{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Na'alehu Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":55.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9338508,"projectId":9782761,"letterContent":"On behalf of our entire 3rd-grade class, thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation of classroom supplies and activities. The new pencil boxes and pouches have already made a significant impact on our daily routine, helping students keep their pencils, erasers, and supplies neatly organized and ready for work. Additionally, the new water bottles are a wonderful addition to our desks, ensuring that every student stays hydrated and focused throughout our busy school day.\r\n\r\nWe are also thrilled to integrate the new games and STEM kits into our curriculum. The engineering craft kits are sparking amazing creativity, while the multidisciplinary games—ranging from Scrabble and parts-of-speech activities to math-based Mancala—make learning both interactive and rigorous. Your gift also provided classic team-building favorites like Don't Break the Ice, Tic Tac Toe, Wooden Stacking, and Guess Who, which are helping our students develop essential social skills and cooperation. Thank you for investing in our classroom and providing these valuable tools for our growth.","fullyFundedDate":1759608433436,"projectUrl":"project/help-my-students-stay-hydrated-organize/9782761/","projectTitle":"Help My Students Stay Hydrated, Organized, and Inspired to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carlson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9338508_orig.png?crop=373,373,x180,y267&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697875685166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9338508"},{"teacherId":7935667,"projectId":9774491,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Fueling Learning with Snacks and Incentives. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference in our English Language Development (ELD) pull-out classrooms.\r\n\r\nThe snacks are used intentionally as motivation and positive reinforcement during learning. Students earn snacks for participating in lessons, taking academic risks, collaborating with peers, and demonstrating perseverance when learning a new language. These incentives help create a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel encouraged to try, speak, and engage (sometimes even when they feel unsure or nervous).\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the snacks, their faces lit up with excitement. For many of them, it immediately reduced anxiety and helped them feel more comfortable in the classroom. The snacks quickly became more than just a treat, they became a symbol of encouragement and effort.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students are more focused, engaged, and willing to participate in speaking, reading, and writing activities. As we continue our current ELD lessons, students will use this positive momentum to build academic language, practice speaking with confidence, and strengthen comprehension skills. The supportive classroom culture you helped create will continue to motivate students as they work toward becoming confident, successful learners.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our students not only snacks, but encouragement, motivation, and a sense that their learning matters. Your support truly fuels learning in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759416823940,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-learning-with-snacks-and-incenti/9774491/","projectTitle":"Fueling Learning with Snacks and Incentives","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Spegar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7935667"},{"teacherId":9468913,"projectId":9779223,"letterContent":"Aloha my Dear Donors Choose Supporters! Thank you again for these amazing materials and for enabling my students to make the most of their education and their gifts that they have been blessed with! I have nine students now, and more than half of them have delayed motor functioning, so these adapted scissors have been AWESOME, enabling my students to complete arts and crafts as well as the cut and paste TeachTown activities that we do daily. When we need a brain break, my students are DELIGHTED to make structures using the magnetic letters, tiles, and PEOPLE that were provided for in this grant. My higher functioning students can spell out their names with the magnet tiles, while the others just practice their fine motor skills making patterns, towers, and such. You can see in the larger group shot in chairs my students holding their spinning light wands. We use these in our online speech lessons where they \"speak\" \"Ready, setl, GO!\" in our LAMP/tablet talking AAC device, with the wands being activated when the child presses \"Go!\" Of course, we always need clear plastic bins from Lakeshore! You can see some in use as magnetic tile buckets here. I wish to THANK DONORS CHOOSE again for its support of my program! Much mahalo!","fullyFundedDate":1759562911881,"projectUrl":"project/scissors-to-cut-magnetic-tiles-to-build/9779223/","projectTitle":"Scissors to Cut! Magnetic Tiles to Build!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Bishop","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9468913_orig.jpg?crop=413,413,x0,y30&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1729613236553","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9468913"},{"teacherId":9369409,"projectId":9773679,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project! My sweet kindergarteners now have access to the tools they need to strengthen their fine motor skills. They are now writing full sentences and holding their writing tools with the proper grasp. All students' fine motor skills have advanced greatly this school year, because of your support.\r\n\r\nThe stickers, rainbow pencils, thin markers and an adjustable height desk - for my standing learners) have greatly supported my students with their academic growth and success. All my students have made incredible academic growth, because of your generous support!","fullyFundedDate":1759387748726,"projectUrl":"project/kindergarten-fine-motor-fun/9773679/","projectTitle":"Kindergarten Fine Motor Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Briggs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9369409_orig.jpg?crop=1829,1829,x0,y1258&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700027278422","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9369409"},{"teacherId":9691278,"projectId":9145049,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation of cameras and film for my students. We have been able to document the botany around our campus and where we live. This has given students a better understanding of the plants we eat and use for healing from the land; where, when and how to plant them, as well as, identifying what plants are endemic and which ones are invasive to Hawai'i. This adventure, photographing the plants in our back yard, has brought a collective awareness and positive collaboration with students working together and taking an interest in learning more about the land, it's fauna, and how