{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Umoja International Academy","outOfStateSupporters":15.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5696564,"projectId":9501085,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our DonorsChoose project. Because of your kindness, my middle school students now have access to resources that will make their learning more engaging, meaningful, and fun. Your support shows my students that their education matters and that people beyond our classroom walls believe in their potential.\r\n\r\nThe materials you helped provide will spark curiosity, build confidence, and create opportunities for collaboration that simply weren't possible before. My students and I are deeply grateful for your generosity, and we can't wait to put these tools to use every day. Thank you for making a lasting difference in our classroom—you've helped open the door to new possibilities for every learner.","fullyFundedDate":1755724797844,"projectUrl":"project/no-desk-please-lap-desk-time/9501085/","projectTitle":"No Desk Please! Lap Desk Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5696564_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536035313776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5696564"},{"teacherId":5970766,"projectId":9302326,"letterContent":"It was so fun to deliver the \"Summer Bucket\" of fun and useful summer item for students who signed up for summer reading, or even for students who mentioned that they were going to make a point to read over the summer. The buckets were delivered to students during the last week of school, and they were so fun that it encouraged many other students to come into the library to sign up for summer reading. \r\nWhile I did not get as many students to sign up for the summer reading program, I do believe that it was a good start. I will continue to adjust the summer reading program to make it better for this year and years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1746568117063,"projectUrl":"project/bucket-loads-of-books-and-fun-this-summe/9302326/","projectTitle":"Bucket Loads of Books and Fun This Summer!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jordan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5970766_orig.jpg?crop=544,544,x0,y54&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664471381482","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5970766"},{"teacherId":5630569,"projectId":9240748,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your donations to my classroom! We are already using the clear front presentation folders to put together our portfolios for the end of the year. My students were very excited, relieved, and moved to have received the donation of the folders as many students were unable to source one themselves. These folders are helping to not only make their selection of work look professional, but it is contributing to teaching them about organization and to take pride in the work they turn in. They are working hard on polishing up their work, and they will start printing and binding their work tomorrow. Some have already completed the project!\r\n\r\nI have included pictures of the Astrobright paper already in good use! So far, I have used the paper to print the steps for CSET - the writing format we use for paragraphs - and to highlight some of the key concepts for our IB school with the ATL Skills and Global Contexts. This paper will continue to be an asset to me in the following years as I put together vocabulary lessons and sentence structuring lessons for next years' students.","fullyFundedDate":1746492917541,"projectUrl":"project/bright-futures-brilliant-portfolios/9240748/","projectTitle":"Bright Futures, Brilliant Portfolios!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rathbun","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5630569_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738347684617","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5630569"},{"teacherId":5630569,"projectId":9074256,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to my classroom's project for supplies for out tiny homes. During this unit, students research the varied needs the population might have for a tiny home, such as having a lower carbon footprint or as a possible solution to homelessness. Students create these homes primarily out of cardboard, and in the past, they have had to use the school-supplied children's scissors to craft their houses. To have the cardboard scissors this year was such a game changer! Students were able to not only create the skeleton for their houses faster and easier, but they were able to branch out and create furniture for their homes, as well!\r\n\r\nMy students loved having the 11x14 foam boards! These boards most often gave students a launching point and foundational support for their tiny homes; the foam boards served as the bottom of their home where they were able to attach their blueprint designs, or, if their home was smaller, they were able to use the foam boards to stage the surrounding details for their homes. Students were also required to have at least two sustainability features, such as solar panels or a rain water catcher, and the solid structure the foam boards supplies were a great assistance to that requirement.\r\n\r\nSeveral of the tiny homes were able to be showcased at Open House. Students are now creating presentation slides to discuss their approaches to learning and how they constructed their homes. They will do formal presentations during finals week. \r\n\r\nThank you again for donating to my classroom for this project. These supplies contributed to students having more opportunities to create a realistic tiny home. Because of these supplies, students really enjoyed this project.","fullyFundedDate":1742961718892,"projectUrl":"project/tiny-houses-big-learning-student-archi/9074256/","projectTitle":"Tiny Houses, Big Learning: Student Architects Need your Help!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rathbun","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5630569_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738347684617","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5630569"},{"teacherId":5696564,"projectId":9269691,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to see the new snacks and games that arrived this week. It amazes me every time how they light up when they know we received new items for our classroom.\r\nThe snacks are just a little special thing I can do for my kids to make them feel more comfortable and want to come to my class every day. Often times, I have students that don't eat much at home and I am grateful to be that person for them that they can come to when they need it.\r\n\r\nThank you again for the continued support of my wonderful students.","fullyFundedDate":1746241540313,"projectUrl":"project/full-bellies-strong-minds/9269691/","projectTitle":"Full bellies = Strong Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5696564_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536035313776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5696564"},{"teacherId":5696564,"projectId":9246879,"letterContent":"My students were elated to see the new books and graphic novels on the bookshelf. I have students reading that have not read before!\r\n\r\nOn behalf of Umoja and my classroom, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous support in providing books for our students. Your donation has made a significant impact, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to education and literacy.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our classroom is now filled with engaging and inspiring books that spark curiosity, fuel imagination, and foster a lifelong love of reading. Each day, I see the joy on our students' faces as they explore new stories.\r\n\r\nYour support not only enriches our curriculum but also sends a powerful message to our students: that there are people who believe in their potential and are willing to invest in their future.