{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Contra Costa School of Performing Arts","outOfStateSupporters":9.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9893715,"projectId":9056672,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping bring engaging and accessible books like The Cartoon Introduction to Economics, Volume Two: Macroeconomics into our classroom! This text has been a powerful tool for demystifying big economic ideas—like inflation, fiscal policy, and GDP—through humor, visuals, and storytelling. Many of our students are encountering macroeconomics for the first time, and this book makes abstract concepts feel concrete. It's helping students build critical literacy skills such as interpreting data, analyzing cause-and-effect relationships, and evaluating arguments, all while making them laugh—a rare and valuable combination in an econ class!\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is interactive and discussion-driven. We annotate cartoons together, debate real-world applications, and even create our own comic panels to reinforce learning. One student who used to shy away from economics recently said, \"This is the first time it actually makes sense!\" Another student has been bringing the book home to show their parents, excitedly explaining what the Federal Reserve does. These moments remind me that when we provide the right materials, we unlock curiosity and confidence. Thank you again for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1737900504634,"projectUrl":"project/cartoon-macroeconomics/9056672/","projectTitle":"Cartoon Macroeconomics","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Martin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9893715_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x281,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736812995774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9893715"},{"teacherId":582343,"projectId":9346038,"letterContent":"When the packages arrived, my students could hardly believe that the tools inside were just for them—gifts to take with them as they move into the next phase of their lives. As part of our senior graduation bag pickup event, I created individual goodie bags filled with the donated supplies—highlighters, sticky notes, index tabs, and fidgets. Each bag was a personal and practical reminder that they are capable, supported, and ready for what's ahead.\r\n\r\nTheir reactions were priceless. Some students immediately started organizing their planners with the tabs and post-its, while others quietly smiled as they slipped the fidgets into their pockets, already finding comfort in the tools we've used together throughout the years. These items aren't just school supplies—they're part of the strategies we've built to support focus, confidence, and independence.\r\n\r\nThis year carries added emotional weight, as our school is closing. For many of these students, this has been their home from middle school through graduation. They won't have the chance to return to visit, but these goodie bags were a meaningful way to send them off—with something useful, familiar, and filled with love. One student told me, \"It feels like you're still looking out for us, even after we go.\"\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students are entering their next chapter with tools they know how to use and the knowledge that a community—many of whom they've never even met—believes in them. I am deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1747770915756,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-lifelong-learning/9346038/","projectTitle":"Tools for Lifelong Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kingsbury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp582343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728771655830","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/582343"},{"teacherId":582343,"projectId":9336051,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been buzzing with creativity, innovation, and purpose. The supplies from the \"Trash to Treasure\" project arrived just in time to kick off our culminating unit on environmental awareness and artistic expression. Students were immediately engaged—digging through bins of clean recycled materials, sketching bold designs, and using their new paints, glues, and tools to turn discarded objects into powerful pieces of eco-art.\r\n\r\nTheir reactions when the materials first arrived were a mix of excitement and awe. \"This is like a real artist's studio now!\" one student exclaimed. For many of them, this was the first time working with high-quality materials—and it showed in the pride they took in their work. They embraced the challenge of reimagining trash as treasure, connecting their art to important themes like climate change, pollution, and sustainability. One group even created a sculpture titled The Weight We Carry, made entirely of plastic bags and bottle caps, symbolizing the impact of human waste on marine life.\r\n\r\nNow, as we prepare for a school-wide showcase, the students are putting finishing touches on their projects, writing artist statements, and planning how to present their work to the community. This is more than an art project—it's an opportunity for them to leave a legacy, especially as our school prepares to close. Thank you for giving our students this meaningful, creative experience to reflect on their learning and make one final, lasting statement to the world.","fullyFundedDate":1746902514790,"projectUrl":"project/trash-to-treasure-the-eco-art-finale/9336051/","projectTitle":"Trash to Treasure: The Eco-Art Finale","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kingsbury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp582343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728771655830","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/582343"},{"teacherId":582343,"projectId":9326324,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our Zen Zone is now a reality—and it's already making a huge difference in our classroom community. As we enter the busiest part of the school year, with every student involved in multiple performances, final assessments, and emotional goodbyes, the Zen Zone has become a cherished space for students to pause, breathe, and reset.\r\n\r\nThe reaction when students first saw the materials was unforgettable—there were gasps, happy squeals, and more than one student wrapped themselves around a weighted stuffed animal like they had just found a new best friend. One student even said, \"This is exactly what I didn't know I needed.\" That quiet corner, filled with calming textures and tools, has quickly become a place of comfort and grounding for students feeling overwhelmed.