{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waiakea Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4392380,"projectId":9774082,"letterContent":"We were so excited to unbox all of our coffee cart boxes. My students love to see all of the new coffee cart supplies. My students are building their social skills and life skills since we have received our donations. We look forward to every Friday where we are brewing up hot drinks, snack, little conversations and smiles. \r\nThank you so much for all of your generous donations. Our students are so thrilled!\r\nWe look forward to expanding our coffee cart and having more projects funded in the near future. Stay tuned!","fullyFundedDate":1765413099965,"projectUrl":"project/kumas-coffee-cart/9774082/","projectTitle":"Kuma's Coffee Cart","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Shikuma","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4392380_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1494535957383","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4392380"},{"teacherId":9967512,"projectId":10003485,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has become an even safer, more supportive place for students to learn and grow. The resources for our calm corner and care closet are being used daily by our students, especially those who receive special education services, as well as any student who may need a safe space to reset, regroup, or access basic necessities.\r\n\r\nOur calm corner is now a structured, welcoming area where students can practice self-regulation strategies. They use sensory tools, fidgets, and calming materials to manage big emotions and return to instruction feeling ready to learn. \r\n\r\nOur care closet has also made a meaningful impact. Students have been able to discreetly access hygiene items and essential supplies, preserving their dignity and helping them feel confident throughout the school day. The relief and gratitude on their faces when they realize these items are available — no questions asked — speaks volumes.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new materials, they were excited and curious. More importantly, they felt seen and supported. They understand that these resources were provided by people who care about their well-being and success.\r\n\r\nNext, we are continuing to teach students how to independently identify their needs, choose appropriate regulation strategies, and reflect on how those strategies help them succeed academically and socially. We are also reinforcing classroom routines that normalize taking breaks and asking for support so that every student feels safe accessing these spaces.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped us create not just a classroom, but a community rooted in compassion, dignity, and growth. Thank you for investing in our students' well-being and empowering them with tools that support both their hearts and their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1770994590714,"projectUrl":"project/snacks-and-sensory-support-for-student-s/10003485/","projectTitle":"Snacks and Sensory Support for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mahuna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9967512_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y269&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741973948054","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9967512"},{"teacherId":4778252,"projectId":9776524,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project. With the items in this project we were able to create themed art projects for the students. They were so excited to use the artwork in different ways. \r\n\r\nFor November/Fall we were able to create trees and the students had so much creating different versions for expressing their creativity. We were able to create two projects for December a reindeer ornament and a sled/reindeer. The kids were able to choose what they wanted to create and added their own spin to it. Our next steps is to continue to use the supplies and give them more opportunities like this. \r\n\r\nWithout your donations the students would not have been able to have this opportunity for them.","fullyFundedDate":1759547212407,"projectUrl":"project/operation-aloha-a-school-wide-mission-o/9776524/","projectTitle":"Operation Aloha: A School-Wide Mission of Kindness","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nitahara-Moses","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4778252_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649384737205","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4778252"},{"teacherId":7936223,"projectId":9778182,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your generous donation! We are making very good use of our brand new stationary and mobile shelves! The shelves are used daily to house the various classroom materials while teaching with my small groups. \r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to see their folders neatly organized in the bins on the shelves. It makes accessibility so easy for them to gather and return their folders and materials for small group instruction. This helps the students feel calm in their environment to be more focused and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThe students are working hard in our small group instruction to help boost their reading foundation and skills to better succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1759507419016,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-storage-solutions/9778182/","projectTitle":"Classroom Storage Solutions","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Yoshizumi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7936223"},{"teacherId":5827300,"projectId":9774606,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous donation of school supplies and social-emotional learning materials. These resources will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our students by supporting both their academic growth and emotional well-being.\r\n\r\nBecause of our donors' kindness and commitment, students will have the tools they need to stay engaged in learning, build essential life skills, and feel supported both inside and outside the classroom. Your generosity helps create a positive, nurturing learning environment where students can thrive academically and socially.