{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"High School of Commerce","outOfStateSupporters":40.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10039353,"projectId":9945301,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our winter basketball and cheerleading teams at the High School of Commerce had the snacks and fuel they needed to stay energized, focused, and motivated throughout the season. These snacks quickly became a consistent part of our team routines—helping students refuel after practices and games, especially on long afternoons when many of them came straight from class with little time to eat. When the students first saw the snacks arrive, they were genuinely excited and grateful. More than anything, they felt supported—like people truly believed in them and wanted them to succeed.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, our athletes were able to stay locked in and push through a demanding season. Our boys basketball team has had one of their best seasons in years, and the momentum has been incredible to witness. They are currently in position to make the playoffs if they win one more game, and the confidence they've built as a team has been inspiring. For many of them, this season has been about more than wins—it's been about commitment, leadership, and pride in representing their school and community.\r\n\r\nOur cheerleading team also benefited in a powerful way. Many of the girls were introduced to a new sport experience, and they built strong relationships while learning teamwork, discipline, and what it means to show up for something bigger than themselves. They've grown into confident leaders and have taken pride in being a positive presence at games and events. Thank you again for helping make this season successful—not just through snacks, but through encouragement that reminded our students that their hard work matters.","fullyFundedDate":1769607965378,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-our-winter-athletes-snacks-for/9945301/","projectTitle":"Fueling Our Winter Athletes: Snacks for Cheer & Basketball","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hardy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039353_orig.jpg?crop=946,946,x0,y551&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755265390469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronicahardy"},{"teacherId":9779016,"projectId":9769633,"letterContent":"My students have an amazing talent and they are motivated and delighted to have the opportunity to experience digital art with the professional tools donated by you. They have the IPads covers and digital pens. They take good care of the equipment and your donations completed an important part of the equation. Once again thank you for your donations. The fact that we have covers is a great way to protect the equipment for other clases to use in a future. Many of the students did not have access to digital pencils or pen and thanks to your donations they have this opportunity. Thank you !","fullyFundedDate":1760735923175,"projectUrl":"project/need-covers-to-protect-ipads-and-pencil/9769633/","projectTitle":"Need Covers to Protect iPads and Pencil to Create Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Melendez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9779016_orig.jpg?crop=1815,1816,x0,y115&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1740946902254","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9779016"},{"teacherId":8644769,"projectId":9724906,"letterContent":"My students and I are super grateful for the donations of snacks. These snacks came at a perfect time when some our students faced food insecurity due to unforeseeable circumstances over the last few months. My students are always eager to help bring the packages to our classroom and help in unboxing them. They expressed joy from just the mere sight of their favorite snacks.\r\n\r\nAs a result, the students stayed motivated in their Physics and Forensic Science classes, as they were sure to receive a snackable treat. Their thank notes will tell you firsthand the impact of this kind donation and how much they are looking forward to your continued support. We thank you a million as your support our students' overall well-being, while they prepare for the future.","fullyFundedDate":1761858882153,"projectUrl":"project/a-snackable-kind-deed-lights-up-their-da/9724906/","projectTitle":"A Snackable Kind Deed Lights Up Their Day","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chambers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8644769"},{"teacherId":10011440,"projectId":9752642,"letterContent":"It is with tremendous gratitude that I share the impact of your generosity on our classroom. When I shared the news that our project, was fully funded, my students were overjoyed to know that people they haven't even met care so much about their personal care needs.\r\nThe day the items (ChapStick, deodorant and famine items) arrived was like a second birthday for our students. We immediately put them to use during our guidance and bathroom. Because of these resources, my students are now more engaged and focused. For example, in these cold days the ChapStick and lotion have been helpful as well as the hand sanitizers.\r\nThank you for making this possible and for supporting our classroom community!\"","fullyFundedDate":1768523015149,"projectUrl":"project/period-care-and-hygiene-for-student-succ/9752642/","projectTitle":"Period Care and Hygiene for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Perez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10011440"},{"teacherId":9288936,"projectId":9358466,"letterContent":"Many of our students come to school without having eaten and often arrive late. The snacks and water you provided have been incredibly helpful for students in need, especially during after-school activities and before the lunch period. Your support has truly made a difference in their day.\r\n\r\nThank you also for your generous gift of love and the mobile desk. It has given students an alternative and flexible space to work during the school day, supporting focus, comfort, and engagement.