{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Higher Ground Academy","outOfStateSupporters":36.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9746264,"projectId":10226873,"letterContent":"The \"Hands-On Phonics and Writing Tools to Build Confident Young Readers\" project has made a tremendous impact in my kindergarten classroom. The materials have provided my students with engaging, hands-on opportunities to practice phonics, letter formation, and early writing skills in meaningful ways.\r\nWith these tools, students are more motivated to participate during literacy centers and small-group instruction. They are developing stronger letter-sound recognition, improving their handwriting, and gaining confidence as emerging readers and writers. The interactive nature of the materials allows students to learn through exploration and practice, making literacy instruction both effective and enjoyable.\r\nBecause of your generosity, my students have access to resources that support different learning styles and help build a strong foundation for future academic success. Thank you for investing in my classroom and for helping my young learners become more confident, capable readers and writers each day.","fullyFundedDate":1779370491955,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-phonics-and-writing-tools-to-bu/10226873/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Phonics and Writing Tools to Build Confident Young Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. D","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9746264_orig.png?crop=762,762,x0,y53&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1776808284957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9746264"},{"teacherId":9737613,"projectId":10289439,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, **\"Creating a Fresh and Interactive Learning Space.\"** Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom environment and in the daily learning experiences of my students.\r\n\r\nThe items you provided, including the air freshener and Smart Board clicker, have helped create a more comfortable and engaging classroom. While the air freshener may seem like a small addition, it has helped maintain a fresh, welcoming atmosphere where students can focus and feel more at ease throughout the school day. A positive classroom environment plays an important role in helping students stay attentive and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThe Smart Board clicker has been especially impactful. It allows me to move freely around the classroom while teaching, rather than being tied to my desk or the front of the room. This means I can provide immediate support to students, monitor understanding more effectively, and keep lessons moving smoothly. The technology helps make instruction more interactive and allows students to stay engaged during presentations, demonstrations, and classroom discussions.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting aspects for students is the increased interaction during lessons. They enjoy participating in activities displayed on the Smart Board and appreciate the faster pace and smoother transitions the clicker provides. Several students who are typically hesitant to participate have become more engaged because I can easily move closer to them, offer encouragement, and check in while continuing instruction.\r\n\r\nA favorite classroom moment occurred during a review game when students eagerly answered questions displayed on the Smart Board. The ability to move throughout the room with the clicker allowed me to interact with every group, celebrate successes, and support students who needed extra guidance. The energy and enthusiasm during that lesson highlighted just how valuable these resources have become.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping create a classroom that is both welcoming and interactive. Your support has enhanced our learning environment and provided tools that help students stay engaged, focused, and excited about learning every day.","fullyFundedDate":1779370489772,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-fresh-and-interactive-learnin/10289439/","projectTitle":"Creating a Fresh and Interactive Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9737613_orig.jpg?crop=1340,1340,x0,y17&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771039312525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9737613"},{"teacherId":9737613,"projectId":10133817,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our project, **\"Learning Through Play: Board Games for Third Grade Thinkers.\"** Your generosity has brought exciting new learning opportunities into our classroom, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.\r\n\r\nThe board games have become a valuable part of our daily learning routines. We use them during small-group instruction, enrichment activities, and learning centers to reinforce important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, strategy, communication, and teamwork. By incorporating play into learning, students are able to practice academic and social skills in an engaging and meaningful way.\r\n\r\nWhen the games first arrived, the students were thrilled. Their excitement was contagious as they eagerly explored the new materials and asked when they could start playing. One memorable moment occurred during a math enrichment center when students worked together to solve challenges within a strategy game. They were discussing possible moves, explaining their reasoning, and encouraging one another as they played. It was wonderful to see students applying classroom skills while having fun and building confidence.\r\n\r\nThe board games have also helped foster collaboration and perseverance. Students are learning how to take turns, think ahead, solve problems independently, and handle both successes and setbacks with a positive attitude. These experiences are helping them grow not only as learners but also as thoughtful classmates.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our students will continue developing their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as we move into more complex math concepts and collaborative classroom projects. We are excited to use these games to strengthen strategic thinking, communication, and teamwork throughout the school year. The skills students are practicing through play will support their success across all subject areas.