{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":44.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":3252004,"projectId":9774493,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for supporting our project for snacks and STEM materials. The students were very excited to have new and novel materials to build and create with. They have learned a lot about working together, sharing, communicating, waiting their turn, and kindness. Their favorite time of day is the unstructured choice time where they can let their creativity run wild!\r\n\r\nHaving a variety of snacks available for students that needed one was a great thing. The students who were distracted because of hunger were able to satisfy their hunger and focus. \r\n\r\nThank you very much for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1759416643144,"projectUrl":"project/healthy-and-snacks-and-stem-materials/9774493/","projectTitle":"Healthy and Snacks and STEM Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schulz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3252004"},{"teacherId":7199258,"projectId":9772052,"letterContent":"We are deeply grateful for your generous support of our Health & Wellness project. Your contributions—especially the high-protein snacks and essential sensory tools—have already made a meaningful and immediate difference in the lives of our special education students here in Waikoloa, HI.\r\n\r\nStudent Reactions and Immediate Impact\r\n\r\nThe students' faces lit up the moment they saw the new materials. For many of them, who struggle with attention, regulation, and transitions, these supplies were far more than snacks or gadgets—they were signals of care, consistency, and safety. They quickly recognized the sensory items as helpful tools for calming and refocusing, and the protein snacks were welcomed with excitement. They've already become an important part of our daily routine, providing reliable nourishment that helps keep their bodies steady and their minds ready.\r\n\r\nHow We're Using the Supplies\r\n\r\nThese resources are making a remarkable difference during our most challenging time of day—the mid-afternoon learning block. This is when we typically tackle demanding, multi-step math tasks such as proportional reasoning. In the past, students' focus would dip sharply around 1:00 PM, often leading to frustration and disengagement. Now, we've built a structured refueling break using the Premier Protein shakes and FITCRUNCH bars, giving students a much-needed boost of sustained energy. Just last week, a student who previously couldn't maintain focus beyond a few minutes was able to work through an entire 20-minute ratio table activity—a huge milestone that your support helped make possible.\r\n\r\nNext Steps for Student Growth\r\n\r\nWith improved stamina and regulation, students are now ready to dive deeper into their academic goals. We're currently working on the 6th-grade Ratios and Proportional Relationships (6.RP) standards, which require strong reasoning skills and focused attention. Our immediate target is solving two-step unit rate word problems. Thanks to the increased endurance your generosity provides, students are better able to stay engaged while we introduce helpful tools such as graphic organizers and tape diagrams. These resources are supporting not only academic growth but also confidence, independence, and perseverance.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for empowering our students and making meaningful learning—and meaningful breakthroughs—possible.","fullyFundedDate":1759378736892,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-that-make-sense/9772052/","projectTitle":"Snacks That Make Sense","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Blacksmith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7199258_orig.png?crop=423,423,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649956412195","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7199258"},{"teacherId":9625248,"projectId":9782230,"letterContent":"Please accept this letter as a sincere expression of gratitude for the resources and support that made the recent comprehensive learning project for our 2nd-grade students possible. The integration of these diverse units has had a truly profound and transformative impact on how our students learn and engage with the world around them.\r\n\r\nThe project successfully moved abstract concepts out of textbooks and into hands-on, memorable experiences. The Body Model and Nutrition unit wasn't just about facts; it fostered crucial health literacy by allowing students to physically interact with anatomy, making healthy choices tangible. Similarly, the Water Cycle and Butterfly Habitats/Bugs lessons laid a strong foundational understanding of science and ecosystems, turning observation and inquiry into exciting daily activities. It is inspiring to see their eyes light up as they connect classroom lessons to the natural world.\r\n\r\nBeyond science, the exposure to Folktales/Tall Tales and the history of Ancient Greece/Greek Gods and Goddesses has dramatically enhanced their development. These rich narratives have not only improved literacy and reading comprehension but have also broadened their cultural awareness and sharpened their critical thinking skills as they analyze different societies and stories.\r\n\r\nFinally, the unit on the Age of Aviation has been a spectacular catalyst for inspiring STEM interest and nurturing an appreciation for innovation and engineering. It showed them that complex ideas are achievable and sparked their own future aspirations.