{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gaspar de Portola Charter Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":7.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8248303,"projectId":10389338,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting \"Learning History by Making History!\" Your generosity is helping bring history to life for my students through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.\r\n\r\nSo far, we have used these supplies for cuneiform writing, which gave students the opportunity to explore one of the world's earliest writing systems firsthand. Rather than only reading about Mesopotamia, students were able to experience how ancient people communicated and recorded information. This made the learning more engaging and helped students better understand the importance of writing in early civilizations.\r\n\r\nWe also used the materials as students drew and examined examples of ancient pottery, allowing them to step into the role of archaeologists. Through this activity, students were able to study artifacts from the past and think about what these objects can teach us about how people once lived. It helped them practice observation, critical thinking, and historical analysis in a creative and memorable way.\r\n\r\nSome of the projects we planned are still in progress, and we are excited to continue using these materials for future activities. Your donation is continuing to support opportunities for students to create, investigate, and connect with history in a way that feels real and meaningful.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and making these experiences possible. Your support is helping them build not only their knowledge of history, but also their curiosity, creativity, and confidence as learners","fullyFundedDate":1784902053738,"projectUrl":"project/learning-history-by-making-history/10389338/","projectTitle":"Learning History by Making History","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":9091595,"projectId":10403372,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and helping me create a clean, organized, and welcoming environment for my students! I want my students to walk into class each day feeling comfortable, supported, and ready to learn. The storage drawers have helped me keep classroom materials organized and accessible, making it easier for students to find the supplies they need and allowing our class to transition more smoothly between activities. The cleaning supplies have also helped me maintain a clean learning environment, especially after hands-on science activities and labs. These may seem like simple resources, but they make a real difference in keeping our classroom functional and ready for learning.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting additions has been the Giant Microbes! These fun, colorful models have sparked students' curiosity and created opportunities for conversations about germs, disease, health, and wellness. They help make science concepts more approachable and memorable, especially when we discuss microorganisms that students cannot see with the naked eye. They have also provided a fun way to talk about emotions and social-emotional learning, helping students make connections between what they learn in class and their everyday lives. I love having resources that encourage students to ask questions, make connections, and feel comfortable participating in discussions.\r\n\r\nThese materials have helped me create a classroom that is not only more organized and clean but also more engaging and inviting. When students have access to the supplies they need and feel that their learning environment is cared for, they can spend more time focusing on learning, collaborating, and exploring new ideas. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me build a classroom where curiosity is encouraged, health and wellness are valued, and students feel supported every day. Your generosity makes a difference in the everyday experiences of my students, and I truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1787186709759,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-clean-calm-and-caring-class/10403372/","projectTitle":"Creating a Clean, Calm, and Caring Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":9091595,"projectId":10386540,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and helping me create engaging science experiences for my students! My students are curious, creative, and eager to understand how the world around them works. They love asking questions, investigating scientific concepts, and making connections between what we learn in class and real life. Having the MacBook Pro has made a meaningful difference in my ability to develop lessons that capture their interest and support their learning.\r\n\r\nWith this resource, I have been able to create interactive presentations, develop digital activities, and design differentiated materials to support students with different learning styles and academic needs. I can incorporate videos, visuals, diagrams, and other multimedia tools to help students better understand challenging science concepts. The computer also allows me to prepare engaging lessons more efficiently, giving me more opportunities to focus on providing meaningful instruction and supporting students who need additional help. From exploring cells and body systems to investigating scientific phenomena, technology helps me bring concepts to life and make learning more accessible.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the MacBook Pro allows me to use technology to enhance, rather than replace, hands-on science learning. I can create lessons that encourage students to collaborate, analyze information, ask questions, and think critically about the world around them. These experiences help students build confidence in their abilities and see themselves as capable scientists. Thank you for investing in my classroom and helping me provide students with engaging, relevant learning opportunities. Your generosity supports not only my teaching but also my students' curiosity, creativity, and growth as learners. I truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1784563075834,"projectUrl":"project/powering-science-learning-through-techno/10386540/","projectTitle":"Powering Science Learning Through Technology","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":9091595,"projectId":10380189,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and helping me provide my students with the resources they need to succeed in science! My students are naturally curious, creative, and eager to explore the world around them. As a Title I school, having access to quality classroom materials and technology makes a meaningful difference in the learning opportunities I can provide. These resources have helped me create more engaging lessons that meet students where they are academically while encouraging them to ask questions, think critically, and take an active role in their learning.