{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Milwaukee Academy of Science","outOfStateSupporters":36.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7998270,"projectId":10163443,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and support for our classroom! Because of your contributions to our \"Treasure Chest Treasures\" project, our students have a renewed sense of motivation and excitement every single day. We use these resources as a positive behavior incentive and reward system to celebrate academic achievements, daily effort, and act-of-kindness milestones during our ELA lessons. Having a well-stocked treasure chest gives our students a tangible goal to strive toward as they practice focus and dedication.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their eyes lit up with pure joy! They could not wait to see what prizes were inside, and the energy in the room was instantly electric. Moments like that make our classroom feel so special, and it was deeply moving to see how appreciated and valued they felt knowing that people outside of our school cared enough to support their learning journey.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we are building on this momentum as students continue working hard on their current reading and writing goals. Knowing that their positive habits and accomplishments are recognized keeps them engaged and eager to participate. Thank you again for making a direct, meaningful difference in our classroom—your kindness truly inspires us every day!","fullyFundedDate":1776610898706,"projectUrl":"project/treasure-chest-treasures/10163443/","projectTitle":"Treasure Chest Treasures","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dillon ELA","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7998270_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1667666860905","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7998270"},{"teacherId":9322973,"projectId":9692674,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students now have consistent access to high-quality printed materials that directly support their learning every single day. While a printer may seem like a simple tool, in a kindergarten classroom it makes a huge difference. Young learners rely heavily on hands-on, visual, and tangible resources, and this printer allows me to quickly create exactly what my students need in the moment. Instead of waiting days for copies or trying to make do without materials, I can print differentiated worksheets, decodable readers, center activities, and visuals that match each student's learning level. This means my students are getting targeted instruction right when they need it, whether they are working on letter sounds, heart words, writing practice, or early math skills. Having immediate access to these resources allows me to be more responsive as a teacher and ensures that no learning time is lost.","fullyFundedDate":1767244242183,"projectUrl":"project/copies-that-count/9692674/","projectTitle":"Copies That Count","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schimmelpfennig","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9322973_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725776413114","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9322973"},{"teacherId":9422805,"projectId":9971703,"letterContent":"My students and I have been using our new books every day during literacy centers, small groups, and read-aloud time. One special moment that stood out was when a group of students used the sequencing cards alongside one of our storybooks to retell the story in their own words. They were so proud of themselves for remembering the beginning, middle, and end, and it sparked such meaningful conversations.\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, my students were beyond excited. Their eyes lit up as they explored the new books, and many immediately wanted to sit down and start reading. They were especially drawn to the colorful pictures and familiar topics, and it created such a joyful, welcoming atmosphere in our classroom.\r\nThe rhyming books have been especially helpful as we practice identifying and creating rhyming words. I've already seen students begin to recognize patterns in sounds and even try to come up with their own rhymes during play and group time.\r\nNext, we will continue building on these skills by diving deeper into storytelling and comprehension. Students will practice retelling stories, identifying characters and key events, and making connections to their own lives. We will also continue strengthening phonological awareness through rhyming, beginning sounds, and interactive literacy activities. Thanks to these resources, my students are growing more confident and excited about learning every day.","fullyFundedDate":1766622839631,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-literacy-adventures/9971703/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Big Literacy Adventures","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Larson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9422805_orig.png?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1703930429485","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/misslarsonmke"},{"teacherId":10113581,"projectId":9540715,"letterContent":"When I first came into my classroom before the beginning of the year, I saw so much potential! It was a well-lit space with 3 whiteboards (most other rooms only had one)! I was so excited, but knew that to make the space the way I wanted it to look and feel, I knew it required time and mostly, money. I knew that my room needed more color, but it especially needed a place to gather as a class. Classroom conflict among each other was at an all-time high, and I didn't feel that my students were connecting well with each other. With a rug, I hoped that my students and I could gather together in the morning in one communal space, rather than spread out among the classroom. I needed a rug! I also noticed the need for lamination paper -- so my students could practice handwriting (something that, unfortunately, far too many of my 4th grade students struggle with) on reusable worksheets, and so I could reuse print outs next year as well. I was also at a horrific shortage of dry erase markers, for myself and for my students. Now, when we annotate a passage on the board together, I can use more than just my single black Expo marker and instead annotate with the various marker colors, making it easier for my students to comprehend and follow along. \r\n\r\nWhen I dragged the rug into the room, I heard \"woahhhhh!!