{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Walker Mill Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":46.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10286786,"letterContent":"My students have been using the new sensory resources in our rest area as a positive way to calm their minds and bodies when they feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or need a quiet moment to reset. They were excited to see the new materials and quickly became curious about how they could use them. One meaningful classroom moment has been watching students independently recognize when they need a break, choose a sensory tool that helps them feel calm, and then return to their learning feeling more focused and ready to participate. These resources have helped make our rest area a welcoming space where students know they can pause without feeling embarrassed or discouraged.\r\n\r\nAs we continue using these materials, students are learning that taking a moment to regulate their emotions is a strength and an important part of being ready to learn. We are working on identifying our feelings, choosing appropriate coping strategies, and practicing self-regulation so we can return to classroom activities successfully. The sensory resources are supporting not only students' emotional well-being but also their ability to concentrate, manage frustration, and engage with their classmates and academic work. Thank you for giving my students these tools and creating a classroom environment where they feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow both emotionally and academically.\r\n\r\nIf you'd like, I can also make it more heartfelt and donor-focused, which can work especially well for a DonorsChoose impact letter.","fullyFundedDate":1785196535305,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-fidgets/10286786/","projectTitle":"Sensory Fidgets","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10286766,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom now has a comfortable and welcoming reset space where students can pause, breathe, and regain their focus when they are feeling overwhelmed. When the bean bags arrived, my students were excited to see a cozy space created just for them. We have been using the area during moments when students need a quiet break, time to practice calming strategies, or a chance to reflect before returning to learning. It has been wonderful to see students begin recognizing their own emotions and making positive choices about when they need a moment to reset.\r\n\r\nOne special moment was seeing students use the space independently when they recognized that they were becoming frustrated or needed a little time to refocus. Instead of giving up or becoming discouraged, they were able to take a short break, use calming strategies, and return to their work feeling more prepared. These bean bags have helped make our reset area feel safe, inviting, and purposeful, showing students that taking care of their emotional well-being is an important part of being a successful learner.\r\n\r\nYour support is making a meaningful difference in our classroom. As we continue working on academic lessons and building strong social-emotional skills, students are learning how to manage challenges, solve problems, and stay engaged even when learning feels difficult. Thank you for helping create a classroom where my students feel cared for, supported, and confident that they can succeed.\r\n\r\nI can also make this more heartfelt and emotional, which often works especially well for a DonorsChoose impact letter.","fullyFundedDate":1785196534862,"projectUrl":"project/bean-bags/10286766/","projectTitle":"Bean Bags!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10288378,"letterContent":"My students were excited to see our new pencil sharpeners become part of our classroom supplies! They use them throughout the school day to keep their pencils ready for writing, math, note-taking, and creative activities. Having reliable sharpeners available means students can quickly take care of a dull or broken pencil and return to their work without losing valuable learning time. I have also noticed that having easy access to this resource encourages students to take greater responsibility for being prepared and organized.\r\n\r\nThese sharpeners have made a simple but meaningful difference in our daily learning routines. Instead of becoming frustrated when a pencil breaks or becomes dull, students know they have the tools they need to solve the problem independently and keep going. As we continue working on classroom assignments and projects, my students can stay focused on expressing their ideas, completing their work, and challenging themselves academically. Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping provide the resources my students need to feel confident, productive, and ready to learn each day.","fullyFundedDate":1783695738582,"projectUrl":"project/pencil-sharpeners/10288378/","projectTitle":"Pencil Sharpeners!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10286797,"letterContent":"Your generosity has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom! Our new sensory resources are being used in our reset area to give students a safe and supportive place to pause, regroup, and practice healthy ways to manage big emotions. Students have been excited to explore the different sensory tools and have quickly learned that they can use them when they feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or simply need a quiet moment to refocus. It has been wonderful to see students begin recognizing what their bodies and emotions need and independently choosing tools that help them feel calm and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nOne especially meaningful moment has been watching students transition from needing adult reminders to using the reset area more independently. Instead of allowing frustration or overwhelming emotions to interfere with learning, students are learning to take a break, use a sensory tool, practice calming strategies, and return to the classroom when they feel ready. These resources are helping us build a classroom culture where taking a moment to reset is viewed as a positive strategy rather than a punishment.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students are developing important skills that extend far beyond the classroom. They are learning self-awareness, self-regulation, problem-solving, and confidence while continuing to grow academically. Our next steps are to continue practicing these strategies throughout the school year and helping students identify which tools and coping strategies work best for them. Thank you for investing in my students and helping create a classroom where they feel safe, valued, supported, and empowered to succeed!