{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Westside Middle School Academy","outOfStateSupporters":35.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10381747,"projectId":9955131,"letterContent":"My students cannot express how thankful they are for the office to Oasis project that was funded by you! \r\nOur new resources have truly transformed my counseling office from a traditional school space into a calming oasis for students. The bean bag chairs are one of the most-used items—students immediately gravitate toward them when they come in for individual check-ins, counseling sessions, or moments when they need to self-regulate.\r\n\r\nOne specific moment that stands out is when a student who was feeling overwhelmed asked if they could \"just sit for a minute.\" They settled into the bean bag chair, put on a smiley pillow, and took a few deep breaths while the ocean-themed white noise, twinkling blue lights, and ocean carpet worked together to create a sense of calm. Within minutes, their body language softened, and they were able to talk about what was bothering them. These resources help students feel safe, grounded, and ready to engage emotionally!\r\nTheir reaction was immediate and joyful. Students' eyes lit up when they walked in and saw the soft seating, blue twinkling lights, and ocean-themed environment. Many said things like, \"This feels like the beach,\" or \"This doesn't feel like school—it feels peaceful.\"\r\n\r\nThe bean bag chairs were an instant hit, and students quickly noticed how different the space felt compared to a typical office. The lamp, especially in the darker early mornings, creates a warm and welcoming glow that students describe as \"sunshine indoors.\" The overall response has been excitement, comfort, and a genuine sense that this is a space created for them.\r\n\r\nThe next steps involve continuing to use this space intentionally as part of students' social-emotional learning and self-regulation skills. Students are learning how to identify their emotions, choose calming strategies, and advocate for what they need—whether that's sitting quietly in a bean bag chair, focusing on the ocean ambiance, or using the space to talk through challenges.\r\n\r\nThis environment allows students to practice coping strategies they can later apply in the classroom and beyond. Because of our donors, this office is no longer just a place students are sent—it's a place they want to come to, where meaningful growth and healing can happen.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful to our donors for making this transformation possible. Your generosity helped turn an office into a true oasis—a space of comfort, calm, and connection for students who need it most. Thank you for believing in our students and in the power of creating environments where they can feel safe, supported, and ready to grow 💙🌊✨","fullyFundedDate":1765809890600,"projectUrl":"project/from-office-to-oasis-a-zen-den-for-stud/9955131/","projectTitle":"From Office to Oasis: A Zen Den for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Darragh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10381747_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x114,y57&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1765462153705","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10381747"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":9900413,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Bringing Stories to Life With 3D Printed Props project. Because of you, our Readers Theater class has been transformed in the most exciting and meaningful way.\r\n\r\nWith access to a 3D printer, students are now able to create simple props that support their performances. They have printed items such as ice cream cones, coins, phones, trophies, and hearts to represent key objects or ideas from their scripts. Creating these props has helped students visualize scenes and stay engaged during rehearsals, while giving them an added sense of ownership and pride in their work.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping our students not just perform stories—but truly bring them to life.","fullyFundedDate":1763627067325,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-stories-to-life-with-3d-printed/9900413/","projectTitle":"Bringing Stories to Life With 3D Printed Props","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leitheuser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8235477_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639506038821","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leitheuser"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":9973485,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to Rachelle and Scott, Margaret Leach, and our anonymous donors for your generosity in helping fund an additional Nugget cover for our classroom. Your support has made a very real difference in a way that truly matters day to day.\r\n\r\nThe Nugget Couch is a beloved part of our room—a space where students feel comfortable, supported, and at ease. As with real life, however, the classroom can be unpredictable and messy, especially this time of year. Having an extra cover allows me to respond quickly and discreetly when accidents happen, helping students feel safe, respected, and able to move past an embarrassing moment with dignity. In the short time we have had the new cover, we have had a few unpleasant bodily fluids in the classroom- thank you, flu season. Thankfully, I have the extra cover, so I did not have to \"close\" the Nugget seating. \r\n\r\nBecause of you, I can keep this important space clean, welcoming, and available for students who rely on it for comfort, collaboration, and regulation. I am so grateful for your kindness and thoughtfulness in supporting both the physical and emotional needs of my students. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1766978446851,"projectUrl":"project/clean-comfy-seating/9973485/","projectTitle":"Clean Comfy Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leitheuser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8235477_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639506038821","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leitheuser"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":9778977,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and believing in my students. Thanks to your generosity, our 3D printer has quickly become one of the most loved tools in our room. Students are learning how to make a positive impact on others.\r\n\r\nThey have been especially excited about designing Kindness Tokens to celebrate peers who show compassion, encouragement, and empathy. From backpack charms with uplifting messages to small tokens of appreciation and fun, students are constantly brainstorming new ways to spread kindness throughout our school and beyond. What has been most powerful to witness is how student-driven this work has been; they truly want to recognize others and make people feel seen and valued.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, students are learning that their ideas, skills, and voices matter—and that even small acts of kindness can ripple through a community. Your support has helped turn their vision into reality, and we are so grateful for the lasting impact you've made on our students and our school community. