{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Merrillville Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":46.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9592109,"projectId":9558887,"letterContent":"Students are enjoying growing their seeds in the hydropnics systems. They were extremely excited to learn that you can grow plants in just water! Students chose seeds and packed them in the growwers and learned the benefits of growing your own food. Stduents gave reasons as to why to grow your foods, such as, you know the ingredients, avoid pesticides and chemicals, feed the family for cheaper than buyign it at the store, and the stress relief of working with plants. This has been a fun expreince for the students and myself and it is a skill they can take with them as they grow older. Thank you fro providing the tools to create this learning opportunity to the students.","fullyFundedDate":1758202621405,"projectUrl":"project/the-unseen-garden-fostering-sustainable/9558887/","projectTitle":"The Unseen Garden: Fostering Sustainable Habits in Our Youth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pierce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9592109_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y368&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720934628729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mspierceclass"},{"teacherId":9060885,"projectId":9797266,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generosity in supporting our classroom with Storyworks and Scholastic magazines. Because of you, my 6th grade students now have access to engaging, high-quality texts that are transforming the way they experience reading every day.\r\n\r\nThese magazines have allowed us to focus on essential literacy skills in a way that feels meaningful and relevant. Students are practicing close reading, analyzing nonfiction and fiction texts, identifying central ideas, and supporting their thinking with evidence. We are also building vocabulary, improving writing skills through text-based responses, and strengthening critical thinking as students discuss real-world topics presented in each issue. The variety of genres—articles, plays, debates, and narratives—helps reach all types of learners.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom has become interactive and student-centered. You'll often see students annotating texts, highlighting key ideas, and engaging in thoughtful discussions with their peers. We read together, independently, and in small groups. The excitement is noticeable—students are more willing to participate, share opinions, and ask deeper questions.\r\n\r\nThere are several students who have especially connected with these materials. Some who previously struggled to stay engaged are now eager to read aloud or volunteer their thoughts. Others who already loved reading are being challenged in new ways, diving deeper into analysis and making connections beyond the text. It has been powerful to watch their confidence grow.\r\n\r\nYour support has not just provided reading materials—it has opened doors for curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. Thank you for investing in my students and helping create a classroom where reading truly comes to life.","fullyFundedDate":1769177216035,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-nonfiction-literacy-and-vocabu/9797266/","projectTitle":"Fostering Nonfiction Literacy and Vocabulary Acquisition","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bushnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9060885_orig.jpg?crop=540,540,x0,y135&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754524575036","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9060885"},{"teacherId":9710437,"projectId":9919038,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our \"From Foam to Copper\" project. When our supplies arrived, the students and I were incredibly excited! Many of my students had never worked with these mediums before, and for some, this may be their only opportunity to explore such specialized materials.\r\nWe first used the foam sheets to dive into printmaking. After studying the history of Pop Art, from icons like Andy Warhol to modern masters like Takashi Murakami, students planned and refined their own designs. Seeing their ideas come to life from foam prints was a highlight; they were completely hooked on the process and are already asking to explore the medium again in the future.\r\nThe copper foil truly came to life during our \"Make Your Own Coin\" project. Students researched the history and evolution of currency, even discussing current news regarding the penny. Using this context, they drafted original coin designs and embossed them into the foil using various tools. The results were stunning. Beyond the art itself, this project taught them persistence; those who pushed through the technical challenges walked away with both a beautiful piece and a newfound sense of resilience.\r\nThank you for providing the tools that make these hands-on discovery moments possible!","fullyFundedDate":1769177215491,"projectUrl":"project/from-foam-to-copper-exploring-art-techn/9919038/","projectTitle":"From Foam to Copper: Exploring Art Techniques","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9710437"},{"teacherId":9494416,"projectId":10144610,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to engaging, high-interest novels that are transforming our classroom. During independent reading and small group discussions, students are strengthening skills like making inferences, analyzing characters, and identifying themes. One student who previously struggled to stay engaged in reading recently told me, \"I can't wait to see what happens next,\" while reading The Lightning Thief. Moments like this show just how impactful these books have been.