Parkside Middle School in Manassas, Virginia on DonorsChoose

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Many of them had never had access to high‑quality materials before, and you could feel the sense of pride in the room as they unpacked items that were \"theirs\" to use. One sixth‑grader held her new shoulder rest and said, \"Now my violin actually feels like it fits me.\" Moments like that remind me that even small tools can completely change a student's confidence.\r\n\r\nThese supplies immediately strengthened our daily rehearsals. The tuners, in particular, have become a staple in nearly every class. Students learned how to tune their own instruments accurately, building independence and responsibility while improving our ensemble sound. Instead of waiting in line to have me tune each instrument, they can now adjust their strings themselves with confidence. This shift has saved us valuable rehearsal time and significantly raised the quality of our performances.\r\n\r\nThe rosin you provided also made a noticeable difference. Many students had been using old, cracked, or nearly empty cakes of rosin—some had none at all. Fresh rosin helped them produce clearer, more resonant tone, which in turn made them more excited about how they sounded. It was incredible to watch their faces when they drew the bow across the string and heard a warmer, fuller sound than they thought they could make.\r\n\r\nThe new shoulder rests were equally transformative. Having properly fitted rests allowed students to maintain correct posture and play with greater ease. Several of my beginners had struggled with tension and discomfort, but with the support of appropriately sized rests, they were suddenly freer, more relaxed, and better able to focus on musicality. These are small tools, but they solve big problems.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students walked into our district assessment performance with confidence and pride. Equipped with tuners that ensured accurate pitch, rosin that supported strong tone, and shoulder rests that helped them maintain excellent posture, they performed with a level of polish that impressed even themselves. I am thrilled to share that our ensembles earned superior ratings, the highest possible scores. Your gift played a direct role in that achievement.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are using these supplies as we prepare for our spring concert and build toward even more advanced ensemble skills. Students are now able to rehearse more independently, listen more critically, and trust their own technique. We are beginning a new unit focused on musical expression and phrasing, and with their instruments properly set up and maintained, they are ready to take on more challenging repertoire.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has strengthened our program in ways that will last long beyond this school year. You have helped create confident, joyful musicians who feel supported, equipped, and proud of what they can accomplish.\r\nThank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for believing in these incredible students.","fullyFundedDate":1742946880049,"projectUrl":"project/outstanding-orchestra/9090954/","projectTitle":"Outstanding Orchestra","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huszcza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9913391"},{"teacherId":9910354,"projectId":9084258,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity. Your donation has made an impact on my students learning and creativity. \r\nStudents constructed a clay cup using hand building techniques. In order to finish the cup and have it be functional we had to use glaze. Your donation made this happen. Students were impressed with the quality and colors they were able to achieve with the glaze. Often in art class we use paint to finish our clay project which doesn't allow it to be functional. Using the glazes allows it to be and adds a level of excitement to finishing their projects. \r\nThan you so much for your donation. 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About this school

Parkside Middle School is a suburban public school in Manassas, Virginia that is part of Prince William County Public Schools. It serves 1,356 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.3:1. Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 6 - 8

1,356 Students

83 Teachers

8602 Mathis Ave

Manassas, VA 20110 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Parkside Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Parkside Middle School Demographics

65%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

70%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Parkside Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 30, 2026

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