{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Vikan Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":24.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10623423,"projectId":10597096,"letterContent":"My sixth grade students have had few experiences with science, in particular, science-based labs and activities. Additionally, most students have not had the opportunity to work the the engineering design process where the build, test, evaluate, and redesign based on what was learned through the first trial. To support both a learning of science content and engineering design, my science classes worked through a progression of rocket designs. They started with Alka Seltzer film canaster rockets where they learned about different types of fuels (chemical reactions) and how to record data (time the film canaster was in the air). They moved to straw rockets where they worked through the scientific investigation process by testing mass of the nose cone, the length of the body tube, and the size and shape of the fins. Finally, the rocket exploration concluded with compressed air rockets where students once again focused on the design and redesign of their rockets to achieve the maximum distance.\r\n\r\nAll in all, my students have enjoyed the opportunity to see rockets in different forms. They have already become more proficient in the engineering design process. They are also learning more about how to be scientist through the investigative process. Finally, my students are truly understanding that failure is okay. It is an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and try again. To me, this is a huge growth point from there they were when we first started.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous support, my students are experiencing science in a new and interactive way. I have already seen great growth in their scientific minds, and I look forward to continuing this journey with them.","fullyFundedDate":1789422424807,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-experiences-in-stem/10597096/","projectTitle":"Engaging Experiences in STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. DaLee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10623423"},{"teacherId":10623423,"projectId":10540144,"letterContent":"One of the primary activities we did with the materials was to design sail cars. This was an open ended design project allowing the students the opportunity to use their imaginations and create a car powered by a fan. From this, students were asked to connect Newton's Three Laws to the process of the car moving from start to finish. With many of my students having done very little science or engineering focused activities, this set the stage for what they can expect for the remainder of the year. \r\n\r\nOverall, this was a great opportunity for my students to see science, particularly forces, in action based on their own designs. We look forward to doing more incredible activities like this where students can use their own creativity to make science happen. Thank you for your generous support of this (and many other) projects.","fullyFundedDate":1788527789195,"projectUrl":"project/force-and-motion-experiences/10540144/","projectTitle":"Force and Motion Experiences","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. DaLee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10623423"},{"teacherId":9645935,"projectId":9529288,"letterContent":"Our flexible seating options have allowed students to move around the classroom and choose a space where they feel comfortable, focused, and ready to learn. During individual work and collaborative projects, students can select the seating option that best supports their needs and learning style. It has been especially rewarding to see students make thoughtful choices about where they work best.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new seating, they were incredibly excited and eager to try every option. They loved having more choice in the classroom and quickly made the seating part of their daily routine. These resources have helped create a more welcoming learning environment where students feel comfortable, supported, and engaged.","fullyFundedDate":1756683145626,"projectUrl":"project/flex-seating-for-future-moguls/9529288/","projectTitle":"Flex Seating For Future Moguls","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jayne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9645935_orig.png?crop=1330,1330,x95,y95&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753142107336","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9645935"},{"teacherId":9645935,"projectId":9527064,"letterContent":"Our new makerspace resources gave students the opportunity to bring their business ideas to life during our Market Day project. Students used the materials to design, prototype, and create products they could produce within a budget and sell to their classmates. One of my favorite moments was watching students revise their products after receiving peer feedback and realizing that creativity, problem-solving, and business decisions all work together.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, they were excited by the variety of options and immediately began sharing ideas for what they could create. The resources helped students feel that their ideas were possible and made the project more engaging and accessible.