{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Makaha Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":77.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5798797,"projectId":10055900,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your continued help and support. It is only with the support of Donors Chose and donors like you that we continue to provide our students with the school they deserve. With the lack of funding in our schools today, it is up to teachers to find new and creative ways to get students the supplies and incentives they need to encourage them to learn day in and day out. I do a fair share of supplying the classroom using my personal funds, but the cost of living in Hawaii is high and on the rise. Supplying my class using my personal funds is not sustainable. Therefore, your support helps immensely! Thank you very much!","fullyFundedDate":1771447590878,"projectUrl":"project/essentials-for-learning/10055900/","projectTitle":"Essentials for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. KAAI","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5798797_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535528271741","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kanoelaniart"},{"teacherId":11950,"projectId":10128861,"letterContent":"Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our kindergarten classroom. The calming tools and organizational materials from our project have already become an important part of our daily routine.\r\n\r\nThe weighted sloth has been a huge hit with the kindergarteners. During difficult moments, students seek it out to help keep their bodies calm, centered, and safe. The gentle weight provides comfort and security, helping students regulate emotions so they can return to learning ready to participate.\r\n\r\nThe liquid motion bubbler timer has also become a favorite calming tool. Students are mesmerized by the slow movement of the colorful bubbles as they move up and down. Watching the colors and motion helps students focus their feelings, slow their breathing, and reset their minds during overwhelming moments.\r\n\r\nThe hanging folders have helped me tremendously with organizing differentiated activities, student work, and assessments throughout the year. Having materials organized and accessible allows me to better meet each student's individual academic and emotional needs.\r\n\r\nThe breathing koala, sensory fidgets, and calming visuals have given students concrete strategies to practice self-regulation and independence. These tools are helping my students learn that big feelings are okay and that there are safe, positive ways to calm their bodies and minds.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, our classroom is becoming a place where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for investing in both the emotional well-being and academic success of our kindergarteners.","fullyFundedDate":1772647219740,"projectUrl":"project/building-big-feelings-skills-a-calming/10128861/","projectTitle":"Building Big Feelings Skills: A Calming Corner for Kindergarten","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dennis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp11950_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1524112795646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sarah-dennis"},{"teacherId":5366157,"projectId":10107303,"letterContent":"I wanted to share a heartfelt thank you for your incredible generosity. Because of your support, our after-school tutoring program has been transformed into a hands-on culinary lab where math and life skills truly come to life.\r\n\r\nFrom Paper to Plates\r\nThe excitement was electric when the students first saw the boxes of new materials. Seeing their eyes light up at the professional-grade cutting boards and colorful measuring tools was a highlight of my year. One student whispered, \"Are we actually allowed to use these?\" It was a powerful moment of realization for them—they weren't just reading about cooking anymore; they were becoming chefs.\r\n\r\nMath in Action\r\nWe recently put our new resources to work during a banana parfait project. It was fascinating to watch the students use their safety knives to carefully dice bananas and strawberries while navigating the world of fractions.\r\n\r\nPrecision: Students used measuring cups to ensure the ratios were perfect.\r\n\r\nCalculations: They used addition and multiplication to scale the recipes so there was enough for everyone in the group.\r\n\r\nCollaboration: Beyond the math, they learned the vital skill of communication, delegating tasks to follow the recipe steps in the correct order.\r\n\r\nWhat's Next for Our Chefs?\r\nOur journey is just beginning! Now that the students have mastered basic knife safety and simple measurements, our next step is to tackle complexity and cost. In our upcoming sessions, students will begin researching the cost of ingredients to create a \"Budget Brunch.\" They will apply their math skills to see how much a single serving costs versus the whole meal, all while continuing to build the confidence that comes with creating something delicious from scratch.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools to succeed, both in the kitchen and in the classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1771658245625,"projectUrl":"project/masterchef-makaha/10107303/","projectTitle":"MasterChef Makaha","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kodama","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5366157"},{"teacherId":2933139,"projectId":10025973,"letterContent":"The new phonics resources have made a huge difference for my 2nd and 3rd-grade students as they build confidence in reading. Every day, students use the phonics kits during small-group instruction to practice decoding words, building words with sound-spelling patterns, and reading connected text. One special moment happened when a struggling reader successfully read an entire decodable passage independently for the first time. The smile on his face and the cheers from his classmates reminded us all how powerful these tools are.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, they were excited and eager to participate. Many of my students learn best through hands-on activities, so having engaging phonics tools immediately increased motivation and participation during lessons. Students especially love building words, practicing spelling patterns, and using the materials during partner activities and games.