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is now more exciting and accessible because students can easily find books they enjoy in our newly organized library. The label maker has helped create a system where students can quickly locate books by genre and interest, giving them ownership of their reading choices. Your support has created a space where every student feels confident, excited, and inspired to read.","fullyFundedDate":1773859669530,"projectUrl":"project/books-within-reach-for-every-reader/10144610/","projectTitle":"Books Within Reach for Every Reader","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9494416_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715784584391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9494416"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":10060571,"letterContent":"Because of all of your genetous donations, my students have unlimited supplies for their interactive notebooks. These supplies are so plentiful that they will last for the remainder of the s hood year. Our cabinets and bins are stocked with all of the supplies needed for students to continues to learn without interruption. Students who do not have supplies or who run out of supplies, can now go to the cabinet and retrieve any supply needed. This cuts down on classroom interruptions, and it also ensures that each and every student feels a sense of security in my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769479330835,"projectUrl":"project/interactive-notebook-supplies/10060571/","projectTitle":"Interactive Notebook Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":9644940,"letterContent":"My wonderfully creative students were able to create numerous projects because of your generous donations. Each and every student now has access to plenty of supplies for the remainder of the school year. We have also completed numerous projects, including play doh governments, interactive posters, and lanterns because our classroom is now stocked with supplies. Thank you so much for all of your donations. My students have put the supplies to great use. With your help, we are able to have a more hands-on classroom where everyone feels included.","fullyFundedDate":1765993016137,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-all/9644940/","projectTitle":"Supplies for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"},{"teacherId":9494416,"projectId":9992806,"letterContent":"When the materials for our Engineering with Heart: Valentine STEM Fun project arrived, my students were immediately excited. As soon as they saw the supplies, they began brainstorming ideas and asking questions about how they could design and build their own Valentine-themed engineering projects. The room was filled with curiosity, collaboration, and creativity as students eagerly explored the materials and started testing their ideas.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the resources to complete hands-on STEM challenges where students design, build, and improve their creations while practicing problem-solving and teamwork. One memorable moment was watching students redesign their projects after their first attempt didn't work as planned—they quickly learned that engineers test, adjust, and try again.\r\n\r\nThese materials will continue to support our STEM learning as we move into future engineering and design challenges. My students are excited to keep building, experimenting, and discovering new ways to apply their creativity and critical thinking. Thank you for giving them the opportunity to experience learning in such an engaging and meaningful way.","fullyFundedDate":1769177213058,"projectUrl":"project/engineering-with-heart-valentine-stem-f/9992806/","projectTitle":"Engineering with Heart: Valentine STEM Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9494416_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715784584391","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9494416"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":9544141,"letterContent":"I would like to thank all of you for the generous donations to my classroom hygiene cabinet. Because of your donations, my wonderful and deserving students have access to many hygiene supplies. The students can grab a deodorant, glasses wipe, band aid, or feminine product whenever needed. I have even had students from other classes come to my room to get hygiene supplies. Thank you so much for your contribution to the needs of my classes. I have amazing students who know they have their needs met because if donors like you.","fullyFundedDate":1760359882853,"projectUrl":"project/take-what-you-need-hygiene-supplies/9544141/","projectTitle":"Take What You Need Hygiene Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"},{"teacherId":9592109,"projectId":9272438,"letterContent":"We are thrilled to share the incredible impact your contribution has had on our math club! Your generosity in helping us acquire new resources, especially the Cricut cutting machine, has powered a fantastic, hands-on project that goes beyond mathematics.\r\n The Math Bowl Shirt ProjectOur current project involves designing and creating our own Math Bowl team shirts for the upcoming competition. Instead of outsourcing the printing and spending several hundred dollars, we are using the Cricut and heat-press materials to produce them ourselves.\r\n Students are using geometry and scaling concepts to ensure their logo designs fit properly on various shirt sizes, calculating material needed based on the number of shirts, and budgeting the materials to keep costs down.The Cricut in Action: We are using the Cricut to precisely cut heat-transfer vinyl (HTV). One specific moment that stands out was when the team finalized their logo—a right angle with the satement \"Yes, Im always right\". Seeing the design move from a digital concept to the machine precisely cutting the intricate vinyl was a moment of genuine excitement and concentration. Students are learning to design, weed (remove excess vinyl), and press the graphics onto the shirts.This project is projected to save the club over $300 compared to a professional print shop, which allows us to reallocate those funds to cover competition entry fees and transportation.