{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ala Wai Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":45.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8975834,"projectId":9775059,"letterContent":"Thank you for your support! The elementary school students and I are so fortunate to have you looking out for us. Your support has allowed me to provide enrichment activities to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The extracurricular classes provide students with opportunities to plan, design, and create. Students' imaginations are being fostered while they simultaneously develop connections with other students outside of their homeroom community. Thank you so much for all the beads, jewels, and more!\r\n\r\nWe also appreciate your donations of snacks and favors. Students were able to participate in learning revolving around your donations and the holidays. They even got to take home a small goodie bag!\r\n\r\nWords alone don't express how grateful we are for your support! Hooray!","fullyFundedDate":1759445469545,"projectUrl":"project/bead-it/9775059/","projectTitle":"Bead It!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tokumura","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8975834"},{"teacherId":8355272,"projectId":9493868,"letterContent":"Thank you for all the Rubik's Cubes, jigsaw puzzles, and instant film. When the students saw all the cubes and puzzles, they were so excited. They couldn't stop talking about the different types of cubes and puzzles they were about to use. They shared their knowledge and experience around the items with me and their classmates. Once Puzzle Mania Crew began, they had a blast experimenting with each type of cube and the various puzzles. They used the \"How To\" book to help them in their journey to solve puzzles as well. They also loved the 3D model of the body, which included bones, muscles, and organs. \r\n\r\nDuring Puzzle Mania Crew time, the students were so happy to have photos to take home photos taken with the instant film you provided. It was such a nice way for them to share what happens in school with their families. \r\n\r\nI look forward to more exciting Puzzle Mania Crew classes this year with our kindergarten through 5th grade students!","fullyFundedDate":1759169404517,"projectUrl":"project/puzzle-mania/9493868/","projectTitle":"Puzzle Mania","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wadsack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8355272_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753113538036","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8355272"},{"teacherId":9676972,"projectId":9702184,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support in funding our DonorsChoose project! Your kindness has provided our students with materials that spark curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning across art, science, and math.\r\n\r\nWith your help, our classroom has become a place where students can explore, experiment, and express themselves in new and exciting ways. The art materials inspire imagination and self-expression, while the science and math resources encourage hands-on discovery and problem-solving.\r\n\r\nDuring our recent class study of seeds, these materials had a powerful impact. Students used magnifying lenses, measuring tools, and art supplies to observe, document, and illustrate the different stages of seed growth. They drew detailed diagrams, made predictions, and compared plant development over time—blending science, math, and art in meaningful ways. The excitement and wonder they showed as they made new discoveries were truly inspiring. The next step is to be able to capture the children's learning through drawings, class discussions, journal entries, and song and dance. \r\n\r\nYour contribution has made a lasting difference—not only by supplying tools and resources but also by showing our students that their ideas and creativity matter. Thank you for investing in their learning and for helping us build a joyful, dynamic classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1757790661766,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-young-minds-through-art-science/9702184/","projectTitle":"Fueling Young Minds Through Art, Science & Math","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dona","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9676972_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y92&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724230676101","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-dona"},{"teacherId":9676972,"projectId":9389671,"letterContent":"Throughout the school year, we provide a variety of art experiences for our students to participate in, from painting, ink and watercolor, modeling clay, and collages. Varying in application, media, and medium, our children apply their senses and engage their creative energy to yield beautiful works of art. \r\n\r\nThe purpose of this project was to provide a safe place for the students to keep their finished work as well as those that were still in progress. We used the zipper pouches to organize work that we would add to their working portfolio so that we can share them with our families during parent-teacher conferences, family engagement events, and end-of-year meetings. \r\n\r\nWhile we knew that it was important to have a space to organize their work, we didn't anticipate the huge interest that the students would have in art this year. We are always thrilled to see the focus in the children's eyes as they make another stroke on their paper or figure out where to add the next button on their collage. We know that our students are proud of their work and happy to share their process as well as progress with their art. We are so thankful to be able to use the art supplies and storage container to foster their creativity and problem-solving skills.","fullyFundedDate":1754214879848,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-big-art-keeping-creativit/9389671/","projectTitle":"Little Hands, Big Art: Keeping Creativity Safe & Special","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Dona","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9676972_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y92&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724230676101","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-dona"},{"teacherId":9967853,"projectId":9775627,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! The cooking supplies will help student learn valuable life skills to carry on with them as they gain independence. These supplies will reach 3 classes this year and many classes beyond. \r\n\r\nThe breakfast snacks are invaluable. They provide nutrition and sustenance to students who have obstacles in obtaining breakfast. The food will meet the students' basic needs and free up their body and mind to engage in classroom learning.