{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Life Middle School Waxahachie","outOfStateSupporters":36.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9335617,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our diverse classroom library. Your generosity is helping ensure that every 3rd-grade student has access to books that reflect a wide range of cultures, identities, experiences, and perspectives. These books allow students to see themselves in stories while also learning to appreciate and understand the lives of others.\r\n\r\nAccess to a diverse library strengthens literacy by increasing student engagement and motivation to read. When students connect personally to texts, they read more frequently, develop stronger comprehension skills, and grow in confidence as readers. These books also spark meaningful conversations, build empathy, and support social-emotional learning alongside academic growth.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your investment in our students. Your support goes beyond providing books—it helps create a classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and included. Thank you for helping us build a library that opens minds, celebrates differences, and inspires a lifelong love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1746931512529,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-diverse-library-for-growing-r/9335617/","projectTitle":"Building a Diverse Library for Growing Readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9290400,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Growing Strong Minds, for our 3rd-grade classroom. Your generosity is helping students develop the emotional, social, and self-regulation skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. These resources support lessons that teach students how to manage emotions, build confidence, practice empathy, and develop a positive mindset toward learning.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, especially in a low-income school, opportunities to explicitly learn and practice these skills are essential. The tools provided through this project help students feel safe, supported, and understood, which directly impacts their ability to focus, collaborate, and persevere through challenges. As students strengthen their emotional awareness and resilience, we see improved behavior, stronger peer relationships, and increased engagement in academics.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your investment in our students' well-being. By helping us grow strong minds, you are empowering 3rd graders with lifelong skills that build confidence, character, and a foundation for future success. Thank you for believing in our students and supporting their growth. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1746699681230,"projectUrl":"project/happy-hearts-strong-minds/9290400/","projectTitle":"Happy Hearts, Strong Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9223461,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating a seating rug to our classroom. This rug has quickly become an essential part of our daily learning routine. It provides a comfortable, welcoming space where students can gather for whole-group lessons, read-alouds, discussions, and community-building activities. Having a dedicated learning space helps students feel grounded, focused, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, especially in a low-income school, flexible and comfortable seating supports both learning and behavior. The rug creates structure during instruction while also meeting students' developmental needs to move, sit close, and feel connected. This has helped improve attention, participation, and classroom engagement, particularly during literacy instruction and shared learning moments.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your generosity and support. This seating rug is more than a classroom item—it is a space where students feel safe, valued, and included. Thank you for helping us create a positive learning environment where all students can grow and succeed. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1746699564454,"projectUrl":"project/flex-and-learn/9223461/","projectTitle":"Flex and Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9222030,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating tools for learning to our classroom. Your generosity has made an immediate and meaningful impact on my students. These materials allow students to actively engage in lessons, explore concepts hands-on, and better understand what they are learning in meaningful and lasting ways.\r\n\r\nAccess to learning tools helps create an equitable classroom where all students regardless of background can fully participate and succeed. These resources support small-group instruction, independent practice, and collaborative learning, helping students build confidence, problem-solving skills, and academic independence. When students have the right tools, they are more motivated, focused, and willing to take learning risks.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in our students. Your donation does more than provide materials it helps create opportunities, build confidence, and foster a classroom environment where learning is accessible, engaging, and joyful. Thank you for investing in our students' success.","fullyFundedDate":1745847046351,"projectUrl":"project/essential-tools-for-learning/9222030/","projectTitle":"Essential Tools for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9222014,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom by donating snacks. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference for my students each day. Many of my students come to school ready to learn but may not always have consistent access to snacks, and your support helps ensure they can stay focused, energized, and engaged throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nHaving snacks available creates a more equitable learning environment where students can concentrate on reading, writing, and participating in lessons without the distraction of hunger. It also helps build a sense of care and community in our classroom, reminding students that there are people who believe in them and want them to succeed.