{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Colin Powell Academy","outOfStateSupporters":43.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10594884,"projectId":10492528,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my first-grade classroom through your generous donation of tissues, Lysol disinfecting wipes, and Lysol disinfecting spray. These supplies have made a meaningful difference in helping me maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming classroom for my students. With 26 first-grade students sharing the same classroom each day, having these supplies readily available allows us to take care of our classroom throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nMy students use tissues when they need them, and the disinfecting wipes and spray help me regularly clean frequently used surfaces and classroom materials. Having these essential supplies available means I can focus more on teaching and creating engaging learning experiences instead of worrying about running out of basic cleaning and hygiene supplies. My students are learning that keeping our classroom clean is a shared responsibility, and they are becoming more aware of the importance of taking care of their learning environment.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped create a classroom where my students can learn, grow, and feel comfortable each day. Thank you for investing in my first-grade Bright Stars and helping me provide them with a clean and healthy place to learn!","fullyFundedDate":1786933603266,"projectUrl":"project/a-clean-and-healthy-start-for-first-grad/10492528/","projectTitle":"A Clean and Healthy Start for First Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10594884_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1786761053143","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10594884"},{"teacherId":8892313,"projectId":10282919,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our students by providing snacks during testing time! Your generosity made a meaningful difference in helping our students feel cared for, encouraged, and ready to do their best.\r\n\r\nTesting can be a stressful time for students. Having snacks available gave them an opportunity to recharge, stay focused, and know that their needs were being considered. Something as simple as a snack helped create a positive and supportive testing environment.\r\n\r\nOur students were excited to receive the snacks, and your kindness reminded them that there are people who believe in them and want to see them succeed. Your donation provided more than food—it provided encouragement and helped our students feel supported during an important time in their academic journey.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping make testing days a little less stressful and a lot more positive. We truly appreciate your generosity and the difference you are making in our classroom and school community.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for the wonderful rolling teacher bag! This thoughtful gift is already making a difference in my daily work as an educator. As teachers, we often have many materials, supplies, papers, and resources to carry from one place to another. Having a rolling bag makes transporting these items much easier and more convenient. Your generosity has provided a practical resource that I will be able to use throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nI truly appreciate the time, thought, and generosity that went into supporting me as a teacher. Your donation is a wonderful reminder that educators and the work we do are valued and appreciated. Thank you for helping make my job a little easier and for supporting me in my work with students. Your kindness means so much!","fullyFundedDate":1788967359605,"projectUrl":"project/snack-smiles-and-testing-success/10282919/","projectTitle":"Snack, Smiles, and Testing Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sambells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8892313_orig.jpg?crop=3120,3120,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724082169716","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8892313"},{"teacherId":10469274,"projectId":10167537,"letterContent":"I'm excited to share the impact on of your donation in my class. \r\n\r\nThe headphone bags have been an exciting new addition to the classroom for the school year. The students grab their headphones right out when it's time to use computers. I love to see the independence in my students as they go and get their headphones and put them back in their personal storage bag when they finish.\r\n\r\nThe headphones for the computers help the students learn when more than one student is using the computer at the same time. Each student is able to hear their specific directions on the program they are using. I'm extremely grateful for this donation because there are students in my class who did not bring a personal set of headphones to use when they started school this year. \r\n\r\n\r\nThe noise canceling headphones are used throughout school the entire day. About 60% of my students have a sensory sensitivity to loud noises. Some of them need headphones in the bathroom due to toilet flushing sounds. Some of them need headphones in the cafeteria or assemblies due to the volume of their peers voices. Some students need to use headphones as soon as they hear another student crying. The noise canceling headphones help to regulate the students emotions throughout the day when they come across these situations. \r\n\r\nThank you again. Your donation has been beneficial to my class in multiple ways.","fullyFundedDate":1777684285052,"projectUrl":"project/quality-headphones/10167537/","projectTitle":"Quality Headphones","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Powell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10469274_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782183478379","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/cc-powell"},{"teacherId":5816761,"projectId":10260548,"letterContent":"The color printer is helping my students bring their artwork and creative ideas to life in ways that were not always possible before. Having reliable access to a color printer also allows me to provide visual resources that make art concepts easier to understand and gives students opportunities to combine traditional art techniques with technology.