{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"John A Sutter Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":22.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10317889,"projectId":9845238,"letterContent":"One of the ways we are using this book is through an activity we call Fluency Friday, where students get to choose the book they want to read. Giving them choice has made a huge difference. When students selected the Roald Dahl book, they were excited because they recognized the story from a movie they had previously watched. This connection made reading even more meaningful for them. As we read together, students began to compare the book to the movie version and shared their thoughts out loud. Many of them said the book was \"way better\" than the movie because it had more details, more emotion, and more exciting moments. Seeing them make these connections showed true comprehension and deep engagement with the story.\r\n\r\nThe reading experience itself has been very fun and interactive. Students take turns reading aloud, practicing expression and fluency while building confidence. They laugh at the funny parts, predict what might happen next, and ask thoughtful questions about the characters. For some students, this was the first time they truly felt excited to read aloud in front of others. The story sparked conversations, teamwork, and even friendly debates about favorite scenes and characters. These moments reminded us that reading is not just about words on a page, but about imagination, emotion, and connection.\r\n\r\nOur next lesson focuses on building our students' love of reading while strengthening their comprehension skills. We will continue using this book to work on understanding characters, identifying main ideas, and retelling events in sequence. These skills will help students become stronger readers and prepare them for the next important step: developing their writing. As students understand the story more deeply, they will begin writing about it through short responses, summaries, and creative extensions such as alternate endings or character journals. This helps them move from reading to writing in a natural and meaningful way.\r\n\r\nAnother goal moving forward is to build engagement into every reading experience. We want students to look forward to reading and feel excited about opening a new book. Because of this positive experience, students are already asking if we can read another Roald Dahl book next. Their curiosity has grown, and their confidence has increased. They now see books as something enjoyable rather than something difficult or intimidating.\r\n\r\nThis gift from our donors has done more than provide a book; it has created joy, strengthened skills, and inspired a deeper love of reading. We are truly grateful for your support and for believing in our students' potential.","fullyFundedDate":1767759408474,"projectUrl":"project/fear-to-freedom-helping-kids-discover-t/9845238/","projectTitle":"Fear to Freedom: Helping Kids Discover the Magic of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manzo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10317889_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760805964505","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10317889"},{"teacherId":10107573,"projectId":9948932,"letterContent":"We have been using the new resources daily to build fine-motor strength and hand-eye coordination in meaningful, hands-on ways. Students are practicing dexterity skills through activities like sorting, squeezing, pinching, tracing, and manipulating small objects during centers and independent work time. One special moment was watching a student who usually avoids fine-motor tasks proudly complete an activity on their own, carefully using their fingers with focus and confidence. When the students first saw the materials, their faces lit up with excitement. They were eager to explore, touch, and try everything right away, and many asked to use the tools again and again, which showed just how engaging and motivating the materials are for them.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our next steps involve using these resources to support more structured skill-building within our current lessons. Students will continue strengthening dexterity through guided practice tied to real-world tasks like writing, cutting, buttoning, and classroom routines that promote independence. We are also working toward increasing stamina and control so students can apply these skills across subjects and daily activities. Your support has made it possible for our classroom to grow into a space where students feel capable, encouraged, and excited to learn, and we are so grateful for the positive impact you've made on their progress.","fullyFundedDate":1765372309410,"projectUrl":"project/helping-hands-building-strength-and-ski/9948932/","projectTitle":"Helping Hands: Building Strength and Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ebbets","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10107573_orig.jpg?crop=1158,1158,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757468898960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ebbets"},{"teacherId":10107573,"projectId":9871488,"letterContent":"Because of you, my students are able to share how they are feeling and communicate what their needs might be. Your support has created a safe and welcoming space where they feel comfortable expressing themselves, sometimes for the very first time. This opportunity has made a meaningful difference in how they connect with others and advocate for themselves.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your support is greater than you may realize. For students who do not always have a strong speaking voice, this has provided a powerful way to be heard and understood. It helps them build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop meaningful relationships within our classroom community.\r\n\r\nThis work is helping create a more inclusive environment where every student's thoughts, feelings, and needs matter. Your contribution is not only supporting individual students, but also shaping a more empathetic and connected community for all.","fullyFundedDate":1762222345722,"projectUrl":"project/communication-and-feelings/9871488/","projectTitle":"Communication and Feelings","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ebbets","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10107573_orig.jpg?crop=1158,1158,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757468898960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ebbets"},{"teacherId":1191138,"projectId":9084536,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation of a dryer for our school. This gift has been a game-changer for our students, ensuring they always have access to clean uniforms regardless of their circumstances at home. \r\nThe impact of this dryer is seen every morning. We now have the capacity to maintain a robust \"uniform closet\" where students can borrow fresh, clean clothes the moment they arrive. Furthermore, for those families who are currently facing housing instability or lack functioning utilities at home, this dryer—coupled with our washer—provides a discreet and reliable sanctuary. \r\nBy helping our students feel confident and prepared, you are directly contributing to their academic success. We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1746786962042,"projectUrl":"project/building-confidence-with-clean-uniforms/9084536/","projectTitle":"Building Confidence With Clean Uniforms Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Dedman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1191138_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458335322856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sbarajas"},{"teacherId":10107573,"projectId":9845280,"letterContent":"My students are increasingly enjoying activities where they build and use their minds to create new ideas. In my special day class, students usually play alongside one another rather than directly with each other, so watching them interact differently has been especially encouraging. With these new materials and open-ended projects, I've noticed a shift: students who typically engage in parallel play are beginning to communicate, collaborate, and share ideas.