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your kindness and investment in our students. Your support goes beyond meeting a basic need it helps create a safe, supportive space where learning can thrive. Thank you for being part of our classroom journey. 💛","fullyFundedDate":1746699641107,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-minds-one-snack-at-a-time/9222014/","projectTitle":"Fueling Minds, One Snack at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9221934,"letterContent":"Donated books have a transformative impact on my classroom, especially in a low-income school where many students have limited or no access to books at home. A well-stocked classroom library ensures that every student can hold a book of their own, explore stories that reflect their lives, and develop a genuine love for reading.\r\n\r\nAccess to a variety of books across levels, genres, and cultures supports literacy growth by allowing students to read at their instructional and independent levels. When students can choose books that interest them, they are more engaged, read more frequently, and build stronger comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency skills. This daily exposure to reading is critical for closing achievement gaps and supporting long-term academic success.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, donated books help students feel represented, confident, and empowered. Seeing themselves in stories validates their experiences, while exposure to new perspectives builds empathy and curiosity about the world. For many students, the classroom becomes the primary place where reading feels joyful, safe, and accessible.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, book donations communicate belief in students' potential. Each book represents opportunity an invitation to imagine, to learn, and to grow. These resources don't just fill shelves; they open doors.","fullyFundedDate":1746699650836,"projectUrl":"project/turning-pages-growing-minds/9221934/","projectTitle":"Turning Pages, Growing Minds.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9089388,"letterContent":"Having materials donated to my classroom has a powerful and lasting impact on students in a low-income school. Many of my students come to school eager to learn but without consistent access to basic academic resources at home. Donated materials help bridge that gap by ensuring every child has what they need to fully participate, engage, and succeed in learning without feeling singled out or left behind.\r\n\r\nThese resources create a more equitable classroom environment where students can focus on building literacy skills, confidence, and a love for learning rather than worrying about what they lack. When students have access to books, hands-on learning tools, and instructional materials, they are more motivated, more engaged, and more willing to take academic risks. This directly supports improved comprehension, collaboration, and independence.\r\n\r\nBeyond academics, donated materials send a powerful message to students: they are seen, supported, and worth investing in. That sense of value builds self-esteem and trust in the learning process. For families who may be navigating financial challenges, these resources also reduce stress and strengthen the partnership between home and school.\r\n\r\nUltimately, classroom donations do more than supply materials they create opportunity, dignity, and a foundation for long-term success.","fullyFundedDate":1746699668842,"projectUrl":"project/empower-through-supplies-equipping-stud/9089388/","projectTitle":"Empower Through Supplies: Equipping Students for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8554114,"projectId":8211008,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom with the Percy Jackson's Novel Study! Your generous contribution allowed my students to immerse themselves in the exciting world of Greek mythology while developing strong reading comprehension and literary analysis skills. Through this novel, we explored important concepts like character development, plot structure, figurative language, and point of view. Many students were especially engaged by the way the story connects ancient mythology to the modern world, which sparked thoughtful discussions and creative responses.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an interactive and community-centered experience. Students read both independently and in small groups, using graphic organizers, anchor charts, and discussion prompts to dig deeper into the text. We use strategies like text-to-self and text-to-world connections, which helped students reflect on Percy's identity and challenges in ways that relate to their own lives. Watching students become excited about reading—and even asking to read ahead—has been one of the best parts of this unit.\r\n\r\nOne student who usually struggles to stay engaged during reading blocks surprised us all by becoming one of the most vocal participants during our novel study. He connected with Percy's journey of self-discovery and said it made him feel like \"heroes can be kids like me.\" Your donation helped create that moment. We are deeply grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1710271695533,"projectUrl":"project/percy-jacksons-novel-study/8211008/","projectTitle":"Percy Jackson's Novel Study!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hamilton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8554114_orig.jpg?crop=1804,1804,x231,y776&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659153405028","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8554114"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":9089327,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom! Because of your support, each of my 7th grade writing students received their own whiteboard and marker and they could not have been more thrilled. The day the materials arrived, my students lit up with excitement. They immediately began brainstorming ways they could use them, and it brought a new level of energy and creativity into our classroom. Your donation didn't just provide supplies, it sparked motivation and made writing feel fun and accessible.