{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Del Dios Academy Arts & Sciences","outOfStateSupporters":32.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10328353,"projectId":9855473,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping make The Masks We Wear project possible. Because of your generosity, my students were able to participate in a deeply meaningful artistic experience that went far beyond learning art techniques — it became an opportunity for reflection, self-discovery, and emotional expression.\r\n\r\nMiddle school is a time when students are actively trying to understand who they are and how they fit into the world around them. Many of my students arrive in class carrying complex emotions, questions about identity, and experiences they often do not yet have the language to express. This project gave them that language through art.\r\n\r\nThe Masks We Wear invited students to explore identity using the powerful metaphor of the mask. Masks have existed throughout human history across countless cultures, used in ceremonies, storytelling, theater, and ritual. They naturally draw us in, evoke emotion, and allow us to explore both what is revealed and what is hidden. Using this tradition as inspiration, students created personal masks representing two perspectives: how they believe the outside world sees them and the deeper aspects of themselves that may not always be visible.\r\n\r\nStudents began by reflecting on questions such as:\r\n\r\nWho am I when others are watching?\r\nWhat parts of myself do people notice first?\r\nWhat feelings or experiences do I keep hidden?\r\nHow are my inner and outer identities similar or different?\r\n\r\nThe outside of each mask became a visual representation of how students feel they are perceived by peers, family, and society. Some students chose bright colors to represent humor or confidence. Others used symbols connected to sports, culture, friendships, or personal achievements. Many students expressed the pressure to appear strong, happy, or confident even when they did not always feel that way inside.\r\n\r\nAs the project progressed, something remarkable happened. Students began opening up — not only through their artwork but also through thoughtful discussions with one another. Art became a safe entry point for conversations about identity, belonging, anxiety, joy, resilience, and personal growth.\r\n\r\nFor many students, this was the first time they intentionally reflected on the idea that everyone wears different \"masks.\" They realized that it is normal to show different aspects of ourselves in different spaces. Rather than viewing these differences as negative, students practiced acceptance and self-understanding. The project emphasized that all parts of ourselves — the visible and the unseen — are valid and worthy of acknowledgment.\r\n\r\nSeveral students shared experiences they had never previously expressed in a classroom setting. Some explored cultural identity and family traditions. Others reflected on personal challenges, friendships, or the pressures of middle school life. The mask became a powerful symbol that allowed students to communicate feelings that words alone could not capture.\r\n\r\nThe materials you provided made this experience possible. Having quality art supplies communicated an important message to students: their stories matter, their creativity matters, and their voices deserve space. When students feel that their work is valued, they invest more deeply in the learning process and in themselv\r\nBy the end of the project, our classroom transformed into a gallery of human experiences. Each mask told a unique story, yet together they revealed a shared truth — we are all navigating who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. Students left the project with stronger artistic skills, greater empathy for one another, and increased confidence in expressing their authentic selves.\r\n\r\nYour support helped create more than an art lesson; it created a moment of connection, reflection, and growth. You gave students permission to explore identity, embrace vulnerability, and recognize the beauty in their individuality.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of art education and for investing in our students' creativity and emotional development. Your generosity helped students not only create art but also better understand themselves — a lesson that will stay with them long after the masks are put away.","fullyFundedDate":1769028198178,"projectUrl":"project/the-masks-we-wear/9855473/","projectTitle":"The Masks We Wear","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Spenser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10328353_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y81&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761580057302","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10328353"},{"teacherId":10222173,"projectId":9648152,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kind donations. Because of your generosity, our classroom has been transformed into a true science lab.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the beakers, thermometers, and safety goggles regularly during our investigations, and the impact has been incredible. Having real scientific equipment in students' hands has allowed learning to move beyond the textbook and into authentic, hands-on experiences. I've been able to design and implement more engaging labs now that we have the proper materials to safely and effectively conduct experiments.\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies first arrived, my students were genuinely thrilled. There was so much excitement as they put on their safety goggles and handled the equipment like real scientists. That excitement only grew during our chemical reactions labs, where they could observe bubbling, temperature changes, and new substances forming right before their eyes. Science became something they could see, touch, and experience — not just read about.\r\n\r\nThis project has had a powerful impact on their learning. Students are more engaged, more curious, and more confident in asking questions. They are collaborating, collecting data, making observations, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. The hands-on experiences have strengthened their critical thinking skills and helped concepts truly \"stick.\"\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, I've been able to shift toward more inquiry-based instruction and provide consistent lab opportunities instead of occasional demonstrations. My students aren't just watching science happen — they are doing science.\r\n\r\nNext, we are preparing for a lab on photosynthesis, where students will investigate how plants produce energy. I am so excited to continue building on their enthusiasm and curiosity.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools to explore, discover, and see themselves as scientists. Your generosity is making a lasting difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nIf you'd like, I can also create a slightly shorter version in case there's a word limit.","fullyFundedDate":1758075611988,"projectUrl":"project/growing-our-science-lab-one-supply-at-a/9648152/","projectTitle":"Growing Our Science Lab, One Supply at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Siembab","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10222173_orig.jpg?crop=737,737,x0,y78&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757097681392","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10222173"},{"teacherId":9051393,"projectId":7401784,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating the really neat Lego BricQ kits to my classroom. It was incredibly generous of you and we used these kids all year long. In our school the 8th graders study motion and forces. Talking about those topics tends to get really boring but once I brought out the kids, there was a huge wave of excitement in all of my students. It was a great moment. \r\nOne of my other favorite moments was watching the kids in their table groups putting the kits together and building the Legos for the activities. My students don't always like working together so it was really gratifying to see that. I won't say there weren't occasional issues over who was going to place the last Lego, but they were quickly ended by just reminding students that we had these kits for the entire school year and there would be other opportunities. \r\nThank you again. I am really looking forward to continuing to use these kits for years ahead. Students really do learn better with hands-on activities. This has brought a lot of excitement into my classroom and students get very excited to get to 8th grade and finally get to use them.","fullyFundedDate":1686237495671,"projectUrl":"project/physics-lego-robotics-and-8th-graders/7401784/","projectTitle":"Physics, Lego Robotics, and 8th Graders! The Perfect Combo","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Potter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9051393_orig.jpg?crop=2550,2550,x352,y211&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684277592627","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9051393"},{"teacherId":9051393,"projectId":7443008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating the really neat Lego BrickQ kits to my classroom. It was incredibly generous of you and we used these kids all year long. In our school the 8th graders study motion and forces. Talking about those topics tends to get really boring but once I brought out the kids, there was a huge wave of excitement in all of my students. It was a great moment.\r\nOne of my other favorite moments was watching the kids in their table groups putting the kits together and building the Legos for the activities. My students don't always like working together so it was really gratifying to see that. I won't say there weren't occasional issues over who was going to place the last Lego, but they were quickly ended by just reminding students that we had these kits for the entire school year and there would be other opportunities.\r\nThank you again. I am really looking forward to continuing to use these kits for years ahead. Students really do learn better with hands-on activities. This has brought a lot of excitement into my classroom and students get very excited to get to 8th grade and finally get to use them.","fullyFundedDate":1692638036046,"projectUrl":"project/connect-physics-to-everyday-life-through/7443008/","projectTitle":"Connect Physics to Everyday Life Through LEGOs!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Potter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9051393_orig.jpg?crop=2550,2550,x352,y211&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1684277592627","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9051393"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36427","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":803,"numTeachers":42,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":86,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"19.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.8,"schoolId":36427,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Del Dios Academy Arts & Sciences on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Del Dios Academy Arts & Sciences","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/escondido-union-elementary-school-district/del-dios-middle-school/36427"}