{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":43.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9342281,"projectId":10174443,"letterContent":"This project had a meaningful impact on our students both academically and personally. By researching hygiene topics and creating presentations and awareness materials for their peers, students strengthened their creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills. They became more self-aware about the importance of personal hygiene and wellness while also developing empathy and a sense of responsibility toward their school community.\r\n\r\nLeading presentations for visiting middle school students helped boost their self-confidence and public speaking abilities. Many students who are typically shy became more comfortable expressing themselves and working collaboratively with others. For my English Learners especially, this project provided authentic opportunities to practice speaking, listening, and presenting in a real-world setting. Students felt proud knowing that their work educated and positively impacted nearly 200 peers across our school.\r\n\r\nOverall, this initiative empowered students to become leaders, role models, and active contributors to a healthier and more informed school community.","fullyFundedDate":1775139970406,"projectUrl":"project/empower-through-self-care/10174443/","projectTitle":"Empower through Self Care","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Miukie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9342281_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757383496893","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9342281"},{"teacherId":10298928,"projectId":10106798,"letterContent":"So far, all the materials donated for \"Fun in the Sun\" has been a great success. We had our quarter 3 parent night in March where we set up the yard games set to some music, and encouraged kids and adults to play on campus, in between visiting classrooms. We had elementary and middle school students playing with each other and staff. It is amazing the natural conversations and relationship building that happens when every is \"just playing\"\r\n\r\nWe also had a family who was new to the school come to play. Their children were starting at Waikoloa the next week. As they played they were able to connect with my colleague, the elementary literacy coach, and have all kinds of questions answered in an inviting school-setting.\r\n\r\nNext week, as we close the school year, these yard games will be out for students to have fun and be outdoors, as well as for our last staff meeting of the year, where we hope teachers can let loose as they finish up for the school year.\r\n\r\nLastly, the wagon which was purchased to store and transport the yard games has been useful. Following a very bad storm, our primary middle school office has been flooded and will not be usable until the following school year. I am using the cart to store the items in my office. From time to time I use wagon for transporting materials to and from other classrooms around campus. It is quite useful!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your generousity, and caring about students and public education in Hawaii. Your donations have a made a difference at our school! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1771638269600,"projectUrl":"project/fun-in-the-sun/10106798/","projectTitle":"Fun in the Sun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. DiColli Nolen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10298928_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y16&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759451544636","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10298928"},{"teacherId":291640,"projectId":10109683,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the resources that allow me to broaden the fun of math games into our school community. Through your donation, I can share games and resources with teachers at all levels. As a school, we are focused on building math fact fluency so students feel confident as they tackle more difficult concepts through the grades. Your donation helped to purchase new and unique math board games that have been used in small groups during school and outside of instruction. \r\n\r\nStudents have fun playing and practicing their multiplication, division, subtraction, and addition facts with others. The supplies provide a learning experience in classes, outside of class, and during our extension activities with families. I will continue to use these materials at our school STEAM events and during our summer learning program with all grades K-8.","fullyFundedDate":1771730594138,"projectUrl":"project/gaming-with-math-not-on-the-screen/10109683/","projectTitle":"Gaming - With Math Not on the Screen","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Souza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp291640_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759733561041","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mstaira"},{"teacherId":7712681,"projectId":10105229,"letterContent":"I am writing to share my deepest gratitude for your recent contribution to our classroom. The materials purchased with your donation have already had—and will continue to have—a profound impact on our students' daily learning experiences.\r\n\r\nBy providing hands-on tools for our Kindergarten through Second Grade learners, you've turned abstract concepts into tangible discoveries. It is truly a joy to watch these young students collaborate in small groups, heads huddled together as they navigate the fundamentals of coding. Beyond the screen, they are developing critical spatial awareness and logic skills, including a practical understanding of the compass rose and directional navigation.\r\n\r\nYour generosity does more than just provide supplies; it fosters a sense of wonder and builds a foundation for STEM literacy that will follow these children throughout their academic careers. You are helping us cultivate the next generation of problem-solvers and teammates.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students and for believing in the power of early childhood education. We are so grateful to have you in our corner!","fullyFundedDate":1771609502583,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-coding/10105229/","projectTitle":"Hands On Coding","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7712681_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662222057350","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7712681"},{"teacherId":10265545,"projectId":10106494,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"FSC Classroom Snacks\" project! Your generosity has already made a meaningful difference in our classroom community. Because of your donations, our students now have access to healthy snacks throughout the school day, helping them stay focused, energized, and ready to learn.