\r\n When the students first saw the Cricut and the stacks of colorful vinyl, their reaction was a mix of curiosity and immediate enthusiasm. They saw it as a piece of technology that could create something tangible and professional-looking. There was an instant realization that this wasn't just a craft machine; it was a tool for entrepreneurship and design.The most powerful reaction came after the first successful cut and press. Holding the first finished shirt, students understood that they were capable of professional-level product creation. This has transformed their view of the club from just a place to study math to a makerspace where math skills translate directly into a marketable product.\r\n The Math Bowl shirt project is the launchpad for future activities. Our immediate next steps are to: complete the remaining team shirts, optimizing our production line (design, cutting, weeding, pressing) to be as efficient as possible.Explore Small-Scale Fundraising: Use the skills learned to potentially take on small, internal school orders (like shirts for other clubs or personalized stickers) to raise funds for the math club. This will require students to learn about inventory management, pricing, and customer service, adding a real-world business layer to their technical skills.The ability to operate a cutting machine, design graphics, and manage a custom apparel project is a highly transferable job skill in graphics, marketing, and small business/e-commerce. Your contribution hasn't just provided a tool; it has offered a practical lesson in creative problem-solving, budgeting, and vocational skill development.Thank you again for empowering our students with these valuable resources!","fullyFundedDate":1746786942264,"projectUrl":"project/students-create-with-cricut/9272438/","projectTitle":"Students Create With Cricut","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pierce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9592109_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y368&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720934628729","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mspierceclass"},{"teacherId":10180322,"projectId":9677368,"letterContent":"My project was one of motivation to increase student participation and success. By incentivizing them with the snacks from Donor Choose, my kiddos have been more engaged and excited to participate. When advising them that whoever does their very best gets a snack, the kids do a really great job showing off what they can really do. The kids were really excited to see the variety of snacks that they could earn by just working hard and participating. \r\n\r\nSnacks are a great motivational tool, because a lot of these kids don't get enough to eat. It means a lot to the children to be rewarded for hard work and participation. I am happy to be part of their success, even if incentives are the only way to get the best results from them.","fullyFundedDate":1757679231217,"projectUrl":"project/full-tummies-make-for-creative-minds/9677368/","projectTitle":"Full Tummies Make for Creative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Walker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10180322_orig.jpg?crop=824,824,x0,y137&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757684063402","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10180322"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":9414070,"letterContent":"Fun Fridays are in full swing. Thanks to your generous donations, my active students are enjoying fun Fridays. Recess, whether it be indoor or outdoor, helps not only burn energy, but it also fosters a sense of community and problem-solving. Because of your donation to our recess cabinet, my students have a plethora of equipment to choose from when celebrating fun Friday. The kids love to play with all of the different sport balls, draw with the sidewalk chalk, and complete puzzles at our puzzle table. My students and I are grateful for your support to our classroom supplies.","fullyFundedDate":1754442657933,"projectUrl":"project/playground-equipment-for-active-students/9414070/","projectTitle":"Playground Equipment for Active Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"},{"teacherId":9448543,"projectId":9402654,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations to our creative classroom. My students have had an ample amount of supplies to use to help make various creative projects. Because of your donations, we have been able to complete social emotional projects that reflect ALL of my students. Having construction paper, coloring supplies, and clay in various skin tones has been wonderful. My students love using the various palettes of color to create projects. My students and I thank you for all of the supplies you have furnished our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1754442167265,"projectUrl":"project/palette-of-diversity-art-supplies-for-a/9402654/","projectTitle":"Palette of Diversity: Art Supplies for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thursby","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9448543_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732395060166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-thursby"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_19884","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":788,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":85,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":64,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"5 - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"16.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":53.6,"schoolId":19884,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Merrillville Intermediate School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Merrillville Intermediate School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/indiana/merrillville-community-school-district/merrillville-interm-school/19884"}