{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taos High School","outOfStateSupporters":55.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9773921,"projectId":9625385,"letterContent":"My students come to school on a daily basis asking for food and needing supplies to complete their assignments not only for my class but for others as well. Your generous donation helps motivate students by showing them that someone genuinely cares about their success, which allows them to concentrate on the critical thinking and learning they need to help them be successful not only in their classwork, but in their futures. Your help fosters their creativity and promotes teamwork. Without your help, my students would not be able to thrive and prepare for their futures. I am truly grateful for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1762980813816,"projectUrl":"project/basics-for-learning/9625385/","projectTitle":"Basics for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thibadeau","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9773921_orig.jpg?crop=953,953,x3,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727467937277","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9773921"},{"teacherId":7413414,"projectId":9159957,"letterContent":"The laptop that you have provided me to use in this classroom has already helped so much even in the second day of school. With it being a newer computer, I am able to connect to newer technology that I was unable to connect to before. This will allow me to connect to our promethan board and present movies, 3-D digital tours, lectures, make side by side comparison charts and so much more! This MacBook will help us maximize our learning potential in the classroom! The students may not ever truly understand the impact, but it will be evident in the amount of learning that will happen this year because of your generosity. \r\n\r\nI am truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1752176189756,"projectUrl":"project/teaching-tools-for-success/9159957/","projectTitle":"Teaching Tools for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fincher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7413414_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720725313729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/fincherclassroom"},{"teacherId":9566175,"projectId":9164609,"letterContent":"This project was successful in giving students valuable tools for expressing themselves creatively and giving them emotional support, creating a positive and inclusive environment where students could grow and achieve.\r\n\r\nOur end-of-year poster projects were an opportunity for the students to show off the knowledge they had gained throughout the year, and gave them a way to enhance their creativity and understanding while moving towards a platform of meaningful self-expression.\r\n\r\nFor students who have sensory processing disorders, painting is a much-needed way to relieve stress and provide cognitive stimulation. The way they hold and move a brush against canvas, the colors they mix, the textures they layer, and the smells of the paint are all good immersive experiences that help ground the students and bring them to a calm and focused state. For students who have disabilities that affect their ability to process information, we know that hands-on experiences help them form and retain the concepts they are struggling to understand. In the last few years, I have developed a better understanding of how this applies to many of my students.\r\n\r\nThe comfort items and fidget toys given to the students addressed many of the daily hurdles they encounter when dealing with anxiety. By donating these resources, we played a part in making their anxiety levels lower and their environments calm enough that they could concentrate better in the last two weeks of school. Honestly, our project was probably way more beneficial than I can even conceive for the low-income and neurodivergent students we serve.","fullyFundedDate":1742954722903,"projectUrl":"project/end-of-year-gear-snacks-supplies-for/9164609/","projectTitle":"End-of-Year Gear: Snacks & Supplies for Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9566175_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721606941182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566175"},{"teacherId":9566175,"projectId":8975626,"letterContent":"Looking back over the past several months, one can discern quite clearly that this project had a major impact on a number of students in our school. With the use of effective organizational tools and the maintenance of appropriate conditions in the classroom, we effected a kind of metamorphosis that saw some students—in our judgment—transition to a state of heightened engagement and learnership. We think the supply room is now \"five times better,\" and not just because we now actually have supplies to use. We think the supply room is better because we see the gear that have been so thoughtfully procured by our donors. We see bins, blessed bins, that serve the crucial need of organization—organization crucial in any space, but maybe most important in a space inhabited by our students. We see drawer units that we think might be better than the drawers some of us have at home.\r\n\r\nFor students with ADHD and autism, the structured environments we devised were not just beneficial; they were necessary. Clear visual prompts and organized surroundings allowed them to manage their time, materials, and tasks more efficiently. This support helped diminish the frustration and anxiety that so easily befall these students when they try to learn in an environment that is not 100 percent conducive to learning. Even our most organized students, who are neurotypical, are not always at ease when they are learning in spaces that are too flexible, too chaotic, or too cluttered.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the studies we examined illuminated how much physical spaces affect mental health. Our attempts to create a serene and orderly classroom helped give the students a sense of structure that diminished stress and anxiety, especially for those who have a tough time with sensory overload or regulating their emotions. So this is something that we did not try this year, but I still think is a good practice to keep in mind in our future classrooms.\r\n\r\nThis project was a big success, and it showed that Rita Pierson had it right. \"Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them,\" she said. Through our collective efforts, we became those champions. More importantly, we created an environment where our students could build self-confidence and achieve things academically.