{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Joseph Melillo Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":20.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9461350,"projectId":9184372,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of craft supplies. Thanks to you, my students didn't just learn about genes and traits - they got to build them! When I showed them the bins full of colorful pom-poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and feathers, the classroom filled with excitement. The colors and textures were instantly fun, helping us connect a hard science topic to a hands-on activity.\r\n This week, we put all the new resources to use. The students used special cards to figure out the exact genes for their creature, choosing things like pipe cleaners for antennae or pom-poms for the head and feet. The materials turned the students ideas into real, 3D creatures. We had a great moment when a student, who was confused by the gene terms, was able to say, \"My Reebop has two recessive genes for feet, so I need to pick all the same colored mini pompoms.\" Your donation helped make those complicated science words click instantly.\r\n Your support has launched the next stage of our genetics lesson. The next step for our students is to use their Reebop to simulate reproduction. They will trade genetic information with a partner, predict the traits of a new offspring, and then build a new baby Reebop with fresh supplies. This helps them see why families look similar and not exactly alike. Thank you again for investing in our class. You made learning genetics memorable and creative.","fullyFundedDate":1746491303948,"projectUrl":"project/lets-make-reebops/9184372/","projectTitle":"Let's Make REEBOPS!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9461350"},{"teacherId":10028284,"projectId":9336054,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation to our classroom project, \"Sparking Curiosity: Building Circuits to Illuminate Learning.\" Thanks to your support, our students now have the materials they need to explore the fascinating world of electricity through hands-on, engaging projects. Your contribution has truly illuminated their learning journey, and I wanted to share a specific example of the incredible impact it has had.\r\n\r\nIn our unit on electricity and circuits, we introduced a project that went beyond the typical classroom activity. We challenged our students to become engineers and architects, tasking them with designing and building miniature cardboard rooms. The ultimate goal was to wire these rooms with working lights, connecting batteries, switches, and bulbs to create a functional circuit.\r\n\r\nFailure was a crucial part of this process. When a light didn't turn on, a common reaction was, \"Why isn't it working?\" This wasn't a moment of frustration, but rather a perfect opportunity for problem-solving. Students had to become their own troubleshooters, tracing the path of the wires to find the break in the circuit. Was a wire loose? Was the battery in backward? Was the switch faulty? These moments of trial and error were invaluable, teaching them perseverance and critical thinking in a tangible way.\r\n\r\nThis project fostered an environment of creativity, collaboration, and resilience. The skills our students developed—critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork—are essential for their future success, not just in science and engineering, but in all aspects of life. Thank you again for your generous support. Your kindness has truly sparked a lasting curiosity in our students, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.\r\n\r\nWith deepest gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1747856793834,"projectUrl":"project/powering-up-learning-hands-on-circuit/9336054/","projectTitle":"“Powering Up Learning: Hands-On Circuit Projects for STEM Success!”","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pompano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10028284"},{"teacherId":9987901,"projectId":9331118,"letterContent":"Having class sets of Night and The Odyssey has significantly enhanced how my students are able to engage with literature. These timeless texts allow us to explore not only literary elements—such as characterization, symbolism, and theme—but also broader lessons about resilience, morality, and the human experience. With books in every student's hands, we can focus on close reading, annotation, and discussion without the logistical barriers that often come with limited resources.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading now looks like active engagement: students annotate as they read, track themes across chapters, and participate in structured conversations that connect the texts to contemporary issues. Several students have expressed how much they value having their own copy to annotate and return to each day, noting that this has made the reading feel more personal and accessible. Their engagement has been evident in the quality of their written responses and the energy in class discussions. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to access and learn from these texts in a way that is both rigorous and meaningful.","fullyFundedDate":1746786171257,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-timeless-stories-alive-night-an/9331118/","projectTitle":"Keeping Timeless Stories Alive: Night and The Odyssey","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tamsin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9987901_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747588800468","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9987901"},{"teacherId":9987901,"projectId":9218673,"letterContent":"When our hexagonal thinking cards arrived, students were immediately engaged and curious about how they would be incorporated into our learning. During our first activity, they worked in groups to arrange the cards and explain the reasoning behind their connections. The structure encouraged thoughtful discussion, collaboration, and a deeper level of analysis than I often see in more traditional formats.\r\n\r\nWe began using the cards with our current novel study. Students connected themes such as loyalty, identity, and conflict to specific characters and events, then justified those connections to their peers. This approach has supported critical thinking while also giving students a more interactive way to demonstrate their understanding.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, the cards will be integrated into future units to help students make cross-textual connections and organize complex ideas. They will also serve as a flexible tool for both small group and whole class discussions.