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping create a classroom where learning is engaging, interactive, and fun. Your generosity has provided opportunities that will benefit our third graders for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1779370489376,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-play-board-games-for-t/10133817/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Play: Board Games for Third Grade Thinkers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9737613_orig.jpg?crop=1340,1340,x0,y17&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771039312525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9737613"},{"teacherId":9737613,"projectId":10129700,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Rolling Into Learning: A Mobile Whiteboard for Active Third Graders.\" Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom, and I am excited to share the impact your gift has had on my students and my teaching.\r\nThe mobile whiteboard has transformed the way I deliver instruction and engage students throughout the day. Instead of being tied to the front of the room, I can now move easily around the classroom, bringing lessons directly to students wherever they are working. This flexibility has helped me provide more immediate feedback, facilitate small-group instruction, and create more interactive learning experiences. As a teacher, I have been able to refine my instructional practices by making lessons more student-centered and responsive to individual needs.\r\nOne of my favorite classroom moments occurred during a math lesson on problem-solving strategies. Students worked in teams to solve multi-step problems, and the mobile whiteboard became a collaborative hub. Groups eagerly shared their thinking, explained their strategies, and built upon one another's ideas. Even some of my quieter students volunteered to come up and demonstrate their work. Watching their confidence grow as they engaged in meaningful mathematical discussions was incredibly rewarding.\r\nYour support has also encouraged a more active and collaborative learning environment. Students are excited whenever the whiteboard is incorporated into a lesson, and they are more willing to participate, ask questions, and take academic risks. The increased engagement has helped strengthen both their understanding of content and their confidence as learners.\r\nLooking ahead, I am excited to continue growing as an educator by incorporating even more collaborative and hands-on learning opportunities into our classroom. We will soon be exploring informational writing and science investigations, and I look forward to using the mobile whiteboard to help students brainstorm ideas, organize their thinking, and share discoveries with their classmates.\r\nThank you for investing in our students and believing in the power of education. Your kindness has provided a resource that will benefit many learners for years to come. We are deeply grateful for your support and for helping make our classroom a place where all students can learn, collaborate, and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1779370490908,"projectUrl":"project/rolling-into-learning-a-mobile-whiteboa/10129700/","projectTitle":"Rolling Into Learning: A Mobile Whiteboard for Active Third Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9737613_orig.jpg?crop=1340,1340,x0,y17&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771039312525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9737613"},{"teacherId":9737613,"projectId":10098384,"letterContent":"Dear Donors,\r\n\r\nThank you for providing ink and pencils for our classroom! These essential supplies have allowed my students to fully participate in daily learning activities, writing assignments, and classroom projects. When the materials arrived, students were excited to have fresh supplies ready to use and appreciated knowing they had the tools needed to do their best work.\r\n\r\nRecently, students used the pencils and printed materials to complete a writing project where they drafted, revised, and published their work. Having reliable supplies helped them stay focused on learning rather than worrying about limited materials. As we move forward, students will continue using these resources for reading, writing, research, and creative projects. Your generosity has helped create a productive learning environment where every student has the tools needed to succeed. Thank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1772164883661,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-learning-ink-and-pencils-for/10098384/","projectTitle":"Tools for Learning: Ink and Pencils for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9737613_orig.jpg?crop=1340,1340,x0,y17&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771039312525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9737613"},{"teacherId":9737613,"projectId":10098376,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom by providing a wiggle seat! This resource has already made a difference for my students. We use the wiggle seat during independent work, reading, and small-group lessons to help students stay focused while meeting their movement needs. When students first saw it, they were excited and eager to try it. One student who often struggles to remain seated was able to stay engaged throughout an entire lesson while using the seat. As we continue our learning, students will use the wiggle seat during literacy and math activities to support concentration and academic success. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1772553906359,"projectUrl":"project/power-up-our-playground/10098376/","projectTitle":"Power Up Our Playground","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9737613_orig.jpg?crop=1340,1340,x0,y17&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771039312525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9737613"},{"teacherId":10472543,"projectId":10174891,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for the iPad provided through this project. This technology has made a meaningful impact on my students' learning and has contributed to improved MCA results by allowing for more engaging, personalized, and interactive instruction.\r\n\r\nWith the materials provided, I was able to better monitor student progress, provide targeted interventions, and offer learning opportunities that met the diverse needs of my learners. The iPad helped students stay motivated, practice essential skills, and access educational resources that supported their academic growth.","fullyFundedDate":1776190247075,"projectUrl":"project/ipad-for-mca-results/10174891/","projectTitle":"iPad for MCA Results","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Napoles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10472543_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1776194788246","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10472543"},{"teacherId":10377452,"projectId":10136051,"letterContent":"My students were thrilled when the new classroom supplies arrived! The excitement on their faces was priceless as they explored the new pencils, dry erase materials, storage drawers, and reward items. They immediately began using the dry erase boards during our math lessons to solve problems, explain their thinking, and receive immediate feedback. Having enough pencils for everyone has also ensured that every student is ready to learn each day without worrying about missing supplies.