{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sylvan Hills Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":32.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10163363,"projectId":9560835,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom now has a Student Zen Den—a space where students can relax, reset, and practice self-soothing strategies. Students use this area throughout the day to calm their minds with sensory tools, breathing activities, and quiet reflection before returning to learning.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, they were excited and immediately curious. Several shared that the space made them feel safe and happy. One student even said, \"This helps me calm down when I feel upset.\" Seeing their faces light up showed how much they needed a place designed just for their emotional well-being.\r\n\r\nBecause of your contribution, students are learning healthy ways to manage stress and emotions. Our next steps include teaching guided breathing, journaling, and mindfulness activities so students can continue building independence and confidence in regulating their feelings.\r\n\r\nYour support has transformed our classroom into a space that nurtures both academic success and emotional growth. Thank you for making this possible.","fullyFundedDate":1759264935644,"projectUrl":"project/student-zen-den/9560835/","projectTitle":"Student Zen Den","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Alexandre","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10163363_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760448107654","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10163363"},{"teacherId":8653480,"projectId":6945946,"letterContent":"Many students are often in the shadows and slip through the cracks because of a lack of confidence. Some of them exhibit unacceptable behavior. I strive to seek these students out and encourage them to participate in a sport. \r\n\r\nThe title \"student athlete\" means a lot to our scholars and we emphasize that implies that you are a \"good student\" first,\r\n \r\nOnce a scholar becomes a member of a team he/she takes on the responsibility of being a team player not just on the field or court but in the classroom as well. This more often than not, diminishes problem behavior and enhances the success of the student.","fullyFundedDate":1677034422578,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-positive-correlation-between/6945946/","projectTitle":"Creating a Positive Correlation Between Academics and Athletics.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Polite","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8653480"},{"teacherId":9082499,"projectId":10004216,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my \"Support Deaf Student\" project. Because of you, my students now have access to technology that helps them learn more confidently and independently every day. Many of my scholars use devices at home, but the tools you provided are being used in a much more intentional way at school—helping them practice key skills, stay engaged during instruction, and access learning in ways that match how they communicate best. For my Deaf and hard of hearing students especially, having strong visual supports and consistent access to digital materials makes a real difference in understanding directions, building vocabulary, and participating fully in class activities.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students is that the new materials make learning feel more interactive and student-friendly. Instead of simply hearing information and trying to remember it, they can see it, work with it, and revisit it as many times as they need. I've noticed students becoming more motivated when they realize they can follow along without feeling lost or left behind. Some students who typically hesitate to participate are now raising their hands more, completing assignments with more confidence, and showing pride in their progress. It's powerful to watch them feel empowered by tools that actually support their learning needs.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made my classroom more accessible, more inclusive, and more supportive for every learner—especially students who need communication and visual access to thrive. Thank you for believing in my scholars and for helping create a learning environment where they feel seen, supported, and capable. We truly appreciate you.","fullyFundedDate":1769177031815,"projectUrl":"project/support-deaf-student/10004216/","projectTitle":"Support Deaf Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. JeanPierre-Foy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9082499_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767992819182","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9082499"},{"teacherId":9608238,"projectId":9590524,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for supporting our projects, Pi in the Sky and Peace on the Floor. The new resources have already made such a difference in our classroom. The tennis balls on our chair legs have turned our once noisy space into a calm, focused environment where students can concentrate without the constant scraping of chairs. The snacks have been equally impactful, giving my students the energy and confidence to learn without worrying about being hungry.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments was during our recent \"Pi in the Sky\" math activity. Students rotated through puzzle stations, and for the first time, they moved smoothly and quietly between groups—staying engaged in solving problems instead of being distracted by the noise of the room. When we wrapped up, they were thrilled to celebrate their hard work with the snacks you helped provide. Their excitement and joy showed me how much these small but meaningful resources matter.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the tennis balls on their chairs, they laughed, tested them out, and immediately noticed the difference. And when the snack box appeared, the whole class erupted with cheers. They were amazed that someone they had never met cared enough to give them both comfort and fuel for their learning journey.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students are now better prepared to dive into our next big project: connecting math skills to real-world situations. With the quiet environment and the energy to focus, they are ready to tackle new challenges with confidence and enthusiasm.