{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mililani - Uka Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":37.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8817643,"projectId":9776410,"letterContent":"When the materials arrived, my students were immediately excited and curious. They eagerly explored the new counting cubes, whisper phones, and colorful folders, turning an ordinary school day into a moment of discovery. One of my favorite moments was watching a small group of students practice reading with the whisper phones. Eyes wide, giggling as they realized they could hear their own voices clearly, and then proudly rereading sentences with confidence. These small tools have helped transform reading time into an empowering, joyful experience.\r\n\r\nWe are already putting these resources to use across the classroom. The organizational tools, such as bins and mailboxes, have helped students take ownership of their materials, stay organized, and transition between subjects more smoothly. Meanwhile, the hands-on manipulatives have become a staple in our math block. Students use them to build numbers, show their thinking, and work collaboratively during centers. These daily routines are not only supporting academic growth, but also building independence, problem-solving skills, and a more positive classroom culture.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, my students will continue to use these materials to support foundational literacy and math skills. We are beginning a new unit in math focused on composing and decomposing numbers, and the manipulatives will help students visualize numbers in new ways. In reading, students are working on fluency and phonics, and the whisper phones are becoming a favorite tool for practice. Your support has helped lay the foundation for a learning environment where students feel capable, engaged, and proud something especially meaningful during my first year as a teacher. Thank you for helping us build a classroom that sets every child up for success.","fullyFundedDate":1759449025657,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-first-grade-classroom/9776410/","projectTitle":"First Year First Grade Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McWayne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8817643_orig.jpg?crop=643,643,x1483,y345&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760043599834","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8817643"},{"teacherId":2017425,"projectId":9772001,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing picture books and an audio speaker that helped launch our early-morning reading initiative. Because of your contribution, our 5th graders had the opportunity to share their love of reading with 1st grade students who gathered before school. This simple but meaningful weekly treat created a warm and welcoming start to the day, as older students read aloud with growing confidence, fluency, and expression. They quickly became role models for our younger readers, and it was heartwarming to see other students—and even parents—pause in the walkway to listen as stories came to life.\r\n\r\nWith the speaker, we also incorporated the Novel Effect sound effects, which added magic and excitement to each reading session. The 1st graders eagerly looked forward to these weekly read alouds, and the enhanced storytelling made the experience even more engaging for everyone involved. We are deeply grateful for your generosity, and we hope to continue expanding our library of books that pair with Novel Effect so we can keep this joyful tradition going for many years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1759455153274,"projectUrl":"project/read-together-grow-together/9772001/","projectTitle":"Read Together, Grow Together","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2017425"},{"teacherId":2017425,"projectId":9156183,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation that made it possible for our students to participate in a meaningful and exciting book club experience. Because these novels were set in Hawai'i, students were able to see familiar places, traditions, and ways of speaking reflected in the stories. This connection helped them recognize pieces of their own lives within the characters' experiences, making the reading feel personal and relevant. Even though the books were longer and more challenging than some students were used to, they were motivated to persevere because the stories captured their interest—and because they enjoyed reading with their friends as part of a book club. They also got to cover their books with a brown paper bag (so we could keep the covers that came with the book nice for the next student), which was a new activity for them! :)\r\n\r\nYour support not only placed high-quality literature in my students' hands but also helped create a community of readers who encouraged one another, talked deeply about what they read, and grew in confidence as readers. Several students were so inspired that they went on to borrow the next book in the \"Lei and the Fire Goddess\" series from the library! Best of all, the books you helped provide will continue to be used for book clubs in future years, allowing many more students to benefit from this opportunity. