{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gaylord Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":39.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9616362,"projectId":9214073,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom now has an iPad dedicated to communication—and the impact has been immediate and powerful. Many of our donors use technology every day, but in a special-education classroom, it becomes so much more than a convenience. For my nonverbal and minimally verbal students, this iPad isn't just a device—it's a voice, a bridge, and a pathway into connection.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students has been realizing that they are in control of communication. The interactive AAC apps allow them to make choices, share preferences, participate in lessons, and even initiate conversations in ways that were previously out of reach. The moment they tap a symbol and hear the device speak a word aloud, you can see the spark of understanding: \"I said that.\" That recognition is powerful—and it's building confidence and independence every single day.\r\n\r\nA few students have especially bonded with this new technology. One learner who often became frustrated when misunderstood has begun using the iPad to choose activities and greet staff in the mornings. Another student who typically avoided communication tasks now actively seeks out the device—smiling, vocalizing, and tapping icons to share what he wants for snack or which song he hopes to listen to. Even our most hesitant communicators are exploring, experimenting, and finding new ways to express themselves.\r\n\r\nOne of the funniest and most memorable lessons we taught with the new device was \"Walter the Farting Dog.\" The kids practiced finding \"dog,\" \"stop,\" and—yes—\"farting.\" Not only was it hilarious, but it became an engaging way to teach functional communication and give them access to the \"naughtier\" words their general-education peers use. On the page with \"farting,\" there are also other bathroom-related buttons, which has naturally supported their ability to locate and use the vocabulary needed to communicate toileting needs. It's been both incredibly useful and incredibly fun.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students are experiencing fewer communication breakdowns and more genuine moments of connection. We are seeing reduced frustration, increased participation, and a new sense of pride as each child learns that their thoughts and ideas matter—and can be shared. Overall, this technology has given my students a whole new world to explore, and we are loving every moment of it.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just provide a tool. It provided access, equity, and opportunity. You helped give my students a voice, and that is a gift that will impact them far beyond this school year.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in them.","fullyFundedDate":1746785736579,"projectUrl":"project/tech-for-talk-giving-nonverbal-students/9214073/","projectTitle":"Tech for Talk: Giving Nonverbal Students a Voice","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Victoria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9616362_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728162185835","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9616362"},{"teacherId":987274,"projectId":9547156,"letterContent":"Thank you so very much for helping us with these much-needed supplies! In ELA we organize everything by the type of activity it is, and binders with dividers are essential. The problem is that even something as simple as a binder with dividers can be a hardship for many of our families in this community. Having support from people like you for basic school supplies really helps take the burden off of struggling families so all students can have what they need. And these binders, dividers, and pencil bags really help build student organization skills and prepare them for middle school. Thank you again so very much!","fullyFundedDate":1756099253938,"projectUrl":"project/binders-for-budding-brains/9547156/","projectTitle":"Binders for Budding Brains","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nowak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nowak"},{"teacherId":987274,"projectId":9321585,"letterContent":"The enthusiasm in our room was palpable as I opened book boxes day after day! The students are so excited about the new titles. Most of them are already checked out and I have a list of students waiting for them to return so they can check them out next. It's so important to have exciting, quality literature in the classroom so that we can keep the enthusiasm for reading as high as possible. These books are certainly doing that, and I have parents telling me that this is the first year their child has been choosing to read at home without being prompted. So we are on the right track!","fullyFundedDate":1746842208188,"projectUrl":"project/fun-fantasy-for-fueling-reading/9321585/","projectTitle":"Fun Fantasy for Fueling Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nowak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nowak"},{"teacherId":987274,"projectId":9287547,"letterContent":"The enthusiasm in our room was palpable as I opened book boxes day after day! The students are so excited about the new titles. Most of them are already checked out and I have a list of students waiting for them to return so they can check them out next. It's so important to have exciting, quality literature in the classroom so that we can keep the enthusiasm for reading as high as possible. These books are certainly doing that, and I have parents telling me that this is the first year their child has been choosing to read at home without being prompted. So we are on the right track!","fullyFundedDate":1746450577303,"projectUrl":"project/fun-fantasy-for-fueling-reading/9287547/","projectTitle":"Fun Fantasy for Fueling Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nowak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nowak"},{"teacherId":987274,"projectId":9043776,"letterContent":"The enthusiasm in our room was palpable as I opened book boxes day after day! The students are so excited about the new titles. Most of them are already checked out and I have a list of students waiting for them to return so they can check them out next. It's so important to have exciting, quality literature in the classroom so that we can keep the enthusiasm for reading as high as possible. These books are certainly doing that, and I have parents telling me that this is the first year their child has been choosing to read at home without being prompted. So we are on the right track!","fullyFundedDate":1738516914016,"projectUrl":"project/valentine-vibes-to-inspire-reading/9043776/","projectTitle":"Valentine Vibes to Inspire Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nowak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nowak"},{"teacherId":987274,"projectId":8896347,"letterContent":"The enthusiasm in our room was palpable as I opened book boxes day after day! The students are so excited about the new titles. Most of them are already checked out and I have a list of students waiting for them to return so they can check them out next. It's so important to have exciting, quality literature in the classroom so that we can keep the enthusiasm for reading as high as possible. These books are certainly doing that, and I have parents telling me that this is the first year their child has been choosing to read at home without being prompted. So we are on the right track!","fullyFundedDate":1733242309629,"projectUrl":"project/fun-fantasy-for-fueling-reading/8896347/","projectTitle":"Fun Fantasy for Fueling Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nowak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nowak"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_60989","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":632,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":74,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":89,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"4 - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"17.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":60.1,"schoolId":60989,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Gaylord Intermediate School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Gaylord Intermediate School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/gaylord-community-school-district/gaylord-intermediate-school/60989"}