{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Aki Kurose Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":25.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10202912,"projectId":10253380,"letterContent":"Although I posted this project at the end of last school year, I'm so glad that the timing worked out and it got filled at the start of this school year! \r\n\r\nThis year, a big goal that I have is to emphasize teamwork in my classroom. I started the year by teaching students about growth mindset and the benefits of collaboration. It has been an expectation that students work with their table groups on almost all assignments. This earns them group points, which are converted to Payne Cash, that can be used to purchase the wonderful prizes that have been funded by this project! \r\n\r\nThis project also gave me some much needed base 10 blocks that I can use to help students visualize surface area and volume.\r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my classroom. It really means so much to me and my students!","fullyFundedDate":1782542502417,"projectUrl":"project/math-class-end-of-year-token-economy-res/10253380/","projectTitle":"Math Class End of Year Token Economy Restock!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Payne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10202912_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755724287648","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10202912"},{"teacherId":8772083,"projectId":9098029,"letterContent":"Time and time again, you show up and show OUT for our community with the utmost love, care, and support. I am so grateful for your contributions and how you have positively shaped another generation of my students. They have absolutely loved and cherished these gifts. \r\n\r\nWith the speakers, I can continue playing educational materials, but perhaps more popularly, my morning music each day. We start the day with the mood elevated and our blood pumping, ready to accomplish some truly amazing things! \r\n\r\nAs for our seating accommodations, they are still being used a year or so later. They are a favorite among students when they move up for the mini lesson, and moreover, for small group work time on the carpet as they draft and read and note take and discuss all topics under the sun. \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you for all you have done to help me continue to curate a space that students feel safe learning in. You have helped (in my biased opinion), the best groups of kids and families! I am so grateful every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1739598508087,"projectUrl":"project/refresh-our-safe-haven/9098029/","projectTitle":"Refresh Our Safe Haven!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8772083_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y250&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1704997837557","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8772083"},{"teacherId":8772083,"projectId":8145567,"letterContent":"WOW! I am so overjoyed and grateful for this generous donation to our school and more specifically, my classroom of amazing students. Please know that these furniture pieces have helped curate the coziest space for kids- they have napped in here, read cozily in here, chatted on these furniture items from argumentative discourse to book club discussions. They have laughed and debated and divulged and thought up the most creative ideas in this furniture. With your help, my classroom has become a safer space for kids to feel empowered to learn and grow. \r\n\r\nThank you again for all of your donations and care for our future generations. We are forever impacted positively by this support.","fullyFundedDate":1706869469870,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-fun-times/8145567/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating & Fun Times","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8772083_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y250&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1704997837557","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8772083"},{"teacherId":8364451,"projectId":10281990,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our middle school classroom! We have moved to a new building and its been a stressful time. Your generous donation of notebooks, tape, and pencils will make a meaningful difference for our students. Having these essential supplies readily available helps students stay organized, prepared, and focused on learning. It has given students, and myself, some peace of mind knowing that the classroom essentials have been taken care of.\r\n\r\nWe truly appreciate your kindness and your investment in our students' education. Thank you for helping make our classroom a place where every student has the tools they need to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1783618121106,"projectUrl":"project/moving-to-a-new-building/10281990/","projectTitle":"Moving to a New Building","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hotchkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8364451_orig.png?crop=713,713,x61,y55&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784420015764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-hotchkin"},{"teacherId":10530604,"projectId":10347564,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing \"We Check-In, We Connect, We Grow: Middle School Style\" to life for our students. Middle school is a critical period of growth where young people are actively navigating their identity, relationships, and place in the world. Having these new resources in our learning space has transformed reading and restorative check-ins from routine tasks into interactive, community-building experiences.\r\n\r\nThe carefully selected book titles and the dolls that actually look like our students have made an immediate visual and emotional impact. When middle schoolers walk into my office, their eyes instantly light up with curiosity. Seeing figures and characters that look like them creates an immediate sense of belonging and representation. It shows them that their culture, experiences, and stories are valued.