{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Richardson Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":28.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":23738,"projectId":9306310,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students have started learning about the science of hydroponics. \r\nAt our school we dedicate one day a month to trying something different from our regular curriculum. In my computer class, we usually use this time to work on different types of gardening. I was looking for something for us to do in the colder months of fall and winter. Our administration was able to acquire some frames for a hydroponics system from another school that was giving them away, but we needed to supply the pumps, lights, and other parts. Your donations provided that equipment.\r\nIn November we were able to start the seeds and they just grew enough to move them into the hydroponics system. Next week we will have our next lesson and we will get to learn about how the hydroponic system works and how the plants are able to grow without any soil. \r\nMy 5th and 6th graders were really excited to be doing something hands on. Several of them commented on how they help their families take care of gardens at home. I look forward to them seeing another way of gardening, and we hope this interest follows them into high school and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1756680133142,"projectUrl":"project/completing-our-hydroponics-system/9306310/","projectTitle":"Completing Our Hydroponics System","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gazdziak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp23738_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486079506819","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ggazdziak"},{"teacherId":9698051,"projectId":9564345,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my Building Social Skills Through Board Games project. Because of your generosity, our students now have meaningful, engaging opportunities to learn and grow while having fun.\r\n\r\nThe kids are absolutely loving the games and look forward to recess even more. It's been wonderful to see them interacting, collaborating, and building confidence through play. Many of them have shared how much they appreciate having these games available, and it's clear that your support is making a real difference in their day.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in their social development, their joy, and their sense of community. Your kindness has created moments they will remember and skills they will carry forward.","fullyFundedDate":1759083988392,"projectUrl":"project/building-social-skills-through-board-gam/9564345/","projectTitle":"Building Social Skills Through Board Games","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Khanna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9698051_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754694757823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9698051"},{"teacherId":5822096,"projectId":9887013,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support. The new volleyballs you provided have immediately become the heart of our practices. For many of our athletes, this is their first experience in an organized sport and having high-quality, reliable equipment has given them confidence and pride from the very start.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the volleyballs to great use. With enough volleyballs for every group, no one has to wait, and the girls stay fully engaged the entire time. Their skills and their confidence are growing each day. \r\n\r\nYour kindness has made a lasting impact. Thank you for believing in our students and helping them grow both as athletes and as young leaders.","fullyFundedDate":1762791412597,"projectUrl":"project/volleyballs-for-afterschool-club/9887013/","projectTitle":"Volleyballs for Afterschool Club","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaufmann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5822096"},{"teacherId":5822096,"projectId":9853011,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support. The new volleyballs you provided have immediately become the heart of our practices. For many of our athletes, this is their first experience in an organized sport and having high-quality, reliable equipment has given them confidence and pride from the very start.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the volleyballs to great use. With enough volleyballs for every group, no one has to wait, and the girls stay fully engaged the entire time. Their skills and their confidence are growing each day. \r\n\r\nYour kindness has made a lasting impact. Thank you for believing in our students and helping them grow both as athletes and as young leaders.","fullyFundedDate":1762569864124,"projectUrl":"project/setting-up-for-success-new-volleyballs/9853011/","projectTitle":"Setting Up for Success: New Volleyballs for Our Afterschool Club!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaufmann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5822096"},{"teacherId":7107643,"projectId":8054203,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our wrestling program through DonorsChoose. Because of your support, we were able to fully equip our wrestlers with the proper headgear they needed to compete safely and confidently throughout the season.\r\n\r\nYour gift made a direct and meaningful impact. Many of our students would not have had access to quality equipment without your help. Thanks to you, they were able to train and compete with confidence, knowing they had the same protection and support as any other team. The headgear you helped provide allowed them to focus on their performance, not worry about what they lacked.\r\n\r\nThis season, our wrestlers learned more than just technique, they learned that their community believes in them. Your generosity reminded them that their goals matter, and that hard work is worth it.","fullyFundedDate":1710048406306,"projectUrl":"project/southside-chicago-wrestling-headgears/8054203/","projectTitle":"Southside Chicago Wrestling Headgears","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Lucio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7107643"},{"teacherId":8939452,"projectId":9066426,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to play with the new manipulatives and fidgets. They are eager to engage in hands on activities to practice self regulation. These tools also help them in the classroom, while doing work. The fidget helps them concentrate, ground themselves and calm their nerves. \r\nMany of the snakes obtained from this project has nourished many of our children during tough times in school and getting snacks that may not be easily attainable at home. \r\nThe basketball hoop and volleyball helps kids take a mentsl break to participate in a healthyand friendly coping skill. They exert some energy and then return to their classwork. Overall, words cannot describe the impact your donations have made. Please know that your donation has made a powerful and positive impact and I am thankful for the trust you have in me to provide me with the tools necessary to support my students.","fullyFundedDate":1746557916862,"projectUrl":"project/social-work-fidget-tools-for-promoting-c/9066426/","projectTitle":"Social Work-Fidget Tools for Promoting Calmness in Students with Disabilities","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Razo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8939452_orig.jpg?crop=1500,1500,x0,y300&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737055291167","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8939452"},{"teacherId":3272009,"projectId":8742670,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for giving the students opportunity to get involved in a STEAM project. This took a lot of planning in preparation for the students to get started with their project and a true example of them \"trusting the process\". I couldn't believe how diligent and focused they were in getting their pictures built with the nails. Next month we will finish up the nailing and begin with the yarn to start building their images. I was quoted by one of my students when she saw her image coming up into view with the nails, \"Oh, I see it! I'm going to keep this forever!!