\r\n\r\nThe storage drawers have helped create a more organized classroom, allowing students to independently access and return materials. The reward items have motivated students to stay engaged, work hard, and celebrate their academic growth and positive behavior. As we continue learning new math concepts, these resources will support hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving, and meaningful classroom discussions. Thank you for providing the tools that help my students build confidence, stay motivated, and grow as learners. Your generosity has made a lasting difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1774138229546,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-learning-and-growth/10136051/","projectTitle":"Tools for Learning and Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Marjonh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10377452_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1765074265755","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10377452"},{"teacherId":9641163,"projectId":9292074,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students, families, and school community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for funding our project, \"Incentives That Inspire: Building Positive Behavior Through Rewards.\" Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our classroom, and we are incredibly thankful for your support and belief in our students.\r\n\r\nTeaching is about so much more than academics. Every day, students come into the classroom carrying different experiences, emotions, and challenges. For many children, school is not only a place to learn math, reading, and science—it is also a place where they learn responsibility, kindness, perseverance, and self-confidence. Because of your support, we are now able to create a more positive and encouraging environment that celebrates these important behaviors and motivates students to continue making positive choices.\r\n\r\nThe resources provided through this project will help us implement a reward-based positive behavior system that encourages students to stay engaged, respectful, and focused throughout the school day. Incentives may seem simple on the surface, but for students, recognition and encouragement can have a tremendous impact. A small reward for demonstrating kindness, teamwork, responsibility, or perseverance can boost confidence and reinforce behaviors that lead to long-term success both inside and outside the classroom.\r\n\r\nYour generosity allows us to recognize students for their hard work and growth in ways that are exciting and meaningful to them. These incentives will help students feel seen, valued, and motivated to do their best every day. When students feel supported and celebrated, they are more likely to participate in learning, build stronger relationships with peers, and develop a greater sense of belonging within the classroom community.\r\n\r\nThis project is especially important because positive reinforcement creates a classroom culture where students feel safe, respected, and inspired. Instead of focusing only on correcting negative behavior, we can now spend more time highlighting successes and encouraging students to continue making positive choices. This shift helps students understand that their actions matter and that their efforts are appreciated.\r\n\r\nYour contribution also supports social-emotional learning by teaching students valuable life skills such as self-control, empathy, accountability, and perseverance. These are lessons that extend far beyond the classroom walls. The positive habits students build now will help them become confident learners, compassionate friends, and responsible future leaders.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, your kindness reminds our students that there are people beyond their school community who genuinely care about their success. Many students are amazed to learn that individuals they may never meet personally chose to invest in their education and happiness. That realization alone is powerful. It teaches them that generosity exists in the world and inspires them to one day give back to others as well.\r\n\r\nAs educators, we often dream of creating learning environments where every child feels motivated and encouraged, but achieving that vision requires support from caring people like you. Because of your generosity, our classroom will become a more joyful, positive, and engaging place where students are excited to learn and proud of their accomplishments.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for recognizing the importance of creating positive learning experiences. Your support has provided more than just supplies and incentives—it has provided encouragement, opportunity, and hope. The impact of your donation will be felt each day as students work toward goals, celebrate achievements, and grow into the best versions of themselves.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your compassion, generosity, and commitment to education. Thank you for helping us inspire positive behavior, strengthen classroom relationships, and create an environment where every student can thrive.\r\n\r\nWith sincere appreciation and gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1747620973838,"projectUrl":"project/incentives-that-inspire-building-positi/9292074/","projectTitle":"Incentives That Inspire: Building Positive Behavior Through Rewards","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Bart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9641163_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723218669238","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9641163"},{"teacherId":9167220,"projectId":10093465,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project and helping provide headphones and physical education equipment for our students. Your generosity has made a meaningful impact on both student learning and student engagement throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nThe headphones have been especially helpful during independent learning time and technology-based classroom activities. Students are able to focus better while listening to educational videos, reading programs, and online learning platforms without distractions from the classroom around them. Having reliable headphones also allows students to work at their own pace and build confidence while practicing important skills independently.