{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pohakea Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":10056960,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and staff of our inclusion classroom, I am writing to share our deepest thanks for your thoughtful donation of food and healthy snacks. While a donation of this nature might seem like a simple gesture, its impact on the daily lives of our learners is both profound and transformative.\r\n\r\nIn an inclusion environment, we work diligently to create a space where every student—regardless of their neurodiversity or physical needs—feels safe and ready to learn. One of the most significant hurdles to academic engagement is regulation. For many of our students, maintaining the sensory and emotional balance required to focus on a lesson is an exhausting task. Your donation provides the essential fuel that allows them to sustain that focus. When a student's nutritional needs are met, their cognitive load is lightened, their anxiety decreases, and their capacity for sustained understanding begins to flourish.\r\n\r\nFood in our classroom serves as more than just a snack; it is a vital instructional tool. We often use these resources to facilitate social-emotional learning. For a student working on communication goals, sitting down to share a snack becomes a natural, low-pressure environment to practice turn-taking, requesting, and peer-to-peer interaction. These moments of \"shared table\" experiences are where some of our most significant breakthroughs happen. They foster a sense of belonging and community that is the very heartbeat of inclusion.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, for our students with sensory processing differences, having access to these resources allows us to incorporate \"sensory breaks\" that keep them grounded. A crunchy snack or a cold drink can be the exact input a child needs to reset after a challenging transition. By providing these resources, you are directly contributing to a classroom culture where \"equitable access\" applies to everything—from the books we read to the energy we provide our bodies.\r\n\r\nYour gift ensures that hunger never becomes a barrier to a child's participation. It tells our students that their community cares about their well-being in a holistic way. It allows me, as their teacher, to focus on instruction rather than worrying about whether a student has the physical stamina to make it through the afternoon.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has turned our classroom into a true \"home away from home\"—a place where students are nourished in both mind and body. Thank you for recognizing the importance of these foundational needs and for your unwavering commitment to making our inclusive environment a success.","fullyFundedDate":1770747770224,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-every-learner/10056960/","projectTitle":"Fueling Every Learner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":10103823,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your donation of a new printer. In an inclusion classroom, we work with a beautiful spectrum of learning styles, and having a dedicated printer is more than a convenience—it is a vital tool for equity.\r\n\r\nFor many of our learners, text-heavy assignments can feel like an insurmountable wall. Your gift allows us to bridge that gap instantly through the power of visual literacy. By incorporating high-quality images, color-coded diagrams, and visual schedules, we can translate abstract concepts into concrete ideas. These visuals act as an anchor, helping students sustain their understanding throughout a lesson rather than losing the thread of the conversation.\r\n\r\nWhen a student can see a \"visual roadmap\" of their day or a picture-based guide for a science experiment, their anxiety drops and their engagement soars. They transition from being passive observers to active participants because they finally have a \"key\" that unlocks the curriculum. Your generosity ensures that no student is left behind simply because they process information differently. Thank you for helping us turn our classroom into a space where every child can see a path to success.","fullyFundedDate":1771445593610,"projectUrl":"project/click-print-ready-to-learn/10103823/","projectTitle":"Click! Print! Ready to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":10384318,"projectId":10108324,"letterContent":"I am writing to share the immediate impact of your donations. In our inclusion classroom, these resources are essential for providing differentiated support to all learners. Your generous donations are already making a world of difference in our classroom!\r\n\r\nFor Mathematics: The math kits and animal figurines serve as 'manipulatives' that help students master addition through touch and play.\r\n\r\nFor Literacy: The Language Arts kits are actively strengthening our core spelling and writing skills.\r\n\r\nFor Social-Emotional Support: The portable lava fidgets act as powerful sensory motivators, encouraging students to persevere through difficult tasks.\r\n\r\nFor Science: We are using the colored paper, printer ink, and figurines to build detailed habitat models for our science curriculum.\r\n\r\nThank you for your incredible generosity. Mahalo for supporting our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1771695264344,"projectUrl":"project/kindergarten-inclusion-classes-need-your/10108324/","projectTitle":"Kindergarten Inclusion Classes Need Your Help","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10384318"},{"teacherId":9564903,"projectId":9782258,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity in supporting our \"1st Grade Resources\" project. When the boxes first arrived in our classroom, the atmosphere was electric! My students were jumping with joy and could not wait to see what was inside. One of my students even asked, \"Is this all for us?\" It was a beautiful moment that reminded me how much it means to them to know that people they've never met care about their education.