{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taft High School","outOfStateSupporters":25.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9721858,"projectId":9887745,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of two graphing calculators to our Honors Precalculus class through DonorsChoose. Your support has made an immediate and meaningful impact on my students' learning. We recently used the calculators during a constructivist exploratory lab on polynomial functions. Instead of simply being shown graphs, students actively graphed multiple polynomials themselves and looked for patterns across different degrees and coefficients. The technology allowed them to test their ideas instantly, revise their thinking, and notice connections such as how leading coefficients affect end behavior or how roots influence graph shape. The calculators transformed the lesson from passive note-taking into hands-on discovery.\r\n\r\nMany people use technology at home for convenience, but in our classroom, it becomes a powerful thinking tool. The graphing calculators help students visualize abstract mathematical concepts that can be difficult to grasp from equations alone. During our trigonometric functions unit, students used the calculators to explore amplitude, period, and phase shifts dynamically. They adjusted parameters and immediately saw how the graph changed, which deepened their conceptual understanding far beyond memorizing formulas. What excites students most is the sense of control since they can experiment, predict, and verify their ideas in real time.\r\n\r\nI have noticed that several students who are typically hesitant to speak up have grown more confident when using the calculators. The technology provides a safe space to explore and make mistakes privately before sharing conclusions with the class. One student in particular, who often doubts her math abilities, became visibly more engaged during the polynomial lab. She eagerly compared graph patterns with classmates and proudly explained her observations. Your donation is not just equipment but it is also empowerment, confidence, and opportunity.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in our students and their mathematical growth.","fullyFundedDate":1764785347839,"projectUrl":"project/graphing-calculators-essential-problem/9887745/","projectTitle":"Graphing Calculators = Essential Problem Solving Tools in Honors Precalculus","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Starzycka","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9721858_orig.jpg?crop=1083,1083,x196,y102&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731202203464","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-starzycka"},{"teacherId":9071530,"projectId":9797772,"letterContent":"Thank you immensely for your contributions and kindness! Having a printer directly in the room instead of in the department office means that more adults are available to stay in the room with students who have level 1 autism. If you have ever worked in this setting before, you know that the more available staff on hand, the better. If you have not worked in this setting before, you have done an incredible kindness to the educators and students in the classroom. Where your contribution goes beyond this, is that sometimes in this line of work students will need updated medical forms, and sometimes that need is immediate. When parents have a direct line of communication with the educators in the classroom and are able to send over documents that need signatures, or need to be received my school medical staff, we are able to access and obtain those documents immediately. Last, but far from least, is that schoolwork for students can be revised and printed on the spot. These are 3 main ways that having a printer in the classroom benefits everyone involved.","fullyFundedDate":1764697082926,"projectUrl":"project/im-not-go-ink-anywhere/9797772/","projectTitle":"I'm Not GO-INK Anywhere!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nakasone","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9071530_orig.jpg?crop=5142,5142,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747935727556","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-nakasone"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":9923922,"letterContent":"The momentum is only growing! Here is what is on the horizon for the next few weeks:\r\n\r\nThe Fit Test: Students will finalize their first round of \"V1\" prototypes and conduct user-testing sessions with volunteers.\r\n\r\nRefining the Design: Using the feedback, they'll return to their CAD software to adjust dimensions and density—learning that \"failure\" is just the first step of the iteration process.\r\n\r\nCommunity Hand-off: Our goal is to have a \"Library of Assistive Tools\" ready by the end of the term to donate to our local occupational therapy clinic.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the chance to see themselves not just as learners, but as problem-solvers.","fullyFundedDate":1765849126907,"projectUrl":"project/print-with-a-purpose-equipping-students/9923922/","projectTitle":"Print With a Purpose: Equipping Students to Build Assistive Devices","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":8430414,"projectId":9896311,"letterContent":"Thank you for my students' copies of Twelfth Night! We've had such a fun time working our way through one of the Bard's great comedies this winter. \r\n\r\nThe kids like to make fun of me that they know it has to end happily ever after because I don't do sad things in the winter and they're right, but it also means they understand the tropes of Shakespeare's plot structures, and they're deeply invested in how the story gets told. \r\n\r\nWe had a blast finding all the clues Shakespeare left in the text for actors to find, and learning a little bit of stage combat swordplay as we went. Thank you for giving them the opportunity to really own this text and make it their own. It feels very alive in their hands, even after 425 years. \r\n\r\nYou're the best.","fullyFundedDate":1764813390144,"projectUrl":"project/shakespeare-for-students-personal-copi/9896311/","projectTitle":"Shakespeare for Students - Personal Copies of the Script","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Morris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8430414_orig.png?crop=694,694,x2,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651148901202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anakinmorris"},{"teacherId":8579692,"projectId":9818085,"letterContent":"Thank you for your contribution to our project. Because of you, more students have access and opportunity to pursue their interests. Your donation provided for 6 additional