\r\n\r\nSince receiving the whiteboards, we've completed several engaging projects that have helped students build confidence and collaboration skills. One favorite was our \"Thesis Throwdown,\" where students wrote their thesis statements on their boards and held them up for instant peer and teacher feedback. We also did a \"Sentence Surgery\" activity, where students were given weak sentences and had to revise them in real time. Watching them work through the revision process and immediately share their work with the class made grammar and editing feel far less intimidating. Another memorable project was the \"Plot Twist Challenge,\" where students wrote short story summaries and then passed their boards around the room for classmates to add plot twists. The laughter and creativity that came from this activity reminded me just how powerful simple tools can be.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we're using the whiteboards for our peer review stations, where students will swap boards and give feedback on introductions, transitions, and conclusions. We're also planning a persuasive writing debate where students will use the boards to jot down and display their strongest arguments. These whiteboards have truly transformed the way we interact with writing, they've turned passive lessons into dynamic discussions. Thank you for investing in our classroom and helping my students see themselves as confident, capable writers.","fullyFundedDate":1740700072009,"projectUrl":"project/engage-inspire-interactive-learning-w/9089327/","projectTitle":"Engage & Inspire: Interactive Learning with Dry-Erase Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":8844248,"letterContent":"As an educator, I am deeply committed to providing my students with the resources they need to thrive academically. Many of my students come from low-income families and often lack the basic materials needed for success in the classroom. With your support, we can change that.\r\n\r\nThis project aims to provide essential school supplies—such as notebooks, markers, folders, and more—to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed. These resources are not just supplies; they are building blocks for their educational journey, fostering creativity, engagement, and academic growth.\r\n\r\nBy contributing to this project, you're making a tangible difference in the lives of students who are eager to learn but may not have access to the materials they need. The supplies will help create a learning environment that encourages collaboration, enhances classroom activities, and empowers students to feel confident in their education.\r\n\r\nTogether, we can ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Thank you for helping provide the foundation for their future success.","fullyFundedDate":1738182904258,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-futures-essential-supplies-f/8844248/","projectTitle":"Empowering Futures: Essential Supplies for Low-Income Families\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"},{"teacherId":8438382,"projectId":8245712,"letterContent":"I'm beyond excited to share how your generous contribution to the \"Fun-tastic Classroom Adventures\" project has made a lasting impact on my students. Thanks to your support, we've been able to incorporate interactive games into our lessons, which have truly transformed our classroom environment.\r\n\r\nOne of the first projects where we used the new resources was during a vocabulary building activity. The Pressman Chess/Checkers/Backgammon set became a huge hit! The students were able to play chess and checkers, using strategic thinking while incorporating new vocabulary words. The students loved the tactile experience of using the full-size Staunton chess pieces, and it sparked friendly competition that also helped reinforce the words we were learning. It was amazing to see how they applied critical thinking skills to both games and our lessons.\r\n\r\nThe excitement when the materials arrived was palpable. They were eager to explore not only the games but also the Scrabble Letter Set. The colorful, creative letters ignited their imaginations as they formed words and competed against each other in friendly word-building challenges. It made learning spelling and vocabulary fun and engaging, and students were thrilled to use them during group activities.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we're planning to use these resources to create learning stations where students can rotate between word games and strategy-based challenges. This will provide them with opportunities to apply their knowledge in new ways while encouraging collaboration. I'm excited to see how these materials help foster teamwork and problem-solving skills as well as enhance their academic growth.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your generous donation. Your support is allowing my students to learn and grow in ways that are both fun and meaningful. We're excited to continue using these resources to enhance our classroom adventures!","fullyFundedDate":1719091578047,"projectUrl":"project/fun-tastic-classroom-adventures-engagi/8245712/","projectTitle":"\"Fun-tastic Classroom Adventures: Engaging Games for Learning and Laughter!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Croswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8438382_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1709061651273","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8438382"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_98859","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":595,"numTeachers":36,"percentFrplEligible":63,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":44,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":37,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.0,"schoolId":98859,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Life Middle School Waxahachie on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Life Middle School Waxahachie","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/texas-department-of-education/life-school-waxahachie-campus/98859"}