{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Westside Middle School Academy","outOfStateSupporters":34.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9991773,"projectId":10212617,"letterContent":"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated graphic novels to our classroom! Your generosity has brought so much excitement to our students and helped spark a love of reading in new and meaningful ways. Seeing students eagerly flipping through pages, connecting with characters, and getting lost in stories reminds us that reading comes in many forms. Graphic novels are opening doors for reluctant readers, inspiring imaginations, building confidence, and showing students that books can be both fun and meaningful.\r\n\r\nThank you for putting stories into their hands, encouraging their creativity, and helping us foster a classroom where every student can find a book they love. Your donations are making a difference, one page at a time! ❤️📚","fullyFundedDate":1785553585805,"projectUrl":"project/picture-this-bringing-graphic-novels-to/10212617/","projectTitle":"Picture This: Bringing Graphic Novels to Sixth Grade Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lasalandra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9991773_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784654801229","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9991773"},{"teacherId":9991773,"projectId":10212804,"letterContent":"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated books to our classroom! Your generosity has done so much more than put new books into our students' hands; it has sparked curiosity, inspired imaginations, and opened the door to new adventures. Seeing the excitement on their faces as they explore new stories and discover new favorites is a reminder of just how powerful the gift of reading can be.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students, encouraging their love of reading, and helping us create a classroom where stories inspire, dreams grow, and a love of learning takes root. We are so grateful for your kindness! ❤️📚","fullyFundedDate":1785459085077,"projectUrl":"project/crack-the-case-help-us-stock-mystery-bo/10212804/","projectTitle":"Crack the Case: Help Us Stock Mystery Books for Teens","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lasalandra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9991773_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784654801229","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9991773"},{"teacherId":3048851,"projectId":6555077,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Summer school can be a challenging time for students who are working hard to make up credits after a tough academic year. My primary goal this summer was to rebuild my students' confidence and help them experience what daily success feels like. Thanks to your support, our incentive charts and tracking stickers have turned our classroom into a vibrant space where every step forward is recognized. By visually recording their daily attendance, completed assignments, and class participation, my students can literally see their own growth build day by day.\r\n\r\nWhat excited my students most was taking physical ownership of their progress. In summer school, consistent attendance and active participation can be major hurdles, but having a clear, visual way to measure effort completely shifted the classroom culture. Students walk through the door eager to place their morning attendance sticker, and hands shoot up during discussions as they work to earn participation stickers. One student in particular, who arrived on day one feeling defeated and reluctant to engage, completely transformed as his chart filled up. Seeing his daily efforts turn into a visual record of accomplishment gave him the quiet pride and confidence he needed to realize he is capable of succeeding.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, I was able to accomplish something profound in my teaching: helping my students discover intrinsic motivation. Research shows that tracking progress builds internal drive, and this simple system proved to my students that big achievements are built from small, consistent daily choices. They are leaving summer school not only with recovered credits, but with renewed self-esteem and the belief that they can thrive when September arrives. Thank you for giving my students the second chance, encouragement, and motivation they truly deserved!","fullyFundedDate":1658177945108,"projectUrl":"project/summer-school-success/6555077/","projectTitle":"Summer School Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Pokrinchak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3048851_orig.png?crop=637,637,x25,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1586813460856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/julie-pokrinchak"},{"teacherId":3048851,"projectId":10650542,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support! Thanks to your contribution, our classroom is fully stocked with tissues and Lysol disinfecting wipes, creating a clean, healthy, and welcoming space where my students can thrive. While basic hygiene supplies might seem simple, having them readily available in our room has made a noticeable difference in our daily routine. My students no longer have to leave the room or interrupt a lesson just to grab a tissue, which keeps our instructional time seamless and keeps everyone focused on learning.\r\n\r\nMy students were surprisingly excited to see our new supplies! They take real pride in caring for our shared space, and wiping down their desks at the end of small-group activities has become an empowering routine they complete willingly. Having a clean, fresh environment gives them peace of mind, and having these essentials right at hand communicates a powerful message: their comfort, health, and well-being truly matter.