\r\n\r\nThis comprehensive and multi-faceted approach ensures that our 2nd graders are developing more than just content knowledge. They are cultivating essential, lifelong skills—curiosity, keen observation, reading comprehension, and critical thinking—that are vital for their future academic success.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your incredible contribution to their education. Your support has created a truly engaging and enriching learning environment that will benefit these young minds for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1759603120706,"projectUrl":"project/science-and-social-studies/9782230/","projectTitle":"Science and Social Studies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wheeler-Semrad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625248"},{"teacherId":9625248,"projectId":9610221,"letterContent":"We are thrilled to share the incredible impact your support has made on our students through the \"Shapes, Shapes and More Shapes\" project! Your generous contribution has directly fueled a hands-on, deeply engaging learning experience that is transforming abstract concepts into concrete, memorable lessons.\r\n\r\nInspiring Real-World Understanding\r\nThe core of this project is to harness the natural curiosity and enthusiasm our students have for learning. By providing them with 2D and 3D shapes, we've moved beyond rote memorization. Our students aren't just reciting definitions; they are actively building and designing, leading to a tangible understanding of geometry.\r\n\r\nSpatial Reasoning: Students are developing spatial reasoning—a critical skill for future success in math and engineering—by learning how shapes work together in the real world. They are beginning to think like problem-solvers and designers.\r\n\r\nA \"Shape of the Month\" Discovery: The \"Shape of the Month\" resource has been a huge success, taking geometry out of the textbook and into their daily lives. Seeing triangles in road signs and circles on clocks reinforces that math is a tool for understanding the world, making learning a continuous, exciting adventure.\r\n\r\nConquering Challenging Concepts\r\nOne of the most profound impacts has been in the area of fractions. This can be a very challenging concept, but your funded materials have made it visual and easy to grasp.\r\n\r\nVisualizing Fractions: Instead of just seeing numbers on a worksheet, students use shapes to literally see what fractions mean. They've experienced the \"Aha!\" moment by folding a square to see two equal parts or dividing a circle to understand quarters. This concrete approach makes fractions easier to grasp and remember, showing them that fractions are simply about sharing or dividing a whole.\r\n\r\nA Heartfelt Thank You\r\nWe want to extend our deepest gratitude for believing in our students and this project. Your support shows them that learning is valued. This initiative is a perfect way to show my students that math is more than just numbers; it's about discovery, creativity, and building something new.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping us turn their natural curiosity into joyful \"Aha!\" moments that will stick with them long after they leave the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1760738133954,"projectUrl":"project/shapes-shapes-and-more-shapes/9610221/","projectTitle":"Shapes, Shapes, and More Shapes!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wheeler-Semrad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625248"},{"teacherId":667332,"projectId":9775467,"letterContent":"Thanks to generous donations, my students had a deeply engaging and well-nourished quarter of learning. The new mini movable stools transformed our cultural projects unit, enabling dynamic group configurations for research and planning on the new whiteboards. Beyond flexible seating, a rewarding system was implemented where students could earn adorable, puzzle-piece erasers. The most significant impact, however, came from the snacks, which proved especially beneficial for my English Language Learner (EL) students who often arrived late and missed breakfast. As they researched their cultural posters—identifying flags, traditional foods, and attire—they could earn healthy meal replacements and other enjoyable snacks. The visible happiness this created was immeasurable, and students' excitement was clear as they eagerly anticipated our new \"snack stash,\" showing how the donations positively affected their brains, hearts, and stomachs.","fullyFundedDate":1759442906179,"projectUrl":"project/awaken-all-the-learning-senses/9775467/","projectTitle":"Awaken All the Learning Senses!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Iokepa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/667332"},{"teacherId":9167159,"projectId":9203784,"letterContent":"Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to you for providing sensory supports to multiple students and classrooms at Waikoloa Elementary. The sensory support you provided in terms of \"hug me\" seat cushion, foot bands, hand fidgets assist students to self regulate, relieve stress, and engage better during instructional times in the classroom. \r\n In Ms. Haunani's preschool classroom, the student love the Hug me seat cushion as it gently compresses their body and helps them feel good so they can attend better to their classroom work. The Bouncy feet on the chairs provide \"bouncy movement\" so students that need to move while doing work can remain engage in their work.