{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ben Steele Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":14.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6276111,"projectId":9125215,"letterContent":"You are amazing. The refrigerator made it and is already in use! Ice cold beverages, ice cream, condiments, and many more have already been served to our guests.\r\n\r\nOur students have been able expand their concession offerings because of you! They have a place to keep things safely cooled and offer refreshing water, juice, soda and sports drinks to our guests and athletes. \r\n\r\nStudents working with budgets, cost, profit-margin, etc. learn lessons that cross over into multiple fields. \r\n\r\nTheir profit is helping them make it to their 8th grade DC trip and funding science classroom projects! That is a great life lesson! Work hard, play hard!","fullyFundedDate":1742959437498,"projectUrl":"project/just-chillin/9125215/","projectTitle":"Just Chillin'","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6276111"},{"teacherId":1649096,"projectId":9204500,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous grant that provided calculators for our physical science classroom at Ben Steele Middle School. Your support has made an immediate and meaningful impact on our students' learning experience.\r\n\r\nWith these calculators, students can now engage more deeply in data analysis, scientific inquiry, and real-world problem-solving. Whether calculating speed, acceleration, or energy transformations, the tools you've provided are helping them build both confidence and competence in science and math.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your investment in our students' success and STEM education. Thank you for making a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1743820439028,"projectUrl":"project/scientific-calculators-for-physical-scie/9204500/","projectTitle":"Scientific Calculators for Physical Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Felchle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1649096_orig.jpg?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1702669078258","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jessica-felchle"},{"teacherId":2911252,"projectId":9107409,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding the purchase of whiteboards, markers, and erasers for our science classroom. Your contribution has made a meaningful difference in our daily learning environment.\r\n\r\nThese new materials have helped us reduce screen time while increasing hands-on, collaborative learning. Students now use whiteboards to brainstorm ideas, solve problems, and share their thinking in real-time with peers. It's been a powerful shift—encouraging active engagement, creativity, and confidence in a way that screens just can't replicate.\r\n\r\nYour donation is not just appreciated—it's making a real impact. Thank you for investing in our students' learning and helping us build a more interactive and student-centered classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1739246606992,"projectUrl":"project/going-old-school/9107409/","projectTitle":"Going Old School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Busch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2911252_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1496785008558","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsbuschmt"},{"teacherId":6276111,"projectId":9039380,"letterContent":"Your generosity has, once again, made it possible for these opportunities to be extended to students. More students were able to attend the Washington DC and NYC trips because people like you decided that it was worth investing in kids.\r\n\r\nI can't explain how lucky I feel being able to help a student work toward that goal then see their work come to fruition. Watching those kids experience educational travel is such a privilege and I wouldn't get to do that without you. So many first-time flyers experienced an airplane ride! That alone is something to celebrate!\r\n\r\nBetween national monuments, Smithsonian museums, memory-making, late night giggle fits, and sleep-deprivation, these kids get to have an experience full of life-long memories. You did that. You.\r\n\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1736962049146,"projectUrl":"project/keep-it-poppin/9039380/","projectTitle":"Keep it Poppin'!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6276111"},{"teacherId":6276111,"projectId":9269794,"letterContent":"Your generosity has, once again, made it possible for these opportunities to be extended to students. More students were able to attend the Washington DC and NYC trips because people like you decided that it was worth investing in kids. \r\n\r\nI can't explain how lucky I feel being able to help a student work toward that goal then see their work come to fruition. Watching those kids experience educational travel is such a privilege and I wouldn't get to do that without you. So many first-time flyers experienced an airplane ride! That alone is something to celebrate!\r\n\r\nBetween national monuments, Smithsonian museums, memory-making, late night giggle fits, and sleep-deprivation, these kids get to have an experience full of life-long memories. You did that. You.\r\n\r\nThank you!","fullyFundedDate":1746755887545,"projectUrl":"project/ice-ice-baby/9269794/","projectTitle":"Ice Ice Baby!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6276111"},{"teacherId":1649096,"projectId":8962251,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and staff of Ben Steele's Physical Science Department, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous grant that enabled us to purchase two thermal imaging cameras for our classroom.\r\n\r\nThis incredible tool is already making a significant impact on our students' learning experiences. With the thermal imaging camera, our students can visualize and better understand concepts such as heat transfer, energy conservation, and thermal conductivity in a way that was previously only possible through textbooks and notes. Recently, we used the camera to study convection currents and radiant heat inside a Plains Indian tipi, allowing students to observe how heat rises and circulates within the conical structure, providing both warmth and ventilation. This hands-on experience not only enhances their comprehension but also sparks curiosity and excitement for science.\r\n\r\nYour support has provided us with the means to create engaging, interactive lessons that inspire our students to explore and inquire. We are deeply grateful for your contribution to our educational mission and for helping us bring science to life.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generosity and commitment to education. We look forward to sharing our students' progress and achievements made possible by your support.","fullyFundedDate":1735670174748,"projectUrl":"project/beyond-the-visible-bringing-thermal-ene/8962251/","projectTitle":"Beyond the Visible: Bringing Thermal Energy to Life","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Felchle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1649096_orig.jpg?