\r\n\r\nStudents will learn to self-regulate through the use of yoga mats. They will learn breathing techniques to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Yoga poses will build their mind-body connection to bring awareness into changes or fluctuations their body goes through throughout the day and in various situations. \r\n\r\nThe listed ways your support will reach our students is just the tip of the iceberg. The materials you provided can also develop social emotional learning, physical education, and life skills.","fullyFundedDate":1759425782204,"projectUrl":"project/mindful-movement-enhancing-physical-and/9775627/","projectTitle":"Mindful Movement: Enhancing Physical and Mental Health","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9967853_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741986927825","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9967853"},{"teacherId":3743350,"projectId":9153885,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to our project. The cots have been wonderful as each child has their own individual cot and rest space. The cots provide a sense of self and belonging. \r\n The children love the pretend play foods. The ice cream station was a big hit that helped the children develop their social skills, pretend play, language and communication skills, and turn taking skills. It has evolved from the children fighting over the ice cream to opening up an ice cream shop, taking orders, taking turns, sharing and passing out ice cream flavors to friends. It's been a beautiful experience. \r\n The kitchen sets were also such a perfect next step in our planting and harvesting projects. The children picked vegetables from our garden and prepared fresh salsa for guests visiting the school. Thank you so much for giving our preschool students the supplies and tools to learn and grow from and to apply the skills from pretending to real life. We truly appreciate your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1741971055983,"projectUrl":"project/basic-preschool-essentials/9153885/","projectTitle":"Basic Preschool Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kathy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3743350_orig.jpg?crop=576,576,x1464,y384&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700036079610","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kilby"},{"teacherId":2005891,"projectId":9156498,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is now stocked with headphones, supplies, and incentives that are already making a huge difference. With the headphones, students can focus during digital lessons without being distracted by background noise, giving them the independence to work at their own pace. Many of our programs, like reading comprehension and math practice, provide instant feedback, and students are more engaged when they can hear clearly and concentrate. For families who may not realize how important this is in today's classrooms, the headphones have become an essential tool for learning—not just an accessory.\r\n\r\nThe excitement from students has been amazing! They are thrilled to have their own supplies ready for projects, writing, and math activities. The small incentive rewards have also boosted motivation—students are eager to meet their goals and celebrate their progress. One student who used to get frustrated during online reading assessments now beams with confidence, sharing how the headphones make it \"feel like it's just me and the story.\" For others, having the right tools at hand has built both independence and pride in their learning.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped create a more focused, motivated, and joyful classroom. These resources go far beyond simple supplies—they've built confidence, encouraged persistence, and shown my students that their education matters to people beyond our classroom walls. Thank you for investing in their success!","fullyFundedDate":1741810011541,"projectUrl":"project/stocking-up-for-success-headphones-sup/9156498/","projectTitle":"Stocking Up for Success: Headphones, Supplies & Incentives!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Baldaino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2005891_orig.jpg?crop=1745,1746,x0,y192&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646855376655","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2005891"},{"teacherId":8355272,"projectId":9200611,"letterContent":"Thank you for everything! The new, official size basketballs will be used for our basketball unit in physical education. They will also be used for our Special Olympic Unified Basketball teams. The students will be over the moon to have regulation sized balls in new condition. I can't wait for the season to start, the students will be so surprised and excited with our new equipment.\r\n\r\nThe electric pump made pumping the balls so quick and easy! I don't have to manually pump soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, and kickballs anymore, phew! You are a lifesaver. \r\n\r\nAll the foam balls will make teaching the \"Littles\" (pre-k, kindergarteners, and first graders) fun and safe. The colors will help me organize students in groups and the squishiness of the balls will make mistakes, forgiving. Physical Education class will be a safe environment for students to build up skills such as underhand and overhand tossing and catching.\r\n\r\nI am so excited to start using all the sports equipment!","fullyFundedDate":1752923711545,"projectUrl":"project/gear-upgood-game/9200611/","projectTitle":"Gear Up...Good Game!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wadsack","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8355272_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753113538036","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8355272"},{"teacherId":3253535,"projectId":9160466,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your generous support in helping Ala Wai Elementary School obtain a Cricut Venture through DonorsChoose. This incredible tool has already made a meaningful impact on our campus by allowing us to design and create vibrant artwork that reflects our school's mission, vision, and the Leader in Me 8 Habits. Even more importantly, it has given our students the opportunity to contribute their ideas and voices to the creative process, fostering a stronger sense of ownership and pride in our school environment.