{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lotus School for Excellence - Middle & High School","outOfStateSupporters":72.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9259583,"projectId":7807165,"letterContent":"The grant from Panda Cares made it possible for us to purchase a Van de Graaff electrostatic generator, and its impact on our science program was immediate and memorable. For years, students had read about static electricity and had seen small-scale demonstrations with balloons or combs, but the Van de Graaff generator allowed them to experience electricity in a way that was larger, more powerful, and far more engaging. The generator produced visible sparks, caused hair to stand on end, and created a sense of awe that transformed what might have been a routine lesson into a moment of discovery. Concepts such as electric fields, charge transfer, and insulation became real in ways that students could see, hear, and even feel.\r\n\r\nThe apparatus was used twice for an entire class period, and in both cases, the response from students was extraordinary. Rather than simply watching passively, they actively participated in experiments, testing how distance affected the spark length, comparing how different materials conducted or blocked the flow of charges, and predicting outcomes before trying them. These activities encouraged scientific thinking as students made observations, formed hypotheses, and drew conclusions based on evidence. The generator created natural opportunities for collaboration, as students worked together to set up demonstrations, record data, and discuss their findings. The level of engagement and energy in the room was unlike anything seen during more traditional lessons, and students left the classroom still talking excitedly about what they had witnessed.\r\n\r\nUsing the generator also helped to strengthen the connection between science instruction and the practices emphasized in modern education standards. Students were not simply told about the behavior of electric charges; they observed those behaviors directly and explored them through guided inquiry. For many, this was their first experience with equipment that made science feel both powerful and accessible at the same time. Even students who normally struggled to stay focused were drawn in by the dramatic visual and physical effects of the generator, and they found themselves asking deeper questions about why the observed phenomena occurred. In this way, the generator became more than just a teaching tool; it was a catalyst for curiosity and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the grant from Panda Cares reminded students that their education was valued and supported by their broader community. The excitement they felt was not only about the science itself but also about the knowledge that an organization had invested in their future. The Van de Graaff generator will continue to enrich science lessons for years to come, but even in its first two uses, it already created lasting memories and inspired new enthusiasm for learning. The generosity of Panda Cares ensured that our students did not just read about science—they truly experienced it.","fullyFundedDate":1694439538537,"projectUrl":"project/electromagnetism-demonstrations/7807165/","projectTitle":"Electromagnetism Demonstrations","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Meschia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9259583"},{"teacherId":6176038,"projectId":9296827,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for choosing my project to make a donation towards. I am so excited for my class to engage in hands-on learning with alphabet letters that are plush and soft. There is no better way for children to learn then by experiencing some thing. That being said when these came out of the box they were doing annoying and excited. I am so thrilled to be able to work on our new skill which is consonant vowel consonant words by using our cute little friends to create those words. Thank you for believing in a public school teachers dreams and ideas. I appreciate you.","fullyFundedDate":1746458492263,"projectUrl":"project/abc-123/9296827/","projectTitle":"ABC, 123","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jennifer Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6176038_orig.jpg?crop=750,750,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657570014405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jennifer-flores"},{"teacherId":4516039,"projectId":9017289,"letterContent":"My students love the IPAD because it allows them to interact with others and create a comraderie between students. Since most of my students es are English Language Learners, technology in the classroom allows students to practice their language and communications skills. \r\n\r\nMy students are excited that they get equal time on the IPAD to manipulate our Girls Who Code platform. Our classroom gets pretty loud when they are using their language and communication skills to play games on the platform, create characters using block coding and manipulate our robots to satisfy and do different things. None of this would be possible without your help!","fullyFundedDate":1739376113958,"projectUrl":"project/an-ipad-for-girls-who-code/9017289/","projectTitle":"An iPad for Girls Who Code!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Small","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4516039_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y56&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1559279164790","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4516039"},{"teacherId":4516039,"projectId":8567101,"letterContent":"This year my students had massive growth in my classroom and I attribute it to your generosity in helping to fund the necessary materials in our classroom! We used the markers during our social studies unit on Olympics and students were able to create their \"Olympian\" using markers, scraps of fabric and anything else they could find at school and home. I provided each student a potato and watched as their creativity juices flowed. \r\nOur notebooks are instrumental in our science and social studies classes as they provide a place for students to not only take notes but also write down their thoughts. This year in addition to our 3 column notes we also did several interactive notebook pages, a tool that students can use to look back on as they prepare for end of unit tests. \r\nOur life cycle unit was the best and favorite as students had complete autonomy when it came to planting seeds and watering them during our lifecycle of a plant unit. They had the choice of several flowers and vegetables such as chili peppers, pumpkin and sunflowers, as well as flowers that would attract our bees. And oh, the excitement when those seeds sprouted leaves and started to grow! Seeing my students fully engaged was the best part and I have you to thank for this experience.