{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gaspar de Portola Charter Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":7.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1139255,"projectId":9598898,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity. Before this project was funded, slow processing speeds, frequent crashes, and limited storage made it challenging for me to prepare materials efficiently — and at times, these issues interrupted lessons altogether. Now, with a reliable MacBook Pro, the way I plan and deliver instruction has changed in powerful and lasting ways.\r\n\r\nThis upgraded computer has opened the door to more engaging and effective learning experiences for my students. I can now design visually rich presentations that capture their attention, incorporate high-quality videos and animations without delays, and use interactive activities that keep students fully engaged. Online learning platforms and digital tools run smoothly, allowing us to make the most of every instructional minute.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the MacBook Pro has strengthened my ability to support students as individuals. I can provide timely, personalized feedback, monitor progress more efficiently, and create resources tailored to students who need additional support as well as those ready for advanced challenges. Our classroom feels more dynamic, more connected, and more aligned with the digital world my students are growing up in. \r\n\r\nYour support has made all of this possible. By giving me the tools to teach more effectively, you are helping to build a classroom where every student (and teacher mentee)has the chance to thrive, explore their potential, and develop a genuine love of learning. Thank you for believing in my students — and for believing in the power of education to change lives.\r\n\r\nI'd like to give an extra special shout out to Google.org for investing in our learning community in such a powerful way with a 5x donation match. Your donation has impacted not only the students, but also other teachers at my school. I have even been able to pay this gift forward by mentoring other teachers using visually rich presentations that were only possible with this upgraded technology. I have used this powerful tool to give professional development sessions instructing other teachers on how to make the most of digital resources available to us. So again, thank you and thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1755902143673,"projectUrl":"project/a-digital-passport-to-the-ancient-world/9598898/","projectTitle":"A Digital Passport to the Ancient World !","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marjani-Ptah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1139255_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755232506192","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marjani-ptah"},{"teacherId":10185873,"projectId":9622112,"letterContent":"The day we got the new 17-inch computer, all my students wanted to use it. They were so excited that each one of them wanted to take a turn to look up something or see if the keys on the keyboard felt any different because it was new and different and it had a 17-inch screen. The bigger screen meant that they could now have full view graphics and they love the touch screen. Additionally, it has been very beneficial for my students who are near visually impaired. A bigger screen means making the letters bigger for them to see the text of a virtual textbook and they are able to split the screen if they are reading an article for larger print and writing a research paper at the same time with much ease. \r\n The impact that a larger screen computer has had on my students has been enormous. This could not have happened without your contribution of this computer to our classroom. Currently, my students are learning how to use a 3D printer therefore having a computer with a 17 inch screen has helped them to share the design of their own creations among peers.\r\nThank you for helping my students think, create, and design in my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755665792000,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-the-imagination-with-technolog/9622112/","projectTitle":"Unlocking the Imagination with Technology","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gramajo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10185873"},{"teacherId":10185873,"projectId":9617919,"letterContent":"As my biotechnology students engage in conversations in the classroom about writing their next laboratory report, they began to wonder about how long it would take them to actually write their reports by hand. They joked about having to write an entire 7 page report with pen and paper. As a realization of how useful it is to have chromebooks in the classroom, my students were very grateful that they could use technology that is available to them on a daily basis. By integrating technology with hands-on labs, my students have now gained different sets of skills that they did not have to best prepare them for both college and the rapidly evolving careers in science and health. \r\nMy students have been able to write lab reports, conduct virtual experiments as practice for the actual experiments in class. They have been able to contribute to research, class presentations, and so much more. None of this would have been possible with your contribution of chromebooks to our classroom. \r\nFrom my students and I, a huge thank you for making my students' dreams get a little closer to being a reality.","fullyFundedDate":1755542469639,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-biotechnology-with-chromebooks/9617919/","projectTitle":"Exploring Biotechnology With Chromebooks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gramajo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10185873"},{"teacherId":8248303,"projectId":9570501,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Let's Get Plugged In! This project has had an enormous impact on my teaching. While many people are familiar with using technology at home, the demands placed on a teacher's computer are very different. Between planning lessons, creating digital resources, grading, projecting materials, running videos, and managing multiple learning platforms at once, my computer is truly the engine of my classroom.\r\n\r\nBefore this project, my old device frequently froze, lagged, or shut down in the middle of lessons—which interrupted instruction, slowed down planning, and made it difficult to keep students engaged. Thanks to your generosity, I now have a reliable computer that allows me to work efficiently and confidently throughout the day.