{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Sylvan Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":9.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":706865,"projectId":9290863,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing to improved library supports for our students! The biggest part of the funding went to a new piano bench! The piano had been donated years ago, and students were using all different kinds of chairs to try to sit at the piano, including some fancy dining room chairs with wobbly legs and missing padding. Now, they have a sturdy, adjustable bench that is doing the job it was made to do: supporting pianists! The students who come in before school and during their lunch time enjoy trying out new songs or getting a little extra practice in; you never know what you will hear!\r\nAnother piece of this project was a set of calculators that students can check out from the library when they have a math test. This helps ease the burden on math teachers and on students calling home or giving up on the calculations! \r\nThe rest of the project was just fun and fidgets! We now have lots of stickers that are used as prizes for light-hearted library trivia and contests. We're still learning how to use the fidgets effectively, but some students like them just to have in one hand while they are reading or taking notes. \r\nThank you so much for supporting the ways that we reach out to students and try to support a variety of interests and needs. We appreciate your support!","fullyFundedDate":1746462649292,"projectUrl":"project/more-than-books/9290863/","projectTitle":"More Than Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Berglund","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp706865_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1457892433338","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-berglund"},{"teacherId":6972672,"projectId":9104156,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for your generous support, which has made a significant impact on my students' learning experiences. Thanks to your contribution, we've been able to introduce state-of-the-art DNA and biotechnology equipment into our classroom, providing students with hands-on opportunities to engage with the tools scientists use today.\r\n\r\nIn our recent coursework, students explored the foundations of molecular genetics, protein synthesis, recombinant DNA, genetic engineering, and CRISPR techniques. They practiced essential laboratory skills such as micropipetting, DNA extraction, restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, PCR, and gene editing.\r\n\r\nA highlight was our \"Oodles of Labradoodles\" genetics lab, where students analyzed the inheritance of a single trait in Molly's puppies to determine their father. One student remarked, \"I love dogs,\" expressing how enjoyable and insightful the lab was.\r\nThis course not only enhances students' technical skills but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, aligning with Next Generation Science Standards and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) programming standards.\r\n\r\nYour investment in our classroom has empowered students to explore the world of biotechnology in meaningful ways. It has been a privilege to guide them in this journey, and your support has been instrumental in making this possible.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\nJim Hashimoto","fullyFundedDate":1739215254071,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-dna-and-biotechnology-laborator/9104156/","projectTitle":"Hands-on DNA and Biotechnology Laboratory Experience - Continued","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hashimoto","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6972672_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625964202973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6972672"},{"teacherId":706865,"projectId":8872417,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our readers of diverse books! These manga and graphic novel titles have supported the enthusiastic reading of series books, and helped us grow excitement in all the series that we building. \r\nSince we added these books to the collection in late January, they have been checked out a total of 92 times! Almost every new book has been checked out at least once, and most have been checked out more than that! I fill the display, they get checked out, I refill the display... and we all win! I love watching someone bring their friend to the library to insist the friend check out the book that they have just finished! This has happened multiple times with the new manga and graphic novels. \r\nWe appreciate your support of interesting and varied things for the middle schoolers to read. They love seeing something new on the shelf, and I love that I can tell them it was through the kindness of strangers.","fullyFundedDate":1735660869956,"projectUrl":"project/more-manga-for-middle-school/8872417/","projectTitle":"More Manga for Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Berglund","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp706865_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1457892433338","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-berglund"},{"teacherId":6972672,"projectId":8640574,"letterContent":"Wow...I am sincerely grateful for your generosity and was very excited to share the new equipment with my students. It was extremely gratifying as an educator to watch them learn and grow through hands-on experience in the field of DNA and biotechnology. \r\n\r\nIn this course, my students gained experience with the basic foundations of DNA & Biotechnology through hands-on experience & laboratory techniques.\r\nStudents were introduced to basic principles of molecular genetics, protein synthesis, recombinant DNA, genetic engineering and CRISPR. This lab equipment allowed students to interact directly with the same tools scientists use today! Students learned several biotechnology skill-sets; how to use a micropipette, DNA extraction & restriction enzyme, how to load gel electrophoresis apparatus, conduct PCR, and recombinant DNA and gene editing techniques. \r\n\r\nOne of their recent lab experiences was using gel electrophoresis in a \"Oodles of Labradoodles\" dog genetics lab to examine the link between the genotype and phenotype in Molly's puppies. By tracking the inheritance of a single trait (furnishings), students were able to determine the puppies' father. As one student stated, \"I love dogs\" and this lab was a fun, cool investigation into finding out the father of these 8 pups\". \r\n\r\nIn summary, this class blends the key areas of critical thinking, inquiry/problem solving and effective collaboration along with Next Generation Science Standards and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) programming standards. It has been my privilege to work with these students using this technology.","fullyFundedDate":1723676511144,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-dna-and-biotechnology-laborator/8640574/","projectTitle":"Hands-on DNA and Biotechnology Laboratory Experience - Continued","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hashimoto","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6972672_orig.jpg?crop=1179,1179,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1625964202973","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6972672"},{"teacherId":9819347,"projectId":8909044,"letterContent":"I wanted to thank you again for your generous donations to our WSMS PE program. Students have been using the fitness equipment weekly. The box jumps have been a blast to see students grow and try to improve their plyo work. The resistance bands students have been using to improve upper body strength with pull ups, and learning more hip mobility movements. This has been a huge improvement compared to last year and will help give them more of an introduction to their next level of physical education in HS.\r\nThe fitness days have been a big success and we look forward to expanding them in the coming years.\r\nThe Frisbee golf targets have been a great option for some mini target games inside so far with the field still mushy. We will be doing a full frisbee golf unit in quarter 4 when the sun and warmth is hopefully back. For now, we have been using them as hole in one challenges or in part of our \"Dude Perfect\" days.\r\n\r\nAgain, we can thank you enough again for all the continued support and allow all our students a well-rounded and balanced physical education experience at West Sylvan.","fullyFundedDate":1730412465047,"projectUrl":"project/pe-equipment-disc-golf-targets-and-fitn/8909044/","projectTitle":"PE Equipment: Disc Golf Targets and Fitness Enhancement","teacherDisplayName":"Coach Blake","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9819347"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88236","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":670,"numTeachers":44,"percentFrplEligible":18,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":58,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":90.8,"schoolId":88236,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Sylvan Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Sylvan Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/portland-public-schools/east-west-sylvan-middle-school/88236"}