\r\n As an occupational therapist I also work individually with students with sensory differences and fine motor difficulties. Your support in fruit snacks, pencils, erasers have been utilized daily during participation in classroom activities and as sensory support. Kids love something to chew on Fruit Snacks (and are relatively healthy) to keep them going and engaged in activities.","fullyFundedDate":1754368494604,"projectUrl":"project/learning-with-sensory-support/9203784/","projectTitle":"Learning With Sensory Support","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Romana's sensory support for students","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9167159"},{"teacherId":9657585,"projectId":9364074,"letterContent":"The building bricks, magnetic tiles, pipe cleaners, pattern blocks, and Straw Constructor Toys for Engineering have been incredible donations that the students have absolutely loved, and they've transformed our classroom's learning environment. These resources are essential for cultivating key skills like creativity and critical thinking. Watching the students engage with these materials, designing everything from complex magnetic castles to pipe cleaner sculptures, showcases their impressive problem-solving abilities. Every design challenge they tackle requires them to think critically about structure, balance, and spatial relationships. These hands-on activities don't just occupy time; they actively develop the foundational cognitive skills crucial for future academic success and foster a genuine excitement for learning and building.\r\n\r\nSpecifically, these resources have significantly expanded our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum. STEM is a vital area of early childhood brain development because it encourages inquiry, logical reasoning, and experimentation, teaching children to observe the world and ask \"how\" and \"why.\" I've intentionally integrated these materials into our dedicated science time. For example, we've used the Straw Constructor Toys to build bridges and test their load-bearing capacity, or the magnetic tiles to explore geometric shapes and principles of attraction. The difference in engagement is remarkable; students are inherently more engaged and focused when they can apply scientific concepts directly by building with their hands. These donations are an invaluable investment in our students' developing minds, providing the tools they need to become tomorrow's innovative thinkers and engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1753060061162,"projectUrl":"project/beyond-play-stem-toys-for-exploration/9364074/","projectTitle":"Beyond Play: STEM Toys for Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kerr","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9657585_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723697501189","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9657585"},{"teacherId":8820508,"projectId":9443813,"letterContent":"I'm so thankful for your generous donation, which provided our classroom with a spin chair for my special education kindergarten inclusion students. The addition of this chair has made a remarkable difference in helping my students stay focused and engaged. During a recent storytime session, one of my students, who often struggles with staying in one place, was able to remain engaged and actively participate while gently spinning in the chair. This small but powerful tool has become a favorite, helping my students feel more comfortable and supported during our lessons.\r\nWhen the students first saw the spin chair, their excitement was evident. They eagerly took turns trying it out, and many were drawn to its movement, which helped them regulate their energy. It's become a valuable resource in our classroom, especially during transition times or when students need a break from more traditional seating. Moving forward, the chair will continue to support our current activities, such as math games and creative play, ensuring that each student has the chance to thrive in an inclusive and engaging learning environment. Thank you again for helping make this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1753060061146,"projectUrl":"project/spin-chair-for-sensory-diet/9443813/","projectTitle":"Spin Chair for Sensory Diet","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8820508_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748505947342","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8820508"},{"teacherId":9691836,"projectId":9124476,"letterContent":"It is with a grateful heart that I share what your generosity has given to my students. \r\nUpon receiving our items, I had played videos of students playing different instruments and we discussed what each instrument was and which ones were their favorite. They had mentioned the piano, xylophone, and the horn (saxophone). \r\n\r\nI set up a music section in our playroom. We went through our routine of the day and when it came time for \"play centers\" my students went into the room and they ran out with the pianos and xylophones and had a dance party. Their smiles were priceless and the joy they exuded melted our hearts. \r\n\r\nSo far, one of our students has learned to play \"twinkle, twinkle little star\" which has prompted another peer to want to learn to play. We use our instruments during our circle music time and they will take turns leading our \"class band\". It has become one of the new jobs on our board \"conductor\". It has taught them to listen, sit still, and wait. For preschoolers, that can be a difficult task, however, music has made it an enjoyable jam session.","fullyFundedDate":1741055598838,"projectUrl":"project/creativity-expressed-through-art-and-mus/9124476/","projectTitle":"Creativity Expressed Through Art and Music","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nani","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9691836"},{"teacherId":8974507,"projectId":7474695,"letterContent":"Thank you! Because of your support for our \"Flex Space for Teens\" project, our classroom has been completely transformed into a dynamic learning environment. The impact was immediate: when the new materials arrived—the flexible seating options, the mobile whiteboards, and the adjustable-height tables—the students were ecstatic. They cheered and immediately started moving the furniture to create different zones. One student exclaimed, \"Wait, we can actually move these? It feels like a real office!