\r\n\r\nThe Teachers Pay Teachers gift card has allowed me to access additional science activities, digital lessons, and differentiated materials that help me reach students with different learning needs. The Apple Pencil and iPad keyboard make it easier for me to annotate diagrams, model scientific thinking, and provide visual explanations during lessons. The document camera has been especially useful for demonstrating procedures, modeling how to complete assignments, and showing students exactly what to look for during scientific investigations. Headphones allow students to focus while working through digital simulations, videos, and assessments at their own pace. Together, these resources help me provide clearer instruction, increase student participation, and give students more opportunities to practice and demonstrate their understanding.\r\n\r\nWhat I appreciate most is how these materials allow me to use technology purposefully while keeping hands-on learning at the center of my classroom. Students have more opportunities to explore scientific concepts, work independently, and build confidence in their abilities. I can also better support students who need additional visual explanations, differentiated activities, or a quieter environment to concentrate. These resources have strengthened my ability to create an inclusive classroom where students with different backgrounds and learning styles can participate meaningfully. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me provide engaging, accessible science instruction. Your generosity makes a difference in my everyday teaching and helps my students develop the curiosity, problem-solving skills, and confidence they need to succeed in science and beyond!","fullyFundedDate":1784563000850,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-connected-classroom/10380189/","projectTitle":"Creating a Connected Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":9091595,"projectId":10376400,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom as I begin teaching 6th and 7th grade science and health at a new school! My students are naturally curious and love asking questions about the world around them. Having these resources has helped me create more opportunities for students to explore, investigate, and learn through hands-on experiences. The digital microscope allows students to examine specimens up close and make observations that bring science concepts to life. The LCD writing tablets give students an easy way to brainstorm, work through problems, and share their thinking during lessons, encouraging more students to participate and explain their ideas.\r\n\r\nThe playdough has been a fun and creative way for students to build models of cells, body systems, and other scientific concepts. Instead of only reading about these structures, students can construct their own models and demonstrate what they understand. The color printer and laminator have also helped me create colorful diagrams, reusable task cards, games, and visual supports that students can use throughout the year. These materials make lessons more interactive and give students different ways to practice and demonstrate their learning. The chess games provide opportunities for students to develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, while the plastic organizers keep supplies accessible so we can spend more time learning and less time preparing materials. Even the classroom vacuum plays an important role in helping us maintain a clean, safe space after labs and hands-on activities.\r\n\r\nThese resources have made a meaningful difference in how I can teach and how my students experience science and health. I can provide more opportunities for students to collaborate, think creatively, and take an active role in their learning. My goal is for students to feel excited about coming to class, comfortable asking questions, and confident in their ability to solve problems. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me build a classroom where curiosity is encouraged, learning is hands-on, and every student has opportunities to discover their strengths. Your generosity helps make these everyday learning experiences possible, and I truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1784298677773,"projectUrl":"project/equipping-our-science-classroom-for-succ/10376400/","projectTitle":"Equipping Our Science Classroom for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":9091595,"projectId":10170655,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom and helping me provide my students with the resources they need to be successful! My students are curious, creative, and resilient, and I love seeing them ask questions, share ideas, and support one another. The composition books have given students a dedicated place to organize their notes, practice study skills, reflect on lessons, and keep track of their learning. Having a consistent place for their work helps students stay organized, take ownership of their progress, and build habits that will benefit them throughout their education.\r\n\r\nThe colored pencils and stickers have made our classwork more engaging by allowing students to color-code notes, create visual representations of science concepts, and express their creativity. These supplies are especially helpful when students are learning complex topics and need to organize information visually. The pencil boxes and sharpener have also helped students keep their materials organized and ready to use, allowing them to spend less time searching for supplies and more time focused on learning. Having snacks available has been another meaningful way to support students during the school day, helping them feel cared for and better able to focus when they are hungry.