{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pittsford Mendon High School","outOfStateSupporters":33.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9819389,"projectId":8910708,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting Allegiance: Heritage Club at Pittsford Mendon High School! With your generosity, we purchased trifolds, tablecloths, art supplies, SO many different countries' flags, mock passports and stickers, and more. All of these materials have been used to make our 3rd Annual school-wide Heritage Day the best one yet!\r\n\r\nClub members were blown away that we had funding from Donors Choose; they literally clapped and squealed with excitement! There was so much enthusiasm for how we could make this year's event on April 11 even more impactful. In fact, word got out that we had resources that in the past had to cost students and families money to purchase themselves that more and more students could be a part of this special community-building day. Our club literally more than doubled in size, and now each Heritage Day \"booth\" has equal resources, visually representing unity and celebration of all cultures. \r\n\r\nOur next exciting new event is a school community potluck picnic in partnership with our Black Student Union. So many students who often go uncelebrated and undervalued have been wonderfully uplifted and visible; they're inspired now to do even more.","fullyFundedDate":1731122685293,"projectUrl":"project/mhs-heritage-day-celebrate-learn-incl/8910708/","projectTitle":"MHS Heritage Day: Celebrate, Learn, Include, and Share!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dietz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9819389"},{"teacherId":9820643,"projectId":8911127,"letterContent":"With these art supplies, students from FISK have been able to continue their mission of using the arts to help process and communicate about invisible illnesses. Club members continue to spread joy and color, thanks to these supplies. \r\n\r\nAs you know, the arts can help to provide therapy for everyone, and yet we don't seem to ever have enough resources. From brainstorming ideas on chart paper, using white boards for games, or using markers to create signs and murals, these supplies are fantastic! They are also being used by members of the Black Student Union as well --a club that has some overlapping members.","fullyFundedDate":1731526796068,"projectUrl":"project/art-supplies-for-fisk-chronic-illness-c/8911127/","projectTitle":"Art Supplies for FiSK (chronic Illness Club)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Curtis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9820643"},{"teacherId":9819363,"projectId":8909073,"letterContent":"Thank you greatly for your donation. My students have fully taken advantage of the whiteboards and markers. It gives students the opportunity to be up on their feet and get the blood flowing while they work. \r\n\r\nMental exercise, such as problem solving, is done most effectively when students have the freedom to write on surfaces that allow them to make quick changes. Additionally these whiteboards allow students to freely move about the room, and share their work with friends. The fact that they are double sided, easily rotate, and on wheels makes them extremely useful.\r\n\r\nThe students look forward to using these every day. My class has taken full advantage of you generous donation, and will continue to do so for many years.","fullyFundedDate":1730255936682,"projectUrl":"project/building-thinking-classrooms-in-high-sch/8909073/","projectTitle":"Building Thinking Classrooms in High School Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. March","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9819363"},{"teacherId":9799606,"projectId":8869329,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for the materials provided through your generosity, as they have significantly enhanced our learning environment. Students have been routinely using the whiteboards to co-create discussion boards that guide our units and, during units, collaboratively work through thinking tasks. The use of the whiteboards has strengthened peer connections, as student groupings are purposefully and visibly random to encourage dynamic, positive interactions within the classroom. Over the last two months, there has been a noticeable increase in active learning and engagement.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the \"push pop toy building blocks\" games were instrumental in re-establishing student connections after the two-week break in December. Our class community benefitted from dedicating the first half of class to talking and playing critical thinking games with the push pop building blocks. Groups had to reach a consensus on which version of the game to play, while others created novel challenges using the game pieces. \r\n\r\nThe materials provided through this grant will continue to be integrated in innovative ways, which will benefit hundreds of students. Thank you for investing in our youth and the future!","fullyFundedDate":1729682584404,"projectUrl":"project/promoting-a-connected-supportive-enviro/8869329/","projectTitle":"Promoting a Connected, Supportive Environment for My Students to Thrive","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Voss","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9799606"},{"teacherId":9799490,"projectId":8869084,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my project, Whiteboards for Mental Health. Your kindness and dedication to empowering educators have had a transformative impact on my science classroom and my students' well-being. These whiteboards have not only become essential tools for learning but also powerful assets in fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.