\r\n\r\nI cannot thank you enough for investing in my classroom and my students. Without your help, I doubt my students would have had the experiences that they did.","fullyFundedDate":1723158545727,"projectUrl":"project/closing-learning-gaps-after-covid-19/8567101/","projectTitle":"Closing Learning Gaps After Covid 19!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Small","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4516039_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y56&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1559279164790","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4516039"},{"teacherId":9709012,"projectId":9263390,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donation of books, our classroom has become an even more exciting and welcoming place to read and learn. Your gift has made a real difference — not just by adding new titles to our shelves, but by opening up new worlds and perspectives for our students.\r\n\r\nWith these new books, we've been able to dive into lessons that explore key reading skills like identifying main ideas, analyzing characters' choices, understanding figurative language, and making text-to-self connections. These books are more than just stories — they're tools for building critical thinking, empathy, and confidence.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading looks like students gathered in small groups deep in discussion, independent readers curled up in quiet corners, and whole-class read-alouds that spark big conversations. The room feels alive with curiosity and discovery.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly inspired a love of reading in our classroom. Thank you for helping us grow as readers, thinkers, and learners!","fullyFundedDate":1745961785142,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-supplies/9263390/","projectTitle":"Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hamideh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9709012"},{"teacherId":6176038,"projectId":9253199,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity and kindness in supporting our students. This is truly inspiring and kindhearted. The students are so lucky to have people who care about them and their needs. This will help them to grow and thrive and be able to focus on their schoolwork and goals.\r\nThank you for helping me bring more snacks to my classroom. My kids really appreciate all the snacks that I can put in our snack bin for when they are hungry. I have been doing this for a few years now and my kids really appreciate it when they are hungry. I wouldn't be able to keep my bin full without the help of wonderful donors, like you. Your love for my kids is amazing and I am thankful for your generosity. Having rumbling bellies doesn't help when we are trying to learn math and this helps with that issue. Have a great day!","fullyFundedDate":1744647020455,"projectUrl":"project/food-insecurity-in-america/9253199/","projectTitle":"Food Insecurity in America","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jennifer Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6176038_orig.jpg?crop=750,750,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657570014405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jennifer-flores"},{"teacherId":6530546,"projectId":8946770,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping bring the *Jesse and the Fly* book series to life for my students!\r\n\r\nThese books have had such a powerful impact on our reading time. The humor, relatable characters, and engaging stories have opened doors for so many young readers, especially those who previously struggled to connect with books. Through *Jesse and the Fly*, we've been able to explore important reading skills like making inferences, identifying theme, and understanding character development. Even more importantly, these books have sparked genuine excitement and joy in our classroom.\r\n\r\nReading time in our room is a mix of guided practice, independent choice, and small group discussions. These books have become instant favorites. One student, typically hesitant to pick up a chapter book, asked to borrow one to read at home. Another smiled during reading time and told me, \"This book is like a movie in my brain!\" That's the magic of literature coming to life.\r\n\r\nYour generosity not only gave us a new set of books, but also gave students confidence, curiosity, and a reason to fall in love with reading. Thank you for believing in the power of stories—and in our classroom.\r\n\r\n\r\nLet me know if you want to include any specific student quotes or reactions!","fullyFundedDate":1739376109948,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-everyone/8946770/","projectTitle":"Books For Everyone!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6530546_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657745911421","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6530546"},{"teacherId":6530546,"projectId":8946933,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping bring the \"Jesse and the Fly\" book series to life for my students!\r\n\r\nThese books have had such a powerful impact on our reading time. The humor, relatable characters, and engaging stories have opened doors for so many young readers, especially those who previously struggled to connect with books. Through \"Jesse and the Fly\", we've been able to explore important reading skills like making inferences, identifying theme, and understanding character development. Even more importantly, these books have sparked genuine excitement and joy in our classroom.\r\n\r\nReading time in our room is a mix of guided practice, independent choice, and small group discussions. These books have become instant favorites. One student—typically hesitant to pick up a chapter book—asked to borrow one to read at home. Another smiled during reading time and told me, \"This book is like a movie in my brain!\" That's the magic of literature coming to life.