{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham","outOfStateSupporters":45.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":489876,"projectId":9664749,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project in helping to provide dance shoes to many of our students. The students and our school are very appreciative for all of your donations!\r\n\r\nThe dance students have been able to borrow shoes to wear on our stage for performances we have throughout the school year. For many students it might be their first time performing and having shoes to perform in on stage not only allows them to feel more comfortable in their performance but provides them with a more professional costume and support with performing movement skills during class and on stage. Thank you again for your support to our dance program.","fullyFundedDate":1766895309432,"projectUrl":"project/dancing-feet/9664749/","projectTitle":"Dancing Feet!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brown Gimblette","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp489876_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535144172398","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dancebrown"},{"teacherId":2517939,"projectId":9925987,"letterContent":"The impact of these new books on my students has been both immediate and meaningful. While many people love reading, teaching students how to truly engage with books involves building a range of skills. Using It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas, students have been practicing comprehension strategies such as making predictions, identifying themes, and drawing connections between the text and their own experiences. The novel has also allowed us to explore deeper lessons around identity, culture, empathy, and perspective-taking. In addition, we've focused on vocabulary development, critical thinking, and analyzing characters' motivations and choices, all through a story that feels relevant and engaging to students.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is an active and collaborative experience. You might see students gathered in small groups discussing a chapter, sharing different perspectives, or asking thoughtful questions about the characters and their experiences. At other times, students are independently reading while annotating or jotting down reflections. We regularly pause for turn-and-talk discussions and whole-class conversations, where students build on each other's ideas. The classroom is filled with curiosity, as students move beyond simply reading the text to truly thinking about its meaning and relevance.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting moments of this project was when students had the opportunity to participate in a virtual Q&A session with author Firoozeh Dumas. Because they had read It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, they were able to ask thoughtful, informed questions about the story, characters, and the author's own experiences. This made reading feel real and meaningful, and students were incredibly engaged and proud to interact directly with an author.\r\n\r\nSeveral students, in particular, have formed strong connections with this book. Some who were previously reluctant readers are now eager to participate and share their thoughts. One student who often hesitated to speak in class has begun volunteering insights and even recommending the book to peers. Others have connected personally to the themes of identity and belonging, which has deepened their engagement and enthusiasm. Seeing students grow in both confidence and skill as readers has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this experience possible. Your support has helped create a classroom environment where students can grow as thoughtful, confident readers and make meaningful connections to literature.","fullyFundedDate":1765980708324,"projectUrl":"project/learning-about-multiculturalism/9925987/","projectTitle":"Learning About Multiculturalism","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Volchyok","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2517939_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1476543926295","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2517939"},{"teacherId":5617112,"projectId":9761023,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to support my ELA classes. Because of you, my 7th grade students now have their own copies of Animal Farm. These books are the foundation of our \"Dystopia or Reality?\" unit, where students explore how societies may start with the intention of being a Utopia, but can easily change into an unfamiliar and unjust Dystopia. \r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is active and student-centered. Students read independently, discuss ideas in small groups, and connect the events of the novel to real-world themes. With their own copies, students are able to annotate, highlight key moments, and truly interact with the text: something essential for deep understanding. Through Animal Farm, students learn how to analyze characters, track themes, identify symbolism, and support their ideas with evidence from the text. Having their own book gives students a sense of ownership in their learning, increasing their desire to engage and participate. \r\n\r\nYour generosity has not only provided books; it has helped my students see themselves as thoughtful readers and critical thinkers. 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Join the 616 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham is
an urban public school
in Brooklyn, New York that is part of New York City Dept Of Ed.
It serves 1,445 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.3:1.
Its teachers have had 320 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham Demographics
80%
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
48%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Apr 30, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham
$302,062
raised using DonorsChoose
320
projects
funded
72
teachers
funded
616
donors
26
projects
for
basic supplies
38
projects for
technology
13
projects for
books
8
projects
for
art supplies
Junior High School 234 Arthur W Cunningham has received support from
338 individuals from New York and
278 individuals out-of-state.
