{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Poudre Community Academy","outOfStateSupporters":24.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4395823,"projectId":9818974,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our classroom. Your donation has helped provide healthy snacks for students as well as a much-needed quality paper cutter, and both have made a meaningful difference in our daily learning environment. The snacks have been especially appreciated by students navigating everyday challenges and uncertainty; many were excited, surprised, and genuinely grateful to see healthy options available in the classroom. Having something small to eat helps students stay focused, attentive, and ready to participate in learning. Your generosity has also saved me hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs and even allowed me to create snack bins for four additional classrooms so more students can benefit.\r\n\r\nThe new paper cutter has also been a tremendous help. Because I use interactive notebooks and prioritize multi-modal learning, I regularly prepare materials that students cut, organize, and interact with during lessons. Teaching in a modular classroom some distance from the staff lounge paper cutter, having one in our space saves valuable time and makes daily preparation much easier. It's one of those tools that gets used constantly and is appreciated every day. Your support helps create a classroom where students have both the resources and the environment they need to stay engaged and ready to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1765313274631,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-the-kids-and-tools-for-the-te/9818974/","projectTitle":"Snacks for the Kids and Tools for the Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Melinda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4395823_orig.jpg?crop=959,959,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752040797945","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melinda-phipps"},{"teacherId":4395823,"projectId":9821304,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity in helping provide healthy snacks for our students. Your support came at a particularly meaningful time, as many families in our community have been navigating daily challenges and uncertainty. Having healthy snacks available in our classroom has made a real difference for students who come to school hungry or simply need something small to help them get through the day. When students realized snacks were available, their reactions were immediate. Many were excited, surprised, and genuinely grateful that someone cared enough to make sure they had something to eat.\r\n\r\nYour donations also relieved a significant financial burden for me as a teacher. In the past, I often purchased snacks out of pocket to help students stay focused and comfortable during class. Because of your generosity, I was able to save hundreds of dollars while still making sure students had access to healthy options. In fact, there was enough support that I was even able to put together snack bins for four other classrooms so more students across our school could benefit.\r\n\r\nSomething as simple as a healthy snack can make a big difference in a student's ability to focus, participate, and stay engaged in learning. When basic needs are met, students are better able to listen, think critically, and contribute in class. Your kindness is helping create an environment where students feel supported and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make our classrooms places where young people ca","fullyFundedDate":1763494115788,"projectUrl":"project/proper-fuel-for-hungry-students/9821304/","projectTitle":"Proper Fuel for Hungry Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Melinda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4395823_orig.jpg?crop=959,959,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752040797945","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melinda-phipps"},{"teacherId":4395823,"projectId":9742424,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom through DonorsChoose. Because of your generosity, our students now have access to hands-on educational materials related to vaping and nicotine use, along with visual tools that help make complex topics easier to understand and more engaging to explore.\r\n\r\nIn our classes, students learn about the developing adolescent brain, the impact of substance misuse, and healthy coping skills. The vaping and nicotine education materials you helped provide allow students to better understand how nicotine affects the brain, why adolescents are especially vulnerable to addiction, and how marketing and social influences can shape choices. Having visual and interactive tools makes these conversations more concrete and meaningful than reading about the topics alone.\r\n\r\nWe have already begun using some of the materials with students, and we look forward to incorporating the rest of the vaping and nicotine educational resources into lessons during the coming semester. These materials will help students explore how substances affect brain development and practice thinking critically about the choices they make.