\r\n\r\nWe're using the Zen Zone daily—students are learning to self-advocate when they need a break and return to class more focused and emotionally balanced. It's been especially valuable for students with sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and those who struggle with transitions or overstimulation during performance season.\r\n\r\nAs we prepare for our final shows and the closure of our school, this space is giving students an essential reminder: their well-being matters, and it's okay to take care of themselves. Thank you for helping us create that message—and that space.","fullyFundedDate":1746678468719,"projectUrl":"project/zen-zone-stress-relief-for-end-of-year/9326324/","projectTitle":"Zen Zone: Stress Relief for End-of-Year Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kingsbury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp582343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728771655830","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/582343"},{"teacherId":3097810,"projectId":8705600,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your unwavering support of my amazing young artists! I have been so blown away by how our community stepped up this year when we had no budget and didn't know where our supplies would be coming from this year. With your support we were able to create a beautiful space for students to talk and reflect about projects. We were also able to create wonderful sculptures to decorate the space using the paper waste from our school to make paper clay and turn leftover bottles and containers into wonderful planters that the students had a ton of fun creating. We appreciate all of your support and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!","fullyFundedDate":1729649938077,"projectUrl":"project/compassion-circle/8705600/","projectTitle":"Compassion Circle!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3097810_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449303984967","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/artcrew"},{"teacherId":3097810,"projectId":8616186,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your continued support of my wonderful young artists. With no budget to work with this year, it was super scary to not know where our supplies would be coming from, but with your help, we made the most of our final year of art at SPA!!! We created everything from wearable art, to beautiful oil pastel portraits, jewelry, and even a large scale sculptural mural! Our art show was the largest we've ever put up with over 300 pieces of student work displayed. None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of community members like you who believe in the importance of arts education! We appreciate you!!","fullyFundedDate":1729649937932,"projectUrl":"project/art-goodies-to-sustain/8616186/","projectTitle":"Art Goodies To Sustain!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3097810_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449303984967","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/artcrew"},{"teacherId":9812581,"projectId":9052312,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Empowering Young Voices.\" The vocal anthologies have quickly become a valuable part of our classroom.\r\n\r\nMy students have loved getting to explore these books. Having access to age-appropriate repertoire has helped them feel more confident in their vocal abilities and more engaged in their musical growth. These anthologies offer a wide variety of songs that suit developing voices, and my students are excited to find pieces that fit them personally—both vocally and artistically.\r\n\r\nWe've already used them for recital prep, auditions, and daily practice. Students are gaining independence as they select and prepare songs, and I've seen real pride in the way they take ownership of their learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made a lasting difference, not only by expanding our musical library but by giving my students access to high-quality resources that support their development as young artists. Thank you for believing in their potential and for helping them grow through music.","fullyFundedDate":1738803474702,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-young-voices-vocal-anthologi/9052312/","projectTitle":"Empowering Young Voices: Vocal Anthologies for Teen Singers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spivack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812581"},{"teacherId":8574773,"projectId":9265158,"letterContent":"Dear Donor,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generous support of my project, \"Mindfulness and SEL for End-of-Year Resilience.\" As my 10th grade students approach the final stretch of the school year, your donation is already making a meaningful difference.\r\n\r\nWith your help, we now have the resources to create a calming, supportive space where students can manage stress and stay present. The journaling dice have been a hit—they add a sense of creativity and structure to our mindfulness activities, sparking thoughtful reflection and even a few smiles along the way. The cozy animal figures and small calming items serve as simple yet powerful reminders that we're never too old to need comfort.\r\n\r\nThese tools are doing more than helping students focus—they're helping them build resilience and finish the year with confidence. It's incredible to watch them engage more openly in discussions about mental wellness and learn strategies they can carry with them beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the importance of social-emotional learning and for being part of our journey. Your support came at just the right time, and we're truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1745361907505,"projectUrl":"project/mindfulness-as-the-year-comes-to-a-close/9265158/","projectTitle":"Mindfulness as the Year Comes to a Close","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Freiri-Foley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8574773_orig.png?crop=1121,1121,x57,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727883957327","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8574773"},{"teacherId":582343,"projectId":8875172,"letterContent":"Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our 11th and 12th-grade students! Your generosity has brought engaging, accessible economics education into our classroom through the power of graphic novels. With 30% of our students facing learning challenges, traditional textbooks can be overwhelming. These visually rich books break down complex economic concepts, making them more approachable and helping all students—regardless of their learning style—grasp key ideas like supply and demand, opportunity cost, and decision-making models.