\r\n\r\nWe thank you again for your commitment to this significant initiative. The influence we have exerted together will reverberate in our students' lives for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1735842604136,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-all-clear-start-fresh-and-fin/8975626/","projectTitle":"New Year, All Clear: Start Fresh and Finish Strong!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9566175_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721606941182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566175"},{"teacherId":9566175,"projectId":8957541,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment, as we end the spring semester, to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of our classroom project. Your contributions have significantly impacted my students' educational experiences, especially in our rural community, where resources are limited.\r\n\r\nThis semester, my students have explored the spellbinding realm of scientific reactions and their real-world applications, heightening their comprehension of chemistry and physics. But the road to scientific discovery is paved with more than just theories and equations. It's about providing the sort of environment and resources that allow students to learn and think. With your help, my students had access to the materials that they needed to properly explore these concepts.\r\n\r\nMany of my students put in hours of work on their projects outside normal classtimes, and the coffee station that you helped fund was a vital support for that work. The access to coffee, tea, and hot water for oatmeal and instant soup serves several purposes. First and foremost, it fueled our work sessions and gave us that ُI-can't-possibly-stop-now vibe. But it also offered us a comforting touch during the chilly months of early spring. And then there's the business of keeping our class snacks healthy and not-too-high-in-empty-calories. (It's hard to focus for two hours when your stomach is growling and all you've had is half a bagel and 4oz of orange juice)\r\n\r\nOur curriculum has many highlights. One of the best is the annual battery-powered DIY car contest. This project permits students to apply creative and hands-on academic science in a contest that sets them up for all the vital teamwork and critical thinking skills they need, not just for school but for life. Fostering that kind of environment is your gift to the students. I can't thank you enough for it. Your generosity with materials makes sure that every student, no matter what their background or learned style, can participate, and that ups the wattage on the kind of vitality we're becoming known for.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, our classroom is dedicated to forming a welcoming space for neurodivergent students. When we focus on project-based learning and inquiry-based investigations, we can adjust the kinds of tasks we give and the ways we assess our students to serve all of them better. Those two strategies also afford quite a bit of opportunity for differentiation, which makes it easier for us to meet diverse learning requirements.\r\n\r\nOnce again, I thank you for your support, which is genuinely valued and so helpful. Your generosity and support make it possible for me to work with students—many of whom struggle day-to-day just to exist—in an environment where they and their dreams are validated. I wish you a glorious summer! May it be filled with as much joy and success as my students are currently experiencing.","fullyFundedDate":1738256023729,"projectUrl":"project/springing-forward-with-science-fresh-fu/8957541/","projectTitle":"Springing Forward With Science: Fresh Fun for a New Semester","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9566175_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721606941182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566175"},{"teacherId":9566175,"projectId":8901687,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to our campaign. Through your generosity, we have been able to set up and populate a gorgeous coldwater tank for our loaches- and new fishy friends as well!\r\n\r\nSince setting up the tank, our white cloud mountain minnow population has truly flourished. They're thriving in their new environment, darting about in perfect harmony, bringing vibrant life and movement to the tank. The tank is also home to our lovely new golden dojo loaches, who have become a wonderful addition to the ecosystem. These three have been a perfect complement to the older, seasoned loaches, and they quickly established themselves as fast friends, constantly keeping each other company and adding more charm to the tank. Students have named them Toshinori, Lysol and Clorox.\r\n\r\nWith 55 gallons of space, this tank is also home to a small school of paradise gourami, who bring beautiful color to the environment. The tank is fully planted, a stable habitat for our friendly, fishy friends, and a soothing feature of our classroom.\r\n\r\nEvery donation we received has not only helped us create a more beautiful and lively habitat for these fascinating creatures, but it's also fostered a greater sense of community and appreciation for the natural world. Your generosity is truly a gift, and we couldn't be more grateful to have you as part of our journey.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1731513981899,"projectUrl":"project/reel-it-in-help-keep-our-loaches-in-the/8901687/","projectTitle":"Reel it In: Help Keep Our Loaches in the Loop","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chavez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9566175_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y579&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721606941182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9566175"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_82869","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":755,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":7,"percentLatinx":70,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"19.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":44.6,"schoolId":82869,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taos High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taos High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-mexico/taos-municipal-school-district/taos-high-school/82869"}