{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"German Gerena Community School","outOfStateSupporters":33.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10537968,"projectId":10351293,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for all of the materials to bring the 2026-2027 school year to life. Learning is so much more than paper and pencil and with your help, I am able to create more engaging lessons and hands on activities that my students love.\r\nWorking in an urban school, so many of my students do not begin a new school year with new supplies. Having the opportunity to open boxes upon boxes of new materials with my students brought them so much joy. As we are now two months into the school year, I can say that my job is a little easier by continuing to use these materials.","fullyFundedDate":1787163413057,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-new-stuff/10351293/","projectTitle":"New Year, New Stuff!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Barroso","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10537968"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10542789,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your generous support for our Show Choir program. The kids are really excited to perform this year and show off their toppers which they all agree are very cool. These hats complement their outfits. It's amazing how something this simple can make a difference and give students a sense of pride and motivation to perform. There's nothing better than having an exited group of students who want to work hard to accomplish something great.\r\n\r\nWhen we perform for our community this year, we will be thinking about you and appreciating how you helped it happen.","fullyFundedDate":1789609389665,"projectUrl":"project/hats-for-show-choir/10542789/","projectTitle":"Hats for Show Choir","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10281235,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your generous support for our entire music program. Every musical item that is added creates another opportunity for a dream to learn to play an instrument come true. My students have been so excited to be a part of our growing program. As a matter of fact, other schools in the city have begun an instrumental music program because their music teachers have been inspired by what we have and continue to accomplish.\r\n\r\nWe perform for the community and partake in the new all-city band which is in its second year. This is tremendous time for our kids when it seems that there is a need for more hands-on learning to instill integrity, dedication, and responsibility.","fullyFundedDate":1786541796824,"projectUrl":"project/clarinets-for-our-growing-band/10281235/","projectTitle":"Clarinets for Our Growing Band","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10280918,"letterContent":"This year we have had the good fortune to expand our drumline through a couple of fully funded projects. Every piece of percussion equipment adds a new opportunity for more students. When we unpacked our new equipment, my students were thrilled because they know that a growing drum team will look and sound awesome (as one student stated).\r\n\r\nWe are setting a precedent for other schools in the city who have started their own drumlines after having seen ours. Our next step is to create our own drum cadence so that the team can begin to practice and prepare to perform for the community.","fullyFundedDate":1786541809449,"projectUrl":"project/our-expanding-drumline/10280918/","projectTitle":"Our Expanding Drumline","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10507261,"letterContent":"I am getting a lot of use with these scarves and egg shakers. Not only do these items have a calming effect for my students with unique needs and environmental conditions; but also, they are very effective in meaningful movement to illustrate music as well as creating musical rhythms.\r\n\r\nMy students are very excited to handle these stimulating manipulatives. Movement is less chaotic and more productive. It is certainly refreshing to see them smiling instead of demonstrating boredom. Again, my special friends are more focused in included.\r\n\r\nI will continue using these items so that my students can more clearly comprehend music.","fullyFundedDate":1787320495895,"projectUrl":"project/inclusion-for-our-students/10507261/","projectTitle":"Inclusion for Our Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10281210,"letterContent":"Every year we add more opportunities for our students by adding school instruments to our program. Every new instrument is now in the hands of a student. Through your generosity we are now adding another grade level into this program. Not only is our school program expanding, but we also now have a grand presence in the city's all-city band.\r\n\r\nAs you know, when students learn to play an instrument, it is not only for the love of lifelong learning, but also a vehicle to take responsibility for oneself and to work towards a team goal; the product being musical performances.\r\n\r\nStudents who participate in band programs tend to be better all-around students, a very important quality for the future of our society.","fullyFundedDate":1786541813639,"projectUrl":"project/trumpets-for-band/10281210/","projectTitle":"Trumpets for Band","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10204973,"letterContent":"This incredible gift has doubled our drumline. These drums are also much more manageable for the students to use. As we continue to build the momentum for this particular program we have become somewhat of a model for the rest of the city.