{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy","outOfStateSupporters":29.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7823512,"projectId":9813530,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us kick start art club with updated supplies, fun experiences, and the opportunity to try new things. Students have been LOVING the fuse beads and new markers. Students have been creating things from keychains and gifts for friends as well as experimenting in their sketch books. Students have also been going home and finding inspiration to come back and create more. Our small club started as 5 students coming after school and we have grown to almost 20 students! Your contribution plays a huge role in that. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1767645160205,"projectUrl":"project/after-school-art-cafe-fun/9813530/","projectTitle":"After School Art Cafe Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Merikas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7823512_orig.png?crop=582,582,x95,y47&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743551595089","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hinnebusch"},{"teacherId":7823512,"projectId":9963555,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to help restock out self care cabinet. Students use this cabinet daily to meet their needs, boost their confidence, and feel fresh. I have overhead many students say things like \"you have everything we need\" and \"I know I can come here to find what I need.\" Things like this warm my heart and make me feel like I'm impact more than just student education but also their self confidence. Currently, the biggest hit items include Aquaphor, pimple patches, and period products. These aren't thing the nurse has an ample supply of and I'm happy to bridge that gap.","fullyFundedDate":1768496010989,"projectUrl":"project/self-care-essentials-restock/9963555/","projectTitle":"Self Care Essentials Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Merikas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7823512_orig.png?crop=582,582,x95,y47&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743551595089","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hinnebusch"},{"teacherId":7762042,"projectId":9924802,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the molecule kits for my students. Your support has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom, and I'm excited to share the impact with you.\r\n\r\n**How we are using the resources:** \r\nWe are using the molecule kits during our units on chemical bonding and biological macromolecules. One memorable moment came during a lesson on water and polarity—students worked in small groups to build H₂O molecules, then rearranged them to model hydrogen bonding. Being able to physically manipulate the atoms helped students move from memorizing formulas to truly understanding *why* molecules behave the way they do. I've also seen students independently grab the kits during review time to test their own ideas and check their understanding.\r\n\r\n**Student reactions:** \r\nWhen the kits first arrived, the excitement was immediate. Students eagerly opened the boxes, started building molecules on their own, and asked questions like, \"Can we make glucose with these?\" and \"What happens if we change this bond?\" For many of them, this was the first time abstract concepts from the textbook became something tangible they could see and touch. Engagement and confidence noticeably increased, especially for students who typically struggle with abstract science concepts.\r\n\r\n**What's next:** \r\nAs we move forward, students will use the molecule kits to model macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, connecting chemistry concepts directly to biology. They will also apply these models to explain processes like enzyme-substrate interactions and DNA structure during upcoming projects and assessments. The kits will continue to be a core resource as students build deeper connections between structure and function in living systems.\r\n\r\nThank you again for giving my students this hands-on learning opportunity. Your generosity has helped spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and make science more engaging and accessible for every learner in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1765981242960,"projectUrl":"project/modeling-our-molecules/9924802/","projectTitle":"Modeling Our Molecules!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cichinelli","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7762042_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755723776719","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7762042"},{"teacherId":5784651,"projectId":10081379,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project! Many of my students walk to school and do not have adequate winter clothing. Your donation ensures that I can provide each of my students with a scarf. Besides aiding the students that I teach, your gift helps me to aid other students inside our Special Education programs. I was able to offer scarves to other students, and I still have scarves left over. This means that my students next year will also benefit from your generosity. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping my students be warm and know that they are loved!","fullyFundedDate":1772550330509,"projectUrl":"project/warm-neck-warm-hearts-scarves-for-stud/10081379/","projectTitle":"Warm Neck, Warm Hearts: Scarves for Students on the Go","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gaborek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5784651_orig.jpg?crop=1324,1324,x0,y75&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745861095062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-gaborek"},{"teacherId":10346435,"projectId":9884901,"letterContent":"We have done a lot with the materials that you have donated to our classroom. Two fundraisers have been completed. \"Gift Tags that Give Back\" and \"Share the Love\" in which students made and sold Valentines Day cards. Additionally, the students have used the materials to explore their own artistic interests. The acrylic markers and fancy paper have been thoroughly appreciated!\r\n\r\nCurrently, the students are in the beginning stages of planting plants for a spring plant sale. We have already used the pens for marking the names of the plants and will be using the rest of the materials to design posters and price sheets for our sales and sales table. \r\n\r\nWe have also used the money raised to go places. Our students are in the beginning stages of learning how to ride public transit from a bus trip to downtown to see the Santas and Gingerbread houses. We also rode the bus to see \"Goat\" on opening day. As you know, learning to use the bus app independently is the goal, but the activities also bring so much joy to my students. Their happiness means a lot to me. \r\n\r\nPlease know that I will continue to ensure that your generosity will be used to impact the growth and happiness of my (our) students.","fullyFundedDate":1765205040462,"projectUrl":"project/gift-tags-that-give-back/9884901/","projectTitle":"Gift Tags that Give Back","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stewart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10346435_orig.jpg?crop=3000,3000,x0,y500&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763072741889","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10346435"},{"teacherId":5784651,"projectId":10051809,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping me provide necessary winter clothing for my students! Every student that I teach, plus some who I don't, received a hat and gloves. Those students who needed one were happy to pick out a winter jacket and/or scarf.