\r\n\r\nThe new device has been especially transformative during instruction. I can project slides, model writing in real time, share videos, and navigate between platforms like Schoology, StudySync, and McGraw Hill without delays or glitches. Students are more engaged because transitions are smoother, and I'm able to focus entirely on teaching rather than troubleshooting.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is how seamless our lessons feel now. Videos play clearly, presentations load instantly, and we aren't losing time waiting for my computer to catch up. My Pentathlon team also benefits from smoother research sessions, faster access to materials, and uninterrupted practice activities.\r\n\r\nFor me personally, this computer has made planning, grading, and creating resources so much more manageable. I can prepare lessons more quickly, edit project guides, record videos, and respond to student and parent communication without worrying about my device failing at a crucial moment.\r\n\r\nYour support didn't just provide a computer—you provided stability, efficiency, and the ability to deliver high-quality instruction every single day. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference in my classroom and in my teaching.","fullyFundedDate":1754933370847,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-plugged-in/9570501/","projectTitle":"Let’s Get Plugged In!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Braverman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8248303_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753980640023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsbraverman11"},{"teacherId":3174640,"projectId":9675732,"letterContent":"Receiving Animal Farm will immediately elevate your students' critical reading skills by introducing them to political allegory and satire. The book's compelling narrative of farm animals overthrowing their human owner provides an accessible framework for students to grasp complex ideas like tyranny, propaganda, and the abuse of power. This will teach them to look beyond the literal story, fostering a vital new ability to interpret symbols and understand how literature can critique real-world events and historical systems.\r\n\r\nMore importantly, the text will spark essential conversations about civic responsibility and questioning authority. By witnessing the slow corruption of the pigs and the exploitation of the other animals, students will engage with universal themes of justice and equality. The narrative empowers young readers to recognize the signs of manipulation and helps them develop the crucial, foundational skills of critical thinking necessary to become engaged, informed, and discerning citizens in their own society.","fullyFundedDate":1757124978344,"projectUrl":"project/animal-farm-class-set-of-45-hardcover/9675732/","projectTitle":"Animal Farm - Class Set of 45 Hardcover Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Wheatley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3174640"},{"teacherId":8248303,"projectId":9572864,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Paper [is] Good[s]\" project. Your generosity has already made a noticeable difference in our day-to-day classroom routines. With a large class and constant learning activities, we go through paper, notebooks, and printing supplies incredibly quickly — and your support ensured that my students have what they need without interruption.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donations, students now have consistent access to fresh paper for note-taking, graphic organizers, drafting, and project work. This has helped them stay organized, produce higher-quality work, and feel more confident in their ability to complete assignments. These basic supplies may seem simple, but they play a huge role in helping students stay prepared, focused, and engaged.\r\n\r\nYour support also freed me to print essential materials — differentiated readings, project guides, rubrics, modified assignments, and additional practice pages — without worrying about running out of supplies. This has helped me provide more individualized support, more engaging activities, and more structure for students who rely on clear, printed resources.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your kindness and for making such a practical, meaningful impact on my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755217106436,"projectUrl":"project/paper-is-goods/9572864/","projectTitle":"Paper [is] Good[s]","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Braverman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8248303_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753980640023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsbraverman11"},{"teacherId":3174640,"projectId":9762735,"letterContent":"We are writing to express our sincere gratitude for your incrediblly generous donation that allowed us to purchase a new MacBook Air for our 8th-grade classroom. This technology has allowed us to be instantly transformative, providing our students with a powerful tool to engage deeply with literature, moving beyond essays to create sophisticated multimedia presentations on novels like Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games. \r\n\r\nThe students are absolutely delighted to have access to professional-grade software, and this newfound capability has profoundly and positively impacted their educational experience, fostering advanced digital literacy, critical thinking, and collaborative skills that benefit them far beyond this school year. \r\n\r\nThank you for investing in their future.","fullyFundedDate":1759175461579,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-macbook-for-8th-grade-english/9762735/","projectTitle":"Classroom MacBook for 8th Grade English Projects","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Wheatley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3174640"},{"teacherId":10191593,"projectId":9643877,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of an iPad plus for our classroom. It allows me to work more efficiently during class and after school, giving me more time to focus on planning meaningful lessons and supporting students individually.