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are focused on helping students become more fluent and confident readers. We are continuing to work on vowel teams, multisyllabic words, spelling patterns, and reading comprehension skills through structured literacy lessons. These resources are helping students strengthen the foundational reading skills they need to succeed across all subject areas. Thank you for helping make reading more accessible, engaging, and joyful for our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1775008519607,"projectUrl":"project/reading-chance/10025973/","projectTitle":"Reading Chance","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gumm","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2933139_orig.jpg?crop=1008,1008,x0,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1624006146257","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2933139"},{"teacherId":8824063,"projectId":10103206,"letterContent":"Thank you so much! My students were beyond excited when they first saw the sensory toys, Play-Doh, and scented dough. Many immediately gravitated toward the calming and tactile materials, and I could see students who often struggle with focus or emotional regulation begin to settle and engage more positively in the classroom environment. These resources have become a meaningful part of our daily routines, especially during transitions, small group instruction, reward systems, and sensory breaks.\r\n\r\nThe fidget toys and squishies have helped students stay regulated and ready to learn, while the Play-Doh activities have supported fine motor development, creativity, and social interaction. One especially memorable moment was seeing students collaborate together while using the dough to practice letter formation, storytelling, and imaginative play. Students who are often hesitant to participate became more confident, communicative, and engaged.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, my classroom feels more supportive, welcoming, and joyful. These materials continue to help students build self-regulation skills, strengthen peer relationships, and participate more successfully in learning activities each day. Thank you for helping create a classroom where all students feel supported, included, and excited to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1771736922725,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-snacks-and-some-supplies/10103206/","projectTitle":"Classroom Snacks and Some Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vega","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8824063_orig.png?crop=734,734,x0,y9&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723437840803","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8824063"},{"teacherId":2091703,"projectId":10113995,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my students. They look forward to this challenge every year. I love that my students have already started recruiting others and started making plans for how they're going to beat each other in our PBL project. They know that because everyone is making lemonade, they need to think of other ways to make their products stand out, so now they know from last year's experience, branding and marketing do matter. One student last year had her whole family come down and participate. I wouldn't necessarily have people take off of work, but it was a culminating project, so it was quite a scene. Another student brought a musician to play at their stand as well. Who knows, maybe someone will sing for tips this year. Please do keep in mind, we use play money, where our school logo is the $1, our VP is the $5 and our Principal is the $10.","fullyFundedDate":1772686484029,"projectUrl":"project/lemonade-entrepreneurs/10113995/","projectTitle":"Lemonade Entrepreneurs","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mishima-Donahue","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2091703_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458188707987","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-mishimadonahue"},{"teacherId":2091703,"projectId":10175596,"letterContent":"Thank you for the ribbon and weaving book. My students were so excited to learn how to make leis, especially now that it's graduation season. They were a little frustrated at first because these leis are hard to start at first. So I started a lot of the leis myself and handed them off to the students to finish. There were a few mistakes, but as Bob Ross always said, \"We don't make mistakes, we just make happy little accidents.\" I told them it's telling the receiver of the lei how hard they worked to complete it. They persevered in order to make something beautiful for them.","fullyFundedDate":1776107492815,"projectUrl":"project/native-hawaiian-traditions-meet-innovati/10175596/","projectTitle":"Native Hawaiian Traditions Meet Innovation and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mishima-Donahue","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2091703_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458188707987","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-mishimadonahue"},{"teacherId":11950,"projectId":10105784,"letterContent":"Mahalo nui loa for your generous support of our classroom! Because of you, our kindergarten students have been able to learn, grow, and thrive in a space filled with joy, support, and meaningful tools.\r\n\r\nYour donations have made a huge impact on both learning and behavior in our classroom. Students are highly motivated to complete their work and follow school expectations because they know they can earn fun PBIS rewards. The ice cream cone poppers and mini skateboards have quickly become class favorites, bringing excitement and celebration to their hard work and positive choices.\r\n\r\nThe large dry erase pockets have been a game changer for instruction. They allow me to easily differentiate activities so each student can work on their individual goals. Whether practicing letters, sounds, or numbers, students are able to build skills at their level, helping them gain confidence and experience success every day.\r\n\r\nOur calming tools have also made a powerful difference. The calming puppy has been especially helpful for students who feel overwhelmed—whether from challenging work or the busy classroom environment. It gives them a safe, supportive way to pause, regulate, and return ready to learn.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the hands-on phonics and math materials you provided have brought learning to life. Students love using the segmenting trays, whiteboards, ten frames, and number lines to explore new skills in a fun and engaging way. These tools encourage independence, allowing students to practice, make mistakes, and try again without fear.\r\n\r\nKindergarten is full of curiosity, energy, and big emotions. Because of your generosity, we are able to support the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. Our classroom has become an even more joyful, organized, and welcoming place where every student feels capable, supported, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your kindness and for believing in our students. Your support is truly making a lasting difference in their lives.","fullyFundedDate":1771708052884,"projectUrl":"project/spring-learning-for-curious-little-minds/10105784/","projectTitle":"Spring Learning for Curious Little Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dennis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp11950_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1524112795646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sarah-dennis"},{"teacherId":11950,"projectId":10004893,"letterContent":"Mahalo nui loa for your generous support of our kindergarten Lei Day celebration! Because of your kindness, our students were able to participate in a truly meaningful experience that honored Hawaiian culture, community, and the spirit of aloha.