{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Manatee Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":44.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10478559,"projectId":10191757,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have access to colorful, engaging science materials that help bring our lessons to life. Having a color printer directly in our classroom has allowed me to create diagrams, models, station activities, vocabulary resources, classroom displays, and other visual supports specifically for what my students are learning. Color makes an important difference in science. Whether students are comparing planets, interpreting diagrams, analyzing models, or working through a station activity, being able to clearly distinguish different parts of a visual helps make challenging concepts easier to understand. The printer, ink, and paper have also given me the flexibility to create resources when my students need them rather than being limited by what is already available. I can design materials that directly support our lessons and display important concepts around our classroom for students to reference.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to see science and learning in color. Your generosity has helped me create a classroom that is more visual, engaging, and supportive of student learning, and these materials will continue making an impact throughout the school year.","fullyFundedDate":1776363376230,"projectUrl":"project/help-my-science-students-see-learning-in/10191757/","projectTitle":"Help My Science Students See Learning in Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rico","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10478559"},{"teacherId":10478559,"projectId":10192933,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, I can now turn the colorful science materials I create for my classroom into durable resources that my students can use throughout the school year. Instead of posters, station materials, diagrams, vocabulary resources, and classroom displays being temporary, I can laminate and preserve them for repeated student use. These materials have helped me create a more organized, visual, and engaging science classroom. My students can reference important concepts displayed around the room, use durable materials during station activities, and interact with resources without worrying about them becoming damaged after only a few uses. Most importantly, your support has allowed me to spend more time creating meaningful resources for my students instead of worrying about replacing worn-out materials. The supplies from this project will continue benefiting my students throughout this school year and future school years.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping me create a classroom where science learning can truly stay on display!","fullyFundedDate":1777304921175,"projectUrl":"project/science-that-stays-on-display/10192933/","projectTitle":"Science That Stays on Display","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rico","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10478559"},{"teacherId":9092723,"projectId":10362271,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, these classroom supplies have already made a meaningful impact on my students and our everyday learning. The notebooks, pens, and glue have allowed students to stay organized and actively participate in lessons each day. We use our notebooks for interactive notes, where students can glue in resources, examples, and graphic organizers that they can refer back to throughout the year. The pens have also been especially helpful for color-coding important reading and writing strategies. For example, when practicing the RACE strategy for written responses, students use different colors to identify each part of their paragraph, helping them better understand how to organize and support their ideas.\r\n\r\nThese materials have also given students more opportunities to collaborate and be creative. Students use the supplies to work together on posters highlighting key concepts, strategies, and skills we are learning in class. They were excited to see that we had fresh supplies available specifically for them and that they could easily access what they needed without worrying about bringing every item from home.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will continue using these resources throughout the school year as we build our interactive notebooks, practice new reading and writing strategies, and complete collaborative activities and projects. While notebooks, glue, and pens may seem like simple supplies, they are everyday essentials that help make our classroom more organized, engaging, and accessible. Thank you for providing my students with the tools they need to learn, participate, and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1783904175066,"projectUrl":"project/everyday-essentials/10362271/","projectTitle":"Everyday Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Garcia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9092723"},{"teacherId":10481598,"projectId":10202599,"letterContent":"When the boxes for \"The Calm in the Chaos: Middle School Mindfulness\" arrived, my students were genuinely thrilled. Serving underprivileged youth here in Collier County, our school strives to provide a safe, nurturing environment where every child feels supported and valued. Middle schoolers do not always show their excitement openly, but as soon as we unboxed these new materials, their faces lit up with curiosity and joy. Knowing that generous supporters cared enough to invest directly in their well-being made our students feel instantly seen, appreciated, and empowered.\r\n\r\nWe launched these resources as the centerpiece of our efforts for Mental Health Awareness Month, using them to foster open conversations and actively break down the stigma surrounding mental health. One of our most impactful moments was taking our mindfulness practice outdoors—combining guided meditation time in the fresh air with creative expression using sidewalk chalk. Students wrote positive affirmations, illustrated coping strategies, and left uplifting messages across the school walkways for their peers to see. Between these vibrant outdoor activities and our newly established quiet reflection space inside, our middle schoolers are learning that prioritizing their mental health is something to embrace and celebrate.