{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highlands Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":17.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7596776,"projectId":9785774,"letterContent":"Mahalo nui loa for your generous donation to my classroom library. As you can see in the pictures, my vibrant classroom library has been enhanced due to your generosity. \r\n\r\nThis donation has already been used and appreciated by my students. Adding relevant, engaging novels to my classroom library helps my students grow a love of reading, which builds not only their comprehension and vocabulary, but also their empathy and compassion. Students read daily, and having books that they love helps them to focus and build their skills. \r\n\r\nMahalo, mahalo, mahalo! Your support is appreciated beyond measure!","fullyFundedDate":1759628600612,"projectUrl":"project/read-more-learn-more-live-better/9785774/","projectTitle":"Read More, Learn More, Live Better!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Colmenares","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7596776"},{"teacherId":9967607,"projectId":9774579,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our math classroom. Because of you, my students now have access to calculators and glue that are essential for our interactive notebooks and daily learning.\r\nThe calculators have already made a huge difference. Students are able to check their work, explore patterns, and focus more on understanding math concepts rather than getting stuck on computation. This has helped build their confidence and encouraged them to take academic risks.\r\nThe glue may seem simple, but it plays a powerful role in our classroom. Students use it to build interactive notebooks that help them organize their thinking, engage with lessons, and create a resource they can refer back to throughout the year. These hands-on materials make learning more meaningful and accessible for all students.\r\nYour generosity has directly impacted my students' engagement, organization, and confidence in math. Thank you for investing in our classroom and helping create an environment where students feel supported and excited to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1759417662992,"projectUrl":"project/tools-for-math-success/9774579/","projectTitle":"Tools for Math Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Uson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9967607"},{"teacherId":9471248,"projectId":9772877,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. With the new supplies we could implement activities that allow the students to express their own voice. Students got to decide on their own designs and make their own modifications. We could define and explain the differences between form and function. Some designs looked good on paper but when making them out of wood, they broke. Other designs were sturdy but they did not look as elegant.\r\n\r\nStudent 1 mentioned, \"The new supplies helped to bring my designs to life. They look great even after a month of use. They are so tough.\"\r\n\r\nNew supplies boost our students' educational process. When working with new materials, students feel like they matter. They feel important. They do not feel like they are receiving hand-me-downs. They feel happy that somebody is investing in their learning.\r\n\r\nThe keychain and leather bracelet projects allow extra practice for students to develop greater eye-hand coordination. Some other lessons learned are following instructions, weaving a pattern, and hammering. Color matching and painting techniques are also covered. Life skills learned from these lessons include team work, respect for self and others, and good decision making.\r\n\r\nStudent 12 commented, \"I really like making things. I never knew people could make a living by doing what they enjoy. Basically, filling a need such as crafting keychains.\"\r\n\r\nThe different materials supplied allowed students to have a variety of different experiences. Working with leather is very unique when compared to paracord. Likewise, shrink art is a process which requires its own set of unique tools. Your generous donation helped to pave the road for our students' success.","fullyFundedDate":1759410251506,"projectUrl":"project/key-chains-allow-students-to-express-the/9772877/","projectTitle":"Key Chains Allow Students to Express Their Own Voice","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ching","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9471248_orig.jpg?crop=726,726,x0,y16&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1708119140250","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9471248"},{"teacherId":10295613,"projectId":9780469,"letterContent":"Upon seeing all the materials that was donated to this project, there were a wide variety of emotions. For many, the sight of the sharpie pens, stack of papers, markers, starch, and especially the plastic masks was meet with a sense of anticipation and excitement, sparking immediate questions about the project ahead. Some students display initial apprehension, their eyes widening slightly, perhaps wondering how the items will come together to make a final art piece. This initial wariness quickly went away when I showed them the possibilities of what their final piece might look like. \r\n\r\nFinishing the mask project was a journey of self-discovery and creative expression, culminating in a powerful, tangible representation of identity. The process involved with creating the mask project were creating a paper mache mask from a mold, infusing the final product with deep personal meaning through artwork of a personal experience, coloring with markers, and other materials. The final reward came not only from seeing the completed mask displayed but also the opportunity for the students to reflect on the symbols and share the personal stories and emotions and share those personal experiences to the whole class.