{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Helemano Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":35.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10379691,"projectId":9952611,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity and support of my students. Because of you, our school now has social emotional learning tools that are already making a meaningful difference in students' daily experiences. \r\n\r\nThe fidgets, wiggle cushions, and headphones are being used both during counseling sessions and in classroom settings. These tools help regulate their bodies, calm their minds, and stay focused during instruction. The calm down corners are used to reset, ground themselves, and ease anxiety before retuning to learning. The incentives are also motivating students to meet daily classroom goals and celebrate positive growth. \r\n\r\nYour kindness has helped my students feel safe, confident, and ready to succeed. I am deeply grateful for your support and for the lasting impact you've made on our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1769177436377,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-feel-calm-confident-a/9952611/","projectTitle":"Helping Students Feel Calm, Confident, and Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Higa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10379691"},{"teacherId":5298073,"projectId":9777582,"letterContent":"Your generous donation of the \"A Little SPOT of Emotion\" book series has profoundly shifted our students' ability to navigate their internal worlds and social interactions. By giving abstract feelings a colorful, tangible form, students are now identifying \"spots\" of anxiety or frustration before they boil over, leading to a marked increase in emotional regulation. This newfound confidence has bled into their academics; we have seen a surge in reading engagement as students eagerly reach for these books to understand themselves better. Teachers have shared heartwarming anecdotes of this impact in action: one teacher noticed a student, who typically struggles with personal space, proactively using his \"Patience Spot\" to wait his turn during a high-energy game. Another educator observed a group of students noticing a peer's \"Gray Spot\" of sadness and immediately gathering to offer comfort, demonstrating a level of empathy and compassion that has transformed our classroom culture.\r\n\r\nThe impact expanded beyond the classroom walls through our StoryWalk, which transformed our school grounds into an interactive literary journey where families could read together while enjoying the fresh air. This initiative brought the entire school community together, allowing parents and neighbors to engage with these vital social-emotional lessons one page at a time. Seeing our community walk, read, and discuss the importance of kindness and mental well-being has strengthened our collective bond and reinforced that these lessons are valued both at school and at home.","fullyFundedDate":1759459139180,"projectUrl":"project/story-stroll-with-little-spot/9777582/","projectTitle":"Story Stroll With Little Spot","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5298073"},{"teacherId":9380468,"projectId":9772536,"letterContent":"Your incredible support has completely transformed our classroom into a dynamic, inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive. The adjustable standing desks have become our favorite \"innovation hubs,\" where students use the writable glass tops to map out complex math problems and then flip the boards to present their ideas to the class. When the students first saw the memory foam bean bags and the massive treasure box of sensory fidget toys, their excitement was tactile—they finally felt they had a space designed specifically for their comfort and focus. We are already putting the laminating pouches to work by creating durable \"Success Folders\" that students will use to track their progress during our upcoming literacy unit. This project hasn't just provided us with furniture and supplies; it has given my students the physical freedom to move, the sensory tools to stay regulated, and a renewed sense of pride in their classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759341786571,"projectUrl":"project/learning-and-engagement/9772536/","projectTitle":"Learning and Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Takafuji","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9380468"},{"teacherId":9076510,"projectId":9780378,"letterContent":"Your generous donation to my counseling office is much appreciated!! It is so nice to be able to have access to the things my students need and want. With this project, I chose to focus on my most highly requested items from students and staff. Snacks is the number one item. A good portion of our students at Helemano come from lower income families and they often come to school hungry. Having healthy snacks to offer them is a great way to help them learn and stay engaged. \r\nAnother high level ask is for sensory items like chewelry (sensory necklaces and chewy items) that students can use in the classroom without drawing attention to themselves, kick bands for their seats, and headphones to help mutes distracting noises and help them focus. \r\nLastly, it was fantastic to be able to get to some new games and books for my office. My students have really enjoyed playing the new games and learning new skills from them. CBTrail is already a new office favorite.","fullyFundedDate":1759546373450,"projectUrl":"project/resource-refresh/9780378/","projectTitle":"Resource Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076510_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686860333496","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9076510"},{"teacherId":10273828,"projectId":9745749,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my first DonorsChoose project. The students were thrilled to see the boxes of supplies arrive, and I was just as excited to share all the new materials with them. Reading has become much more engaging with the new floor cushions, which help students stay comfortable while working in different areas of the room. The class set of headphones and mice has also been incredibly helpful during Chromebook activities.