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping provide resources that support their learning, awareness, and well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1758853457918,"projectUrl":"project/combat-nicotine-and-vape-habits-for-high/9742424/","projectTitle":"Combat Nicotine and Vape Habits for High School Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Melinda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4395823_orig.jpg?crop=959,959,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752040797945","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melinda-phipps"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9361190,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for the gift of digital thermometers to our classroom for the \"C\" for Yourself Climate Change experiment. \r\n\r\nLast week, my chemistry students did an experiment in our Climate Literacy Unit. They took the temperature of 5 different systems. Each system was a beaker with 50 mL of water. Beaker 1 had no lid. Beaker 2 added a clear lid. Beaker 3 had a lid and 2 tablets of Alka-Seltzer. Beaker 4 had a lid and 4 tablets of Alka-Seltzer. Beaker 5 was similar to Beaker 2 except that we had a white background under the beaker. (All other beakers had a black background.\r\n\r\nEach 5 minutes, students took the inside temperature of the beaker with a digital thermometer. They took the temperature of the surface outside the beaker with the infrared thermometer. Our data showed that the temperature of beakers with carbon dioxide was higher than the temperature without carbon dioxide. We saw that the temperature with white backgrounds was lower than than with a dark background. Students took temperatures for 30 minutes. \r\n\r\nI think this is a powerful lab because students saw for themselves that science demands data. Furthermore, they saw that carbon dioxide increases the temperature of a system. I told them that \"YOU saw it. Carbon dioxide raised the temperature of the system.\" \r\n\r\nAlso, I want to apologize that there is only one photo. I accidentally hit \"upload\" before I included more photos, and Donors Choose was not able to reset the photos. Please be assured that we did a controlled experiment using your thermometers and Alka-Seltzer donation. I am so grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1750255572337,"projectUrl":"project/is-climate-change-for-real-c-for-your/9361190/","projectTitle":"Is Climate Change for Real? “C” for Yourself!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9894137,"letterContent":"I am so appreciative for the Celestron compound microscope with a screen to use in my forensic science class. \r\n\r\nWe are in our trace evidence unit. Last week, we were looking at slides of both human and animal hair. With the new microscope, students or I am able to focus a slide, and it's very easy for students to see what I want them to see. Conversely, I can see what they are looking at.\r\n\r\nThe photos that I've attached show a medulla (or center) of a pig hair. Another photo shows the detail of an insect eye. \r\n\r\nI hope that in the future that I'm able to slowly add some similar screen microscopes to the class because this LCD screen microscope is such a useful teaching tool. No more \"I see my eyelashes!\" My co-principal also noted what a nice microscope that it is in class. Thank you for your donation to my classroom. I will be sure to take good care of this microscope so that it can be used for many years.","fullyFundedDate":1764033405275,"projectUrl":"project/forensic-science-every-contact-leaves-a/9894137/","projectTitle":"Forensic Science- Every Contact Leaves a Trace!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9869537,"letterContent":"I am so appreciative for your support of me and my classes with a Teachers Pay Teachers gift card. The gift card goes a long way in developing units that are appropriate and interesting to my students.\r\n\r\nBefore the holiday, I purchased TPT resources for my forensic science class. I developed a holiday forensics unit to stretch between Thanksgiving and the winter break. One of the excellent resources was called the \"Christmas Forensic Caper.\" I used this resources as a final exam for my alternative high school students. It included various suspects with holiday names. For each, students had information on fingerprints, alibi, motive, DNA, and footwear impressions. It was perfect. I even color-printed and laminated the resource so that I can use it again next year.\r\n\r\nOne of the units units that has been positively impacted is my Coding and Robotics unit for Physical Science. I purchased a \"Winter Coding\" sheet to help my students think sequentially. I purchased a guide to that accompanies the Make Code Arcade website. The coding unit is new to me so it's helpful to be able to see what others have done with this unit.\r\n\r\nI also purchased materials about metals to accompany the STEM metalsmithing project. \r\n\r\nAnother unit that will be positively impacted is my Climate Literacy unit for chemistry. We will be graphing and analyzing data. We will learn to evaluate information so we can think scientifically about information that applies to our lives.