\r\n\r\nWe are currently finishing a mini cardboard bedroom art project. These miniature diorama are crafted from recycled cardboard, paper, markers, and paints. They selected a particular theme that is close to their hearts and incorporated it into the bedroom, from color schemes to artwork from the walls, furniture, and bed sheets. Seeing the tiny beds, desks, and even miniature paintings coming together has been incredibly satisfying, highlighting how everyday materials can be transformed into art. Some students even let me have their artwork in order to display them proudly to my next set of students.","fullyFundedDate":1759577151321,"projectUrl":"project/the-storytellers-veil/9780469/","projectTitle":"The Storyteller's Veil","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Arios","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10295613"},{"teacherId":9551425,"projectId":9773066,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing the funds to purchase flexible seating for our students. The students were so excited once we unpacked the boxes. They were even more excited when it was explained what the items were for. \r\n Whenever students do independent work on the laptops, students can find a comfortable space to use the flexible seating options to do their work. Productivity has certainly gone up for the students who do not care for sitting at a traditional pallet desk. \r\n We look forward to allowing our students to do group activities together using the flex seating options in the future. \r\n Thank you again for supporting the education of our students. Your support means a lot to all of us!","fullyFundedDate":1759241809453,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-classroom/9773066/","projectTitle":"Flexible Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gebs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9551425"},{"teacherId":8359470,"projectId":9772788,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in encouraging our students to be positive contributors, productive scholars, and responsible students. Your donation allows our growing teens to visit our redemption center and redeem their points for their favorite prizes such as Takis, Oreo Minis, popcorn, and chips! \r\n\r\nThe snacks at our redemption center are so popular that what we had initially bought only lasted us one month! We were worried how we would be able to purchase more snacks to last us until at least December. We are forever grateful for your donation. Middle school students are always hungry, and 95% of the time they choose food over a toy/gadget/school supplies!","fullyFundedDate":1759194538232,"projectUrl":"project/teenagers-practicing-positive-behaviors/9772788/","projectTitle":"Teenagers Practicing Positive Behaviors","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Higa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8359470"},{"teacherId":9806735,"projectId":9773725,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous contribution, our students transformed our annual community night into an unforgettable, student-led showcase of creativity and collaboration. The new resources you provided were immediately put to use supporting our student groups. The funds helped us acquire materials necessary for ambitious creative elements into a tangible, high-quality event. When the students first saw the final materials arrive, their excitement was solid. It was a visible validation of their hard work, transforming planning into reality. The overwhelming success and positive feedback validated their project management and teamwork skills, instilling immense pride and ownership in every student leader involved.\r\n\r\nThe impact of this project goes far beyond a single evening. Our students are currently focused on the next steps of analyzing the event's success. The skills gained are directly applicable to their ongoing academic and personal growth, reinforcing the value of leadership and their commitment to enhancing the school climate for everyone. This single night has increased our family engagement and proven to our students that their capacity for leadership is truly limitless. Thank you Hawai'i State Dept. of Ed and Marc & Lynne Benioff for giving us this opportunity!","fullyFundedDate":1759427737352,"projectUrl":"project/pride-and-belonging-through-a-fun-event/9773725/","projectTitle":"Pride and Belonging Through a Fun Event","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Morihara-Dahilig","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9806735"},{"teacherId":9357509,"projectId":9774389,"letterContent":"Your decision to invest in our students by providing essential learning materials has had an immediate and measurable impact on our daily operations and the overall atmosphere of learning. This wasn't just a donation of items; it was a powerful gift of opportunity and equity.\r\nYou provided headphones, a laminator, colored paper, snacks, fidget toys, an electronic plug-in port and many more very useful materials. I want to take a moment to detail how each of these seemingly simple tools has profoundly improved our classroom.\r\nThe headphones and fidget toys have been instrumental in improving student self-regulation and focus. The fidget toys have provided a vital outlet for our highest-energy students. These quiet tools allow restless minds and bodies to remain engaged in the lesson while channeling nervous or excess energy constructively. The laminator and the electronic plug-in port have been indispensable. As any teacher knows, the laminator is a classroom lifeline. We have already used it to protect frequently handled materials, like literacy center activities, and classroom labels, ensuring these valuable resources last for years instead of weeks. The electronic plug-in port has eliminated the tangled mess of cords and provided a central, safe location for students to charge their one-to-one devices. The colorful colored paper has been fantastic for visual learners and classroom organization. The snacks removes the barrier of hunger, preventing irritability and lack of concentration. \r\n\r\nThank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for seeing our needs and for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1759429496806,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-essentials/9774389/","projectTitle":"Classroom Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ashlyn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9357509"},{"teacherId":9469229,"projectId":9592410,"letterContent":"Your generous contributions are instrumental in launching the Chess Club for the 2025–2026 school year. Thanks to your support, we can now procure the incentive rewards and crucial equipment, like the laminator, needed to create durable, engaging chess sets.