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and the lasting impact you have made on our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1741998596183,"projectUrl":"project/seeing-ourselves-in-stories/9156183/","projectTitle":"Seeing Ourselves in Stories","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2017425"},{"teacherId":9713102,"projectId":9785111,"letterContent":"Our students have been using the new resources every day, and they have already made a big difference in our classroom. The materials help keep students engaged, organized, and focused during lessons. We are using them to support small-group instruction, centers, and daily routines so students can participate more confidently.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they were so excited and curious to explore everything. They immediately started using the resources and were eager to try them out during centers and small-group activities. Our next steps include continuing to build their skills, offering more hands-on learning opportunities, and helping each child grow at their own pace with the help of these new tools.","fullyFundedDate":1759627632773,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-must-haves-for-healthy-happy/9785111/","projectTitle":"Classroom Must-Haves for Healthy, Happy Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Camlin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9713102_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725731522653","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrscamlin"},{"teacherId":7931757,"projectId":9773368,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, about 400 students from grades 2-5 got hands-on experience using professional tools to learn digital illustration. The pencils acted as a direct extension of the student's hand, bypassing the clumsiness of drawing with a finger or an inferior stylus. This ease of entry ensures that students spend their valuable classroom time focusing on artistic principles rather than struggling with a frustrating interface, immediately elevating the quality and efficiency of their learning experience.\r\n\r\nThe true excitement and educational value of this product lie in its pressure sensitivity and remarkable realism, features that fundamentally distinguish the Logitech Pencil as a transformative artistic instrument. Our students experienced a genuine \"wow\" factor when they realized that pressing harder made their digital lines thicker or darker, and tilting the pencil allowed for broad, natural-looking shading, perfectly mimicking the tactile sensation of using a charcoal stick or a graphite pencil. \r\n\r\nMore significantly, this technology has changed our teaching of creative risk-taking and iteration. In traditional art, students often hesitate to make bold marks for fear of permanent mistakes or wasting costly supplies. The digital workflow, enabled by the pencils, allows students to tap the simple \"undo\" button or confidently manage their compositions using separate digital layers. This low-stakes environment encourages students to experiment, try unconventional techniques, embrace necessary mistakes, and learn from instant feedback, thereby dramatically accelerating their overall artistic growth and creative confidence.\r\n\r\nYour investment in these pencils is not merely an investment in hardware; it is an investment in confidence, fearlessness, and the future creative careers of our students. Thank you again for equipping our classrooms with these essential, career-ready tools.\r\n\r\nSincerely,","fullyFundedDate":1759233974564,"projectUrl":"project/from-club-to-class-digital-art-for-all/9773368/","projectTitle":"From Club to Class: Digital Art for All","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nguyen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7931757"},{"teacherId":7120486,"projectId":9400096,"letterContent":"Thanks to the support of Donors Choose, implementing mindfulness practices in our classroom has brought transformative results—both academically and emotionally. With the help of age-appropriate mindfulness tools such as breathing exercises, calming visuals, reflection journals, and guided audio sessions, our students now begin each day with intention and focus. These daily practices have created a calm, supportive classroom culture where students feel safe, emotionally grounded, and more prepared to learn. By dedicating just a few minutes each day to mindfulness, I've observed a clear decrease in disruptive behaviors, improved self-regulation, and increased engagement during lessons.\r\n\r\nThe impact is especially evident in how students respond to challenges. Instead of frustration or avoidance, they are learning to pause, breathe, and try again. Several students who previously struggled with anxiety or attention are now showing noticeable improvements in their ability to concentrate and participate. One student recently shared, \"When I feel overwhelmed, I use the breathing techniques we learned, and I can think more clearly.\" Another said, \"Mindfulness helps me calm my body when I feel like I can't focus.\" These are not just fleeting observations—this is real, measurable growth in emotional intelligence and learning readiness.