{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Holabird Academy 229","outOfStateSupporters":54.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":131401,"projectId":10048154,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for investing in our 4th-grade readers! The day the boxes arrived filled with brand-new, engaging books felt like a holiday in our classroom. The gasps, the cheers, and the immediate scramble to see the covers made it clear just how much your generosity means to these students.\r\n\r\nFourth grade is a pivotal year in a child's literacy journey. It is the bridge where students transition from learning to read to reading to learn—and, hopefully, reading for pleasure. Your gift came at the perfect moment.","fullyFundedDate":1777847480685,"projectUrl":"project/who-doesnt-love-a-new-book/10048154/","projectTitle":"Who Doesn't Love a New Book?!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hartman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/131401"},{"teacherId":131401,"projectId":10068716,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Your incredible generosity has brought our project, \"Supporting Middle School Readers Through Powerful History,\" to life. Because of you, our classroom library is now stocked with vibrant, diverse, and deeply engaging historical texts.\r\n\r\nSince you love books as much as we do, you already know the magic of getting lost in a great story. But teaching a book to a room full of energetic middle schoolers is its own unique adventure! Here is a look at exactly how your investment is changing the game in our classroom.\r\n\r\nWhat Reading Looks Like in Our Classroom\r\nIf you walked into our room during reading time, you wouldn't see a silent, rigid lecture hall. Instead, you would see a bustling, dynamic literacy lab.\r\n\r\nWe use a mix of independent reading, partner read-alouds, and \"literature circles\" (think mini-book clubs for 12-year-olds). On any given day, our classroom looks like:\r\n\r\nStudents huddled in pairs, passionately debating a character's choices.\r\n\r\nA sea of colorful sticky notes flagging pages where a major historical turning point happens.\r\n\r\nA quiet, focused hum during independent reading time where students are completely immersed in their books.\r\n\r\nThe Skills and Lessons These New Texts Introduce\r\nReading for pleasure is wonderful, but we are also using these books to build critical academic and life skills. Thanks to these new historical texts, our students are mastering:\r\n\r\nAnalyzing Multiple Perspectives: Middle schoolers naturally tend to see the world in black and white. These history-focused books help them explore the \"gray areas\"—understanding how different people experienced the same historical event.\r\n\r\nHistorical Empathy: It is one thing to memorize a date for a history test; it is another entirely to step into the shoes of a teenager living through that era. These books bridge that gap.\r\n\r\nMedia Literacy and Source Evaluation: Students are learning to question who is telling the story and why, a skill that is vital for navigating the modern world.\r\n\r\nReal Impact: Who Is Enjoying the Books Most?\r\nWhile the whole class has benefited, these books have been a total game-changer for our reluctant readers and our history skeptics.\r\n\r\nFor example, I have one student who routinely told me at the start of the year that \"reading is boring and history has nothing to do with me.\" Last week, they picked up one of the new historical graphic novels you funded. Not only did they finish it in three days, but they came to class eager to tell me all about the civil rights leaders they discovered.\r\n\r\nOur advanced readers are also thriving. They are diving into the more complex, nuanced historical narratives, which push their comprehension skills and satisfy their curiosity about the world.\r\n\r\nThank You for Believing in Our Students\r\nYou didn't just buy books; you provided windows into the past and mirrors for our students to understand their own futures. You have helped us foster a community of empathetic historians and lifelong readers.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1773867982768,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-middle-school-readers-through/10068716/","projectTitle":"Supporting Middle School Readers Through Powerful History","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hartman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/131401"},{"teacherId":7910889,"projectId":10084951,"letterContent":"We are truly grateful for your investment in our students and community. Your generosity brought so many smiles to the faces of our students, families, and community members.\r\n\r\nWhat may seem like a simple treat became something much bigger—a chance for our community to come together, connect, laugh, and create joyful memories. Seeing everyone enjoying their slushies and spending time together was a wonderful reminder of the positive impact that kindness and support can have.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us create moments of joy that brought people together and made a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1770415927018,"projectUrl":"project/sip-serve-a-student-led-random-acts-o/10084951/","projectTitle":"Sip & Serve: A Student-Led Random Acts of Kindness Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Simms","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7910889_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y504&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1626874158112","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7910889"},{"teacherId":1499754,"projectId":9840292,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough. With your generous donations, every child on my caseload was given access to fun, engaging and developmentally appropriate learning materials. Students from grades Pre-K through 2nd grade played, separated sounds, mapped words, segmented syllables, practiced vowel teams and even trick words through these amazing learning supplies. The impact of your generosity transcends the engagement; because of your help, 13/14 2nd graders are now reading on or above grade level. 