\r\n\r\nThank you for providing a resource that has strengthened classroom engagement and supported the development of higher-order thinking skills. Your generosity will continue to have an impact throughout the school year.","fullyFundedDate":1746491302727,"projectUrl":"project/collaborative-thinking-with-reusable-hex/9218673/","projectTitle":"Collaborative Thinking With Reusable Hexagonal Tiles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tamsin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9987901_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747588800468","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9987901"},{"teacherId":10028284,"projectId":9123091,"letterContent":"These prizes have been great! Our students have really gotten used to their classroom jobs and it has really helped our classroom community so much. Students put in their work tickets and at the end of the week they can get prizes. What a great way to celebrate being responsible citizens! Thank you so much for making this possible. It always surprises me how just simple and small prizes like these make students feel so great. Eighth grade can be a difficult year to teach and this initiative has helped immensely. We appreciate it!","fullyFundedDate":1744032972820,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-positive-contributions-priz/9123091/","projectTitle":"Celebrating Positive Contributions: Prizes for Building Classroom Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pompano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10028284"},{"teacherId":9461350,"projectId":9030558,"letterContent":"The students and I are absolutely loving the new puzzles in our classroom and they have quickly become a favorite activity! It is amazing to see how these puzzles have transformed our classroom dynamics. Over the past few weeks I have observed students, some who rarely interact with one another, form groups to complete a puzzle. They discuss strategies, point out solutions and celebrate each piece they fit into place. It Is truly heartwarming to view the moments of collaboration and teamwork that I don't see with other activities. Given the choice between individual screen time on their Chromebooks or working on a puzzle, almost every one of my students chooses the puzzles, which shows how much they enjoy them!\r\nThe students' reaction when they first saw the puzzles was pure excitement! They were eager to open them all and start building and that enthusiasm hasn't stopped. They have friendly competitions to see who can finish a puzzle the fastest, which adds another layer of engagement. It is not just about speed though. When my students work on a puzzle, they are sharing the experience of working towards a common goal.\r\nThanks to your generous contributions, these puzzles have become an invaluable resource for nurturing social skills, problem-solving, and perseverance in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1741099887724,"projectUrl":"project/building-sel-skills-through-puzzles/9030558/","projectTitle":"Building Sel Skills Through Puzzles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9461350"},{"teacherId":10028284,"projectId":9078384,"letterContent":"Receiving this DonorsChoose project, which provided a life-size skeleton model, has transformed our 7th-grade science classroom into a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Students now have the opportunity to interact directly with a realistic representation of the human skeleton, making abstract concepts like the structure and function of bones more tangible and easier to understand. This hands-on tool has sparked curiosity and excitement, inspiring students to explore deeper questions about the human body and fostering a genuine love for science. The skeleton model has become a cornerstone for inquiry-based activities, encouraging critical thinking and exploration while helping students develop essential scientific skills. Beyond enhancing their current understanding of anatomy, the model has also inspired some students to consider potential careers in health, biology, and medicine. As a resource that will continue to enrich lessons for years to come, this project has made a lasting impact on our classroom, benefiting both current and future generations of students.","fullyFundedDate":1739653374535,"projectUrl":"project/bring-science-to-life-a-life-size-skele/9078384/","projectTitle":"Bring Science to Life: A Life-Size Skeleton for Hands-On Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pompano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10028284"},{"teacherId":10028284,"projectId":8964650,"letterContent":"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation of four yoga balls and thirty sensory stickers for my 8th grade science classroom. The addition of flexible seating options has had a profound impact on my students. The yoga balls provide a much-needed opportunity for students to choose how they want to sit, helping them feel more comfortable and in control of their learning environment. This flexibility has been especially beneficial for students who may have difficulty sitting still for long periods, allowing them to move while still staying focused on the lesson. The ability to choose their seating style has also fostered a sense of autonomy, boosting engagement and overall classroom morale.\r\nThe sensory stickers for desks have been an exciting and helpful addition to our classroom as well. These stickers offer students a fun and discreet way to engage their senses, giving them a tool to fidget while remaining attentive to the lesson. For some students, the ability to use these sensory tools has helped them stay focused and calm, creating an optimal learning environment. I've seen firsthand how these small adjustments can make a big difference, as students are more actively participating, enjoying their learning, and managing their energy in positive ways. Thank you so much for helping create such a supportive and engaging classroom experience!","fullyFundedDate":1733173446866,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-stay-focused-flexible/8964650/","projectTitle":"Helping Students Stay Focused: Flexible Seating and Fidgets","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pompano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10028284"},{"teacherId":9781331,"projectId":8832630,"letterContent":"It is with heartfelt thanks that I write this thank you letter. The contributions you made to my classroom library have expanded choice, accessibility and students' commitment to reading. \r\n Because of your donations, I had more copies for students to read as buddies and to recommend books to each other. Students who have been more reluctant to read have benefitted from the many graphic novels you donated to our class library. They are engaging and build confidence in many students. The audio equipment especially helped many of the multi-language learners in my class so that they could see the print and listen to the book at the same time without the distraction of chrome books.\r\n The community of readers that now comes to my class will greet me each day with comments like, \"I can't believe this happens at the end,\" (Orbiting Jupiter) and \"It really makes me think about what I say and how it can affect people,\" (Starfish) and \"You haven't read the third book in the series yet, Ms. V.?\" (Tommy Greenwald books). This just skims the surface in describing the difference in my students' reading habits, and we are all appreciative of your generous donation.","fullyFundedDate":1727995592597,"projectUrl":"project/updated-class-library-graphic-novels-/8832630/","projectTitle":"Updated class library, graphic novels & audio for multi-language learners.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. VIHONSKI","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9781331"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43949","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":461,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":78,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":38,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":47,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"9.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":79.4,"schoolId":43949,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Joseph Melillo Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Joseph Melillo Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/east-haven-school-district/joseph-melillo-middle-school/43949"}