{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Union Hill Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":61.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":10428283,"letterContent":"Project Impact Letter\r\n\r\nThis project has made a meaningful impact on our middle school band by helping our students take important steps toward becoming a more organized, responsible, and student-centered ensemble.\r\n\r\nThrough the project, we have been able to establish systems and routines that make it easier for students to understand expectations, manage responsibilities, and work together effectively. These organizational skills have strengthened not only the day-to-day operation of our band program, but also our students' confidence and sense of ownership.\r\n\r\nOne of the most significant outcomes has been the opportunity for students to take an active leadership role. With clearer structures and expectations in place, students are better equipped to take responsibility for their instruments, materials, rehearsals, section responsibilities, and the overall success of the ensemble. Rather than simply following directions, students are beginning to see themselves as important contributors to the band community.\r\n\r\nThis project has shown our students that organization is more than keeping things in order—it is a skill that allows them to lead, collaborate, solve problems, and support one another. By giving students the tools and structure they need, we are helping them develop leadership skills that extend beyond the music classroom.\r\n\r\nThe impact of this project will continue to grow as our students take greater ownership of their roles within the band. We are creating an ensemble where students are not only learning to become better musicians, but are also learning to become responsible, confident, and capable leaders.","fullyFundedDate":1787320537207,"projectUrl":"project/banding-together-for-organization/10428283/","projectTitle":"Banding Together for Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":10436048,"letterContent":"Sometimes, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.\r\n\r\nA pencil. A box of tissues. A set of colored pencils or markers. These may seem like simple classroom supplies, but for our students, having these everyday essentials means having the tools they need to learn, create, and feel confident in the classroom.\r\n\r\nIn a music classroom, learning goes far beyond playing an instrument. Students are developing the skills, creativity, discipline, and confidence that can shape them into future musicians and lifelong learners. When students have the supplies they need, they can fully participate in activities, organize their learning, express their creativity, and focus on what matters most—growing.\r\n\r\nColor-coding supplies help students organize their day and make connections that bring lessons to life. Pencils allow them to annotate music, record ideas, and make important observations. Even tissues help create a welcoming, cared-for environment where students know their classroom is a place where they belong.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, access to these basic supplies sends students a powerful message: You are prepared. You are capable. You belong here.\r\n\r\nThat confidence matters. A student who feels prepared is more willing to raise their hand, try something new, perform in front of others, and make mistakes without being afraid. Those small moments of confidence can grow into the courage it takes to step onto a stage, join an ensemble, audition for an opportunity, or pursue music in the future.\r\n\r\nYour support helps ensure that our students are not held back by something as simple as not having a pencil or the materials they need to participate. Instead, they can walk into the classroom ready to learn, create, and discover their potential.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in more than classroom supplies. You are investing in confidence, creativity, opportunity, and the next generation of musicians.","fullyFundedDate":1786541584156,"projectUrl":"project/banding-together-with-basics/10436048/","projectTitle":"Banding Together With Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":10499192,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your support of our middle school students through this project. By providing snacks and basic self-care items, you have helped meet some of their everyday needs while creating a stronger sense of comfort, confidence, and belonging.\r\n\r\nHaving access to these supplies has made a meaningful difference for our students. Something as simple as having a snack when they are hungry or having personal care items available when they need them have helped our students feel more prepared, comfortable, and confident throughout their school day. Most importantly, these resources send a powerful message: that they are seen, valued, and cared for.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and helping create an environment where they can feel supported and focus on learning and growing. Your generosity is making a real difference in their lives.","fullyFundedDate":1789568058599,"projectUrl":"project/banding-together-for-safety/10499192/","projectTitle":"Banding Together for Safety","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":9511983,"projectId":10049329,"letterContent":"Thank you for your kindness and generosity as it helped bring this project to life! During a time in which my students are preparing for testing and aiming to end the year on a high note, the games and snacks requested helped fuel the students while providing them with fun options for their brain breaks. \r\n\r\nAdditionally, many of my students appreciated having access to delicious snacks in between class time. My students were amazed and appreciative of the variety of snacks that were available to them.\r\n\r\nOverall, we are truly grateful to everyone that played a role in bringing this project to life. My students were able to have brain breaks and snacks to refuel their energy during testing season as well as the end of the school year.","fullyFundedDate":1769254775891,"projectUrl":"project/recharge-to-learnsnacks-and-board-games/10049329/","projectTitle":"Recharge to Learn:Snacks and Board Games for Student Wellness Breaks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Aroca","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9511983_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724952520206","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9511983"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":9991870,"letterContent":"On behalf of all the students and staff, I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of party supplies for our End of Year Music Celebration. Your support helped make this event truly special.