{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Wendler Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":30.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9169495,"projectId":9457818,"letterContent":"My students have used the supplies that I requested. I got markets, crayons and other basic supplies that we always use in the classroom. The students know where they are located and can use them whenever they want. No child has to feel like they don't have the supplies they need thanks to you all.\r\nAnother item that is a hit is the wobble stools. I have requested another one since they are used so much. I have kids race to my room to get one. The kids love them and we appreciate all you did for us.","fullyFundedDate":1757389798606,"projectUrl":"project/mrs-merculiefs-class/9457818/","projectTitle":"Mrs. Merculief's Class","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Merculief","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9169495_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754280337926","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9169495"},{"teacherId":7983387,"projectId":9643924,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting the choir program at Wendler Middle School! The sound equipment has both helped the students to hear me better during class instruction and has been invaluable for student performances and assemblies.\r\nI have been using the wireless microphone daily during class. I am naturally soft-spoken and it helps to amplify my voice so all students in the back of the larger classes are still able to hear me clearly. It also helps protect my voice by allowing me to use it at a natural level and not strain to be heard.\r\nThe mic stand and clip are used for performances. We have a Fall music concert in the MPR already with band, choir and orchestra together. The mic was used for talking to the audience at the start and end of the concert, announcing song titles, and was used for spoken solo during a performance of Monster Mash. \r\nI know we will continue to use all these items frequently throughout the year. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1756763483833,"projectUrl":"project/let-the-choir-be-heard/9643924/","projectTitle":"Let the Choir Be Heard!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cooke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7983387_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x113,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629855784244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7983387"},{"teacherId":1500915,"projectId":8937472,"letterContent":"Thank you for bringing our study of energy to life! We were able to build cars, learn circuits, build bridges, test salt water circuitry, light mini light bulbs and test that \"yes, gravity works.\" Of course not all of that was done in that order. \r\nWe first started with a variety of stations in order for students to have more background on the transforming of potential to kinetic energy with hot wheels tracks. Then we moved from gravitational potential energy to elastic energy- using rubber bands to propel hand-built cardboard boats. From gravitational energy we moved to electrical stored energy and learned how circuits travel and power batteries which can then power popsicle stick cards. The cars were graded on originality, distance and speed. Thank you again for bringing the very real concept of energy to life. We then moved into our studies of energy conservation.","fullyFundedDate":1731590655542,"projectUrl":"project/powering-motion-learning-to-use-circuit/8937472/","projectTitle":"Powering Motion: Learning to use Circuits, Gears, and Batteries","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaltenborn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1500915_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628272389618","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mskaltenborn"},{"teacherId":1500915,"projectId":9040684,"letterContent":"Wow! Thank you so much for your contributions to this project. Our students truly enjoyed playing the different board games and card games that this grant provided. It was wonderful to see our students engaging with each other while playing the different games. Not only did it provide an alternative activity for students during their lunch break but it also gave them an escape, if needed, from our large, but often loud, lunchroom. Having games available opened the door for friendships to build and connection to happen. The games and cards also allowed students to teach other students the rules to different games as well as laugh as mistakes happened or the jenga tower fell. \r\nWe were also able to introduce different crochet techniques, shrinky dinks and beading. Again, thank you. Providing materials for students to engage with and adults assisting with learning the different crafts, also gave our staff and students the chance to interact in a non-contingent positive manner. The crafts caught on in small ways too- becoming backpack keychains and accessories that brought more students into the quieter spaces asking how to make their own. Thank you for helping us make our classrooms welcome environments.","fullyFundedDate":1739577957026,"projectUrl":"project/feelin-crafty-or-how-about-a-game/9040684/","projectTitle":"Feelin' Crafty? or How About a Game?