\r\n\r\nOur first project since receiving this drum equipment is to write out the repetitive background rhythms from the Michael Jackson \"Thriller\" song so that students become musically literate in recognizing, reading, and performing these rhythms. It is so exciting to teach a group of students who love to attend school to come to my class. Their dedication to the time spent to create a performance product is providing an opportunity to show that they will have the discipline to accomplish much in the future.","fullyFundedDate":1786541767660,"projectUrl":"project/model-city-drumline/10204973/","projectTitle":"Model City Drumline","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10338002,"letterContent":"These Jumbie Jam Steel Drums have added a new excitement to our music classes. All of the students have had a blast just trying them out. Now that we've had a period of exploring and experimenting with these unique instruments, it's time to actually utilize them to create some serious playing in the process to perform for a future event.\r\n The next step in our plan is to learn simple tunes where students play the same music at the same time. Eventually, we want to split into two or three groups to play in harmony. As students begin to master playing at an elementary level, we will decide how best to incorporate these new percussion instruments in our marching drumline program.","fullyFundedDate":1786541794443,"projectUrl":"project/jumbie-jam-steel-drums/10338002/","projectTitle":"Jumbie Jam Steel Drums","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10280972,"letterContent":"My students are very excited to have the opportunity to learn to play the violin. Now, through your generosity this can and will happen. \r\nThe truth is is that learning to play any instrument builds character in the name of responsibility and self discipline to practice and achieve the steps to reach goals. The goal of course is to perform during community functions and concerts. In addition, there exists a strong relationship between students when they are all striving towards the same goal. This very teamwork is what builds excitement and confidence, a true path to each student's success.","fullyFundedDate":1786541812315,"projectUrl":"project/violins-for-our-growing-music-program/10280972/","projectTitle":"Violins for Our Growing Music Program","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":4045724,"projectId":10280948,"letterContent":"As you can imagine, my students are overjoyed at having the opportunity to learn to play and perform on our schools new trombones that we received with your generous support. \r\nAt this time we have learned to play our first 5 notes and are successfully playing Merrily We Roll Along. This is an exciting vehicle to learn to read musical notation. \r\nThroughout our program in time students will learn that with practice and hard but enjoyable work they can achieve the ability to play and participate in performances. They will effectively appreciate what can be accomplished through teamwork.","fullyFundedDate":1786541815763,"projectUrl":"project/trombones-for-our-growing-program/10280948/","projectTitle":"Trombones for Our Growing Program","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Verrocchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4045724_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1510413547823","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/andrewverrocchi"},{"teacherId":9893548,"projectId":10351353,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our fourth grade classroom by providing new recess and movement equipment! Our students are so excited to have more opportunities to play, move, and have fun together during recess.\r\n\r\nThese materials will encourage our students to be active, build teamwork skills, and create positive friendships while enjoying a much-needed break from learning. Your generosity is making a meaningful difference in our students' school experience. We are incredibly grateful for your support of our classroom and our students!","fullyFundedDate":1784250969123,"projectUrl":"project/we-like-to-move-it-move-it/10351353/","projectTitle":"We like to MOVE IT ,MOVE IT!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ducharme","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9893548"},{"teacherId":9742303,"projectId":9322116,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Your donations made it possible for me to provide meaningful rewards and incentives that encourage my students to make positive choices, stay focused, and take pride in their learning.\r\nHaving classroom rewards has made a noticeable difference in student behavior and motivation. Students are excited to work toward earning incentives by following classroom expectations, completing their work, showing kindness and respect, and being responsible members of our classroom community. The rewards have helped reinforce positive behaviors while giving students something fun to look forward to and celebrate.\r\nMore importantly, your support has helped us create a classroom environment where positive choices are recognized and students feel proud of their accomplishments. I have seen students become more motivated, accountable, and encouraging toward one another. Even small rewards have had a big impact by showing students that their effort, growth, and good choices matter.\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping make our classroom a more positive, engaging, and rewarding place to learn. Your generosity goes far beyond the items you helped provide—you helped create opportunities for students to feel successful, recognized, and motivated each day.\r\nWith sincere gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1746787242047,"projectUrl":"project/getting-4th-graders-ready/9322116/","projectTitle":"Getting 4th Graders Ready!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lyon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9742303"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_42179","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":621,"numTeachers":55,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":77,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":66.6,"schoolId":42179,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about German Gerena Community School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"German Gerena Community School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/springfield-public-school-district/german-gerena-community-school/42179"}