{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Konawaena Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":61.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8436852,"projectId":10114732,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my Executive Functioning Project! My students were excited to see all of the new supplies arrive and immediately wanted to explore how we could use them. We are using the folders, Post-it notes, paper, organizational tools, and other materials to help students plan, organize, and complete projects in manageable steps. One of our favorite activities has been creating hands-on visual projects where students have to brainstorm ideas, sequence information, draft, revise, cut, organize, and present their finished work. It has been wonderful to watch students become more confident as they see their ideas take shape in front of them.\r\n\r\nThese resources are helping us move beyond simply completing assignments and focus on how students approach their work. As we continue our current lessons, students will be using the materials to organize their thinking, create visual displays, and prepare their work for sharing with classmates. They are learning that big projects become much less overwhelming when they can break them into smaller steps, prioritize what needs to be done, and take pride in the finished product. Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to practice these important skills in a hands-on, meaningful way. Your generosity is helping them build independence, confidence, and executive functioning skills they can carry far beyond my classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1777898418595,"projectUrl":"project/executive-functioning-support/10114732/","projectTitle":"Executive Functioning Support","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pascual","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8436852_orig.jpg?crop=1112,1112,x150,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1652552724716","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8436852"},{"teacherId":2849880,"projectId":10107837,"letterContent":"I've noticed when I ask \"who likes to read\", that many of my students don't like to read. I then ask then who likes movies and TV shows. At this point most hands go up if not all. I tell them that all movies and TV shows start off as a book or script. I then share with them my philosophy that kids don't like to read for two main reasons:\r\n1. Because they haven't found the right book and \r\n2. (More common) because they lack the skills to read and it's difficult and not enjoyable.\r\nOur school does silent reading twice a week and it was a constant struggle to manage more than half the class that was off task and not reading silently. So I started reading to them as they read along and the issues largely vanished. Very few kids don't like being read to.\r\nThese class sets of informational texts have given me the ability to read to my students as they all read along. I'm able to teach punctuation, italics, inference of text (what do you think will happen next?), and vocabulary all in real time as we read together. It's fun and engaging for my students, and teaching them to be stronger readers.","fullyFundedDate":1779285803311,"projectUrl":"project/lets-read-together/10107837/","projectTitle":"Let's Read Together!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Wainwright","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2849880"},{"teacherId":9274776,"projectId":10107830,"letterContent":"The Marking & Media: A Comprehensive Material Study project has transformed our students' approach to visual design and artistic inquiry. By immersing students in an analytical exploration of diverse media—ranging from traditional graphite and ink to synthetic pigments and digital marking tools—this project shifted their perspective from basic execution to deep material literacy. Students moved beyond viewing media as mere tools, discovering how substrate texture, fluid dynamics, binding agents, and surface resistance directly govern visual outcome. This foundational mastery elevated their craftsmanship, instilling a refined confidence in selecting the precise mediums required to express complex visual concepts.\r\n\r\nBeyond practical skill, the project cultivated critical thinking and a disciplined, inquiry-driven methodology. Students treated medium exploration as a research discipline: conducting systematic tests, recording behavioral anomalies under varying environmental conditions, and documenting surface interactions. This experimental approach normalized trial, error, and iteration as essential phases of the creative process rather than failures. By bridging academic analysis with studio practice, students developed rigorous observational skills, learn to articulate their technical choices clearly, and gained a heightened adaptability that will serve them across multidisciplinary creative environments.\r\n\r\nUltimately, the long-term impact of this project extends far into our students' personal and professional development. Mastering material properties fostered a sense of creative autonomy, empowering students to break past standard conventions and innovate with confidence. They emerged not only as more capable practitioners, but as thoughtful creators equipped to make informed, deliberate material choices in their future academic and industry pursuits. The lasting legacy of Marking & Media is a student body that approaches technical challenges with resilience, curiosity, and an enduring respect for the synergy between artistic intent and material science.","fullyFundedDate":1777898419488,"projectUrl":"project/marking-media-a-comprehensive-materia/10107830/","projectTitle":"Marking & Media: A Comprehensive Material Study","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Palacay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9274776_orig.jpg?crop=2235,2235,x0,y374&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760554360104","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9274776"},{"teacherId":9968691,"projectId":10115941,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation. Please note that we've been on summer vacation and that we haven't had a chance to use this equipment, but know it will get used and the student will experience something that will enhance their live with a healthy lifestyle. I had to make many changes to what I wanted for the students and had to think outside the box because the equipment I originally wanted was not available.instead of the basketball hoops I went with some rebounders and I'm intending it to evolve into the game Tchoukball.