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generosity. Your gift is truly making a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1744207873051,"projectUrl":"project/not-your-mothers-library-books/9246879/","projectTitle":"Not Your Mother's Library Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5696564_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536035313776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5696564"},{"teacherId":9597165,"projectId":9026792,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Empowering Minds Through Journaling: Inspiring Creativity and Reflection! Thanks to your generosity, every student now has their own journal, and we've built a new routine into our Wednesdays in PE—journaling after our warm-up.\r\n\r\nAt first, some students were quick to push back. A few even wrote, \"Why are we writing? This is PE!\" or \"I hate writing.\" But instead of forcing anything, I reminded them this was their space—no grades, no pressure, just honesty. Week by week, I've watched them slowly start to open up. Now, students are writing about everything from their goals to what they're going through outside of school. One even said, \"I didn't think I had anything to say, but now I look forward to it.\"\r\n\r\nNext, we'll use the journals to track personal growth—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's become more than just writing; it's helping my students slow down, reflect, and connect with themselves. Thank you for making this possible. You've given my students something that will impact them far beyond PE.","fullyFundedDate":1735915089621,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-minds-through-journaling-ins/9026792/","projectTitle":"Empowering Minds Through Journaling: Inspiring Creativity and Reflection","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Amy Rose Finch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9597165_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736138293491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/coachfinchsclass"},{"teacherId":1655315,"projectId":8992857,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your support in providing Jenga and jump ropes for my students! These simple yet powerful resources have brought so much joy, energy, and engagement into our classroom.\r\n\r\nJenga has become a fantastic tool for practicing Spanish conversation in a fun and interactive way, encouraging students to speak and respond while playing. This makes learning more engaging and stimulating, helping students build confidence in their speaking skills while enjoying the game. The jump ropes have also been a great addition, giving students an active way to take brain breaks, refresh their focus, and return to class ready to learn.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the materials, they were thrilled! They eagerly gathered around to play Jenga, laughing and chatting in Spanish as they carefully pulled out blocks. Others grabbed the jump ropes and challenged each other to see who could jump the longest. It was amazing to see them so engaged, practicing language skills while having fun.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, I plan to incorporate Jenga into review activities and conversational practice, allowing students to reinforce their language skills in a relaxed and enjoyable way. The jump ropes will continue to support movement breaks, helping students stay active and focused throughout the day.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students are learning, moving, and having fun—all while strengthening their Spanish language skills. You have made a real difference, and we are so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1742964542200,"projectUrl":"project/building-minds-jump-rope-and-jenga-for/8992857/","projectTitle":"Building Minds: Jump Rope and Jenga for Active Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1655315_orig.jpg?crop=1170,1170,x0,y241&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1716758586735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mgrios"},{"teacherId":1655315,"projectId":8984488,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support in providing toner for our classroom printer. It may seem like a small thing, but in our classroom, it makes a huge difference!\r\n\r\nMany people use printers at home for occasional documents, but in a school setting, our printer is an essential tool for learning. Thanks to your generosity, my students have access to high-quality printed materials—everything from engaging Spanish reading passages to personalized worksheets and creative projects. Having physical copies allows students to annotate, highlight, and interact with the material in a way that deepens their understanding.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students the most is the ability to print their own work—whether it's vocabulary flashcards, illustrated stories, or reflection journals. Seeing their work come to life on paper gives them a sense of pride and ownership in their learning.\r\n\r\nOne student, Sharam, who prefers working on paper rather than a screen, has especially benefited from this. Having printed resources has helped him stay organized, focus better, and fully engage with our lessons.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, my students have the tools they need to learn, create, and succeed. Your support may seem simple, but it is truly invaluable to our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1742947964220,"projectUrl":"project/press-printthe-importance-of-reliable-p/8984488/","projectTitle":"Press Print:The Importance of Reliable Printer Toner in Our Classroom\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1655315_orig.jpg?crop=1170,1170,x0,y241&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1716758586735","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mgrios"},{"teacherId":5696564,"projectId":8565366,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and caring for my students! I am blown away each time we are blessed with new items.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support. These items will be a wonderful addition to our learning environment and will greatly benefit our students in their studies and activities. The games and snacks contribute to creating a positive and comfortable setting where students feel at home. \r\n\r\nYour kindness and contribution make a real difference in our classroom, and we truly appreciate your willingness to help.","fullyFundedDate":1733579458684,"projectUrl":"project/deflated-seats-and-games-to-compete/8565366/","projectTitle":"Deflated Seats and Games to Compete","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5696564_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1536035313776","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5696564"},{"teacherId":5970766,"projectId":8767595,"letterContent":"The books that were delivered from this Donor's Choose project have been spending barely any time on the shelves. Students are in and out, even during passing period to see if the next manga book in the series they are reading is on the shelf. Thar are keeping me on my toes, so to speak. \r\nThe books are so popular that I have had to order a few more books to continue the series for two of the sets, lest my students are left wanting. \r\nI love having books that students are excited to read. \r\nThank you so much for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1727969896898,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-keep-students-off-their-scree/8767595/","projectTitle":"Books that Keep Students off Their Screens","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jordan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5970766_orig.jpg?crop=544,544,x0,y54&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664471381482","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5970766"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_32853","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":490,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":45,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"18.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":85.0,"schoolId":32853,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Umoja International Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Umoja International Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/sacramento-city-unified-school-district/kit-carson-middle-school/32853"}