\r\n\r\nMy students are most excited to see their artwork printed in color and transformed from something they created digitally or on paper into a finished product they can hold and share. They enjoy seeing how colors, details, and designs appear when printed.\r\n\r\nStudents who enjoy digital art, drawing, graphic design, and creating detailed projects have especially enjoyed using the new technology. It has also been helpful for students who may be more hesitant to participate in traditional art activities because it provides another way for them to express themselves with color.","fullyFundedDate":1778106442029,"projectUrl":"project/creative-arts-resource-project/10260548/","projectTitle":"Creative Arts Resource Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5816761_orig.png?crop=256,256,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756145675690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5816761"},{"teacherId":9678488,"projectId":10238175,"letterContent":"Thank you for your lovely donation to equip my classroom with additional novels for independent reading. My goal for this project was to assist in fostering an enjoyment of reading among my middle school students, and with your assistance, students are able to use their minds to engage with different texts. These books allow students to explore different topics and interests while using their reading and comprehension skills every day.\r\n\r\nStudents are especially loving the new graphic novels during class time, and many are even asking to borrow books to read at home!\r\n\r\nBehind the Scenes: How We Teach with These Books\r\nWhile reading for fun is a huge victory, these new texts are also helping us dive into essential learning skills. Graphic novels, for instance, are incredible tools for teaching visual literacy and inferencing. Students learn to combine visual cues with text to analyze character emotions, plot developments, and subtle themes. Across our various novel levels, students are practicing how to pull context clues to decode new vocabulary, trace character arcs, and compare perspectives from different cultures and backgrounds.\r\n\r\nWhat Reading Looks Like in Our Classroom\r\nIf you walked into our room during reading time, you'd see a room full of focused, eager readers. Students are cozying up with their chosen titles, completely immersed. When working in small groups, they use our new mini-whiteboards to map out plot diagrams, decode words, or write down key quotes. Having a full stock of fresh pencils, a reliable sharpener, and even our clean-up supplies means our classroom runs smoothly—no one loses momentum, and students take real pride in keeping our reading space clean and welcoming.\r\n\r\nA Moment of Joy\r\nThe impact on individual students has been remarkable. I have a few students who used to dread independent reading time and struggled to stay focused. Seeing graphic novels and stories with characters that reflect their own backgrounds changed everything. Now, those same students are the first to grab their books, and they regularly ask if they can take them home to finish the next chapter!\r\n\r\nYour generosity didn't just put books on a shelf—it built confidence, nurtured curiosity, and fostered a genuine love for reading that my students will carry with them for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1778106442190,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-reading-growth/10238175/","projectTitle":"Fostering Reading Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9678488_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756256183704","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9678488"},{"teacherId":5215177,"projectId":10256010,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for your support my classroom and my students with your generosity. Without your help this would not have been possible. Before your support, it was a challenge to maintain my room floors clean on a weekly basis. With the most recent donation, I am able to schedule a daily floor cleaning that allows for my students to arrive to a classroom that's clean and inviting. \r\n\r\nMy students enjoy taking turns to start up the robot and even help in moving items that might interrupt the cleaning process. Some students don't have this technology at home and are curious to see how it works. Students take ownership in ensuring that their learning area is tidy and ready for the next group of students. Nothing like arriving to a space that's welcoming, and clean.","fullyFundedDate":1778106441839,"projectUrl":"project/clean-dust-free-classroom/10256010/","projectTitle":"Clean & Dust Free Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Santiago Quiñones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5215177_orig.jpg?crop=1290,1290,x0,y64&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1695217583219","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/santiagomusic"},{"teacherId":5816761,"projectId":10273485,"letterContent":"The cozy chair, calming atmosphere, and quiet music give students a comfortable place to collect themselves when they are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or need a short break. \r\nAfter taking some time to relax and regroup, the student returned to the project and was able to continue working. This reminded me that creating a positive and supportive art environment is just as important as the artwork itself.