\" and \"whaaaat??\" from my 4th graders. I was worried that 4th graders would think they were too old to find joy in sitting on the ground or chatting or reading a book together. When I held my first morning meeting on the rug, I had a couple of students pretending to be \"too cool for school,\" saying that they didn't want to sit on the rug. Once they realized that everybody was joining in on the carpet time, they were fast participators, wanting to be at the very front. The connection I saw that morning between classmates was something I hadn't seen in my classroom all year -- Quieter students talking to more extroverted students, silly students engaging in meaningful conversation with each other. I now regularly do read alouds of our curriculum books, or if we have free time to engage in illustrated books. During independent work time, students ask to get a clipboard and lay on the rug. I even hold my intervention small group on the rug. With the fidget toys and prizes for my prize box, I held an exploratory session where students could touch, feel, examine all of the awesome toys they could earn when completing all homework, online work, and independent work. Students are so excited to complete these tasks, help out in the classroom, or do anything above and beyond. Additionally, many of my students have troubling home lives, and regulatory tools like the fidgets you donated also help to take them out of stressful, disregulated moments, and bring them to the present. \r\n\r\n\r\nRight now, my students are learning about the American Revolution by reenacting a play, which has been so fun seeing quieter students come out of their shell when getting into the roles of the characters. My students often don't get opportunities to read aloud at home, so it's a fantastic way to develop their reading skills in school while giggling and finding joy with their classmates. Students are also writing narratives based off of the characters, hopefully challenging their empathy skills! \r\n\r\nMy students are deserving of a classroom that also has resources, community, and warmth. I am so grateful you are helping provide that. Thank you so incredibly much!","fullyFundedDate":1764720380153,"projectUrl":"project/learning-with-comfort-and-flexibility/9540715/","projectTitle":"Learning with Comfort and Flexibility","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. MacKinney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10113581"},{"teacherId":10030994,"projectId":9877466,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of this project. Because of your donations, we were able to provide food for over nineteen families, each consisting of three or more members, with several families having five or more individuals. Your generosity made a meaningful difference in ensuring these families had access to nutritious meals during a time of need.\r\n\r\nIn addition, your support allowed us to provide extra snacks for students throughout the school year, including during winter breaks, across the school day, and even for entire classrooms on special occasions. These snacks may seem small, but they play a big role in supporting students' focus, well-being, and sense of care while at school.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has had a lasting impact on both families and students, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to supporting our community. Thank you for helping us meet such an essential need with compassion and generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1763498232558,"projectUrl":"project/feeding-hope-one-family-at-a-time/9877466/","projectTitle":"Feeding Hope, One Family at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cunningham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10030994_orig.jpg?crop=950,950,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747063713476","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10030994"},{"teacherId":10171422,"projectId":9673284,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of purposeful play toys. Your support has had a meaningful impact in our classroom, and are incredibly grateful. Students were so excited when they saw the new supplies and couldn't way to start using them. \r\n\r\nThese materials have been a powerful tool in supporting both academic growth and social development. Through purposeful play, students are strengthening key skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, language development, and early literacy concepts. We are seeing student apply academic vocabulary more naturally, collaborate during tasks, and persist through challenges. \r\n\r\nDuring small group instruction, students practice their literacy skills by spelling words into the playdough. We first say the word, then tap the sounds, next write the word down, and finally stamp it into the playdough. Sometimes we take it a step further by trying to make rhyming words. \r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our students are learning in ways that are joyful, engaging, and developmentally meaningful. Thank you for believing in our learners and for helping us create an environment where purposeful play supports the whole child.","fullyFundedDate":1762266307797,"projectUrl":"project/purposeful-play/9673284/","projectTitle":"Purposeful Play","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10171422_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756778314076","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10171422"},{"teacherId":10171422,"projectId":9580001,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom through this DonorsChoose project. Your generosity provided us with essential snacks and cleaning supplies that immediately made a difference. The snacks have helped students stay focused and energized throughout the day, especially during our morning work and afternoon learning blocks. The cleaning supplies have kept our space fresh, organized, and safe -something my students take great pride in maintaining.