\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the materials arrived, the excitement in our classroom was undeniable. Our students were especially thrilled to wear their new shirts—they felt a deep sense of pride and many eagerly shared that they wanted to take them home to show their families. On the day of the celebration, families and community members admired how special the students looked, which made the children feel even more confident and valued.\r\n\r\nOur kindergarteners sang and danced (hula) their hearts out, performing with joy and enthusiasm in front of the school and community. It was incredible to see their hard work, practice, and teamwork come together in such a beautiful way. The performance was not only a celebration, but also a powerful learning experience where students connected to culture, tradition, and each other.\r\n\r\nThe sunglasses you helped provide were also incredibly useful, especially as the day became bright and sunny. They allowed our students to stay comfortable and focused so they could fully enjoy and participate in the event.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, opportunities like this are truly special. Your support helped ensure that every child could be included, feel proud of their role, and create lasting memories tied to their learning. Experiences like Lei Day go beyond the classroom—they help students build confidence, develop a sense of belonging, and connect to the rich cultural traditions of Hawaiʻi.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your generosity and for believing in our students. Because of you, this celebration was not only possible, but unforgettable.","fullyFundedDate":1768532909393,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-aloha-kindergarten-lei-day/10004893/","projectTitle":"Celebrating Aloha: Kindergarten Lei Day Performance & Cultural Celebration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dennis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp11950_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1524112795646","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sarah-dennis"},{"teacherId":2091703,"projectId":10159829,"letterContent":"Thank you for the books to support my students with their environmental call to action research PBL. I've been trying to have my students unplug since it's also testing season right now, so I don't want them on the computer all day. I also want them to realize they don't need to run to the internet to find all the information they know. A lot of it can come from books, and they're more often than not, fact checked. The books I've chosen also provided a lot of solutions for the problems they brought up in our community, so it allowed for a lot of brainstorming conversations.\r\nI'd also like to thank you for the Pop-Tarts. As mentioned before, it is testing season, and we used to have testing buddies, but we haven't had them in the past two years. I teach all grade levels K-6, and feel it's important for our students to know we're behind them cheering them on. A small gesture of a Pop-Tart might be just what a student needs to do their best on an assessment.\r\nThank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1773888827653,"projectUrl":"project/the-magic-of-books/10159829/","projectTitle":"The Magic of Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mishima-Donahue","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2091703_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458188707987","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-mishimadonahue"},{"teacherId":2091703,"projectId":10136348,"letterContent":"Thank you for allowing us to do this service project in our class. It's really fun for my students to see other students pick up leaves from our plumeria tree and put them in the compost bin. Students are still getting used to throwing the leaves in the bin rather than in the trash can, but every leave and branch is one less in our land fills. Our students especially enjoyed doing research and knowing they were part of a solution rather than a problem.\r\nWe did have to pivot since one of our larger items weren't able to ship to Hawaii. This actually turned out for the better because another group was able to use those funds to help with their service project on not having enough local produce to eat healthy which causes pollution as well as produce needs to be imported in. This group chose to start an indoor garden with a hydroponic tower. Thank you for allowing my students to explore and come up with creative solutions for our pollution problems.","fullyFundedDate":1774990779897,"projectUrl":"project/compost-in-waste-out/10136348/","projectTitle":"Compost In, Waste Out!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mishima-Donahue","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2091703_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1458188707987","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-mishimadonahue"},{"teacherId":6489788,"projectId":10087183,"letterContent":"This project was a hit! Thank you so much for making it happen. My students stayed after school at an event to man a booth where families came to build first aid kits. The students presented to the families and showed them how to make their kits. This was an empowering opportunity for my students, and it was also a service to the families to take home necessary supplies. \r\n\r\nThe kids were so excited and loved helping the community. Thank you for serving my students and the families with your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1770823623228,"projectUrl":"project/first-aid-kits-for-the-community/10087183/","projectTitle":"First-Aid Kits for the Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sherick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6489788_orig.jpg?crop=435,435,x171,y179&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1640841240331","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6489788"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50800","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":409,"numTeachers":46,"percentFrplEligible":83,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":40,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"8.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":23.0,"schoolId":50800,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Makaha Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Makaha Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/leeward-oahu-school-district/makaha-elementary-school/50800"}