{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Hickory Ridge Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":22.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3198828,"projectId":9483192,"letterContent":"The impact of donor support for back-to-school essentials reaches far beyond the moment supplies are placed on students' desks. These contributions create a strong foundation for learning by ensuring that every child begins the school year with the tools they need to succeed. When students have access to essential materials such as notebooks, pencils, folders, and learning resources, they are better able to fully engage in lessons without the stress or distraction of lacking supplies. This sense of preparedness helps establish positive learning habits from the very first day of school.\r\nOne of the most significant impacts is the sense of equity it brings to the classroom. Students come from diverse backgrounds, and not all families are able to provide every required item at the start of the school year. Donor support helps level the playing field, ensuring that no child feels singled out or left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. When all students have what they need, they are more confident participating in class activities, collaborating with peers, and taking academic risks that are essential for growth.\r\nThe emotional and social benefits are just as important as the academic ones. Having the proper supplies helps students feel a sense of belonging and pride in their learning environment. It reduces anxiety, embarrassment, and self-consciousness, allowing students to focus on building relationships and developing a positive attitude toward school. A well-stocked classroom also fosters a calm, organized atmosphere where routines run smoothly and expectations are clear, which is especially important at the beginning of the school year.\r\nFrom a teacher's perspective, donor contributions significantly enhance the ability to deliver high-quality instruction. When classrooms are equipped with necessary materials, teachers can spend less time troubleshooting supply shortages and more time focusing on meaningful instruction, differentiation, and student engagement. Lessons can be more interactive, hands-on, and creative because the resources are readily available. This directly improves the quality of learning experiences for students and allows teachers to meet a wider range of academic and developmental needs.\r\nDonations also help strengthen partnerships between schools, families, and the broader community. They send a powerful message to students that they are supported, valued, and believed in by people beyond their immediate classroom. Knowing that others care enough to invest in their education helps build students' self-esteem and motivation. It teaches them the importance of generosity, community involvement, and giving back—lessons that extend well beyond academics.\r\nThe long-term impact of these contributions can be seen in improved student engagement, stronger classroom culture, and increased readiness to learn. When students feel supported and equipped, they are more likely to attend school regularly, participate actively, and take ownership of their learning. These positive experiences early in the school year can set the tone for continued success throughout the year and beyond.\r\nUltimately, donations for back-to-school essentials are an investment in students' futures. They remove barriers, create opportunities, and allow both students and teachers to focus on what truly matters: learning, growth, and success. The generosity of donors helps transform classrooms into spaces where students feel prepared, confident, and inspired to do their best every day.","fullyFundedDate":1759265216467,"projectUrl":"project/stocked-for-success-essential-supplies/9483192/","projectTitle":"Stocked for Success: Essential Supplies for the New Year","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3198828_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505439551259","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3198828"},{"teacherId":4240489,"projectId":9522022,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our Clean and Organized in ESL! project. Because of you, my students now have access to clean, organized, and clearly labeled classroom materials that support both language development and independence. We use these resources daily during reading, writing, and small-group activities. One meaningful moment was watching students confidently locate their own supplies and materials without prompting, allowing them to focus more on learning English rather than searching for what they needed.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate. Several students commented on how \"new\" and \"nice\" everything looked, and many were eager to help organize and care for the supplies. Having an orderly and welcoming learning environment has boosted their confidence and pride in our classroom. For English learners, this structure is especially important, it reduces anxiety, supports vocabulary development, and creates a sense of safety and belonging.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, students will continue using these materials during hands-on language practice, collaborative projects, and independent work stations. Our next steps include applying these organizational routines to writing projects and partner activities, helping students strengthen both academic language and responsibility skills. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on our classroom, and my students and I are truly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1760102954897,"projectUrl":"project/clean-and-organized-in-esl/9522022/","projectTitle":"Clean and Organized in ESL!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lewis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4240489_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1487472088755","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4240489"},{"teacherId":7943153,"projectId":9380262,"letterContent":"This school year has been difficult dealing with discipline, classroom management, and positive incentives for behavior with my students. I chose to submit a project through Donors Choose in hopes that I could motivate my students to be more self-aware, self-reliant, and self-disciplined. \r\n\r\nWhat happened through the products I received worked out even better! The students visibly work hard to receive their dollars and prizes. They love the items I chose, and they use them to help them in class to stay focused and relieve anxiety, pressure, and stress. This was such a great decision, and I appreciate every donor who played a part in the realization of this for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755521839025,"projectUrl":"project/positive-behavior-reward-system/9380262/","projectTitle":"Positive Behavior Reward System","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dixon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7943153_orig.jpg?crop=2033,2033,x286,y216&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628792594636","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/feliciadixonteaches"},{"teacherId":3198828,"projectId":9483293,"letterContent":"We would like to sincerely thank our donors for their generous contribution toward classroom folders and essential supplies. Your support means so much to our students and our classroom community. Although the folders were not in stock at the time of purchase, your donation still made a meaningful impact by allowing us to obtain other much-needed items that directly support student learning and organization.\r\nBecause of your contribution, we were able to purchase supplies that are used daily in our classroom, including notebooks, writing materials, and instructional resources. These items help ensure that students come to class prepared and able to fully participate in lessons and activities. Having access to these essentials allows us to maintain consistency and structure, which is especially important at the beginning of the school year.\r\n\r\nYour generosity also helped create a more organized and efficient learning environment. With adequate materials on hand, we are able to spend more time focused on instruction and student engagement rather than managing supply shortages. This has allowed for smoother routines, better transitions, and more opportunities for hands-on learning experiences.\r\n\r\nIn addition to academic benefits, your support positively impacts students' confidence and sense of belonging. When students have the supplies they need, they feel supported and valued, which reduces stress for both students and families. These contributions help foster a positive classroom culture where students can focus on learning, collaboration, and personal growth.\r\nWhile we were unable to purchase the folders specifically, we are grateful that your donation still allowed us to meet critical classroom needs. Thank you for your flexibility, kindness, and continued support. Your generosity makes a lasting difference in our classroom and helps ensure a successful and positive school year for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1756138831978,"projectUrl":"project/folders-for-success-building-home-schoo/9483293/","projectTitle":"Folders for Success: Building Home-School Connections","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3198828_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505439551259","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3198828"},{"teacherId":3198828,"projectId":9311939,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support of my classroom hygiene project. Because of your donations, my students now have access to essential hygiene supplies that help them feel clean, confident, and cared for every day. What may seem like small items to some have made a big difference in creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for my students.\r\nThe impact has been immediate. Students who once came to class feeling distracted or embarrassed now walk in with their heads held high, ready to learn. Having these resources has not only improved their self-esteem but also allowed them to focus more on their schoolwork instead of worrying about their basic needs. It has been heartwarming to see how something as simple as hygiene care can shift their attitude and engagement in such a positive way.\r\nYour generosity has shown my students that people believe in them and want to see them succeed. Beyond the supplies themselves, the kindness behind your donations has taught them about compassion and community. Thank you again for helping me provide dignity and confidence to my students—you've made an impact that will stay with them far beyond this school year.","fullyFundedDate":1746699624496,"projectUrl":"project/a-fresh-start-for-scholars/9311939/","projectTitle":"A \"Fresh Start\" for Scholars","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3198828_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1505439551259","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3198828"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_70173","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":803,"numTeachers":49,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":75,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":21,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.8,"schoolId":70173,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Hickory Ridge Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Hickory Ridge Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/tennessee/memphis-shelby-county-schools/hickory-ridge-middle-school/70173"}