{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Arvida Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":29.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9764702,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting our classroom during the holiday season. Your kindness has helped create a joyful and memorable experience for our students—many of whom come from families that may not be able to provide extra gifts or celebrations.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, we were able to provide cookie cutters, sprinkles, and other supplies for our holiday cookie activities. These hands-on, festive activities brought excitement, creativity, and fun into the classroom, giving students a chance to celebrate, connect, and feel truly appreciated.\r\n\r\nEvery cookie baked and decorated became more than just a treat—it was a symbol of care, community, and holiday spirit. Your contribution helped make the holidays brighter, ensuring each child felt seen, loved, and celebrated.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create special memories and a classroom full of warmth, joy, and holiday magic.","fullyFundedDate":1761941168648,"projectUrl":"project/cookie-party/9764702/","projectTitle":"Cookie Party","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9731399,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity in supporting our classroom and helping us create a warm, festive environment during the holiday season. Your kindness has truly transformed our school into a place filled with joy, connection, and celebration.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, we were able to decorate for our annual holiday murder mystery dinner with ornaments, ribbons, and seasonal décor that made the space feel welcoming and special. The addition of a Christmas tree became more than just a decoration—it served as a symbol of togetherness, hope, and holiday spirit for our students.\r\n\r\nFor many students, school is where they experience consistency and community. Walking into a festive environment helped them feel excited, included, and uplifted during this special time of year. The decorations created lasting memories, encouraged kindness, and strengthened our sense of belonging.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us make this season unforgettable for our students. Your generosity brought warmth, joy, and a true sense of holiday magic to our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1760742710580,"projectUrl":"project/murder-mystery-decor/9731399/","projectTitle":"Murder Mystery Decor","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9703594,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping ensure our students stay focused, energized, and ready to learn each day. Your generosity truly makes a difference.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students have access to a variety of snacks that provide the \"brain food\" they need to stay engaged throughout the school day. Healthy snacks and occasional treats help re-energize tired students, improve concentration, and keep them motivated during lessons. Seeing the smiles on their faces when they receive crackers, gummies, beef jerky, and other snacks is a daily reminder of the impact your kindness has made.\r\n\r\nFor students who may not always have access to snacks at home, being able to take snacks with them provides additional comfort and support beyond the classroom. Knowing their basic needs are met allows students to focus on learning and feel cared for at school.\r\n\r\nYour support also helped us include icee syrup for our Halloween event, creating a fun and memorable experience that strengthened our classroom community and made students feel celebrated.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create a classroom where students are nourished, supported, and excited to learn. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and belief in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758819173853,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-and-halloween-event/9703594/","projectTitle":"Snacks and Halloween Event","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9703578,"letterContent":"Middle school is a dynamic and transformative time in a young person's life. Along with academic growth, students experience physical and emotional changes that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Challenges such as body odor, excessive sweating, and skin concerns like acne are completely natural—but they can greatly impact a student's confidence and comfort at school.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our students now have access to personal hygiene kits designed specifically to support their needs. These kits include essential items such as body wash, wipes, and feminine hygiene products, ensuring students feel prepared, supported, and cared for throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nBy providing these resources, you are helping students focus on learning rather than worrying about personal discomfort or embarrassment. Having these items readily available promotes healthy daily habits, boosts self-confidence, and helps create a classroom environment rooted in dignity, compassion, and understanding.\r\n\r\nYour support has made a meaningful difference for our girls in grades six through eight, empowering them to navigate this important stage of life with confidence and comfort. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and commitment to student well-being.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping us create a supportive and inclusive school community.","fullyFundedDate":1758636589006,"projectUrl":"project/female-emergencies/9703578/","projectTitle":"Female Emergencies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9636828,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom and investing in our students' learning experience. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in how instruction is delivered and how students engage with forensic science.\r\n\r\nThe new screen allows for more efficient lesson planning, clearer digital instruction, and seamless access to online educational resources. Lessons are easier to follow, visuals are more impactful, and students are able to fully engage with interactive content during class.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, this technology supports our forensics curriculum by allowing students to create and analyze digital crime scenes. Digital crime scene creation is increasingly used in real court cases around the world, and access to these tools helps students build real-world skills while exploring modern forensic techniques.\r\n\r\nBy providing this resource, you are helping bridge the digital divide many of our students face and ensuring they have access to the same high-quality tools used beyond the classroom. Your support has helped create a more connected, efficient, and resource-rich learning environment.\r\n\r\nThank you for making a lasting impact on our students and for supporting hands-on, future-focused learning.","fullyFundedDate":1757508366368,"projectUrl":"project/digital-crime-scenes/9636828/","projectTitle":"Digital Crime Scenes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9579872,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping us create a more comfortable, welcoming learning environment for our students. Your generosity directly impacts their ability to focus, feel safe, and succeed each day.\r\n\r\nWith Miami's heat, having access to an ice machine and cold drinks is more than a convenience—it helps students stay hydrated, comfortable, and ready to learn. Many students also ask for snacks throughout the school day, and the pretzels and fruit snacks you helped provide keep them energized and focused during lessons.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, having emergency feminine products available in the classroom makes a tremendous difference for our middle school students. This stage of life can be a challenging transition, and knowing these essentials are readily available helps reduce anxiety and allows students to stay engaged in class rather than worrying about an uncomfortable situation.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our classroom feels more inviting, inclusive, and supportive—a place where students know their needs matter. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and for helping us create a learning environment where every student can feel comfortable and confident.","fullyFundedDate":1755725083253,"projectUrl":"project/comfortable-classroom/9579872/","projectTitle":"Comfortable Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":1031883,"projectId":9731897,"letterContent":"Our Family Paint Night was a wonderful success, and we are so grateful for your support in bringing it to life. Thanks to your generosity, our students were able to share a joyful, creative evening with their families—many experiencing a guided painting activity together for the very first time. The canvases, brushes, easels, and paints you funded allowed every participant to feel like a true artist, and the smiles, excitement, and conversations around the room made it clear how meaningful this experience was for them.\r\n\r\nYour donation did more than supply art materials—it created a space for connection, confidence, and community. Students proudly taught painting techniques to their parents, families encouraged one another, and everyone walked away with artwork they were truly proud of. Several families shared that they had never attended a school event like this and that the night helped them feel more involved and welcomed. Thank you for giving our students and their loved ones an evening they will remember and for supporting the arts in such a tangible and heartfelt way.","fullyFundedDate":1758860196329,"projectUrl":"project/united-by-art-family-paint-night/9731897/","projectTitle":"United by Art: Family Paint Night","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fernandez-Castillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1031883_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y285&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649965914973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nfernandez-castillo"},{"teacherId":1031883,"projectId":9665176,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my advanced art students now each have their own water-resistant portfolio to safely store and transport their artwork. We use these portfolios daily for in-progress and finished pieces, and they have already made a meaningful difference in how students care for their work. Previously, many students struggled to keep artwork flat and protected during travel between home and school. Now, their work arrives clean, dry, and undamaged, allowing them to focus fully on learning rather than worrying about protecting their art.\r\n\r\nWhen the portfolios arrived, my students were genuinely excited and proud to receive something that felt so professional and purposeful. Several students immediately began organizing their work and talking about how they finally had a safe way to take pieces home to show their families. For many of them, this was the first time their artwork felt valued in a way that matched their effort and dedication. Seeing their sense of ownership and confidence grow was incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue using their portfolios to build a cohesive body of work for critique, reflection, and potential submission to competitions and exhibitions and to feel more professional as some head to magnet school auditions! Your support has not only provided a practical tool, but it has also reinforced the idea that their creativity matters. Thank you for truly investing in my students and their artistic growth.","fullyFundedDate":1757510046314,"projectUrl":"project/protecting-masterpieces-in-the-making/9665176/","projectTitle":"Protecting