630,"projectId":9360827,"letterContent":"When the rocket supplies arrived, my students' excitement was immediate and contagious. The moment I brought out the bottle launchers, bike pump, and materials for building soda bottle rockets, their faces lit up. Many had never worked on a hands-on STEM project like this before. Even better, the project grew into a joint activity between my 6th and 7th graders, connecting science concepts with math skills through a wonderful collaboration with the math teacher next door.\r\n\r\nWe have already begun our first round of rocket design challenges. Students worked in teams to build and decorate their rockets, test different fin shapes, and make evidence-based hypotheses about what might help their rocket travel farther. During our first launch day, the cheers and laughter echoed across the field as students recorded data, compared results, and encouraged one another. For many of them, this was the first time science and math felt truly \"alive.\"\r\n\r\nNext, students will refine their designs based on their test results and prepare for a combined \"Rocket Showcase,\" where they will explain their design choices and reflect on how their rockets improved. These materials have strengthened their understanding of physics and math concepts while building collaboration, confidence, and curiosity.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible. Your generosity gave my students the chance to learn in a way that inspires them to explore, question, and dream like real scientists and engineers. Your support has launched something powerful in our classroom: joy, wonder, and a love for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1757986314993,"projectUrl":"project/ready-set-launch-rocket-science/9360827/","projectTitle":"Ready, Set, Launch - Rocket Science!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jourjine Sab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8255630_orig.jpg?crop=1868,1868,x0,y498&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746398631797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jourjine-sab"},{"teacherId":6925744,"projectId":9565556,"letterContent":"Thanks to your kind contribution, our book \"vending\" machine is fully stocked and ready for deployment. We have a plan in place where every staff member will be able to gift a different student one token to use with the machine, for students to choose a book for them to keep! As you may have noticed, the book selection is relevant to middle schoolers and includes teen fiction, as well as athlete, celebrity, and historical figure biographies, and classics in both English and Spanish. Everyone is so excited!\r\n\r\nWe are actually planning a ribbon cutting event for the machine on the morning of October 22nd, at around 10:20am, featuring student leaders and the partners who made it possible for us to fully enact this initiative. We would love to invite you to the occasion. If you are in the area and have availability at this time, we would love to share our gratitude in your support. Please feel free to reach me at our school main number (571-434-4520, ask for Dr. G) if you would like to learn more about this event. Looking forward to connecting!","fullyFundedDate":1755712353287,"projectUrl":"project/book-rewards-for-academic-behavior-ach/9565556/","projectTitle":"Book Rewards for Academic & Behavior Achievement","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6925744"},{"teacherId":10037267,"projectId":9361088,"letterContent":"The Impact of New Classroom Resources\r\n\r\nMy students and I are absolutely loving the new resources! We're using them to bring our lessons characteristics of living things and cells unit. One of our most exciting projects has been students are begging to start the cell but where they are going to bud there ow model of an animal or plant cell for the project. Students have really enjoyed the dry erase and different markers for their groups activities they are always excited to learn and do new things. It has really help with small groups that ways every one has there own supplies and each person can add values. Next step like I said is the cell structure model.","fullyFundedDate":1747881688940,"projectUrl":"project/scientific-experts/9361088/","projectTitle":"Scientific experts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10037267_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753202863845","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10037267"},{"teacherId":10041838,"projectId":9374013,"letterContent":"I'm writing with immense gratitude to thank you for funding our classroom project. Your generosity has brought transformative tools into our hands-on math environment—resources that are helping my students feel and see math in ways that were previously out of reach.\r\n\r\nFrom manipulatives that bring abstract concepts to life, to visual aids that support deeper understanding, every item has made a tangible difference. My students are more engaged, more curious, and more confident. They're not just solving problems—they're exploring patterns, building models, and discovering the joy of mathematical thinking.\r\n\r\nYour support has empowered us to create a space where learning is active, inclusive, and full of possibility. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our journey. We're so grateful to be part of a community that champions equity, creativity, and student voice.","fullyFundedDate":1749411410375,"projectUrl":"project/math-that-moves-hands-on-minds-on/9374013/","projectTitle":"Math That Moves-Hands-On, Minds-On!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Desai","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10041838_orig.jpg?crop=1512,1512,x356,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747929341071","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10041838"},{"teacherId":8255630,"projectId":9318486,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for your generous support of my project, Colorful Science. Thanks to you, my middle school students now have access to a variety of coloring materials and art supplies that have brought our science lessons to life. These resources have allowed them to create detailed charts, diagrams, and collaborative posters, transforming abstract concepts into vibrant, visual projects that make learning more engaging and memorable.