\r\n\r\nThe change began when I introduced hands-on resources that invite experimentation and imagination. Simple, flexible tools—building sets, sensory materials, and creative prompts—give children the chance to explore at their own pace while still inviting peer interaction. Because the activities emphasize discovery rather than strict rules or competitive outcomes, students feel safe to try things, make mistakes, and adjust their thinking. That environment nurtures curiosity and supports the development of higher-level thinking skills.\r\n\r\nAs students work side by side, I observe them commenting on each other's creations, imitating successful strategies, and requesting materials or assistance. Small exchanges—pointing to a structure, offering a block, or saying a few words about what they're building—are meaningful steps toward more intentional social engagement. For some learners who struggle with direct social interaction, these brief, low-pressure moments are often the beginning of broader communication. They allow students to practice turn-taking, share attention, and express preferences without the stress of face-to-face conversations.\r\n\r\nCreativity flourishes in these settings as well. Open-ended tasks invite students to generate ideas, test possibilities, and adapt plans based on results. I've seen children invent imaginative narratives to explain their constructions, repurpose materials in unexpected ways, and combine elements from different projects. Those creative acts are more than play; they're opportunities to practice problem-solving, flexible thinking, and persistence. When a structure collapses, students consider why it happened and try a new approach—skills that translate well to academic tasks and everyday challenges.\r\n\r\nEqually important is the effect on friendships and classroom community. Shared projects create natural reasons for interaction: to compare work, to collaborate on a larger design, or to celebrate a successful build. These interactions strengthen bonds and foster a sense of belonging. Students begin to notice and appreciate each other's strengths, whether someone is especially careful, imaginative, or good at solving structural problems. That recognition supports empathy and positive peer relationships.\r\n\r\nCommunication grows hand in hand with social connection. Children who previously used very few words are now offering short explanations, asking simple questions, and narrating their process aloud. Those verbalizations help teachers assess understanding and scaffold language development. Over time, we see progress: richer vocabulary, more descriptive comments, and increased willingness to engage in joint activities.\r\n\r\nOverall, introducing creative, open-ended materials into the special day class has been transformative. It supports cognitive development, encourages social interaction, builds friendships, and promotes communication. The classroom feels livelier and more collaborative, and students are gaining skills that will benefit them inside and outside school. I look forward to continuing these practices and observing how my students' creativity and relationships develop further.","fullyFundedDate":1762194181888,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-minds/9845280/","projectTitle":"Exploring Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ebbets","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10107573_orig.jpg?crop=1158,1158,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757468898960","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-ebbets"},{"teacherId":9654242,"projectId":9633477,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for supporting my \"Every Voice Matters\" classroom project. When the materials arrived, my students' excitement filled the room, they couldn't wait to explore and use everything. Many of my students have communication challenges and rely on visual supports and interactive tools to express themselves. Thanks to your generosity, we now have resources that make learning fun, meaningful, and accessible. These tools help my students find their voices and feel confident sharing their thoughts, ideas, and stories.\r\n\r\nEach day, I see more engagement, more smiles, and more breakthroughs. Students who were once hesitant to speak are now eagerly participating in activities, using visuals, and communicating with pride. Your kindness didn't just provide supplies — it gave my students the gift of connection. Thank you for believing in them and for helping make our classroom a place where every voice truly matters.","fullyFundedDate":1757421828365,"projectUrl":"project/every-voice-matters-speech-language-c/9633477/","projectTitle":"Every Voice Matters: Speech & Language Classroom Project","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Adrina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9654242_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755722559768","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9654242"},{"teacherId":1191138,"projectId":8808658,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your funding of the Insignia Washer. It has already made a tremendous difference for our students and school community. With the washer in our parent center, we've been able to wash school and PE uniforms, providing students with clean clothes and a renewed sense of confidence. The students were so excited and appreciative to see the new machine. This small change has had a huge ripple effect, allowing students to put their full attention toward their academics instead of worrying about their clothes. Thank you for this wonderful and impactful gift.","fullyFundedDate":1736649161391,"projectUrl":"project/building-confidence-with-clean-uniforms/8808658/","projectTitle":"Building Confidence with Clean Uniforms","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Dedman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1191138_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458335322856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sbarajas"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7065","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":849,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"23.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.5,"schoolId":7065,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about John A Sutter Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"John A Sutter Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/los-angeles-unified-school-district/john-a-sutter-middle-school/7065"}