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, I was even able to start a classroom rewards store filled with stickers, fidgets, and other fun items. Your support has made such a positive impact on our learning environment, and we are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1759362638402,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-teacher/9745749/","projectTitle":"First Year Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dureg","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10273828"},{"teacherId":7936826,"projectId":9777388,"letterContent":"Aloha and Thank You!\r\n\r\nI am deeply grateful for your generosity and support of our classroom project! When my students first saw the new materials, their eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity. They couldn't wait to explore, build, and learn. Many immediately began creating number towers with the linking cubes and testing out the magnetic blocks to design patterns and structures — transforming math time into hands-on exploration.\r\n\r\nWe've already begun using the Sensational Math Place Value Discs, Cuisenaire Rods, and polyhedral dice during small-group lessons to strengthen number sense and problem-solving. Students are collaborating, comparing strategies, and explaining their thinking with greater confidence. The Surf Lap Desks have been a huge hit too — students love choosing their own learning space for reading, partner work, or independent reflection.\r\n\r\nOne special moment came when a group of students used the magnetic blocks to model arrays for multiplication. They proudly shared their creations and explained how each layer represented a repeated addition sentence — a perfect blend of creativity and math reasoning!\r\n\r\nOur classroom store continues to motivate positive behavior and perseverance. Students earn M&M Bucks for demonstrating effort and teamwork, and they love exchanging them for fun rewards like bouncy balls and bracelets. These incentives have helped build responsibility, patience, and goal-setting skills.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be using these same manipulatives and flexible seating tools to explore measurement, geometry, and STEM challenges. Thanks to you, my students are not only learning important academic skills but also discovering the joy of collaboration, curiosity, and self-directed learning.","fullyFundedDate":1759495660186,"projectUrl":"project/3m-math-move-and-market/9777388/","projectTitle":"3M: Math, Move, and Market","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M-M","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7936826"},{"teacherId":7936826,"projectId":9277883,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your generous donation to our classroom! My students are absolutely loving the new math manipulatives. Every day, they use the place value tiles to build and regroup numbers, the Cuisenaire rods to compare values, and the colorful dice to make math games that strengthen their number fluency.\r\n\r\nThese hands-on tools have transformed our math lessons. Students who once felt unsure about regrouping are now eager to explain their thinking and work together to solve problems. They're developing stronger problem-solving skills and growing in confidence with each activity.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has turned our classroom into a space filled with curiosity, teamwork, and excitement for learning. Thank you for making math meaningful and fun for our young learners!","fullyFundedDate":1746737320967,"projectUrl":"project/building-math-confidence-with-hands-on-l/9277883/","projectTitle":"Building Math Confidence with Hands-On Learning Tools!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. M-M","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7936826"},{"teacherId":3715113,"projectId":9165020,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project. Your contribution has made a tangible difference in our students' learning environment, and we're so excited to share the impact with you.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their eyes lit up with excitement. The collective gasp and buzz of chatter was amazing to witness, and the collaborative board games and STEM toys quickly became the most sought-after items during our learning centers. We've been using the STEM toys for a \"Build a Bridge\" challenge, and it's been incredible to watch the students at work. I recently saw a group of four students, who sometimes struggle with working together, tackle the challenge head-on. After an initial moment of frustration, they used the skills we've been practicing—listening and taking turns—to re-evaluate their plan and collectively build a single, collaborative bridge. The moment they successfully connected the final piece, they all cheered together, showing me that these resources are truly fostering teamwork and problem-solving. Our next step is to integrate these collaborative skills into our upcoming science unit on simple machines. The students will be working in groups to design and build their own functioning machines, applying their social-emotional learning in a more structured, long-term context.