{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Skies Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":52.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10402708,"projectId":10576258,"letterContent":"This project is making an immediate difference in our classroom! The new external storage gives me a reliable way to organize and preserve lessons, instructional videos, student exemplars, and other digital resources that were previously difficult to store safely.\r\n\r\nThe new books have also expanded our classroom library with more high-interest choices for students at different reading levels. Students now have additional opportunities to choose books that match their interests, continue series they enjoy, and challenge themselves with more advanced texts.\r\n\r\nThese resources are helping make our classroom more organized, accessible, and supportive of both daily instruction and independent reading.","fullyFundedDate":1792608752398,"projectUrl":"project/preserve-our-learning-grow-our-readers/10576258/","projectTitle":"Preserve Our Learning, Grow Our Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nolan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10402708_orig.jpg?crop=180,180,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1768248449507","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/themrsnolan"},{"teacherId":10402748,"projectId":10574197,"letterContent":"My students just completed their egg drop projects, which required them to use concepts in physics to design a contraption to protect an egg from a 20 foot fall. My students used the different donated materials like popsicle sticks, duct tape, and paper to build, and whiteboards to eventually revise their designs. \r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to have building materials to create their designs and did not have to worry about bringing supplies from home. Students used the materials to add parachutes to their designs, attempt to make propellers, and successfully added padding to their eggs to reduce the force from the fall! \r\n\r\nBecause of these supplies, students were able to make lasting memories from middle school science and had fun with physics! They explained how Newton's Laws were involved with each step of their building and designing. Thank you for giving my students this opportunity.","fullyFundedDate":1788542588380,"projectUrl":"project/learning-physics-through-hands-on-opport/10574197/","projectTitle":"Learning Physics Through Hands on Opportunities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vallejo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10402748"},{"teacherId":9418309,"projectId":10589502,"letterContent":"Thank your for the donation to my students. The goal was to give them the opportunity to use their English skills like speaking and reading. At the same time to reward my students for their effort in class with some game boards and time to enjoy each other's company. \r\n\r\nThe idea was a success, I decided to create stations and give them specific time at each station to read the directions and have time to play the games. The students were excited to try the board games, they worked together in groups of 3-4 taking turns reading the instructions and discussing how to play. All of this was done in English, I roamed around the room to clarify any confusion and to keep track of who won at each station. \r\n\r\nThe day went by so fast and the students asked when would they be able to play again since it was so much fun. I enjoyed seeing them engaged and having conversations, this was a great idea, thanks.","fullyFundedDate":1788814276377,"projectUrl":"project/lets-play-a-game-to-learn/10589502/","projectTitle":"Let's Play A Game to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Valdez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9418309"},{"teacherId":9353195,"projectId":10005450,"letterContent":"This was very helpful for my students and their success in speech for the last part of the year. The materials that are specific to speech and language are very impactful for my students because a lot of materials aren't typically made for speech and language. \r\n\r\nWhen using materials that are made specifically for speech and language services it allows me to know my students are receiving services that target their specific needs and goals/objectives. \r\n\r\nMy students will continue to use these materials for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1768528173693,"projectUrl":"project/speech-and-language-fun-for-middle-schoo/10005450/","projectTitle":"Speech and Language Fun for Middle School Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Miller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9353195"},{"teacherId":9418309,"projectId":10138913,"letterContent":"Thank you for the delicious treats for my students, my students worked hard towards the end of the school year 25-26 and were not aware of the treats. When I showed them the treats and explained they were going to be rewarded as the year ended their faces expressed happiness and excitement. My students proved to me that hard work and sweet rewards equals success in my classroom. \r\n\r\nFortunately, I still have some treats and materials to welcome my new students this 26-27 school year. We are excited to start the new school year!","fullyFundedDate":1773801329239,"projectUrl":"project/a-delicious-reward/10138913/","projectTitle":"A Delicious Reward!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Valdez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9418309"},{"teacherId":7097586,"projectId":10005400,"letterContent":"Thanks you so much for the very generous donation that allowed my students to expierence working with clay for the first time. It was a long process as we did two projects and had to fire them, glaze and refire them all. With 140 students, that took longer than expected but the results were wonderfully creative. \r\n\r\nI am hopeful, that we will be able to again do a clay project this upcoming year. I have a few projects in mind so we will see what we can do in the second semester. \r\n\r\nThank you for the continued support for our students, without which many projects and expierences would not ve possible.","fullyFundedDate":1768181721616,"projectUrl":"project/monsters-are-made-with-clay/10005400/","projectTitle":"Monsters Are Made With clay.","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lamb","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7097586_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725593456157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7097586"},{"teacherId":4749130,"projectId":9995450,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping provide these much-needed resources. The addition of color to our classroom materials has made a tremendous difference in student engagement and excitement. When students first saw the colorful copies and learning materials, they were eager to participate and immediately noticed how much easier it was to follow directions, identify important information, and stay focused during lessons. Seeing their enthusiasm reminded us how impactful even simple resources can be in creating a positive learning environment.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has also helped ease the worry of running out of paper due to our school's limited supply allowance. We can now provide students with the materials they need without constantly having to conserve every sheet. As we continue our lessons and projects, students will use these resources to create, collaborate, and showcase their learning in more meaningful ways. Thank you for helping us build a classroom where students have the tools they need to succeed and enjoy learning every day.","fullyFundedDate":1768149217561,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-science-starts-with-supplies/9995450/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Science Starts With Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Konyshev","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4749130_orig.jpg?crop=830,830,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669587640241","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/konyshev"},{"teacherId":6203752,"projectId":10037069,"letterContent":"I want to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contribution toward rolling drawer carts, pencil boxes, and folders for our students.