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful to our donors for investing in our students' success and for recognizing the importance of addressing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. Your support makes a difference, and we deeply appreciate your continued partnership.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity and dedication to our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1759612106015,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school-basics-for-academic-emo/9774606/","projectTitle":"Back to School Basics for Academic & Emotional Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Iopa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5827300_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1651982317195","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/iopa"},{"teacherId":1989844,"projectId":9629402,"letterContent":"Thank you for making this experience possible for my students. Since receiving our multi-color 3D printer, my fourth graders have truly enjoyed taking small, intentional steps in expanding their design skills and understanding how things are made.\r\n\r\nWe began with simple two-color name-tag keychains, which quickly led to thoughtful conversations. Students noticed the extra filament created when the printer purges the old color and primes the new one—what they affectionately called \"poop.\" That observation opened the door to learning about the full printing process and why waste can occur in manufacturing. Watching the printer switch colors layer by layer was a real eye-opener for them.\r\n\r\nThis naturally led to rich, student-driven discussions about how everyday items are made—what materials are used, why certain processes are chosen, and whether items are created layer by layer, through molds, or other methods. I was amazed to see students begin looking at ordinary classroom tools like erasable pens, pencils, rulers, and even desks with new curiosity and awareness.\r\n\r\nAs their confidence grew, students expanded their designs beyond practice pieces. Several used Tinkercad to create items for our Mini-Society Market Day, designing products to sell for their own student-run businesses. Others created prizes for classmates to earn while playing games they designed and operated themselves. With several holidays approaching, students are now designing small multi-color prints as gifts for Mother's Day and Easter, while also preparing for another Market Day in May.\r\n\r\nThe learning that has occurred through this project goes far beyond 3D printing. These hands-on experiences have helped students see the world differently, make meaningful real-world connections, and take ownership of their learning. When curiosity drives the process, the impact truly lasts—and your support made that possible.","fullyFundedDate":1757513028968,"projectUrl":"project/expanding-our-3d-printing-in-full-color/9629402/","projectTitle":"Expanding Our 3D Printing in Full Color!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. L. Walker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1989844_orig.jpg?crop=803,803,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1559429345636","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leslie-walker"},{"teacherId":4769839,"projectId":9773904,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to learning tools that have already transformed our classroom environment. The fish tank has become a calming centerpiece and a powerful way to spark curiosity about living things, responsibility, and observation. Students eagerly gather around it, ask thoughtful questions, and use it as inspiration for writing, science discussions, and social-emotional learning. Your support has helped create a classroom space where students feel engaged, relaxed, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nThe everyday supplies you provided—expo markers, mini magnetic drawing boards, tissues, and laminating pouches—have made a meaningful difference in our daily routines. Students use the magnetic drawing boards and markers to practice skills, share ideas, and receive immediate feedback in a fun, low-stress way. Laminated picture cards are now durable and accessible, allowing students to independently practice vocabulary, matching, and communication skills repeatedly. Even simple essentials like tissues help keep our classroom running smoothly and enable students to focus on learning.\r\n\r\nThe wireless digital microscope has taken student learning to an entirely new level. Students can now closely examine objects, textures, and living things, turning abstract concepts into real, hands-on experiences. This tool has encouraged inquiry, discussion, and excitement as students explore details they've never seen before. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in resources that support curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1760119106204,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-science-to-life-microscopes-a/9773904/","projectTitle":"Bringing Science to Life: Microscopes, Aquariums, and Exploration!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shibuya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4769839_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504770611841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4769839"},{"teacherId":1989844,"projectId":9614912,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our fourth-grade classroom and helping bring science and social studies to life. With your generosity, students were able to move beyond textbooks and learn through hands-on model building.\r\n\r\nUsing materials like clay, craft sticks, miniature plants, rocks, paint, and glue, students created models that helped them understand how volcanic eruptions shape islands and how ancient Hawaiian societies built thriving communities. Students thought deeply about each part of their models, carefully considering details and explaining their thinking to peers.\r\n\r\nThese projects sparked meaningful academic discussions, encouraged teamwork, and increased student engagement. Most importantly, they made learning exciting and meaningful, inspiring curiosity and confidence in the classroom.