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the supplies, their faces lit up with excitement. They immediately began brainstorming ways to use the markers, colored pencils, and posters in our science activities. Since then, the materials have played an important role in several projects: creating collaborative posters for their weather instruments presentations, illustrating food chains and food webs, designing and labeling their soda bottle rocket STEM projects, drawing charts and graphs during the Rock Pocket Mouse Lab on natural selection and evolution, and developing imaginative \"Create-Your-Own Species\" projects to showcase structural and behavioral adaptations in plants and animals. Their creativity, teamwork, and pride in their work have grown stronger because of the tools you provided.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, my students will continue to use these resources for upcoming projects, including group posters and visual models that help them communicate complex scientific ideas in engaging ways. Your contribution has not only provided tools for creativity but has also strengthened collaboration, critical thinking, and communication in my classroom. Thank you for making such a meaningful impact on my students' learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1747063271140,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-science-tools-to-empower-young/9318486/","projectTitle":"Colorful Science: Tools to Empower Young Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jourjine Sab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8255630_orig.jpg?crop=1868,1868,x0,y498&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746398631797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jourjine-sab"},{"teacherId":10084285,"projectId":9478683,"letterContent":"When my students walked into the SWAS room and saw the new flexible seating and STEM toys, their reactions were priceless. Some immediately rushed to floor seats and desk while others gravitated magnet tiles, it was clear they felt a sense of ownership and comfort in their learning space.\r\n\r\nOne of our first moments with the STEM toys was during a team challenge where students worked together to build coolest shape tower . I watched students who don't usually interact become problem solvers, cheering each other on and laughing when their creations worked. It was such a joyful, collaborative moment.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to keep integrating the flexible seating into small group learning, allowing students to choose spaces where they feel most focused, and to use the STEM toys during problem solving lessons that build critical thinking and teamwork. I'm so excited to see how these resources continue to foster creativity and confidence in my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755712352503,"projectUrl":"project/safe-space-for-sped-student/9478683/","projectTitle":"Safe Space for Sped Student","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cordon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10084285_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752865488031","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10084285"},{"teacherId":9896262,"projectId":9063551,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you for your incredible generosity in supporting the Sterling Middle School Art Program. Your donation of art materials have made a world of difference in the lives of the students, allowing them to explore creativity by expressing themselves through creating art.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, students are able to work with high-quality materials that inspire them and help bring their artistic visions to life. These supplies not only enhance their skills but also build their confidence, giving them the opportunity to engage in the arts in a meaningful way.\r\n\r\nYour support is invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness and commitment to fostering creativity in young minds. Thank you for investing into students' futures and for helping provide an enriching, creative space where they can grow and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1737943003652,"projectUrl":"project/cultivating-creativity-empowering-middl/9063551/","projectTitle":"Cultivating Creativity: Empowering Middle School Artists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Solazzo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9896262_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x136,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741722120596","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-solazzo"},{"teacherId":9839550,"projectId":8947345,"letterContent":"On behalf of our sixth-grade English class, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of a class set of books about The Great Barrier Reef. These books have been an incredible resource for our nonfiction unit. The students were excited to explore the fascinating world of the Great Barrier Reef, from its vibrant marine life to its importance in global ecosystems. \r\n \r\nNot only did we enjoy reading aloud together, but we were also able to engage with the material through individual re-reading and assignments that allowed each student to explore the content more deeply and create summary posters, inclusive of self-created text features to display our learning. The books enhanced students' nonfiction reading skills, and they loved learning about the world beyond the classroom through this fascinating subject. Having a book in each students' hand was truly a difference maker.\r\n \r\nThank you for helping make this educational experience possible. Your support has made a lasting impact on our class!","fullyFundedDate":1732580316121,"projectUrl":"project/dive-into-nonfiction/8947345/","projectTitle":"Dive Into Nonfiction!