{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thompson Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":30.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10398903,"projectId":10504127,"letterContent":"Through your amazing generosity, we have together created a reading corner for the ages. Students debate and negotiate on a daily basis from the first hour of the day until the last hour of the day to be able to sit in our reading corner. The bean bag chairs provide an amazing spot to get comfortable and dive headfirst into their current novel.\r\n\r\nI even have found myself sitting on the bean bag chairs during my planning period to take a little break for a few minutes! Our classroom is the envy of everyone in the hallway as well as the building. We thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness in helping our complete our ambitious goal!","fullyFundedDate":1787829267013,"projectUrl":"project/how-you-bean-i-am-settling-down-with-a/10504127/","projectTitle":"How You Bean? I Am Settling Down With a Book!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Pukalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10398903_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767879570107","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10398903"},{"teacherId":10398903,"projectId":10270143,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been truly transformed! Last year we funded magnetic shelves that allowed to showcase a very dated library. Through the generosity of Donors Choose along with the thoughtful donations from the community we have created a classroom library that has the envy of everyone in the school.\r\n\r\nMy career has spanned over 20 years, and every morning when I walk into this room I am astonished at what we've created together. Providing the gift of reading to students is a priceless goal that I have been able to bring to this building. This could not have been possible without your thoughtfulness and generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1782573350294,"projectUrl":"project/stay-true-to-your-shelf/10270143/","projectTitle":"Stay True to Your Shelf.","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Pukalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10398903_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767879570107","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10398903"},{"teacherId":9456517,"projectId":10441692,"letterContent":"The bean bag chairs have quickly become a favorite part of our 6th grade ELA classroom! Students use them as a cozy place to read independently, complete assignments, and collaborate with classmates. They provide a comfortable alternative to traditional desks and chairs and help create a relaxing environment where students can truly enjoy their time with a book.\r\n\r\nJust this Friday, each of my classes participated in a Book Tasting, where students rotated through different stations and explored books from a variety of genres and reading levels. One of the stations was our new library bean bag chair area. Students were excited to settle into the chairs, get comfortable, and \"taste\" several different books. They were engaged, relaxed, and eager to explore books they might not normally choose.\r\n\r\nIt was wonderful to see students so comfortable and excited about reading. These chairs have helped make our classroom feel less like a traditional classroom and more like a welcoming space where students can relax, explore, and connect with books. \r\n\r\nMy students were thrilled when they first saw the bean bag chairs! They immediately wanted to try them out and were excited to have a new option for where they could sit and work. There was definitely a lot of excitement about having a cozy place in the classroom!\r\n\r\nMore importantly, the excitement has continued beyond that first day. Students regularly ask if they can use the bean bag chairs, and they love having the opportunity to get out of their traditional seats. The chairs have created a sense of comfort and ownership in our classroom, and students truly appreciate having a space that feels different from a typical classroom setting. \r\n\r\nOur next step is to build on the excitement from our Book Tasting and continue encouraging students to become independent, confident readers. Students will use the bean bag area throughout the year for independent reading, book exploration, and reading-related assignments.\r\n\r\nWe will continue exploring different genres and authors while working on reading comprehension, making connections to texts, and developing the ability to choose books that are both interesting and appropriately challenging. Having a comfortable space where students can settle in with a book makes these activities much more inviting.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful to our donors for helping create a classroom environment where students can get comfortable, get curious, and fall in love with reading. These bean bag chairs may seem like a simple resource, but they have already made a big impact on my students and the way they experience reading in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1787261213219,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-independent-reading/10441692/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for Independent Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Devlin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9456517_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1785872359611","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9456517"},{"teacherId":9456950,"projectId":10145798,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the donations that allowed me to acquire the books I needed for Literature Circles in the classroom. The students enjoyed reading and taking part in discussions about the stories. \r\nAll students had an opportunity to participate in every role - Discussion Director, Summarizer, Word Wizard, Artist, and Quotable Quotes. They took pride in their work and in the sharing of their ideas. \r\nI look forward to seeing them repeat the process this year with the second of the two titles we received, as I moved from grade five to grade six with the same group. \r\nThank you again for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1778085204640,"projectUrl":"project/enrichment-literature-circles/10145798/","projectTitle":"Enrichment Literature Circles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ruffo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9456950_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749344751000","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9456950"},{"teacherId":9458664,"projectId":9991648,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom through DonorsChoose. Because of your generosity, my students will begin next school year with the supplies and resources they need to feel prepared, supported, and ready to learn from day one.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your donations goes far beyond simply providing classroom materials. Everyday items such as binders, dividers, pencils, tissues, and disinfecting wipes play an important role in creating a classroom environment where students can focus, stay organized, and feel comfortable throughout the school day. Having these essentials readily available removes barriers to learning and allows students to fully participate in classroom activities and discussions without worrying about whether they have the supplies they need.\r\n\r\nYour support also helps create a welcoming and positive classroom community. When students walk into a clean, organized, and well-prepared classroom, they feel valued and cared for. That sense of comfort and stability makes a tremendous difference in their confidence, engagement, and overall success in school.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, it is incredibly meaningful to know that there are people willing to support education and invest in students they may never even meet. Your kindness and generosity will positively impact my students every single day, and I am truly grateful for the difference you have made in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping make this possible for my students and for supporting our learning community.","fullyFundedDate":1778081547237,"projectUrl":"project/everyday-classroom-essentials-for-studen/9991648/","projectTitle":"Everyday Classroom Essentials for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lynch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9458664_orig.jpg?crop=2394,2395,x0,y598&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767877021224","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9458664"},{"teacherId":688515,"projectId":10019317,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the stand up white boards. My students have been working really hard to get ready for state testing and it has been great to keep all students engaged. The students also like standing at the boards, as it keeps them awake and allows them to get all of their wiggles out.\r\nWhen I asked the kids what the best part of having the boards they said \"They are very easy to move around and you can take them to your desk.\" and \"I like that everyone doesn't have to crowd around one board.\"\r\nThank you again for your generous donation.","fullyFundedDate":1770224379682,"projectUrl":"project/standing-math-centers/10019317/","projectTitle":"Standing Math Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Morrison","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/688515"},{"teacherId":10398903,"projectId":9991706,"letterContent":"I am honored by the outpouring of support for my classroom and our district. Students have enjoyed the change in our classroom decor, becoming surrounded by these amazing bookshelves and encased in literature. Instead of taking books out from the school library, mine has become just as popular. Students have the ability to branch out and experience new stories and new authors.\r\n\r\nI was especially pleased with our project as we began our final unit of the school year. We are reading the first novel in the Percy Jackson series and students were excited to see copies of other novels from the series in our library. Teaching books filled with enthusiasm connects with our students to bring a lot of excitement to the classroom. I've been able to channel this enthusiasm towards my students as they begin to use our class library.","fullyFundedDate":1768245724308,"projectUrl":"project/these-arent-just-books-theyre-minds-a/9991706/","projectTitle":"These Aren't Just Books; They're Minds Alive on the Shelves.","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Pukalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10398903_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767879570107","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10398903"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43018","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":281,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":46,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":84,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":9,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"9.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":69.6,"schoolId":43018,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Thompson Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Thompson Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/thompson-public-schools/thompson-middle-school/43018"}