{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waukegan High School - Brookside","outOfStateSupporters":29.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9384363,"projectId":9675923,"letterContent":"This project, \"Unlocking Physics for English Learners with Classroom Technology,\" has leveraged the extra computer to create a more equitable and effective learning environment, particularly for English Learners (ELs). The technology's primary benefit is its ability to bridge language barriers and make abstract physics concepts concrete.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, the ability to record lessons into self-paced, on-demand tutorials ensures that students who need extra time or processing support are never left behind, transforming the learning experience from passive consumption to active, independent mastery.","fullyFundedDate":1757526163396,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-physics-for-english-learners-w/9675923/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Physics for English Learners with Classroom Technology","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. May","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384363_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y200&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701396617841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384363"},{"teacherId":9389305,"projectId":9725159,"letterContent":"Thank you! Your generosity funded \"Bringing Science to Life with Colors,\" and the impact on my Physics classroom has been immense.\r\n\r\nHow We're Using the Resources\r\nThe new resources—including high-contrast color markers, large magnetic whiteboard diagrams, and color-coded materials—have transformed abstract physics principles into tangible, visual experiences. They allow my students to clearly differentiate and trace complex variables and forces during problem-solving, moving beyond pencil and paper to dynamic, collaborative work.\r\n\r\nThe breakthrough moment is seeing my students' faces light up when a difficult, conceptual problem suddenly makes sense because of the clarity and distinction provided by the new colors. It has immediately increased both the accuracy of their work and their conceptual understanding.\r\n\r\nStudent Reactions\r\nWhen the materials arrived, the students were filled with engagement and focus. The ability to use different, vibrant colors for different components (e.g., vectors, light rays, energy states) instantly increased the accessibility and interest level of every lab and problem-solving session. They now see physics concepts not just as mathematical equations, but as visible, governable forces and phenomena.\r\n\r\nWhat's Next\r\nYour support has launched us into more complex explorations in dynamics and optics. We will continue to use these visual tools to model and analyze multi-step problems, helping my students apply core principles like Newton's laws and the properties of waves to real-world engineering challenges.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools to visualize the forces and light that govern their world!","fullyFundedDate":1760723213656,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-science-to-life-with-colors/9725159/","projectTitle":"Bringing Science to Life with Colors","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Athena Mercado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9389305_orig.jpg?crop=2294,2294,x1041,y332&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746893216143","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/athenajil-mercado"},{"teacherId":9451583,"projectId":9688347,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, these iPads have become an essential lifeline in our classroom. They serve as reliable loaner devices for students who forget their Chromebooks or are waiting for repairs. Instead of falling behind or feeling embarrassed, students can immediately grab an iPad and jump right into their work. They use them to access EverFi, NGPF, and other online simulations in our personal finance lessons—programs that are most effective when students can participate in real time. Your support ensures that every student has the opportunity to stay engaged, on pace, and confident in their learning.\r\n\r\nStudents love how easy and intuitive the iPads are to use. The touchscreen makes our interactive finance simulations feel more like a hands-on experience than a traditional assignment. They get excited to budget, invest, and explore financial scenarios with just a tap or swipe. What could have been a stressful moment—like realizing they left their Chromebook at home—quickly turns into relief and even enthusiasm when they see an iPad available to help them stay connected.\r\n\r\nA few students who frequently struggle with broken or unreliable Chromebooks have especially appreciated having the iPads as a backup. One student told me they felt \"caught up for the first time in weeks\" after using an iPad to complete EverFi modules they had been behind on. Another student who often gets anxious when their Chromebook malfunctions said the iPad made them feel more prepared and less stressed about coming to class. These moments—small but meaningful—are reminders of how powerful your support truly is in keeping students motivated and supported.","fullyFundedDate":1757526162815,"projectUrl":"project/empower-10th-grade-financial-literacy-wi/9688347/","projectTitle":"Empower 10th-Grade Financial Literacy with iPads","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Agpuon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9451583_orig.jpg?crop=1742,1742,x0,y58&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723182402863","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9451583"},{"teacherId":9384363,"projectId":9714240,"letterContent":"My project, \"From Paper to Pixel: Fueling My Future with an iPad,\" has fundamentally changed how I teach and how my students learn. The iPad has transformed my craft by enabling personalized feedback and grading through voice notes and digital annotations, significantly reducing administrative time while ensuring feedback is timely and actionable. Furthermore, it allows for dynamic lesson delivery—I can project live demonstrations and integrate interactive simulations instantly—and facilitates the easy creation and curation of differentiated digital content, making instruction flexible and highly responsive to individual student needs.