{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Mifflin Area Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":14.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9774966,"projectId":10027281,"letterContent":"Our students in need are benefitting from our new resources of pants, shirts, and underwear daily. It was so relieving on \"Day 1\" of unboxing our shipment, when a student, that came to school on a freezing day, with soiled pants to have a brand new, clean and decent looking pair of pants to give them. They were excited to change their clothing so we could wash their soiled pants for them. They have thanked me almost daily when they see me and have worn the pants several times since receiving. We normally collect gently used hand me downs, to house in our Kind Closet, which are great, but being able to provide something new, that is the correct size, fit, and style for a kid, really makes a difference. We are also so grateful to have a multitude of different sizes to choose from as we educate students from grades 4 through 8 that require a wide range of sizes. We also have students that are in dire, daily need of underwear. This new \"refresh\" for our Kind Closet, has been a lifesaver. Before receiving this new underwear, we were completely out of new underwear to provide to our kids that have accidents during the school day, so we had to actually send them home for the day. After our \"refresh\" we are so grateful to allow them to get cleaned up, changed and not miss out on learning, which is our ultimate goal as educators.\r\n\r\nThe Kind Closet is an initiative that runs strictly on donations. Our plan is to continue to help meet the basic needs of our students by applying for grants, reaching out to the community, and local resources to continue our daily mission for the students in need within our school. Thank you so much for your contributions.","fullyFundedDate":1769116936622,"projectUrl":"project/clothing-essentials-for-our-students-in/10027281/","projectTitle":"Clothing Essentials for our Students in Need","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Galiyas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9774966_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1736862151971","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9774966"},{"teacherId":6934880,"projectId":10027694,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Clean, Confident and Ready to Learn. Because of your generosity, my students now have access to essential personal care items like deodorant, soap, hair brushes, combs, and cleansing wipes. These resources are being used daily and have made an immediate difference. One meaningful moment was seeing students quietly and respectfully take care of their personal needs before starting class, allowing them to settle in and fully focus on learning without distraction or embarrassment.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, their reactions were a mix of excitement and relief. Several students expressed gratitude and shared how much it meant to have these items available at school. Knowing they could access what they needed helped students feel more comfortable, confident, and supported. The atmosphere in our classroom has become more positive, with students more engaged and willing to participate because they feel prepared and cared for.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, this increased sense of confidence is directly supporting our current lessons and classroom goals. As students feel better about themselves, they are more focused, collaborative, and ready to take on academic challenges. Your support has gone far beyond providing supplies—you've helped create a safe, respectful learning environment where students can focus on growth and success. Thank you for giving our students dignity, confidence, and a strong foundation for learning.","fullyFundedDate":1768682869988,"projectUrl":"project/clean-confident-and-ready-to-learn/10027694/","projectTitle":"Clean, Confident and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bishop","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6934880_orig.jpg?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600202271532","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/bishops"},{"teacherId":6934855,"projectId":9836330,"letterContent":"Thanks to this project, our classroom has transformed into a hub of focused, joyful reading practice. Students are using the individual reading tent pods to create quiet, distraction-free spaces where they can truly concentrate on building fluency. Equipped with flashlights and pencils, students read passages aloud, track words, underline tricky vocabulary, and practice rereading with purpose. One especially powerful moment was watching a hesitant reader confidently whisper-read inside their pod, then emerge eager to read the same passage aloud to a partner with improved accuracy and expression.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. The reading tent pods felt special and empowering—students were thrilled to have a space that felt \"just for them.\" The flashlights added an element of fun while also helping students stay focused on the text, and the simple act of using pencils to mark their progress made them feel like real readers at work. Many students asked, \"When do we get to use the pods again?\"—a question that speaks volumes about their engagement.\r\n\r\nBy contributing to this project, our donors gave students more than supplies—they gave them confidence, ownership, and motivation. The next steps include using the pods during small-group fluency rotations, poetry readings, and repeated reading practice tied to our literacy lessons. Students will continue setting personal fluency goals, tracking their growth, and celebrating improvements in accuracy, pace, and expression. Because of this project, fluency is no longer just a skill we practice—it's an experience our students look forward to every day.","fullyFundedDate":1769096803383,"projectUrl":"project/pod-power-readers-fluency-in-action/9836330/","projectTitle":"Pod Power Readers: Fluency in Action","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hilligsberg & Mrs. Bishop & Mrs. Rader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6934855_orig.jpg?crop=901,901,x272,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597419335815","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hilligsberg"},{"teacherId":6934855,"projectId":9937369,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been refreshed with essential supplies that students use every single day. These materials are already making learning smoother and more engaging, allowing students to focus on their work without interruptions or worries about not having what they need.