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, our next step is guiding students through a project where they design personalized coping toolkits, translating the mindfulness techniques and outdoor grounding strategies they've practiced into routines they can use both in school and at home. Thank you for giving our Manatee middle schoolers the tools, confidence, and encouragement to find calm amidst the chaos and spread mental health awareness throughout our community!","fullyFundedDate":1777397227338,"projectUrl":"project/the-calm-in-the-chaos-middle-school-min/10202599/","projectTitle":"The Calm in the Chaos: Middle School Mindfulness","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ximena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10481598"},{"teacherId":9839278,"projectId":9724424,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my students with the plethora of indoor games and challenging throught provoking activities. The students thrive in an environment in which they are able to learn as they play. They do not view it as learning, but \"free time.\"\r\nIt is this \"free time\" when in fact they learn the most regarding life skills as well as information.\r\n\r\nIn middle school so many students need the opportunity to develop their people skills, how to work with others, how to interact with people (students) they may in fact not like. Since this is an integral component of the whole student education, these activities put them with others in a fun environment where they discover by doing how to interact in an appropriate manner with others.\r\n\r\nThe games, puzzles, activities presented an opportunity for their social emotional development, as well as problem solving. This is the direction of our world. These skills are some of the mose essential skills for students to develop.","fullyFundedDate":1763138501897,"projectUrl":"project/motivation-and-engagement/9724424/","projectTitle":"Motivation and Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dosen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9839278"},{"teacherId":9832817,"projectId":10092690,"letterContent":"The donated paper and cleaning supplies have made a huge difference as we prepare for our end-of-year curriculum review. We are using the paper to create structured review packets that cover key standards and essential concepts from the entire year. These packets allow students to practice skills independently, track their progress, and revisit topics where they need extra support.\r\n\r\nOne specific moment that stood out was during our cumulative review rotation days. Students are working through their packets in small groups, annotating passages, completing practice questions, and checking answers together. Because we had enough copies for everyone, students could fully engage without having to share or skip problems. It allowed for focused, uninterrupted learning time, which is especially important as we prepare for important end-of-year assessments.\r\n\r\nThe cleaning supplies have also helped us maintain a clean and organized learning environment during this busy season. Students take pride in wiping down desks and organizing materials after intensive work sessions, reinforcing responsibility and classroom community.\r\n\r\nWhen students saw the organized review packets ready on their desks, many immediately asked, \"Are these ours?\" They were excited to each have their own complete packet to highlight, annotate, and write in. For some students, having their own dedicated materials makes them feel more prepared and confident.\r\n\r\nThey also noticed the fresh classroom setup. Having supplies available to keep the room clean and stocked helps create a calm, structured environment. Several students even volunteered to help pass out materials and tidy up, showing a sense of ownership and appreciation.\r\n\r\nOur next steps involve targeted small-group instruction based on the review packet results. As students complete sections, I analyze their responses to identify standards that need reinforcement. We then move into focused mini-lessons, practice activities, and peer collaboration sessions to strengthen those areas.\r\n\r\nWe are also incorporating timed practice sessions to build testing stamina and confidence. The goal is not just academic review, but helping students feel prepared, capable, and proud of the growth they've made this year.\r\n\r\nThanks to our donors, we are able to approach these final weeks organized, prepared, and focused on student success.","fullyFundedDate":1770806790641,"projectUrl":"project/helping-7th-graders-feel-ready-focused/10092690/","projectTitle":"Helping 7th Graders Feel Ready, Focused, and Confident","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9832817_orig.jpg?crop=3375,3376,x0,y1586&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731351322741","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9832817"},{"teacherId":9841944,"projectId":9473693,"letterContent":"It truly is rewarding to see the impact your donations have on their creativity doing their projects! When they have new and fresh supplies, they are much more invested in putting their foot forward. We had a lot of fun with this as well as educational and frankly theirs were the best in the building! Our principal came by and he was quite impressed!\r\nI definitely could not afford to provide all of the poster board and markers that made these project special. And the district certainly isn't providing it. Without your generosity, they would've just been on copy paper and nothing special about the process or final product.","fullyFundedDate":1757446680542,"projectUrl":"project/fresh-supplies-for-focused-superstars/9473693/","projectTitle":"Fresh Supplies for Focused Superstars","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McMichael","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9841944_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757247485044","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9841944"},{"teacherId":9841451,"projectId":9772334,"letterContent":"My students were very excited to receive the new equipment. Needless to say, the iPad was the first thing that everybody wanted to see. The snacks were a close second. Ultimately, the headphones are what will be most appreciated as they get a lot of use. I explained that these things are provided by people and organizations that are interested and invested in our success.