\r\n\r\nWe have been using these new resources daily to enhance our small-group learning time. Specifically, during our last literacy block, the students were able to engage with the materials in a way that was previously impossible. These tools have turned abstract concepts into hands-on experiences that truly stick. Looking ahead, we plan to use these resources to anchor our upcoming science unit, allowing the students to explore and discover at their own pace. Your support has not only provided \"stuff,\" but it has also provided inspiration and a renewed love for learning in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759602193178,"projectUrl":"project/1st-grade-resources/9782258/","projectTitle":"1st Grade Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Molina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9564903"},{"teacherId":8979581,"projectId":9773862,"letterContent":"Your a big shout out for all your support. Your donation has a huge impact on my class. With the IXL program, the students soared to access reaching mastery. Since the start of our program, students have spend over 115 hours and answered 14,300 questions, making progress in well over 166 skills. What a huge accomplished all with your generous donation.\r\n\r\nOf course, it could not be done without the rewards and incentives provided with your support. The incentives provided that extra boost to get students hooked into the program. Now five months in, students are just eager to complete the skills without looking for that extra treat or reward. This is true intrinsic motivation at its best.","fullyFundedDate":1759417016831,"projectUrl":"project/level-up-with-ixl/9773862/","projectTitle":"Level Up with IXL","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Agunat","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8979581_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y486&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759191989668","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8979581"},{"teacherId":9564903,"projectId":9706933,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our classroom project! When I shared the news with my students, the room was buzzing with excitement. It is truly heartening to know that there are people like you who value education and are willing to invest in the potential of our students. Your support provides more than just supplies; it provides a sense of validation and encouragement that resonates deeply within our school community.\r\n\r\nBecause of your contribution, my students now have access to cardstock paper, and crayons which will directly impact our daily learning. These resources allow for a more hands-on, engaging experience that simply wouldn't have been possible without your help. You've not only enhanced our physical classroom but also sparked a renewed curiosity in my students. We are so grateful for your kindness and for being a vital part of our journey this year.","fullyFundedDate":1757868370543,"projectUrl":"project/2nd-year-teacher/9706933/","projectTitle":"2nd Year Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Molina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9564903"},{"teacherId":7929618,"projectId":9776816,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and support of our classroom. Because of you, our students now have access to an iPad, incentive snacks, and prizes for our Learning Buck store, and the impact has been truly meaningful.\r\nThe iPad has become a powerful learning tool in our classroom. It gives students access to the technology that strengthens both confidence and academic skills.\r\nThe incentive snacks and Learning Buck store prizes have also made a tremendous difference. Our Learning Buck system encourages positive behavior, effort and responsibility. Being able to \"shop\" at the Learning Buck Store has motivated students to stay focused, take pride in their work, and make positive choices throughout the school day. The incentive snacks are especially meaningful, helping students stay energized and ready to learn.\r\nYour generosity has created a positive, supportive classroom environment where students feel encouraged, valued, and excited about learning. Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their success. We are truly grateful for your kindness and support.","fullyFundedDate":1759456900540,"projectUrl":"project/learning-incentivesincentives-and/9776816/","projectTitle":"Learning Incentives.......Incentives and iPad Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lakalo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7929618_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741972306447","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7929618"},{"teacherId":3087879,"projectId":9864015,"letterContent":"Oh what a joy (and a relief) this snack cart has been for my students! When I first introduced the snack cart to them and explained it, they were stoked to be able to have a place where they could reliably get a snack each day...and there are CHOICES! \r\n\r\nI have watched as my students grab a snack every morning at first recess and they express their gratitude for the snacks daily. This project was just the start, as we were able to receive further donations from other community sponsors on top of these donations, so my students have really been benefiting from the combined generosity of people who care about them and their well-being. My students report being less hungry and that the snacks help them to focus, which was one of the motivating factors for me behind getting this cart started in the first place. \r\n\r\nThank you again for what you have helped me to do for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1761840484613,"projectUrl":"project/no-kid-hungry/9864015/","projectTitle":"No Kid Hungry!