\r\n\r\nThe physical education kit has brought excitement and energy to our classroom and recess activities. Students have loved having new equipment to use during movement breaks, indoor activities, and recess time. These activities help students stay active, build teamwork skills, and return to the classroom more focused and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new materials, they were incredibly excited. Many students immediately asked when they could use the headphones and were eager to try the new recess and activity equipment. Some of our quieter students especially benefited from the headphones because they were able to concentrate more comfortably during independent work and online learning activities. Other students who thrive with movement and hands-on activities have really connected with the physical education equipment, enjoying opportunities to collaborate, stay active, and practice positive social skills with classmates.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our students now have tools that support both academic learning and healthy, active play. Thank you again for investing in our classroom and helping create a positive and engaging learning environment for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1770907289219,"projectUrl":"project/engaged-active-and-ready-to-learn/10093465/","projectTitle":"Engaged, Active, and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. CRISTOPHER","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9167220_orig.jpg?crop=1610,1609,x0,y26&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691446268422","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9167220"},{"teacherId":9167220,"projectId":9869930,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project and helping provide copy paper and thermal laminating pouches for our students. These materials have already made a big difference in our classroom and have helped us create engaging, organized, and reusable learning activities for students every day.\r\nDuring our MCA review season, we used the copy paper to print practice activities, review packets, task cards, and small-group learning materials. The laminating pouches allowed us to turn many of those resources into reusable activities that students could use with dry-erase markers during review stations and partner work. One memorable moment was watching students work together at review stations, confidently solving problems and discussing strategies while using the laminated materials. The reusable activities made it easy for students to practice, correct mistakes, and try again in a low-stress and interactive way.\r\nWhen students first saw the new materials, they were excited and eager to use them. The laminated activities felt special and helped make review practice more engaging and hands-on. Students especially enjoyed rotating through different activities and using materials that looked polished, colorful, and easy to follow.\r\nNow that MCA testing is complete, we are continuing to use these supplies for end-of-year projects, classroom games, small-group instruction, and review activities across subjects. The laminating pouches are helping us create durable learning tools that can be reused year after year, and the copy paper continues to support daily instruction and creative classroom activities.\r\nYour generosity has helped create meaningful learning experiences for our students, and we are so grateful for your support. Thank you for investing in our classroom and helping provide tools that support student learning every single day!","fullyFundedDate":1770647771131,"projectUrl":"project/project-printready-ensuring-every-learn/9869930/","projectTitle":"Project PrintReady: Ensuring Every Learner Has the Tools to Succeed","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. CRISTOPHER","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9167220_orig.jpg?crop=1610,1609,x0,y26&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691446268422","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9167220"},{"teacherId":10474142,"projectId":10179441,"letterContent":"Our classroom has been filled with excitement as we begin using our new math and letter manipulatives. These hands-on materials have made learning more engaging and meaningful as my kindergarten students explore numbers, patterns, and letters through play and discovery.\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their faces lit up with pure joy and curiosity. They were so excited to touch, sort, build, and explore everything right away. The room was full of smiles, laughter, and \"Can I try?\" as they eagerly began learning together. It was a truly heartwarming moment to see their excitement and wonder for learning.\r\nRight now, we are using the manipulatives during literacy and math centers to practice letter recognition, beginning sounds, counting, sorting, and patterning in a hands-on way. Students are building words, identifying letters, and strengthening early reading and math skills through play. Our next steps are to continue using these materials in daily centers so students can explore independently, solve problems creatively, and grow as confident readers, writers, and mathematicians.","fullyFundedDate":1776190235622,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-at-work-big-futures-in-pro/10179441/","projectTitle":"Little Hands at Work, Big Futures in Progress","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10474142_orig.jpg?crop=1180,1180,x170,y160&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1775172506774","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10474142"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_68886","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1163,"numTeachers":14,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":97,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":0,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"K - 7","studentTeacherRatio":"83.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.9,"schoolId":68886,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Higher Ground Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Higher Ground Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/minnesota-department-of-education/higher-ground-academy/68886"}