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, I have been able to build a classroom culture centered on mutual care, safety, and respect. You haven't just provided tissues and cleaning wipes—you've helped create an environment where my curious, eager students feel protected and valued, allowing them to devote all their energy to growing, discovering, and supporting one another. Thank you for making our classroom a safer, happier place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1789590157226,"projectUrl":"project/clean-classroom-ready-to-learn/10650542/","projectTitle":"Clean Classroom, Ready to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Pokrinchak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3048851_orig.png?crop=637,637,x25,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1586813460856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/julie-pokrinchak"},{"teacherId":3048851,"projectId":10535295,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing vibrant color into our classroom! Thanks to your generosity, our new color printer and ink have completely transformed how my middle school students interact with their project-based work. Before this project was funded, my students put incredible effort into designing digital infographics, science diagrams, and visual stories on their screens, only to see those vivid details flattened into dull black-and-white printouts. Now, color is serving as a powerful learning tool. Whether students are color-coding steps in a complex biological cycle, distinguishing data sets on a graph, or mapping out key plot points, printing in full color allows them to organize their thinking clearly and highlight the subtle details they worked so hard to craft.\r\n\r\nWhat has excited my students most is the sheer pride of holding a physical, professional-looking final product in their hands. For many of my students who do not have access to a color printer at home, seeing their digital creations come to life in rich detail feels like a major accomplishment. One student in particular, who usually feels self-conscious about presenting his work to the class, was beaming when he printed his color-coded history timeline poster. Being able to clearly distinguish historical eras through vivid visual choices gave him the confidence to stand up, walk his peers through his project, and proudly pack it in his binder to show his family at home.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, I have been able to elevate what is possible in my teaching. I am no longer limited in assignment design; instead, I can facilitate rich, project-based units where visual communication, artistic expression, and analytical clarity are fully realized. Your gift has brought equity, pride, and authentic ownership to our classroom floor, giving every student the chance to see their best ideas printed exactly the way they imagined them. Thank you for believing in my students and making our learning space a brighter, more inspiring place!","fullyFundedDate":1791988485728,"projectUrl":"project/a-splash-of-color/10535295/","projectTitle":"A Splash of Color!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Pokrinchak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3048851_orig.png?crop=637,637,x25,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1586813460856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/julie-pokrinchak"},{"teacherId":3048851,"projectId":10569495,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Thanks to your support, our classroom now has a laminator and laminating supplies, and the impact on our daily math lessons has been immediate and transformative. My students have been hard at work designing their own personalized math \"hint sheets\" filled with the specific formulas, vocabulary, and step-by-step strategies they know they need most. Running their handwritten reference sheets through the laminator turned their hard work into shiny, professional-looking, and durable learning tools that sit permanently at their desks. It has made abstract math concepts feel concrete, manageable, and accessible every single day.\r\n\r\nWhat excited the students most was seeing their own creations transformed into \"official\" resources that look and feel like real, store-bought tools! In a middle school classroom, paper resources usually end up crinkled at the bottom of a backpack within a week. Being able to laminate their work gave them a true sense of pride and ownership. Several of my students who typically struggle with math anxiety have warmed to this tool in a powerful way. One student in particular, who used to freeze and wait for help whenever we started complex multi-step problems, now proudly pulls out his laminated strategy card, traces the steps with his finger, and works through problems completely on his own. Having that durable safety net right beside him gave him the quiet reassurance he needed to trust his own abilities.\r\n\r\nWhile a laminator might seem like simple technology, in our classroom, it has become a engine for student independence. Instead of raising their hands immediately when they get stuck, my students now default to checking their laminated guides first, reinforcing their problem-solving skills and self-advocacy. Your gift did far more than protect paper—it helped my students build the confidence to say, \"I know how to figure this out!\" Thank you for believing in our classroom and giving my students a lasting tool for success.","fullyFundedDate":1789062701282,"projectUrl":"project/make-it-last-a-laminator-for-learning/10569495/","projectTitle":"Make It Last: A Laminator for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Pokrinchak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3048851_orig.png?crop=637,637,x25,y272&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1586813460856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/julie-pokrinchak"},{"teacherId":5973317,"projectId":8201448,"letterContent":"Great news! Thanks to your generosity, I've used Kuta Software to create math materials for my students and fellow teachers, benefiting even more students than expected! Your support has made a lasting impact on our school community.\r\n\r\nI'm now teaching science as well and plan to create new DonorsChoose projects to provide hands-on experiments and engaging activities that bring science to life. I hope you'll continue partnering with me to make these opportunities possible. Your ongoing support can help inspire curiosity, build confidence, and give even more students the chance to learn through discovery. Thank you for investing in our students!","fullyFundedDate":1709127719002,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-personal-get-the-math-8-stude/8201448/","projectTitle":"Let's Get Personal! Get the Math 8 Students PERSONALIZED Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rovnak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5973317_orig.jpg?crop=373,373,x43,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575311153623","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-rovnak"},{"teacherId":9455350,"projectId":8409860,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom! Your generous donation provides engaging, hands-on math resources that made learning more interactive. The Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards allows me to select supplemental activities that support my students' mathematical skills that align with my students' needs. The laminating pouches will help preserve these resources so they can be reused throughout the year. \r\n\r\nThese resources will enhance our curriculum and help make learning both fun and accessible. Thank you for believing in my students and helping me create a classroom where they can learn, grow, and succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1717282307459,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-supplemental-activities/8409860/","projectTitle":"Engaging Supplemental Activities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LaBarbera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/labarbera"},{"teacherId":9455350,"projectId":10212755,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and investing in my students' learning! Your generosity has provided materials that will make math more engaging, organized, and hands-on throughout the year.