{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Lihikai Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":40.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8903658,"projectId":10108371,"letterContent":"On behalf of our entire student body, faculty, and administration, I am writing to express our deepest and most sincere gratitude for your incredibly generous donation of the Tiny Dots games, multi-faceted dice, and an assortment of versatile math manipulatives. Your investment in our classroom resources has brought an immense wave of excitement, energy, and inspiration to our daily mathematics instruction.\r\n\r\nIn elementary education, establishing a strong foundation in core mathematical principles is critical. However, traditional rote memorization and repetitive worksheets can often induce anxiety or disengagement among young learners. Your thoughtful contribution has completely transformed this dynamic in our classrooms. By integrating the Tiny Dots games and interactive dice into our daily routines, we have been able to replace passive learning with dynamic, hands-on mathematical exploration. These resources are currently being utilized across multiple grade levels to facilitate engaging math games and collaborative activities that make abstract concepts tangible and accessible.\r\n\r\nThe primary objective of incorporating these innovative manipulatives is to dramatically increase our students' math fact fluency—a vital stepping stone for all higher-level mathematics. Because of your support, our students are no longer just counting on their fingers or passively guessing answers; they are actively visualizing numbers, identifying complex patterns, and discovering the inherent logic of arithmetic through play. The tactile nature of the dice and Tiny Dots cards allows students to develop a deep, intuitive sense of numbers, addition, subtraction, and multiplication strategies. This kinesthetic approach ensures that learning sticks, accommodating diverse learning styles and meeting students exactly where they are in their academic journeys.\r\n\r\nBeyond the measurable academic gains in speed and accuracy, the most profound impact of your donation is the visible transformation in student confidence. Children who previously felt intimidated by math are now eagerly volunteering to lead games, explaining their strategic thinking to peers, and celebrating their mathematical victories. You have helped us cultivate a safe classroom environment where mistakes are viewed as natural steps in puzzle-solving rather than failures. This newfound confidence is spilling over into other academic subjects, fostering a resilient, growth-oriented mindset throughout our school community.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has provided our dedicated educators with the exact tools they need to make math come alive. Seeing the pure joy and curiosity on our students' faces as they roll the dice, arrange their Tiny Dots, and conquer complex mathematical challenges is an absolute privilege. You have not simply supplied toys or basic tools; you have fueled a genuine, lifelong passion for discovery and problem-solving within these young minds.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your remarkable generosity, your belief in public education, and your unwavering commitment to expanding student knowledge. Your support is making a meaningful, lasting difference in the lives and futures of our students each and every day.","fullyFundedDate":1771779912656,"projectUrl":"project/fluency-games-and-supplies/10108371/","projectTitle":"Fluency Games and Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Adams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8903658"},{"teacherId":9079834,"projectId":10103595,"letterContent":"Receiving materials through DonorsChoose transforms a classroom from a mere workspace into a vibrant, high-functioning community. When students see new decor that reflects their identities and cleaning supplies that keep their environment pristine, they experience a profound sense of dignity and safety; it signals to them that their comfort and health are top priorities. These physical changes foster a \"sanctuary effect,\" lowering anxiety and allowing students to focus entirely on learning rather than navigating a cluttered or neglected space.\r\n\r\nBeyond the aesthetics, treats and incentives act as vital tools for engagement and equity. For many students, a simple snack provides the caloric fuel necessary to concentrate, while small rewards build a tangible bridge between hard work and success. The most lasting impact, however, is psychological: knowing that \"strangers\" invested in their education instills a sense of worth and global connection. These items don't just fill shelves—they prove to your students that the world outside their school walls is rooting for their success.","fullyFundedDate":1771553338435,"projectUrl":"project/building-an-organized-mind/10103595/","projectTitle":"Building an Organized Mind","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Emelyn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9079834_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732691484839","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9079834"},{"teacherId":9273211,"projectId":10106164,"letterContent":"We are using the new supplies daily to keep our learning momentum going! When the boxes arrived, there were audible gasps and cheers. They were especially thrilled with the snacks and the new prizes. Seeing the rewards bin replenished gave them an instant boost of motivation. They were touched to know that people they haven't even met cared enough to send these gifts to our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese resources do more than just fill our cabinets. They eliminate the small daily frustrations that can derail a lesson. When a student doesn't have to worry about a school supply or an empty stomach, their brain is free to move from \"survival mode\" into \"learning mode.\" By having these essentials readily available, we have reclaimed valuable instructional time that used to be spent hunting for tools, allowing us to stay deeply immersed in our reading and math activities.","fullyFundedDate":1771658540443,"projectUrl":"project/restock-refuel-reward/10106164/","projectTitle":"Restock, Refuel, Reward!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gilbuena","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9273211"},{"teacherId":7598186,"projectId":10104407,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations towards our classroom project. As always, my students were soo excited when they saw our materials being delivered to the classroom. \r\n\r\nThe new color printer has been a total game-changer for our small group instruction! I can just see the difference that a colored resource can make on my students learning. Having more visually appealing resources helps keep students engaged.