\r\nMoreover, this project will not only enhance the students' learning experience but also deeply promote the core values of Colts Pride: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence. We are sincerely grateful for your commitment to fostering a vibrant and challenging environment where every student can develop strategic thinking and a valuable \"win and learn\" attitude. With your help, we are confident this club will become a lasting success, shaping the thoughtful leaders of tomorrow.","fullyFundedDate":1757751978256,"projectUrl":"project/winning-moves-lasting-values-colts-che/9592410/","projectTitle":"Winning Moves, Lasting Values: Colts Chess Club","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Medrano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9469229_orig.jpg?crop=1164,1164,x358,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759219893525","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9469229"},{"teacherId":9469060,"projectId":9162665,"letterContent":"The new classroom lighting was a bright addition to our classroom. We immediately began using them to create a peaceful and welcoming classroom environment. Students gravitate towards our calming corner at all times of the day. Typically, right off the bus students are feeling a bit anxious during the transition, so we will start the day off by slowly warming up the minds with brain games on the carpet. At the end of the day, when it is time to go home, another restful period is useful to bring the energy back down. The digital clock helps to let students know when it is time to bring it back!\r\n\r\nWhen the students saw that the room is not the typical classroom with bright fluorescent lights, their faces lit up with excitement. They felt like the room was \"more like home\" and relaxing. The next steps for us are to continue incorporating this environment into our daily lessons. For example, the lighting can be used for different activities such as calm reading or group discussions. These resources have already made such a positive difference in the atmosphere of our classroom, and I'm excited to see how they continue to support both learning and emotional well-being.","fullyFundedDate":1746786142231,"projectUrl":"project/shining-a-light-on-learning-enhancing-c/9162665/","projectTitle":"Shining a Light on Learning: Enhancing Classroom Spaces for ASD","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cariaga","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9469060"},{"teacherId":8927713,"projectId":9265888,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in encouraging our students to be positive contributors, productive scholars, and responsible students last school year. Your donation allowed our growing teens to visit our redemption center and redeem their points for their favorite prize... SNACKS (and other cool prizes)! The positive choices they were encouraged to make helped them improve their social & emotional health. We hope you will consider supporting this cause as we kick off our new school year! Please be on the lookout for updates!\r\n\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMrs. Shirafuji","fullyFundedDate":1745687918268,"projectUrl":"project/teenagers-practicing-positive-behaviors/9265888/","projectTitle":"Teenagers Practicing Positive Behaviors","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shirafuji","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8927713_orig.png?crop=301,301,x193,y42&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759479501860","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8927713"},{"teacherId":9812848,"projectId":9158619,"letterContent":"My students used the various craft supplies for create many different set pieces and props for our most recent production of Little Mermaid. Our students performed a total of 7 times with shows provided for our Highlands school, Highlands friends and family, as well as an inagural performance for one of our feeder elementary schools. We could not have been able to put on such a show without your kind contribution.\r\n\r\nThe stitch gun, fabric, and fabric scissors were used by our drama program to create several costumes and props. Paint was used for one of our many backdrops. Backdrops take a surprising amount as we've gone through gallons of it but its been gallons well used. Our students create different scenese from the Little Mermaid including scenes underwater, on the beach, and in the palace.","fullyFundedDate":1741999905452,"projectUrl":"project/soo-dramatic/9158619/","projectTitle":"Soo Dramatic","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Esteban","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9812848"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50792","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":824,"numTeachers":58,"percentFrplEligible":31,"percentAsian":37,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":18,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.4,"schoolId":50792,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highlands Intermediate School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highlands Intermediate School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/leeward-oahu-school-district/highlands-intermediate-school/50792"}