{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Discovery Polytechnic Early College High School","outOfStateSupporters":47.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9936182,"projectId":9951962,"letterContent":"When the fidgets, Rubik's cubes, and stress balls arrived, students were immediately interested, but we were very clear about expectations. These were introduced as tools to support focus and self-regulation, not as toys. I set a strict policy from the beginning: if the materials were misused, they would be removed. What surprised me most was how well students respected those boundaries. They have been consistently responsible, focused, and thoughtful in how they use them.\r\n\r\nWe now use the fidgets during longer lessons, independent work time, and activities that require sustained attention. An unexpected but very positive outcome has been attendance—some students who struggled with consistent attendance have been coming to class more regularly, clearly motivated to engage and participate. The Rubik's cubes have also created opportunities for connection; discussing strategies and problem-solving approaches has opened up conversations with students who don't usually initiate academic dialogue.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue using these tools intentionally as we move into more demanding coursework and longer lab sessions. The success of this project has shown my students that they can be trusted with shared resources and has helped create a calmer, more engaged classroom environment. Your support made that possible, and it has had a meaningful impact on both learning and classroom culture.","fullyFundedDate":1765301894886,"projectUrl":"project/stronger-focus-calmer-minds-classroom/9951962/","projectTitle":"Stronger Focus, Calmer Minds: Classroom Fidgets for All Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stefany R","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9936182_orig.jpg?crop=2907,2907,x376,y263&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746538842397","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msstefanybio"},{"teacherId":9936182,"projectId":9588027,"letterContent":"For a long time, the fume hood felt like something we hoped for but never truly expected to use. After multiple delays and issues with one of the components, we are finally able to start using it—and we are incredibly grateful. My students had been asking about it constantly, checking in to see if it was \"ready yet.\" Even seniors who no longer take my class would stop by the room and ask why we didn't have tools like this before, especially after seeing what it's used for in college or professional labs.\r\n\r\nNow that the hood is operational, students can see how proper ventilation fits into real laboratory work. We're beginning to use it for bacterial culture preparation, and it has already changed how we talk about lab safety, sterile technique, and professional standards. The excitement is mixed with a lot of pride, students recognize that this is a serious piece of equipment and that they're being trusted to learn how to use it responsibly.\r\n\r\nOur next steps include expanding microbiology work that requires proper containment and ventilation, and the chemistry teacher will also be able to use the fume hood for live demonstrations that weren't possible before. Thanks to your support, this resource is no longer just a wish: it's part of our everyday teaching and learning. Your generosity has added a level of authenticity to our science program that students will remember well beyond this year.","fullyFundedDate":1757563695484,"projectUrl":"project/breathe-easy-a-mobile-fume-hood-for-saf/9588027/","projectTitle":"Breathe Easy: A Mobile Fume Hood for Safe Science Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stefany R","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9936182_orig.jpg?crop=2907,2907,x376,y263&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746538842397","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msstefanybio"},{"teacherId":7444715,"projectId":9878253,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing our students with the necessary tools and materials to allow more of our students to work hands-on with our robotics team! We have been able to train several more students on how to work with the electrical components of our robot, which has both allowed us to move faster and build capacity, especially with our underclassmen. \r\n\r\nCrucially, this project has allowed us to have more students experiment without worrying that they will break a critical component that we are limited on or use too much wire that we cannot spare. It takes a lot of materials to build a robot, and even more to train our students to do things well! We're incredibly grateful to provide our students with the materials they need to be successful with your support.","fullyFundedDate":1763598896018,"projectUrl":"project/fasteners-to-connect-robot-parts-togethe/9878253/","projectTitle":"Fasteners to Connect Robot Parts Together","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jefferson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7444715_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690835404159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lauren-jefferson"},{"teacherId":7444715,"projectId":9723470,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for allowing our programming and CAD students to expand their capacity! Our 2026 season started with Kickoff on Saturday, January 10 and our students have been hard at work learning a lot of new skills, from vision tracking to our omni-directional swerve drive programming. Having multiple high-capability computers has allowed more students to be hands-on with working on different tasks, which has really enabled us to work at a much faster pace than last year. \r\n\r\nWe are already much further along with programming and our students feel empowered to take on more difficult and advanced tasks. For comparison, last year, we were still solving critical functionality of our robot right up until our first match. This work could not have been