\r\nThe impact was immediate. When the snack bins arrived, students were excited and relieved to know that they could grab something to eat if they were hungry. For many of our students, having a snack available during the day provides comfort and helps reduce stress or distractions. Moments like that remind us how important basic needs are to student success.","fullyFundedDate":1772212935931,"projectUrl":"project/fsc-classroom-snacks/10106494/","projectTitle":"FSC Classroom Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liliana","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10265545"},{"teacherId":9377587,"projectId":10108816,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom. The students were thrilled with all of their new supplies which include pencils, pens, prizes, paper, and more.\r\n\r\nAs my students have continue to amaze me this year, I have been able to offer them awards, ranging from small toys and mini notebooks to mechanical pencils and cool pens. They especially love the mechanical pencils\r\nand I've noticed many of them, using them regularly and proudly. Their writing has improved! \r\n\r\nHawaii State Department of Education, your support is so vital to student success! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1771708990798,"projectUrl":"project/mrs-shepherds-classroom-refresh/10108816/","projectTitle":"Mrs. Shepherd's Classroom Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Shepherd","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9377587"},{"teacherId":9657585,"projectId":9971719,"letterContent":"The impact of this project on our classroom has been nothing short of transformative. From the moment the books arrived, the energy in the room shifted as students eagerly crowded around to select their first \"deep dive\" text. The most rewarding part of this experience is hearing the constant chorus of \"Aha!\" moments; several times a day, a student will rush up to me, pointing excitedly at a diagram of a dragonfly or a map of Ancient Greece, exclaiming how the book perfectly matches what we discussed during our core Reading block. These books have turned our curriculum into a living, breathing reality, allowing students to take ownership of their learning and prove to themselves that they are becoming true experts in these subjects.\r\n\r\nWhen it is time for independent reading, a remarkable change occurs. The classroom falls into a profound, focused silence that speaks volumes about the depth of exploration happening in their minds. In this stillness, you can practically feel the gears turning as they transition from being passive listeners to active, curious researchers. This quiet isn't just about a lack of noise; it is the sound of twenty-two different imaginations navigating the complexity of folklore or the intricacies of biology. By providing texts that bridge the gap between science, history, and literacy, this project has fostered a genuine love for reading that extends far beyond the classroom walls, showing my students that every book is a chance to connect their own world with the vast wonders of the one they are studying.","fullyFundedDate":1773855244410,"projectUrl":"project/wings-wonders-and-wild-tales/9971719/","projectTitle":"Wings, Wonders, and Wild Tales","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":9625248,"projectId":10185990,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity. The arrival of five new microscopes and a complete set of slides has completely transformed our 2nd-grade classroom into a bustling laboratory of young scientists.\r\n\r\nThe moment my students walked in and saw the microscopes set up on our workstations, the room was filled with pure electricity. Their eyes widened, and the \"oohs\" and \"aahs\" were non-stop! One student shouted, \"We're real scientists now!\" Seeing that spark of curiosity and genuine excitement on their faces was a moment I wish I could have shared with each of you personally. They couldn't wait to dive in and see what the hidden world around them looked like.\r\n\r\nCurrently, we are using these resources to bridge the gap between abstract concepts and hands-on discovery. We recently had a breakthrough moment while observing simple onion skin cells; the students were amazed to see the \"bricks\" that make up a living thing. It has been heartwarming to watch them work together, patiently showing each other how to adjust the focus knobs and sharing their viewfinders to compare what they see. They aren't just looking; they are actively writing and sketching their observations in their science journals, using descriptive language that has improved significantly since we started this journey.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, our next big step is learning how to create our own slides. We plan to collect water samples from our local environment and even look at everyday items like fabric fibers and salt crystals. Because of your support, my students are learning that science isn't just something you read about in a book—it's something you do with your own two hands. Thank you for opening their eyes to a whole new world!","fullyFundedDate":1776449870768,"projectUrl":"project/let-me-see/10185990/","projectTitle":"Let Me See!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wheeler-Semrad","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9625248"},{"teacherId":7199258,"projectId":9974586,"letterContent":"The laptop monitor extender is helping my students learn by allowing me to display multiple visuals at once, which is especially important in a small-group special education math classroom. I can model problems on one screen, display vocabulary or steps on another, and monitor student progress more effectively. This supports differentiated instruction, reduces confusion, and helps students stay focused and engaged in math learning.\r\n\r\nStudents are most excited about how clearly they can see each step of the math process. Being able to follow along visually helps reduce anxiety and builds confidence, especially for students who struggle with working memory and processing multiple steps. The technology makes learning feel more interactive and helps students better understand patterns and problem-solving strategies.