{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ben Lomond High School","outOfStateSupporters":35.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9317168,"projectId":10062931,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and myself, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our classroom. The arrival of our brand-new set of \"A Raisin in the Sun\" by Lorraine Hansberry has been a highlight of our semester. It is one thing to read a photocopied excerpt, but there is a distinct sense of pride and ownership that comes when a student holds a fresh, crisp book of their own to study. Your kindness has made that possible.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an active, communal experience. Because this is a play, we often transform the room into the Youngers' small Chicago apartment, with students volunteering to read different roles. This allows us to practice literary analysis through performance, focusing on character motivation and the power of subtext. Beyond the performance, these texts serve as a gateway to discussing complex themes like the \"American Dream,\" the impact of systemic housing discrimination, and the resilience of the human spirit. My students are learning to cite textual evidence and evaluate how a playwright uses dialogue to build tension, all essential skills that will serve them far beyond this grade level.\r\n\r\nThe impact on specific students has been particularly moving. I have one student who has historically struggled to stay engaged with traditional novels, but they have completely blossomed while reading the role of Walter Lee. Seeing the story laid out in dialogue helped them find their voice, and they are now one of the first to raise their hand to analyze a scene. Another group of students has spent their lunch breaks debating the ending of the play, proving that the questions Hansberry raised in 1959 are just as urgent and engaging to teenagers in 2026. You haven't just provided books, you've provided a mirror for my students to see their own dreams reflected and a window into a pivotal era of history.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our education and for believing in the power of a good story.","fullyFundedDate":1769651734521,"projectUrl":"project/a-raisin-in-the-sun/10062931/","projectTitle":"A Raisin in the Sun","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Richards","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9317168_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x0,y576&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720553948163","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9317168"},{"teacherId":9317168,"projectId":9501051,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible generosity. The arrival of the sticky notes, post-it posters, highlighters, and writing supplies has truly transformed the energy in our ELA classroom. You should have seen the students' faces when the boxes arrived! There was a collective \"whoop\" of excitement as they realized these resources were specifically for them. In an ELA classroom, a fresh composition notebook or a vibrant set of colored pencils isn't just a tool; it's an invitation to create. One student even remarked, \"Wait, we actually get to use the big posters today?\" It signaled to them that their ideas are important and worth the high-quality materials you've provided.\r\n\r\nWe immediately put these resources to work during our recent Character Analysis Gallery Walk. Students used the large post-it posters to create \"character maps,\" using the colored pencils and highlighters to color-code evidence of internal versus external traits. One specific moment that stood out was seeing a group of typically quiet students huddled around a poster, vigorously debating which highlighter color best represented \"conflict.\" Having these tactile resources made the abstract concepts of literature much more concrete and engaging for them.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our classroom and for showing my students that their education matters to the community.","fullyFundedDate":1755695007616,"projectUrl":"project/begin-with-the-essentials/9501051/","projectTitle":"Begin with the Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Richards","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9317168_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x0,y576&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720553948163","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9317168"},{"teacherId":9317168,"projectId":9343945,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly grateful for the brand-new copies of Julius Caesar and Hamlet that now fill our desks and backpacks. While many of you share our love for a great story, teaching these plays is about much more than just the plot; it's about giving students the tools to decode the world around them. These texts serve as a masterclass in the art of persuasion and the messy complexity of human motivation. My students are using these plays to analyze how Marc Antony sways a crowd through calculated rhetoric. They are also exploring how Hamlet's existential dread mirrors their own modern questions about purpose and identity. By grappling with characters who are neither purely heroes nor villains, they are developing the critical thinking and empathy needed to navigate our own complicated world.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is anything but a silent, static activity. On any given day, you'll find us pushing back the desks to transform the floor into a stage, as students realize that Shakespeare's words were always meant to be shouted, whispered, and lived. It has been especially moving to see our \"reluctant\" readers get genuinely fired up over the high-stakes betrayal in the Roman Senate, while our more introspective students have found a strange, comforting sanctuary in Hamlet's famous soliloquies. Because these are their own copies to keep, the pages are already becoming a map of their thoughts, filled with the ink and highlights of a generation discovering that a story written 400 years ago still knows exactly how they feel. Thank you for making these vital, loud, and transformative conversations possible.\r\n\r\nWith sincere gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1755694942376,"projectUrl":"project/shakespeare-rocks/9343945/","projectTitle":"Shakespeare Rocks!