\" We are now using these resources daily to promote collaboration and ownership. For example, during a recent lesson on historical debate, students were able to group themselves instantly around the mobile whiteboards to outline arguments, then quickly rearrange the space into a U-shape for the actual debate, which resulted in a much more engaged and lively discussion than ever before.\r\n\r\nThe most significant change is the sense of autonomy and comfort the new space provides. Students who were typically quiet or disengaged are now actively choosing where they work best, whether it's sitting on a beanbag chair for independent reading or standing at a high table while collaborating on a research project. This shift has translated into deeper learning and less behavioral disruption. Specifically, the flexible seating has allowed us to implement \"Project X,\" a long-term, self-directed research assignment. Students are using the new arrangement to establish \"headquarters\" for their project teams, which they manage themselves, teaching them critical skills in project management, organization, and teamwork that traditional desks simply couldn't foster.","fullyFundedDate":1699463592128,"projectUrl":"project/flex-space-for-teens/7474695/","projectTitle":"Flex Space for Teens","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bú","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8974507_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y8&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722035644609","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msbu"},{"teacherId":9625248,"projectId":9564457,"letterContent":"I am writing to share the exciting outcomes of our recent project, which focused on integrated learning through plants and mathematics. The curiosity and wonder our students demonstrated were truly inspiring, and the results of the project have made a significant impact on their learning.\r\n\r\nFostering a Sense of Wonder 🌿\r\nStudents were given the opportunity to plant seeds and watch them grow, using plant life cycle magnets to track their progress. This hands-on experience went beyond a simple lesson, helping them understand biological processes and the interconnectedness of nature.\r\n\r\nImpact: Through this project, we observed 100% student engagement with science topics. The students were able to correctly identify and order the stages of a plant's life cycle with 95% accuracy. The project sparked their curiosity, leading them to ask thoughtful questions about environmental science.\r\n\r\nStrengthening Foundational Math Skills 🧠\r\nIn a parallel effort, we used ten frames to make abstract math concepts tangible. This visual tool was designed to increase addition and subtraction fluency.\r\n\r\nImpact: The results were remarkable. We saw measurable improvement in students' fluency with numbers up to 20. Students who previously struggled with these concepts gained confidence and a solid foundation for more advanced math.\r\n\r\nI am incredibly proud of what our students accomplished through this integrated project. Their enthusiasm for learning, combined with these tangible results, is a clear indicator of the program's success. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students grow.","fullyFundedDate":1757548385157,"projectUrl":"project/plants-life-cycles-and-math/9564457/","projectTitle":"Plants, Life Cycles, and Math","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wheeler-Semrad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625248"},{"teacherId":9804989,"projectId":8999958,"letterContent":"My students love having the saltwater tank and terrarium in our classroom. Having the tank and terrarium in the classroom has provided so many cross curricular learning opportunities as well as SEL and shared responsibilities. Our saltwater tank has fish from our beaches just down the road and has allowed students who haven't looked in the water an opportunity to see what is in our ocean right here. In their Marine biology class they learned about types of coral and marine life identification and came to observe and ask questions about the tank. \r\nOur terrarium was initially populated by geckos from a student and later a Jackson Chameleon. Invasive species is a very important topic in Hawaii and both the terrarium and the saltwater tank have provided a means to have live examples of both native and invasive species in the classroom allowing kids to have discussions about them.\r\nMy students care about the animals and enjoy taking care of them and learning about them.","fullyFundedDate":1741316142056,"projectUrl":"project/marine-reptile-resources/8999958/","projectTitle":"Marine & Reptile Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Semrad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9804989"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_61322","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":732,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":51,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":16,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":24,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":56.0,"schoolId":61322,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/hawaii-school-district/waikoloa-elementary-school/61322"}