to preserve our home island. \r\n\r\nStudents have also been working on portraiture and how to express themselves both behind and in front of the lens. They really took to the polaroid method because of the instant print results. They were excited to learn how to use different lighting techniques, working in black and white, the macro lens feature on the camera and the downloading process, from camera to computer to final print.","fullyFundedDate":1750959881498,"projectUrl":"project/photography-belonging/9145049/","projectTitle":"Photography: Belonging","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Daisy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9691278_orig.jpg?crop=1010,1010,x557,y583&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747093686993","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691278"},{"teacherId":8819586,"projectId":9782699,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has become a healthier, cleaner, and more supportive environment for learning. The Brio Self-Cleaning Bottom Loading Water Cooler Dispenser has given my students easy access to safe, cold water throughout the day. This has had an immediate impact on their energy, focus, and overall well-being, especially during our warm Hawaiian days. Students are now able to stay hydrated and alert, which directly supports their ability to concentrate, participate, and engage in lessons.\r\n\r\nThe WORX 20V Cordless Stick Vacuum has transformed the way we maintain our classroom. Dust, dirt, and sand are no longer constant distractions, and students are learning responsibility, teamwork, and pride as they help keep their space clean. The cleaner, allergen-free environment has made a noticeable difference in comfort and health, creating a space where students feel cared for and motivated.\r\n\r\nThese tools have had a lasting impact, enabling my students to learn more effectively and thrive academically. Your contribution has not only provided essential resources but also helped foster healthy habits, responsibility, and a sense of pride in their classroom—lessons that will extend far beyond the school day.","fullyFundedDate":1759607424541,"projectUrl":"project/water-and-a-clean-classroom/9782699/","projectTitle":"Water and a Clean classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Conner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8819586_orig.png?crop=859,860,x0,y91&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666941163156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8819586"},{"teacherId":7897846,"projectId":9158132,"letterContent":"We are overjoyed to share the tremendous success and profound impact of the \"Building Community: An Affirmation Rock Garden for Students & Staff\" project. Thanks to your incredible generosity, this vision has become a beautiful, tangible reality that is actively strengthening our school community every single day. Thank you for believing in the power of affirmation and for investing in the emotional well-being of our students and staff.\r\n\r\nThe garden is more than just a collection of painted stones; it is a living, breathing testament to kindness, mindfulness, and mutual support.\r\n\r\nThe primary impact is the creation of a dedicated, accessible space for mental and emotional regulation. We've transformed a previously overlooked patch of ground into a beautiful sanctuary where both students and staff can pause, reflect, and share a moment of positive connection.\r\n\r\nPromoting Empathy: The act of decorating a rock with a positive message, a hopeful image, or an affirmation for a stranger is a powerful lesson in empathy. It teaches our community members that their words have the power to lift someone else up.\r\n\r\nEncouraging Self-Care: The garden offers a low-stakes, simple ritual for mindfulness. When students or staff are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, they can take a quiet moment to read the affirmations, which serves as a vital, quick de-escalation tool and a reminder that they are not alone.\r\n\r\nBuilding Community Ownership: By contributing their own painted rocks, everyone feels a sense of ownership over the garden. It is a collaborative piece of art that reflects the unique character and collective positivity of our entire school.\r\n\r\nImproving the Classroom and School Environment\r\nYour donation has measurably improved the environment both within and outside the classroom.\r\n\r\nThe garden has become a natural extension of our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. Teachers now use it proactively; instead of simply talking about positive self-talk, students can actively practice it by contributing a rock. This has led to several key improvements:\r\n\r\nReduced Disruptions: For students struggling to transition or focus, a supervised five-minute break to visit the garden offers a focused, calming activity that allows them to re-regulate their emotions and return to the classroom ready to learn.\r\n\r\nIncreased Staff Morale: The affirmations aren't just for the kids! Staff members have shared how moving it is to see rocks specifically thanking them or offering words of encouragement, providing a much-needed morale boost and a powerful reminder of the supportive community around them.\r\n\r\nEnhanced School Pride: The intentional beautification of our grounds sends a clear message to everyone—students, parents, and visitors—that we value creating a nurturing, visually appealing atmosphere.\r\n\r\nYou didn't just fund paint and rocks; you funded resilience, empathy, and affirmation for hundreds of students and staff.\r\n\r\nThank you again for making this incredible community project possible. We hope you feel immense pride knowing the beautiful, supportive space you helped us create. Please follow the link below to see photos of the garden and the incredible rocks our students have created!","fullyFundedDate":1741920117964,"projectUrl":"project/building-community-an-affirmation-rock/9158132/","projectTitle":"Building Community: An Affirmation Rock Garden for Students & Staff","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Greedy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7897846_orig.jpg?crop=462,462,x0,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1647022292469","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/rachaelgreedy"},{"teacherId":8819586,"projectId":9354263,"letterContent":"These materials are being used in both my STEM Club and my 4th grade classroom. For example, the water filter will be used as part of an experiment to filter catchment water from the rain and make it cleaner for drinking or household use. Because we live in the Kaʻū district on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, most families don't have county water and rely on rain and catchment systems. This activity will help students better understand the process of water filtration and why it's so important in our community.\r\n\r\nThe headphones are being used in class during iReady and other technology-based lessons. Having individual headphones makes a big difference, since it prevents students from being distracted by the sounds from their classmates' computers. When the students first saw the headphones, they were so excited—they even got to choose their own colors. They were very grateful for this generous support.","fullyFundedDate":1754326204575,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-stem-learning-with-clean-water-and/9354263/","projectTitle":"Fuel STEM Learning with Clean Water and Tech!