\r\n\r\nThese resources may seem simple, but they have helped me create a more organized, supportive, and welcoming classroom. I want my students to feel prepared to learn and confident that they have the tools they need to succeed. Thank you for investing in my students and helping me provide an environment where they can develop independence, strengthen their learning habits, and feel supported both academically and personally. Your generosity makes a difference in the everyday experiences of my students, and I truly appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1784298672296,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-focus-creativity-and-classro/10170655/","projectTitle":"Tools for Focus, Creativity, and Classroom Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":9091595,"projectId":10168884,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! My students are naturally curious and love asking questions about how the human body works, why diseases develop, and how science connects to their everyday lives. Having these new resources allows me to give students more opportunities to explore those questions through hands-on learning. Instead of simply reading about scientific concepts, students can actively investigate, make observations, and use evidence to explain what they discover. The science lab books help students practice important skills like collecting data, analyzing results, and communicating their thinking, while building confidence in their ability to solve problems independently.\r\n\r\nThe disease slides have made learning about cells and disease more engaging by allowing students to examine specimens under microscopes and see structures that are difficult to understand through pictures alone. These experiences help students connect what they observe to the concepts we discuss in class and give them a better understanding of how science is used in healthcare. For students interested in medicine, sports medicine, and other health-related careers, working with these materials makes classroom learning feel more relevant to their future goals. The color printer has also helped me provide clear, colorful diagrams and lab materials that students can use to identify structures, organize information, and better understand complex topics like cells and body systems.\r\n\r\nWhat matters most to me is seeing students become more confident in their ability to think like scientists. When students can observe something firsthand, ask questions, and support their ideas with evidence, they become active participants in their learning. These resources help me create more opportunities for students with different learning needs and interests to engage with science in meaningful ways. Thank you for investing in my students and helping make science more accessible, engaging, and connected to the real world. Your generosity is making a difference in how my students experience and understand science!","fullyFundedDate":1784298660649,"projectUrl":"project/microscopes-labs-and-learning-in-color/10168884/","projectTitle":"Microscopes, Labs, and Learning in Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holly Kiamanesh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9091595"},{"teacherId":10187780,"projectId":10475617,"letterContent":"Thank you for bringing these beautiful puzzles to our library! Students have enjoyed working together on Urban Jungle, Stroll in Tokyo, and Under the Water Moon during nutrition and lunch. Each puzzle has provided a colorful, screen-free challenge that encourages students to slow down, problem-solve, collaborate, and connect with their peers. It has been wonderful to watch students gather around the puzzle table, sometimes adding just a few pieces and other times staying until the bell rings. Your generosity has made our library an even more welcoming and engaging space.","fullyFundedDate":1787187567674,"projectUrl":"project/puzzling-together-screen-free-fun-in-ou/10475617/","projectTitle":"Puzzling Together: Screen-Free Fun in Our Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Goar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10187780_orig.png?crop=1086,1086,x0,y39&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785814764493","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10187780"},{"teacherId":10187780,"projectId":10311201,"letterContent":"These books have already had a meaningful impact on how I am thinking about my first year as a teacher librarian, and I'm excited to put some of what I'm learning into practice this fall. \r\n\r\nLiven Up Your Library begins by asking readers to start with their \"why,\" and that really resonated with me. It has helped me hone in on the kind of practitioner I want to be and the approach I want to take in creating a library program that serves all students. The book is also full of practical ideas for engaging tweens and teens, and I'm looking forward to trying some of them with my students this fall.\r\n\r\nManga Goes to School has been especially helpful because I came into this experience knowing very little about manga. It has been like a crash course, helping me understand the different types of manga, why students are drawn to them, and how I can talk with students about their interests and reading choices. \r\n\r\nElevating the School Library has encouraged me to think beyond individual programs and consider how I can develop a strong service culture in the library. I've also appreciated its references to other books and librarians who have transformed their spaces and the way their libraries are perceived. \r\n\r\nTogether, these three books are giving me ideas, inspiration, and a clearer sense of purpose as I begin building a library program where students feel welcomed, represented, and excited to participate.","fullyFundedDate":1785815379524,"projectUrl":"project/equipping-a-new-teacher-librarian-for-st/10311201/","projectTitle":"Equipping a New Teacher Librarian