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for the kindness and support of each donor who helped bring this vision to life. Your contributions are helping to transform our campus into a more inspiring and student-centered space—one where creativity, leadership, and collaboration thrive. Thank you for believing in our students and in the power of education to shape a brighter future.","fullyFundedDate":1742924875171,"projectUrl":"project/color-our-world-with-inspiration/9160466/","projectTitle":"Color our World with Inspiration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Moku","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3253535_orig.jpg?crop=1124,1125,x0,y453&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1664222428202","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3253535"},{"teacherId":2005891,"projectId":9061073,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our \"Pumped for Success\" project! The air compressor has been an incredible addition to our classroom reward system, allowing us to host our very first Reward Fair with high-energy, hands-on excitement. Students were absolutely thrilled when they saw the compressor inflating the prizes and activities—it instantly elevated the fun and made the experience feel like a real fair. From inflatable games to balloon decorations and creative stations, your gift helped turn a simple celebration into a memorable event that motivated every student to keep working hard.\r\n\r\nOne especially special moment was watching a group of students huddle together in awe as the air compressor powered up and transformed a flat bounce ball station into a vibrant, playable game. Their faces lit up with excitement and pride, knowing their positive behavior and effort earned them something so cool. The buzz around the Reward Fair has not stopped since—it's created a culture of excitement, accountability, and anticipation. Students are already asking what the next Reward Fair will include, and they're setting goals and tracking their progress toward it.\r\n\r\nThanks to your donation, we now have a reusable tool that will support our classroom celebrations and incentives for years to come. Next up, students are working in teams to help plan the next fair, applying lessons in math, organization, and communication as part of a real-world problem-solving project. You've helped spark something meaningful, and we're so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1742924536005,"projectUrl":"project/pumped-for-success-air-compressor-for-o/9061073/","projectTitle":"Pumped for Success: Air Compressor for Our Reward Fair!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Baldaino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2005891_orig.jpg?crop=1745,1746,x0,y192&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646855376655","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2005891"},{"teacherId":8356400,"projectId":9154962,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your generous support of my class project. My student leaders were overjoyed and thrilled to get a new assortment of reading books as well as a cool rotating bookshelf. They were so enthusiastic to dive into reading! My students were grateful to receive new, cute bookmarks and page holder clips. There were so many smiles as they got to choose motivational journal notepads and adorable pens. Together it inspired my students to come to school and love learning. Your kind gesture made them feel so special! We all feel so blessed by the generosity of Marc and Lynne Benioff as well as the support of the Hawaii State Department of Education.","fullyFundedDate":1741736209321,"projectUrl":"project/a-rainbow-of-reading-possibilities/9154962/","projectTitle":"A Rainbow of Reading Possibilities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Eng","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8356400_orig.jpg?crop=474,474,x0,y1&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649208527099","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8356400"},{"teacherId":8978344,"projectId":9152947,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, we've been putting the expandable breathing balls and Voit balls to good use in my music classroom. With the breathing balls, my 3rd–5th graders have been practicing mindful breathing exercises before singing and playing instruments. Students were able to describe and visualize how their breathing affects their mood and calms them down. Additionally, during singing, they actively made the connection between their breath and making music.\r\n\r\nThe Voit balls have turned our rhythm lessons into high-energy, full-body experiences. From steady beat games with my kindergarteners to syncopation practice with 5th graders, these tactile tools have made rhythm come alive. Their immediate reaction when I pulled the bag of Voit balls was pure excitement with the activities that I planned with them.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to continue making the connections of our music concepts through mindful breathing and kinesthetic exploration. We will integrate these tools into our upcoming lessons, creating rhythm games that use the Voit balls while combining the steady breathwork we've been practicing. My students will not only build stronger musical skills but also learn how breath and movement support them in expressing themselves with confidence and joy. These activities will lead to small group performances, where students can showcase how breath and rhythm work together to make music dynamic and alive.","fullyFundedDate":1741661496797,"projectUrl":"project/big-breaths-and-bouncy-beats/9152947/","projectTitle":"Big Breaths and Bouncy Beats!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Chris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8978344_orig.jpg?crop=2048,2048,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741716656381","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8978344"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50822","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":344,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":25,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":10,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":54.6,"schoolId":50822,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ala Wai Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ala Wai Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/honolulu-school-district/ala-wai-elementary-school/50822"}