1 Pre-K student is sounding out and reading 3-letter words, and a group of 4 kindergarteners are fluently segmenting words into individual spoken sounds.\r\n\r\nThis growth could not have happened without your kindness and generosity this year.\r\nThank you so very much!","fullyFundedDate":1764728281287,"projectUrl":"project/help-2nd-grade-read-and-learn-independen/9840292/","projectTitle":"Help 2nd Grade Read and Learn Independently","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fincke","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1499754_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1473366429069","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kgutshall"},{"teacherId":10173845,"projectId":9584803,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support! The carts come in great handy when I need to move between classrooms. It holds all my materials and allows me to move swiftly in between classrooms to assist other teachers. I also use the carts for WIDA testing as I have frequent formative and summative assessments that are required for my ML students and the cart allow me to move to testing areas more swiftly than carrying dozens of computers by hand. Thank you for your support of education and your support of new educators.","fullyFundedDate":1762266430760,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-teacher-furniture/9584803/","projectTitle":"First-Year Teacher Furniture!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huxford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10173845"},{"teacherId":9650050,"projectId":10007667,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our art studio. Your support arrived at exactly the right moment.\r\n\r\nThe day the new materials came in, the energy in the room shifted. Students who usually drift in quietly were crowding around the supply shelves before class even started, already imagining what they could make. That kind of excitement can't be manufactured. It comes from feeling seen and supported, and that's exactly what your donation communicated to them.\r\n\r\nWe're now in the best stretch of the school year, when students stop asking \"am I doing this right?\" and start asking \"what if I tried this instead?\" Our 8th graders are painting a large-scale mural, full of the visual voice they've been building all year. Another group is creating set pieces for the school musical, translating ideas into structures the whole community will see.\r\n\r\nThese projects require confidence as much as they require supplies. Thanks to you, our students had both.","fullyFundedDate":1771873652597,"projectUrl":"project/mid-year-art-room-stockup/10007667/","projectTitle":"Mid-Year Art Room Stockup!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sitaras","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9650050_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y285&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723630763330","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9650050"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":9970178,"letterContent":"This project is helping students use their voices to make a positive difference throughout our school community. Through this student-led literacy and kindness initiative, students are recording read-alouds and sharing encouraging messages that help classmates feel supported, included, and connected.\r\n\r\nThe materials are giving students creative ways to express themselves while supporting others. Students are using Yoto materials to share stories and calming messages, while card stock and markers are helping them create reading journals, kindness notes, and reflective activities for peers across grade levels.\r\n\r\nThis project has been especially meaningful for our multilingual learners and students who benefit from extra social-emotional support. Hearing encouraging messages from fellow students helps create a welcoming environment where students feel seen, valued, and cared for. It has also helped students build empathy, confidence, and leadership skills as they work together to spread kindness throughout the school.","fullyFundedDate":1767105751477,"projectUrl":"project/student-led-read-alouds-to-build-connect/9970178/","projectTitle":"Student-Led Read-Alouds to Build Connection and Care Initiative","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":9325255,"letterContent":"This project is helping keep our library makerspace creative, organized, and engaging for students across all grade levels. Students love working together on STEAM projects where they can build, design, problem-solve, and share their ideas with others.\r\n\r\nThe new supplies are already helping students bring their projects to life. The paper cutter allows materials to be prepared safely and neatly, the poster markers add creativity and color to student displays, and the printer ink helps students print templates, directions, and finished work to showcase their learning.\r\n\r\nThese resources continue to support hands-on learning and encourage creativity, collaboration, and confidence in our young makers and problem-solvers.","fullyFundedDate":1756849771407,"projectUrl":"project/creating-designing-and-displaying-in-o/9325255/","projectTitle":"Creating, Designing, and Displaying in Our Library Makerspace","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":10163601,"letterContent":"This project is already having a positive impact on our school community. Students have planted over 50 seedlings and prepared our garden beds for even more planting. They are excited to take part in hands-on learning while helping care for and improve our outdoor space.