Vel Phillips Memorial High School in Madison, Wisconsin on �ǿմ�ý

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Vel Phillips Memorial High School","outOfStateSupporters":32.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9810747,"projectId":9406454,"letterContent":"Thank you so, so much for all your donations! They have been put to great use and students have been thrilled to see all the goodies! From the snacks, to the fidgets, to the brand new dry erase boards, all the way to the board games and pencils, not a single donation has gone unused.\r\n\r\nMy AP students have loved having an excess of notecards to use as they outline their papers and sort through different research, and the colored pencils have proven to be a big hit when they make their posters. Snacks keep them going on hard days and the candy stockpile and Pokemon cards have really kept their spirits high when they're being dragged down by looming exams.\r\n\r\nMy freshmen have absolutely LOVED the fidgets (most have actually made their way into backpacks so students can use them in later classes) and the new board games were the talk of the town at the Winter Break party. Again, the art supplies were so helpful during the Animal Farm unit. \r\n\r\nThe sports kiddos with early practice have been so appreciative of the hygiene supplies and snacks, and my kids with jobs after school always stop in to grab a granola bar on their way out. \r\n\r\nYour donations have found a great home and we here in 1202 could not be more grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1760044435335,"projectUrl":"project/teacher-with-silly-hats-looking-to-suppo/9406454/","projectTitle":"Teacher With Silly Hats Looking to Support Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Meg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9810747_orig.jpg?crop=1008,1008,x0,y77&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729609386137","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9810747"},{"teacherId":9062542,"projectId":9586809,"letterContent":"What a wonderful start to the 2025-26 school year! My students have felt so supported by your donations to my classroom!\r\n\r\nSnacks, fidgets and art supplies have been the major hits with my 9th-12th graders. Every day, I have students who politely ask for snacks to keep them going; many students head straight for the fidget bin before taking their seats, and I've been able to provide more project-based learning opportunities with markers and highlighters.\r\n\r\nSeveral students find the wobble board to get their stretches and gross motor movement out during class as well. It's been a fun game to see who can do one leg squats while balancing on the board!\r\n\r\nSnacks have been particularly helpful these last few weeks with the unease that the government shutdown and pause on SNAP benefits have brought to many students and their famililes. While a granola bar or pack of fruit snacks doesn't seem like much, it's that type of quiet support that many students need in order to feel safe and secure at school. Knowing that they can come to my classroom for something to eat when they're hungry is just a small way that school can be a place that fosters them holistically.\r\n\r\nThank you so much again for your support of my students!","fullyFundedDate":1755709658928,"projectUrl":"project/ready-for-growth/9586809/","projectTitle":"Ready for Growth!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rongstad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9062542_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685410990932","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9062542"},{"teacherId":9062542,"projectId":9292092,"letterContent":"As I approach the beginning of another school year (my 14th!), I'm reflecting on my gratitude for the consistent support I receive from family, friends and strangers each time I post a Donor's Choose project. Last year was the hardest year I've had as a teacher--even little things like plant stands, new planters, snacks and charging cords honestly make for small, smooth moments in my day as a teacher because they impact my students so positively! Days at school are often a rollercoaster, moving from class to class; seeing roughly 150 students with individual needs each day sometimes feels impossible. But, being able to hand a student a snack, chat about a new leaf unfurling on a plant, or point them to lotion for their dry hands allows us time to slow down and breathe in what often feels like chaos of pressure and constant expectations for the young people I care so deeply about. Again, thank you so much for your donations to my project that helped my students (and myself!) finish the year on a solid note.","fullyFundedDate":1745980892847,"projectUrl":"project/almost-to-the-finish-line/9292092/","projectTitle":"Almost to the Finish Line!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rongstad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9062542_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685410990932","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9062542"},{"teacherId":9062542,"projectId":9103597,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your help with funding my \"Snacks and Self-Control\" project. This semester has been filled with a lot of learning around implementing a cell phone locker in my classroom, as well as fielding hourly requests for snacks to keep students going.\r\n\r\nOur cell phone locker has been met with the obvious challenges but many triumphs as well! We've built routines around students housing their phones in the locker at the start of the hour, and I've had to scaffold that expectation with lots of communication home (which has allowed for some helpful conversations with families!). I'm so excited to begin our next school year with the same expectations and really solidfy our classroom space as a phone-free zone to increase engagement and learning.\r\n\r\nSnacks are always welcome, and we're down to our last few boxes of crackers and granola bars. Students are always grateful to have a snack to give them a boost during the day.\r\n\r\nThank you so much again for your contribution to my classroom! Creating a space for students to feel welcome, supported and affirmed is my biggest joy as a high school classroom teacher.","fullyFundedDate":1739290889613,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-and-self-control/9103597/","projectTitle":"Snacks and Self-Control","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rongstad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9062542_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1685410990932","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9062542"},{"teacherId":1580181,"projectId":9008160,"letterContent":"The Scrabble games you donated have brought real joy to my 11th-grade classroom. Students have enjoyed learning how to play Scrabble, which has not only been fun but has also helped them develop their vocabulary skills.\r\n\r\nMy AP English Language & Composition class recently had a Scrabble day where students learned new words and honed their language abilities in a relaxed (although at times quite competitive!) environment. It provided a refreshing break from our usual writing assignments, and some students in my classes are already looking forward to another game of Scrabble. \r\n\r\nYour support has made a significant impact, and we are incredibly grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1735518737915,"projectUrl":"project/word-games-for-english-class/9008160/","projectTitle":"Word Games for English Class","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fessenbecker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1580181_orig.jpg?crop=240,240,x0,y32&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1734367595081","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mclafferty"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_37136","uses�ǿմ�ý":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":2005,"numTeachers":122,"percentFrplEligible":44,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":23,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"16.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.6,"schoolId":37136,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Vel Phillips Memorial High School on @�ǿմ�ý:","schoolName":"Vel Phillips Memorial High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/wisconsin/madison-metropolitan-school-district/memorial-high-school/37136"}

Vel Phillips Memorial High School

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About this school

Vel Phillips Memorial High School is an urban public school in Madison, Wisconsin that is part of Madison Metropolitan School District. It serves 2,005 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.4:1. Its teachers have had 37 projects funded on �ǿմ�ý.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

2,005 Students

122 Teachers

201 S Gammon Rd

Madison, WI 53717 View local requests

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Ms. Vero, a �ǿմ�ý teacher for 9 years.

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

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Vel Phillips Memorial High School Demographics

44%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

47%

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.

Vel Phillips Memorial High School Support on �ǿմ�ý Last updated Feb 27, 2026

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