{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ulysses S Grant Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":26.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9784754,"projectId":10758420,"letterContent":"On behalf of the Grant Middle School (GMS) Physical Education Department, thank you for your generous donation of a ping-pong table! Your kindness will make a meaningful difference in our team games unit by giving students a new and exciting opportunity to learn, play, and grow together.\r\n\r\nOur students will develop hand-eye coordination, reaction time, focus, and strategic thinking while practicing teamwork, communication, and good sportsmanship. Most importantly, the ping pong table will encourage students to challenge themselves, build confidence, and celebrate one another's successes in a fun and welcoming environment.\r\n\r\nYour donation provides more than just equipment. It creates opportunities for students to connect with classmates, learn new skills, and discover activities they can enjoy for years to come. We are grateful for your support and for investing in the health, happiness, and success of our GMS students!","fullyFundedDate":1792581089791,"projectUrl":"project/game-on-bringing-ping-pong-to-grant-mid/10758420/","projectTitle":"Game On! Bringing Ping Pong To Grant Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Montooth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9784754_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758296714161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9784754"},{"teacherId":8883651,"projectId":10539176,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project! Your donation of a futon for our social work office helped create a comfortable, welcoming space where students can relax, recharge, and feel supported.\r\n\r\nHaving a cozy place to sit and unwind helps students feel safe, calm, and ready to return to learning. Your generosity helps us provide a positive environment where students can take a moment for themselves, feel cared for, and know they have a trusted place to turn when they need support.\r\n\r\nWe are grateful for donors like you who recognize the importance of student well-being and happiness. Thank you for helping us make our social work office a warm, inviting resource where students feel comfortable, valued, and encouraged to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1787934499439,"projectUrl":"project/a-soft-landing-for-hard-times/10539176/","projectTitle":"A Soft Landing for Hard Times","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bisby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8883651"},{"teacherId":9784754,"projectId":10720852,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting \"Pickleball Power: Keep GMS Students Moving!\" Your generosity is helping my Grant Middle School students stay active, learn new skills, and build confidence through physical education.\r\n\r\nMy students are excited to learn pickleball, a fun and engaging sport that encourages teamwork, communication, coordination, and sportsmanship. With these new resources, students can practice serving, rallying, scoring, and developing strategies while staying physically active. It is exciting to see students encourage one another, celebrate their progress, and build confidence as they learn something new.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue developing our pickleball skills through partner drills, small-group activities, and friendly games. Students will practice following the rules, keeping score, solving problems, and demonstrating positive sportsmanship. These experiences will help them understand that physical education is not just about winning but also about effort, teamwork, and personal growth.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make physical education an engaging and meaningful experience. Your support makes a difference by giving our students more opportunities to move, learn, and succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1792101624296,"projectUrl":"project/pickleball-power-keep-gms-students-movi/10720852/","projectTitle":"Pickleball Power: Keep GMS Students Moving!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Montooth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9784754_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758296714161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9784754"},{"teacherId":9784754,"projectId":10661678,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, \"Shoot, Pass, Score: Building Skills Through Basketball!\" Your generosity is helping our middle school students at Grant Middle School develop their basketball skills while building teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship.\r\n\r\nMy students are excited to use the new basketballs during our PE lessons. They are practicing dribbling, passing, shooting, and working together during skill-building activities and small-group games. It is exciting to see students encourage one another, try new skills, and celebrate each other's progress.\r\n\r\nThese resources provide more opportunities for every student to participate, stay active, and improve at their own pace. As we continue our basketball unit, students will build on their fundamental skills and apply them during game situations while learning the importance of communication, cooperation, and fair play.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make physical education an engaging, positive experience. Your support is making a difference in our gym, one shot, one pass, and one basket at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1791202401961,"projectUrl":"project/she-shoots-she-scores-bringing-basketb/10661678/","projectTitle":"She Shoots, She Scores! Bringing Basketball to PE","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Montooth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9784754_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758296714161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9784754"},{"teacherId":9784754,"projectId":10661191,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, \"Shoot, Pass, Score: Building Skills Through Basketball!\" Your generosity is helping our middle school students at Grant Middle School develop their basketball skills while building teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship.\r\n\r\nMy students are excited to use the new basketballs during our PE lessons. They are practicing dribbling, passing, shooting, and working together during skill-building activities and small-group games. It is exciting to see students encourage one another, try new skills, and celebrate each other's progress.