{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kula Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":33.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9064354,"projectId":9777514,"letterContent":"When the materials from this project arrived, my students immediately sensed that something special had come just for them. As I unpacked the boxes, their eyes widened and the room buzzed with excitement. They carefully passed items to one another, noticing the bright colors, smooth textures, and new possibilities each resource offered. From the very first day, we began integrating the materials into our daily learning rotations. The dry-erase boards quickly became a favorite tool during math and literacy practice. Students used them to solve equations, practice sight words, and brainstorm ideas before transferring their thinking to paper. Because they could easily erase and try again, they felt more confident taking risks. The headphones transformed our reading and technology stations, giving students the ability to focus deeply without distraction. I noticed that even my most easily distracted learners remained engaged for longer stretches of time. The art supplies opened doors for creative expression during writing extensions and social-emotional learning activities. Students illustrated personal narratives, created visual representations of character traits, and designed posters that reflected classroom values such as kindness and perseverance.\r\n\r\nOne especially meaningful moment occurred during a collaborative project in which students worked in small groups to design models representing a \"peaceful community.\" Using the craft materials, they planned, sketched, and constructed their ideas together. I watched as they negotiated roles, encouraged one another, and solved problems when their designs did not go as planned. A few students who typically hesitated to participate took on leadership roles, confidently explaining their ideas and guiding their peers. When they presented their finished projects, they spoke proudly about the teamwork and creativity involved. Their reactions when they first saw the materials had been filled with joy and curiosity, but over time that excitement evolved into ownership and responsibility. They treated the supplies with care because they understood that generous donors had provided them. Several students asked thoughtful questions about who had sent the materials and why, and we discussed gratitude and the power of community support. The sensory tools also made a significant difference during transitions and challenging academic tasks. Students who sometimes struggled to regulate their emotions were able to use these supports to calm themselves and refocus, which led to fewer disruptions and more productive learning time.\r\n\r\nAs we continued using the resources, the impact extended beyond individual lessons. The dry-erase boards became a consistent part of our writing warm-ups, allowing students to experiment with sentence structure and vocabulary before publishing their work. The headphones supported research projects, where students gathered information and created short presentations to share with classmates. Our next steps included expanding cross-curricular projects that blended creativity with core academic skills. Students began planning a class book that combined writing, illustration, and peer feedback, using many of the donated materials throughout the process. They also set personal learning goals and tracked their progress during small-group instruction, building both academic skills and confidence. Because of this project, our classroom environment felt more dynamic, inclusive, and supportive. Students had opportunities to explore, collaborate, and reflect in ways that had not been possible before. The resources did more than supply materials; they strengthened our sense of community and empowered students to see themselves as capable learners and creators.","fullyFundedDate":1759457521167,"projectUrl":"project/building-strong-minds-and-hearts-through/9777514/","projectTitle":"Building Strong Minds and Hearts Through Learning and Creativity","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Montalvo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9064354_orig.jpg?crop=271,271,x86,y34&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691196468056","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmontalvo808"},{"teacherId":321883,"projectId":8219536,"letterContent":"Thank you donors for making this project come to life. It has been great to have an outside storage for out garden supplies. This has led to better organization within the classroom as well. We have more area to work and compete our work and know where our gardening supplies are.\r\nWe appreciate everything that you have done from looking over our project and taking the time to consider funding it to then choosing our project to fund. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to stay organized and grow from this.","fullyFundedDate":1708261847597,"projectUrl":"project/organize-it/8219536/","projectTitle":"Organize It!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp321883_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x298,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1627675229917","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/321883"},{"teacherId":321883,"projectId":9773653,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for supporting our project. The children enjoyed using the different art materials. They have created more realistic pictures of themselves as we come from many different cultures here and are not all peach:) They have developed their fine motor skills through stringing beads to create bracelets and necklaces which also express their creativity.\r\nSupporting this project has allowed the students to develop a better sense of themselves as they are able to express themselves in different ways. We appreciate your time and donation to our class.","fullyFundedDate":1759454482188,"projectUrl":"project/variety-keeps-the-minds-engaged/9773653/","projectTitle":"Variety Keeps the Minds Engaged","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. K.