\r\n\r\nAs a science teacher specializing in Earth and Space Sciences and AP Environmental Science, I've found creative ways to integrate the whiteboards into our daily learning. They've become stations for brainstorming, problem-solving, and quick formative assessments, helping students engage with complex scientific concepts more effectively. Beyond academics, I use the whiteboards to encourage team-building activities and open discussions that support mental health. Students often write affirmations, share strategies for managing stress, or visually work through solutions in a low-pressure, supportive setting. It's been incredible to see their confidence grow as they communicate their ideas more freely and support one another.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, these whiteboards are more than classroom tools—they are bridges to learning, collaboration, and emotional growth. Your support has empowered my students to see challenges as opportunities and to thrive both academically and personally. On behalf of my students and myself, thank you for making a lasting difference in our lives.","fullyFundedDate":1729187858372,"projectUrl":"project/white-boards-for-mental-health-and-learn/8869084/","projectTitle":"White Boards for Mental Health and Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kennell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9799490"},{"teacherId":7187638,"projectId":8889703,"letterContent":"The addition of whiteboards and conversation cubes to our classroom has transformed the way my students engage with one another and with the material. During a recent lesson on genetic engineering, students worked in small groups using the whiteboards to map out the steps of CRISPR technology. The ability to visually organize their ideas, quickly revise misconceptions, and collaborate in real time made the learning process more interactive and dynamic. As they worked, I noticed students explaining concepts to their peers, reinforcing their own understanding while building confidence in their knowledge. The conversation cubes have also played a valuable role in strengthening our classroom community. During a reflection activity, students used the cubes to discuss ethical dilemmas related to biotechnology, allowing them to practice thoughtful discussion and active listening.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were immediately excited to use them. The whiteboards became an instant favorite—students eagerly grabbed markers and started sketching out Punnett squares, concept maps, and diagrams without hesitation. Many commented on how much they enjoyed having a space to visually work through their thoughts and bounce ideas off their classmates. The conversation cubes added a fun and unexpected element to our discussions, with students enjoying the challenge of responding to prompts that encouraged them to share their perspectives and learn more about their peers. These tools have helped foster a more collaborative and engaging learning environment, where every student feels encouraged to participate.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, these materials will continue to play a key role in our classroom discussions and collaborative activities. As we move into our next unit, students will use the whiteboards to debate and defend positions on real-world ethical dilemmas in genetics, helping them develop critical thinking and communication skills. The conversation cubes will also be incorporated into weekly check-ins, where students will use them to reflect on their learning, make connections to real-life scenarios, and strengthen their relationships with classmates. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, these resources are not only enhancing academic learning but also supporting students' social-emotional growth, creating a classroom environment where they feel heard, valued, and empowered.","fullyFundedDate":1729422544223,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-classroom-discussion-and-well-/8889703/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Classroom Discussion and Well-Being with Whiteboards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Salerno","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7187638"},{"teacherId":9820414,"projectId":8910640,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to make an impact on student learning in my classroom. Vertical work space for the students has really fostered their communication skills and has deepened their understanding of content. When I say \"Work on question #3 in your packet\", students will work at their seats, but very little discussion or discourse is had. When I say \"Work on question #3 at your vertical board space\", students are eager to grab a marker and collaborate to tackle any problems or exercises. The whiteboard space also makes it very feasible to showcase student work, have students present their solutions to the rest of the class, and allows for \"silent teachers\" present around the room. I use these items almost every day as a means to get high school kids up and moving, and also discussing their work in a math classroom.\r\n\r\nAgain, thank you so much for your donation. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and has very much benefited my students.","fullyFundedDate":1730385560974,"projectUrl":"project/rise-up-and-stand-for-math/8910640/","projectTitle":"Rise Up and Stand for Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Catalfano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9820414"},{"teacherId":9821728,"projectId":8913080,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous gift of 3 vertical white boards and a 36 pack of dry erase markers to our classroom. They have been put to good use.