\r\nYour donation directly supports students who benefit tremendously from organized, accessible learning materials. Here's the real-world impact:\r\n\r\nRolling Drawer Carts help us:\r\n\r\nStore and transport materials efficiently between classroom stations\r\nReduce clutter and create a calm, organized learning environment\r\nEnable students to independently access supplies with visual organization\r\nSupport our inclusive classroom setup where every student can participate\r\n\r\nPencil Boxes and Folders enable students to:\r\n\r\nDevelop fine motor skills and independence during organization tasks\r\nReduce anxiety by having predictable, personal spaces for their materials\r\nPractice life skills like responsibility and self-management\r\nExperience success in managing their own learning tools\r\n\r\nStudents with intellectual disabilities thrive in environments where materials are organized, accessible, and within reach. Your donation removes barriers to learning and helps our students build confidence, independence, and essential life skills.","fullyFundedDate":1778094680146,"projectUrl":"project/basic-classroom-supplies/10037069/","projectTitle":"Basic Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp6203752_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1547667154557","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ta"},{"teacherId":8334032,"projectId":10047681,"letterContent":"Thanks to the new laptop, my 8th graders are learning in ways that are engaging and student-centered. I can track student progress easily and display their work on my Promethean screen so the whole class can see and discuss it. This helps students understand concepts more deeply because they can compare ideas, ask questions, and see different approaches in real time. It has made lessons more interactive and put students in charge of their learning instead of just watching me teach.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is seeing their own work on the Promethean screen. They enjoy sharing their answers, trying new strategies, and seeing their responses celebrated by the class. It turns everyday lessons into opportunities for discussion and collaboration, which keeps them engaged and motivated to learn.\r\n\r\nSome of my quieter students have learned to love this technology. Being able to share their work digitally gives them confidence they might not have when speaking out loud, and I've seen them participate more and take pride in their learning. This laptop has truly made the classroom more dynamic and inclusive.","fullyFundedDate":1769191069236,"projectUrl":"project/becoming-math-ready/10047681/","projectTitle":"Becoming Math Ready!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramirez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8334032"},{"teacherId":9354613,"projectId":10012809,"letterContent":"Your contributions for this project have made a big impact on our classroom involvement and on the skills of the students. The students are most excited about the chess sets and I have seen some significant improvement in the areas of critical thinking and planning for future probable events. Above being a fun way to spend 20 minutes in class after students have completed assignments, I find that they are learning the rules and improving their ability to anticipate their opponent's moves and plan accordingly, which is an excellent skill for math. They are constantly asking me to set up a chess competition to see who is the best in class!\r\nThe headphones are also a great improvement over out old, limited set. The students find these much more comfortable and easier to organize and store. The fact that I have no more complaints about headphone crackling and intermittently pooping out, shows how much they are helping! The money and flashcards have also made an impact, though not one that the students would admit. They keep asking me for real money (which is well beyond the realm of possibility), but they like having manipulatives to associate with the symbolic representations we usually use in mathematics. And altough they would never admit it, the flashcards are increasing their fluency in high frequency computations, which helps them have a sense of confidence that outweighs all the complaining they do when I pull out the flashcards.\r\n\r\nThank you once more for your contributions to our project!","fullyFundedDate":1768622886456,"projectUrl":"project/improved-materials-for-math-motivation/10012809/","projectTitle":"Improved Materials for Math Motivation","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Phelps","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9354613"},{"teacherId":2921580,"projectId":10046282,"letterContent":"Thank you for your contribution to our \"Raffles for Rewards\" project. With your contribution, I was able to purchase raffle prizes, including a Nintendo Switch, for families who attended our spring Student-Led Conferences.\r\n\r\nDesert Skies Middle School is one of the only middle schools in our district that invites families in for a spring conference. We do our conferences a little differently though: our students lead them! The week before conferences, students spend their daily advisory time looking through their own learning data from the last semester. They reflect on successes and set goals for growth. Students prepare a script to share with their families. When families attend, students are able to celebrate their growth and families learn how they can support their child in meeting their goals.\r\n\r\nThe prizes are raffled off for families who attend as a celebration to recognize the hard work students are putting in at school, and the great support their families are giving them as they learn and grow. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your contribution; it helped to make our spring conferences a success!","fullyFundedDate":1769127752159,"projectUrl":"project/raffles-for-rewards/10046282/","projectTitle":"Raffles for Rewards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2921580_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y70&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633105377221","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2921580"},{"teacherId":9991388,"projectId":10007138,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing 21st-century science to our classroom. For many of my students, this laptop is their primary gateway to digital exploration. Because of your support, I can now use virtual labs and interactive simulations to make complex concepts clear and exciting. You haven't just provided a piece of hardware; you've provided equitable access to the tools my students need to build skills for their futures. From exploring virtual ecosystems to analyzing real-time weather patterns, this technology ensures that every student, regardless of their resources at home, has a front-row seat to discovery. Thank you for empowering my curious learners and proving to them that their education is worth the investment.","fullyFundedDate":1768184513616,"projectUrl":"project/a-laptop-to-launch-young-scientists/10007138/","projectTitle":"A Laptop to Launch Young Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mayer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9991388"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_125262","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":906,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":17,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":74,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":2,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":47.8,"schoolId":125262,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Skies Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desert Skies Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/nevada/washoe-county-school-district/desert-skies-middle-school/125262"}