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp321883_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x298,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1627675229917","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/321883"},{"teacherId":8358088,"projectId":9170610,"letterContent":"I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of building, counting, and writing supplies for our Kindergarten classroom. Your support has had a profound impact on both my students and me, and I'm excited to share how we've been utilizing these resources.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first laid eyes on the new materials, their excitement was palpable. Their faces lit up with wonder and curiosity as they explored the colorful blocks, felt-tip markers, and notebooks. It was truly heartwarming to witness their enthusiasm and eagerness to dive into the activities.\r\n\r\nOne particular moment that stands out is when we embarked on a classroom project using the building supplies. I divided the students into small groups and tasked them with constructing their own mini cities using the blocks. It was incredible to see their creativity and teamwork in action as they collaborated to design and build roads, houses, and even imaginary landmarks. Not only did this project enhance their spatial reasoning and fine motor skills, but it also fostered social interaction and communication among the students.\r\n\r\nYour donation has provided my students with invaluable tools to support their learning journey, and I am truly grateful for your generosity. As we continue to explore and grow together, I am excited to see the positive impact these resources will have on their academic and personal development.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and support.","fullyFundedDate":1747159685839,"projectUrl":"project/sam-i-am-a-for-art-m-for-math/9170610/","projectTitle":"Sam I AM! A for Art, M for Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dickson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8358088_orig.jpg?crop=640,640,x0,y8&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698628233928","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8358088"},{"teacherId":8975949,"projectId":9566533,"letterContent":"On behalf of myself and my 4th grade students, I want to thank you for your generous donation of all.of.our material to our science classroom. Because of your kindness, my students are now able to conduct, hands-on science experiments, learn how volcanosand landscapes work, and understand more about energy, which brings the concepts from their textbooks to life. One student even remarked, \"This makes understanding so much easier\" when they first used the new materials! \r\nYour support has made a significant impact, turning our classroom into a more engaging and interactive, inquiry-based learning environment. Thank you for investing in the next generation of scientists and for believing in the importance of hands-on education.","fullyFundedDate":1761819539042,"projectUrl":"project/enabling-hands-on-exploration-to-encoura/9566533/","projectTitle":"Enabling Hands-On Exploration to Encourage Future STEM Leaders","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nolan","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8975949"},{"teacherId":9064354,"projectId":9264225,"letterContent":"Once the project was fully funded, we used the supplies exactly as planned to support a kindness and community-building unit with our upper-elementary students. We began by introducing the materials — beads, 3D-printed pieces, poster board, and art supplies — during a classroom circle discussion about what it means to show kindness and include others.\r\n\r\nThe students were thrilled the first time they saw all of the colorful beads and crafting supplies laid out. You could literally see their eyes light up as they started imagining the bracelets, keychains, and uplifting items they would create. Several students immediately began pairing up to plan which positive words and messages they wanted to include on their creations. Their excitement was contagious, and even the quieter learners were eager to dive in.\r\n\r\nTogether, we worked on making handmade friendship bracelets, keychains, and small 3D-printed trinkets that carried messages of encouragement, empathy, and support. Students also designed bright, colorful posters with positive affirmations, which we proudly displayed around the school. These activities not only sharpened their creativity and collaboration skills but also gave them a sense of pride in improving the culture of our whole school community.\r\n\r\nOne particularly meaningful moment was when a student who is usually very reserved approached a classmate who has struggled socially and gave them a handmade bracelet with a message about being valued and appreciated. That simple exchange sparked genuine smiles and opened up heartfelt classroom conversations about friendship, respect, and inclusion.\r\n\r\nAfter completing the projects, we placed the crafted items around the grade level for other students to find so they could experience a surprise boost of joy and encouragement. Hearing students talk about finding hidden trinkets and feeling uplifted truly demonstrated the social-emotional impact of this work.