\r\n\r\nSeveral of my students who struggle with attention and processing have especially benefited from this technology. Students who typically become overwhelmed during multi-step math problems are now more engaged because they can see the steps broken down clearly. I've also noticed that students who are usually hesitant to participate are more willing to try problems when they can visually track the process and refer back to the displayed examples.","fullyFundedDate":1776112067774,"projectUrl":"project/clear-screens-calm-minds-clean-hands/9974586/","projectTitle":"Clear Screens, Calm Minds, Clean Hands","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":9657585,"projectId":10103071,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom library has transformed into a laboratory of discovery. Here is a look at the impact your gift is making. Teaching a child to read is a bit like teaching them to decode a secret language. The specific texts you funded serve very different, but equally vital, roles in that process:\r\nGreek Myths: Beyond the \"cool factor\" of monsters and heroes, these myths teach allusion and character motivation. When students read about Icarus or Midas, they aren't just reading stories; they are learning to recognize themes that appear in almost all modern literature. It builds their \"cultural literacy\" and pushes them to ask, \"Why did the character make that choice?\"\r\nLife Cycle Texts: Reading to learn is different from reading for fun. These texts teach students how to navigate non-fiction features—diagrams, captions, and glossaries. They are learning to synthesize scientific facts while building the specialized vocabulary needed for future STEM success.\r\nTailored Decodable Books: These are the \"power tools\" of literacy. For a developing reader, a book that matches their specific phonics level and their personal interests is a game-changer. It replaces frustration with \"I can do this!\" confidence. These books allow students to practice specific letter sounds (phonemes) until they become automatic.\r\nSmall Groups: I'm often on the floor with a handful of students, using the decodables to bridge the gap between \"sounding it out\" and \"fluent reading.\"\r\nResearch Stations: Students dive into the life cycle books, notebooks in hand, acting like mini-scientists as they track the journey from seed to flower.\r\n\r\nA Herculean Thank You\r\nBecause of you, my students aren't just \"getting through\" their reading lessons; they are becoming enthusiasts. You've provided the maps (decodables), the magnifying glasses (life cycle texts), and the epic adventures (Greek myths) they need to navigate the world of words.","fullyFundedDate":1771662907141,"projectUrl":"project/legends-and-life-cycles-tailored-texts/10103071/","projectTitle":"Legends and Life Cycles: Tailored Texts for Growing Minds","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":7938335,"projectId":9455830,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in providing our classroom with a complete set of new books. In our room, reading is the heartbeat of the day. It isn't just a quiet, solitary activity; it's an active, vibrant workshop. You'll often find students sprawled out on the rug or huddled in small groups, excitedly whispering about a plot twist or debating a character's motives. These books have transformed our \"reading block\" from a scheduled task into a time everyone looks forward to, creating a shared culture of literacy that simply wasn't possible when we were sharing tattered, incomplete sets.\r\n\r\nWhile these stories are captivating, they are also sophisticated teaching tools. With these specific texts, I can introduce complex literary skills like analyzing character arcs, identifying subtle themes, and deciphering context clues in a way that feels organic rather than clinical. We are currently using them to practice \"reading between the lines\"—learning how to infer what a character is feeling even when the author doesn't explicitly say it. This builds not only academic proficiency but also deep empathy, as my students step into lives and perspectives far different from their own.\r\n\r\nThe impact on individual students has been profound. I have one particular student who has historically struggled with reading stamina and often felt discouraged by difficult texts. However, having a brand-new, beautiful book of their own to hold has sparked a total turnaround. They are excited about each story and what happens next--even if it's many, many pages long! Seeing that spark of confidence ignite is the greatest gift a teacher can ask for. Thank you for investing in my students and for believing that their stories—and the stories they read—truly matter.","fullyFundedDate":1762047696715,"projectUrl":"project/build-our-book-nook-fill-our-classroom/9455830/","projectTitle":"Build Our Book Nook: Fill our classroom with essential reads","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Texeira","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7938335_orig.jpg?crop=1133,1133,x798,y412&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752121771972","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7938335"},{"teacherId":9342281,"projectId":10103743,"letterContent":"The impact of this project on my students' learning has been powerful and immediate. With access to engaging materials such as games, maps, flags, and classroom supplies, students became more motivated to participate, practice English, and connect with one another. The snacks also played an important role by helping students stay focused and energized, especially during the last part of the school day. My English Learners felt more confident speaking, collaborating, and expressing their ideas in a safe and welcoming environment.\r\n\r\nBecause of these resources, I was able to create more interactive and culturally responsive lessons. Students explored geography, shared their cultural backgrounds, and built language skills in meaningful, real-world contexts. The classroom became a space where diversity is celebrated, and every student feels seen and valued.","fullyFundedDate":1771630705499,"projectUrl":"project/building-belonging/10103743/","projectTitle":"Building Belonging","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Miukie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9342281_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757383496893","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9342281"}],"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","percentHawaiianImputed":29,"percentMultiracialImputed":19,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":56.9,"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"}