\r\n\r\nThe impact on students centers on fostering independence and equity. This was clearly seen when I used the iPad's capabilities to teach Free-Body Diagrams (FBDs) in physics. Instead of drawing FBDs on a whiteboard, I project a live, step-by-step drawing of the diagram using the stylus and iPad .This instantly clarifies the vectors, forces, and motion components in real-time, making complex, abstract concepts concrete.","fullyFundedDate":1757969979306,"projectUrl":"project/from-paper-to-pixel-fueling-my-future-w/9714240/","projectTitle":"From Paper to Pixel: Fueling My Future with an iPad","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. May","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384363_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y200&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701396617841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384363"},{"teacherId":9375576,"projectId":9684079,"letterContent":"I am deeply honored that this specific project came to life. The students really happy seeing the result and outcomes of the project. One of the portions of the activity was doing the reflection, and they discussed that authentic assessment, like this, makes them realized the application of Mathematics (Geometry) in real life. \r\n\r\nThrough this activity, the students had the chance to use the laser lights and mirrors to create an image or any geometrical shape. However, it is not just an image, but they need to connect these images into the skills and standards that they have learned. \r\n\r\nOne of the things that we really enjoyed, not just the cognitive part, but the other skills like collaboration and communication to other peers. \r\n\r\nI am grateful that with the help of you, the students saw the beauty of Mathematics, and the sense of it in real life.","fullyFundedDate":1760723213962,"projectUrl":"project/light-art-and-mathematics-a-stem-ge/9684079/","projectTitle":"Light, Art and Mathematics - a STEM - Geared Activity","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. U. Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9375576_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700491723660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9375576"},{"teacherId":9375576,"projectId":9331928,"letterContent":"With this help, the students are able to see the advancement of the reality of program code into this technology. Also, with this, we were able to try different program codes and arcade games using this laptop. I am really happy that the students are able to make their imagination works in reality. I am so glad that the students enjoyed the activities. \r\n\r\nWith the help of this technology, they have created different fun games by group and this activity helps them realize that their skills that they learned can really apply in real life. \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you so much for this help and kindness to my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755881147495,"projectUrl":"project/ai-authentic-integration-of-computer-p/9331928/","projectTitle":"AI (Authentic Integration) of Computer Programming in Real-Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. U. Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9375576_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700491723660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9375576"},{"teacherId":3374091,"projectId":9615579,"letterContent":"We are so very grateful for your support! Our students have been able to access their classroom environment with their hearing equipment without the added stress of being able to afford hearing aid batteries and cleaning supplies. It has been such a huge help!\r\n\r\nNext steps for us is to continue working on self-advocacy skills regarding their hearing equipment (when to use them, how to clean them, who to go to when they are not working, etc.). Once they leave high school, they'll be responsible for maintaining their own equipment, so we'll make sure they're ready!\r\n\r\nThank you again for all of your support. We are so appreciative!","fullyFundedDate":1755697917395,"projectUrl":"project/help-supply-our-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing/9615579/","projectTitle":"Help Supply Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LeClair","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3374091_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1543509087154","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/shannon-leclair"},{"teacherId":5099139,"projectId":9755359,"letterContent":"When our \"A Gentle Home for Our Books\" project was funded, it completely transformed the atmosphere of our classroom. Before, our books were stacked in boxes and piled on counters; students had to dig to find something that interested them. Now, thanks to your generosity, our novels, graphic texts, bilingual books, and poetry collections finally have a calm, organized, and \"gentle\" home on sturdy shelves and in clearly labeled bins. My students helped sort and organize the library by genre and language, and that process alone sparked so many conversations about what they like to read and how books can reflect their lives and cultures.\r\n\r\nI will never forget the moment they first walked in and saw the new space. Several students immediately went to the shelves and started touching the books, saying things like, \"It looks like a real library now,\" and \"Can I check this one out today?\" One student who is usually very quiet picked up a book and whispered, \"This one has my country in it.\" They took pictures of the shelves, recommended books to each other, and very quickly began to treat the area with respect and pride—like something that truly belongs to them.\r\n\r\nRight now, we are using these resources for independent reading, small reading conferences, and short book-talk presentations. Students choose books that match their level and interests, then set personal reading goals and reflect in their reading journals. Our next steps are to launch small book clubs, where groups will read the same title and discuss it together, and to create short projects (posters, one-pager reflections, and digital slides) that connect their books to themes like identity, resilience, and hope.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our books—and our readers—a safe, beautiful home. Your support is helping my students see themselves as real readers who matter.","fullyFundedDate":1760022393580,"projectUrl":"project/a-gentle-home-for-our-books-and-our-rea/9755359/","projectTitle":"A Gentle Home for Our Books, and Our Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Arregui","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5099139_orig.png?crop=500,500,x16,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741741221581","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5099139"},{"teacherId":9384363,"projectId":9762871,"letterContent":"The \"Cut, Glue, Listen, Learn\" project uses technology primarily as a powerful tool for personalized learning and equity, moving beyond simple communication or entertainment. The core function is providing audio-supported and self-paced instruction, which acts like a personal tutor. This allows students to listen to complex concepts, pause, and rewind, enabling them to achieve mastery of the MELCs at their own pace. Crucially, the audio feature promotes equity by ensuring students with reading challenges or those learning English can access high-quality content, preventing the digital divide from becoming a learning divide. This integration effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice by supporting hands-on activities ('Cutting and Gluing') with clear, multi-sensory digital explanations.