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stern","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3087879_orig.png?crop=452,452,x0,y81&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665011253596","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sdesilva"},{"teacherId":5506226,"projectId":9774475,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation. We are using the seating to help them be able to wiggle without tipping their chairs. They enjoy using the fidgets instead of playing with other things. We are using the dry erase erasers and sheet protectors with our reading activities. \r\n\r\nThe magnetic reading kit is engaging students when they practice blending and segmenting words. We also use it for phonemic awareness when we do word chaining. We will continue to use the materials during our small group reading instruction. Thank you again.","fullyFundedDate":1759435482065,"projectUrl":"project/small-group-reading-intervention/9774475/","projectTitle":"Small Group Reading Intervention","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nacapuy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5506226"},{"teacherId":9750780,"projectId":9796308,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, all four of my students in a fully self-contained special education classroom now have access to high-quality, color printed learning materials that have made a meaningful difference in their daily learning. My students rely heavily on visual supports to understand lessons, routines, and expectations. With the new printer, I am able to create clear, engaging adapted books, visual directions, and hands-on academic activities that help make learning accessible and concrete. The use of color helps my students attend to tasks, differentiate between choices, and better comprehend new concepts.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students is using materials that are created specifically for their individual learning needs. Colorful adapted books and snap cube pattern cards have become favorite activities in our classroom. These materials motivate students to participate, increase independence, and reduce frustration by providing consistent, predictable visuals. The snap cube pattern activities, printed in color, support early math skills while also strengthening fine motor development.\r\n\r\nAll four of my students have benefited from this technology, especially those who are minimally verbal or use alternative forms of communication. The clear visuals allow them to fully participate in lessons, make choices, and demonstrate understanding in ways that work best for them. Because of your generosity, my students are learning with materials that support their unique needs and help them feel successful every day. Thank you for making such a positive impact on our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759808090611,"projectUrl":"project/colorful-learning-for-little-achievers/9796308/","projectTitle":"Colorful Learning for Little Achievers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Balsley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9750780_orig.jpg?crop=1942,1942,x505,y514&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759798742592","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9750780"},{"teacherId":7942242,"projectId":9776731,"letterContent":"Students were thrilled to use the learning tools you gifted us this school year. They were beyond excited to have lapboards that can be utilized when working on the carpet. The lined dry-erase boards are a fun and engaging way for students to practice their penmanship when learning new spelling patterns. They definitely make learning more fun!\r\n\r\nWhisper phones are a great way for students to listen to themselves when they practice reading for fluency. They have a lot of fun using them. The pencil sharpeners are amazing additions to classroom! These sharpeners can be passed around the room since they do not have to be plugged in to sharpen! This makes sharpening pencils more efficient!\r\n\r\nThank you for the 3-ring binders. They are being put to good use -keeping student work organized so students can see how much growth they have made from the beginning of the year. Students shared work samples with their families when they came in for conferences. It was amazing to see how students took ownership of their work.\r\n\r\nAll of this was possible due to your generosity. Thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1759450469304,"projectUrl":"project/write-on/9776731/","projectTitle":"Write On!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kanda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7942242"},{"teacherId":7697488,"projectId":9491634,"letterContent":"The school supplies you provided have made an immediate and profound impact on our classroom, especially for students who arrived without the basic tools needed to start the year. Having personal access to essential items like pencils, markers, and Expo markers has eliminated a significant barrier to learning. Instead of waiting or sharing, every student can now fully participate in our daily activities. We use these resources constantly—from students working out problems on their personal whiteboards with the Expo markers to completing assignments with their own pencils. This immediate availability fosters independence, boosts confidence, and allows all students to engage actively and on equal footing from the moment they walk through the door.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to ensure this continues and that every student has uninterrupted access to these materials throughout the entire school year. By planning now, we can create a sustainable resource pool that guarantees no student will fall behind due to a lack of supplies later in the semester. Our goal is to maintain the successful, engaging, and equitable learning environment established at the beginning of the year, ensuring that the necessary tools for daily, hands-on learning remain readily available to all our students.","fullyFundedDate":1754074337092,"projectUrl":"project/school-supplies-needed/9491634/","projectTitle":"School Supplies Needed","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ancheta","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7697488"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50811","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":493,"numTeachers":33,"percentFrplEligible":56,"percentAsian":33,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"14.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.9,"schoolId":50811,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pohakea Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pohakea Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/leeward-oahu-school-district/pohakea-elementary-school/50811"}