Masterpieces in the Making","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fernandez-Castillo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1031883_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y285&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649965914973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nfernandez-castillo"},{"teacherId":10171075,"projectId":9579283,"letterContent":"Thank you for all of your generous donations. I started this club two years ago and was only able to have 10 kids mainly because of the lack of materials. The demand, however was much larger. My second year I was only able to grow to 15 kids and this was using only materials I myself had purchased. The club was stuck to how much I could purchase. With help of Donors Choose, this year we grew to 50 students. Every Tuesday we have 5 groups of kids playing old school Dungeons and Dragons. Practicing roll playing and critical thinking skills along with problems solving. Oh yah, having fun also. This is all thanks to the kindness and generosity of our donors.","fullyFundedDate":1755653769277,"projectUrl":"project/dungeon-crawlers/9579283/","projectTitle":"Dungeon Crawlers","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Foster","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10171075"},{"teacherId":2070247,"projectId":9151493,"letterContent":"I can not even express how helpful it is to receive these materials. The girls feel uncomfortable at time if they do not have the resources available to purchase these items. Many are too embarrassed to ask. Now that I have acquired these materials, I am able to keep them in a location that is easily accessible for them. They feel at ease knowing that they can take the products whenever they need them and that they don't have to explain themselves. It makes something that could be uncomfortable a lot easier for them.","fullyFundedDate":1746476892337,"projectUrl":"project/girl-needs/9151493/","projectTitle":"Girl Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gomberg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2070247_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1541168135696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-balladares"},{"teacherId":6488584,"projectId":9666742,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and myself, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our \"Learn, Achieve, and Earn\" project on DonorsChoose. Your support has made a significant impact on our classroom, and I am thrilled to share that the students are beyond excited about the opportunity to earn the rewards and prizes we've set up. This project is not only enhancing their learning experience, but it's also motivating them to push harder, stay engaged, and celebrate their achievements along the way.\r\n\r\nThanks to you, our students are more excited than ever to reach their goals and continue developing a love for learning. They understand that their hard work will be rewarded, and that sense of accomplishment is driving them to strive for excellence every day. It's your generosity that makes moments like these possible, and we couldn't be more grateful for your kindness. Thank you again for believing in our students and empowering them to reach new heights!","fullyFundedDate":1756937307775,"projectUrl":"project/learn-achieve-and-earn/9666742/","projectTitle":"Learn, Achieve, and Earn!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Quallo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6488584_orig.jpg?crop=272,272,x0,y20&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720797406870","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/quallo"},{"teacherId":4007246,"projectId":8596582,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Robotics for Future Engineers project! Your generosity has brought hands-on STEM learning into our classroom, giving students the opportunity to explore robotics, coding, and engineering in a way that's both exciting and educational. These tools have helped us turn abstract concepts into real-world applications, and our students are thriving because of it.\r\nMany of our donors may use technology at home for communication or entertainment, but in our classroom, it's a gateway to innovation. Students are using the robotics kits to design, build, and program their own robots—learning about problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance along the way. The most exciting part for them is seeing their creations come to life and actually move based on the code they've written. It's empowering and inspiring!\r\nOne student in particular, who was previously shy and hesitant to participate in group work, has completely blossomed through this project. He's now one of our most enthusiastic builders and even helps others troubleshoot their designs. Thanks to The DonorsChoose Community, this project has sparked a love for engineering and opened doors to future possibilities for all of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1727447853501,"projectUrl":"project/robotics-for-future-engineers/8596582/","projectTitle":"Robotics for Future Engineers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez-Ruiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4007246_orig.jpg?crop=951,951,x0,y136&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597880007721","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4007246"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_42269","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":337,"numTeachers":60,"percentFrplEligible":44,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":85,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"5.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.3,"schoolId":42269,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Arvida Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Arvida Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/miami-dade-county-public-schools/arvida-middle-school/42269"}