{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Forest Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":23.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8723780,"projectId":9756478,"letterContent":"Dear amazing donors,Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has truly taken flight—or should I say, landed on Mars! Your support for the \"Taking Our Learning to New Heights\" project, which provided us with HS 210 mini-drones, has fundamentally transformed the way my students approach STEM, spatial reasoning, and planetary exploration.\r\nThe Immediate Impact: Red Planet ReadinessT\r\nhe arrival of the drones was an unforgettable moment. When the boxes were opened, the reaction was pure, genuine awe and excitement. The small size of the HS 210s made them feel like accessible exploratory vehicles, turning our classroom into a mission control center.\r\nA Shift in Engagement: Students are now enthusiastically collaborating as mission specialists, solving complex navigation and resource deployment problems.The Power of Hands-On Learning: They don't just read about physics and atmospheric variables; they are actively piloting vehicles based on real-world constraints, understanding the critical nature of precise movement and fuel management.\r\n💡 Specifics in Flight: Navigating the Valles Marineris\r\nWhen they successfully executed the precise sequence of controls—rising just enough to clear the canyon rim and then descending exactly over their target coordinates—it was a powerful lesson in 3D coordinate geometry, complex planning, and perseverance. The whole class cheered for the successful \"Martian landing\" \r\nWhat's Next on the Horizon\r\nYour contribution has provided a fantastic foundation for these budding aerospace engineers. Now that the students are proficient in basic flight control and 3D navigation, our next steps will build on these skills:Atmospheric Modeling: We will introduce simulated Martian atmospheric challenges (like dust storms or low-density effects) to their flight plans. Students will have to program error corrections into their missions, using the drones to test the resilience of their code.\r\nData Collection and Reporting: \r\nStudents will design simple attachments (simulated sensors) for the HS 210s and refine their flight paths to maximize data collection efficiency. They will then present their findings in a formal mission debriefing to the class, enhancing their communication and technical reporting skills.We are so grateful that you helped us launch this ambitious project. You didn't just donate equipment; you gave our students a chance to be the next generation of space explorers.Thank you again for making our mission to Mars possible!","fullyFundedDate":1758904939494,"projectUrl":"project/taking-our-learning-to-new-heights/9756478/","projectTitle":"Taking Our Learning to New Heights","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Watson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8723780_orig.png?crop=396,396,x0,y1&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666551689643","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8723780"},{"teacherId":8723780,"projectId":9666307,"letterContent":"How 3D Printing Transforms Learning\r\n\r\nFor many, 3D printing is a consumer novelty—a way to print a unique phone case or a holiday ornament. But in the classroom, this technology becomes a powerful, multidisciplinary tool that fundamentally changes how our students learn. Where traditional subjects rely on flat diagrams or abstract textbook descriptions, the 3D printer instantly turns concepts into tangible reality. For example, instead of just seeing a geometric solid in a math book or a complicated molecule in a chemistry text, students design, troubleshoot, and hold the physical object. This hands-on, multimodal learning approach dramatically improves spatial awareness, critical thinking, and retention, ensuring students don't just memorize facts, but truly grasp complex, three-dimensional relationships.\r\n\r\nWhat excites our students most about this technology is the immediate transition from concept to creator. The 3D printer effectively gives them a tiny manufacturing plant right here in the classroom. When given a challenge—like designing a better ergonomic grip for a classroom tool or creating a replica of an ancient artifact for a history lesson—they are empowered to iterate, fail fast, and refine their ideas. Seeing their digital design on a screen transform, layer by layer, into a real, functional object is incredibly motivating. This process, known as iterative design, encourages a crucial real-world engineering mindset: the realization that failure is simply a step toward a stronger solution.\r\n\r\nThe impact has been particularly notable among two groups: our visual learners and our students who thrive on collaboration. The instant visualization of geometric and biological structures has provided a lifeline for those who struggle with abstract models. Furthermore, the nature of 3D printing—from the initial design in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to managing the printing queue and troubleshooting mechanical failures—requires teamwork. Students are naturally clustering together, sharing CAD tips, delegating tasks, and helping each other fix design flaws. This has built collaboration and communication skills, turning the 3D printing station into an innovation hub where students with diverse strengths—technical, artistic, and analytical—warmly support each other's vision.","fullyFundedDate":1757512952851,"projectUrl":"project/3d-printing-building-a-stronger-tomorr/9666307/","projectTitle":"3D Printing - Building a Stronger Tomorrow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Watson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8723780_orig.png?crop=396,396,x0,y1&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666551689643","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8723780"},{"teacherId":8723780,"projectId":8360782,"letterContent":"A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Project Donors\r\n\r\nTo our incredible donors, we extend our sincerest gratitude for your generous support of the \"Radiometer Speed and Intensity Based On Light Strength and Angle\" project. Your belief in our scientific curiosity and our mission to explore the subtle yet powerful relationship between light and mechanical energy was the catalyst that brought this experiment to life. Because of your contributions, we were able to acquire the precision radiometer components, specialized light sources, and crucial data logging equipment needed to conduct our investigation rigorously. This funding didn't just buy equipment; it invested in hands-on learning, empowering our team to move beyond theoretical concepts and engage directly with the fascinating physics of radiation pressure.\r\n\r\nThe data we collected has been truly illuminating. Our investigation successfully mapped the correlation between light intensity and the rotational speed of the radiometer vanes, providing clear visual and quantitative proof of the energy transfer. Furthermore, the angle analysis confirmed our hypotheses regarding optimal light reception, deepening our understanding of light's particulate and wave-like behavior. This project has not only solidified our passion for physics and experimental design but has also produced tangible results that we plan to share with the wider community. We are excited about the potential applications of this knowledge in optimizing solar energy collection systems and even spacecraft propulsion designs.\r\n\r\nPlease know that your donation has an impact that extends far beyond the duration of this single project. You have fostered a spirit of innovation and scientific inquiry within our team. By providing the resources necessary for success, you have helped cultivate the next generation of researchers, engineers, and problem-solvers. From the initial design phase to the final presentation of our findings, your support was the constant source of motivation. Thank you once again for being such an essential partner in our scientific journey. We look forward to sharing our final report with you soon!","fullyFundedDate":1717767493489,"projectUrl":"project/radiometer-speed-and-intensity-based-on/8360782/","projectTitle":"Radiometer Speed and Intensity Based On Light Strength and Angle","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Watson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8723780_orig.png?crop=396,396,x0,y1&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666551689643","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8723780"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_54500","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":854,"numTeachers":60,"percentFrplEligible":23,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":78,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":6,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":76.8,"schoolId":54500,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Forest Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Forest Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/virginia/bedford-county-public-school-district/forest-middle-school/54500"}