\r\n\r\nOur student Green Team is helping lead the project by working with younger students, researching gardening practices, and taking responsibility for maintaining the garden. Through this experience, students are building leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship skills in a meaningful and engaging way.\r\n\r\nThe garden is also creating a stronger sense of community within our school. Students are proud to grow vegetables and flowers that can be shared with local families and community members while helping create a welcoming green space for everyone to enjoy.","fullyFundedDate":1778000333157,"projectUrl":"project/rooted-in-community-student-leaders-gro/10163601/","projectTitle":"Rooted in Community: Student Leaders Growing a Greener Future","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":9095017,"letterContent":"This project is helping make our school library an even more engaging and supportive learning space for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. With the addition of a MacBook Pro, students have more opportunities to explore technology, participate in interactive lessons, and create meaningful projects that support learning across grade levels.\r\n\r\nThe MacBook helps lessons run more smoothly by connecting to our smart board and supporting presentations, interactive read-alouds, videos, and other digital resources. Students are more engaged when they can see and interact with materials in different ways, especially during whole group lessons and collaborative activities.\r\n\r\nIt has also become a valuable tool for makerspace activities, research projects, digital storytelling, and student-created videos. These experiences help students build creativity, communication, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills while giving them new ways to share their ideas and learning.\r\n\r\nOur library continues to grow as a space where students can explore, create, collaborate, and build confidence using technology in meaningful ways.","fullyFundedDate":1746483273836,"projectUrl":"project/empower-our-library-with-a-macbook-pro-f/9095017/","projectTitle":"Empower Our Library with a MacBook Pro for Engaging Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":10010614,"letterContent":"Our new Yoto players are helping create a calm, welcoming space in the library where students can listen, learn, and enjoy stories in a new way. Students are using the Yotos to explore audiobooks, calming music, mindfulness activities, and interactive stories that support both literacy and social-emotional learning throughout the school day.\r\nThese resources are especially helpful for emerging readers, multilingual learners, and students who benefit from listening while following along with text. Students are building vocabulary, comprehension, imagination, and confidence while developing a stronger connection to books and storytelling.\r\nThe Yotos are already becoming a favorite library resource during independent reading time, small groups, indoor recess, and quiet moments when students need a calm reset. Giving students another way to access stories helps make the library feel more inclusive, engaging, and supportive for all learners.\r\nWe are so grateful for the opportunity to provide students with tools that encourage curiosity, creativity, relaxation, and a lifelong love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1777635847744,"projectUrl":"project/listen-learn-and-feel-calm-yotos-for/10010614/","projectTitle":"Listen, Learn, and Feel Calm: Yotos for Our School Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"},{"teacherId":3231943,"projectId":9094962,"letterContent":"3D pens in the library empowered students to plan and create 3D shapes while developing and applying creative problem-solving skills. Through hands-on design and experimentation, students strengthened spatial thinking, perseverance, and innovation in a meaningful, engaging way.\r\nStudents in grades 2nd through 8th actively engaged with technology and explored its capacity to bring their creative imagination to life. Younger students practiced forming simple shapes and building confidence with the tools, while older students planned designs, sketched ideas, and worked to turn two-dimensional concepts into three-dimensional creations.\r\nAs students worked, they encountered challenges related to structure and design, encouraging them to revise, adapt, and persist. The process fostered resilience and flexible thinking, helping students see mistakes as part of learning. The 3D pens also promoted collaboration, as students shared ideas, supported one another, and celebrated their creations.\r\nOverall, the experience transformed the library into a dynamic makerspace where creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving came together, giving students meaningful opportunities to explore, create, and succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1742904416020,"projectUrl":"project/maker-space-3d-pens-and-storage/9094962/","projectTitle":"Maker Space - 3D Pens and Storage","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hauser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3231943_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762267070789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3231943"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_64379","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":650,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":79,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":34,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":56,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":45.8,"schoolId":64379,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Holabird Academy 229 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Holabird Academy 229","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/baltimore-city-public-school-district/holabird-elementary-school-229/64379"}