\r\n\r\nThank you for the opportunity to allow students to create and develop their products. They were able to learn first hand how to calculate costs, set prices, and create marketing materials.","fullyFundedDate":1754332206125,"projectUrl":"project/makerspace-for-middle-school-moguls/9527064/","projectTitle":"Makerspace for Middle School Moguls","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jayne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9645935_orig.png?crop=1330,1330,x95,y95&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753142107336","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9645935"},{"teacherId":9645935,"projectId":9487807,"letterContent":"Our new makerspace resources gave students the opportunity to bring their business ideas to life during our Market Day project. Students used the materials to design, prototype, and create products they could produce within a budget and sell to their classmates. One of my favorite moments was watching students revise their products after receiving peer feedback and realizing that creativity, problem-solving, and business decisions all work together.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, they were excited by the variety of options and immediately began sharing ideas for what they could create. We built in days where students were able to trial all of the new materials to understand how they work and how they might apply them to their ideas. The resources helped students feel that their ideas were possible and made the project more engaging and accessible.\r\n\r\nThank you for the opportunity to allow students to create and develop their products. They were able to learn first hand how to calculate costs, set prices, and create marketing materials.","fullyFundedDate":1754057407214,"projectUrl":"project/from-sketchbook-to-startup-a-makerspace/9487807/","projectTitle":"From Sketchbook to Startup: A Makerspace for Young Innovators","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jayne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9645935_orig.png?crop=1330,1330,x95,y95&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753142107336","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9645935"},{"teacherId":9236582,"projectId":10141090,"letterContent":"Increased Reading Engagement: Fresh, updated titles spark curiosity and encourage students—especially reluctant readers—to pick up books more frequently.\r\n\r\nExpanded Access & Diversity: New donations introduce varied genres, modern themes, and diverse perspectives, allowing students to see themselves reflected in stories and explore new worlds.\r\n\r\nSupport for Literacy & Skill Building: Access to a broader selection of reading materials strengthens vocabulary, comprehension, critical thinking, and independent research skills.\r\n\r\nFostering a Culture of Reading: A vibrant, well-stocked library becomes a welcoming space where reading is celebrated as a shared community activity.\r\n\r\nCreates a Welcoming Environment: Comfortable, modern furniture makes the library a warm, inclusive space where students actively want to spend their time reading, working, and learning together.","fullyFundedDate":1776973273371,"projectUrl":"project/updated-books-and-seating/10141090/","projectTitle":"Updated Books and Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Westermann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9236582"},{"teacherId":9237206,"projectId":8576953,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom through DonorsChoose! Your generosity is helping provide my 6th-grade science students with resources that will make their learning more hands-on, engaging, and meaningful.\r\n\r\nAs a science teacher, I believe students learn best when they have opportunities to investigate, ask questions, build models, collect evidence, and experience science for themselves. The materials you provided will give my students more opportunities to do exactly that. Instead of simply reading about science, they will be able to explore scientific ideas through hands-on experiences and see how the concepts we learn in class connect to the real world.\r\n\r\nYour support means more than simply providing classroom supplies. It shows my students that people they may never meet believe their education is important and that they deserve opportunities to learn and succeed. That message can have a lasting impact on a student.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me create a classroom where curiosity, exploration, and discovery are encouraged. I am incredibly grateful for your generosity and excited to see the students put these materials to use!","fullyFundedDate":1725305433268,"projectUrl":"project/help-kids-learn-science/8576953/","projectTitle":"Help Kids Learn Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Lupo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9237206"},{"teacherId":3653513,"projectId":9870564,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to this project! Unfortunately, the speakers we received malfunctioned and were unable to meet our needs so we ended up finding replacement items that all went toward drama club. The portable speakers went toward rehearsals, we were able to purchase some cords to make better use of our sound board, etc. I'm so thankful every time we have donors who help support our drama program. The performing arts are such a gift to everyone but end up being costly, and we really would struggle to grow if we didn't have generous donors like yourself.","fullyFundedDate":1769177313452,"projectUrl":"project/speakers-for-the-drama-club/9870564/","projectTitle":"Speakers for the Drama Club","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Morales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3653513_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782499918813","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-drakedoes6thgrade"},{"teacherId":9249143,"projectId":10219850,"letterContent":"With the school year ending soon, I'm sure you can imagine how hard it is to keep students motivated to learn and work in class. Snacks are a wonderful way to keep students happy and motivated to complete their lessons.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has allowed me to provide a snack to every student in my class each day until the end of the school year in June. They students were so excited to see the boxes of snacks arrive in my classroom and couldn't wait to see what was inside each box!