\r\n\r\nI am truly grateful for this gift and the opportunities it has created. Your generosity has not only improved my workflow—it has elevated the quality of instruction students receive. Thank you for investing in our classroom, our students, and the work that I do every day. Your support means more than words can express.","fullyFundedDate":1756852403042,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-teacher-help-her-students/9643877/","projectTitle":"Help Our Teacher Help Her Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Altamira","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10191593_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763274159977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/altamira108"},{"teacherId":10191593,"projectId":9643848,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity in providing our classroom with a couch, floor pillows, fidget tools, and other items that benefit the students. These additions have transformed our learning environment into a warm, welcoming, student-centered space where learners feel comfortable, focused, and ready to engage. The flexible seating options have given students the freedom to choose where they work best—whether that's curled up on the floor discussing among peers, seated on a couch during peer revisions, or using a fidget tool to stay calm and attentive during instruction. The classroom now feels more inviting, inclusive, and supportive of students' individual needs and learning styles.\r\n\r\nThese resources have had a direct and powerful impact on student collaboration. During partner work and small-group discussions, students naturally gravitate to the flexible seating areas, using the comfortable space to talk, share ideas, and offer feedback with confidence. The relaxed seating encourages meaningful conversations, deeper engagement, and stronger teamwork. Students are more willing to participate, more invested in their work, and more connected to one another. Your generosity has not only improved the physical environment—it has enriched the learning experience and helped students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.","fullyFundedDate":1756747590911,"projectUrl":"project/big-wish-list-for-our-room/9643848/","projectTitle":"Big Wish List for Our Room","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Altamira","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10191593_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763274159977","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/altamira108"},{"teacherId":10202143,"projectId":9633108,"letterContent":"There is a great deal which needs to get done in the course of one school year in order to meet the needs of the students as the students work to achieve mastery of the standards for their grade in English Language Arts. Along the way, they are exposed to a selection of literature we deem as worthy of their attention. Attention, as I'm sure you are quite aware, is a premium commodity that it competed for from all sides at all times in this day and age. Graphic novels are one tool that we teachers of literature can use to gain students' attention and expose them to something special within the confines of a book. A graphic novel tends not to intimidate most adolescents, compared to a classic unillustrated novel. It leaves room for even the most stubbornly disenchanted-with-reading kid to give the book the benefit of the doubt if it's a graphic novel. Within this book in particular, there are contemporary themes that can hit quite close to home for some of my students. \"A novel that speaks to directly to me me?\" Yes, it's possible. Sure, there's classics, and there is science fiction, etc. which may transport them into the sensibilities of another place and time. But, they can also discover themselves within the pages of a novel. Literature helps show us how to live a life, make mistakes, and continue on knowing that others experience what you are experiencing too. Your donation allows for the possibility of some of my students now and in the future to make such a discovery.","fullyFundedDate":1757206859554,"projectUrl":"project/new-kid-novel/9633108/","projectTitle":"New Kid Novel","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Greene","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10202143"},{"teacherId":8614261,"projectId":9762920,"letterContent":"Because of your generous donation, I am now equipped with a device for lesson planning, web design, editing, and more, to better serve my students and help make our middle school library more visible to the world! Additionally my students now have access to a high-speed device that supports tinkering, design, and coding, for their nerding out and project needs. It's awesome!\r\n\r\nThe technology in the library now supports teaching, learning, and exploring curiosity, and we owe it all to you. \r\n\r\nThank you for choosing education, students, and the future, and from our library to you, we appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1760451239035,"projectUrl":"project/computers-for-the-library/9762920/","projectTitle":"Computers for the Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McGuire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8614261"},{"teacherId":8614261,"projectId":9688308,"letterContent":"This project has been a huge part in our push to transform our middle school library into a space of collaboration, community, curiosity, books, games, and fun. We are so thankful to you for your part in making it happen. We recently decided, as a school, to try to get our students off of video gaming and computers during nutrition and lunch in an effort to try to foster a safe social environment for building relationships. The library was the epicenter of that shift. In addition to an increase in circulation with all the new books (the students are already practicing for our reading competition every week with the books you helped us get), they're now reading more in the library and using the computer only for browsing the collection on the digital database. The only games being played are educational - board games, card games, chess, puzzles, etc. \r\n\r\nFrom making our games more long-lasting to helping enable students to explore what our library has to offer, we wanted send some love from our library to you - we appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1757307418103,"projectUrl":"project/lunch-learning-in-the-library/9688308/","projectTitle":"Lunch & Learning in the Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McGuire","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8614261"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7051","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1403,"numTeachers":69,"percentFrplEligible":46,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":44,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":31,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"20.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":92.4,"schoolId":7051,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Gaspar de Portola Charter Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Gaspar de Portola Charter Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/los-angeles-unified-school-district/gasper-de-portola-middle-school/7051"}