\r\n\r\nThank you for your donation, your patience and your time in supporting our student at Konawaena Middle.","fullyFundedDate":1777992788519,"projectUrl":"project/basketballpickleball-experiences/10115941/","projectTitle":"Basketball/Pickleball Experiences","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Torbeck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9968691"},{"teacherId":9988495,"projectId":10083345,"letterContent":"We are using these food resources as an emotional regulation tool and a bridge for connection, which has been especially critical as students transition back to campus following the **Kona Low storm closures**.\r\nA specific moment that stands out happened the week we reopened. A few students who had experienced flooding and damage at home came into my office visibly overwhelmed and exhausted. Being able to immediately offer them a substantial, comforting snack lowered their defenses right away. As they sat together and ate, the physical tension left their shoulders. That simple act of sharing food transformed a high-anxiety morning into a quiet, safe moment where they could talk through their stress and realize they weren't alone in this recovery.Their reaction wasn't a loud, energetic celebration, but rather a **quiet, deep sigh of relief**. When the students first saw the shelves stocked with food, there was a visible, calm settling in the room.\r\nFor middle schoolers already dealing with the daily pressures of poverty, the added chaos of recent storm damage and school closures meant that food insecurity was top of mind. Seeing these resources felt like a collective weight being lifted. It gave them a sense of stability when everything else felt unpredictable, letting them know that their school is a safe haven where they are genuinely supported!","fullyFundedDate":1778061115176,"projectUrl":"project/helping-kids-stay-calm-and-learn-with-br/10083345/","projectTitle":"Helping Kids Stay Calm and Learn With Brain Food!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tovah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9988495_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y554&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743451224226","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9988495"},{"teacherId":9988495,"projectId":10083432,"letterContent":"We are using these food resources as an emotional regulation tool and a bridge for connection, which has been especially critical as students transition back to campus following the **Kona Low storm closures**.\r\nA specific moment that stands out happened the week we reopened. A few students who had experienced flooding and damage at home came into my office visibly overwhelmed and exhausted. Being able to immediately offer them a substantial, comforting snack lowered their defenses right away. As they sat together and ate, the physical tension left their shoulders. That simple act of sharing food transformed a high-anxiety morning into a quiet, safe moment where they could talk through their stress and realize they weren't alone in this recovery.Their reaction wasn't a loud, energetic celebration, but rather a **quiet, deep sigh of relief**. When the students first saw the shelves stocked with food, there was a visible, calm settling in the room.\r\nFor middle schoolers already dealing with the daily pressures of poverty, the added chaos of recent storm damage and school closures meant that food insecurity was top of mind. Seeing these resources felt like a collective weight being lifted. It gave them a sense of stability when everything else felt unpredictable, letting them know that their school is a safe haven where they are genuinely supported!","fullyFundedDate":1777898414476,"projectUrl":"project/brain-food-helps-us-stay-calm/10083432/","projectTitle":"Brain Food Helps Us Stay Calm","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tovah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9988495_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y554&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743451224226","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9988495"},{"teacherId":6621951,"projectId":10115507,"letterContent":"This project is something that I want to do again with my 7th grade students, but we will definitely need to start this project earlier in the school year. We were not able to make enough lei for all 100 students, but the students did their best with the time they had. Time and patience is necessary for this project. A total of 18 LEGO lei was created for the 8th grade students. \r\n\r\nThe LEGO lei project had a meaningful impact on some of our eighth-grade students by helping them feel recognized, valued, and celebrated as they reached an important milestone in their educational journey. Many of our students have worked hard to overcome academic, social, and personal challenges throughout middle school, and receiving a LEGO lei provided a fun and memorable way to honor their accomplishments.\r\n\r\nThe lei added excitement and school pride to our promotion ceremony while giving students a keepsake they could cherish long after the event. Because the leis were built from LEGO pieces, they reflected creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving—qualities our students have developed during their time in middle school.\r\n\r\nFor many students and families, the LEGO lei became a symbol of achievement and community support. The celebration helped create positive memories, strengthened students' sense of belonging, and encouraged them to move forward to high school with confidence. Thanks to the generosity of donors, our students felt seen, celebrated, and appreciated during this special transition. Be on the lookout for another project for this upcoming school year.","fullyFundedDate":1776439531007,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-eighth-grade-with-lego-leis/10115507/","projectTitle":"Celebrating Eighth Grade with LEGO Leis","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. J. Murphioka","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6621951_orig.jpg?crop=568,568,x46,y129&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1597084475340","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/murphiokamath"},{"teacherId":9817254,"projectId":10111042,"letterContent":"Thank you again for you support and generosity this year in my request for Donations.\r\n\r\nThe Megaphone were so helpful in quickly gathering students together in a short time . We used it for our performances this year during practices to quickly move kids with out losing our voices over many months. My yard duty additionally was eased without having to yell across the field or quickly get the attention of students on the open play field.\r\n\r\nI had pur hase lamps for my classroom but the addition of 2 more lamps helped create the needed light ambience for the room without having to use the overhead fluorescent hospital lights.