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and investing in their success. Your kindness has made our classroom a place of peace, focus, and joy.","fullyFundedDate":1755646466864,"projectUrl":"project/pi-in-the-sky-and-peace-on-the-floor/9590524/","projectTitle":"Pi in the Sky… and Peace on the Floor","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dooley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9608238_orig.jpg?crop=750,750,x0,y225&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721931704549","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/vndooley"},{"teacherId":6853704,"projectId":8864618,"letterContent":"I want to send a heartfelt thank you for your generous donations to support our scholars at Sylvan Hills Middle School. With your help we have launched our Golden Bear School Store which provides incentives to our students for positive behavior. This has been a game changer for our school's climate and culture. Our students' negative discipline data has declined as a result of our positive behavior incentive system (PBIS).\r\n\r\nNot only has it changed the school for our students, its also improved the experience for our teachers. We use a point system to award students points for positive behavior. Students are then able to redeem their points in our school store for items that you so generously sponsored. This has made a huge impact on our classrooms. Teachers have been sharing how the positive behavior incentive system (PBIS) has made impacts on their classrooms. This will undoubtedly lead to improved student achievement. \r\n\r\nYour generosity is impacting the experience of our students and the Sylvan Hills community on the daily basis. We can't thank you enough for help.","fullyFundedDate":1734536720224,"projectUrl":"project/golden-bear-store/8864618/","projectTitle":"Golden Bear Store","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Bivins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6853704"},{"teacherId":3274732,"projectId":8951946,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your support and the incredible impact the training hurdles have had on my track athletes.\r\n\r\nI have seen remarkable improvements not only in my athletes' performances but also in their overall athletic development. The hurdles have proven to be a game-changer, offering a dynamic combination of strength, speed, and coordination. By mastering the technique of clearing hurdles efficiently, our athletes have gained greater agility, improved their running form, and significantly boosted their stride length.\r\n\r\nWhen my athletes opened the boxes, they were excited to begin working on hurdle training. Their fear of going over the hurdles subsided because these hurdles weren't as daunting as the standard hurdle. After a few practices with the trainers, my athletes were ready to clear the regular hurdles. \r\n\r\nThe incorporation of hurdles into training sessions has brought an element of excitement and variety that keeps the athletes engaged and motivated. The hurdle drills push them to reach new limits and break personal records, fostering a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie within the team.\r\n\r\nI cannot thank you enough for your contribution to this vital aspect of their training. Your support has made a lasting impact, and I am seeing the positive effects in each athlete's performance and attitude. I am excited to see what the future holds as my athletes continue to grow and excel.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generosity and commitment to the development of my team.","fullyFundedDate":1733145971800,"projectUrl":"project/getting-over-the-hurdle/8951946/","projectTitle":"Getting Over the Hurdle","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rice","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3274732_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1726839511143","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/danceteacherhanks"},{"teacherId":8542571,"projectId":8901969,"letterContent":"Sylvan Hills Middle School would like to humbly thank you for your generous donations. Our Sylvan R.E.A.D.Y. Project is a success because of you! We have been able to motivate students to display positive behavior through the creation of our school store! We encouraged our students to earn points from their teachers through LiveSchools where they were rewarded for being Respectful, Empathetic, Accountable, Determined, and Unapologetically You. The students who earned 80 or more points were able to shop for being obedient models of our school motto. \r\n\r\nThe students were so excited to see all of the amazing products that were donated! They were able to purchase cookies, chips, drinks, notebooks, candy, and trinkets with their points during lunch time! They were so happy because no money was involved in their purchases, and the items were abundant! They now keep asking \"When will the store be back?\" and they ask their teachers for points all the time! Students compete with each other to show positive behavior. Our teachers are able to encourage students to be on task and demonstrate R.E.A.D.Y expectations which enhances their classroom management and student motivation. \r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue the store until the end of the school year as students gear up for testing. We still have many items left because we tied a point value to them, so we have been strategic with our resources. We plan to keep our school store as part of our culture for next year. Again, thank you donors and Donor's Choose. Your impact is forever engraved in our hearts!","fullyFundedDate":1733260846012,"projectUrl":"project/the-sylvan-ready-project/8901969/","projectTitle":"The Sylvan R.E.A.D.Y Project!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Claiborne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8542571_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y151&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729814179529","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8542571"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_49350","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":452,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":96,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"10.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.6,"schoolId":49350,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sylvan Hills Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sylvan Hills Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/georgia/atlanta-public-schools/parks-middle-school/49350"}