\r\n\r\nI can also make this more heartfelt and emotional, which often works especially well for a DonorsChoose impact letter.","fullyFundedDate":1785196535091,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-items/10286797/","projectTitle":"Sensory Items!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10320334,"letterContent":"The snack rewards have become a meaningful part of our positive behavior incentive system and have helped create an encouraging classroom environment. Students are excited to see the rewards and understand that their positive choices—such as showing kindness, demonstrating responsibility, persevering through a challenging task, and treating others with respect—are noticed and celebrated. I have seen students become more motivated to make positive choices and encourage their classmates to do the same. These small rewards have helped reinforce the idea that hard work, good character, and positive behavior matter.\r\n\r\nWe are continuing to use the incentive system to build a classroom culture where students feel valued and motivated to succeed. The rewards also help maximize instructional time because students are learning to make responsible choices and stay focused on classroom expectations. Our next step is to continue encouraging students to recognize their own growth and understand that the greatest reward is becoming confident, responsible learners. I am grateful for the support that makes it possible to celebrate my students' efforts and help them develop habits that will benefit them both in and beyond the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1782762060149,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-good-behavior/10320334/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Good Behavior","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10286760,"letterContent":"The colored floor tiles have made a wonderful difference in our reset room area by creating a calm, welcoming space where students can pause, reflect, and regain their focus. My students were excited to see the bright colors and immediately noticed how much more inviting the space felt. The tiles have helped transform the area into a place where students can feel comfortable practicing mindfulness, using calming strategies, and taking a moment to reset when they are experiencing big emotions.\r\n\r\nWe are using the reset room as a structured part of our social-emotional learning. Students may use the space to take deep breaths, reflect on how they are feeling, and practice positive coping strategies before returning to their learning. One meaningful moment has been seeing students recognize when they need a break and independently choose to use the space rather than allowing frustration to interfere with their learning. Our next step is to continue building students' emotional-regulation skills and helping them transfer these strategies back into the classroom. Because of your support, students are learning that taking care of their emotional well-being is an important part of being a successful learner.","fullyFundedDate":1785196534440,"projectUrl":"project/floor-tiles/10286760/","projectTitle":"Floor Tiles","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10320363,"letterContent":"Absolutely — here's a polished \"Describe the Impact\" section that connects directly to your project and answers the DonorsChoose prompts in a warm, personal way.\r\n\r\nWriting\r\n\r\nThe new social-emotional learning books are giving my students meaningful opportunities to learn important skills through stories and characters they can relate to. As we read together, students are learning to identify and express their feelings, practice empathy, solve problems, communicate respectfully, and understand different perspectives. Our read-alouds often lead to thoughtful conversations where students share their own experiences, make connections to the characters, and think about how they can show kindness and support to others.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is more than simply listening to a story—it is an opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow. Students enjoy looking through the books independently, sharing their favorite characters and moments with classmates, and participating in small-group discussions and activities connected to the stories. I have especially noticed students who may be hesitant to participate in other lessons becoming engaged when they see themselves or their experiences reflected in a book. These resources are helping create a classroom community where students feel comfortable talking about emotions, celebrating differences, and learning from one another. Thank you for helping my students become more compassionate, confident, resilient, and emotionally healthy learners!\r\n\r\nIf you'd like, I can also make this more emotional and donor-focused so it has a stronger DonorsChoose \"impact\" feel.","fullyFundedDate":1784381959613,"projectUrl":"project/social-emotional-learning-books/10320363/","projectTitle":"Social Emotional Learning Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10325000,"letterContent":"My students have been excited to have cleaning supplies available in our classroom. The disinfecting wipes, tissues, paper towels, and hand sanitizer are now part of our daily classroom routines, helping students take responsibility for keeping their learning space clean and welcoming. My students were happy to see the materials arrive because they understand that having these supplies helps our classroom feel comfortable and ready for learning. We have been able to spend less time worrying about missing essentials and more time focusing on lessons, collaboration, and hands-on activities.\r\n\r\nThese materials have also helped me create a healthier and more organized learning environment where my students can stay focused and participate confidently. Our next steps are to continue building positive classroom routines while engaging in lessons that encourage curiosity, creativity, and teamwork. Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping provide the essential resources my students need to learn, grow, and do their best each day!","fullyFundedDate":1784666867823,"projectUrl":"project/cleaning-supplies/10325000/","projectTitle":"Cleaning Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8936731,"projectId":10288366,"letterContent":"My students have been excited to use their new pencils and scissors during our daily learning activities. The pencils have helped them complete writing assignments, solve math problems, and brainstorm their own ideas without having to worry about running out of supplies. The scissors have been especially exciting because they allow students to learn through hands-on projects. During our classroom activities, students have enjoyed cutting, creating, and building while practicing important fine motor and problem-solving skills. Seeing their excitement as they opened and began using the materials reminded me how much these simple resources can mean to students.