{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pasadena High School","outOfStateSupporters":15.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10343024,"projectId":9968238,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, kettlebells are now an exciting and meaningful part of our physical education program, and I wish you could have seen the students' faces the day they first walked into class and saw the new equipment lined up and ready to use. There was an immediate buzz of curiosity and excitement, students rushed over asking how heavy they were, what we were going to do with them, and whether they would get to try \"real\" strength training like athletes do. For many of them, this was their first experience with kettlebells, and it instantly elevated the energy and focus in our class.\r\n\r\nWe have fully integrated the kettlebells into our fitness units, using them to teach proper lifting form, functional strength, balance, and core stability. Students are learning foundational movements such as deadlifts, goblet squats, and kettlebell swings, with a strong emphasis on safety, posture, and controlled movement. One powerful classroom moment happened during our introductory circuit day. After practicing technique in small groups, students rotated through stations that combined kettlebell exercises with heart-rate tracking and goal setting. I watched as one student, who is often hesitant to participate in traditional fitness activities, confidently demonstrated perfect form and encouraged her classmates. The pride on her face when she realized she could master a new skill was unforgettable. The kettlebells have created space for students of all athletic backgrounds to feel successful.\r\n\r\nBeyond the physical benefits, this project has added a true lifetime fitness activity to my students' personal wellness library. We talk often about what fitness looks like after high school, and kettlebell training is something they can continue at a gym, at home, or in a small space without needing a full team or expensive equipment. Students have shared that they feel like they are \"training for real life\" and not just playing a game for class. They appreciate the challenge, and many have asked for extra time to practice and improve their technique. Your support has helped shift their mindset from short-term participation to long-term health.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, students are beginning a personal fitness planning project where they will design their own balanced workout routine incorporating kettlebell movements alongside cardiovascular and flexibility training. They will set measurable goals, track their progress, and reflect on how strength training impacts their overall wellness. The kettlebells will continue to be central to this unit, allowing students to build confidence, independence, and knowledge they can carry with them long after they leave our school.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to challenge themselves, discover new strengths, and build habits that support lifelong health. Your contribution has made a lasting impact not just on our classroom, but on the future well-being of every student who picks up a kettlebell with confidence.\r\n\r\nWith sincere gratitude,\r\nThank you for supporting our students and their journey toward lifelong fitness.","fullyFundedDate":1766775371899,"projectUrl":"project/kettlebells-to-build-strong-healthy-tee/9968238/","projectTitle":"Kettlebells to Build Strong, Healthy Teens","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Nelissen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10343024_orig.jpg?crop=2038,2038,x277,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1766002916575","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10343024"},{"teacherId":7727717,"projectId":9851521,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and for believing in our students. Because of your support, our thespians now have access to comfort items and snacks that have truly transformed our rehearsal environment. After long days of practicing, students are able to take a moment to recharge, connect with one another, and feel cared for. When the materials arrived, their excitement was immediate; it wasn't just about the items themselves, but about the message behind them; that people in their community are rooting for their success.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has had a direct impact on their confidence and sense of belonging, and we truly believe it contributed to the positive momentum they carried into competition. Our students recently placed 2nd at the Inland/Upland Play Festival and have advanced to represent our school at the state showcase. Knowing they have a supportive, welcoming space to return to after rehearsals has made a meaningful difference in both their morale and their performance. You helped create an environment where students feel safe, motivated, and inspired to grow as artists and as individuals.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we hope to continue building this space so students always have a place where they feel supported, valued, and encouraged to take creative risks. Your contribution has already made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful for your role in our students' journey.","fullyFundedDate":1765892842126,"projectUrl":"project/creative-comfort-for-our-drama-students/9851521/","projectTitle":"Creative Comfort for our Drama Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7727717_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715724956826","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7727717"},{"teacherId":10343024,"projectId":9967877,"letterContent":"The new Spikeball equipment has had an immediate and positive impact on my students. We are using it during PE lessons to teach teamwork, communication, and game strategy, as well as during small-group play where students rotate roles and practice sportsmanship. One standout moment has been watching students coach one another through serves and rallies,encouraging peers who initially struggled and celebrating improvement together.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the Spikeball sets, their excitement was instant. Many had never played before, but they were eager to jump in and try. While some students initially found the game challenging due to limited hand-eye coordination, they have shown consistent improvement each day. Their confidence has grown as they've developed timing, control, and coordination, and the game's fast pace has kept all students highly engaged and active.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue building their skills through modified gameplay, drills focused on hand-eye coordination, and more advanced strategies as their abilities progress. The competitive nature of Spikeball has motivated students to push themselves, stay active, and participate fully, making it a valuable addition to our program. Your support has helped create an environment where students are challenged, energized, and genuinely excited about physical activity,thank you for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1766425433972,"projectUrl":"project/spikeball-in-pe-where-every-student-pla/9967877/","projectTitle":"Spikeball in PE: Where Every Student Plays","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Nelissen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10343024_orig.jpg?crop=2038,2038,x277,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1766002916575","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10343024"},{"teacherId":10343024,"projectId":9905393,"letterContent":"I want to thank you and let you know that because of your generosity, our dance space now feels like a true studio. The new dance shoes and training equipment are being used every day as students work on technique, alignment, strength, and confidence. Having the proper shoes has made a huge difference; students can turn, jump, and move safely while focusing on their performance instead of worrying about slipping or discomfort.