{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Tulare Western High School","outOfStateSupporters":41.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9722120,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have access to snacks that are making a meaningful difference in our classroom every single day. We began using the snacks immediately, and they have quickly become a positive and motivating part of our daily routine.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were genuinely excited and grateful. Many of them smiled, asked questions about what was available, and immediately noticed that someone cared about their well-being beyond academics. That moment alone helped strengthen our classroom community.\r\n\r\nWe now use the snacks strategically throughout the school day—especially during longer lessons, after assessments, or during afternoon periods when energy tends to drop. Students are able to refuel quickly and return to their work with improved focus and engagement. I've already seen students who typically struggle with stamina stay more attentive and participate more confidently after having a small snack break.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful impacts has been how the snacks reinforce positive behavior and effort. They are often used as small, meaningful recognition for students who demonstrate persistence, participation, or kindness toward peers. This has helped increase motivation and created a more supportive and encouraging classroom culture.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using these snacks to support our current instructional units and skill-building activities. As students work through reading comprehension tasks, math problem-solving, and functional life skills practice, the snacks serve as both a practical support and a motivational tool. My goal is to continue building a classroom environment where students feel energized, valued, and ready to succeed—academically and personally—each day.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in my students. Your support is truly helping them stay engaged, confident, and ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1762266346176,"projectUrl":"project/treats-for-effort-supporting-student-mo/9722120/","projectTitle":"Treats for Effort: Supporting Student Motivation","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9387496,"letterContent":"Thanks so much to your support, my students have already benefited greatly from these new materials. The STEM manipulatives and hands-on math tools quickly became a favorite in our classroom. Students were excited to explore concepts in a more interactive way, working together in small groups to solve problems, test ideas, and build their understanding through collaboration. I've seen students who are usually hesitant in math become more willing to participate because they can physically see and manipulate the concepts we are learning.\r\n\r\nThe EXPO markers have also made a noticeable difference during instruction. Students are now able to clearly show their thinking on the board, which has increased participation and made class discussions more inclusive. This has been especially helpful for students who benefit from visual supports, as they can better follow along and engage with peer explanations.\r\n\r\nSomething as simple as tissues has also had a meaningful impact. Students feel more comfortable and cared for knowing that basic needs are met in the classroom, which helps them stay focused on learning instead of distractions or discomfort.\r\n\r\nOne memorable moment was during a group STEM activity where students worked together to solve a challenge using manipulatives. I saw strong collaboration, problem-solving, and genuine excitement as students tried different strategies and learned from each other. It was a powerful example of how hands-on learning can increase both understanding and confidence.\r\n\r\nBecause of these materials, I've been able to create more interactive lessons, increase student collaboration, and support a wider range of learning needs. Lessons are more engaging, and students are taking greater ownership of their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1757683113208,"projectUrl":"project/bright-minds-clean-starts-stem-tools-a/9387496/","projectTitle":"Bright Minds, Clean Starts: STEM Tools and Supplies for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9480946,"letterContent":"These resources have quickly become part of our daily routine. Students use graphing paper to keep their work neat and organized, and mechanical pencils and highlighters help them clearly show their thinking. Sticky notes have been especially helpful for quick reflections, solving steps, and peer feedback during lessons.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest improvements has been our new plastic brochure organizer. It has made storing and accessing our math fact brochures so much easier and more efficient. Instead of wasting time searching for materials, students can quickly grab what they need and get started, which has helped our lessons run more smoothly and productively.\r\n\r\nThe fidgets have also made a noticeable difference. Students who sometimes struggle to stay focused are now better able to manage their energy and remain engaged during instruction. And the addition of reward candy and hands-on games like math tower bricks has made learning feel more fun and motivating. I've seen students who were once hesitant about math eagerly participate, collaborate, and even ask for more practice.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stood out was during a recent math activity where students used the tower bricks to model problem-solving. They were fully engaged—discussing strategies, building solutions, and encouraging each other. It was a powerful reminder that when students feel supported and excited, their confidence grows.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will continue using these materials to support hands-on learning, collaboration, and deeper understanding of math concepts. These tools are helping build not only stronger math skills, but also a classroom culture where every student feels capable, included, and motivated to succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for making math more accessible, organized, and fun for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1763474828303,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-focus-learning-and-motivatio/9480946/","projectTitle":"Tools for Focus, Learning, and Motivation in Math Class","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9910590,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has felt completely different this winter—in the best way possible. From the moment the supplies arrived, my students were excited and genuinely relieved. When they saw the gloves, hats, and hand warmers, several students immediately shared how much it would help during their long walks to school or while waiting for the bus. One student quietly told me, \"Now I won't be freezing before first period,\" which really captured the impact of your support.