accomplished without your support and we're incredibly grateful to be able to give our students the resources they need to be successful!","fullyFundedDate":1764607734969,"projectUrl":"project/computing-tools-for-programming-and-cad/9723470/","projectTitle":"Computing Tools for Programming and CAD Access","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jefferson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7444715_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690835404159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lauren-jefferson"},{"teacherId":9313117,"projectId":9724924,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supplying these digestive and respiratory models to my health pathway students at Discovery Polytechnic Early College High School. These models, specifically the digestive plate and llarynx stand, are some of the highest quality anatomical models available due to their quality, accuracy, and durability. By having access to these models as a tangible manipulative, my students will be able to gain a much deeper understanding of anatomy as it exists in 3 dimensions. There is truly no alternative to hands on learning when it comes to anatomy!","fullyFundedDate":1768429047706,"projectUrl":"project/breathing-and-nourishing-knowledge-univ/9724924/","projectTitle":"Breathing and Nourishing Knowledge: University-Quality Digestive & Respiratory Models","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kendall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9313117_orig.jpg?crop=806,806,x0,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756134524740","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9313117"},{"teacherId":10237865,"projectId":9751637,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our classroom. The Math Graffiti word wall posters for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 are now an everyday learning tool, helping students quickly reference key vocabulary and use academic language more confidently during lessons. The classroom caddies have improved organization and made transitions smoother, while the erasable pens have encouraged students to take healthy risks in problem-solving without fear of making mistakes.\r\n\r\nStudents were genuinely excited when the materials arrived, and that enthusiasm has carried into more focused, collaborative work. As we continue our current units on functions and real-world applications, these resources will support small-group practice, discussion, and ongoing vocabulary development. Your contribution has made our classroom a more engaging, supportive learning environment, and I am grateful for the positive impact it is having on my students.","fullyFundedDate":1760741644054,"projectUrl":"project/color-organization-and-math-support-fo/9751637/","projectTitle":"Color, Organization, and Math Support for Every Learner”","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10237865"},{"teacherId":10176593,"projectId":9858282,"letterContent":"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and generosity. The resources provided through your platform have made a significant difference in my classroom, especially in supporting students' social, emotional, and mental health needs.\r\n\r\nWith the tools and materials funded by this project, my students were better equipped to express themselves, encourage one another, and practice gratitude. I have seen firsthand how these resources have helped them open up about their feelings and support their peers meaningfully. The journals, in particular, became a powerful outlet for self-expression, reflection, and growth.\r\n\r\nThis project has truly been a success. One of the most telling moments was when students excitedly shared that they had already filled their journals and were eager for another. This enthusiasm shows just how much they value the opportunity to process their thoughts and emotions in a healthy way.\r\n\r\nI have also noticed improvement in academic performance, as students are now more able to advocate for themselves, plan for their futures, and develop important skills for high school and college readiness. The positive changes in their confidence, communication, and planning abilities are a testament to the impact of your support.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making such a meaningful difference in my students' lives. Your kindness has helped them grow not just academically, but also emotionally and socially.","fullyFundedDate":1761591354893,"projectUrl":"project/building-emotional-intelligence-together/9858282/","projectTitle":"Building Emotional Intelligence Together!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10176593"},{"teacherId":7444715,"projectId":9594205,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project to make our school counseling suite a more comfortable and accessible space for students. It has already been much easier to collect and distribute documents when they live outside of my office instead of students having to wait until I'm available to be able to grab them.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, it has been truly fantastic to have the bulletin board tiles. During November, students posted notes of gratitude and inspiration on one of the boards. Students have been able to get information about upcoming counseling department events and scholarships by checking the boards, and it allows for me to have a centralized place to post information when it is sent to me by colleges and partners. Overall, this project has helped to make the space more functional and informative for both students and counselors, and your support helped to make it happen for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1761397350999,"projectUrl":"project/counseling-suite-supplies-for-support-an/9594205/","projectTitle":"Counseling Suite Supplies for Support and Inspiration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jefferson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7444715_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690835404159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lauren-jefferson"},{"teacherId":9313117,"projectId":9711100,"letterContent":"Our