\r\n\r\nThe students had an amazing time celebrating together, enjoying the festive atmosphere and the opportunity to relax and connect after the intense and busy concert season. It was wonderful to see them laughing, sharing stories, and just having fun in a way that felt well-deserved after so much hard work.\r\n\r\nYour contribution not only added to the joy of the day but also helped create lasting memories for everyone involved. We are grateful for your kindness and commitment to supporting our community.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for helping us make this celebration a success. We truly appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness.","fullyFundedDate":1768925826895,"projectUrl":"project/band-eoy-celebration-2026/9991870/","projectTitle":"Band EOY Celebration 2026","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":9753321,"letterContent":"We are sincerely grateful for the generous donation of the Wind Instrument Try-Out Kits that you provided to complete our STEAM boxes. Your thoughtful contribution has opened up exciting new opportunities for our students to engage creatively and explore the fascinating world of engineering through music.\r\n\r\nWith these kits, students have experimented hands-on with wind instruments, fostering their creativity while gaining insights into the engineering principles behind sound and design. This unique experience inspires them to think innovatively and consider future careers in engineering and related STEAM fields.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our mission to encourage creativity and exploration in education. Your partnership truly makes a meaningful difference in our students' learning journeys.","fullyFundedDate":1767375712193,"projectUrl":"project/full-steam-ahead-part-3/9753321/","projectTitle":"Full STEAM Ahead! (Part 3)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":9653615,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous support in providing materials for our STEAM boxes. Your contribution has opened up incredible opportunities for our students to engage in hands-on learning and explore the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, our students have been able to build and experiment with real instruments, sparking their creativity and deepening their understanding of key concepts. These experiences are invaluable in inspiring the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers.\r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate your commitment to education and your role in helping us create meaningful, practical learning experiences. Your partnership is instrumental in making our STEAM program a success, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration.","fullyFundedDate":1761934212768,"projectUrl":"project/full-steam-ahead-part-2/9653615/","projectTitle":"Full STEAM Ahead! (Part 2)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":1625544,"projectId":9753296,"letterContent":"I am writing to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of duct tape and storage containers for our STEAM kits. Your support means a great deal to us and plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality and organization of our educational materials.\r\n\r\nWith your contribution, our STEAM kits are better equipped to provide hands-on learning experiences for students, allowing them to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics more effectively. The storage containers have helped us keep the kits organized and accessible\r\n\r\nOur students have been able to begin problem solving and inventing their own instruments as a result of your donation.","fullyFundedDate":1760693528797,"projectUrl":"project/full-steam-ahead-part-1/9753296/","projectTitle":"Full STEAM Ahead! (Part 1)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1625544_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1502800422159","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mkaymusic"},{"teacherId":7742752,"projectId":10192636,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your donation to my project!! Because of your generosity, my middle school choir program now has matching binders and sheet protectors to use during rehearsals and concerts! Previously, without binders, my seventh and eighth grade students faced a variety of different issues: some students continuously lost their music, or wrinkled it beyond recognition, some purchased a binder that didn't match, or couldn't afford to purchase one at all, and some chose not to participate in choir because they were too nervous that they would make mistakes during the concert without their music on stage with them. At our spring concert and during the eighth grade graduation ceremony at the end of the year, it was very fulfilling to see each and every person holding a matching binder, with their music neatly organized inside with plastic sheet protectors that you also helped us purchase.\r\n\r\nOne of the most heartwarming parts of this project was seeing how excited my students were on the first day that they came to rehearsal and saw that they each now had a brand new binder with their name on it, as well as their warm-ups and concert music tucked safely and neatly inside of the sheet protectors within their binders. For the rest of the year, my students used their binders, and they will continue to do so this upcoming school year. In anticipation of larger groups this year, I am confident that I will once again have enough binders for my choir students.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful for your help with my project; I could not have achieved this without you!","fullyFundedDate":1777137587675,"projectUrl":"project/managing-music-for-our-multiplying-music/10192636/","projectTitle":"Managing Music for Our Multiplying Musicians!