\r\n\r\nThe dry-erase pockets have also become a classroom staple. We've been using them for math fluency practice. Students are now able to reuse the resources rather than a one and done worksheet. It has turned a repetitive task into a fun, interactive game that they look forward to! My goal is to also use them for \"Fluency Rounds,\" where they practice their reading passages and then use the dry-erase markers to \"check out\" the words they've mastered. \r\n\r\nThis project not only helped with bringing color into learning, and organizing instructional materials, but it has helped support classroom behaviors. Seeing the new desk pets and prizes has given them a tangible goal to work toward and earn class cash.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students aren't just learning; they are learning with confidence. They have the tools to stay organized and the visual materials they need to truly understand the world around them. Thank you for making our classroom a more vibrant place to grow!","fullyFundedDate":1771637207213,"projectUrl":"project/color-confidence-and-clarity/10104407/","projectTitle":"Color, Confidence, and Clarity","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7598186"},{"teacherId":9407536,"projectId":10106724,"letterContent":"The arrival of the pastel crayons, art papers, and board games has completely transformed our classroom energy. When the students first saw the vibrant colors and fresh materials, their excitement was palpable; many were eager to dive right into the art supplies to experiment with blending and layering. In a recent \"Landscapes\" project, it was incredible to see students who usually struggle with traditional drawing find success using their fingertips to smudge the pastels, creating beautiful, professional-looking gradients on the new art paper. This hands-on experience has boosted their confidence and allowed them to express themselves in ways that weren't possible with standard crayons.\r\n\r\nBeyond the art projects, the new board games have become an essential tool for our Math and ELA blocks. Students are currently using them to sharpen their mental math and collaborative communication skills, turning what used to be a routine lesson into a high-energy, interactive challenge. Our next step is a \"Story World\" project where students will use the pastel crayons to illustrate a fictional setting and then apply the logic they've learned from the board games to design their own tabletop adventure. Your generosity has provided more than just supplies; it has given my students a new, joyful way to engage with their education.","fullyFundedDate":1771641383392,"projectUrl":"project/masterpieces-and-moves-creating-playin/10106724/","projectTitle":"Masterpieces and Moves: Creating, Playing, and Growing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Yanos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9407536"},{"teacherId":8669382,"projectId":10103536,"letterContent":"My students and I are using the new resources by checking the \"agenda\" on our new calendar each day. This helps students plan accordingly for the day. I still have a few students struggling with it, but this has been a huge a help for them. My students were also excited to get more balls that we've been sharing within the grade level. In addition, they were excited seeing all the art poster paper for new projects. \r\nMy students reacted with much excitement and curiosity when they first saw the materials.\r\nThe next steps for my students on a current classroom lesson or project is, we have a few, earth day posters to hang up around school (and maybe even teach younger grade levels about it), and a physical science project. We have a few more projects to end the school year too, so this will help. MAHAAALO!","fullyFundedDate":1771786424980,"projectUrl":"project/art-integration/10103536/","projectTitle":"Art Integration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Isagawa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8669382_orig.jpg?crop=750,750,x0,y155&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1693438673458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsrachelisagawa"},{"teacherId":4685246,"projectId":9163870,"letterContent":"I was so excited to receive a donation to be able to purchase supplies to support my energy unit. I have been wanting a class set of hand generators to help students understand energy transfer. They were delighted to discover that energy comes in many forms, and that they have the power to produce their own electrical energy to do tasks. We had such fun, and the activities prompted some in-depth questions about energy types and limitations of energy sources. \r\n Students had to use what they learned to build cars using various types of energy. Exploring how motors work and applying concepts to engineer the best car model, was a valuable experience for the students. Having access to these materials helped us discover energy concepts with greater depth and clarity. Thank you for making these enriching activities possible with your generous gift to our class!","fullyFundedDate":1742086153127,"projectUrl":"project/generate-fun-and-energy-with-motors/9163870/","projectTitle":"Generate Fun and Energy With Motors","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4685246"},{"teacherId":8820876,"projectId":9773716,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this project. We obtained all the requested supplies and are putting them to good use. The paper, toner and laminating pouches were used to create early reading skill materials like flashcards such as letter cards, picture cards, hihgh-frequency words, etc., to aide in teachers reading instruction.\r\n\r\nOne specific example of use was in Kindergarten and first grade. One critical pre-reading skill is letter-sounds. It is imperative that this skill is mastered in the early years to create proficient readers. Using the donated suplies, we created letter flashcards that teachers use for letter-sound practice daily. Upper-grade teachers also use these cards to work with students who are in need of early reading skill interventions.\r\n\r\nFlashcards were also laminated to help preserve the cards' longevity and to avoid the need to remake them each year.","fullyFundedDate":1759625858229,"projectUrl":"project/early-reading-skills-intervention/9773716/","projectTitle":"Early Reading Skills Intervention","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Saito","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8820876"},{"teacherId":8823473,"projectId":10111485,"letterContent":"On behalf of my 3rd and 4th-grade students, I want to extend a sincere thank you for your incredible generosity. Because of your support, our classroom is now equipped with the essential tools—a printer, paper, and multisensory supplies—that allow our students to move beyond the screen and engage with their education in a truly tangible way.\r\nFor students with Specific Learning Disabilities, the \"infinite scroll\" of a digital tablet can often lead to mental fatigue and a lack of focus. Your donation has provided the physical materials necessary to create a \"linear\" learning experience.