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students are able to participate more fully and independently in classroom activities. They are more confident when they have the tools they need readily available, and they are eager to use those tools to show what they know. Our next steps are to continue using these supplies in upcoming writing, math, science, and creative projects that encourage students to collaborate, think critically, and express their ideas. Thank you for helping provide my students with the resources they need to stay engaged, creative, and excited about learning!","fullyFundedDate":1784381958941,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-supplies/10288366/","projectTitle":"Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fishkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8936731_orig.png?crop=985,985,x144,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689080451929","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8936731"},{"teacherId":8526125,"projectId":9310836,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our school's participation in the National Battle of the Books. Because of your donation of books, more than 60 students were able to participate in our very first Battle of the Books competition. Your kindness gave our students access to high-quality literature and created an exciting opportunity that inspired them to read, collaborate, and challenge themselves in new ways.\r\n\r\nOne of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing students who are not typically excited about reading become enthusiastic because of the competitive nature of the program. Many students eagerly picked up books they may never have chosen on their own simply because they wanted to contribute to their team. We also watched several students who usually read only graphic novels branch out and successfully tackle traditional novels for the very first time. These experiences helped students build confidence as readers while discovering new genres and authors they now enjoy.\r\n\r\nBeyond improving literacy, Battle of the Books strengthened our school community. Students worked together, encouraged one another, and celebrated each other's strengths as they prepared for the competition. The teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit that developed throughout the program have had a lasting impact on our school culture. Thank you for believing in our students and helping make our first Battle of the Books such a memorable and successful experience. Your generosity has inspired a love of reading, fostered meaningful friendships, and laid the foundation for many successful competitions in the years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1746786507182,"projectUrl":"project/literary-warriors-unite-equipping-stude/9310836/","projectTitle":"Literary Warriors Unite: Equipping Students for Battle of the Books","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8526125_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y185&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746026752097","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8526125"},{"teacherId":8526125,"projectId":9300143,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our school drama program. Your donations made it possible for us to purchase makeup, scripts, costumes, and set supplies that brought our school play to life. As a drama club that has only been established for the past three years, your kindness has played a vital role in helping us build a strong foundation and create meaningful theatrical experiences for our students.\r\n\r\nYour support has done far more than provide materials—it has opened doors for students to discover their talents and build confidence. While many students enjoy performing on stage, the addition of technical theatre supplies has allowed us to welcome students whose passions lie behind the scenes. From set design and construction to makeup artistry and costume creation, these resources have empowered creatively gifted students to contribute their unique skills and become an important part of our productions. Thank you for believing in our students and helping our drama program continue to grow. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on our school community, and we are deeply grateful for your investment in the arts.","fullyFundedDate":1746786485811,"projectUrl":"project/golden-tickets-stage-lights-sweetenin/9300143/","projectTitle":"Golden Tickets & Stage Lights: Sweetening Our School Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8526125_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y185&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746026752097","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8526125"},{"teacherId":8526125,"projectId":9125088,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the rotating bookshelf and art supplies for my sixth-grade students. Your kindness has made an immediate impact in our classroom. The rotating bookshelf has become the perfect home for our growing collection of graphic novels, making them more accessible and inviting for students. As a result, students are excited to browse, discover new books, and spend more time reading.\r\n\r\nYour donation of art supplies has also provided countless opportunities for creativity and learning. We used the materials during enrichment activities, STEM challenges, and to create meaningful posters for our school Unity March. In addition, the colorful paper allowed me to create vibrant writing reference journals that students use regularly to support their writing throughout the year. Thank you for investing in our students' learning, creativity, and success. Your generosity has enriched our classroom in so many ways, and we are truly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1743119917325,"projectUrl":"project/books-and-brushes-fostering-creativity/9125088/","projectTitle":"Books and Brushes: Fostering Creativity in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8526125_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y185&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746026752097","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8526125"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_65042","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1050,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":68,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"20.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":54.0,"schoolId":65042,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Walker Mill Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Walker Mill Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/maryland/prince-george-s-county-public-schools/walker-mill-middle-school/65042"}