\r\n\r\nYour support has provided resources that will continue to serve students for years to come. More than just a program, mindfulness has become a foundational part of our classroom routine and a life skill for our students. Thank you for believing in the power of social-emotional learning and for making this meaningful impact possible.","fullyFundedDate":1754329386864,"projectUrl":"project/mindful-moments-a-calming-classroom/9400096/","projectTitle":"Mindful Moments: a Calming Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murakami","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marie-henry"},{"teacherId":7120486,"projectId":9285547,"letterContent":"The arrival of new books in our classroom library has sparked a wave of excitement, curiosity, and engagement among my students that has truly transformed our reading culture. From the moment the books were added to the shelves, students flocked to explore them—eagerly flipping through pages, reading back covers, and sharing their discoveries with each other. These new titles, which include a wide range of genres, reading levels, and diverse voices, have breathed new life into our literacy routines. Suddenly, reluctant readers are asking for more time to read, and avid readers are thrilled to find new favorites to dive into. The excitement is contagious. Each day, students are recommending books to their classmates, creating waiting lists for popular titles, and even starting informal book clubs during recess and free periods.\r\n\r\nThe impact has gone far beyond just improving reading scores or meeting academic goals—these new books have opened doors to empathy, imagination, and self-expression. Students are seeing themselves represented in stories, discovering new cultures and perspectives, and gaining confidence in their reading abilities. One student, who had previously struggled to connect with any reading material, recently shared, \"This is the first book I've ever finished on my own.\" Another proudly declared, \"I've already read three of the new books and I want to read more!\" These small but powerful moments remind me daily why access to fresh, engaging, and inclusive literature is essential. The classroom feels more vibrant, the students more inspired, and the reading corner has become a hub of joyful learning. These books are not just resources—they are catalysts for growth, imagination, and lifelong learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746787069729,"projectUrl":"project/building-our-classroom-library/9285547/","projectTitle":"Building Our Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murakami","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marie-henry"},{"teacherId":7120486,"projectId":9285579,"letterContent":"The addition of a cozy, welcoming classroom library has had a remarkable impact on my students' learning experience, engagement, and emotional well-being. With a cozy couch, bean bags, pillows, and soft lighting, the space has transformed from a standard corner of the room into a warm, inviting environment that students gravitate to each day. It has become more than just a place to read—it is now a space where students feel safe, calm, and inspired. From the moment they enter the classroom, students eagerly anticipate their time in the reading nook. They race to find their favorite bean bag or pillow, settle into a quiet spot, and immerse themselves in books with genuine excitement. The cozy atmosphere helps reduce anxiety, improve focus, and foster a love of reading that goes beyond the curriculum.\r\n\r\nStudents now use the space daily—not only during reading time but also during independent work periods, free choice, and even to regulate their emotions. I've seen students who were previously hesitant readers now spend time flipping through chapter books with growing confidence. Reluctant learners are more willing to engage in academic tasks when they know they can do so in a comforting environment. One student told me, \"This is my favorite place in the classroom. It feels like home.\" Another mentioned, \"I never used to like reading, but now I want to read every day.\" These personal reflections speak volumes about the emotional and academic value of this space. The library has become a cornerstone of our classroom culture—where joy, curiosity, and comfort meet. The simple addition of cozy furnishings and thoughtful lighting has not only changed the look of our classroom, but the mindset of the students within it.","fullyFundedDate":1746470253538,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-book-nook-part-2/9285579/","projectTitle":"Cozy Book Nook Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murakami","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marie-henry"},{"teacherId":7120486,"projectId":9285561,"letterContent":"The addition of a cozy, welcoming classroom library has had a remarkable impact on my students' learning experience, engagement, and emotional well-being. With a cozy couch, bean bags, pillows, and soft lighting, the space has transformed from a standard corner of the room into a warm, inviting environment that students gravitate to each day. It has become more than just a place to read—it is now a space where students feel safe, calm, and inspired. From the moment they enter the classroom, students eagerly anticipate their time in the reading nook. They race to find their favorite bean bag or pillow, settle into a quiet spot, and immerse themselves in books with genuine excitement. The cozy atmosphere helps reduce anxiety, improve focus, and foster a love of reading that goes beyond the curriculum.\r\n\r\nStudents now use the space daily—not only during reading time but also during independent work periods, free choice, and even to regulate their emotions. I've seen students who were previously hesitant readers now spend time flipping through chapter books with growing confidence. Reluctant learners are more willing to engage in academic tasks when they know they can do so in a comforting environment. One student told me, \"This is my favorite place in the classroom. It feels like home.