\r\nThe Difference You've Made:\r\n•\tBuilding Spatial Maps: With the printed passages you funded, my students are now building \"spatial maps\" of information. They can remember exactly where a vocabulary word \"lived\" on a physical page, which significantly boosts their recall and confidence.\r\n•\tActive, Tactile Decoding: Using the sheet protectors and supplies, my students are now \"slashing\" through syllables and circling phonemes with dry-erase markers. This kinesthetic movement makes the abstract process of decoding concrete and manageable.\r\n•\tDeep Focus: By bringing physical books and packets into their hands, you have given them a chance to slow down, practice critical thinking, and engage in deep reading without the distractions of digital notifications.\r\nYour investment goes far beyond paper and ink; it is providing the bridge my students need to close foundational gaps in phonics and comprehension. Thank you for believing in their potential and for helping us create a classroom where every student can physically \"touch\" their own success.","fullyFundedDate":1771783876321,"projectUrl":"project/learning-through-print/10111485/","projectTitle":"Learning Through Print","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Slate","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8823473"},{"teacherId":10170882,"projectId":9680920,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous gift of a printer and ink to our Special Education classroom for students ages 7 to 10. Your support has given our students an important tool that helps them participate more fully and proudly in their learning.The printer allows us to create visual schedules, step-by-step directions, and personalized worksheets that meet each child's unique needs. Printed pictures, charts, and large-print materials help many of our students better understand routines and concepts, and this has made our classroom calmer, more organized, and more accessible for everyone.Our students are especially excited to see their own work printed. They love turning their stories, drawings, and projects into \"real\" papers they can hold, share, and take home to their families. For many of them, this simple step makes their hard work feel important and celebrated.One child who often struggles to stay focused now works more carefully, knowing his finished work will be printed and displayed on our classroom wall. Another student, who communicates best with pictures, proudly helps print out choice boards and labels for the class, giving him a leadership role and a sense of ownership.Thank you again for investing in our students and in the tools that help them learn in ways that work best for them. Your generosity is making a daily difference in our Special Education classroom, and we are truly grateful.With heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1766791989857,"projectUrl":"project/printing-possibilities-personalized-lea/9680920/","projectTitle":"Printing Possibilities: Personalized Learning for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Melgar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10170882"},{"teacherId":4685246,"projectId":9774653,"letterContent":"I am so thankful for the donation that made it possible to purchase items to create an outdoor learning space for my students. Picnic tables and shade are not something that is typically on the priority list for classroom purchases. However, having an alternative setting for the classroom provides unique opportunities for learning. Students love to be outside and providing a learning space with resources and seating and helps facilitates an environment that increases engagement. \r\n We have made good use of our space thus far with rockets, sun art, compasses, and nature notes. Having a 'home base' for containing materials and space for engineering makes the whole process efficient so we can get to the fun, and ultimately the learning, that much faster. Thank you for providing our class with the funds that make opportunities like outdoor learning a possibility for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1759596419757,"projectUrl":"project/enhanced-outdoor-learning-space/9774653/","projectTitle":"Enhanced Outdoor Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wells","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4685246"},{"teacherId":8356917,"projectId":9777091,"letterContent":"Please accept this letter as a heartfelt thank you for your generous contribution of watercolor paper, a color printer, and laminating sheets. These materials were instrumental in the success of our recent door decorating project and have had a profoundly positive impact on our students.\r\n\r\nThe supplies allowed our students to fully unleash their creativity and take true ownership of the project. The watercolor paper elevated the quality of their artwork, providing a rich, professional surface that encouraged greater care and effort in their designs. The color printer enabled the students to incorporate vibrant, detailed digital elements, adding a layer of sophistication and personalization to their work that would not have been possible otherwise. Finally, the laminating sheets ensured their hard work was preserved, protecting the final decorations from damage and adding a durable, high-quality finish.\r\n\r\nThe resulting display is one that our students are immensely proud of. The project fostered collaboration, artistic skill, and a strong sense of pride in our classroom environment. Knowing that their work is displayed so prominently and with such high-quality materials has boosted their confidence and morale, making our learning space feel more special and valued.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your commitment to our students and for providing the resources that make projects like this possible. Your support directly translates into tangible experiences that empower our students and enrich their educational journey.","fullyFundedDate":1759454376696,"projectUrl":"project/from-pen-to-paper/9777091/","projectTitle":"From Pen to Paper","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Vince-Cruz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8356917_orig.jpg?crop=438,438,x305,y106&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1706477140143","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-vincecruz"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50984","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":632,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":64,"percentAsian":42,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":16,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":27,"percentMultiracialImputed":10,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":59.7,"schoolId":50984,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Lihikai Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Lihikai Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/maui-school-district/lihikai-elementary-school/50984"}