\r\n\r\nHere are some quotes of thanks from a few of my students:\r\n\"Thank you for keeping us warm with the hats and gloves. Thank you for caring about us.\" - Dynasti\r\n\r\n\"Thank you for the hats and gloves. It really helped me because I didn't have any.\" - Curtis\r\n\r\n\"The gloves helped alot! I wear them to work and school. I don't have to take them off to use my phone.\" - Darius\r\n\r\n\"Your generosity has affected numerous students here at Westinghouse.\" - Ja'Keira","fullyFundedDate":1769445414353,"projectUrl":"project/sharing-the-warmth-this-winter/10051809/","projectTitle":"Sharing the Warmth This Winter","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gaborek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5784651_orig.jpg?crop=1324,1324,x0,y75&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745861095062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-gaborek"},{"teacherId":5784651,"projectId":9909800,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing breakfast and snack items for my students! I have several students who visit me daily to get a breakfast or snack to help tide them over until lunchtime. In the past, I have not been able to provide my students with snacks that I could give out freely due to the expense. It really makes my students feel care about when a teacher can provide them with snacks because they asked and were hungry versus only getting snacks if they pay for them or earned an incentive.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1763996104850,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-for-students-supporting-hunger-r/9909800/","projectTitle":"Snacks for Students: Supporting Hunger Relief in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gaborek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5784651_orig.jpg?crop=1324,1324,x0,y75&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745861095062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-gaborek"},{"teacherId":4937577,"projectId":9094773,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to provide extra laptops for my classroom. \r\nSomething seemingly so small really makes a huge difference in a bustling middle school classroom when technology is needed. When students forget their laptop or are having technology issues, it's a relief to know that there are a few backup computers students can borrow for the class period.\r\nIt really helps to mitigate learning loss for that particular day if there is a student without a working laptop. \r\nThank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your kind donation to my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1746454286581,"projectUrl":"project/help-prevent-lifes-little-glitches/9094773/","projectTitle":"Help Prevent Life's Little Glitches!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Karl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4937577_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1509199569150","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4937577"},{"teacherId":3363839,"projectId":9729600,"letterContent":"Thank you for funding our Crunching Away Hunger project. Because of your generosity, my students now have access to grab-and-go snacks that help meet an essential need during the school day.\r\n\r\nMany of my students come to class hungry, which can make it difficult to focus, participate, and learn. Having snacks readily available allows students to quickly refuel without embarrassment, helping them feel supported and ready to engage in their work.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping remove hunger as a barrier to learning. Your kindness is making a real and meaningful difference in my students' daily lives.","fullyFundedDate":1760824647681,"projectUrl":"project/crunching-away-hunger-building-better-l/9729600/","projectTitle":"Crunching Away Hunger, Building Better Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hribar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3363839_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747676141715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hribs"},{"teacherId":3363839,"projectId":9625306,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, Nourishment for the Mind. Because of you, my students have access to snacks that help them focus, stay engaged, and feel supported. When students aren't distracted by hunger, they can better concentrate, participate, and learn. Your generosity is helping meet basic needs and creating a classroom where students are ready to succeed every day. The students were thrilled to see my snack closet refilled with their favorite items. Thank you again for choosing our project to fund.","fullyFundedDate":1759266584014,"projectUrl":"project/nourishment-for-the-mind/9625306/","projectTitle":"Nourishment for the Mind","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hribar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3363839_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747676141715","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hribs"},{"teacherId":7762042,"projectId":9691042,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation towards the craft kits and cleaning supplies. My students were so excited to see what we received and enjoyed using the materials to model their learning. While not everyone loves to clean, the students had to take turns sweeping up their messes and wiping down the tables. \r\n\r\nThank you again for helping my students take ownership in their learning and their responsibilities as they become our future scientists. These possibilities will impact my students for the remainder of the year and hopefully years into their futures.","fullyFundedDate":1759266578045,"projectUrl":"project/scientists-here-we-come/9691042/","projectTitle":"Scientists, Here We Come!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cichinelli","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7762042_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755723776719","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7762042"},{"teacherId":5784651,"projectId":9925064,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing me with a classroom printer! This makes my life so much easier when I need to print one paper for a student. It is definitely helpful when the printers in the teacher's lounge printers aren't working!\r\n\r\nIt is also really nice that I can now print in color! To start off 2026, I had my students make vision boards. It was really nice that I was able to print them out in color and put them in the front of the classroom so that we can see them for the rest of the school year. \r\n\r\nWe will definitely make good use of this printer!!","fullyFundedDate":1765990008123,"projectUrl":"project/a-reliable-printer-for-a-reliable-educat/9925064/","projectTitle":"A Reliable Printer for a Reliable Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gaborek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5784651_orig.jpg?crop=1324,1324,x0,y75&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1745861095062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-gaborek"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88715","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":574,"numTeachers":64,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":91,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"9.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.8,"schoolId":88715,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/pittsburgh-public-schools/george-westinghouse-high-school/88715"}