{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Smith Junior High School","outOfStateSupporters":27.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10188384,"projectId":9622365,"letterContent":"I would again like to thank you for your incredibly generous donation to our Sculpture and Ceramics classroom. My students and I were so excited when the materials first arrived to the classroom. Since then, we have been in the continuous process of recycling clay to use for bigger and more exciting ceramic projects.\r\n\r\nDuring our unit on the pinching technique, I incorporated lessons and demonstrations on recycling clay and sustainability in ceramics. Throughout the unit, students deposited their clay scraps into a bucket. My students took turns mixing the scraps with a drill and paint mixer, straining the scraps with a fine-mesh sieve, and leaving clay \"pancakes\" out to dry on plaster bats. Once dry, my students practiced their wedging skills and kneaded the reclaim into fresh, usable clay. \r\n\r\nSince then, we continue to recycle clay and use recycled clay for exciting projects like pinched animal sculptures, coiled vessels, slab-built boxes and coasters, and hyper-realistic food sculptures. Your donations and the materials they provided will make an impact on our classroom for years to come, as we are now permanently able to recycle our clay scraps.","fullyFundedDate":1755569606275,"projectUrl":"project/bigger-and-bolder-sustainable-ceramics/9622365/","projectTitle":"Bigger and Bolder Sustainable Ceramics!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schmid","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10188384_orig.jpg?crop=1562,1562,x121,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755565435914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10188384"},{"teacherId":7739554,"projectId":9287320,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation . Because of you my students will have the basic tools necessary to calculate in math class. A few years ago the district stopped funding handheld calculators in order to encourage an online calculator program . Which this is helpful it made it difficult for students to work collaboratively and be mobile within the classroom. Your donation of calculators and Classroom posters have helped mitigate this issue. I love being able to teach students to use class tools appropriately!","fullyFundedDate":1746734132910,"projectUrl":"project/calculations-at-our-fingertips/9287320/","projectTitle":"Calculations at Our Fingertips!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7739554_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109676362","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7739554"},{"teacherId":7739554,"projectId":9287365,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our sports benches ! They have been assembled and are ready for our sports seasons ! It means a lot to have a place for our athletes to rest as they await their turn in the game . Last year many of the games we went to at other schools had a bench for us and we went without . It was uncomfortable when we would have home games and not have a place to offer visiting teams to rest . The problem has been solved ! Thank you for helping us have a place to rest in style. Let's go sidewinders !","fullyFundedDate":1746787387330,"projectUrl":"project/resting-in-style/9287365/","projectTitle":"Resting in Style","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7739554_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753109676362","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7739554"},{"teacherId":9511963,"projectId":8753222,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredibly generous donations, my students have had the opportunity to create beautiful ceramic pieces, as well as explore painting and drawing in ways many of them never have before. One of the projects that stands out is a ceramics unit where students designed and crafted small decorations/coasters. With the new glazes, tools, and materials, they were able to shape, glaze, and fire their creations, learning valuable techniques along the way. Many students, especially those who had never worked with ceramics, were thrilled by the chance to create something tangible with their hands. This experience not only gave them new skills but also provided a creative outlet that many of them deeply needed. They were also so excited to have something to take home.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were confused but grateful. They were shocked by the generosity of strangers and people that simply wanted to give to their class. This gave us the opportunity as a class to discuss what it meant to be generous and give back to communities. They were overjoyed and incredibly grateful to have access to such high-quality supplies. For many, this project was a chance to express themselves in ways they hadn't been able to before. A number of students shared that creating these ceramic pieces gave them a sense of accomplishment and pride they hadn't felt with other art forms. For some, this was more than just a class project; it became a personal outlet, helping them navigate feelings and thoughts they otherwise might not have been able to express. The joy on their faces when they held their finished pieces was a powerful reminder of the importance of giving students the resources to create.\r\n\r\nThe canvases have also been a game-changer for my students, allowing them to explore the world of painting with a professional touch. They were able to experiment with acrylic paints, learning about brush techniques, layering, and color mixing in ways they hadn't been able to before. The experience was not only a chance for them to develop new artistic skills but also a way for them to express their unique stories and emotions. For some students, painting on canvas became an especially meaningful outlet, giving them the freedom to explore their creativity and reflect on their experiences. The donated canvases have truly helped to elevate their work and have allowed them to feel like real artists in the process. \r\n\r\nLooking forward, we are in the process of incorporating these ceramic skills towards our district art show. They'll continue to refine their skills, exploring how different media can complement and enhance each other. This project will provide further opportunities for them to grow as artists and individuals, while continuing to build their confidence and creative expression. Your support has made this possible, and I can't express enough how much it means to my students and myself. Thank you for giving them this chance to thrive creatively. These materials have truly opened doors for many students who find art to be a safe and healing space.","fullyFundedDate":1736280170704,"projectUrl":"project/class-supplies-for-ceramics-and-art/8753222/","projectTitle":"Class Supplies for Ceramics and Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Butler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9511963_orig.jpg?crop=1428,1428,x829,y449&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727312815423","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9511963"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_70631","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":761,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":49,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":46,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":72.1,"schoolId":70631,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Smith Junior High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Smith Junior High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/arizona/mesa-public-schools/smith-junior-high-school/70631"}
Join the 136 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Smith Junior High School is
an urban public school
in Mesa, Arizona that is part of Mesa Public Schools.
It serves 761 students
in grades 7 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.6:1.
Its teachers have had 53 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
51%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Smith Junior High School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 4, 2025
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Smith Junior High School
$38,524
raised using DonorsChoose
53
projects
funded
35
teachers
funded
136
donors
4
projects
for
basic supplies
8
projects for
technology
9
projects for
books
9
projects
for
art supplies
Smith Junior High School has received support from
98 individuals from Arizona and
38 individuals out-of-state.