{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taft High School","outOfStateSupporters":25.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":732480,"projectId":9732843,"letterContent":"Thank you for your contribution to this important social and emotional learning (SEL) lesson on self-management and relationship skills. For the second year in a row, I taught students how to use kindness and gratitude as self-management tools. Students practiced self-awareness by reflecting on the different experiences they had with kindness in their lives. They watched videos and discussed research on the benefits of each for well-being. However, identifying and discussing the benefits is only one part of this lesson. \r\n\r\nYour contribution made it possible to buy the supplies needed for students to apply what they learned to their lives. Students choose one person in their lives to whom they would create a card of gratitude. For the second year in a row, a super majority of students reported feeling positive while creating the cards. \r\n\r\nThank you for your financial assistance.","fullyFundedDate":1758801500453,"projectUrl":"project/gratitude-improves-mental-health/9732843/","projectTitle":"Gratitude Improves Mental Health!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Plewa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp732480_orig.jpg?crop=1374,1374,x42,y226&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722607272245","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/732480"},{"teacherId":4653945,"projectId":9909936,"letterContent":"From the bottom of our hearts—and the wheels of our new cart—THANK YOU! Your generous donation to the \"Snack Cart Success\" project has made an immediate, tangible difference in the lives of our 12 amazing students in the Severe and Profound Cluster Program. This isn't just about snacks; it's about opportunity.\r\n\r\nThe Moment the Magic Started\r\nThe transformation began the moment our \"snack bar on wheels\" arrived. With the help of the Intro to Robotics class and the Robotics Team, we assembled the cart and installed vibrant, colorful switches. The reaction was instant—the room lit up! Students who are often observers became active participants, eager to \"practice\" pushing the switches that represent their voice and agency. Watching their faces go from curiosity to pure pride as they realized they were the ones making the cart move and communicate was a moment I will never forget.\r\n\r\nHow We're Using the Resources\r\nSince mid-January, we have held four successful events, and the \"Heart of the Community\" initiative has become the highlight of the school week. Our students are hands-on in every step: they meticulously sort the snacks, load the bins, and navigate the cart through the hallways. During our \"deliveries,\" students offer a menu, pass out the chosen items, collect money, and even give change if needed. Most importantly, the air is filled with \"Hellos\" and \"Thank yous\" as they engage with their peers and teachers.\r\n\r\nWe've even expanded! We recently added \"home-grown small potted plants\" to our inventory. This adds a wonderful vocational layer, as students help grow and care for the plants before selling them. One specific moment that stands out is seeing a student use their communication device to offer a snack to a teacher; the teacher's face lit up, and the student stood a little taller, beaming with the pride of a job well done. Now, school staff tell us they \"can't wait\" for our next visit and are constantly asking us to stop by more often.\r\n\r\nNext Steps: Expanding Our Horizons\r\nThis initiative has been so successful that it has created several new \"jobs\" behind the scenes, including counting money, keeping inventory, and cleaning the bins and cart. Every student wants to be on the \"cart crew\" and wear that official apron!\r\n\r\nOur next goal is to expand our operations to two days a week to meet the high demand from staff. We are also using our Amazon Wish List to diversify our snack options and continue growing our \"plant shop\" segment. This project will continue through the end of the year and pick right back up after summer break, ensuring that our students continue to be the visible, vibrant heart of the Taft community.\r\n\r\nYour generosity didn't just buy a cart; it built a bridge between our students and their school. Thank you for believing in their potential.","fullyFundedDate":1764087273270,"projectUrl":"project/heart-of-the-community-taft-cluster-pro/9909936/","projectTitle":"Heart of the Community: Taft Cluster Program's Student-Run Snack Initiative","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zmyslowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4653945_orig.png?crop=395,395,x5,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764105532920","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4653945"},{"teacherId":10354210,"projectId":9905385,"letterContent":"The kitchen is officially open! Thanks to your incredible generosity, our Baking Club has been transformed from a group with a dream into a (mostly) functioning bakery. The moment the students unboxed the toaster ovens, aprons, and mixers, the room was full of energy. We've already tackled our first few recipes (some more successful than others) and the students continue to be excited to bring in more to try! \r\n\r\nCreating a \"kitchen from scratch\" was quite the challenge, but with your support, we pulled it off! Since we have started this club, we have been able to be a part of international holiday event, brainstorm fundraisers, and make a name for ourselves amongst the many clubs at our school. None of this would have been possible without your thoughtful donations.","fullyFundedDate":1764338790136,"projectUrl":"project/we-have-passion-just-not-the-kitchen-s/9905385/","projectTitle":"We Have Passion, Just Not the Kitchen— Support Our Student Bakers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauss","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10354210_orig.jpg?crop=638,638,x385,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764088582437","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10354210"},{"teacherId":10264396,"projectId":9718379,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for the support you have shown through your generous donation to our classroom. As a new teacher, it means so much to me to know that people outside of our four walls of high school appreciate what we as educators are doing for our students and are willing to contribute. With your support, I have been able to establish a science classroom that helps students grow as learners and as human beings. \r\n\r\nWhile it is my first year teaching chemistry, the fundamental supplies you provided of safety equipment, graduated cylinders, and calculators have allowed us to establish a safe space for inquiry and exploration. Students used the calculators to calculate half-lives of radioactive elements during our nuclear energy unit that culminated in a debate on whether or not we as a nation should be using nuclear energy. The graduated cylinders were used when students discovered the relationship between density and volume. The safety equipment (rubber gloves and safety goggles) have allowed students to safely conduct investigations such as the flame test and reactivity of halogen elements. None of this would have been possible without your support. \r\n\r\nThank you for investing into our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758421497467,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-chemistry-teacher/9718379/","projectTitle":"First Year Chemistry Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10264396_orig.jpg?