\r\n\r\nMy students were very excited when they first saw the new materials and immediately noticed the cozy, calm corner. Students have enjoyed having a quiet, comfortable space where they can reflect before returning to their artwork. They understand that the calm corner is not a place to avoid their work but rather a tool to help them calm down, make positive choices, and return to learning when they are ready. I also reward students who finish their work for free time at the cozy corner.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to continue using the calm corner as a support while they work on their current art projects and develop their artistic skills. Students are learning that the creative process can sometimes involve frustration, mistakes, and the need to try again.\r\n\r\nMy goal is for the calm corner to become a consistent part of our classroom environment where students feel supported, comfortable, and ready to create.","fullyFundedDate":1778973357046,"projectUrl":"project/calm-art-corner/10273485/","projectTitle":"Calm Art Corner","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5816761_orig.png?crop=256,256,x0,y99&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756145675690","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5816761"},{"teacherId":8892313,"projectId":10242536,"letterContent":"I am writing to send my deepest thanks for your recent gift of pencils, a pencil sharpener, and colored pens for our classroom for my project Keep Sharp Minds Sharp. Your kindness brings bright smiles to my students every day. Having good tools changes how they feel about school. Now, they do not have to worry about dull pencils or missing supplies. They can focus completely on their lessons and let their creativity shine with the new colored pens. Thank you again for caring so much about our classroom and our kids. Your generous support makes a real difference in our learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1778278679374,"projectUrl":"project/keep-sharp-minds-sharp/10242536/","projectTitle":"Keep Sharp Minds Sharp!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sambells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8892313_orig.jpg?crop=3120,3120,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724082169716","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8892313"},{"teacherId":10058946,"projectId":10239243,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful to all of our donors for supporting this project and providing our students with basketballs and volleyballs. Before receiving these materials, we did not have enough equipment to properly teach these sports in class, which made it very difficult to give all of our students the opportunity to practice and participate.\r\n\r\nThe new equipment has made a significant difference in our physical education classes. My students are now able to practice basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting, as well as learn and practice volleyball skills such as serving, passing, and teamwork.\r\n\r\nThe volleyballs have been especially meaningful because my students had never had the opportunity to properly experience volleyball before. Our school did not have volleyball equipment, so being able to introduce them to this sport for the first time has been incredibly exciting. Seeing their enthusiasm as they learned the basic skills and started playing together was a very rewarding experience.\r\n\r\nThanks to our donors, we have been able to provide our students with new opportunities to learn, be active, work as a team, and discover sports they had never experienced before. We will continue building their skills and confidence while encouraging teamwork, perseverance, and a love for physical activity.\r\n\r\nThank you so much to all of our donors for making this project possible. Your generosity has directly impacted our students and has allowed us to provide meaningful experiences that would not have been possible without your support.","fullyFundedDate":1777754350072,"projectUrl":"project/no-equipment-no-play-help-bring-pe-bac/10239243/","projectTitle":"No Equipment, No Play: Help Bring PE Back to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10058946_orig.jpg?crop=1358,1358,x341,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750259646856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10058946"},{"teacherId":10058946,"projectId":10090922,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful to all of our donors for supporting our soccer team at Colin Powell Academy. Without their generosity and support, this project would not have been possible.\r\n\r\nBefore receiving these soccer balls, we did not have any equipment for our girls to practice with. The new soccer balls have made a huge difference in our students' experience. They are now able to practice their skills, work together as a team, and, most importantly, play and enjoy the sport.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new soccer balls, they were very excited. For many of them, having proper equipment made the experience feel more real and gave them an even greater motivation to participate. One of the most rewarding moments has been watching the girls practice together, encouraging one another, learning new skills, and becoming more confident with every practice.\r\n\r\nThanks to our donors, our students have been able to do much more than simply play soccer. They have learned about teamwork, communication, perseverance, and the importance of supporting one another. The balls have allowed us to create meaningful learning experiences through soccer and have given the girls an opportunity to develop both their athletic skills and their confidence.