{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Hennepin Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":76.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9810259,"letterContent":"The sixth and seventh grade students had this to say. The snacks are delicious. And they are tasty. The Cheez-its are yummy. They made us concentrate a lot. They help us get more energy. The Skinnypop gives us a sugar rush.\r\n\r\nThe Takis are delicious and spicy. We liked it. I got Takis by earning them. I did my job and participated. We listen to the teachers and never get in to an argument.\r\n\r\nWe stay focused from the snacks. It helps us if we don't like the lunch we can come and trade for it. We also can have a snack break during our classes.","fullyFundedDate":1762267622849,"projectUrl":"project/sound-snacks/9810259/","projectTitle":"Sound Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9431165,"letterContent":"The origami paper helped the students with their science projects. They were making a car and wanted extra things. They wanted an actual car model. It was used to make a 3 D model of the car. We also made paper darts.\r\n\r\nMost of my students loved the diamond art. It was fun because you got to build keychains, magnets and stuff. This was an option for a quiet activity. The girls like putting the diamond art magnets in their lockers.\r\n\r\nI send the fidgets with students to the general education classes to help them focus during lectures.\r\n\r\nKinetic sand is a favorite choice during break times.","fullyFundedDate":1753066005062,"projectUrl":"project/i-need-to-calm-down/9431165/","projectTitle":"I Need to Calm Down","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9694444,"letterContent":"When my students saw the new waffle maker, waffle mix and syrup, they jumped for joy! \"We ate some delicious waffles. We also had sprinkles and cream.\" said the eighth graders. They earned a waffle party because they did well on their comps at the end of the quarter. We have even made them when school breakfast is not appealing to my students.\r\n\r\nOne of my math groups is studying money and cost of items. They are going to learn how much each waffle costs to make. They will have a simulated waffle truck and meet many math goals. I am looking forward to this.","fullyFundedDate":1758972892817,"projectUrl":"project/waffle-party/9694444/","projectTitle":"Waffle Party","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9570897,"letterContent":"Having the colored ink cartridges has been so beneficial to our special education room. My students are able to use the colored ink on data day. One way is to have colored coins and bills when they are doing math and solving money problems. The 8th grade have History Day projects coming up. They said, \" Instead of just having black and white it will be more colorful and make it more interesting.\" Being able to make individual anchor charts in both ELA and math allows the students to gain confidence. Colored ink is quite important in a special education classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1756749729605,"projectUrl":"project/color-coded/9570897/","projectTitle":"Color Coded","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9399203,"letterContent":"We love the new Lego sets. The students have said that they make the room less boring. They sets are being built during breaks to help self-regulate. Our 5th graders have taken the 3 in 1 and built side by side with each one choosing a different option. I have beautiful flowers on my desk that get shown off when other adults come in. We had a dragon \"fighting\" a parrot the other day. It's so comforting to see the creations. It also a built in lesson on responsibility as they need to keep track the what they are building. I like when they share too. I am hoping to do a mini \"Lego fest\" and have them all build together. Thank you so much for helping us.","fullyFundedDate":1752841612471,"projectUrl":"project/lego-lego-lego/9399203/","projectTitle":"Lego, Lego, Lego","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9310036,"letterContent":"It was such a relief to start our new school year with the needed supplies. You would not believe how many pencils a middle school student can go through in a day! There are students who use a new pencil every morning and every afternoon. I even have a student who uses one each class period! He told me he likes the sharp pencils, but shares the others with his friends. The pencils will be a valuable asset each year. \r\n\r\nOne concept we learn in my room is citing text evidence. The pastel highlighters will come in handy during these lessons. They will use them to highlight the answers to questions or to easily locate evidence to support a claim when writing opinion pieces.\r\n\r\nAs you know, when learning new things mistakes are made. We try to instill that mantra in our students. We admit when we make a mistake since we are human too. We also use the new erasers while modeling it's okay to make a mistake. The students will have enough erasers for the year.","fullyFundedDate":1749679796653,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-new-supplies/9310036/","projectTitle":"New Year, New Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9215409,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to see the breakfast shelf fully stocked. Their friends have also come in and asked to switch to a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch. I don't know if the Frosted Flakes are eaten dry or with milk more. Several of 8th grade girls prefer it without milk. One of my students even subs his lunch entree for Cinnamon Toast Crunch! \r\n\r\nThe fruit cups are a hit for the afternoon math class. And they don't care if it mandarin oranges or mangoes. They like that it's fruit and juice in one. \r\n\r\nOur room wouldn't be as successful with these breakfast and snack choices. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1749679795564,"projectUrl":"project/making-it-through-the-day/9215409/","projectTitle":"Making it Through the Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":9581471,"projectId":9010525,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for the generous donation that made it possible to bring my calm corner project to life. Having a designated space in my classroom with a pillow, calming posters, a comfortable chair, and an \"emotional baggage\" box has already transformed the learning environment in powerful ways. What started as a small idea to help students regulate their emotions has grown into a central part of our classroom culture. I appreciate the support that made this project possible, as it has affected both individual students and the classroom community. \r\nBefore this project, many of my students struggled to manage their emotions during the school day. Frustration, anxiety, or simple overwhelm often disrupted their ability to focus on learning. While I tried to offer strategies, there was not a consistent physical space for them to step away, regroup, and return ready to learn. Now, thanks to the provided materials, my calm corner offers students a consistent and welcoming space. They know they can go there when they need to breathe, reflect, or reset. This sense of security and independence has reduced