\r\n\r\nWe've made these resources part of our daily routine. Students know they can grab what they need as they come in—whether it's a tissue, hand sanitizer, or a quick warm-up with hand warmers before settling into math. The air purifier has also made a noticeable difference; we've had fewer interruptions from coughing and illness, and students are more comfortable and focused during lessons.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stood out was during a recent group activity on problem-solving strategies. Normally, this time of year, I see more fatigue and distraction. But this time, students were engaged, collaborating, and sticking with challenging problems longer. It was clear that being physically comfortable and feeling cared for helped them show up ready to learn.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, these resources have helped build a stronger sense of community in our classroom. Students are more willing to support each other, share materials, and take pride in maintaining a clean and welcoming space.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are continuing to build on this momentum. Students are working on multi-step math projects that require persistence, collaboration, and focus—skills that are much easier to develop when their basic needs are met. Because of you, they are not just getting through the winter—they are growing, achieving, and believing in their ability to succeed.\r\n\r\nThank you for making such a meaningful difference in their daily lives.","fullyFundedDate":1769447185834,"projectUrl":"project/fighting-the-chill-keeping-students-hea/9910590/","projectTitle":"Fighting the Chill: Keeping Students Healthy and Focused This Winter","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9964211,"letterContent":"My students have truly loved these new resources. As a special education teacher, I'm always looking for ways to keep my students engaged and motivated, and this has made a huge difference in our classroom. I've been using the materials as incentives to help students stay focused and complete their work, and the results have been amazing. Watching them become so focused, excited, and proud of themselves has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their reactions were full of excitement and curiosity. Many of them couldn't believe they would get the opportunity to use something like this in class. For some of my students, this is something they've never had access to before, which made it even more meaningful.\r\n\r\nRight now, we are using the materials during structured classroom time to support learning, build focus, and reinforce positive behaviors. The students look forward to using them, and it has created a more positive and productive classroom environment overall.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, my goal is for each student to eventually take one home by the end of the school year. Many of my students come from low-income households and may not have the opportunity to own something like this. Being able to send these home would not only reward their hard work but also give them something meaningful to continue learning and growing beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students this opportunity—it has truly made a lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1769177371707,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-self-regulation-in-our-sped-c/9964211/","projectTitle":"Supporting Self-Regulation in Our SPED Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":10039668,"projectId":10023325,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our classroom! Since receiving these new resources, my students have been using them every single day. Our dry erase markers, magnetic holders, and erasers have transformed our whiteboard lessons, students eagerly jump up to solve problems, brainstorm ideas, and explain their thinking using colorful markers. The classroom headphones have made independent learning and small-group instruction smoother and more focused, while the facial tissues, disinfecting wipes, and air fresheners help us maintain a clean, comfortable space where students can learn with confidence.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, the excitement was immediate. Students were thrilled to see brand-new supplies just for them, especially the headphones and sensory stickers. The anxiety sensory strips have been a quiet but powerful support—students use them during lessons to help stay calm and focused. The snacks were a huge hit as well and have been used as motivation and celebration tools, reminding students that their hard work is valued and noticed. Seeing their joy and appreciation truly reinforced how meaningful your support is.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, our next steps include continuing hands-on lessons using our whiteboards, expanding independent and technology-based learning with headphones, and building positive routines that support both academic growth and emotional well-being. Your donation gave you a glimpse into our classroom, and please know that it has made a lasting impact on my students' daily learning experiences. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769177353020,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-students-one-essential-at-a/10023325/","projectTitle":"Supporting Students, One Essential at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Clark","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10039668"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9277909,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, my students now have access to essential materials that have made a huge difference in our daily classroom experience. As soon as the supplies arrived, the students were excited to explore everything—especially the magnetic pizza fraction set and the jumbo magnetic spinner. We used the pizza fractions in a recent lesson on parts of a whole, and I saw students who typically struggle with abstract concepts suddenly light up with understanding as they manipulated the pieces and could see the math come to life. The spinner has become a fun part of our review games, turning practice into something interactive and engaging, and helping students stay motivated.\r\n\r\nThe basic classroom supplies have also been a game-changer. Students no longer have to worry about having a pencil or notebook—they know they can come in and be ready to learn. The hygiene items helped us restock our classroom drawers with basic necessities, allowing students to take what they need discreetly and with dignity. These supplies also support our graduating seniors, who will each receive a bag filled with essential items like deodorant, shampoo, and mouthwash to help them start their new journey feeling confident and prepared.