health science students are taking a health and human diseases class this semester and these models will be a valuable resource to support their learning. The early college experience is a vital part of our schools mission and having access to models when they are not at their college campus will allow our students to study for their coursework in much more meaningful ways. We truly cannot express how much your donation(s) mean to our classrooms and school at large! Because of your generosity, students at Discovery are years ahead of their peers across Springfield Public Schools and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1768178194073,"projectUrl":"project/building-strong-foundations-anatomy-p/9711100/","projectTitle":"Building Strong Foundations: Anatomy & Physiology Models/Equipment for Future Healthcare Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kendall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9313117_orig.jpg?crop=806,806,x0,y163&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756134524740","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9313117"},{"teacherId":8040941,"projectId":9706027,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations. The students in the seminar enjoyed themselves very much and having non cell phone distractions actually increased our attendance in the seminar. Students were all looking forward to finishing their Lego sets and even encouraged other teachers to look into investing in more hand on activities for their classes. We really appreciate how big of an impact this project had in my class and others outside of my seminar. Even though technology is great it's good to see students use their hands and enjoy an activity with their peers. THANKS AGAIN!","fullyFundedDate":1763598895527,"projectUrl":"project/early-college-engineering-seminar-break/9706027/","projectTitle":"Early College Engineering Seminar BREAK!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rua","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8040941_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y12&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736540307893","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8040941"},{"teacherId":8040941,"projectId":9742934,"letterContent":"The National Honors Society is looking forward to their bingo night. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, our bingo night had to be reschedule to a future date. But having the resources to host the event motivated the students to approach local business and have them donate to our cause. National Honors Society students this year have shown their strengths in more fields than they have in the past. The Planning and Events students have multiple upcoming events they are already planning for this and next year. Having the resources available has been a huge positive change in their perspective of planning.","fullyFundedDate":1760588713336,"projectUrl":"project/nhs-bingo-night/9742934/","projectTitle":"NHS Bingo Night","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rua","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8040941_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y12&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736540307893","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8040941"},{"teacherId":9915896,"projectId":9705570,"letterContent":"By working with robotics components such as gearboxes, elevators, and motors, students can physically see how math, physics, and engineering concepts come together. They learn how gear ratios affect speed and strength, how angles change motion, and how different motor types impact performance. These lessons go far beyond textbooks and help students truly understand how systems work.\r\n\r\nWhat excites students most about this project is the opportunity to build a working elevator system for our robot. Elevators are a critical and complex component in competitive robotics, and students are eager to take on the challenge. Being able to assemble a two-stage elevator kit, experiment with 4:1 and 5:1 gear reductions, and use professional-grade hardware like rivets and 90-degree gearboxes makes the experience feel authentic and meaningful. Students are especially motivated by knowing their work directly impacts the performance of their competition robot.\r\n\r\nSeveral students—particularly those interested in engineering, mechanics, and hands-on learning—have really connected with this technology. Some students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings thrive when they are able to build, test, and revise their designs. Others have discovered new interests in mechanical design, programming, or systems engineering through this project. Working together on the build and programming teams helps students develop collaboration, persistence, and confidence. With these supplies, students are able to experiment, make mistakes, and problem-solve just like real engineers, gaining skills that directly support college and career pathways in STEM.","fullyFundedDate":1758112589618,"projectUrl":"project/stem-robotics-elevator-and-gearbox-trai/9705570/","projectTitle":"STEM Robotics: Elevator and Gearbox Training","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. TAYLOR","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9915896_orig.png?crop=352,353,x0,y55&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1738887911294","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9915896"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_133904","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":401,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":87,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":67,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":52.5,"schoolId":133904,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Discovery Polytechnic Early College High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Discovery Polytechnic Early College High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/springfield-public-school-district/discovery-polytechnic-early-college/133904"}