behavior issues significantly. I have noticed that students return to their desks more quickly, ready to participate and focus, which makes a tremendous difference in the flow of instruction. \r\nThe calm corner has also encouraged students to work harder and manage their time more responsibly. I see them completing assignments with greater focus and motivation because they want to earn a chance to read quietly in the calm corner. This has created a ripple effect: not only do students see the calm corner as a safe place to handle emotions, but they also see it as a reward for staying on task. The blend of emotional support and academic incentive is a powerful combination that I did not anticipate when I first envisioned this project. \r\nFrom a teaching perspective, the calm corner has allowed me to focus more on instruction. Instead of pausing lessons to address behavior escalations, I can continue teaching while a student independently uses the corner to self-regulate. This has made transitions smoother, minimized disruptions, and increased instructional time for the entire class. The materials have also opened up opportunities for me to explicitly teach emotional regulation strategies. When students use the posters, the chair, or the emotional baggage box, I can connect those actions back to skills like mindfulness, conflict resolution, and self-awareness. These are lifelong skills that go far beyond math or reading—they prepare my students to succeed in and out of school. \r\nThe generosity of the Bezos Family Foundation has been instrumental in making this vision a reality. Their support has helped me create a classroom where students feel safe, respected, and motivated to learn. It is truly remarkable how a few carefully chosen materials can shift the culture of an entire classroom. Because of the Foundation's generosity, I have fewer behavior issues, more engaged learners, and a stronger sense of community among my students. The calm corner is now a beloved part of our classroom, and students often express their gratitude for having a space where they can take care of themselves. \r\nThis project has reminded me that teaching is not just about academics—it is also about creating environments where students feel supported as whole people. The calm corner provides them permission to pause, reflect, and recharge, which in turn allows them to be more present and productive learners. I am so thankful for the chance to offer my students this gift, and I know its impact will last far beyond this school year.","fullyFundedDate":1746699565237,"projectUrl":"project/break-and-calming-corner-for-my-class/9010525/","projectTitle":"Break and Calming Corner for My Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manu","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9581471"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9411033,"letterContent":"Thank you for stocking my snack cabinet for the start of the school year. We had a school wide classroom tour the other day. When we arrived in my room, many of the comments were about the shelf of snacks and our cabinet with the the others. Most of my colleagues were amazed at what we do to curb hunger for our middle school students. I cannot wait for them to come on Monday for our first day of the 2025-2026 school year. I know they will be excited to see mango cups and the granola bars have been refilled. Knowing that I can bring some joy to adults and students alike is why I do this. Thanks again.","fullyFundedDate":1751089301847,"projectUrl":"project/snappy-snacks-part-3/9411033/","projectTitle":"Snappy Snacks, Part 3","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9293129,"letterContent":"Our special education classroom is becoming an organized space for the middle schoolers. When they walk in the door, a shelf with color coded binders is waiting for them. They are are able to grab their binder and find a spot to work. Each binder contains IEP goal based work and a pencil pouch with needed supplies like a highlighter, pencils, erasers and a personal pencil sharpener. Having these things ready for them allows us to teach responsibility and respect. The binders have a spot on the shelf (organized by grade which is a specific color) and when they need new pencils they are responsible for getting new ones from the room stash. Respect is built by taking care of the binders and pouches so they last all year.","fullyFundedDate":1746538552873,"projectUrl":"project/data-or-it-didnt-happen-part-3/9293129/","projectTitle":"Data or It Didn't Happen, Part 3","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9139165,"letterContent":"You wouldn't believe the excitement from the middle school students I work with when an Amazon box is delivered to our room. I had some boys cheer when they saw the Easy Mac was restocked. Another student learned she liked the Edamame beans when her friend shared them. Those protein-filled snacks became a substitute breakfast on some days. Knowing I had preferred foods to offer when the tweens and teens came to my room cranky made the class period so much easier when I could ask if they wanted a snack. While most of these went to my special education students, a couple of the general education students would come and ask for something if they arrived late and breakfast was over. Thank you for easing one of the middle school stressors. I appreciate you. Thanks again.","fullyFundedDate":1743003335954,"projectUrl":"project/hungry-again/9139165/","projectTitle":"Hungry Again?","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"},{"teacherId":1542830,"projectId":9091200,"letterContent":"This new chair has been an amazing asset to our classroom. It has been used for short breaks from the classroom, a reward for completing work, a napping spot for an over tired middle school student as well as chair for a personal conversation. This chair quickly became a favorite for one student who loved to read and would often move from her desk to that spot whether is was a planned activity or not. It surprised me how often a student or even a fellow teacher would use the chair to take a 5 minute break or a 20 minute nap. Some of my favorite memories of our school year were looking over and seeing students sharing books in the chair or that quiet student coloring a beautiful picture from that spot. I look forward to having it in my room next year. Thank you for getting this chair for our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1738810851386,"projectUrl":"project/a-seat-for-snacks/9091200/","projectTitle":"A Seat for Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1542830_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750892329148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marcie-anderson"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_125411","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":94,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":83,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":12,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":24.0,"schoolId":125411,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Hennepin Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Hennepin Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/minnesota-department-of-education/hennepin-middle-school/125411"}