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Richards","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9317168_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x0,y576&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720553948163","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9317168"},{"teacherId":2521042,"projectId":9633336,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our high school math classroom. Because of your kindness, we received calculators, pencils, erasers, and notebooks that are already making a meaningful difference in our students' daily learning. Having access to these essential supplies ensures that every student can fully participate in lessons, practice problems, and assessments without worrying about whether they have the tools they need. Your donation helps create a more equitable and focused learning environment where students can concentrate on building their math skills and confidence.\r\n\r\nYour support goes far beyond the physical items you provided. You are investing in our students' success, encouraging their problem-solving abilities, and showing them that there are people who believe in their potential. These supplies will be used every day as students explore new concepts, collaborate with classmates, and prepare for their futures. On behalf of my students and our entire classroom community, thank you for making a lasting impact on their education.","fullyFundedDate":1757503509093,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-organization/9633336/","projectTitle":"Classroom Organization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tropp","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2521042_orig.jpg?crop=716,716,x200,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742309994179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2521042"},{"teacherId":7577008,"projectId":9905232,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation towards this project. The rolling carts have been wonderful for students, allowing them to safely and easily transport their entire class's checked-out books back to their classroom. These will foster student responsibility and get reading materials into student hands faster. We have been able to use the rolling desk to create a mobile search and checkout station, ensuring students can access library services instantly even during high-traffic times, minimizing disruption to their focus. The under-desk pedal will be wonderful for out students with attention disorders allowing them a quiet, discreet way to get their wiggles out and focus on their work without distracting their classmates. Thank you for helping us get our library rolling for better, brighter student access!","fullyFundedDate":1764685384402,"projectUrl":"project/roll-on-down-to-the-library/9905232/","projectTitle":"Roll on Down to the Library!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johns, District Elementary Library Specialist","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7577008_orig.png?crop=1080,1080,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669761701311","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7577008"},{"teacherId":8279999,"projectId":9925829,"letterContent":"The new therapy office items are already making a big difference for our students. We use the swivel chairs, bean bag chair, lamps, baskets, fidgets, and weighted stuffed animal every day during counseling sessions. Students were excited to see the space and shared that it feels calm, safe, and more comfortable than a typical school room. Several students quickly chose fidgets or the weighted stuffed animal to help them relax and focus during conversations.\r\n\r\nThis space allows students to settle in, open up, and practice coping skills without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. With the addition of interns, having a second therapy office means more students can be seen consistently and privately. Your support has helped create a welcoming space where students feel supported and ready to grow.","fullyFundedDate":1764694054970,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-second-calm-supportive-ment/9925829/","projectTitle":"Creating a Second Calm & Supportive Mental Health Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kristy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8279999_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1642626907033","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kids-mental-health-matters"},{"teacherId":9317168,"projectId":9888353,"letterContent":"Creating a classroom library has been one of my top priorities this year. It creates an invitation to read, but more than that, it allows students to feel heard. I asked my students to put together a list of books they'd like to see in our classroom library. They gave me their list, and this donation from you is one they created themselves. When we received it and opened it, I had several kids jump at the opportunity to put the bookshelves together, while others were ecstatic to unbox all of the books. \r\n\r\nYour donation is greatly appreciated, and my students are already reading and discussing the books they chose. Thank you for your kind consideration to my classroom and for creating a stronger culture of literacy with my students.","fullyFundedDate":1764684849000,"projectUrl":"project/books-galore/9888353/","projectTitle":"Books Galore","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Richards","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9317168_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x0,y576&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1720553948163","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9317168"},{"teacherId":6866909,"projectId":9632071,"letterContent":"Thank you all for your contribution to our soap and mirror ornament making lab. When the materials arrived for these labs I told my students what they were going to be making. For the weeks following they kept asking if this was the week they were going to be making soap or mirrors! Their enthusiasm was real!\r\n\r\nDespite a lot of working parts to make these labs happen, we all found great success and something we will always remember. Not only did my students all take away from this experience a practical skill and something they could take home to use, they learned and discussed how and why soap has the properties it does and how mirrors are made using the chemistry concepts we learned about. We also learned a bit of history as well.