{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Horton Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":35.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6875893,"projectId":10401909,"letterContent":"Thank you for making our classroom library project possible. The books have quickly become the daily starting point for our writing prompts, Socratic seminars, and small-group collaboration — not an occasional extra, but something we build lessons around. Before I'd even finished setting the new titles out, students were picking them up, flipping through them, and saying things like \"oh, they look like me.\" A few asked, unprompted, if they could help choose which books come out next, which told me this wasn't just interest — it was ownership. That kind of immediate, personal reaction is exactly why representation on our shelves matters.\r\n\r\nSince then, the books have shaped some of our strongest classroom moments. After reading a passage together recently, the room moved from quiet reading straight into a full Socratic seminar — students citing the text, challenging each other's interpretations, and connecting the story to their own lives with very little prompting from me. Having characters and stories that reflect who my students are made that entry point so much easier, and it's the kind of independent, text-grounded discussion our AVID framework is built around.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, I'm keeping the rotation going so every student encounters a title that speaks to them over the course of the year, and I'm letting student requests — including their eagerness to choose upcoming books — guide what comes out next. My hope is to keep growing the collection so the library expands right alongside their interests, with every new title paired to writing prompts and seminar questions that keep the conversation going. Thank you again for giving my students a shelf where they can point to a book and say, \"that one's for me.\"\r\n\r\nWarmly,\r\nShereatha Terry","fullyFundedDate":1785513508536,"projectUrl":"project/display-belong-showcasing-books-that/10401909/","projectTitle":"Display & Belong: Showcasing Books That Mirror My Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Terry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6875893_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1570376031757","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6875893"},{"teacherId":6875893,"projectId":9812306,"letterContent":"As an AVID teacher, I work with students across all their content areas, and I've seen firsthand how these Spanish-English dictionaries have become essential tools during our tutorial sessions. When students come to AVID tutorials struggling with their Spanish work, they now have immediate access to the resources they need to push through challenges independently.\r\n\r\nThese dictionaries are teaching my students critical skills that go far beyond just looking up words. They're learning how to break down complex problems, use resources strategically, and advocate for their own learning—all core principles of AVID. During tutorials, I watch students collaborate with their tutors and peers, dictionaries open, working through Spanish reading passages or trying to express ideas for writing assignments. They're developing the inquiry skills and self-reliance that will serve them in high school, college, and beyond.\r\n\r\nIn our AVID classroom, learning is collaborative and student-driven. During tutorials, students present their Points of Confusion and work with their tutorial groups to find solutions. Now, instead of being stuck on vocabulary that blocks their understanding, they can quickly reference their dictionaries and move forward with the actual content. This keeps the momentum going and helps them focus on higher-level thinking rather than getting derailed by unknown words.\r\n\r\nI've particularly noticed the impact on students who are working hard to succeed in rigorous courses. One student recently told me she feels \"more prepared\" for Spanish class now because she can preview vocabulary and review on her own time. Another student, who used to avoid bringing Spanish homework to tutorials because he felt embarrassed about not understanding, now actively participates and helps his peers.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting our AVID students. These dictionaries represent more than language support—they're tools for building confidence, independence, and the determination to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1761145977062,"projectUrl":"project/give-my-students-the-gift-of-words/9812306/","projectTitle":"Give My Students the Gift of Words","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Terry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6875893_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1570376031757","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6875893"},{"teacherId":6979938,"projectId":9622522,"letterContent":"We are so grateful for your generous support of our music classroom through DonorsChoose! Thanks to your kindness, our students now have high-quality headphones that will make an incredible difference in their learning. These headphones allow every student to focus on their individual music projects, explore composition and recording with clarity, and develop stronger listening skills without distractions. You've helped create a more engaging and professional learning environment where students can truly hear and appreciate the details of their music.\r\n\r\nYour contribution goes far beyond just equipment—it's an investment in creativity, confidence, and the joy of music-making. Each time my students put on their headphones to compose, record, or listen critically, they are reminded that someone believes in their potential. Thank you for helping us make music education more inspiring, inclusive, and hands-on for every learner in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755738645581,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-for-listening-and-learning/9622522/","projectTitle":"Headphones for Listening and Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vaughan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6979938_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1702412631621","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6979938"},{"teacherId":6875893,"projectId":9667220,"letterContent":"Your incredible support has transformed our classroom into a space where learning, connection, and growth happen every single day. The snacks, board games, and instructional supplies you provided have made such a meaningful difference for my middle schoolers.\r\n\r\n**How We'll Be Using Your Gifts:**\r\n\r\nThe snacks will be a game-changer for ensuring no student has to struggle with focus due to hunger. When I see a student having difficulty concentrating, I'll be able to quietly offer them a granola bar or crackers so they can fully engage in our lessons. Having these healthy options available means that basic needs won't be a barrier to participating in our discussions about advocacy strategies and collaborative projects.\r\n\r\nThe board games will become our secret weapon for building collaboration skills. We'll use them during our \"Relationship Building Fridays,\" where students will learn to strategize together, negotiate fairly, and communicate respectfully even when they disagree. Through games like Settlers of Catan, students will practice real-world collaboration skills—working together, creating agreements, and learning to resolve conflicts constructively.\r\n\r\nThe instructional supplies will support our hands-on learning activities and help students create visual presentations for their advocacy projects. These materials will give students the tools they need to express their ideas creatively and professionally as they develop their leadership skills.\r\n\r\n**Student Reactions:**\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies first arrived, my students were genuinely excited and incredibly grateful for the new snacks. Their faces lit up when they saw the variety of options, and I could see how much it meant to them to know that people cared enough to make sure they had what they needed to succeed. That sense of being valued and supported has already begun to show in their engagement and the way they're building our classroom community.\r\n\r\n**What's Next:**\r\n\r\nWe're currently working on a project where students are identifying issues in our school community and developing advocacy campaigns. The collaboration and communication skills they will build through our games will translate into real leadership. Next month, they'll present their advocacy projects to school administration—using the confidence and relational skills that your support will help nurture.\r\n\r\nThank you for seeing the potential in these young people and for understanding that sometimes the path to academic success includes ensuring basic needs are met and building the human connections that make learning meaningful.","fullyFundedDate":1758202844085,"projectUrl":"project/games-snacks-and-success-for-my-studen/9667220/","projectTitle":"Games, Snacks, and Success for My Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Terry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6875893_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1570376031757","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6875893"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_2471","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":415,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":52,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":52,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":16,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":10,"gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":64.5,"schoolId":2471,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Horton Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Horton Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/chatham-county-school-district/horton-middle-school/2471"}