\r\n\r\nWhen the boxes arrived the students were thrilled! They excitedly helped unpack, sort, and set up a snack station. They also helped stock our cleanup corner. Several students mentioned how it felt like they were working as a team, taking care of our classroom space together. Because of these new resources students have been more independent, more prepared for learning, and more aware of the importance of caring for their environment.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue fostering responsibility and independence. Students will rotate weekly jobs to maintain the cleaning supplies and distribute snacks as needed. We are also using this project to spark conversations about healthy habits, cleanliness, and kindness within our classroom community. Your support made all this possible and we are truly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1755723609534,"projectUrl":"project/help-meet-the-basic-needs-of-my-students/9580001/","projectTitle":"Help Meet the Basic Needs of My Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shaw","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10171422_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756778314076","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10171422"},{"teacherId":10179817,"projectId":9601353,"letterContent":"Students within and outside of my class have been able to use the products I've gotten for them. The headphones have not only been used in my room but borrowed by other teachers to help with overstimulation in their classrooms. Students have been able to regulate using the puzzles and fidget toys so much so that again they borrow them for other classes and respectfully return them. I have seen such an improvement in behavior and regulation since incorporating these new items. So much so that I barley have to call for student support. On top of that having cushions and more available I have seen students grow better in their sense of speaking up for themselves and asking for their needs to focus more in school. Overall my mission to create a better environment for all my students has been successful thanks to your help! Next up we will be learning about different cultural holidays and art forms.","fullyFundedDate":1755692263909,"projectUrl":"project/a-sensory-friendly-steam-environment/9601353/","projectTitle":"A Sensory Friendly Steam Environment","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bryant","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10179817_orig.jpg?crop=4128,4128,x701,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755275644303","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10179817"},{"teacherId":10113529,"projectId":9540528,"letterContent":"I would like to thank you SO very much for such gracious donations. As a first year teacher it is difficult to gather materials needed to make the classroom feel like a home. Students are in the classroom more than they are awake at home. I really wanted my classroom to embody a place where they felt comfortable and seen. That could not have been possible without these donations to my classroom. They have been immensely helpful, some of my students are unable to bring supplies and the pencils alone made a world of a difference. The various decorations and carpet circles made for a unique environment where they feel noticed through the autonomy they get, and what they see on the walls. The lamps and lighting have made a world of difference. A once slightly cold library looks lively with lights strung up around the walls and lamps. The lamps are around the room in various places to give a softer light than the sometimes sterile ceiling light can give off. \r\n\r\nWords cannot truly express how grateful I am for these wonderful things that have been brought into my classroom through your donations. Getting to know my students better every day, and hearing compliments about my cozy room have brought so much joy to myself and others. I truly love the space I have created and I could not have done that without you!!","fullyFundedDate":1756249857435,"projectUrl":"project/fostering-a-love-for-school/9540528/","projectTitle":"Fostering a Love for School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Willer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10113529_orig.jpg?crop=1399,1399,x1842,y1299&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754599938826","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10113529"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_70096","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1894,"numTeachers":62,"percentFrplEligible":92,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":93,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"K - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"30.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.1,"schoolId":70096,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Milwaukee Academy of Science on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Milwaukee Academy of Science","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/wisconsin/wisconsin-department-of-public-instruction/milwaukee-academy-of-science/70096"}