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thonet","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9839550_orig.jpg?crop=311,311,x0,y121&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732048655877","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9839550"},{"teacherId":6925744,"projectId":8821702,"letterContent":"Thank you! You have made a difference in our classroom! \r\n \r\n\r\nThe class received an amazing standing desk with a wobble stand. It has been a great addition to class. Students request to use it daily and sometimes create a list for who can use it next. Students show great responsibility in its use and are taking care with it, sometimes reminding other students of the rules. After having it in the class for a while now, the interest has not died down, although we have found that students who need it most are those who tend to gravitate towards it. It has been so helpful with students who need movement breaks and helps them to focus their attention on their learning. We have a few students who struggle to maintain any quietness in their bodies and this has certainly helped them to attend to and access content taught. \r\n\r\nSo, once again, we not only thank you but so do the 110 students you have graciously helped!","fullyFundedDate":1733236594177,"projectUrl":"project/standing-balance-desk-for-kinesthetic-le/8821702/","projectTitle":"Standing Balance Desk for Kinesthetic Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6925744"},{"teacherId":9839557,"projectId":8947356,"letterContent":"On behalf of our sixth-grade English class, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of a class set of books about the Great Wall of China. These books have been an incredible resource for our nonfiction unit, bringing the thrilling story of Everest to life for our students.\r\n\r\nNot only did we enjoy reading aloud together, but we were also able to engage with the material through individual re-reading and assignments that allowed each student to explore the content more deeply and create summary posters, inclusive of self-created text features to display our learning. The books enhanced students' nonfiction reading skills, and they loved learning about the world beyond the classroom through this fascinating subject. Having a book in each students' hand was truly a difference maker. Thank you for helping make this educational experience possible. Your support has made a lasting impact on our class!","fullyFundedDate":1732235146291,"projectUrl":"project/breaking-barriers-into-non-fiction/8947356/","projectTitle":"Breaking Barriers Into Non-Fiction","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Boettcher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9839557"},{"teacherId":9192109,"projectId":8971056,"letterContent":"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous donation to our DonorsChoose project. Your contribution of sensory items and snacks has already made a significant impact on our classroom, and I am excited to share how we've been using these new resources.\r\n\r\nThe sensory items have been a game changer for my students, offering them the support they need to stay focused and calm throughout the day. We've been using the sensory tools during transitions and independent work time, and it's amazing to see how they help the students stay engaged. One of our classroom projects involved creating a sensory-friendly space where students can take breaks when needed. It's become a go-to spot for some of them when they need a moment to regroup.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the snacks and sensory items, their faces lit up! The snacks were an immediate hit, giving them a boost of energy and ensuring they can stay focused for the remainder of the day. But it was the sensory materials that truly surprised them—they were so excited to try out the new fidget tools and quiet the room with the calming lights. It's wonderful to see how these resources are making them feel comfortable and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, my students are now diving into a project where they'll be using the sensory tools to enhance their focus during group discussions and activities. We are also working on a class-wide initiative to organize a sensory-friendly space that all students can use whenever they need. These tools are not only making a difference in their learning, but they're also fostering a sense of independence and confidence.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you for helping us create a classroom where every student can thrive. Your support is making a lasting impact on my students' educational journey.","fullyFundedDate":1733236593736,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-snacks-and-smiles/8971056/","projectTitle":"Sensory, Snacks and Smiles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Scott-Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9192109"},{"teacherId":6634335,"projectId":8946034,"letterContent":"On behalf of our sixth-grade English class, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of a class set of books about Mount Everest. These books have been an incredible resource for our nonfiction unit, bringing the thrilling story of Everest to life for our students.\r\n\r\nNot only did we enjoy reading aloud together, but we were also able to engage with the material through individual re-reading and assignments that allowed each student to explore the content more deeply and create summary posters, inclusive of self-created text features to display our learning. The books enhanced students' nonfiction reading skills, and they loved learning about the world beyond the classroom through this fascinating subject. Having a book in each students' hand was truly a difference maker. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping make this educational experience possible. Your support has made a lasting impact on our class!","fullyFundedDate":1732476449201,"projectUrl":"project/launching-literacy-to-new-heights-with-n/8946034/","projectTitle":"Launching Literacy to New Heights with NonFiction Texts","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Albertson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6634335_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x53,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1571007521013","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6634335"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_34298","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":968,"numTeachers":92,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":76,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"10.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":66.5,"schoolId":34298,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sterling Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sterling Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/loudoun-county-public-schools/sterling-middle-school/34298"}