\r\n\r\nWe had a long talk about taking care of the headphones. Because they are used almost every day, special care has been taken to develop a routine to keep them nice and functioning properly. The storage system was a great idea. In addition, I bought one gallon Ziplock bags that the headphones can be kept in after each use. The class set is used three times a day, at least three times a week. \r\n\r\nSecond semester is just now beginning and the iPad is going to start getting a lot of use. Each week, three students that are ahead of the class schedule in their self-guided work will be selected to work on an extra credit project. The students will have their computer, the iPad and the Android tablet we received from Donor's Choose last year. They will do research using the three different technology formats and rotate usage of the devices. The goal is to build technology literacy across varied popular formats. In addition, teamwork and research skills are cultivated in the process.\r\n\r\nDonor's Choose, as well as the people and organizations that support it, have provided my classroom with opportunities that we would not have otherwise. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1763138723912,"projectUrl":"project/the-better-i-hear-the-better-i-learn/9772334/","projectTitle":"The Better I Hear, the Better I Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Stallings","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9841451_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x1008,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759174664995","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9841451"},{"teacherId":9837233,"projectId":9479508,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredibly generous support of my classroom. Because of you, my students and I now have access to tools that truly transform the way we learn each day. Your kindness has made a direct and lasting impact on my students, and I am deeply grateful for the care you've shown toward their education.\r\n\r\nI am especially thankful for the Nearpod subscription, which has been a game-changer for my classroom. Nearpod allows me to turn lessons into interactive experiences where every student can participate, respond, and stay engaged in real time. Whether we're checking for understanding, collaborating on activities, or exploring new concepts together, Nearpod helps ensure that every student has a voice and feels included in the learning process.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the dry erase boards, paper, pencils, and pens you provided have made a huge difference in keeping my classroom running smoothly and efficiently. These everyday supplies allow students to practice, make mistakes, try again, and stay focused without worrying about not having what they need. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their success—you truly make learning possible.","fullyFundedDate":1757517803393,"projectUrl":"project/best-year-ever/9479508/","projectTitle":"Best Year Ever!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Conner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9837233_orig.png?crop=213,213,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732247843951","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9837233"},{"teacherId":10230017,"projectId":9660973,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project and helping bring our ESE Pantry to life. Your generosity has created a small but powerful resource where students can earn treats and supplies as rewards for their hard work and perseverance.\r\n\r\nThe ESE Pantry includes snacks, pencils, stickers, and small fidgets that students can choose from when they meet their goals. These items may seem simple, but to my students, they are meaningful symbols of success. The pantry provides motivation to complete classwork, stay engaged, and supports IEP accommodations focused on behavior, motivation, and task completion.\r\n\r\nI teach an incredible group of middle school students with special needs at Manatee Middle School. Each student has unique strengths, challenges, and learning goals outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Many of my students rely on consistent encouragement and positive reinforcement to help them stay focused and confident throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nFor them, even the smallest accomplishment is a huge step forward—finishing an assignment, sticking with a challenging task, or following classroom routines. These moments deserve to be celebrated.\r\n\r\nOne moment that truly stood out involved a student who often shuts down when work feels difficult. On this day, they pushed through a challenging assignment and completed it independently. When I told them they had earned a visit to the ESE Pantry, their face lit up. They carefully chose a small fidget and said, \"I didn't think I could do it, but I did.\" That sense of pride and confidence was priceless—and it happened because they had a clear, positive goal to work toward.\r\n\r\nFor students with special needs, motivation and encouragement go a long way. A simple snack after completing work can be the difference between giving up and trying again. A new pencil or small fidget can give students pride in their accomplishments and a sense of ownership in their learning.\r\n\r\nBy supporting this project, you are giving students more than treats—you are giving them confidence, hope, and a reason to keep moving forward. You are helping them see that their effort matters and that they are capable of success.\r\n\r\nWith your generosity, our students will continue to stay motivated, engaged, and proud of their progress every day.","fullyFundedDate":1763138501487,"projectUrl":"project/ese-pantry-for-motivation-and-success/9660973/","projectTitle":"“ESE Pantry for Motivation and Success”","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Salado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10230017_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y399&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756902119509","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10230017"},{"teacherId":9839272,"projectId":9714467,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of supplies for our classroom whiteboard, Post-it notes, and other materials to create an interactive question board. Your support has made an immediate and meaningful impact on my 6th grade Earth and Space Science students.