\" Some students were able to take the leadership role and help others, some students turn to others they usually wouldn't talk to for help and guidance. This was a great project to practice their skills from math and digital designing to art and creativity all while collaborating together. To have students requesting to come in during their recess time to keep working on this speaks volumes. Thank you again for giving the students this opportunity and experience.","fullyFundedDate":1733856547646,"projectUrl":"project/get-creative-with-string-art-a-wonderou/8742670/","projectTitle":"Get Creative with String Art: A Wonderous Wednesday Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kaur","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3272009_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1672029621258","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaur"},{"teacherId":23738,"projectId":8962724,"letterContent":"Thank you again so much for your support of our classroom project. Once we found out that our project was funded, we started saving up plastic bottles. In January, my students started planting the wildflower seeds you purchased into the bottles. We transferred the bottles outside and have let them sit all winter in our school garden. In a few weeks we should be able to start the annual flowers indoors, and then later in the spring we can transfer everything into our new butterfly garden.\r\n\r\nMany of my students really enjoy getting to plant seeds. Some connect it to time spent with parents or grandparents at home. Others just like the chance to do something different during the day. What will make this project special is that we will also be able to connect it to doing something helpful for our community, and since the wildflowers are perennial plants, the students will be able to come back and see their plants year after year as a lasting legacy.","fullyFundedDate":1733232060331,"projectUrl":"project/saving-our-monarch-butterflies/8962724/","projectTitle":"Saving Our Monarch Butterflies","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gazdziak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp23738_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486079506819","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ggazdziak"},{"teacherId":9741811,"projectId":8760134,"letterContent":"Words cannot express the profound impact of your generous donations on the students at Richardson Middle School. I am writing to you today not just to offer a simple thank you, but to paint a picture of the difference your kindness has made in the lives of our students. Your contributions have transformed my office into a space where students feel safe, supported, and understood. \r\n\r\nBefore your generous support, my office, while welcoming, lacked the resources to truly cater to the diverse needs of our student population. Many students experience stress, anxiety, and the general pressures of middle school, and having a dedicated space to decompress is crucial for their well-being. Your donations have allowed me to create such a space. I've witnessed firsthand how a quiet moment in a comfortable space can make a significant difference in a student's day, allowing them to return to their classes feeling refreshed and more focused. The calming atmosphere you helped create has fostered a sense of trust and openness, making it easier for students to share their thoughts and feelings.\r\n\r\nBeyond my office, your contributions have extended to school-wide events, adding a spark of joy and recognition to our celebrations. Your donations have been instrumental in providing student incentive prizes for events like our Honors Luncheon, Rhino of the Month Celebration, and College and Career Week. These events are designed to acknowledge and celebrate student achievements, positive behavior, and engagement in school activities. The excitement on their faces when they receive these prizes is truly heartwarming. It's a tangible way for us to show our students that their hard work and dedication are valued and appreciated.\r\n\r\nI want to particularly highlight the impact of the fidget toys you donated. These seemingly simple items have become invaluable tools in my work with students. Many students find it easier to focus and concentrate when they have something to do with their hands. Fidget toys provide a discreet and appropriate outlet for nervous energy, allowing students to better engage in conversations, counseling sessions, and classwork. The fact that these fidgets are items students can take home and keep is particularly meaningful. It allows them to continue using these tools outside of the school environment, providing a sense of comfort and support wherever they go. This thoughtful aspect of your donation has truly resonated with our students. They are genuinely appreciative of the opportunity to have these resources at their disposal.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has not only provided tangible items, but it has also fostered a stronger sense of community within our school. It reinforces the idea that our school is a safe and nurturing environment where they can grow and thrive. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the students at Richardson Middle School, I extend my sincerest gratitude for your incredible generosity. Thank you for investing in their future and for making our school a more supportive and enriching environment for all.","fullyFundedDate":1736172960475,"projectUrl":"project/counseling-corner-student-space/8760134/","projectTitle":"Counseling Corner - Student Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saldana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9741811"},{"teacherId":3427844,"projectId":8922501,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, my students are reading some great books. Every year in Chicago, the public library partners with the public schools to curate a list of 20 great books for students to read. In the Spring there is a culminating Battle of the Books competition. In order to provide my students with as many of the books as possible, I put this Donors Choose grant together. \r\n\r\nAs you can see from the pictures, my students were very excited to get started reading the books. We are deep in reading, questioning, summarizing, and discussing the books right now. Students are putting presentations together to showcase the books for each other.\r\n\r\nI am collecting their questions to submit for the upcoming competitions. Since we are so immersed in book talks, it is my hope that we have a shot at placing well, if not winning the competition. \r\n\r\nMost importantly, students are cultivating an unparalleled love of literature. This is thanks to your support of books and reading.","fullyFundedDate":1732738852179,"projectUrl":"project/let-the-battle-of-the-books-begin/8922501/","projectTitle":"Let the Battle 'of the Books' Begin!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Myers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3427844_orig.jpg?crop=512,512,x64,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1555947055115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3427844"},{"teacherId":5822096,"projectId":5983954,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Your contribution has made a meaningful impact on my students and their learning experience.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generous donation. The money you donated was used to purchase a roll-down wall map. As the students continue to learn about ancient civilizations and keep up with current events, the map of the world and the United States has become a class favorite. It serves as a wonderful visual tool that the students use every day to make connections between the past and the present.\r\n\r\nYour generosity helps make learning more engaging, interactive, and meaningful. You've given my students a valuable resource that enhances their understanding of geography and history while sparking curiosity about the world beyond our classroom walls.","fullyFundedDate":1642612819837,"projectUrl":"project/where-in-the-world-is-ms-kaufmanns-cla/5983954/","projectTitle":"Where in the world is Ms. Kaufmann's class?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaufmann","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5822096"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_110805","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":840,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":94,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":97,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":71.9,"schoolId":110805,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Richardson Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Richardson Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/richardson-middle-school/110805"}