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Conner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8819586_orig.png?crop=859,860,x0,y91&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666941163156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8819586"},{"teacherId":7995077,"projectId":9158156,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity. Students were so excited to have the quality materials provided by this projects. The whiteboards and markers helped them show what they know during math intervention and get one on one support.\r\nIt also allowed for partner work and collaboration. \r\n\r\nStudents were excited to try the microbits and see the results of their coding. One student was able to make several different representations from their coding. This student was less excited when limited to coding on the computer but was able to extend their thinking and help their peers.\r\n\r\nComputer science will continue this coming school year after a successful first year at Na'alehu Elementary. Donations of materials such as these made it possible. Our students will continue to work to become globally competitive and locally committed, and we are so grateful for your contribution to that goal.","fullyFundedDate":1741919883027,"projectUrl":"project/do-the-math-and-computer-science-too/9158156/","projectTitle":"Do the Math! And Computer Science too!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7995077"},{"teacherId":8840193,"projectId":9154787,"letterContent":"My class and I would like to thank you for assisting with the donations for this project. Because of your generous donations, we were able to do this project with all three of our 6th grade classes. Once all students were able to complete their hat designs, hat were provided by each student. \r\n\r\nEach student was able to bring in their own hat for decorating. Through the contributions of this project students were able to select 4-5 patches each and placed and ironed them on to their hat. At the end of the project the students all took photos with their completed hats that they may.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your donations that allowed my class and the other classes to create a closing memory as they move on to Middle School.","fullyFundedDate":1741726319090,"projectUrl":"project/moving-on-up/9154787/","projectTitle":"Moving on Up","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Keohuloa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8840193_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677744090684","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-keohuloa"},{"teacherId":9338508,"projectId":9155013,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and our entire class, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for the generous donation that made it possible for us to acquire the materials needed to enhance our creativity and self-expression in the classroom.\r\n\r\nWith the new Crayola watercolor pencils, watercolors, high-quality watercolor paper (140lb), and fresh paint brushes, our students have been able to engage in various art projects, including plein air painting and creating place-based maps of their island home, the Island of Hawai'i. These materials have allowed our students to connect more deeply with their surroundings and express their unique perspectives through both writing and art. The act of creating something personal, and learning to express their stories, has been incredibly rewarding for them.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, we are incredibly grateful for the wireless printer and printer stand that were also part of this generous donation. Having the ability to print student work directly in the classroom has made a world of difference. It allows us to showcase students' accomplishments and provides them with a sense of pride in their work, knowing that their efforts are valued.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly transformed our classroom experience, fostering creativity and empowering our students to share their voices with the world. Mahalo for making this possible and for investing in their education and growth. We will cherish these new materials and the opportunities they bring for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1741731455714,"projectUrl":"project/think-write-create/9155013/","projectTitle":"Think. Write. Create.","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Carlson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9338508_orig.png?crop=373,373,x180,y267&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697875685166","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9338508"},{"teacherId":8435192,"projectId":9156931,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to provide the materials for Reading is Fun! The engagement has helped my students improve their reading scores. Most of my students showed progress on their reading assessment. \r\nThe word mapping boards with dry erase markers have been wonderful for students to learn how to map words. Not everyone's brain automatically maps sounds and stores them in long-term memory. The word mapping boards help train the brain to remember the sounds and how they fit together to form words. The ability to hear the word, map the sounds with the Elkonin boxes, then write the sounds, and decode to read the word is the best strategy to improve the skill of word/sound mapping. \r\nThese materials also help my small group interventions run more smoothly. All the materials stay together, the dry erase markers with the attached eraser save time, and the magnetic tactile circles stay in place, reducing the chance of losing them. \r\nThe small rewards provided are an added incentive. Students must participate and demonstrate small group expectations to earn a reward. The reading phones and magnetic Elkonin boxes reduce inappropriate behaviors by increasing engagement. This package is the BEST!","fullyFundedDate":1741869818837,"projectUrl":"project/reading-is-fun/9156931/","projectTitle":"Reading Is Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Boswell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8435192_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651212207431","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8435192"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50780","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":412,"numTeachers":24,"percentFrplEligible":71,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":14,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":15,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"17.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":44.7,"schoolId":50780,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Na'alehu Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Na'alehu Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/hawaii-school-district/naalehu-elementary-interm-school/50780"}