\r\n\r\nThe students enjoy using them to engage with each other over doing the various assignments or activities that I give. It enhances learning both academic content as well as working together. It is a key to social-emotional learning that students learn to work with a variety of other people in the class.\r\n\r\nI have been more open to trying new engaging activities now that I have these boards in my classroom and students frequently ask if they are going to work on them each day. Thank you for your generous donation and investment in the students at our school.","fullyFundedDate":1730566013401,"projectUrl":"project/active-engagement-in-math-classrooms/8913080/","projectTitle":"Active Engagement in Math Classrooms","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Dougherty","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821728"},{"teacherId":9814360,"projectId":8900102,"letterContent":"I want to thank you so much for providing the team building activities for my Virtual Enterprise class. We now have a variety of games and activities to choose from throughout the rest of the year.\r\n\r\nToday was our first day back from a 2-week winter break. Whether you are a teacher, student, or staff member we can all attest to the difficulty we have resuming our routine. With the end the second quarter ahead in just 13 days and a variety of project, presentation, and other deadlines looming we used today to access our Donors Choose Materials for teambuilding. This was a great way for students to connect back with each other in a low-stakes and fun way! Students were very excited to do something that related to our business as a teambuilding element but also allowed them the space to recognize the difficulty in returning back to our routine and sometimes stressful environment.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, the students responsible for our class human resources department will access additional games and activities that have been provided and conduct a monthly team building activity. We are very appreciative and thankful to the donors that recognize that our student's mental health matters.","fullyFundedDate":1729978977684,"projectUrl":"project/building-strong-teams-building-strong-m/8900102/","projectTitle":"Building Strong Teams, Building Strong Minds: Virtual Enterprise Mental Health","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Burch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9814360_orig.jpg?crop=1256,1256,x0,y96&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729774925732","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9814360"},{"teacherId":9821831,"projectId":8913205,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous donation to support the creation of an innovative accounting classroom designed to foster movement, interaction, and collaboration. Your contribution is helping build a classroom where students can engage with one another, think critically, and work together, you are enabling a transformative learning environment that encourages both academic excellence and personal growth.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, I can provide a space where students aren't just absorbing information, but actively participating in their education. Your donation ensures that they will have access to tools and a dynamic, collaborative setting that will prepare them for success in the evolving field of accounting. On behalf of my students, I truly appreciate your commitment to making this vision a reality.","fullyFundedDate":1730566323164,"projectUrl":"project/accounting-lets-learn-with-movement-i/8913205/","projectTitle":"Accounting: Let's Learn with Movement, Interaction and Collaboration.","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Lasser","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821831"},{"teacherId":9794755,"projectId":8860593,"letterContent":"Thank you again for providing my classroom (and colleagues) with the materials that have allowed us to explore new and exciting avenues in teaching. The mobile whiteboards have allowed us to put into practice many of the strategies from the book \"Building Thinking Classrooms\" to which 13 different teachers in 2 buildings participated. Whiteboards are an essential tool to put into practice these strategies, and our students absolutely love to work on them. It allows them to be social, up and moving, working with each other to solve problems. Overall, I notice a much more enthusiastic and happier group when they are up and working on the whiteboards. The fac that they are mobile has allowed us to be flexible in arrangement, but also to allow different teachers to change them between rooms easily to meet their needs.","fullyFundedDate":1728270855479,"projectUrl":"project/mobile-vertical-whiteboards-teachers-bo/8860593/","projectTitle":"Mobile Vertical Whiteboards: Teachers Book Study Building Thinking Classrooms","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ward","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9794755"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_21967","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":907,"numTeachers":80,"percentFrplEligible":0,"percentAsian":13,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":69,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":6,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"11.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":66.7,"schoolId":21967,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pittsford Mendon High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pittsford Mendon High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/pittsford-central-school-district/pittsford-mendon-high-school/21967"}