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we're using these materials to finish the year strong with engaging math activities and meaningful classroom discussions. The DonorsChoose Community made it possible for my students to not only have the tools they need but also feel valued and supported. Thank you for helping us build a positive, inclusive learning environment—your generosity is truly felt every day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746786340170,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-refresh-strong-finish-and-a/9277909/","projectTitle":"\"Classroom Refresh: Strong Finish and a Bright Start!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9207241,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been transformed into a more organized, functional, and welcoming space for my high school special education students. When the storage cabinet, pencil sharpener, charging station, and extra storage arrived, my students were immediately excited and eager to help set everything up. They took pride in organizing our supplies and finding the perfect place for each item, especially locking away important materials in our new cabinet—they were thrilled to have a secure space just for us!\r\n\r\nOne memorable moment was during a group math project. In the past, we would often lose valuable time searching for supplies or making do without certain tools. This time, everything was ready to go—charged devices, sharpened pencils, and materials exactly where they should be. The difference in focus and engagement was clear. Students were able to dive right into the activity, collaborate more effectively, and even clean up quickly with everything having a designated spot.\r\n\r\nThe biggest impact has been seeing students take more ownership of our classroom. They now take responsibility for making sure devices are charged, supplies are returned, and our shared space stays neat. This sense of pride and independence is something we strive to build daily.\r\n\r\nOur next steps include a series of hands-on projects where students will use their organizational skills to manage materials for small-group activities. These lessons are now smoother and more meaningful because our space works with us, not against us. Thanks to your kindness, our classroom is safer, more structured, and better suited for learning and success. We are truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1742928177401,"projectUrl":"project/safe-organized-keeping-our-classroom/9207241/","projectTitle":"Safe & Organized: Keeping Our Classroom Essentials Secure","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9172938,"letterContent":"Our \"Math in Color\" project has had an incredible impact on my high school special education math students. The tools you helped provide—calculators, pencils, colored pens, neon dry erase markers, colored paper, storage cubes, and other classroom essentials—have completely transformed the way my students experience math. Many of my students learn best through visuals and hands-on activities. The calculators have boosted their confidence in tackling multi-step problems, giving them the chance to focus on understanding how math works, rather than getting stuck on simple arithmetic. The colored pens and neon Expo markers have made lessons more interactive, as students can now color-code their notes, highlight key steps in equations, and collaborate during small-group work on the whiteboards. This has significantly improved their retention and understanding. \r\n\r\n What excites my students most is choice and ownership—being able to use colorful tools makes math feel more personal and less intimidating. Students actually get excited to participate when they can grab a bright marker to show their thinking, or use a vibrant sheet of paper for a fold-able activity. These seemingly simple changes have made math more fun, accessible, and engaging for every learner in the room.\r\nOne student in particular, who previously struggled to stay focused during lessons, has taken a noticeable leap forward. With the help of colored markers and structured notes, they're now leading small-group explanations and showing pride in their work—something that didn't happen before we had these tools.\r\n\r\n This project has done more than provide supplies; it has built confidence, fostered independence, and created a math environment that feels welcoming and empowering. Thank you for investing in these young learners. You've helped show them that math can be a subject they enjoy and succeed in.","fullyFundedDate":1746786027064,"projectUrl":"project/math-in-color-tools-for-engaged-learnin/9172938/","projectTitle":"Math in Color: Tools for Engaged Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"},{"teacherId":7910486,"projectId":9147366,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom now has a dedicated drawer filled with essential snacks and hygiene items that students can access whenever they need to. The moment I introduced the drawer to the class, there was a quiet sense of relief on many faces. I let them know that this resource was for them, no questions asked. Since then, I've seen students grab a granola bar before class starts or discreetly take a hygiene item before heading to PE or a sport. These supplies have become a quiet but powerful support system in our classroom.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stood out was when a student who usually keeps to himself came up after class just to say, \"Thank you for having snacks. It really helps me.\" That one simple statement made it clear how meaningful this project truly is. Having these resources available has helped students stay focused, feel cared for, and be more engaged in learning. We recently started a budgeting and life-skills unit where we discuss real-world topics like money management, health, and personal care. \r\n\r\nYour support has not only given them the tools they need—it's helped open the door to meaningful, lasting learning.","fullyFundedDate":1742823956348,"projectUrl":"project/warmth-wellness-and-learning-meeting/9147366/","projectTitle":"Warmth, Wellness, and Learning: Meeting Basic Needs for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castaneda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910486_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683149126088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910486"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_40496","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1886,"numTeachers":84,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":13,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"22.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":58.6,"schoolId":40496,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Tulare Western High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Tulare Western High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/tulare-joint-union-high-school-district/tulare-western-high-school/40496"}