\r\n\r\nYour generosity not only gave us a new set of books but also gave students confidence, curiosity, and a reason to fall in love with reading. Thank you for believing in the power of stories—and in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1741047755263,"projectUrl":"project/a-book-for-everyone/8946933/","projectTitle":"A Book for Everyone","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. G","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6530546_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657745911421","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6530546"},{"teacherId":8561903,"projectId":8563280,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for donating to my project. Many studies have shown that bilingualism is a super power, and can even curb the onset of alzheimer's. \r\n\r\nI choose to do this project because we need more bilingual books in our classrooms. My students love to read and I wanted my Spanish speaking students to have access to books they could read in Spanish. It's been successful and I have had one of my students from last year drop in weekly for a new book to read. She finished the Spanish version of Charlotte's Web last week. \r\n\r\nMy 2nd grader who speak Spanish can also read in Spanish, so she's enjoying reading the books.","fullyFundedDate":1733838439617,"projectUrl":"project/brain-power-and-bilingualism/8563280/","projectTitle":"Brain Power and Bilingualism","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Taylor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8561903_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699111403832","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8561903"},{"teacherId":2456599,"projectId":9016053,"letterContent":"How exciting for over thirty students to be able to come -- for the first time -- to the Denver Regional Science Fair! And even better news -- out of over 300 participants, 4 of our students scored first or second place in their division and were invited to the Colorado State Science Fair! The lab coats purchased from this grant donation bolstered student self-confidence and gave them a better picture of what it looks and feels like to be a scientist.\r\n\r\nWe are thankful for the support of our school and a wider caring community which enabled this academic event to be experienced here at Lotus School for Excellence. Over fifteen teams of young people joined in to build enthusiasm and have other students see, and ask, \"Are you going to Science Fair next year? Can I come too?\" That answer, thanks in part to generous donations, as a resounding, \"Yes!\"","fullyFundedDate":1738780698716,"projectUrl":"project/science-fair-explorers-take-off/9016053/","projectTitle":"Science Fair Explorers Take Off!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Yarrow","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2456599_orig.jpg?crop=356,356,x2,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1701207285379","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2456599"},{"teacherId":9709012,"projectId":8924151,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our students have been able to dive into new books that spark curiosity, build critical thinking skills, and foster a love of reading. These books have enriched our classroom library and introduced students to new vocabulary, diverse perspectives, and more profound comprehension strategies.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an interactive and engaging experience. Students participate in lively discussions, make connections between texts and their own lives, and practice analytical skills such as identifying themes, character development, and the author's purpose. These new books teach them to ask thoughtful questions, make predictions, and draw inferences—key skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nOne student, in particular, has shown an incredible transformation. At the beginning of the year, she struggled with confidence in reading, often hesitant to participate in discussions. However, after discovering a book that resonated with her, she now eagerly raises her hand to share insights and even volunteers to read aloud to the class. Moments like these are a testament to the power of books and the generosity of those who make these opportunities possible.\r\n\r\nThank you for bringing the joy of reading to our students. Your support is making a lasting impact!\r\nThe new materials have been instrumental in supporting our students' academic growth. With access to engaging and level-appropriate texts, students have strengthened their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. These resources have provided opportunities for differentiated instruction, allowing each student to progress at their own pace. Additionally, they have helped foster discussions that build analytical and communication skills, essential for success in all subjects.\r\n\r\nBeyond literacy, these books have enhanced students' writing abilities, as they analyze themes, respond to prompts, and even create their own stories inspired by what they read. The impact is evident in their increased confidence, participation, and excitement for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1739376115977,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library/8924151/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hamideh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9709012"},{"teacherId":6176038,"projectId":9087146,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! We look forward to using these materials in the classroom and learn financial literacy as early as Kindergarten! We are very excited and are grateful for this amazing opportunity. We also look forward to sharing these resources in our grade. Thank you again!\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us to promote financial literacy in our classroom! Each student will learn about saving and spending. Students will be paid for their \"job\", coming to school, and receive bonuses for outstanding performance! You have also provided the students with a school store!","fullyFundedDate":1739199485392,"projectUrl":"project/financial-literacy-wants-vs-needs-in-k/9087146/","projectTitle":"Financial Literacy: Wants vs. Needs in Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jennifer Flores","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6176038_orig.jpg?crop=750,750,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657570014405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-jennifer-flores"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_32264","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1008,"numTeachers":62,"percentFrplEligible":90,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":40,"percentWhite":12,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":42,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"16.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":27.5,"schoolId":32264,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lotus School for Excellence - Middle & High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lotus School for Excellence - Middle & High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/aurora-public-school-district/lotus-school-for-excellence/32264"}