{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"McKinley School","outOfStateSupporters":24.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9431744,"projectId":9878437,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nOn behalf of our students and school community, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of snacks. Your kindness and thoughtfulness truly made a difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, something as simple as having a snack available during the school day can make a huge impact. When students are hungry, it can be difficult for them to focus, participate, and fully engage in their learning. Because of your generosity, our students were able to refuel, regain their energy, and continue their day feeling supported and cared for.\r\n\r\nAs a special education teacher, I work closely with students who have a wide range of learning needs. Many of them benefit from structured routines, breaks, and small incentives to stay motivated and regulated throughout the day. Your snack donations have been incredibly helpful in supporting those needs. Whether it was offering a quick snack during a break, using it as positive reinforcement for meeting a goal, or simply making sure a student didn't have to sit in class hungry, your contribution mattered more than you know.\r\n\r\nBeyond the physical nourishment, your donation also sent a powerful message to our students — that there are people in the community who care about them. That sense of support builds confidence and belonging. When students feel valued and supported, it positively impacts not only their academic growth but also their social-emotional development.\r\n\r\nI have already seen the smiles and gratitude from students who were excited to receive something special. For some, it may have been a small treat. For others, it was exactly what they needed at that moment. Your generosity helped create a positive and encouraging learning environment.\r\n\r\nPlease know that your donation did not go unnoticed. It strengthened our classroom community and reminded us all of the power of kindness. Your willingness to give helps remove small barriers so our students can focus on what truly matters — learning, growing, and believing in themselves.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your support and partnership. Thank you for investing in our students and for being part of the village that helps raise and educate them. Your generosity makes a lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1762803327098,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-that-support-success/9878437/","projectTitle":"Snacks That Support Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Callum","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9431744_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745888205249","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9431744"},{"teacherId":8094980,"projectId":9872712,"letterContent":"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support. The hands-on learning items you provided with your donations have had a huge impact on my students. They enjoy the fresh, colorful new activities and have already shown growth. Having a variety of ways for my students to explore and express their learning is crucial, but the aftermath of the Eaton fire made it difficult to have many options. \r\n\r\nBy donating these activities you have not only given my students exciting new learning options, you have also taken a bit off my plate, for which I am grateful. You've also shown all of us how many kind, caring people there are. That is humbling and very touching. \r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my unique learners and helping us as we continue to recover, rebuild and grow.","fullyFundedDate":1762415496345,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-for-unique-learners/9872712/","projectTitle":"Hands on Learning for Unique Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wiemerslage","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8094980_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x401,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1740767627739","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8094980"},{"teacherId":9321044,"projectId":9705999,"letterContent":"As pictured, you can see the number one favorite thing my students got from this package and that was the little Lego sets!! I was able to use these as incentives and motivation for behavior, work, and also just for fun. We built them together one day and made our own little zoo. I love seeing the kids forget that they're too \"cool\" and relax and have fun. Thank you so much for helping provide me with little fun items to help keep my classroom running smoothly. It goes a long way! Thank you so much.","fullyFundedDate":1762267627290,"projectUrl":"project/help-asb-bring-fun-and-prizes-to-their-p/9705999/","projectTitle":"Help ASB Bring Fun and Prizes to Their Peers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palmer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9321044_orig.jpg?crop=1915,1915,x826,y766&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698102387513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9321044"},{"teacherId":9321044,"projectId":9835635,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the books!! My unit during black history month is when we will read them so we haven't started with them just yet, but I'm beyond excited for the opportunity to help the kids get better and more comfortable at reading while also teaching them about one of the most important figures in American History. This will be a challenge for sure both for me and the students but having the supplies we need to get this going means the world. Thank you again so much for your generosity and support.","fullyFundedDate":1760992975170,"projectUrl":"project/bring-reading-back/9835635/","projectTitle":"Bring Reading Back!