\r\n\r\nOur space has become a warm, welcoming hub where curiosity thrives. Reading and check-ins look like vibrant dialogue: students gather to explore new titles, connect plotlines to real-life challenges, and share their reflections in circle conversations. Having an inviting, representative environment gives our students something inspiring to look up to—a place where they feel safe taking academic and personal risks, practicing perspective-taking, and learning how to resolve conflicts constructively. Thank you for giving our middle schoolers not just materials, but a space that honors who they are.","fullyFundedDate":1782542452194,"projectUrl":"project/we-check-in-we-connect-we-grow-middle/10347564/","projectTitle":"We Check-In, We Connect, We Grow: Middle School Style","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dom","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10530604_orig.jpg?crop=3000,3000,x0,y300&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1782176194333","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msdom"},{"teacherId":9605202,"projectId":10235641,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my eighth-grade math students by donating snacks and pencils to our classroom. At our underserved school, having something as simple as a snack or a pencil can make a bigger difference than you might realize. Many of my students come to class carrying responsibilities and challenges outside of school, so having a snack available helps them feel cared for and gives them the energy to focus on learning. The pencils have also been a huge help because students can jump right into their work without worrying about whether they have the supplies they need.\r\n\r\nMy students were genuinely excited to see the snacks and new pencils. It was a small reminder to them that people believe in them and want to see them succeed. We are continuing to work through challenging eighth-grade math concepts, practicing problem-solving and building confidence in explaining our thinking. Your generosity has helped create a classroom where students can focus less on what they are missing and more on what they are capable of achieving. Thank you for being part of our classroom community and for investing in my students!","fullyFundedDate":1777923726816,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-8th-grade-minds-snacks-suppli/10235641/","projectTitle":"Fueling 8th Grade Minds: Snacks & Supplies Needed","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ahmed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9605202"},{"teacherId":8142882,"projectId":9438879,"letterContent":"Having access to essential classroom supplies directly impacts my sixth-grade students' learning by providing them with the tools they need to actively engage in the reading and writing processes. In our ELA classroom, students use notebooks to track their thinking, record reflections, and develop their ideas as readers and writers. Sticky notes allow students to annotate texts, ask questions, and make meaningful connections, while highlighters help them identify important details, themes, and evidence to support their analysis. These materials transform reading from a passive activity into an interactive experience where students can visualize and communicate their thinking.\r\n\r\nEveryday supplies such as pencils, folders, tissues, and dry-erase markers also play an important role in creating an organized, focused, and supportive learning environment. When students have reliable access to the materials they need, they can spend more time learning and less time worrying about missing resources. Markers and other classroom tools allow students to collaborate, contribute to anchor charts, and make their learning visible through group discussions and shared activities. These resources support a classroom culture where all students feel prepared, valued, and empowered to participate.\r\n\r\nFor my sixth-grade students, especially those in a Title I classroom, access to basic learning materials helps remove barriers and ensures that every student can fully engage in rigorous academic experiences. These supplies support literacy development, organization, collaboration, and student independence while helping create a classroom where students are encouraged to think deeply, share their ideas, and grow as learners.","fullyFundedDate":1759251503829,"projectUrl":"project/stocking-our-6th-grade-ela-classroom-for/9438879/","projectTitle":"Stocking Our 6th Grade ELA Classroom for Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Esters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8142882_orig.jpg?crop=1206,1205,x0,y305&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743707447176","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8142882"},{"teacherId":8142882,"projectId":9412141,"letterContent":"A class set of *Ghost* by Jason Reynolds has a transformative impact on my sixth-grade ELA classroom. For many of my students, seeing themselves represented in the literature they read is a powerful and affirming experience. *Ghost* centers on Castle \"Ghost\" Cranshaw, a young Black athlete navigating challenges related to family, identity, and belonging. His journey reflects many of the experiences and emotions that middle school students encounter as they develop their sense of self. By engaging with a protagonist who shares similar cultural experiences and challenges, students recognize that their voices, stories, and lived experiences are valuable.\r\n\r\nOur novel study strengthens students' literacy skills by providing opportunities to analyze complex characters, themes, the author's craft, and real-world connections. With access to their own copies of *Ghost*, students participate in close reading, annotate important passages, cite textual evidence, and engage in academic discussions aligned with sixth-grade ELA standards. The novel encourages students to think critically about character choices, personal growth, resilience, and the impact of relationships while building essential reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills.\r\n\r\nBeyond academic development, *Ghost* creates meaningful opportunities for social-emotional learning and community building. Jason Reynolds' authentic storytelling allows students to explore themes of overcoming adversity, making positive choices, and finding support systems during challenging times. Through collaborative discussions and reflective writing, students develop empathy and learn that struggles do not define their futures. These conversations foster a classroom environment where students feel respected, understood, and empowered to share their perspectives.