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaltenborn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1500915_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628272389618","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mskaltenborn"},{"teacherId":3894660,"projectId":9480657,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for giving us a strong start to our school year! I am continuing to do my best to get kids talking to each other, thinking, writing, reading, and making choices every day. It's the end of first quarter and we're just finishing up our microscope unit and moving into studying the organelles of animal and plant cells. I'm excited to do a more inquiry based approach this year where the kids learn how important proteins are to cell function and then look at cell structure diagrams and use the knowledge they gained from using microscopes to make inferences. \r\n\r\nHere are some specific ways your donation made a big impact on our learning already this year:\r\n-- We are writing or drawing in science notebooks daily and many students were not able to bring their own. It was wonderful to be able to offer them a brand new notebook and let them choose the color they wanted! \r\n-- Many of kids do not have the resources to bring enough pencils and we use them daily. It feels good to have a kid who wants to do their work be able to grab a pencil from our classroom supplies and get started.\r\n-- We have made mini-poster and done scientific drawings using the good quality paper provided. We also made paper airplanes out of it for data collection!\r\n-- We have used sticky notes to contribute ideas to gallery walks where kids rotate between posters with different questions or concepts on them for consideration. We also are using sticky notes to mark their best work in their science notebook for kids to share with me.\r\n-- I have used the big poster paper to make gallery walk posters and also used them in my social studies class so we could do an activity outside where kids did a simulation game comparing the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Era. It was windy, but we were able to have our directions with us!\r\n-- We have been in the Fall cold season and the gentle kleenex option is much appreciated compared to the rough tissues the school supplies\r\n\r\nI know you gave us even more things and we've got more to do! Thank you so much for your consideration and support! It's a wonderful group of kids this year and I love having the supplies to keep them engaged.","fullyFundedDate":1755708823176,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-busy-learning/9480657/","projectTitle":"Let's Get Busy Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. King","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3894660_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x81,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758157447970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3894660"},{"teacherId":7983387,"projectId":9586483,"letterContent":"Thank you for funding my \"Home Ec Refresh\" project. You donation helped us get much need supplies to learn through projects and hands-on experience. We appreciate your helping us purchase the classroom supplies of pencils and calculators as well as the kitchen resupply of reusable sponges, new oven mitts and a broom.\r\nWe have been using the pencils daily and have already done several cooking labs using the oven mitts. The broom and sponges have been used for cleaning on a regular basis.\r\nWhile we have not used the calculators yet, they will be invaluable a little later in the semester when we go through our personal finance unit. It will be great for the students to be able to use them while they learn some basics of making a budget and paying bills.","fullyFundedDate":1755521859846,"projectUrl":"project/home-ec-refresh/9586483/","projectTitle":"Home Ec Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cooke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7983387_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x113,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629855784244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7983387"},{"teacherId":7983387,"projectId":9643696,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my culinary project at Wendler. We loved having the new supplies and were able to do some creative work using the crafting supplies and Mercer rulers with playdough.\r\nWe used to the rulers and playdough to try out a new way to learn knife cuts. Students in my 8th grade Family and Consumer Science class cut the playdough with plastic knives and measured their cuts against the Mercer rulers. It was so helpful for them to be able to visualize how large a \"medium dice\" actually is and to practice this on the playdough before moving to cutting actual vegetables and other items in the kitchen.\r\nThe glue and markers will be used for so many things throughout the year. One project we already did with the 7th graders was to create board games that teach about vitamins and minerals. The student learned the information and then took what they knew to create a board game of their choice that incorporated that knowledge. They were able to come up with some very unique game designs.\r\nThank you again for supporting us!","fullyFundedDate":1756484363581,"projectUrl":"project/culinary-skills-and-creative-minds/9643696/","projectTitle":"Culinary Skills and Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cooke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7983387_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x113,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629855784244","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7983387"},{"teacherId":9432110,"projectId":8704968,"letterContent":"I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of our Getting Comfy and Organized Project. The excitement in my students' eyes was priceless when the new materials arrived! They eagerly explored the supplies, and their enthusiasm for learning has grown even more.