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your kindness and commitment to our students. Your generosity is felt and appreciated more than you know.","fullyFundedDate":1757552987569,"projectUrl":"project/alternative-working-space/9358466/","projectTitle":"Alternative Working Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9288936_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747629102310","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9288936"},{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9325410,"letterContent":"On behalf of the Life Skills Program at Commerce High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation supporting our math and financial literacy learning project.\r\nThanks to your kindness, our classroom now includes a bookshelf stocked with realistic grocery items, price tags, and play food packaging, along with fake money for hands-on practice. These materials have allowed us to create a mock store environment where students can actively learn about pricing, budgeting, counting money, making change, and understanding the value of everyday items.\r\nFinancial literacy is an essential life skill, and these resources help our students learn in a meaningful, engaging, and practical way. By practicing money math and real-world scenarios, students are building confidence and independence that will support them in daily life, future employment, and community experiences.\r\nYour support through DonorsChoose has made a significant difference in our students' learning. We are incredibly grateful for your investment in their future and for helping provide tools that turn lessons into real-life skills.\r\nThank you for believing in our students and supporting hands-on learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746740775135,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-special-learners-through-inte/9325410/","projectTitle":"Empowering Special Learners Through Interactive Market Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"},{"teacherId":10006398,"projectId":9285055,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your faith in our students and for your investment in their growth. Your kindness and support through DonorsChoose have given our students opportunities that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping make learning meaningful, practical, and empowering. \r\n\r\nOn behalf of the Life Skills Program at Commerce High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, thank you for your incredibly generous donation of kitchen supplies through our DonorsChoose project. Your support has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our students. \r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our classroom is now equipped with essential appliances and tools including a microwave, blenders, an air fryer, mixers, a portable sink, as well as pots, pans, dishes, and silverware. These items have transformed our learning space into a functional kitchen where students can actively practice cooking and meal preparation. \r\n\r\nThe Life Skills Program focuses on helping students build independence and confidence through hands-on, real-world experiences. With the supplies you provided, students are learning how to safely use kitchen appliances, follow recipes, prepare balanced meals, and clean up afterward—skills that are vital for daily living and future success","fullyFundedDate":1746506696061,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-cook/9285055/","projectTitle":"Learning to Cook","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Darkwah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10006398"},{"teacherId":10200745,"projectId":9632377,"letterContent":"On behalf of the School Administration, the students in my different classes and in my own name, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the donors. Since we have had this board and printer, there have been significant positive changes, especially in the quality of the instruction delivered. Passive learning turned into active participation with touch-based activities and multimedia content. \r\nThe smart board fosters collaboration by allowing multiple students to work together on projects, solve problems, and share ideas directly on the board.\r\nThe smart board is helping to support diverse learning styles, caters to visual learners with bright displays, auditory learners with sound, and kinesthetic learners with tactile interaction, improving inclusivity. \r\nFinally, the smart board improves the quality of the lesson delivered. As a teacher, I am able to create dynamic, multimedia-rich lessons, easily access materials, and provide immediate feedback.\r\nMy students are now equipped with essential digital literacy skills that prepare them for the future technology-focused world.","fullyFundedDate":1757544372611,"projectUrl":"project/connected-class-engaged-minds/9632377/","projectTitle":"Connected Class, Engaged Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Diaite","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10200745"},{"teacherId":8644769,"projectId":9600383,"letterContent":"We thank you from the bottom of out hearts for your donations. This year we were able to make Science come alive in our classroom. Students were not only allowed to read and complete written tasks on science concepts; but they were able to get their hands busy and sometimes dirty too.\r\n\r\nOur Forensic Science class saw students creating their own latent prints, using our brush and powders to highlight them and then lift them off surfaces and placed on backgrounds to make them more visible. They were also able to see paper chromatography come alive, by experimenting with various ink samples and see the different components separate (how beautiful). Before we break for the holidays, we hope to do experiments using our DNA and blood type kits. \r\n\r\nAs for Physics, our students created different manipulative and used them to boost their presentations on topics such as Newton's Second Law of Motion. As we get farther into the school year, we hope for greater things to happen, as we link the various science theories to real life application through experimenting.","fullyFundedDate":1757547155592,"projectUrl":"project/science-is-life-lets-bring-it-alive/9600383/","projectTitle":"Science Is Life: Let's Bring It Alive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Chambers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8644769"},{"teacherId":10039353,"projectId":9853636,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our Winter 2025–2026 Cheer Team is starting the season feeling confident, prepared, and truly cared for. The moment the girls saw the new bows, water bottles, hair essentials, and snacks, their faces absolutely lit up. They immediately began trying on bows, organizing their hair supplies, and filling up their new water bottles for practice. Watching them gather around the materials—laughing, sharing, and helping one another—was a reminder of just how much these \"small\" items matter. Because of your generosity, every athlete on our team can show up feeling included, supported, and ready to perform at their best.