{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Katella High School","outOfStateSupporters":30.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2492033,"projectId":9732900,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our Katella students are already benefiting greatly from our new slushy machine! We first used it at our school's Trunk-or-Treat event, where students helped mix flavors, pour servings, and greet families in line. The excitement was immediate—before we were even fully set up, a long line wrapped around the quad as students eagerly waited for their first free slushy. Many students shared that they had never helped run a machine like this before, and they were so proud to prepare slushies for younger visitors and their classmates. The slushy station quickly became a hub of laughter, teamwork, and conversation.\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful moments happened when several students—who normally keep to themselves—volunteered to help make and serve the slushies. As they worked together, they naturally began talking, joking, and encouraging each other. What began as a fun treat quickly became a way for students to connect, build confidence, and feel included in something special. This simple resource has already given our students a chance to step away from screens and engage in real, joyful interactions with their peers.\r\n\r\nWe are continuing to use the slushy machine to bring community and connection to our campus. Up next, we will serve free slushies at our school's Resource Fair, a large community event featuring city partners, a classic car show, music, and raffles. Our students will once again take on leadership roles—setting up, preparing flavors, and welcoming families. Beyond events, we hope to host monthly \"Slushy Socials\" on campus to give students a positive, inclusive space to build friendships. Your support has made it possible for us to create these moments of joy and connection, one slushy at a time. Thank you for strengthening our school community in such a meaningful way!","fullyFundedDate":1758863086530,"projectUrl":"project/building-community-through-slushies/9732900/","projectTitle":"Building Community Through Slushies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gomez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2492033_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y304&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758223257017","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2492033"},{"teacherId":1135017,"projectId":9801052,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous support, my students now have journals and index cards to enhance their learning and creativity in photography. From the very first day we used them, I could see their excitement and engagement. Students eagerly flipped through their journals, ready to sketch ideas, jot down reflections, and respond to prompts that help them think critically about photography and visual storytelling. The index cards have become a staple in our classroom, allowing students to quickly brainstorm, plan shots, and share constructive feedback with peers.\r\n\r\nOne memorable moment was during our first Photo Journal exercise. A student who usually hesitates to share ideas produced a detailed sketch and wrote a thoughtful reflection about lighting and composition. This was a huge confidence boost and sparked a lively class discussion about perspective and creativity. These materials have made our lessons more interactive and given students a concrete way to track their growth as photographers.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be using the journals and index cards to plan our upcoming class portfolio project. Students will map out themes, sketch potential shots, and reflect on their process as they work toward completing a cohesive series of images. Your generosity has made it possible for each student to have the tools they need to fully engage, experiment, and grow their skills in photography.","fullyFundedDate":1760242081021,"projectUrl":"project/journaling-and-knowledge-expansion/9801052/","projectTitle":"Journaling and Knowledge Expansion","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sporn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1135017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693334063298","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1135017"},{"teacherId":1135017,"projectId":9342735,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my Donors Choose project! The arrival of the new journals brought an incredible spark of energy and excitement into my classroom. As a high school photography teacher, I use these journals weekly to guide students through \"Photo Journal Mondays\", a dedicated time where they reflect, sketch, and respond to prompts that connect photography techniques with deeper personal expression. The journals have quickly become a creative outlet and a valuable tool for fostering not just technical skills, but also self-awareness and artistic voice.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the stacks of fresh, high-quality journals, there was a buzz of curiosity and enthusiasm. One student immediately asked, \"Do we really get to keep these all year?\", a small moment that reminded me how meaningful ownership of materials can be. Since then, students have personalized their covers, added photo collages, and even started using them to storyboard their upcoming photo shoots. They take great pride in having a space that is entirely their own.\r\n\r\nAs we move into our next unit on portrait photography, the journals are already helping students plan lighting, pose ideas, and write artist statements. These resources are not only enhancing their technical growth, but are also nurturing a more thoughtful, reflective approach to creating art. Thanks to your donation, my students are more engaged, confident, and prepared to take their learning to the next level. Your generosity has truly made a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1747073944693,"projectUrl":"project/journals-for-photography/9342735/","projectTitle":"Journals for Photography","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sporn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1135017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693334063298","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1135017"},{"teacherId":1135017,"projectId":9311825,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our school was transformed with over a thousand poms, injecting energy, color, and spirit into our school culture and classroom experiences! When the students first saw the mountain of shiny, colorful poms, the room absolutely erupted with excitement. One student shouted, \"Is this all for us?!\" while another added, \"We can show true spirit now!\" \r\n\r\nWe've used the poms in pep rallies, assemblies, and performance-based class projects where students express school pride and creativity through movement. One powerful moment came when a group of students who are usually quiet and reserved confidently led a cheer routine during a school event, they felt seen, included, and celebrated. These poms aren't just props; they're tools for student empowerment, collaboration, and joyful expression.\r\n\r\nYour support didn't just fund materials, it sparked confidence, leadership, and pride in our students. Thank you for believing in them and in what we do together.","fullyFundedDate":1746787427966,"projectUrl":"project/spirit-in-every-shake-help-us-show-our/9311825/","projectTitle":"\"Spirit in Every Shake: Help Us Show Our Pride!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sporn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1135017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693334063298","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1135017"},{"teacherId":1135017,"projectId":9136989,"letterContent":"I want to express my deepest thanks for supporting our classroom through Donors Choose. Thanks to your generosity, our 5 Star Points program has transformed into a meaningful system that is not only motivating students to work hard, but also encouraging them to make better choices, support their peers, and build a positive classroom culture.