\r\n\r\nI am so appreciative of your kindness and support. You don't even know me or my students, and yet you reach out and hold us up. Wishing you all the best!","fullyFundedDate":1763601076124,"projectUrl":"project/lifting-up-alternative-school-science/9869537/","projectTitle":"Lifting Up Alternative School Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9837693,"letterContent":"I really enjoyed bringing a metalsmithing unit to my physical science class at my alternative high school. \r\n\r\nWe began by learning some properties of metals.\r\n\r\nStudents all began by designing a copper bracelet cut. They make a pattern with permanent marker. We put tape on the back and we placed the copper into ferric chloride solution for etching them. After the metal etched, we used sandpaper to clean up the cuff. We dipped our etched copper into a patina solution called \"Liver of Sulfur\" that creates neat colors. We used sandpaper to clean it up. We coated the pieces in clear nail polish. We then bent them on a bracelet form. I think this process is amazing! \r\n\r\nAfter the etching, I taught the students to use a jeweler's saw. They learned how to replace the blades. They learned how to adjust their technique to not break blades as often! Each student chose either copper or brass for their metal. They chose an ornament pattern. After tracing the pattern, they used rubber cement to adhere the pattern to the metal. They used a bench pin and jewelers saw to saw out their figure. Some chose cats. Some chose stars. One of my students asked me to do a mole for the example! This was excellent for their hand-eye-attention (cutting copper) because it requires patience. Trying to go fast doesn't work! All students were able to use a saw to create a pattern ornament. They used files and sandpaper to make the ornament more finished. A couple of them etched the ornament. We hung them on our classroom tree when we were done. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for this opportunity to bring metalsmithing to bring more STEAM into physical science.","fullyFundedDate":1762028364676,"projectUrl":"project/steaming-along-in-physical-science/9837693/","projectTitle":"STEAMing Along in Physical Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9730048,"letterContent":"I really enjoyed bringing a metalsmithing unit to my physical science class at my alternative high school. \r\n\r\nWe began by learning some properties of metals.\r\n\r\nStudents all began by designing a copper bracelet cut. They make a pattern with permanent marker. We put tape on the back and we placed the copper into ferric chloride solution for etching them. After the metal etched, we used sandpaper to clean up the cuff. We dipped our etched copper into a patina solution called \"Liver of Sulfur\" that creates neat colors. We used sandpaper to clean it up. We coated the pieces in clear nail polish. We then bent them on a bracelet form. I think this process is amazing! \r\n\r\nAfter the etching, I taught the students to use a jeweler's saw. They learned how to replace the blades. They learned how to adjust their technique to not break blades as often! Each student chose either copper or brass for their metal. They chose an ornament pattern. After tracing the pattern, they used rubber cement to adhere the pattern to the metal. They used a bench pin and jewelers saw to saw out their figure. Some chose cats. Some chose stars. One of my students asked me to do a mole for the example! This was excellent for their hand-eye-attention (cutting copper) because it requires patience. Trying to go fast doesn't work! All students were able to use a saw to create a pattern ornament. They used files and sandpaper to make the ornament more finished. A couple of them etched the ornament. We hung them on our classroom tree when we were done. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for this opportunity to bring metalsmithing to bring more STEAM into physical science.","fullyFundedDate":1760659763394,"projectUrl":"project/steaming-ahead-into-metalsmithing/9730048/","projectTitle":"STEAMing Ahead Into Metalsmithing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9304193,"letterContent":"The Veggie Volts kits were a perfect addition to our Unit 6 in Chemistry at my alternative high school. The anchor event for this unit is \"Why Can Lithium Ion Batteries Catch Fire?\" \r\n\r\nEach student kit provided three zinc and three copper electrodes to serve as a cathode and anode in a battery cell. Students used the provided multimeter to measure both the voltage and current of each battery. Potatoes served as the electrolyte from electrons to move from the zinc to the copper. Students connected the potatoes in series. Each potato was able to generate a little less than 1 volt. At least wo potatoes were needed to light an LED and to power a buzzer.\r\n\r\nThis kit was fantastic for students to change variables and to get numerical data. Variables that could be changed were distance between the electrodes, the depth into the potato, and the type of electrolyte. Students were able to see that simply using metals of two different activities is what is needed in a battery.