\r\n\r\nOne meaningful moment came during a recent writing and drawing activity, when every student was able to independently gather supplies and get started right away. With fresh materials available, students showed increased confidence, creativity, and pride in their work. Simple things like having the right tools made a big difference in their willingness to participate and try their best.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the restocked supplies, their excitement was immediate. They eagerly explored the materials, made thoughtful choices about what they needed, and expressed appreciation for having \"new\" tools to help them learn. Many students commented on how much easier it felt to stay organized and focused.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our classroom is set up for continued success. The next steps include using these supplies across upcoming lessons in writing, math, art, and hands-on projects. Students will continue building independence, collaboration, and responsibility as they care for shared materials and use them to support deeper learning.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a classroom environment where every student feels prepared, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for helping us turn everyday supplies into meaningful learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1768507457797,"projectUrl":"project/supply-restock/9937369/","projectTitle":"Supply Restock","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hilligsberg & Mrs. Bishop & Mrs. Rader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6934855_orig.jpg?crop=901,901,x272,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597419335815","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hilligsberg"},{"teacherId":6934855,"projectId":10026487,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is now equipped with toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash that are already making a meaningful difference in our students' daily lives. These resources are being used to reinforce healthy habits and self-care routines, helping students understand that taking care of their bodies is an important part of learning and growing.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their reactions were filled with excitement and curiosity. Many proudly shared stories about brushing at home, while others were eager to learn more about why oral hygiene matters. For some students, having their own personal supplies brought a sense of confidence and belonging, reminding them that their well-being truly matters.\r\n\r\nWe've incorporated these materials into classroom discussions and mini-lessons focused on health, responsibility, and lifelong habits. Students are learning proper brushing techniques, discussing how germs spread, and connecting oral health to overall wellness. These lessons have sparked thoughtful conversations and empowered students to take ownership of their self-care.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next steps include continuing health-focused lessons that connect hygiene to science and social-emotional learning. Students will create visual reminders, practice routines, and share what they've learned with peers and family members—spreading the message of healthy habits beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students are smiling a little brighter and feeling cared for in a big way. Thank you for helping us turn small supplies into lasting impact.","fullyFundedDate":1768676978330,"projectUrl":"project/small-smiles-big-care-spreading-warmth/10026487/","projectTitle":"Small Smiles, Big Care: Spreading Warmth Through Healthy Habits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hilligsberg & Mrs. Bishop & Mrs. Rader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6934855_orig.jpg?crop=901,901,x272,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597419335815","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hilligsberg"},{"teacherId":8040690,"projectId":9510580,"letterContent":"I share these project updates with so much gratitude. The students love to use their creativity and imagination in many ways. After reading the novel, The Giver, the students created colorful displays of memories that the characters were lacking or longing for in the story. With your contribution towards the materials, they were able to show the interesting details through color and creativity. They were proud to display it as well! \r\n\r\nAnother project included creating unique poetry books. Students used their new knowledge of poetry components to write their version of ten different poems. When finished, they were able to share their poems with the world in their very own poetry book!","fullyFundedDate":1761936175704,"projectUrl":"project/simple-supplies-for-success/9510580/","projectTitle":"Simple Supplies for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kerr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8040690_orig.jpg?crop=2482,2482,x0,y239&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666893815915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8040690"},{"teacherId":915321,"projectId":9874403,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our DonorsChoose supporters for your generous donation to our fourth-grade classroom. Because of you, 50 students each received a pencil pouch, a box of crayons, and three brand-new pencils. These are essential supplies that students use every single day, and having their own complete set helps them stay organized, confident, and ready to learn. Receiving these items the week before holiday break made the gift feel even more special and meaningful to our students.\r\n\r\nThe gratitude from the class was truly heartwarming. Many students immediately used their manners to say thank you, and one student sweetly said, \"Thank you, ma'am,\" which brought a big smile to my face. Your kindness did not go unnoticed—students understood that someone they may never meet cared enough to support their learning. You helped make the end of the semester brighter for our classroom, and we are incredibly thankful for your generosity and support of our students and their education.","fullyFundedDate":1763595999573,"projectUrl":"project/spreading-holiday-cheer/9874403/","projectTitle":"Spreading Holiday Cheer","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. George","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp915321_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1615494215625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/915321"},{"teacherId":915321,"projectId":9726550,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to our DonorsChoose supporters for helping supply our classroom with new pencils and clipboards! These simple tools make a huge difference in our daily learning, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity. We truly always need pencils, and having a fresh supply means students can focus on learning without worry.