\r\n\r\nWhat most excites students is the feeling of control and independence over their education. The framework gives them agency: they manage the learning process by hitting play and pause, minimizing classroom downtime. By delivering instructions digitally, the project frees up class time for more engaging, learner-centered activities and collaboration. Students appreciate having immediate access to support; if they forget a step, they can check the digital tool silently without needing to ask the teacher, which maximizes their time on task and minimizes frustration.\r\n\r\nThis technology has proven to be a \"Tool for Equity\" for students who traditionally struggled with text-heavy instruction. Specifically, students with reading or comprehension gaps show a visible surge in confidence and performance, as the audio support allows them to bypass the reading barrier and focus entirely on content mastery and the hands-on activity. Additionally, shy or unprepared students benefit significantly, utilizing the technology as a silent, non-judgmental resource for repeated instructions. This has led to better prepared students, higher quality project submissions, and a crucial increase in their voluntary participation during collaborative work, resulting in students demonstrating a genuine, deep understanding of the MELCs rather than just compliance.","fullyFundedDate":1760723213394,"projectUrl":"project/cut-glue-listen-learntools-for-learn/9762871/","projectTitle":"Cut, Glue, Listen, Learn:Tools for Learning, Tools for Equity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. May","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384363_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y200&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701396617841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384363"},{"teacherId":10231762,"projectId":9663593,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom iPads have made math learning more interactive and exciting for our students. With engaging apps and tools, they can practice math skills, visualize concepts, and get instant feedback that helps them grow in confidence and understanding. The iPads have also been a great backup when a Chromebook isn't working, ensuring every student can stay on track with their learning.\r\n\r\nOur students especially love using the iPads for math games and creative problem-solving activities. They enjoy the hands-on experience and the chance to explore math in new, fun ways. It's been amazing to see their enthusiasm and confidence grow as they use this technology every day.","fullyFundedDate":1760723213848,"projectUrl":"project/brightpath-ipads/9663593/","projectTitle":"BrightPath iPads","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. de la Peña","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10231762_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762802433635","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10231762"},{"teacherId":9384363,"projectId":9686197,"letterContent":"The iPad has been an incredible tool in helping my students understand and draw Free-Body Diagrams, a key concept in physics that shows the forces acting on an object. With the help of drawing and simulation apps, my students can now visualize forces, motion, and direction more clearly and accurately. They enjoy using the iPad to sketch diagrams, label forces, and test their ideas using interactive simulations—making a once challenging topic much easier to grasp.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is how the iPad allows them to see their drawings come to life. After creating a Free-Body Diagram, they can use apps to simulate how the object would actually move under those forces. This makes learning both creative and scientific, turning abstract theories into real, visible motion.\r\n\r\nSome students who used to struggle with understanding forces have especially connected with this new way of learning. For example, one student who found traditional paper diagrams confusing now confidently uses the iPad to draw and animate her own Free-Body Diagrams. The technology has helped her—and many others—develop a deeper understanding of physics concepts through visualization and exploration.\r\n\r\nThanks to this project, \"STEM in Motion: Bringing Physics to Life with iPad,\" my students are not just learning physics—they're experiencing it.","fullyFundedDate":1757526163063,"projectUrl":"project/stem-in-motion-bringing-physics-to-life/9686197/","projectTitle":"STEM in Motion: Bringing Physics to Life with iPad","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. May","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384363_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y200&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701396617841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384363"},{"teacherId":9384363,"projectId":9675860,"letterContent":"Technology like our new laminator has truly transformed how my students engage with learning. It may seem like a simple tool, but in our classroom, it's a powerful piece of technology that helps make lessons more interactive, durable, and hands-on. By laminating visual aids, science charts, vocabulary cards, and learning games, I can create reusable materials that encourage active participation and collaboration. Students are more eager to explore and review lessons when they can handle, write on, and reuse laminated materials instead of just looking at printed sheets.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most about this new product is how it makes learning tangible and creative. They love seeing their own work—like posters, flashcards, or mini science projects—get laminated and displayed. It gives them a sense of ownership and pride, knowing their ideas become lasting learning tools for the class.\r\n\r\nSome students, especially those who are visual or kinesthetic learners, have really connected with this technology. For example, one of my students who used to struggle with science terms now eagerly uses laminated flashcards during review sessions, even helping classmates quiz each other. The laminator has helped bring lessons to life in a way that feels both professional and personal—turning everyday lessons into memorable, engaging experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1757896064008,"projectUrl":"project/bright-ideas-lasting-learning-laminat/9675860/","projectTitle":"“Bright Ideas, Lasting Learning: Laminator for Engaging Lessons”","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. May","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9384363_orig.jpg?crop=1200,1200,x0,y200&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701396617841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9384363"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30399","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":4355,"numTeachers":280,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":11,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":82,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.7,"schoolId":30399,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Waukegan High School - Brookside on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Waukegan High School - Brookside","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/waukegan-community-unit-school-district-60/waukegan-high-school-brookside/30399"}