{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thunder Bay Junior High School","outOfStateSupporters":27.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":294857,"projectId":9536499,"letterContent":"Your support has equipped my 45 students with the GoSense Marine Kit, transforming them from learners reading about water quality to researchers actively monitoring it. Students are now collecting real temperature and pressure data from Thunder Bay, documenting thermal stratification patterns that reveal ecosystem health. This technology has bridged the gap between \"learning about science\" and \"doing science\"—students are conducting authentic research that matters to our community.\r\nWhat's most exciting is watching students make connections between the data they collect and real environmental issues. When they discovered temperature gradients in our local waters, they immediately began asking how climate change might affect fish habitat and oxygen levels. The GoSense Marine Kit has given them the tools to investigate these questions themselves rather than waiting for scientists to provide answers. Several students are now designing their own research protocols to monitor seasonal changes and identify pollution sources.\r\nThis project has particularly engaged students who previously felt disconnected from environmental science. One junior who lives on the Thunder Bay River became fascinated by the pressure data and is now planning a longitudinal study comparing shallow- and deep-water temperatures across seasons. Another student used the kit to document conditions near a local storm drain and presented findings to her family about watershed protection. Your generosity has shown 45 students that they don't need to wait until college or graduate school to contribute to meaningful environmental research—they can make a difference right now in their own backyard.","fullyFundedDate":1757511572197,"projectUrl":"project/freshwater-acidification-research-projec/9536499/","projectTitle":"Freshwater Acidification Research Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp294857_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1456393939131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-thomson"},{"teacherId":294857,"projectId":9556963,"letterContent":"Your generosity has transformed abstract engineering concepts into tangible learning experiences. The LEGO Technic sets you funded are teaching my 260 students about gears, structural design, and mechanical advantage in ways that stick. When students build the Bugatti Bolide or the NASCAR Camaro, they're not just following instructions—they're discovering why certain gear ratios create speed versus torque, and why frame geometry matters for stability. These aren't just toys; they're engineering labs on every desk.\r\nWhat excites students most is seeing their builds actually work. There's something powerful about turning a gear and watching an entire mechanism spring to life. The 3-in-1 Creator sets have become particularly popular because students love the challenge of reverse-engineering how one set of parts can become three completely different models. Several students who typically struggle with traditional worksheets have become the class experts on gear trains and structural engineering simply because the LEGO models make the concepts visible and testable.\r\nThe impact has been especially noticeable with students who haven't traditionally seen themselves as \"STEM kids.\" One sixth grader who was convinced she \"wasn't good at building things\" spent three weeks perfecting her Lamborghini Huracán's suspension system and is now helping classmates troubleshoot their mechanical problems. These hands-on experiences are showing students that engineering isn't about being naturally talented—it's about persistence, creativity, and learning from what doesn't work.","fullyFundedDate":1755698150359,"projectUrl":"project/making-and-creating/9556963/","projectTitle":"Making and Creating","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp294857_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1456393939131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-thomson"},{"teacherId":294857,"projectId":9731660,"letterContent":"Your generosity has transformed our ROV lab into a true research facility. The Blue Robotics depth and temperature sensors you funded are giving our students the same tools that oceanographers and marine researchers use in the field. Watching their faces light up when they realized they could now collect real scientific data—not just pilot a robot around—was incredible. One of our sophomores, who struggled with confidence earlier in the year, has taken ownership of the sensor integration and is now teaching others how to interpret the depth readings in real-time during dives.\r\nThe watertight penetrators and buoyancy foam have been game-changers for our design process. Students are learning that professional engineering isn't just about making something work—it's about making it work reliably under pressure (literally!). Our freshmen are discovering that calculating buoyancy and understanding water pressure are more than textbook problems; they're critical engineering challenges. Several juniors who've been building ROVs since elementary school have commented that this is the first year they feel like they're building something that could actually be deployed for real research missions.\r\nThank you for believing in our team of 25 students and giving them tools that match their ambitions. You've helped us move from \"underwater robots\" to true \"underwater research robotics.\"","fullyFundedDate":1758844526834,"projectUrl":"project/underwater-research-robotics/9731660/","projectTitle":"Underwater Research Robotics","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp294857_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1456393939131","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-thomson"},{"teacherId":294857,"projectId":8929509,"letterContent":"Thanks to your contribution, our students are now deep into their Off-Road Learning project, where engineering meets adventure right in our classroom. Our teams have been utilizing CAD software to design vehicles that can navigate our obstacle course, which features steep ramps, loose gravel sections, and tight turns that replicate real-world terrain challenges.\r\n\r\nA Specific Classroom Moment: Just last week, Team Alpha discovered their initial design was too top-heavy after their prototype tipped over on the banked turn. Instead of being discouraged, they immediately huddled around the computer, pulled up their CAD model, and began redesigning the chassis with a lower center of gravity. Watching them problem-solve in real-time—moving seamlessly between digital design and hands-on testing—showed me exactly why this project matters.\r\nThe Moment They Saw the Materials\r\n\r\nWhen the build kits arrived, the excitement was infectious. Students immediately started examining every component - the motors, wheels, chassis pieces, and sensors. One student exclaimed, \"Wait, we get to build actual vehicles that move?\" The materials transformed an abstract engineering concept into something tangible they could hold, modify, and control.\r\n\r\nLooking Ahead: Next month, we plan to host an \"Engineering Showcase\" where students will present their final designs to younger classes, explaining their problem-solving process and demonstrating their vehicles. This peer teaching component helps solidify their learning while inspiring the next generation of innovators.\r\n\r\nYour support has given our students more than just materials - you've provided them with the tools to think like engineers, fail safely, iterate boldly, and succeed confidently. 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Join the 54 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Thunder Bay Junior High School is
a town public school
in Alpena, Michigan that is part of Alpena Public Schools.
It serves 796 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.5:1.
Its teachers have had 24 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
3%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Thunder Bay Junior High School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Jan 20, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Thunder Bay Junior High School
$20,206
raised using DonorsChoose
24
projects
funded
8
teachers
funded
54
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
6
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
Thunder Bay Junior High School has received support from
39 individuals from Michigan and
15 individuals out-of-state.