\r\n\r\nThe excitement began the very moment the boxes of materials arrived. We made an announcement on our televised news and told them, \"Something special came in today—and it's all because some very kind people believed in you.\" Their eyes lit up. \" One student whispered, \"It feels like Christmas!\"\r\n\r\nSince then, the Five-Star Points program has become an integral part of our classroom routine. Students earn points by demonstrating effort, kindness, responsibility, and teamwork. They track their progress daily, and it's been incredible to watch their intrinsic motivation grow. The external rewards certainly help, but what's been most powerful is seeing how proud they are of why they earned those points.\r\n\r\nThe program has also strengthened our classroom community. Students have started recognizing each other's positive behavior. We even added a new element—\"peer shout-outs\"—where students nominate classmates for points based on kindness or leadership. It's created a culture where kids are not only working to improve themselves but are also lifting each other up.\r\n\r\nCurrently, we're in the middle of a lesson unit on goal-setting and reflection. Students are learning how to set personal academic and behavior goals and use the Five-Star Points system to measure their progress. They're journaling about their successes and challenges each week, and we're discussing strategies to keep moving forward. Your donation has made it possible for them to connect these lessons to tangible outcomes—and that connection is powerful.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly made a difference. Because of you, my students feel seen, valued, and empowered. The impact of your generosity is more than just new materials—it's confidence, community, and a daily reminder that there are people out there cheering them on.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart—and on behalf of every student whose smile you helped create—thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1741108798472,"projectUrl":"project/incentives-for-engagement-school-spiri/9136989/","projectTitle":"Incentives for Engagement & School Spirit!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sporn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1135017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693334063298","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1135017"},{"teacherId":1135017,"projectId":9038407,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our photography students now have access to a professional-grade industrial paper cutter, and it has already made a huge impact in our classroom! When the students first saw it, they were amazed at how precise and efficient it was compared to our old tools. One student excitedly said, \"This is going to make our prints look so much more professional!\"\r\n\r\nWe've been using the paper cutter for mounting and presenting student photography projects, ensuring clean, precise edges for their work. Recently, students prepared a gallery-style showcase, trimming their prints with accuracy and confidence. This new tool has not only improved the quality of their final presentations but has also reinforced the importance of craftsmanship in their artistic process.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue using the cutter for upcoming portfolio submissions and competition entries, giving them the ability to present their work at a professional level. Your generosity has provided them with a resource that enhances their creativity and pride in their work—thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1736707006608,"projectUrl":"project/cutting-into-the-world-of-art/9038407/","projectTitle":"Cutting into the World of Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Sporn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1135017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693334063298","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1135017"},{"teacherId":2346753,"projectId":8836525,"letterContent":"I want to thank you again for your generous donation to this project. We have completed reading this play in class, and the impact has been profound. I was able to use this text to help my struggling readers understand the plot of the play, the characters, and even use it to talk about how we analyze images. Students were so impressed with the artwork of the graphic novel, and we had many conversations about the decisions of the artist, and how those decisions added to the themes of the play. \r\n\r\nAfter we finished the project, I surveyed students to see how they felt the unit went, and I was so surprised to hear many students say that reading this play was their favorite project from the whole semester. They mentioned that the format of a graphic novel made the text come to life in a way that they hadn't seen in other classes, and it made them actually enjoyed reading--something they don't say often!\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, I am so excited to keep using this text in my classroom and continue to impact young adult readers in my community.","fullyFundedDate":1728012483919,"projectUrl":"project/to-be-or-not-to-bea-reader/8836525/","projectTitle":"To Be or Not to Be...A Reader","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Montoy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2346753_orig.jpg?crop=1338,1338,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727663351240","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2346753"},{"teacherId":2346753,"projectId":8836701,"letterContent":"I want to thank you again for your generous donation to this project. We have completed reading this play in class, and the impact has been profound. I was able to use this text to help my struggling readers understand the plot of the play, the characters, and even use it to talk about how we analyze images. Students were so impressed with the artwork of the graphic novel, and we had many conversations about the decisions of the artist, and how those decisions added to the themes of the play. \r\n\r\nAfter we finished the project, I surveyed students to see how they felt the unit went, and I was so surprised to hear many students say that reading this play was their favorite project from the whole semester. They mentioned that the format of a graphic novel made the text come to life in a way that they hadn't seen in other classes, and it made them actually enjoyed reading--something they don't say often!\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, I am so excited to keep using this text in my classroom and continue to impact young adult readers in my community.","fullyFundedDate":1728012481981,"projectUrl":"project/something-wickedly-wonderful-this-way/8836701/","projectTitle":"Something Wicked[ly Wonderful] This Way Comes...","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Montoy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2346753_orig.jpg?crop=1338,1338,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727663351240","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2346753"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_91608","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":2500,"numTeachers":101,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":90,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"24.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.6,"schoolId":91608,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Katella High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Katella High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/anaheim-union-high-school-district/katella-high-school/91608"}