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palmer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9321044_orig.jpg?crop=1915,1915,x826,y766&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698102387513","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9321044"},{"teacherId":10260533,"projectId":9870601,"letterContent":"I love a lot of the materials that we received for the social emotional project but one of my favorites is the \"Creative SEL\" book. It is a book that surrounds projects around hands-on social emotional learning projects. Not only are students learning because of the interactions but also from speaking and listening to each other. We have completed a lot of projects that encourage self confidence, positive thinking, storytelling, self-awareness (but being accepting of yourself), growth mindset, coping strategies and many more techniques to develop and become great citizens of the world. This book in particular have students engaging in activities that blend valuable communication skills with learning experiences that promote positive interactions. Students are growing emotionally and academically. We completed a quilt where students said a positive word about themselves and explained what it meant to them. I was so excited to see and hear what great things they are saying about themselves. This has been a rewarding experience which I appreciate and they are able to participate in. Thanks a bunch.","fullyFundedDate":1763421988066,"projectUrl":"project/social-emotional-learning-for-middle-sch/9870601/","projectTitle":"Social Emotional Learning for Middle Schoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trice","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10260533_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763220295902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10260533"},{"teacherId":10218266,"projectId":9711254,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of a color printer for my classroom. Your support has made an immediate and meaningful difference for my students and for the way we are able to learn together each day.\r\n\r\nHaving access to a color printer greatly enhances instruction, especially for students with learning disabilities. Many of my students rely on visual supports to better understand and retain information. Color helps highlight key details, organize ideas, and reduce confusion, making lessons more accessible and engaging. For students with learning differences, color-coded materials can support comprehension, focus, and independence in ways that black-and-white materials often cannot.\r\n\r\nResearch and classroom experience both show that color has a positive impact on learning. It can improve attention, memory, and motivation, while also making learning materials feel more inviting and less overwhelming. With this printer, I can create clearer visual schedules, differentiated worksheets, graphic organizers, and hands-on activities that better meet the diverse needs of my students.\r\n\r\nYour generosity directly supports student success and inclusion, and I am truly grateful for your investment in our classroom. Thank you for helping create a learning environment where all students have the tools they need to thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1760559522374,"projectUrl":"project/grayscale-to-color/9711254/","projectTitle":"Grayscale to Color","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Perry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10218266_orig.jpg?crop=3648,3648,x0,y912&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756664037414","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10218266"},{"teacherId":10260533,"projectId":9928577,"letterContent":"With this STEM project students learned engineering skills to build a windmill, catapult, and a structure that would withstand an earthquake. Students really had a great time working together, problem solving, and having rich discussions on what works and how things work. I was really proud to see a lot of shy students taking charge because they were in a different setting. I also was excited to see students problem solving when challenges came up. (One project didn't work and they worked together to make changes and adjusted). \r\n\r\nStudents are building, testing, questioning, exploring, and discovering real-world engineering challenges. These projects encouraged them to collaborate, communicate their ideas, explain and justify their findings. I have watched students who were once hesitant become confident innovators, excited to redesign, improve and try again. \r\n\r\nYour generosity reminds my students that people believe in their potential and are invested in their education. Thank you for helping me create a meaningful and engaging learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1764606080408,"projectUrl":"project/stem-storytellers-telling-their-story/9928577/","projectTitle":"STEM Storytellers Telling Their Story","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trice","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10260533_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763220295902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10260533"},{"teacherId":10260533,"projectId":9713331,"letterContent":"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. The new small group table has brought us together as a class. It has made a meaningful difference in connecting students, bringing students together who usually do not work together and helping them share and work together as a team. \r\n\r\nThe table has become the heart of our small group instruction. It gives students a dedicated space to gather for targeted instruction with me, and they enjoy free time at the nice new shiny table (one student said). Because of this table, I am able to sit closely with students comfortably and meet their instructional needs with focus. \r\n\r\nBeyond academics, the table has created a space where students feel seen and heard. The shy voices are able to speak openly and new friendships have been formed. I've seen greater participation, stronger teamwork and renewed excitement for learning. I am excited to see what more will come with the added furniture to our room. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of our classroom environment.","fullyFundedDate":1760381626413,"projectUrl":"project/immersive-storytelling-academy-work-stat/9713331/","projectTitle":"Immersive Storytelling Academy Work Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trice","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10260533_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763220295902","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10260533"},{"teacherId":10271084,"projectId":9734349,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding the titles we needed for our school to participate in our district's middle school Battle of the Books competition. By choosing a variety of genres and formats, students are able to expand their reading beyond just their favorite series and characters. Participating in a showcased event at the district level demonstrates the value we all place on literature and the understandings we can develop through shared reading experiences. \r\n\r\nThe group discussions, especially around titles like Esperanza Rising, have allowed our students to verbalize their concerns about events currently occurring in the world around them. They have been able to make connections, for example, between the experiences of immigrant farmworkers of the 1930s and immigrants within our communities today. \r\n\r\nAs always, literature provides a catalyst for processing issues like bullying, divorce, body image, racism, and both physical and emotional challenges. Some of our students are already facing these, and may face the others in time, but all will have a model for dealing with them, provided by the books they have read.","fullyFundedDate":1759007882762,"projectUrl":"project/tigers-2026-battle-of-the-books-team/9734349/","projectTitle":"Tigers 2026 Battle of the Books Team","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gwinn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10271084"},{"teacherId":10263477,"projectId":9717292,"letterContent":"The resources from our Building Joy & Community at McKinley School project brought excitement, connection, and celebration to our campus. We used the hotdog roller, sno-cone machine, karaoke machine, and tablecloths during recess activities, lunchtime incentives, and family-centered events. A highlight was our Fall Festival, where students and families gathered to enjoy hotdogs and sno-cones while students confidently sang their favorite songs at the karaoke station. The event created a joyful, welcoming atmosphere that brought our school community together.\r\n\r\nOur students were thrilled when they first saw their favorite treats. Many eagerly volunteered to sing, help serve, or decorate tables. The excitement and pride they showed reflected how meaningful it was for them to participate in something special with their peers and families.\r\n\r\nThanks to our donors, students are now helping plan future events and activities, building leadership, teamwork, and confidence. These resources continue to support positive school culture, strengthen family engagement, and reinforce McKinley School as a place where students feel connected, celebrated, and proud of their community.","fullyFundedDate":1760734987380,"projectUrl":"project/building-joy-community-at-mckinley-sch/9717292/","projectTitle":"Building Joy & Community at McKinley School!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10263477_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x1008,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760759443949","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10263477"},{"teacherId":4431518,"projectId":9595362,"letterContent":"Unfortunately, the overhead projectors were not available. I would have loved to use them. Instead, I ordered a ChompSaw. I figured, since it cuts cardboard, it could still be used to create the shadow puppets. \r\n\r\nI'm glad I ordered the ChompSaw. My stage crew was very excited to to open the box. All of them remarked that they had seen the ChompSaw on Shark Tank. \r\n\r\nThe stage crew loved testing out the ChompSaw and began brainstorming how they would use it to build set pieces. \r\n\r\nThey can't wait to use it for our Spring Musical.","fullyFundedDate":1756454962720,"projectUrl":"project/leave-the-light-and-head-into-the-darkne/9595362/","projectTitle":"Leave the Light and Head Into the Darkness!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Turner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4431518_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669680676114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msturn3r"},{"teacherId":4431518,"projectId":9270662,"letterContent":"My students have really loved organizing our theater props. In the past, there was zero rhyme or reason to where objects were placed backstage. \r\n\r\nNow, students have created labels and organized bins for: tableware, fabric, food, accessories, and props. \r\n\r\nHaving all of our props organized and easy to find has made drama class much more fun. \r\n\r\nDuring our various units: improvisation, set design, and costume design, being able to quickly find and select pieces has added a level of creativity that was sorely needed.","fullyFundedDate":1745597140434,"projectUrl":"project/give-them-their-props/9270662/","projectTitle":"Give Them Their Props!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Turner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4431518_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669680676114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msturn3r"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28292","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":935,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":62,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"26.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":75.2,"schoolId":28292,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about McKinley School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"McKinley School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/pasadena-unified-school-district/mckinley-school/28292"}