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is now an interactive and inspiring experience. Students engage with the material in a way that resonates with them, sparking thoughtful discussions about real-world economic principles. More excitingly, these books served as inspiration for our students to create their own children's books on decision-making models in economics. Watching them apply their knowledge creatively—writing, illustrating, and simplifying economic theories for younger audiences—has been incredible.\r\n\r\nOne student, who previously struggled with reading comprehension, shared that the graphic format \"made everything click\" for them. Another, an aspiring artist, was thrilled to see how storytelling could be used to explain real-world problems. These moments of connection and discovery would not have been possible without your support. Thank you for empowering our students to learn, create, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1735515028090,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-students-in-economics-with-cart/8875172/","projectTitle":"Engaging Students in Economics with Cartoon Microeconomics Book Set","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kingsbury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp582343_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728771655830","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/582343"},{"teacherId":9812581,"projectId":8896972,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity in funding our project for Chromebook chargers and a power strip. Your support has made an immediate and lasting difference in my students' ability to engage with their biology curriculum.\r\n\r\nBefore this project, many students struggled to stay connected during lessons due to low battery issues, which disrupted their focus and participation. Now, with enough chargers for everyone, students can fully concentrate on their work without the stress of losing access to their online resources.\r\n\r\nThis change has not only improved their ability to complete assignments but has also created a more positive and collaborative classroom environment. Your kindness has empowered my students to succeed and removed a significant barrier to their learning.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of myself and my students, thank you for believing in us and making such a meaningful impact. Your support truly inspires us to keep striving for excellence!","fullyFundedDate":1732063666399,"projectUrl":"project/biology-fully-charged/8896972/","projectTitle":"Biology - Fully Charged","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spivack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812581"},{"teacherId":8574773,"projectId":8882919,"letterContent":"I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of the students and staff at \r\nCOCOSPA, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of our mindfulness activities for the after-school program. Your contributions have already made a meaningful impact on our students' lives, and we are so grateful for your kindness.\r\n\r\nThanks to your donation, our students have been engaged in mindful coloring and enjoying new toys that help them stay present and limit their screen time. These activities have quickly become a favorite, allowing our students to relax and recharge while building focus and creativity.\r\n\r\nWe are especially excited to start making friendship bracelets in the coming weeks. This project will not only encourage mindfulness but also foster connection and community among our students. Additionally, the outdoor activities you provided have been a hit, with students embracing the opportunity to move, play, and connect with nature in a fun and meaningful way.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped us create a space where students can find peace, practice mindfulness, and build meaningful relationships. This wouldn't have been possible without your generosity, and we are truly thankful.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us make a difference. We look forward to sharing updates on all the wonderful ways your contributions continue to enrich their lives.","fullyFundedDate":1733242857734,"projectUrl":"project/mindfulness-time-in-after-school/8882919/","projectTitle":"Mindfulness Time in After School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Freiri-Foley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8574773_orig.png?crop=1121,1121,x57,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727883957327","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8574773"},{"teacherId":5194874,"projectId":8857605,"letterContent":"The Allstate Foundation fully funded this project and I wish they could see how transformative their donation was for our school. I am the advisor of our Random Acts of Kindness Club and we were able to spread smiles and love throughout the school the entire semester and still have enough items to get through the year. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for donating to make this project come to life. Seeing my students spreading love and joy using materials from this project makes me smile. It is amazing how the kindness of strangers can help bring students together to spread more kindness. \r\n\r\nIn this day and age, so many students are not very hands on and tend to shy away from crafting or trying new things. This project allowed so many students to push past their comfort zone. The gifts they made to share with others helped spread kindness and for this, we are ever so thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1729024286758,"projectUrl":"project/spread-kindness-love-and-smiles-through/8857605/","projectTitle":"Spread Kindness, Love and Smiles Through Random Acts of Kindness!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Aviña","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5194874_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588188728394","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/avina"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_110754","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":361,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":46,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":22,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":90.3,"schoolId":110754,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Contra Costa School of Performing Arts on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Contra Costa School of Performing Arts","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/contra-costa-county-office-of-education/contra-costa-school-of-performing-arts/110754"}