\r\nWe used this lab in conjuction with chemical reactions of aluminum and copper, reacting a penny with acid to see the difference between copper and zinc reactivity, and watching a video from NOVA about the Search for a Super Battery. Without your donation, this activity would have been impossible to access this year. The kits are exactly what my students at an alternative high school need. I am filled with appreciation for your kindness. Wishing you all the best.","fullyFundedDate":1755699027939,"projectUrl":"project/vegetable-volts-a-chemistry-lab-experi/9304193/","projectTitle":"Vegetable Volts! a Chemistry Lab Experience in Colorado Alternative School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9639674,"letterContent":"In the third quarter, we did a unit on Climate Literacy. Students graphdata about carbon dioxide levels from the Mauna Loa observatory as well as from ancient ice cores in Antarcica. Students will learn that carbon dioxide is a product of fossil fuel burning. They did an experiment in which they measured temperature of systems containing various amounts of carbon dioxide. \r\n\r\nAs part of this unit, my students made solar vehicles. They used cardboard, metal axles, straws, gears, a solar panel, and a motor. They smiled when their car's gears started turning. They were happier when the car moved on the sidewalk outside!\r\n\r\nSome kids were able to get their car to work fairly quickly. Others had to figure out how to reduce friction or to choose gears that would work together to propel the car. \r\n\r\nI am extremely grateful for your donation. The kids at my alternative school truly enjoy the hands-on experiences. I think it's neat to see that cars can work without burning a fuel!","fullyFundedDate":1757801746756,"projectUrl":"project/look-on-the-sunny-side/9639674/","projectTitle":"Look On the Sunny Side!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9526387,"letterContent":"I am grateful for your kind donation of \"Scratch Off\" quiz cards to use with my class. They are called \"Immediate Feedback\" cards. They are not readily available to purchase, and so your gift is unique and new to most students.\r\n\r\nThe reason that I wanted these cards for my students is to help them actively take a quiz. The scratch-off quiz cards have been successful for me in the past to encourage discussion and pausing to think before answering a question.\r\n\r\nI have used the cards both in my chemistry and physical science classes.\r\n\r\nWhat I discovered is that my students have a difficult time in slowing down before just answering a question. They were not good at using their notes and having a discussion before just quickly answering a question. Their impulse control to just get something done is not where I want them to be! (yet)\r\n\r\nSo I now have more information to help my students. I will focus on teaching them how to use their notes. I will focus on helping them to review. I will try to help them to understand that it is okay to make mistakes while trying to do their best the first time. In a world where kids can just click a computer answer and then redo a quiz, these hands-on cards can help us to develop thinking and impulse-control skills. I personally like them much more than a computer quiz because of that immediate and physical feedback. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1755912470267,"projectUrl":"project/scratch-for-success/9526387/","projectTitle":"Scratch for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"},{"teacherId":3637751,"projectId":9748005,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for the gift of electronic balances for my science classroom at an alternative high school. We actually used them the same week that they arrived! It was perfect because we had a celebration for Mole Day (October 23rd) and we used the balances for \"counting by weighing\" and measuring out ingredients for hot choc-mole-ate! \r\n\r\nWhat was really nice about these balances were the bright screens and easy to read numbers. What is also nice is that the balances \"remembered\" that we set them to grams. (The first time we used them, we had to change the mode several times to get to grams.) The next time we turned them on, however, they came right up to grams! So that is really nice for us.\r\n\r\nWhen we started the lab, I said, \"Did you notice that we have BRAND NEW BALANCES?!\" I told them all that they were a gift for us from a donor across the country. We all feel uplifted. I am so happy to be able to do as much as we can reasonable do in an alternative high school setting in a 100+ year old building with one sink. Thank you again for your kindness and generosity. \r\n\r\nBlessings!","fullyFundedDate":1760560736848,"projectUrl":"project/science-life-needs-balance-and-digita/9748005/","projectTitle":"Science Life Needs Balance... and Digital Balances too","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sue Bober (Science Teacher)","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3637751_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727051962100","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3637751"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_70837","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":212,"numTeachers":10,"percentFrplEligible":64,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":49,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"8 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"21.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":75.3,"schoolId":70837,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Poudre Community Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Poudre Community Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/poudre-school-district/poudre-transition-center-fullana/70837"}