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1761064118287,"projectUrl":"project/kindness-in-the-making-3d-printing-for/9778977/","projectTitle":"Kindness in the Making: 3D Printing for Good","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leitheuser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8235477_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639506038821","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leitheuser"},{"teacherId":5933874,"projectId":9516811,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing my students with coloring materials to bring their science modeling to life. In recent weeks my students have: used colored pencils to graph two different trend lines of the relationship between magnetic distance and force, used markers to model the forces acting on their Spinning Sculpture Motor, used highlighters to keep track of and annotate their unit vocabulary, and used black flair pens to emphasize their written explanations on final models. It's December, which means tissues are a must! We're almost through the supply that you generously provided us with. I've used the candy as a motivator and reward system on inevitable lower energy days. All in all, every material that was provided to us is used on a weekly, if not daily basis and I cannot thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1757423239883,"projectUrl":"project/stocked-up-for-a-successful-school-year/9516811/","projectTitle":"Stocked Up for a Successful School Year!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chassagnoux","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5933874_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y153&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575135883123","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-chassagnoux"},{"teacherId":5933874,"projectId":9516884,"letterContent":"During our Forces & Motions and Electricity & Magnetism units, modeling, diagraming, and color coding are the interactive notebook's best friend. The donations to this project provided me with the opportunity to print our color versions of photos students wouldn't otherwise be able to see. I print out color keys of notes and models for students to glue into their notebooks. Our school only has free access to black/white printing.\r\n\r\nThe photos that I included in this thank you package show the color notes that students have access to thanks to the access to color ink as well as the intro to our Genetics Unit where students organize tulips by different observable traits. Thank you so much for providing this opportunity to my students. Access to color ink has proven to be an essential part of keeping our science units engaging!","fullyFundedDate":1757423266664,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-science-learning-with-color/9516884/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Science Learning With Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chassagnoux","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5933874_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y153&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575135883123","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-chassagnoux"},{"teacherId":3436105,"projectId":9673769,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generous support, I was able to bring a new level of excitement and motivation to my 7th-grade math classroom. This project encouraged students to consistently engage with i-Ready My Path math lessons—an essential program for personalized skill development. Although these lessons cannot be graded, they play a vital role in helping students strengthen foundational math skills and close learning gaps.\r\n\r\nWith the funds from this grant, I implemented a prize-based incentive system using a \"treasure chest\" model. Students who completed their assigned i-Ready lessons earned small, age-appropriate prizes as tangible rewards for their effort and dedication. The treasure chest was stocked with engaging items that appealed to middle school students, and it quickly became a fun and motivating part of our classroom routine.\r\n\r\nThis positive reinforcement strategy has significantly boosted student motivation, increased lesson completion rates, and created a more enthusiastic approach to independent math practice. Students look forward to earning their prizes each week, and many students have begun challenging themselves to complete even more lessons than required.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful for this support—it truly made a difference in how my students view their learning. Thank you for helping make math a more motivating, engaging, and rewarding experience for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1757770749543,"projectUrl":"project/treasure-chest-prizes/9673769/","projectTitle":"Treasure Chest Prizes!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Logan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3436105_orig.jpg?crop=212,212,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729625167729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3436105"},{"teacherId":8916711,"projectId":9274277,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our 6th grade classroom has taken a bright breath of fresh air. The new supplies have already woven themselves into our daily routines. Students are using the materials to support everything from close-reading annotations to interactive group projects, and the effect has been immediate and energizing.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments happened during our first \"supplies reveal.\" As soon as I set out the new markers, sticky notes, notebooks, and organizational bins, the room buzzed with the kind of excitement usually reserved for field trips. Students dove right in: color-coding their RACE writing responses, creating graphic organizers for Social Studies, and proudly setting up their own neatly arranged supply stations. Watching them light up over something as simple as having the right tools reminded me just how much access shapes engagement.\r\n\r\nYour support didn't just restock a cabinet; it lifted a weight. It allowed every student, regardless of what they walked in with, to participate fully and confidently in our lessons.\r\n\r\nRight now, my students are working on a cross-curricular reading and writing project that blends our Bud, Not Buddy unit with nonfiction analysis. Their new supplies have become part of that process: annotating texts, drafting claims on fresh sticky notes, and using bright markers to map out the obstacles and themes the characters face. Our next step is to transition these ideas into full written responses, and the organizational tools you funded are helping students keep track of drafts, evidence, and revisions throughout the unit.