for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Goar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10187780_orig.png?crop=1086,1086,x0,y39&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785814764493","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10187780"},{"teacherId":5178092,"projectId":9690746,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for granting our students this project--new Hunger Games novels! Students can access the book online, but the page numbers are different, and we refer to the same pages, incidents, chapters, events using the written text. Many of my students opted to bring this text home to read, particularly because they often had assignments to complete on it, such as their final end-of-the-unit essay. Because so many people have watched the movie, I have the students write a compare-and-contrast essay between the movie and the text version of the story. Included in that needs to be their analysis of a major theme, or character development, or plot or setting development. To get to that point, we review both the movie and text together in class (with permission slips for the movie, due to its rating), and students do multiple vocabulary exercises, as well as character development and theme development activities on a weekly basis. Having the book in their hands, being able to follow along on the pages, getting participation points for reading out loud or knowing answers to questions, and being able to take the book home for review or to finish their work was invaluable to my students. In these pictures, you see several of your texts that were returned to me after our unit was completed (different classes finished at different times). You should have heard the \"ahh!\" and quiet \"ooh\"s when I passed out the fresh copies of the text. Students were so delighted--our library books were so old, pages were torn out, the covers were literally peeling apart...Thank you for this experience with the students!","fullyFundedDate":1760166207797,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-love-reading-by-empowering-s/9690746/","projectTitle":"Learning to Love Reading by Empowering Student Choice","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Weber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5178092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1518393267393","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5178092"},{"teacherId":5178092,"projectId":9627529,"letterContent":"Thank you SO very much for this thoughtful funding of my \"Sitting Pretty Helps Students Learn\" project. It really did make a year-long difference in my room! Students asked to move to the standing desk, or especially to use the wobbly chair, even at their desks, because it helped them focus to be able to fidget or adjust their weight on a wiggly chair or at a standing desk. Attached are pictures of small-group learning in their choice of seating, and students got creative with using the wobbly chair at the standing desk! They agreed to take turns among themselves (supervised by me), but these two and the bean bag are welcome additions. Often my students will ask to sit in the bean bag, which I have up close to the projector screen, so they can be closer to it or just to be comfortable. This way, students around them can still see the screen, since the bean-bag is near the floor, and students with vision problems don't have to be embarrassed by that in front of everyone. They take notes quietly and then move back to their seats to use those notes on their thinking-and-writing activity. \r\n\r\nMy students are so much more comfortable, and I have more accurate work from them to show for it! They are definitely more engaged with this comfortable furniture. Thank you!!","fullyFundedDate":1760549485184,"projectUrl":"project/sittin-pretty-helps-kids-read/9627529/","projectTitle":"Sittin' Pretty Helps Kids Read","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Weber","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5178092_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1518393267393","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5178092"},{"teacherId":8248303,"projectId":10100700,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! \r\n\r\nProviding collared shirts for our Academic Pentathlon students had a significant impact on both their confidence and their sense of belonging during competition. For many of our students, this was their first time participating in an academic competition of this scale. Wearing matching collared shirts helped create a sense of team unity and pride, allowing students to feel like they were representing their school as a cohesive group. The shirts ensured that all students were appropriately and professionally dressed for the event, regardless of their family's ability to purchase competition attire. Students stood taller, took greater pride in their participation, and felt that they truly belonged among the hundreds of competitors from schools across the region. The shirts also helped identify our team during events such as the Super Quiz, fostering school spirit and making students feel recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Overall, the collared shirts contributed to a more equitable, professional, and memorable competition experience for our students.\r\n\r\nAs a first-year Academic Pentathlon program composed entirely of sixth-grade students, the collared shirts helped establish a strong team identity and reinforced that they were part of something special. The students were proud to wear their shirts, and it helped elevate the importance of the competition while celebrating the countless hours they dedicated to studying and preparing throughout the year.","fullyFundedDate":1771466217698,"projectUrl":"project/poppin-the-collar-for-the-academic-penta/10100700/","projectTitle":"Poppin the Collar for the Academic Pentathlon Competition","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"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7051","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1580,"numTeachers":69,"percentFrplEligible":49,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":42,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":32,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"22.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":92.3,"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"}