{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Southern Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":26.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9187601,"projectId":9064567,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to our Book Battalion Book Club! Our students are thoroughly enjoying diving into brand-new book series, and the excitement in the room is contagious. Your support has given them the opportunity to read stories fresh off the shelves, explore new worlds, and discover genres they might not have picked up otherwise.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our club is not just about reading—it's about teamwork, curiosity, and a love of learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Your generosity encourages our students to read deeply, cooperate with one another, and broaden their perspectives through books.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your amazing support in building lifelong readers and thinkers.","fullyFundedDate":1746562234830,"projectUrl":"project/read-on/9064567/","projectTitle":"Read On!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Penny","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9187601_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692107936831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-graser-sms"},{"teacherId":2403120,"projectId":9053453,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my 8th-grade math classroom through DonorsChoose! Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase chart paper, Expo markers, pencils, hand sanitizer, and a plastic rolling cart organizer. These supplies are making a huge difference in keeping our learning space clean, organized, and functional.\r\n\r\nThe chart paper is being used to create anchor charts that help students remember important math concepts. The Expo markers and pencils keep students engaged during lessons, and the rolling cart has helped us stay neat and efficient by keeping our materials easily accessible. Hand sanitizer is also helping us stay healthy and focused.\r\n\r\nYour support means more than words can express. Thank you for investing in our classroom and demonstrating to my students that their learning truly matters.","fullyFundedDate":1742937027159,"projectUrl":"project/organized-and-ready-supplies-for-engage/9053453/","projectTitle":"Organized and Ready: Supplies for Engaged Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. P.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2403120_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507385604900","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-pearce-8th"},{"teacherId":2403120,"projectId":8852113,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my class!\r\n\r\nAlgebra tiles have been a game-changer in my classroom. They help students build a deeper understanding of solving equations and factoring expressions. These hands-on manipulatives allow students to see and physically manipulate algebraic concepts, making abstract ideas more concrete.\r\n\r\nOne impactful moment was when we used algebra tiles to solve multi-step equations. Instead of following written steps, students arranged the tiles to represent each part of the equation, physically moving pieces to isolate the variable. It was incredible to see them light up when they realized why \"doing the same thing to both sides\" keeps an equation balanced.\r\n\r\nAnother great use was during a factoring activity. Students used tiles to create rectangular arrays representing quadratic expressions, helping them visualize how factors relate to area. Many students who struggled with factoring on paper had an \"aha\" moment when they saw the numbers and variables come to life.\r\n\r\nThese resources have made algebra more engaging, interactive, and accessible, helping students build confidence in their math skills.","fullyFundedDate":1735921447808,"projectUrl":"project/we-can-see-the-math/8852113/","projectTitle":"We Can See the Math!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. P.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2403120_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507385604900","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-pearce-8th"},{"teacherId":2403120,"projectId":9002000,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my class!\r\n\r\nA high-quality document camera transforms how my students learn math by making lessons more interactive and engaging. It allows me to display problems, student work, and manipulatives in real time, ensuring every student has a clear, up-close view—especially important for visual learners.\r\n\r\nWith the document camera, I can model solving equations, graphing on coordinate planes, or analyzing scatter plots step by step while students follow along. It also encourages student participation by allowing them to showcase their work, promoting discussion and peer feedback.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, I can use it to display and annotate worksheets, diagrams, or textbook pages, making abstract concepts more tangible. It also helps with immediate feedback, as I can quickly assess student work as a class and address misconceptions in real time.\r\n\r\nUltimately, this technology bridges the gap between teacher instruction and student understanding, making math more accessible and interactive.","fullyFundedDate":1734533893140,"projectUrl":"project/picture-this-a-document-camera-for-dyna/9002000/","projectTitle":"Picture This: A Document Camera for Dynamic Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. P.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2403120_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1507385604900","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-pearce-8th"},{"teacherId":9187601,"projectId":8864031,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support as we navigate our learning journey together. I'm excited to share that our students are making significant strides in overcoming their stuttering when reading aloud to one another but also building confidence to speak aloud in groups. I have seen students that are typically quiet, shy, and reserved become avid speakers about characters and themes in our books.\r\n\r\nThrough our Book Club sessions, we are not only exploring new stories but also learning valuable life lessons. We've embraced messages such as not giving up, celebrating our differences, and avoiding judgment based on appearances. These lessons are helping us build a supportive community where everyone feels valued.\r\n\r\nDuring our sessions, we enjoy reading aloud in comfy chairs while snacking and engaging in discussions about the characters and plots. It's a joyful time where we learn more about each other through our dialogues. I'm proud to see students who are avid readers, often found with a book in hand, and others who are stepping out of their comfort zones to explore genres like graphic novels. We are learning so much about one another and building strong friendships with one another through our love for reading.\r\n\r\nReading has really opened new doors for our students and has taught us all to support one another and appreciate how we can all bring something unique and special to not only to our book discussions, but also to one another.","fullyFundedDate":1735655298160,"projectUrl":"project/battle-of-the-books/8864031/","projectTitle":"Battle of the Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Penny","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9187601_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692107936831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-graser-sms"},{"teacherId":9187601,"projectId":8630248,"letterContent":"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your generous donations of books. It truly is exciting to witness a student open a brand new book for the first time. In today's digital age, where students often read stories and articles online, having a physical book is a new adventure for many of them.\r\n\r\nThe selections we've chosen for the Battle of the Books competition cover a wide array of genres. Initially, some students were tentative, but it has been wonderful to see them embrace the opportunity to expand their reading repertoire. The debates during our discussions have become lively and engaging as they passionately share their opinions on characters, plots, and themes.\r\n\r\nAs this is my first time hosting a Book Club, I find it exhilarating to see so many students who share a love for reading, just like I do. Your continued support and generosity in building our book club library is truly making a difference and encouraging more students to join the Book Battalion.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1727978037960,"projectUrl":"project/book-battle-battalion/8630248/","projectTitle":"Book Battle Battalion!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Penny","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9187601_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692107936831","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-graser-sms"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_3221","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":461,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":52,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":18,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":73.5,"schoolId":3221,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Southern Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Southern Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/person-county-school-district/southern-middle-school/3221"}