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1702669078258","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jessica-felchle"},{"teacherId":6276111,"projectId":8753961,"letterContent":"Your donation has been very impactful already! These entrepreneurs have been hard at work making profit, counting inventory, calculating gross and net gains/losses, and learning to count change. \r\n\r\nThis is learning that happens outside of the book. I believe that is the best kind. Your willingness to contribute is really appreciated. These extra curricular learning opportunities are the things that kids will always remember. YOU played an integral role in providing that opportunity. \r\n\r\nThe next steps for our concession stand and workers is to create a permanent location for our store. We will also have a mobile cart! Look ahead to see if you are interested in helping with the next step!\r\n\r\nI appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1729634328073,"projectUrl":"project/help-our-blizzard-wizards/8753961/","projectTitle":"Help Our Blizzard Wizards!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6276111"},{"teacherId":6276111,"projectId":8753699,"letterContent":"Your contribution to our classroom has been very impactful! Our students have been hard at work making cotton candy, hot dogs, and all of those delicious treats that you have come to expect at Ben Steele athletic events!\r\n\r\nStrangely, the most popular item from this project was the new money box. Kids are weird, right?! They have practiced making popcorn to get it \"just right\" and they have been making cotton candy by the hundreds. We were even able to supply our school dance with a sweet treat!\r\n\r\nIn any case, thank you so much for helping is go beyond the book and teach some life-long skills to these young adults.","fullyFundedDate":1725972914823,"projectUrl":"project/count-it-back/8753699/","projectTitle":"Count It Back!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6276111"},{"teacherId":8672628,"projectId":8801775,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the donations for my literacy project! Items purchased included highlighters for students to use when working on annotating text and an ipad for students to use for reading digital text, interacting with each other using online learning games, and building a community centered around literacy.\r\nThe pictures I show are of students playing a \"mad libs\" game on the iPads I have for my class. This is a game that they were allowed to play when they were done with the task for the day. It reviews grammar and parts of speech in a fun way!","fullyFundedDate":1726965309311,"projectUrl":"project/ipad-for-literacy/8801775/","projectTitle":"iPad for Literacy","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Peter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8672628_orig.jpg?crop=1945,1945,x0,y6&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662058164006","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8672628"},{"teacherId":2911252,"projectId":8739344,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the colored pencils, glue sticks, and desk caddies! The caddies allow us to keep our supplies well-organized and provide easy access. These are incredibly helpful for illustrating key ideas and coloring diagrams in our Science Notebooks. We're excited to use them to make our notes more colorful and organized, which will help us better understand and remember important concepts. Your generous gift will certainly enhance our learning experience and make studying even more fun and engaging.","fullyFundedDate":1725723516746,"projectUrl":"project/doodle-it/8739344/","projectTitle":"Doodle It!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Busch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2911252_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1496785008558","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsbuschmt"},{"teacherId":8670343,"projectId":8809468,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding our project Battle of the Books Build Better Brains. This project has been a positive one that has expanded the reading choices, especially for our incoming 6th graders. Each student chose two titles to read for this project. Students worked as a group to make sure all of the titles on the list were read. Students were encouraged to visit with teammates to describe the books that they were reading. This increased the interest in each title which prompted many students to read more than the required minimum of two books. During the battles, students used deductive reasoning to decide which book was being described. The skill of comparing and contrasting two different texts is an important one. Because we have many copies of each of the books that were purchased for us, we are able to use these titles for small book clubs for students who are interested in reading on their own time with friends. This project has been a great way for us to increase the enjoyment of reading among our students.","fullyFundedDate":1727052967153,"projectUrl":"project/battle-of-the-books-builds-better-brains/8809468/","projectTitle":"Battle of the Books Builds Better Brains","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Doles","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8670343_orig.jpg?crop=312,312,x225,y29&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661981331643","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8670343"},{"teacherId":9717886,"projectId":8721407,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support in providing Scholastic Scope magazines for my 7th grade English students. Thanks to your donation, my students now have access to a rich resource that enhances their reading, critical thinking, and writing skills. The magazines offer a variety of engaging content that challenges them to think critically and develop a love for reading, which is exactly what we aim to foster in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe Scholastic Scope magazines are an invaluable tool that opens up exciting opportunities for my students to explore different genres, stay informed about current events, and engage with literature in a way that is both fun and educational. Your contribution has made a meaningful impact on their learning experience, and I can already see their enthusiasm growing.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and myself, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for believing in the power of education and for helping us provide these amazing resources. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are so grateful for the difference you've made in our classroom","fullyFundedDate":1725214859778,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-21st-century-readers/8721407/","projectTitle":"Engaging 21st Century Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kimmet","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9717886"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_129633","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":736,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":18,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":83,"percentIndigenous":3,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":85.7,"schoolId":129633,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ben Steele Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ben Steele Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/montana/billings-school-district-2/ben-steele-middle-school/129633"}