\" Another mentioned, \"I never used to like reading, but now I want to read every day.\" These personal reflections speak volumes about the emotional and academic value of this space. The library has become a cornerstone of our classroom culture—where joy, curiosity, and comfort meet. The simple addition of cozy furnishings and thoughtful lighting has not only changed the look of our classroom, but the mindset of the students within it.","fullyFundedDate":1746470348553,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-book-nook-part-i/9285561/","projectTitle":"Cozy Book Nook Part I","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murakami","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/marie-henry"},{"teacherId":8822707,"projectId":9163608,"letterContent":"When our new math mindfulness resources arrived, my students and I were so excited to begin using them right away. We've been incorporating the tools into our daily math warm-ups, blending problem-solving practice with calming mindfulness strategies. For example, students use the new manipulatives to visualize fractions and equations, and then pair that practice with breathing exercises that help them slow down and stay focused. This combination has transformed our classroom into a space where math feels both approachable and empowering.\r\n\r\nThe reactions from my students when they first saw the materials were priceless. Their eyes lit up as they explored the colorful tools, and many immediately asked if they could use them during math centers. One student, who often feels anxious during math, shared that the resources made the problems \"feel less scary\" and that using the mindfulness activities helped them feel calmer. Seeing their excitement and relief reminded me how powerful these supports can be in helping all learners feel confident in math.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are starting a project where students will use the resources to design their own \"Mindful Math Journals.\" These journals will combine math practice problems with personal reflections on focus, perseverance, and emotional growth. The goal is to help students not only strengthen their math skills but also develop lifelong strategies for handling challenges with patience and resilience. Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is equipped to take these next steps, and my students are already eager to share their learning with one another.","fullyFundedDate":1742048590472,"projectUrl":"project/math-and-mindfulness/9163608/","projectTitle":"Math and Mindfulness","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Biete","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8822707"},{"teacherId":7294404,"projectId":9280074,"letterContent":"Your donations have allowed us to grow in relationships with our students and families. We are planning a school wide Bingo Night for families to come and enjoy quality time together and build better relationships with the faculty and staff.\r\n\r\nStudents are also going to be using this in specific classes as a way to work on number recognition and as an incentive to build relationships with one another and their teachers. We thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. We hope to continue this and make it into a tradition at our school.","fullyFundedDate":1746786886874,"projectUrl":"project/school-sel-communities/9280074/","projectTitle":"School SEL & Communities","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harris","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7294404_orig.jpg?crop=2161,2161,x154,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1646435651386","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7294404"},{"teacherId":176403,"projectId":8880758,"letterContent":"Mahalo nui loa — thank you so much for supporting our classroom! Because of your kindness, my students now have the tools they need to create, explore, and grow. Your gift means more than just supplies; it means brighter smiles, deeper learning, and unforgettable experiences as we connect with our Hawaiian history and culture in meaningful, hands-on ways.\r\nWith the art materials you've helped provide, my students have been able to express themselves and bring their learning to life. The organizers, rugs, and other classroom essentials helped us stay tidy and focused, even on our muddy, rainy days. And the lamps, posters, and affirmation supplies are creating a space that feels warm, safe, and nurturing — exactly the environment every child deserves.\r\nYour generosity reminds us that we have a community that cares. Thank you for being part of our journey and for making a real difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1729197604189,"projectUrl":"project/hawaiian-studies-classroom-revitilizatio/8880758/","projectTitle":"Hawaiian Studies Classroom Revitilization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lasiter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-lasiter"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50897","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":658,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":25,"percentAsian":20,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.2,"schoolId":50897,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mililani - Uka Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mililani - Uka Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/central-oahu-school-district/mililani-uka-elementary-school/50897"}