\r\n\r\nThe clipboards have already become a favorite in our classroom. We use them for scavenger-style assignments in the hallway across math, ELA, science, and social studies, giving students the chance to move, collaborate, and learn in an engaging way. The excitement on their faces when they realized we had enough clipboards for every single student was priceless.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped create a more organized, active, and joyful learning environment for our students. Thank you for believing in our classroom and for investing in experiences that help our students grow and succeed every day. We appreciate you more than words can say!","fullyFundedDate":1761942846377,"projectUrl":"project/supply-request/9726550/","projectTitle":"Supply Request","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. George","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp915321_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1615494215625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/915321"},{"teacherId":7735247,"projectId":9833373,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Hear to Learn—Headphones for Every Student. Your generosity has provided each of my students with their own set of headphones, which is making a tremendous difference in our classroom. Many of you know technology from home, but in school, it's a powerful tool for personalized learning. With headphones, students can fully engage in interactive lessons, listen to audio resources without distractions, and work at their own pace. This simple addition is helping them focus, comprehend better, and build confidence in their learning.\r\nWhat excites my students most is the independence these headphones give them. They love being able to dive into educational videos, language practice, and reading programs without background noise. One student who struggles with attention has especially warmed to this new setup—he now completes lessons with enthusiasm because he can concentrate in his own \"quiet zone.\" Your support has truly transformed our classroom environment, and we are so grateful for the opportunities you've made possible.","fullyFundedDate":1762267471396,"projectUrl":"project/hear-to-learn-headphones-for-every-stude/9833373/","projectTitle":"Hear to Learn-Headphones for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kameg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7735247"},{"teacherId":915321,"projectId":9695381,"letterContent":"On behalf of my fourth-grade class, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your incredible support in providing us with ten new LEGO sets.. What might look like simple blocks of plastic to some turned into a powerful tool for problem solving, creativity, and patience for my students.\r\nAs soon as the students saw the LEGO boxes, their eyes lit up with enthusiasm. They could not believe that each of them would have their own set to work with independently at their desks. The addition of these ten new sets changed that dynamic entirely, allowing each child to feel ownership, independence, and responsibility for their own project.","fullyFundedDate":1757518625574,"projectUrl":"project/lego-stem-fans/9695381/","projectTitle":"Lego STEM Fans","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. George","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp915321_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1615494215625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/915321"},{"teacherId":915321,"projectId":9569464,"letterContent":"As a fourth-grade teacher, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to DonorsChoose and every single donor who supported our classroom project. Because of your generosity, our students now have beautiful, colorful clocks in both our classroom and our hallway. Something that may seem small has already made such a big impact on our daily learning, routines, and overall excitement about school.\r\nWhen the clocks first arrived, the students were immediately drawn to the bright designs and vibrant colors. Their faces lit up, and many of them commented that the clocks made the classroom feel \"happy\" and \"fun.\" What amazed me most was how quickly they began putting the clocks to use. Instead of constantly asking, \"What time is it?\" or losing track of transitions, the students now look up, check the time, and begin managing themselves with more independence. It's empowering for them, and it gives them a sense of responsibility in their learning environment.\r\nBy day 26 of the school year, I can already see an incredible difference.","fullyFundedDate":1757285166258,"projectUrl":"project/time-for-school/9569464/","projectTitle":"Time for School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. George","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp915321_orig.jpg?crop=600,600,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1615494215625","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/915321"},{"teacherId":6934855,"projectId":9221329,"letterContent":"This project has been amazing for our students! The excitement of receiving the Life Size games in person was overwhelming! \r\nThe LIFE SIZE games offered numerous benefits, including promoting physical activity, fostering social interaction and teamwork, enhancing cognitive skills, and providing a fun, engaging alternative to screen time.\r\nWe are so grateful for the opportunity to provide our students with these materials. \r\nEach item has been a great resource to add to our STEAM Friday activities as well as PBIS rewards for the students. Thank you to Donors Choose for this awesome opportunity for our students. You help make learning fun for our students!","fullyFundedDate":1744135648311,"projectUrl":"project/life-size-learning/9221329/","projectTitle":"Life Size Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hilligsberg & Mrs. Bishop & Mrs. Rader","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6934855_orig.jpg?crop=901,901,x272,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597419335815","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hilligsberg"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88773","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":776,"numTeachers":66,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":21,"percentWhite":59,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"4 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"11.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":85.7,"schoolId":88773,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Mifflin Area Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Mifflin Area Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/west-mifflin-area-school-district/west-mifflin-area-middle-school/88773"}