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your support and for making these powerful learning experiences possible.","fullyFundedDate":1757512293848,"projectUrl":"project/building-models-to-explore-science-and-h/9614912/","projectTitle":"Building Models to Explore Science and Hawaiian History","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. L. Walker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1989844_orig.jpg?crop=803,803,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1559429345636","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leslie-walker"},{"teacherId":4720391,"projectId":9747960,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in funding my project, \"Reading like a Rockstar!\". The new bulletin board provides us with a space to display our artwork as well as exemplary academic work. It is further highlighted with our new LED lighting strip. Our new \"we can do hard things\" is also an inspirational quote to encourage learning.\r\nThe decorative pencils, gummy crawlers and cute stickers have helped to provide incentives for our reading journey. \r\nOur new dry erase table spots, dry erasers, pencil sharpeners and timers are supplies that are being put to good use.\r\nThanks again!","fullyFundedDate":1759199082907,"projectUrl":"project/reading-like-a-rockstar/9747960/","projectTitle":"Reading like a Rockstar!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hashizaki","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4720391_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504737338366","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4720391"},{"teacherId":9372451,"projectId":9777952,"letterContent":"Thank you for the kidney table and chairs for collaboration! We really appreciate you donating to allow us to receive such an important tool for the students learning. We would not have been able to get the money without your help. The students were really happy when they saw the new kidney table and chairs. \r\n\r\nThe students enjoy working with their learning partners on projects and meeting with me in order to get supported in their learning. The students are able to meet with me throughout the day. We will continue to use the kidney table and chairs to meet in small groups on a daily basis. \r\n\r\nThank you again for the your generosity and kindness to help our students at our school. The kidney table and chairs will benefit not only the students this year but for future classes at Waiakea Elementary School.","fullyFundedDate":1759458879175,"projectUrl":"project/a-kidney-table-for-collaboration/9777952/","projectTitle":"A Kidney Table for Collaboration!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fujiyama","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9372451"},{"teacherId":10088236,"projectId":9489305,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in bringing these social-emotional learning (SEL) books into our classroom library! While we all love a good story, these texts are much more than just entertainment; they are essential tools for building \"emotional literacy.\" They introduce our students to complex skills like self-regulation (learning how to pause when they feel frustrated), perspective-taking (understanding that two people can experience the same event differently), and conflict resolution. By following a character through a difficult friendship or a moment of self-doubt, my students are learning the vocabulary to name their own \"big feelings\"—moving beyond just \"mad\" or \"sad\" to more nuanced words like \"overwhelmed,\" \"excluded,\" or \"determined.\"\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading now looks like a vibrant, safe harbor for exploration. During our interactive read-alouds, we don't just read the words; we stop to analyze a character's facial expressions or predict how a choice might affect others, turning the book into a \"social rehearsal\" for real life. It has been truly moving to see a student who usually stays on the sidelines pick up a book about courage and later that day find the words to ask a friend to play.\r\n\r\nThank you for providing the stories that are helping my students grow into kinder, more self-aware humans.","fullyFundedDate":1764686128055,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-library/9489305/","projectTitle":"Classroom Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Castaneda-Sako","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10088236_orig.jpg?crop=1632,1633,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754800556630","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10088236"},{"teacherId":10088236,"projectId":9724207,"letterContent":"When the boxes arrived, the classroom felt like it was under a holiday spell. My students were wide-eyed as we unpacked the cubby organizers and class mailbox, with several students asking if these brand-new items were really ours to keep. They took such care in labeling their pencil pouches and choosing which folders would hold their most important work; it was clear that having high-quality, dedicated materials made them feel valued and respected as learners.\r\n\r\nThe impact on our daily rhythm has been transformative. The most significant shift happened during our first mailbox. In the past, handing out graded papers was a chaotic scramble, but now, students move with purpose to their assigned slots in the mailbox. I watched one student, who usually loses his assignments before they even make it home, carefully file his math test into his new folder and tuck it safely into his cubby. This system has replaced \"where is my paper?\" with a calm, independent routine that allows us to spend more time on actual instruction and less on managing clutter.","fullyFundedDate":1760310223360,"projectUrl":"project/sorting-success/9724207/","projectTitle":"Sorting Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Castaneda-Sako","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10088236_orig.jpg?crop=1632,1633,x0,y174&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754800556630","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10088236"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50783","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":706,"numTeachers":58,"percentFrplEligible":54,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":65.4,"schoolId":50783,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Waiakea Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Waiakea Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/hawaii-school-district/waiakea-elementary-school/50783"}