\r\n\r\nThese resources provide more opportunities for every student to participate, stay active, and improve at their own pace. As we continue our basketball unit, students will build on their fundamental skills and apply them during game situations while learning the importance of communication, cooperation, and fair play.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make physical education an engaging, positive experience. Your support is making a difference in our gym, one shot, one pass, and one basket at a time!","fullyFundedDate":1791202401539,"projectUrl":"project/shoot-pass-score-building-skills-thro/10661191/","projectTitle":"Shoot, Pass, Score: Building Skills Through Basketball","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Montooth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9784754_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758296714161","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9784754"},{"teacherId":8915078,"projectId":10248894,"letterContent":"I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.\r\n\r\nI express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation towards getting organized. Your act of kindness and support has significantly impacted our class and the students we serve.\r\n\r\nAs you may know, donations help make a difference in many lives. Your donation helps us keep our work going and supports the communities we aim to help. We are making strides daily because of the generosity of individuals like you. Words alone cannot express the level of appreciation and respect that we have for people like you in our society.\r\n\r\nI assure you that your donation will be effectively used for its intended purpose. We consider it our responsibility to be transparent and accountable in our spending, and your contribution will go a long way towards achieving our goals. \r\n\r\nThank you once again for your thoughtful and generous donation. We look forward to your continued support. Remember, your donation is making a big difference in the lives of many.","fullyFundedDate":1785739511940,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-organized/10248894/","projectTitle":"Let's Get Organized","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rivera","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8915078_orig.png?crop=510,510,x83,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1778783629611","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8915078"},{"teacherId":10303966,"projectId":10511820,"letterContent":"As a school nurse, my goal is to keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The school clinic is often a place where students come for more than just a Band-Aid. They may need comfort, reassurance, basic health care, or a little extra help getting through their school day. These supplies will help me provide essential care, keep the clinic organized, and respond to a variety of student health needs with the resources they deserve.\r\n\r\nYour generosity will help ensure that students have access to basic health and hygiene supplies without added stress or embarrassment. Whether I'm checking a student's blood pressure, caring for a minor injury, or helping with an unexpected health concern, having these resources available allows me to focus on what matters most: caring for our students. Thank you for helping me create a welcoming, well-equipped clinic where every student feels supported, valued, and cared for!","fullyFundedDate":1787934499262,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-and-ready-to-learn-middle-schoo/10511820/","projectTitle":"Healthy and Ready to Learn: Middle School Nurse Office Upgrade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beveridge","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10303966_orig.png?crop=811,811,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760914926022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10303966"},{"teacherId":10303966,"projectId":10660220,"letterContent":"As the school nurse, my goal is to make sure every student has access to the care, comfort, and support they need to be successful at school. These supplies will help me provide essential health services, maintain student dignity and privacy, and respond to a variety of medical needs throughout the school day. From assisting students with mobility needs to providing basic personal care and health supplies, these resources will make a meaningful difference in our school clinic.\r\n\r\nMany students come to the nurse's office with needs that go beyond a quick checkup. Having these items readily available will help remove barriers, reduce discomfort and embarrassment, and allow students to return to class feeling cared for and ready to learn. Your generosity will help create a safer, more supportive, and welcoming environment where every student knows their health and well-being matter.","fullyFundedDate":1790785833996,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-feel-supported-safe-a/10660220/","projectTitle":"Helping Students Feel Supported, Safe, and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beveridge","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10303966_orig.png?crop=811,811,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760914926022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10303966"},{"teacherId":10303966,"projectId":10578511,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our school health office through this DonorsChoose project! As the school nurse, I see firsthand how important it is to have essential health and first-aid supplies readily available when students need them. Your generous support has helped us stock our clinic with items such as bandages, splints, gloves, petroleum jelly, feminine hygiene products, and other everyday health-care necessities. These supplies allow me to respond quickly and appropriately to everything from minor injuries and skin concerns to students' personal health and hygiene needs. Having these resources available means our students can receive the care they need comfortably and with dignity while remaining ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYour generosity makes a meaningful difference in the well-being of our students and helps create a safe, caring, and supportive school environment. Some students may come to the health office after an injury, while others may need personal care items or support with their oral or hygiene