West Middlesex Junior Senior High School in W. Middlesex, Pennsylvania on DonorsChoose

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My special needs students have colorful resources in their hands, making my class so much more accessible for them. Through using these resources they have been able to become more independent in their learning.\r\n\r\nI share the printer with my seventh grade colleagues and my science counterpart has been taking advantage of this new resource as well. Pennsylvania is in the process of changing the science standards, which necessitates a brand new curriculum. My colleague is able to print out colorful scientist notebooks for students that have pictures, microscope slides, and examples that students can annotate without fear of marking in a textbook. The new science materials allow all students to easily see and grasp these new concepts.\r\n\r\nMy team and I are so very grateful for your generosity. I cannot stress enough how this additional resource is so important for the seventh grade students that I serve. I look forward to using this printer to enrich my lessons and the lessons of my colleagues for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1736734723687,"projectUrl":"project/access-to-vivid-colors-for-all-students/9030347/","projectTitle":"Access to Vivid Colors for All Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shaffer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7055572"},{"teacherId":6397416,"projectId":8462999,"letterContent":"I am writing to share how incorporating Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon into my teaching has significantly enhanced my unit on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, particularly in exploring the complex theme of the parent-child relationship. The combination of these two seemingly different novels—one a contemporary young adult story and the other a Gothic classic—has allowed my students to make powerful connections between texts, deepening their understanding of character motivation, isolation, and the human need for connection.\r\n\r\nBefore introducing Everything, Everything, my students often struggled to relate to the emotional depth of Frankenstein, especially in understanding the Creature's feelings of abandonment and rejection. Shelley's language and historical context presented a barrier for some students, particularly those who are reluctant readers or struggle with complex texts. However, pairing Frankenstein with Everything, Everything created an accessible entry point for discussing parental influence and the consequences of isolation.\r\n\r\nIn Everything, Everything, Maddy is raised in a controlled and isolated environment by her mother, who seeks to protect her from the outside world due to her supposed illness. This relationship parallels the dynamic between Victor Frankenstein and the Creature, who is similarly shaped by the choices and fears of his \"parent.\" Both texts explore how parental love—or the lack of it—shapes identity and emotional well-being. Maddy's growing desire for independence and truth mirrors the Creature's longing for acceptance and companionship. My students were able to see how a parent's fear and overprotection can be just as damaging as neglect or abandonment.\r\n\r\nOne of the most meaningful classroom moments occurred during a discussion about Maddy's realization that her mother had been deceiving her about her illness. Students drew direct connections to Victor Frankenstein's decision to abandon the Creature after bringing him to life. One student remarked, \"Victor left the Creature to figure out life alone, and Maddy's mom tried to control her life completely—but both of them ended up hurting their kids.\" This observation led to a deeper conversation about the delicate balance between protection and independence in parent-child relationships.\r\n\r\nThrough journal entries and class discussions, students demonstrated a more nuanced understanding of the Creature's rage and Maddy's desire for autonomy. They began to see both characters not as villains or victims, but as complex figures shaped by parental influence. One student reflected, \"I never thought about how much parents' choices can affect who we become. Victor wasn't just scared of the Creature—he was scared of what his creation meant for him as a person.\" This insight reflects how reading Everything, Everything helped students humanize Victor and the Creature, seeing them as flawed but sympathetic characters.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, using a contemporary text like Everything, Everything made the unit more engaging for students. They were more invested in the themes of parental influence and personal freedom because they could see those issues reflected in a modern context. The language and setting of Yoon's novel provided a relatable framework, which made the 19th-century Gothic elements of Frankenstein feel more approachable. Students who had previously been disengaged with the material were suddenly more eager to participate, using the parallels between the two books as a way to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary literature.\r\n\r\nOverall, pairing Everything, Everything with Frankenstein has transformed my teaching approach. My students are not only more engaged, but they are also developing critical thinking skills as they explore how universal themes of love, fear, and identity transcend time and genre. 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About this school

West Middlesex Junior Senior High School is a town public school in W. Middlesex, Pennsylvania that is part of West Middlesex Area School District. It serves 332 students in grades 7 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 9.8:1. Its teachers have had 5 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 7 - 12

332 Students

34 Teachers

3591 Sharon Rd

W. Middlesex, PA 16159 View local requests

http://www.wmasd.k12.pa.us

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

West Middlesex Junior Senior High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Palko

Mrs. Preston

Mrs. Shaffer

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West Middlesex Junior Senior High School Demographics

56%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

West Middlesex Junior Senior High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.