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758033556384","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10264396"},{"teacherId":6695680,"projectId":9580885,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity towards my students. My school is very large, so my students sometimes have lunch scheduled very early or very late, so they are hungry during class. We go through snacks very quickly and these students are very excited when I am able to give them a snack. \r\n\r\nAlso, as a high school teacher I am always looking for new ways to keep them engaged. These snacks are great prizes for games we play to keep students engaged such as jeopardy, vocabulary headbands, or even just \"which table can get the most answers correct\". We just got back from winter break and the kids are not looking forward to learning, but when I am offering up snacks for activities it gets them much more excited to learn and come to class!","fullyFundedDate":1758845862270,"projectUrl":"project/snack-and-supplies-for-me-and-my-student/9580885/","projectTitle":"Snack and Supplies for me and my Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kahn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6695680_orig.jpg?crop=1501,1501,x1108,y665&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566253944599","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6695680"},{"teacherId":9799289,"projectId":9715898,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations of colored pencils, density lab materials, an atomic magnetic model, a molecular modeling kit, and Kleenex. Because of you, our students are able to participate in hands-on labs and engaging learning activities that truly bring science to life.\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these materials to great use. Students have been building molecules with the modeling kit to better understand how atoms bond, and the atomic magnetic model has helped make abstract concepts like atomic structure much more concrete. During our density lab, students eagerly tested different materials, making predictions and recording observations like real scientists. Even the colored pencils have been valuable, students use them to create detailed diagrams and color-coded models that support their understanding of complex ideas.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. There were smiles, questions, and lots of \"Can we try this?\" moments. They were especially thrilled to handle the models themselves and work collaboratively during labs. It was clear that having real tools in their hands made the learning feel more meaningful and fun.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, our next steps include deeper investigations into matter and molecular interactions. Students will be designing their own experiments, creating molecular models to represent chemical changes, and presenting their findings to the class. These resources are helping build curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love for learning.\r\n\r\nBy contributing to our project, you've made a lasting impact on our students' learning experiences. Thank you again for your kindness and support. We are incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758895995758,"projectUrl":"project/chemistry-essentials-for-special-educati/9715898/","projectTitle":"Chemistry Essentials for Special Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gruendel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9799289"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":9906612,"letterContent":"The true innovation happened when students took these skills and applied them to the real world. They interviewed peers with physical disabilities and motor challenges to identify daily frustrations, then engineered solutions.\r\n\r\nHere is the impact we have seen on the ground:\r\n\r\nSwitch-Adapted Toys: Students dissected battery-operated toys, interrupting the circuits to add large, accessible buttons. This allowed students with limited fine motor skills to play independently for the first time.\r\n\r\nCustom Peripherals: We modified computer mice and gaming controllers, re-routing inputs so classmates could access educational software and games using foot pedals or head switches.\r\n\r\n3D Printed Aids: From pencil grips to zipper pulls, students designed custom physical hacks to make the school day easier for their peers.","fullyFundedDate":1765379528672,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-futures-building-assistive-t/9906612/","projectTitle":"Empowering Futures: Building Assistive Tech for Our Community","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":8579692,"projectId":9313151,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting this unique project. This truely is a unique experience for our students. Not only have my students benefited from this project, but multiple classes throughout the school have learned of and plan to deploy these drones. The hair nets are especially important to ensure the safe and continued use of these drones. This is the first year that there hasn't been a drone related hair accident. This project will continue to serve students for years to come, at least until the batteries degrade.","fullyFundedDate":1755806698500,"projectUrl":"project/drones-for-droves/9313151/","projectTitle":"Drones for Droves","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nguyen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8579692_orig.jpg?crop=179,179,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727500947639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579692"},{"teacherId":1396902,"projectId":9720891,"letterContent":"We are writing to express our profound gratitude for your generous donation to our Donor's Choose project, \"Help Our Students Build a Brighter Future!,\" which helped us successfully fund the creation of our new College and Career Center (CCC) at Taft High School in Chicago!\r\n\r\nBecause of your belief in our students and your commitment to their futures, you provided the essential foundation needed to transform an underutilized space into a vibrant, welcoming, and essential resource.\r\n\r\nOur large public high school serves a diverse population, and for many of our students, having a designated, comfortable place to plan their future is crucial. The CCC is designed to be the central hub where all students feel supported in navigating paths after graduation—whether it's college, technical school, military, or direct workforce entry.