\r\n\r\nThe TV came later in the year and. Couldn't have come at a better time considering my old one was losing all its steam at the end of the year. I was unable to put into full use this year do to coming late bc of unavailable sold out items and the requirements to hang on a mount. I purchased a wall mount and will be hanging it up in a few weeks for it to be ready for the coming school year. I will include full Pic in my next donation request in coming year . Thank you so much again.","fullyFundedDate":1771790881947,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-enhancement/10111042/","projectTitle":"Classroom Enhancement","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Pieronek","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9817254_orig.jpg?crop=239,239,x49,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741883499405","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9817254"},{"teacherId":6919220,"projectId":10104622,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in supporting our project, \"More Than Just a Bad Day: Tools for Middle School.\" Your belief in our classroom and our students has truly made a profound difference.\r\n\r\nThe Impact in Our Classroom\r\n\r\nThe new resources have quickly become an essential part of our daily routine. We are using them constantly to help students learn to effectively regulate their emotions. Whether a student needs a moment to reset or a tool to help them focus, these materials have provided the perfect support system.\r\n\r\nA particularly special highlight has been the new ice maker—it has been a massive hit! Both the adults and the students absolutely love it, and it has brought a wonderful, refreshing energy to our space.\r\n\r\nPure Excitement and Gratitude was felt when the packages arrived and the students saw the materials for the very first time, the excitement in the room was palpable. They were thrilled to explore the new supplies and deeply grateful for the healthy snacks. Having those nutritious options has been a game-changer for keeping them fueled, focused, and ready to learn throughout the day.\r\n\r\nYour contribution is making a lasting impact that extends far beyond a single day. Moving forward, our next steps are to continue heavily educating our students on emotional regulation. With these new tools firmly integrated into our environment, we are now better equipped than ever to teach these vital life skills and help our middle schoolers navigate their days with confidence and resilience.\r\n\r\nThank you for opening your hearts to our classroom and giving our students a glimpse of how much their community cares about their well-being. We could not have done this without you!\r\n\r\nWith deep gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1771604839575,"projectUrl":"project/more-than-just-a-bad-day-tools-for-midd/10104622/","projectTitle":"More Than Just a Bad Day: Tools for Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kyra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6919220"},{"teacherId":5403994,"projectId":10108748,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation to this project. The kids have been thoroughly enjoying the games. Connect 4 & the Mancala game were out every single game day. The snacks were a great energizing motivator. Middle schoolers thrive on food! \r\nThe joy on my students faces as they played games together & strategized to win was a delight to see. Students were glued to the Connect 4 boards working out how to beat their opponent. \r\nThe crafting supplies will help me start off our new school year with engagement options to hook the kids interest in both health class & team building in advisory. \r\nI truly appreciate the Hawaii Department of Education for their support for this project.","fullyFundedDate":1771704781232,"projectUrl":"project/creativity-cooperation-curiosity-co/10108748/","projectTitle":"Creativity, Cooperation, Curiosity & Connection","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wagstaff","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5403994"},{"teacherId":10039649,"projectId":10117364,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported our LEGO project. Your generosity and kindness have made a meaningful impact on our classroom and our students. Because of your donations, our students now have access to hands-on materials that encourage creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking in an engaging and exciting way.\r\n\r\nThe LEGO materials will be used to support learning across many subject areas while also helping students build communication and collaboration skills. Our students were thrilled to see the new supplies arrive, and their excitement and enthusiasm were immediate. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our students' learning experiences. Your support truly helps create opportunities that inspire curiosity, imagination, and confidence every day.","fullyFundedDate":1777898419069,"projectUrl":"project/lego-building-for-eighth-graders/10117364/","projectTitle":"LEGO Building for Eighth Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nakamoto","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10039649"},{"teacherId":10039649,"projectId":10111795,"letterContent":"We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported our LEGO project. Your generosity and kindness have made a meaningful impact on our classroom and our students. Because of your donations, our students now have access to hands-on materials that encourage creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking in an engaging and exciting way.\r\n\r\nThe LEGO materials will be used to support learning across many subject areas while also helping students build communication and collaboration skills. Our students were thrilled to see the new supplies arrive, and their excitement and enthusiasm were immediate. Thank you for believing in our classroom and investing in our students' learning experiences. Your support truly helps create opportunities that inspire curiosity, imagination, and confidence every day.","fullyFundedDate":1771786672995,"projectUrl":"project/lego-activities/10111795/","projectTitle":"LEGO Activities","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nakamoto","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10039649"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_62527","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":607,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":58,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":13,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":30,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":25,"percentMultiracialImputed":21,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":38.5,"schoolId":62527,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Konawaena Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Konawaena Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/hawaii-school-district/konawaena-middle-school/62527"}