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the shoes and equipment, their reactions said it all. There were big smiles, quiet \"no way\" moments, and an immediate sense of pride. For many of them, this was the first time they'd ever had real dance shoes of their own, and you could feel how much that mattered. They stood taller, moved with more intention, and treated the space like a professional studio from that moment on.\r\n\r\nRight now, students are using the equipment to build strength and refine choreography as they prepare performance pieces. Our next steps include polishing routines, setting personal technique goals, and working toward small in-class showcases where students can reflect on their growth. Thanks to you, our dancers aren't just practicing steps—they're developing discipline, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. Your support has truly helped them feel seen, supported, and ready to shine.","fullyFundedDate":1766114580049,"projectUrl":"project/equip-our-dancers-tools-for-technique/9905393/","projectTitle":"Equip Our Dancers: Tools for Technique, Strength, and Confidence","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Nelissen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10343024_orig.jpg?crop=2038,2038,x277,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1766002916575","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10343024"},{"teacherId":10343024,"projectId":9878322,"letterContent":"I want to thank you and let you know that because of your donation, our gym has been filled with flying birdies, big smiles, and a whole lot of laughter. The badminton sets have given students something new to be excited about, and they've been using them daily to learn basic skills like serving, rallying, footwork, and working with a partner.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the equipment, their reaction was instant: \"Wait... we get to play badminton?\" They were genuinely excited, especially students who don't always love traditional team sports. There were some surprisingly good rallies, some very creative swings, and plenty of moments where students were cheering each other on (and laughing when the birdie went absolutely nowhere near the net).\r\n\r\nRight now, students are practicing skills and learning how to play respectfully and cooperatively. Our next step is having them apply those skills in short games and challenges where they track improvement, set goals, and support their classmates. For many students, this is their first experience with badminton, and it's already becoming a favorite.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our students the chance to try something new, stay active, and have fun while learning. Your support truly made a difference, and our students feel it every day.","fullyFundedDate":1765370708733,"projectUrl":"project/badminton-smash-into-success/9878322/","projectTitle":"Badminton: Smash Into Success","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Nelissen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10343024_orig.jpg?crop=2038,2038,x277,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1766002916575","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10343024"},{"teacherId":10343024,"projectId":9878327,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our students are having a blast with their new Frisbees, juggling scarves, and soccer goals! In PE, we're using the Frisbees to practice throws, catches, and teamwork in ultimate Frisbee games. The juggling scarves are perfect for building hand-eye coordination and focus. And the new soccer goals have made accuracy and control drills way more fun, giving students a real target to aim for instead of an imaginary one.\r\n\r\nRight now, students are practicing skills, working on teamwork, and challenging themselves to improve in small games and drills. Next up, we'll be combining these activities into friendly competitions and skill challenges, tracking progress, and cheering each other on. Thanks to you, our students are moving, laughing, and learning in ways that wouldn't have been possible without your support!","fullyFundedDate":1762762377066,"projectUrl":"project/get-up-and-go/9878327/","projectTitle":"Get Up and Go!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Nelissen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10343024_orig.jpg?crop=2038,2038,x277,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1766002916575","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10343024"},{"teacherId":6429742,"projectId":9333333,"letterContent":"Merci infiniment—thank you so much—for your generous support of our Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) project in French 2. Your contribution has made an immediate and lasting difference in my students' lives, and I wanted to take a moment to share the impact you've had.\r\n\r\nIn the world language classroom, one of the most powerful tools for language acquisition is comprehensible input—language that learners can understand even if they don't know every single word. Thanks to your support, we were able to expand our classroom library with rich, engaging, and accessible French texts that support this method. These books are not just stories—they are invitations to connect, explore, and acquire language naturally and joyfully.\r\n\r\nSo, what does reading look like in our classroom now?\r\n\r\nEvery week, students have time set aside just for reading in French—books they choose themselves based on interest and reading level. The room falls quiet, the atmosphere shifts, and students become absorbed in stories that feel relevant and exciting to them. They read graphic novels, short novels written specifically for language learners, and even leveled biographies and cultural readers. You can see the focus on their faces as they dive into the language—without stress, without tests, and most importantly, with confidence.\r\n\r\nThis kind of reading builds a foundation in the language that is deeper than memorized vocabulary lists or isolated grammar drills. Through these texts, students are internalizing high-frequency structures, learning to recognize verb forms in context, and acquiring vocabulary that appears repeatedly in meaningful ways. They begin to \"feel\" what sounds right in French—not because they've been explicitly taught every rule, but because they've seen and heard the patterns so often in context that it becomes intuitive.\r\n\r\nMore than that, the books introduce valuable cultural lessons and authentic perspectives. Whether reading about a teen navigating life in Senegal or a humorous mystery set in a small French village, students are seeing the diversity and richness of Francophone cultures in a way that is personal and human. These stories help them build empathy, cultural awareness, and a deeper motivation to continue their language journey.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped transform our reading time from an occasional extra to a core part of our curriculum. Students who were hesitant or unsure of their abilities are now asking for recommendations and looking forward to reading time. Some have even asked for book suggestions they can read over the summer!\r\n\r\nThank you for helping make this happen. Your generosity is not only helping students grow in their French—it's helping them grow as curious, confident, and culturally aware learners.\r\n\r\nJe vous remercie sincerement.","fullyFundedDate":1746844908613,"projectUrl":"project/free-voluntary-reading-in-french/9333333/","projectTitle":"Free Voluntary Reading in French","teacherDisplayName":"Prof. Marmol","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6429742"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28967","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1355,"numTeachers":76,"percentFrplEligible":74,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":11,"percentWhite":19,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":53,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"17.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":84.5,"schoolId":28967,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pasadena High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pasadena High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/pasadena-unified-school-district/pasadena-high-school/28967"}