\r\n\r\nYour donation was critical in getting the CCC off the ground and made the following elements possible:\r\n\r\nA Welcoming Environment: Your funds allowed us to purchase comfortable, accessible seating, tables, and motivating decor. We transformed a sterile room into a vibrant space where students genuinely want to spend time, making it easier for them to engage in serious planning and discussions.\r\n\r\nEssential Print Resources: We were able to stock the shelves with current and comprehensive college guides, test preparation materials, career exploration books, and financial aid handbooks. These foundational print resources are now readily available for any student to pick up and utilize. The donation also helped us get the materials we needed to create the indicating letters, which is a great project where our current students know their work will be displayed for many years to come.\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMs. LaPorte","fullyFundedDate":1758895990951,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-students-build-a-brighter-futur/9720891/","projectTitle":"Help Our Students Build a Brighter Future!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LaPorte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1396902_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756396549517","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1396902"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":9868006,"letterContent":"The funds secured were specifically used to purchase high-quality, competition-grade components, including:\r\n\r\nAdvanced Gearboxes: Precision-engineered gearboxes that allow the team to efficiently manage torque and speed, critical for powerful drivetrains and reliable mechanisms (like lifts and arms).\r\n\r\nDurable Hex Shafts: Standardized, high-strength hexagonal shafts crucial for connecting components securely to gearboxes and wheels, preventing failure under the high stress of competition.\r\n\r\nWorking with industry-standard, high-quality components provided students with invaluable, real-world experience:\r\n\r\nDesign for Durability: Students learned the importance of selecting the right materials and mechanical interfaces for demanding applications.\r\n\r\nPrecision Assembly: The components required precise installation, teaching students detailed skills in mechanical assembly, alignment, and tolerance fitting—skills highly valued in professional engineering and manufacturing.\r\n\r\nThis project would not have been possible without the commitment of our donors. You didn't just donate to a wish list; you invested in the future engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers on our FRC team.\r\n\r\nYour support provided the \"Building Blocks\" for a competitive robot, but more importantly, it built a foundation of technical confidence and experience that will benefit these students far beyond the competition floor.","fullyFundedDate":1763606416813,"projectUrl":"project/building-blocks-for-blue-banners/9868006/","projectTitle":"Building Blocks for Blue Banners","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":6612230,"letterContent":"You made the following possible \r\nEnhanced Skill Development: Students are no longer limited to basic construction. They are now actively learning and practicing industry-relevant skills like precision measurement, electrical circuit troubleshooting, and proper material handling. The digital calipers, for instance, allowed students to measure tolerance and design custom parts with accuracy for our latest robot drive train.\r\n\r\nIncreased Efficiency & Build Quality: Having enough high-quality, specialized tools means students spend less time waiting and more time building. This has led to higher-quality robot construction and a significant decrease in part damage due to using improper tools. Our latest robot build was completed 20% faster than the previous year.\r\n\r\nFostering Independent Problem-Solving: With their own organized toolkits, students are empowered to take ownership of their specific robot subsystems. They have gained confidence in diagnosing and fixing issues independently, moving from passive recipients of instruction to active problem-solvers and engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1670878705570,"projectUrl":"project/team-growth-tool-growth/6612230/","projectTitle":"Team Growth Tool Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":1396902,"projectId":9656640,"letterContent":"We are writing to express our profound gratitude for your generous donation to our Donor's Choose project, \"Together, We Build Bright Futures!,\" which helped us successfully fund the creation of our new College and Career Center (CCC) at Taft High School in Chicago!\r\n\r\nBecause of your belief in our students and your commitment to their futures, you provided the essential foundation needed to transform an underutilized space into a vibrant, welcoming, and essential resource.\r\n\r\nOur large public high school serves a diverse population, and for many of our students, having a designated, comfortable place to plan their future is crucial. The CCC is designed to be the central hub where all students feel supported in navigating paths after graduation—whether it's college, technical school, military, or direct workforce entry.\r\n\r\nYour donation was critical in getting the CCC off the ground and made the following elements possible:\r\n\r\nA Welcoming Environment: Your funds allowed us to purchase comfortable, accessible seating, tables, and motivating decor. We transformed a sterile room into a vibrant space where students genuinely want to spend time, making it easier for them to engage in serious planning and discussions.\r\n\r\nEssential Print Resources: We were able to stock the shelves with current and comprehensive college guides, test preparation materials, career exploration books, and financial aid handbooks. These foundational print resources are now readily available for any student to pick up and utilize.","fullyFundedDate":1757941831725,"projectUrl":"project/together-we-build-bright-futures/9656640/","projectTitle":"Together, We Build Bright Futures!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LaPorte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1396902_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756396549517","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1396902"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5334","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":4440,"numTeachers":164,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":43,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"27.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":74.6,"schoolId":5334,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taft High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taft High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/taft-high-school/5334"}