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping us create a dynamic and supportive space for our students to learn and grow.","fullyFundedDate":1742055238443,"projectUrl":"project/develop-social-skills-through-play/9165020/","projectTitle":"Develop Social Skills Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tochiki","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3715113"},{"teacherId":9076510,"projectId":9298208,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our school wide Kindness Rocks Project!! We launch this project in November each year in conjunction with World Kindness Day. Students paint rocks with positive messages and cute designs that spark joy. Then they \"hide\" them all over our campus for others to find. \r\nThis year, thanks to your donation, we will also be handing out kindness stickers and bracelets to our entire school community. It has been amazing watching this project grow over the last 2 years and we are looking forward to celebrating our 3rd year with your donation!","fullyFundedDate":1746785871226,"projectUrl":"project/spread-kindness-to-our-school/9298208/","projectTitle":"Spread Kindness to Our School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076510_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686860333496","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9076510"},{"teacherId":9076510,"projectId":9298626,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our school wide Kindness Rocks Project!! We launch this project in November each year in conjunction with World Kindness Day. Students paint rocks with positive messages and cute designs that spark joy. Then they \"hide\" them all over our campus for others to find. \r\nThis year, thanks to your donation, we will also be handing out kindness stickers and bracelets to our entire school community. It has been amazing watching this project grow over the last 2 years and we are looking forward to celebrating our 3rd year with your donation!","fullyFundedDate":1746469737978,"projectUrl":"project/spread-kindness-to-our-school/9298626/","projectTitle":"Spread Kindness to our School","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Amy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9076510_orig.jpg?crop=1257,1257,x91,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686860333496","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9076510"},{"teacherId":9804010,"projectId":9170127,"letterContent":"Our second-grade classroom has been truly transformed into a more engaging and effective learning environment. The individual desk lights have empowered each student to create their ideal workspace, reducing eye strain and boosting concentration during independent tasks like reading and writing. This personalized lighting helps them feel more in control of their learning.\r\n\r\nThe addition of comfortable floor chairs has brought a wonderful sense of flexibility and choice to our room. Students can now choose a seating option that best suits their learning style, whether they prefer to lean back, sit upright, or even gently fidget. This adaptability has not only improved their focus but also encouraged more collaborative interactions among classmates.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, incorporating subtle classroom scents has added another sensory layer to our learning space. These calming aromas help create a more pleasant and less stressful atmosphere, subtly enhancing focus and contributing to a positive and inviting experience for all my students. We've seen a noticeable difference in their engagement and overall well-being","fullyFundedDate":1742136038783,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-learning-space/9170127/","projectTitle":"Sensory Learning Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Trevino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9804010"},{"teacherId":9804010,"projectId":9334168,"letterContent":"I'm so thrilled to share how much the donations have transformed our classroom! We wrapped up the school year with wonderful new lighting, comfy seating choices, and engaging math learning materials.\r\n\r\nThe clip lights are truly fantastic for giving the kids the freedom to move about the room while still having plenty of light to continue their work. The new seating arrangements have been a huge success, empowering my students to find the perfect spot where they can learn most effectively, which has led to noticeable improvements in their work. And with the addition of the math dice for games, their understanding of place value has really blossomed.\r\n\r\nInitially, the students were quite intrigued by the new materials. However, after using them for just a short while, the new seating options quickly became one of their top choices. And the math games, especially with those dice, became a fast favorite among all my students!","fullyFundedDate":1746952072763,"projectUrl":"project/unlock-their-potential-supporting-innov/9334168/","projectTitle":"Unlock Their Potential: Supporting Innovative Learning for Second Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Trevino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9804010"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50888","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":417,"numTeachers":42,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":30,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.2,"schoolId":50888,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Helemano Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Helemano Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/central-oahu-school-district/helemano-elementary-school/50888"}