\r\n\r\nSoap takes at least a month to cure (dry) so students had to patiently wait the whole month of November. Once December arrived they made their silver ornaments and also got to finally take their soap home. \r\n\r\nThanks again for your generous donations to make my students' chemistry experience a memorable one!","fullyFundedDate":1757504852028,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-chemistry-soap-and-mirrors/9632071/","projectTitle":"Exploring Chemistry: Soap and Mirrors","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rob","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6866909_orig.jpg?crop=1571,1571,x514,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597602291411","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6866909"},{"teacherId":7444185,"projectId":9179946,"letterContent":"I wanted to share a huge thank you for your generous donation! Having these extra supplies has made our classroom so much more productive. My students no longer have to wait for a pair of scissors to become available, which allows them to stay focused and keep their creative momentum going. Additionally, the X-acto knives have been a game-changer for their craftsmanship, allowing them to make the precise, clean cuts necessary for professional-looking projects. We truly appreciate your support in helping our students succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1746785956519,"projectUrl":"project/cutting-through-the-wait-tools-for-cre/9179946/","projectTitle":"\"Cutting Through the Wait: Tools for Creativity!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Santos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7444185_orig.jpg?crop=669,669,x744,y402&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1620152193516","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7444185"},{"teacherId":8732255,"projectId":9752747,"letterContent":"The arrival of this professional-grade ladder has quite literally elevated our classroom community. For a long time, the upper half of our studio walls, which are beautiful but very tall, remained empty because I simply didn't have a safe way to reach them. Because of this ladder, artwork is no longer confined to tabletops or low shelves. My students and I were thrilled to see their ceramic pieces and posters being moved to prominent heights where they can be seen from across the room.\r\n\r\nIt is amazing to be able to access the ceiling of the classroom whenever needed. Beyond displays, our next steps include utilizing high-reaching wires for student windchimes and hanging artwork, as well as managing the overhead electrical lines for our pottery wheels and clay mixers. Now that we can safely access the entire vertical space of our studio, we are planning to hang collaborative clay-and-wire mobiles from the ceiling and high wall mounts. This project will teach students about balance, installation art, and how to utilize three-dimensional space, lessons that were only made possible because we finally have the right tools to reach those heights safely.","fullyFundedDate":1758809942642,"projectUrl":"project/art-on-the-walls-safe-and-seen/9752747/","projectTitle":"Art on the Walls: Safe and Seen","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Iverson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8732255"},{"teacherId":8732255,"projectId":9752598,"letterContent":"The addition of these large, countdown-style clocks has significantly improved the daily rhythm of our studio. In a ceramics classroom, the last ten minutes of the period are often the most critical; students must package their projects for storage, scrape and sponge tables, clean tools, and mop their stations. Having these clocks at both the front and back of the room, visible from practically everywhere, has created a clear time-management system that our students have really embraced.\r\n\r\nCoupled with our existing alarm system, these \"checkpoints\" have helped students take full ownership of their cleanup responsibilities. I've noticed a major shift in how they pace themselves; they are much more likely to be packed up, with hands washed and bags on, ready for the next class. It has turned a potentially chaotic transition into a smooth, team-oriented procedure. This project hasn't just provided us with the time, it has provided my students with a sense of structure and professional responsibility that will serve them well beyond the art room.","fullyFundedDate":1758810387833,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-time-focused-minds-smooth-days/9752598/","projectTitle":"Keeping Time: Focused Minds, Smooth Days","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Iverson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8732255"},{"teacherId":8732255,"projectId":9721333,"letterContent":"The arrival of these new buckets and grout sponges was a very welcome upgrade to our studio. While we already had a recycling system in place, replacing our 10-year-old, cracked, and leaking containers has made the daily process much smoother for everyone. The students definitely noticed the change; the fresh, clean look of the new equipment has reinforced their respect for the workspace. They can now help with cleanup and clay recycling without the frustration of dealing with brittle handles or water leaking onto the floor. Our sponges typically only last a few months before degrading and crumbling away; it is important to replace them before chunks inevitably end up in our clay recycling machine. We are extremely thankful to finally change out last year's sponges!\r\n\r\nEvery day, this station serves as the hub for our clay and glaze recycling. Students wash their tools and hands in the buckets, allowing the materials to settle so we can reuse them. It's a practical, common-sense system that saves us money and protects our plumbing, and having reliable tools makes that job much easier to manage. Your support has helped me maintain a clean, functional, and organized studio where my students can focus on their art while learning the importance of taking care of their shared resources.","fullyFundedDate":1758802830681,"projectUrl":"project/art-without-waste-a-sustainable-and-cle/9721333/","projectTitle":"Art Without Waste: A Sustainable and Clean Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Iverson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8732255"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_33387","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1186,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":32,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":60,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"10 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":64.9,"schoolId":33387,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ben Lomond High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ben Lomond High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/utah/ogden-school-district/ben-lomond-high-school/33387"}