\r\n\r\nThe moment the large whiteboard and colorful Post-it notes were revealed, the students were so excited that they cheered! Each group was able to choose their own Post-it note color, which made the experience even more fun and helped students feel a sense of ownership over their learning.\r\n\r\nThe interactive question board has transformed the way students engage with the content. Students actively post questions during lessons, investigations, and discussions, then work together to research, discuss, and answer not only their own questions, but the questions of their classmates as well. This has encouraged deeper thinking, collaboration, and curiosity. Students who were once hesitant to speak up are now confidently sharing ideas and asking thoughtful questions. We just recently finished a unit on Earth's systems and the students did such a phenomenal job, and had such a deeper understanding of the learning goals, I truly believe it is because of the question board. The overall average score on their unit test was 89%. That's pretty incredible! \r\n\r\nBecause of this interactive setup, students are more invested and genuinely excited about what we are learning. They are eager to check the board, contribute new questions, and celebrate when answers are discovered. The opportunity to see their thinking displayed and valued has sparked a noticeable increase in interest, participation, and understanding of the content.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a classroom environment where curiosity thrives and learning is joyful. Thank you for supporting our students and helping make science engaging, interactive, and inspiring.","fullyFundedDate":1758045188129,"projectUrl":"project/inquiry-at-work-a-question-board-for-de/9714467/","projectTitle":"Inquiry at Work: A Question Board for Deeper Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moss","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9839272_orig.png?crop=400,400,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731686285972","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9839272"},{"teacherId":10227692,"projectId":9656910,"letterContent":"Thanks to your extraordinary generosity, our classroom has transformed into a learning environment where every student—regardless of ability level—has access to the tools they need to succeed. The literacy materials you provided have already begun to make a profound and lasting impact. Each day, students use these resources during small-group instruction, independent practice, and whole-class reading activities. The graphic organizers, annotation tools, visual supports, and structured reading materials have opened the door for students to engage with texts more confidently and thoughtfully. One of the first moments that truly demonstrated the value of these tools occurred during a close-reading activity. A student who usually hesitates to participate quietly raised her hand to share her annotations, explaining how she identified the main idea. Seeing her newfound confidence reminded me how powerful the right tools can be—especially for learners who often need that extra boost to believe in themselves.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the students' reactions were priceless. Many of them approached the new resources with excitement and curiosity, carefully touching and examining each item as though it were something precious—and to them, it is. Several students asked, \"Are these really for us?\" The joy on their faces said everything. For many of our learners, having high-quality materials that support their needs is not something they experience often. These tools represent more than just supplies; they represent encouragement, opportunity, and belief. Students were eager to begin using highlighters, annotation tabs, reading guides, and comprehension organizers, and they quickly noticed how these supports made reading less overwhelming and more accessible. A few students even commented, \"This makes reading so much easier!\" Their enthusiasm has brought a renewed energy into the classroom and has helped create a more positive, supportive atmosphere for literacy learning.\r\n\r\nAs we move into the next phase of our literacy instruction, these materials will continue to be essential. We are beginning a unit that focuses on strengthening students' comprehension skills through structured strategies such as annotating, summarizing, highlighting key details, and organizing information using graphic organizers. With the new tools, students are better able to track their thoughts, clarify confusion, and demonstrate understanding in ways that reflect their true potential. These resources are helping build not only academic skills but also independence and confidence—qualities that will support them far beyond this school year. Students who once felt unsure or disconnected from reading are now engaging more deeply and expressing pride in their progress.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has created a ripple effect of growth, motivation, and hope within our classroom. Because of your kindness, students who face daily academic challenges now have meaningful tools that help them engage, participate, and succeed. The impact you have made is truly powerful and deeply appreciated. Thank you for believing in our students, supporting inclusive learning, and helping us build a classroom where every child feels capable and valued. Your contribution will continue to shape their learning journey in ways that matter greatly.","fullyFundedDate":1757178414301,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-success-building-literacy-in/9656910/","projectTitle":"Tools for Success: Building Literacy in an Inclusive Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Navarrete","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10227692"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_62299","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":725,"numTeachers":53,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":55.4,"schoolId":62299,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Manatee Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Manatee Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/collier-county-public-schools/manatee-middle-school/62299"}