setups to be deployed in our esports lab. Directly from this result, we were able to start an additional junior varisty team this season. Having three teams all practicing and competing at once wasn't even a dream before. We even had some returning students come back and pick up new games because of the comfort and availability you provided.","fullyFundedDate":1761538294712,"projectUrl":"project/esports-peripherals-for-cleaner-setups/9818085/","projectTitle":"eSports Peripherals for Cleaner Setups","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nguyen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8579692_orig.jpg?crop=179,179,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727500947639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579692"},{"teacherId":732480,"projectId":9732843,"letterContent":"Thank you for your contribution to this important social and emotional learning (SEL) lesson on self-management and relationship skills. For the second year in a row, I taught students how to use kindness and gratitude as self-management tools. Students practiced self-awareness by reflecting on the different experiences they had with kindness in their lives. They watched videos and discussed research on the benefits of each for well-being. However, identifying and discussing the benefits is only one part of this lesson. \r\n\r\nYour contribution made it possible to buy the supplies needed for students to apply what they learned to their lives. Students choose one person in their lives to whom they would create a card of gratitude. For the second year in a row, a super majority of students reported feeling positive while creating the cards. \r\n\r\nThank you for your financial assistance.","fullyFundedDate":1758801500453,"projectUrl":"project/gratitude-improves-mental-health/9732843/","projectTitle":"Gratitude Improves Mental Health!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Plewa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp732480_orig.jpg?crop=1374,1374,x42,y226&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722607272245","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/732480"},{"teacherId":4653945,"projectId":9909936,"letterContent":"From the bottom of our hearts—and the wheels of our new cart—THANK YOU! Your generous donation to the \"Snack Cart Success\" project has made an immediate, tangible difference in the lives of our 12 amazing students in the Severe and Profound Cluster Program. This isn't just about snacks; it's about opportunity.\r\n\r\nThe Moment the Magic Started\r\nThe transformation began the moment our \"snack bar on wheels\" arrived. With the help of the Intro to Robotics class and the Robotics Team, we assembled the cart and installed vibrant, colorful switches. The reaction was instant—the room lit up! Students who are often observers became active participants, eager to \"practice\" pushing the switches that represent their voice and agency. Watching their faces go from curiosity to pure pride as they realized they were the ones making the cart move and communicate was a moment I will never forget.\r\n\r\nHow We're Using the Resources\r\nSince mid-January, we have held four successful events, and the \"Heart of the Community\" initiative has become the highlight of the school week. Our students are hands-on in every step: they meticulously sort the snacks, load the bins, and navigate the cart through the hallways. During our \"deliveries,\" students offer a menu, pass out the chosen items, collect money, and even give change if needed. Most importantly, the air is filled with \"Hellos\" and \"Thank yous\" as they engage with their peers and teachers.\r\n\r\nWe've even expanded! We recently added \"home-grown small potted plants\" to our inventory. This adds a wonderful vocational layer, as students help grow and care for the plants before selling them. One specific moment that stands out is seeing a student use their communication device to offer a snack to a teacher; the teacher's face lit up, and the student stood a little taller, beaming with the pride of a job well done. Now, school staff tell us they \"can't wait\" for our next visit and are constantly asking us to stop by more often.\r\n\r\nNext Steps: Expanding Our Horizons\r\nThis initiative has been so successful that it has created several new \"jobs\" behind the scenes, including counting money, keeping inventory, and cleaning the bins and cart. Every student wants to be on the \"cart crew\" and wear that official apron!\r\n\r\nOur next goal is to expand our operations to two days a week to meet the high demand from staff. We are also using our Amazon Wish List to diversify our snack options and continue growing our \"plant shop\" segment. This project will continue through the end of the year and pick right back up after summer break, ensuring that our students continue to be the visible, vibrant heart of the Taft community.\r\n\r\nYour generosity didn't just buy a cart; it built a bridge between our students and their school. Thank you for believing in their potential.","fullyFundedDate":1764087273270,"projectUrl":"project/heart-of-the-community-taft-cluster-pro/9909936/","projectTitle":"Heart of the Community: Taft Cluster Program's Student-Run Snack Initiative","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Zmyslowski","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4653945_orig.png?crop=395,395,x5,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764105532920","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4653945"},{"teacherId":10354210,"projectId":9905385,"letterContent":"The kitchen is officially open! Thanks to your incredible generosity, our Baking Club has been transformed from a group with a dream into a (mostly) functioning bakery. The moment the students unboxed the toaster ovens, aprons, and mixers, the room was full of energy. We've already tackled our first few recipes (some more successful than others) and the students continue to be excited to bring in more to try! \r\n\r\nCreating a \"kitchen from scratch\" was quite the challenge, but with your support, we pulled it off! Since we have started this club, we have been able to be a part of international holiday event, brainstorm fundraisers, and make a name for ourselves amongst the many clubs at our school. None of this would have been possible without your thoughtful donations.","fullyFundedDate":1764338790136,"projectUrl":"project/we-have-passion-just-not-the-kitchen-s/9905385/","projectTitle":"We Have Passion, Just Not the Kitchen— Support Our Student