needs. Knowing that our clinic is well-stocked allows me to focus on caring for each student rather than worrying about whether we have the necessary supplies. Thank you for investing in our students and helping ensure that every child who visits the health office feels cared for, supported, and ready to return to the classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1789565052136,"projectUrl":"project/essential-items-needed-in-nurses-office/10578511/","projectTitle":"Essential Items Needed in Nurse's Office","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Beveridge","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10303966_orig.png?crop=811,811,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760914926022","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10303966"},{"teacherId":2572479,"projectId":10454354,"letterContent":"Having a reliable, fully stocked supply of essential classroom tools—including dry-erase erasers, vibrant markers, pencil pouches, a wireless pencil sharpener, a full year's supply of pencils, a solid supply of pink erasers, and dedicated headphone storage—has brought smooth, seamless efficiency to our daily routines. In middle school math and technology, instructional momentum is everything. Before receiving these supplies, significant class time was lost to sharpening dull pencils, hunting down working markers for dry-erase board work, or untangling headphones. Having dedicated headphone storage keeps our tech setup tidy, while having pouches and plenty of writing utensils ensures that every student can jump straight into collaborative problem-solving, sketching tech diagrams, or showing their math work on whiteboards without delay.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my middle schoolers most is the independence, reliability, and modern feel of these supplies. They love using the wireless pencil sharpener to prep their work quickly without cord hassles, and having high-quality dry-erase markers makes interactive math practice feel much more engaging than standard paper-and-pencil drills. This project has been especially transformative for students who come to school without their own supplies, removing the subtle anxiety or embarrassment of having to ask around for a pencil or marker. Knowing that everything they need is always ready and accessible builds confidence, fosters a sense of equity, and lets our entire class focus on what truly matters—learning and growing together. Thank you for your amazing generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1787934499505,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-thinking-classroom-and-beyond/10454354/","projectTitle":"Building A Thinking Classroom and Beyond","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2572479_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774984684011","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/swaggybob"},{"teacherId":2572479,"projectId":10176652,"letterContent":"Having dedicated technology cleaning supplies—like compressed air cans and microfiber cleaning cloths—has had an immediate, practical impact on our daily computer and classroom routines. In middle school technology and math classes, laptop keyboards are used by students throughout the day. Keeping this equipment clean is essential for both hygiene and proper maintenance. Before receiving your generous support, dust, crumbs, and smudges quickly accumulated, which not only felt unappealing but could also affect how well the devices performed. Now, we are able to maintain a clean, crisp learning environment that shows students their digital tools are valued and cared for. Thank you so much for providing the essential tools that keep our classroom technology running smoothly!","fullyFundedDate":1776108665449,"projectUrl":"project/clean-that-tech/10176652/","projectTitle":"Clean That Tech","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2572479_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774984684011","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/swaggybob"},{"teacherId":2572479,"projectId":10613242,"letterContent":"Having a dedicated supply of small incentives—like stickers, fidgets, and bookmarks—has completely transformed our classroom management and daily motivation. In middle school math and technology, staying organized and maintaining focus during complex, multi-step tasks can be challenging. By using these items both for immediate recognition when students show great behavior and as prizes during random drawings for keeping binders organized and completing assignments, we have created an environment built on positive encouragement. The excitement of the random drawings adds an element of fun and anticipation that keeps everyone engaged and striving to keep their work on track.\r\n\r\nWhat excites the students most is the variety of fun items and the thrill of having their names drawn. Middle schoolers love personalizing their water bottles and notebooks with stickers, while fidgets give them a healthy, non-disruptive way to channel energy during focused work time. This system has been particularly transformative for students who struggle with executive functioning or attention, as the combination of instant rewards and surprise drawings gives them continuous motivation to stay organized. Seeing their eyes light up when their effort is noticed—or when their ticket is picked in a drawing—has created a supportive, high-energy momentum in our room. Thank you for helping us celebrate our students' hard work and growth!","fullyFundedDate":1789566538811,"projectUrl":"project/incentivizing-excellence-every-day/10613242/","projectTitle":"Incentivizing Excellence Every Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hayes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2572479_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1774984684011","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/swaggybob"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30148","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":494,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":52,"percentWhite":30,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":13,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"11.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":74.0,"schoolId":30148,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ulysses S Grant Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ulysses S Grant Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/springfield-public-schools-district-186/ulysses-s-grant-middle-school/30148"}