\r\n\r\nThank you again to every donor who made this project possible. Your generosity has directly impacted our students and has given them the opportunity to play, learn, grow, and enjoy soccer. Without your help, we would not have been able to provide this experience for our girls, and we are truly thankful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1775756862052,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-girls-through-soccer-giving/10090922/","projectTitle":"Empowering Girls Through Soccer: Giving a Ball and a Dream","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10058946_orig.jpg?crop=1358,1358,x341,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750259646856","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10058946"},{"teacherId":10183299,"projectId":10553687,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project, \"Help Keep My Students Fueled and Ready to Learn.\" Your generosity has provided something that may seem simple, but makes a meaningful difference in our classroom every day.\r\n\r\nMy sixth-grade students come to Global Studies ready to explore the world, ask questions, work together, and challenge themselves. Sometimes, however, it is difficult for a student to concentrate on geography, analyze a source, participate in a group activity, or complete an assessment when the biggest thing on their mind is that they are hungry.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, we now have classroom snacks available to help meet that need.\r\n\r\nThe students were genuinely excited and grateful when they learned that people they may never meet cared enough about their success to help provide snacks for our classroom. I explained to them that these resources were donated by people who believe in them and want them to have what they need to learn. That made the moment about much more than food. It was also a reminder to my students that their education matters and that there are people cheering for their success.\r\n\r\nWe are using the snacks to help students stay fueled and focused throughout the school day, particularly when hunger could otherwise become a distraction from learning. Instead of a student sitting quietly thinking about being hungry, I want that student thinking about the map in front of them, contributing an idea to their group, making an inference from evidence, or confidently completing an assignment.\r\n\r\nRight now, our students are building the foundational skills they will use throughout Global Studies I. They are learning to think like geographers and historians, analyze evidence, consider different perspectives, use maps, and understand the Five Themes of Geography. Next, they will dig deeper into how place, region, population, movement, culture, and human interaction with the environment help us understand communities around the world.\r\n\r\nYour contribution helps create the conditions that allow that learning to happen.\r\n\r\nAs their teacher, I work hard to create a classroom where students feel safe, seen, supported, and ready to learn. Having something as basic as a snack available when a student needs it is now another way I can support them without making hunger the center of attention.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students. Thank you for helping me care for the whole child while continuing to challenge them academically. And most importantly, thank you for reminding a classroom full of sixth graders that people outside our classroom believe they are worth investing in.\r\n\r\nYou didn't just help stock our snack closet. You helped fuel learning.","fullyFundedDate":1788704144222,"projectUrl":"project/help-keep-my-students-fueled-and-ready-t/10553687/","projectTitle":"Help Keep My Students Fueled and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kelly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10183299_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y293&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755717572393","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mskelly2025"},{"teacherId":8633243,"projectId":10230248,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for your donation to my classroom. My students were super grateful to receive their emergency hygiene kits . I was also able to great a hygiene cabinet within my classroom for students to grab things as needed . \r\n\r\nThis was a great way to start our year & create a space where students feel comfortable. Additionally , it was a time to incorporate this into an SEL lesson for my middle school scholars. Students were grateful & I was happy to be able to provide these items to them as a gift with your help !","fullyFundedDate":1777684288669,"projectUrl":"project/clean-and-confident/10230248/","projectTitle":"Clean and Confident","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8633243_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1660861423724","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8633243"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65016","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1720,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":52,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":36,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"37.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":56.4,"schoolId":65016,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Colin Powell Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Colin Powell Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/prince-george-s-county-public-schools/isaac-j-gourdine-middle-school/65016"}