\r\n\r\nA class set of *Ghost* is more than a collection of novels—it is an investment in culturally responsive instruction, student engagement, and literacy development. Providing every sixth-grade ELA student with access to this powerful text ensures that all learners can fully participate in meaningful literary experiences while becoming stronger readers, writers, and critical thinkers. This resource helps students see themselves in literature while also expanding their understanding of experiences beyond their own.","fullyFundedDate":1751124985315,"projectUrl":"project/racing-toward-representation-with-ghost/9412141/","projectTitle":"Racing Toward Representation with Ghost by Jason Reynolds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Esters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8142882_orig.jpg?crop=1206,1205,x0,y305&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743707447176","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8142882"},{"teacherId":8829820,"projectId":9621243,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping build my classroom library last school year. My students loved the wide array of books that were donated! These stories reflected the interests and identities of my students and complimented the units of study we do in Washington State History. Now when students finish work early, they have a collection of books to enjoy, further develop their literacy skills, and build their cognitive muscles in their brain for better focus.\r\n\r\nI am excited to continue to share these books with students for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1755566024292,"projectUrl":"project/build-our-classroom-library/9621243/","projectTitle":"Build our Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anselmini","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8829820_orig.jpg?crop=150,150,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755551189329","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/anselmini"},{"teacherId":10202912,"projectId":10108925,"letterContent":"My students were so excited when they saw that the prize bin was restocked with more squishy toys and candy. Our \"Payne Cash\" system has been a huge motivator for my students so far this year. \r\nThis restock also provided some much needed cleaning supplies to keep our classroom safe and healthy! \r\n\r\nThis school year, a big goal that I have is to emphasize teamwork in my classroom. I started the year by teaching students about growth mindset and the benefits of collaboration. It has been an expectation throughout the year that students work with their table groups on almost all assignments. This earns them group points, which are converted to Payne Cash, that can be used to purchase the wonderful prizes that have been funded by this project! \r\n\r\nThank you again for supporting my classroom. It really means so much to me and my students!","fullyFundedDate":1772509738124,"projectUrl":"project/math-class-token-economy-restock/10108925/","projectTitle":"Math Class Token Economy Restock!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Payne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10202912_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755724287648","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10202912"},{"teacherId":8364451,"projectId":10088816,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting this project. My students were so excited to make their solar panel cars and fans. We spent the week learning about solar panels and then they got to see them in action. Not only were my students impacted, but the extra kits were given to other students. I had so many students coming to me, asking if there were extra engineering kits. Because of your donation, my students had the opportunity to see themselves as engineers and work on making climate change solutions that will impact everyone.","fullyFundedDate":1770746058587,"projectUrl":"project/help-create-engineers/10088816/","projectTitle":"Help Create Engineers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hotchkin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8364451_orig.png?crop=713,713,x61,y55&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1784420015764","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-hotchkin"},{"teacherId":10387296,"projectId":10014907,"letterContent":"Thanks to you, my school was able to pull off another successful year of the Global Reading Challenge!\r\n\r\nThis was the first year in over four years that students had new books to read for the competition. They were excited about the new collection and kept each book off the shelves for over three weeks! \r\n\r\nWe ended the competition with a trivia-style challenge competing against other middle schools in our district. While we (sadly) did not win, we were successful in getting students excited to read, working together to create and lead their own teams, and getting over 90 students at our school to show up prepared and excited to talk about what they read! \r\n\r\nWe now have over 60 new books added to our collection through your support, that students will continue to love even outside of the reading challenge.","fullyFundedDate":1770746058558,"projectUrl":"project/middle-school-global-reading-challenge-/10014907/","projectTitle":"Middle School Global Reading Challenge (More Books Needed!)","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Moss","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10387296_orig.png?crop=351,352,x0,y11&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1765997461906","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10387296"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36021","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":894,"numTeachers":42,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":23,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":18,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":1,"percentMultiracialImputed":7,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":74.1,"schoolId":36021,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Aki Kurose Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Aki Kurose Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/washington/district-one-seattle-public-schools/aki-kurose-middle-school/36021"}