\r\n\r\nSnacks seem like such a small things, but to students who don't have snacks from home, they mean everything when their energy level is running low. Thank you for providing suck a wonderful assortment of snacks for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1778176513489,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-success/10219850/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. VP","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9249143_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724566650030","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9249143"},{"teacherId":3653513,"projectId":9658949,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating these materials to our classroom. They have already come in handy immensely! Student folders rip or get damaged or lost all the time, and so it has been a huge relief to be able to hand a student a replacement folder without me trying to hunt one down or spending my own money on them. Additionally, the markers were recently used on a poster project and the kids had a blast with it. \r\n\r\nThe laminating sheets are used in student data binders and they have kept them so much better organized. Last year, I would just hole punch papers and put them in. Even as an adult, it's easy for papers to get ripped out of a binder and break the hole opening on the paper, so you can imagine how easy it is for kids to do it. Now, all their important papers and writing are protected and organized cleanly. It's so much easier to find their stuff now, and writing conferences have been a breeze since using them.","fullyFundedDate":1761183541447,"projectUrl":"project/esl-fundamentals/9658949/","projectTitle":"ESL Fundamentals","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Morales","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3653513_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782499918813","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-drakedoes6thgrade"},{"teacherId":7478342,"projectId":9539300,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been transformed in the most practical and meaningful ways. Students are now using colored paper and lined paper to practice math skills across different formats — whether working through problems on a crisp sheet of lined paper or using the expo markers to map out equations step by step on our whiteboard. No one has to miss a note-taking moment because they forgot a pencil, and when a student sniffles during a lesson, the Kleenexes are right there so we can move on without missing a beat. These may seem like small things, but in a classroom, small things add up to big differences every single day.\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies arrived, my students were genuinely excited — there is something special about seeing a fresh box of colored paper or brand-new expo markers that makes a classroom feel cared for. One moment that stood out: a student who often struggles to engage picked up the expo markers and asked to practice the problems on her desk. That simple choice gave her ownership over her learning in a way I hadn't seen before.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will be diving deeper into our current math unit, and these materials will be right at the center of it. Students will be using the lined and colored paper to create their own math reference guides — a project that helps reinforce concepts while building study skills they will carry with them. I am so grateful to have the tools to make that happen, and my students are too.","fullyFundedDate":1760661732052,"projectUrl":"project/all-the-basics/9539300/","projectTitle":"All the Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7478342_orig.jpg?crop=1058,1058,x1572,y675&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693158172256","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7478342"},{"teacherId":2481732,"projectId":9596628,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contributions to my classroom. Your support has allowed me to provide students with access to general classroom materials that I would normally have to purchase and reuse year after year. Being able to offer students brand new items gives them a fresh start and helps create a positive learning environment where they feel valued and prepared.\r\n\r\nYour contributions have also made a meaningful difference in classroom organization. I am better equipped to organize student materials in a way that promotes independence, responsibility, and efficiency. When students have the tools they need and a clear system for using them, they are able to focus more on learning and less on managing supplies.\r\nI truly appreciate your support and investment in our classroom. Your generosity directly impacts student engagement, confidence, and overall success, and I am grateful for the difference you have made for both my students and me.","fullyFundedDate":1756403086073,"projectUrl":"project/organized-clean-ready-to-learn/9596628/","projectTitle":"Organized, Clean, Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Johnston","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2481732_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1703224477395","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2481732"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_41225","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":531,"numTeachers":33,"percentFrplEligible":88,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":67,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":75.6,"schoolId":41225,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Vikan Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Vikan Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/27j-schools/vikan-middle-school/41225"}