\r\n\r\nWith the materials, my students have collaborated effectively in their Math classes. They work in groups to share ideas and strategies for solving problems. The availability of materials increased my students' participation and motivation to learn. They transformed our classroom into a dynamic learning space where students feel engaged and empowered to succeed. Every item you provided has had a meaningful impact on their learning process, making it more interactive and enjoyable.","fullyFundedDate":1733285713223,"projectUrl":"project/getting-comfy-and-organize/8704968/","projectTitle":"Getting Comfy and Organize","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9432110"},{"teacherId":3894660,"projectId":8794699,"letterContent":"Thank you so much! The students absolutely loved the dissection experience! The owl pellets were filled with rodent skeletons, skulls and so many tiny vertebrae. The frogs really did look like they were going to jump out onto our lab tables! The internal structure of the frogs were well preserved and students were able to make sense of the internal structure and how the structure lends to its function. We were also able to coordinate with a local seafood company and provide a dissection experience for our entire school! 6th grade through 8th grade! Over 600 students were able to participate because of your generosity. Your support made this hands-on learning experience happen! It was an amazing opportunity for students to engage with biology and anatomy.It truly sparked students' curiosity and enthusiasm for science. You have helped inspire the next generation of learners. We are so truly grateful! Frog legs, squid eyeballs and rodent skeletons, Oh my! Thank you again and again from the whole Wendler Science Department and student community","fullyFundedDate":1728078740787,"projectUrl":"project/science-dissection-for-all-students/8794699/","projectTitle":"Science Dissection for All Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. King","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3894660_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x81,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758157447970","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3894660"},{"teacherId":9134260,"projectId":8747206,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support of my project, which has had an incredible impact on my students' learning experience. Thanks to your generosity, my students now have access to primary source videos and audio materials that bring Alaskan history and U.S. social studies to life in a way that textbooks simply cannot. These resources, often made available through museums, universities, and the State of Alaska, provide authentic insight into historical events and social issues that help deepen students' understanding of the past. The ability to view these materials in class, as a group, has opened up a wealth of learning opportunities for all of my students, especially those who might struggle to access these resources outside of school.\r\n\r\nThe benefits of this project have been especially significant for my bilingual and special needs students. The primary source videos and audio materials offer an accessible and engaging way for these students to connect with the curriculum. Bilingual students, in particular, are able to hear the historical content in a format that is often easier to process than traditional reading materials. The visual elements of the videos, combined with the spoken word, help reinforce their comprehension and retention of important concepts. Special needs students also benefit from this multimodal approach, as they can process information through a combination of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles. These materials help to level the playing field, allowing students with diverse learning needs to engage with the content in a way that best suits their individual strengths.\r\n\r\nOne example of the project's success was our study of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), which was celebrated in the \"ANCSA: Celebrating 50 Years\" video. This primary source resource not only allowed students to view firsthand accounts and reflections from people directly impacted by ANCSA, but it also sparked dynamic discussions in the classroom. Students—especially those with limited English proficiency—were able to connect with the material through visuals, subtitles, and the opportunity to discuss the content in small groups. This collaborative learning environment helped all students, regardless of language or ability, to better understand the historical significance of ANCSA and its lasting impact on Alaska Native communities.\r\n\r\nOverall, this project has truly transformed the way my students engage with history. They are now able to access materials that offer diverse perspectives and deepen their understanding in ways that are more inclusive and supportive of their varied learning needs. Your contribution has made a lasting impact on their education, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Thank you for helping to create a more accessible and enriching learning experience for all my students.","fullyFundedDate":1727466109028,"projectUrl":"project/students-see-and-hear-primary-sources-u/8747206/","projectTitle":"Students See and Hear Primary Sources; US and Alaskan History","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9134260_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691651713481","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9134260"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_72987","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":384,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":16,"percentIndigenous":17,"percentLatinx":16,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.2,"schoolId":72987,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Wendler Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Wendler Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/alaska/anchorage-school-district/wendler-middle-school/72987"}