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools to learn boldly and joyfully. Your support is felt every single day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1754062017579,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-supplies-refresh/9274277/","projectTitle":"Classroom Supplies Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Christie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8916711_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683031285775","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8916711"},{"teacherId":9986937,"projectId":9464903,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom technology project! The new Logitech speaker, wireless keyboard, and multi-port dongle have already made a noticeable difference in our daily learning. The upgraded setup allows students to engage more deeply with multimedia lessons—whether they're presenting projects themselves, watching educational videos, or collaborating on group activities. The clear audio from the speaker and the flexibility of the wireless keyboard have created a more dynamic, interactive environment that helps students stay focused and excited about learning.\r\n\r\nThe students are especially thrilled about the wireless keyboard and the ability to move around the room while controlling our classroom presentations. They love feeling in charge of their learning—whether advancing slides, typing responses, or playing review games. The new speaker has also become a favorite during interactive read-alouds and classroom music during independent learning time. Everyone can clearly hear every sound and voice, making the experience more immersive and engaging.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just provide tools—it helped create moments of pride, connection, and excitement in our classroom. Thank you for making that possible!","fullyFundedDate":1758223849820,"projectUrl":"project/keys-to-connection-building-a-tech-read/9464903/","projectTitle":"Keys to Connection: Building a Tech-Ready Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Savino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9986937_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746890589995","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9986937"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":9296207,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough for your generosity in supporting this project. Your single donation funded the project (with a match), and it has had such a real and meaningful impact on classroom culture at the start of the school year.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, I've been able to bring in engaging, high-quality lessons and activities that truly light up my students' learning. These resources from Teachers Pay Teachers have helped me create lessons that are not only aligned to our curriculum but also spark joy and curiosity — especially for students who sometimes struggle to stay motivated. It's been such a gift to see their faces light up when we start a new activity and hear them say, \"Oh, I love when we do these!\"\r\n\r\nYour support has also given me something just as valuable — time. Instead of spending hours creating materials from scratch, I can now focus that time on meeting with students, checking in one-on-one, and giving them the encouragement they need to grow.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting my students and me. I hope you'll consider visiting my page again in the future — your continued support makes an incredible difference every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1754076413475,"projectUrl":"project/the-gift-of-time-and-quality-resources/9296207/","projectTitle":"The Gift of Time and Quality Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leitheuser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8235477_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639506038821","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leitheuser"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":9351882,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for your incredible generosity in fully funding my project! As a middle school reading intervention teacher, I work with students who are reading two to four grade levels behind. These students are working extremely hard to catch up, and your support is enabling me to provide them with the very best instruction possible.\r\n\r\nThanks to your kindness, I have been able to and will continue to study professional development books grounded in the Science of Reading—resources that will help me better understand how my students learn to read and how to meet them exactly where they are. I'm excited to bring these evidence-based strategies into my classroom so my students can experience more success, confidence, and joy as readers.\r\n\r\nYour gift doesn't just support my learning—it strengthens the foundation for my students' futures. Thank you for believing in teachers and in the power of literacy to change lives.","fullyFundedDate":1751563279374,"projectUrl":"project/science-of-reading-professional-develop/9351882/","projectTitle":"Science of Reading: Professional Development","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leitheuser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8235477_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1639506038821","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leitheuser"},{"teacherId":3377028,"projectId":9408974,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to my DonorsChoose project, Essential Reading Supplies. Your support made it possible to secure targeted, phonics-based materials, and I'm deeply grateful.\r\n\r\nThese resources are making a meaningful difference in strengthening my students' decoding skills. Because of your generosity, I'm able to use research-based strategies that provide focused support. As a result, my students are not only improving their reading and comprehension, but they're also gaining confidence and a renewed belief in themselves.\r\n\r\nI truly appreciate your recognition of the importance of equipping older, struggling readers with the right tools. Your kindness is creating a lasting impact on their learning journeys and helping open new opportunities for their future.","fullyFundedDate":1750948021839,"projectUrl":"project/essential-reading-supplies/9408974/","projectTitle":"Essential Reading Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Christine","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3377028_orig.jpg?crop=499,500,x0,y140&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1687526106918","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3377028"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_107460","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":736,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":71,"percentAsian":5,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":33,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":51,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"18.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":64.8,"schoolId":107460,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Westside Middle School Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Westside Middle School Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/danbury-public-schools/westside-middle-school-academy/107460"}