Bakers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Strauss","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10354210_orig.jpg?crop=638,638,x385,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764088582437","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10354210"},{"teacherId":10264396,"projectId":9718379,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for the support you have shown through your generous donation to our classroom. As a new teacher, it means so much to me to know that people outside of our four walls of high school appreciate what we as educators are doing for our students and are willing to contribute. With your support, I have been able to establish a science classroom that helps students grow as learners and as human beings. \r\n\r\nWhile it is my first year teaching chemistry, the fundamental supplies you provided of safety equipment, graduated cylinders, and calculators have allowed us to establish a safe space for inquiry and exploration. Students used the calculators to calculate half-lives of radioactive elements during our nuclear energy unit that culminated in a debate on whether or not we as a nation should be using nuclear energy. The graduated cylinders were used when students discovered the relationship between density and volume. The safety equipment (rubber gloves and safety goggles) have allowed students to safely conduct investigations such as the flame test and reactivity of halogen elements. None of this would have been possible without your support. \r\n\r\nThank you for investing into our students.","fullyFundedDate":1758421497467,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-chemistry-teacher/9718379/","projectTitle":"First Year Chemistry Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10264396_orig.jpg?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758033556384","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10264396"},{"teacherId":6695680,"projectId":9580885,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity towards my students. My school is very large, so my students sometimes have lunch scheduled very early or very late, so they are hungry during class. We go through snacks very quickly and these students are very excited when I am able to give them a snack. \r\n\r\nAlso, as a high school teacher I am always looking for new ways to keep them engaged. These snacks are great prizes for games we play to keep students engaged such as jeopardy, vocabulary headbands, or even just \"which table can get the most answers correct\". We just got back from winter break and the kids are not looking forward to learning, but when I am offering up snacks for activities it gets them much more excited to learn and come to class!","fullyFundedDate":1758845862270,"projectUrl":"project/snack-and-supplies-for-me-and-my-student/9580885/","projectTitle":"Snack and Supplies for me and my Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kahn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6695680_orig.jpg?crop=1501,1501,x1108,y665&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566253944599","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6695680"},{"teacherId":9799289,"projectId":9715898,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations of colored pencils, density lab materials, an atomic magnetic model, a molecular modeling kit, and Kleenex. Because of you, our students are able to participate in hands-on labs and engaging learning activities that truly bring science to life.\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these materials to great use. Students have been building molecules with the modeling kit to better understand how atoms bond, and the atomic magnetic model has helped make abstract concepts like atomic structure much more concrete. During our density lab, students eagerly tested different materials, making predictions and recording observations like real scientists. Even the colored pencils have been valuable, students use them to create detailed diagrams and color-coded models that support their understanding of complex ideas.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. There were smiles, questions, and lots of \"Can we try this?\" moments. They were especially thrilled to handle the models themselves and work collaboratively during labs. It was clear that having real tools in their hands made the learning feel more meaningful and fun.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, our next steps include deeper investigations into matter and molecular interactions. Students will be designing their own experiments, creating molecular models to represent chemical changes, and presenting their findings to the class. These resources are helping build curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love for learning.\r\n\r\nBy contributing to our project, you've made a lasting impact on our students' learning experiences. Thank you again for your kindness and support. We are incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758895995758,"projectUrl":"project/chemistry-essentials-for-special-educati/9715898/","projectTitle":"Chemistry Essentials for Special Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gruendel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9799289"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":9906612,"letterContent":"The true innovation happened when students took these skills and applied them to the real world. They interviewed peers with physical disabilities and motor challenges to identify daily frustrations, then engineered solutions.\r\n\r\nHere is the impact we have seen on the ground:\r\n\r\nSwitch-Adapted Toys: Students dissected battery-operated toys, interrupting the circuits to add large, accessible buttons. This allowed students with limited fine motor skills to play independently for the first time.\r\n\r\nCustom Peripherals: We modified computer mice and gaming controllers, re-routing inputs so classmates could access educational software and games using foot pedals or head switches.\r\n\r\n3D Printed Aids: From pencil grips to zipper pulls, students designed custom physical hacks to make the school day easier for their peers.","fullyFundedDate":1765379528672,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-futures-building-assistive-t/9906612/","projectTitle":"Empowering Futures: Building Assistive Tech for Our Community","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5334","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":4440,"numTeachers":164,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":43,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"27.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":74.6,"schoolId":5334,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taft High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taft High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/taft-high-school/5334"}