\r\n\r\nWe've already put the resources to use during our first few practices. The team has been using the reusable water bottles to stay hydrated during long conditioning sessions, and the granola bars have quickly become an essential part of our pre-practice routine—helping students who may not always have access to snacks fuel up and participate fully. The red and white bows, along with the hair essentials, have helped our cheerleaders present a united, polished look that boosts both their confidence and their pride in representing Commerce. Getting ready together has also strengthened their teamwork and sense of sisterhood.\r\n\r\nAs we prepare for our upcoming winter games and performances, these materials will continue to support our routines, our spirit, and our athletes' well-being. The next step is polishing our halftime performances and bringing even more energy to the court—something the girls are especially excited about now that they feel fully equipped and supported. Thank you for believing in our students and helping them shine this season.","fullyFundedDate":1764703465735,"projectUrl":"project/support-the-commerce-winter-2025-2026-ch/9853636/","projectTitle":"Support the Commerce Winter 2025-2026 Cheer Team !","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hardy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039353_orig.jpg?crop=946,946,x0,y551&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755265390469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronicahardy"},{"teacherId":10039353,"projectId":9850272,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, this professional development experience has already elevated my teaching in meaningful and lasting ways. The new chemistry resources and curriculum guides have helped me deepen my understanding of environmental chemistry and explore richer ways to connect scientific concepts to real-world issues. These materials have strengthened my ability to design lessons that make science relevant, rigorous, and grounded in the social and environmental challenges my students see in their own community.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite classroom moments happened during a discussion inspired by Silent Spring. After reading an excerpt about chemical pollutants and their impact on ecosystems, my students did a deep dive on the pollutants affecting their community- Springfield. When one student realized how chemical contamination can disproportionately affect communities like ours, she said something along the lines of, \"Science isn't just experiments—it's about protecting people.\" Her sister has asthma and she made the connection that it may be influenced by the surrounding environment. Moments like this remind me how powerful it is when students see themselves as scientists and advocates who can contribute to environmental solutions.\r\n\r\nYour support has not only strengthened my teaching now but has opened the door for continued growth. I'm excited to keep building my skills in designing inquiry-based labs that blend chemistry with environmental justice. I'm especially looking forward to our upcoming sustainability unit, where students will investigate real solutions for healthier, greener communities. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping create a classroom where science feels meaningful, empowering, and connected to the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1763598895737,"projectUrl":"project/from-teacher-to-learner-expanding-envir/9850272/","projectTitle":"From Teacher to Learner: Expanding Environmental Chemistry Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hardy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10039353_orig.jpg?crop=946,946,x0,y551&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755265390469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/veronicahardy"},{"teacherId":7615841,"projectId":9335539,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations. The iPads have been especially impactful; they have given our students new ways to communicate, express themselves, and engage during counseling sessions. Your contributions of snacks have supported students facing food insecurity, helping them stay focused and feel cared for throughout the school day. The coloring books and sensory items have also made a meaningful difference by providing calming tools that help students manage stress and participate more fully.\r\n\r\nYour support has created a more compassionate and responsive environment for our students, and we are deeply grateful for the positive change you've made in their daily lives.","fullyFundedDate":1755716667368,"projectUrl":"project/exceptional-learners-in-a-therapeutic-se/9335539/","projectTitle":"Exceptional Learners in a Therapeutic Setting!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jaeger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7615841"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60900","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":966,"numTeachers":93,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":72,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"10.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":59.8,"schoolId":60900,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about High School of Commerce on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"High School of Commerce","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/massachusetts/springfield-public-school-district/high-school-of-commerce/60900"}