\r\n\r\nThe Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards and math games will provide meaningful opportunities for students to practice important skills in creative and interactive ways. The everyday supplies will ensure students have what they need to participate, while the laminating materials will allow me to create durable, reusable resources. The organizational tools will also help keep the activities organized so we can preserve the materials.\r\n\r\nMy students thrive when they can collaborate, explore, and learn creatively. Thank you for believing in them and providing the tools they need to grow in confidence and strengthen their math skills!","fullyFundedDate":1778237694517,"projectUrl":"project/boosting-math-skills-with-games-resourc/10212755/","projectTitle":"Boosting Math Skills With Games, Resources, and Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LaBarbera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/labarbera"},{"teacherId":5973317,"projectId":10248874,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project for a $100 gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers! Your generosity will make a real difference in my 8th grade classroom.\r\nTeachers Pay Teachers is an online marketplace where educators create and share original lesson plans, activities, worksheets, and projects. With your gift card, I will be able to purchase high-quality, classroom-tested resources created by other experienced teachers — materials I wouldn't otherwise have the time or budget to develop from scratch. \r\n\r\nWhile I have not applied it to any resources yet, I am certain that it will be put to good use since I have recently begun teaching 7th and 8th grade science as well.\r\n\r\nYour support reminded me that even small investments — like a single gift card — can ripple out into dozens of student experiences. Thank you for believing in public education and in my students. I'm so grateful for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1779042124119,"projectUrl":"project/teacher-time-machine/10248874/","projectTitle":"Teacher Time Machine","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rovnak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5973317_orig.jpg?crop=373,373,x43,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575311153623","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-rovnak"},{"teacherId":8235477,"projectId":10332302,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project and helping bring the excitement of soccer to our students! Your generosity has provided our athletes with equipment that will give them meaningful opportunities to practice, develop their skills, and build confidence both on and off the field.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting parts of this project was being able to gift World Cup soccer balls directly to students. They were thrilled to receive their own ball and now have the opportunity to practice dribbling, passing, shooting, and footwork at home. Having equipment of their own allows students to continue practicing beyond the school day and share their love of soccer with family and friends.\r\n\r\nThe remaining training materials will have an impact far beyond one group of students. These resources will be used by teams in our community as well as the after-school soccer program, providing opportunities for students to participate in activities throughout the winter months.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students, our athletes, and our community. Your generosity is helping keep the love of soccer—and the lessons that come with it—going long after the final whistle!","fullyFundedDate":1781205962285,"projectUrl":"project/world-cup-fever-building-skills-teamwo/10332302/","projectTitle":"World Cup Fever: Building Skills, Teamwork, and Fun","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":9754042,"projectId":10483688,"letterContent":"Thanks to our generous donors, my students now have the everyday supplies they need to learn, create, and stay prepared in the classroom. Pencils and the pencil sharpener help them complete their work with confidence, while scissors and coloring utensils allow them to express their creativity through hands-on projects. Tissues and hand sanitizer also help us maintain a clean and healthy learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, my students were excited to see the new supplies and eager to put them to use. One special moment was watching them gather their coloring utensils and scissors to work on a classroom project, sharing ideas and proudly showing off their creations. These resources may seem simple, but they make a meaningful difference in helping my students feel supported and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our current lessons and projects, my students will use these materials to complete their work, create new projects, and build confidence in their learning. Thank you for helping make our classroom a place where every student has the tools they need to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1787918130058,"projectUrl":"project/give-our-classroom-the-tools-to-thrive/10483688/","projectTitle":"Give Our Classroom the Tools to Thrive","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9754042_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1777333592426","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lauren-alvarez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_107460","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":732,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":74,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":30,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":57,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"18.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":65.3,"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"}