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Padron-Josso","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7742752"},{"teacherId":9061708,"projectId":10095766,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous donations, our students have been able to explore science in a hands-on and exciting way using the new digital handheld microscopes. Students are highly engaged as they observe specimens up close and transfer images and data directly to their Chromebooks, allowing them to collaborate, record observations, and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts in real time.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for students is being able to see tiny details magnified right in front of them and share their discoveries with classmates. Many students who are usually quiet in class have become more confident and curious during science lessons, eagerly participating in discussions and asking thoughtful questions as they investigate the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1776105060527,"projectUrl":"project/small-details-big-learning/10095766/","projectTitle":"Small Details, Big Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Velazquez Jimenez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9061708_orig.jpg?crop=1100,1100,x10,y343&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691680073631","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9061708"},{"teacherId":7096365,"projectId":9627937,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generous support of my classroom project. Because of your contributions, I was able to provide my students with essential supplies such as binders, notebook paper, pencils, a sharpener, cleaning supplies, and tissues. As I began my journey at a new school, having these materials readily available made a meaningful difference and helped create a smooth transition for both me and my students. Your kindness ensured that we could start the year prepared, comfortable, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYour donations have had a direct impact on my students every single day. Being able to give a student a binder when they need one has helped them stay organized and confident in the classroom. Additionally, the Jolly Ranchers have been a fun and effective way to keep students motivated and engaged. Your generosity has truly supported not only our classroom environment but also my students' success, and for that, I am deeply thankful.","fullyFundedDate":1755723554187,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-supplies/9627937/","projectTitle":"Back to School Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cisneros","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7096365_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1581457867148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7096365"},{"teacherId":9020438,"projectId":9963018,"letterContent":"Your generosity has had an immediate and meaningful impact on our classroom. With our updated library, students are diving into independent reading projects centered on dystopian literature, making powerful connections between fiction and the world around them. We've been exploring texts like 1984 to examine how authors have long warned us about surveillance and control, and my gifted and talented readers are now eager to read The Parable of the Sower to deepen their understanding of how dystopian writers reflect societal patterns and challenge us to think critically about community, empowerment, and self-awareness. \r\n\r\nOne particularly special moment was seeing students light up during our book talks after introducing titles like The Book Thief, a story narrated by death, that leaves the reader emotionally tied to all characters who experienced suffering during The Holocaust, and graphic novels like Change The Game by Colin Kaepernick, to discuss police brutality, standing for the pledge, and our right to protest peacefully, while creating space to understand all sides involved. Their curiosity and enthusiasm have transformed our reading culture into something truly vibrant.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new materials, their excitement was tangible. They were not only thrilled by the fresh selection of books, but also deeply appreciative of the restocked classroom essentials like tissues and sanitizer, small things that make a big difference, especially during allergy season. What's been most meaningful is how this has extended beyond my classroom walls. Students are now recommending new titles, taking ownership of our library, and even inviting peers from outside the class to come in after school to borrow books. It's become a shared space for connection, exploration, and growth.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are excited to continue building on this momentum. Our next step is to read The Giver alongside our current texts, drawing comparisons across different dystopian worlds and analyzing the messages each author conveys about society and human nature. Students will continue their independent reading projects, applying critical thinking skills and engaging in thoughtful discussions that connect literature to real-life issues. Your support has truly created a ripple effect, and has been a gift that keeps giving both inside and outside of my classroom. I truly thank you for your love of literacy, community, and giving back to the youth that are our future. Here's to many more pages turned and stories shared.","fullyFundedDate":1767806503867,"projectUrl":"project/flu-season-were-read-y-for-it/9963018/","projectTitle":"Flu Season? We’re Read-y for It!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cummings","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9020438_orig.jpg?crop=638,638,x229,y82&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714939366798","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9020438"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_98679","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":865,"numTeachers":63,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":1,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":97,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":0,"gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":38.7,"schoolId":98679,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Union Hill Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Union Hill Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-jersey/union-city-public-schools/union-middle-school/98679"}