\r\n\r\nNow that we've wrapped up the crafting phase, our next steps include reflecting on what kindness looks like in daily actions and connecting these experiences to upcoming reading and writing lessons about empathy and community.","fullyFundedDate":1746548195980,"projectUrl":"project/gifts-for-good/9264225/","projectTitle":"Gifts for Good","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Montalvo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9064354_orig.jpg?crop=271,271,x86,y34&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691196468056","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/msmontalvo808"},{"teacherId":10315061,"projectId":9835892,"letterContent":"I just wanted send a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU for supporting our school garden project. Because of you, we were able to take a space that had become over grown and hard to use and turn it back into a safe and inspiring space for our students to learn in. \r\n\r\nYour donations helped us purchase much-needed organization supplies to keep the garden materials clean, protected from the weather and more functional for the kiddos to use. We have have designated spaces for tools and it makes a world of a difference. These kids can actually find what they need (and return it!) which makes class time run more smoothly and efficiently. The students also have a pride of ownership of the space knowing how and where things should live. \r\n\r\nWe were also able to install two new garden beds and two trellises. There is nothing growing in them yet, but I let the kids pick out what they wanted to grow and we have started the seeds! Experiencing them being a part of the transformation has been so lovely. They are passionate and excited to transform the space. Each time they come back to the garden they comment on how beautiful it is looking, and how far we have come. One student said, \"look at how much more room we have to grow stuff!\" There is something so powerful about kids seeing that someone believes in their learning space is worth investing in. It just proves that what we are doing matters. \r\n\r\nThe compost that we purchased from this project has also been a big game changer. Amending the soil with students has tied perfectly into our soil and compost curriculum this quarter. They got to see and feel the difference between tired depleted soil verse nutrient-rich soil. With the older students, it also helped to open up the conversation about soil conservation and why it is so important to care for our lands. Some of the comments were funny, such as, \"Even though this compost has poop in it, I think the plants are really going to like it.\"\r\n\r\nYour kind donation didn't just buy supplies, it helped to restore and living, breathing learning environment. A space where kids can put their hands in the dirt, try new foods, practice teamwork and experience the joy of gardening. Thank you again for being a part of our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1763233276738,"projectUrl":"project/rehabilitate-our-mlaai-food-garden/9835892/","projectTitle":"Rehabilitate Our Māla'ai (Food Garden)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ki","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10315061_orig.jpg?crop=912,912,x394,y90&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761340930296","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10315061"},{"teacherId":7264274,"projectId":7211431,"letterContent":"These supplies have been truly transformative for my classroom, providing my students with the resources they need to explore their creativity in ways I hadn't imagined. By integrating these tools into our daily routine, the students have developed a consistent hands-on practice that encourages both problem-solving and collaboration. The energy in the room has shifted noticeably as they've taken ownership of their projects and explored new ways to express their ideas.\r\n\r\nThe impact of this generosity is already evident, as the class has successfully produced two stop-motion productions this year. Seeing their stories come to life through animation has boosted their confidence and deepened their technical skills. These tools are doing more than just filling a shelf; they are actively shaping the way my students learn, create, and work together.","fullyFundedDate":1677818000431,"projectUrl":"project/stop-motion-animation/7211431/","projectTitle":"Stop Motion Animation","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Oliphant","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7264274_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1677701207922","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7264274"},{"teacherId":1516416,"projectId":9781156,"letterContent":"My students use both flexible seating throughout the day and learn Math through vertical dry erase boards daily! Students love helping me set up and put the boards away which can be a task but they all take ownership in their own learning including the use of learning tools. My students have been a part of my \"building thinking classrooms\" pedagogy for a few years, so of course they were excited to have additional boards to add to our small collection. Next steps are to use the boards for oral presentations and other content areas. Thank you so much for your continued support! Mahalo!","fullyFundedDate":1759587623852,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-vertical-learning-em/9781156/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating & Vertical Learning: Empowering Social Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Pokini","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1516416_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690428922148","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kmpokini"},{"teacherId":2117016,"projectId":9631505,"letterContent":"Mahalo to all the generous & supportive donors who have contributed to such a wonderful project. On behalf of my First graders, we would like to thank you for your generosity! \r\n\r\nI'd like to thank you for your support with funding \"Painting Through the Arts.\" We were able to create lots of art. Majority of the art created was sold at our school event, which generated funds that went toward our school garden and our class socials. \r\n\r\nOur First graders were able to use their skills and apply them to designing art, selling art, and creating core memories. When it came to designing and executing their designs, GLO #4 or Quality Producer is something we aim for. Students needed to count back change to the customer, which touched upon their Gr. 1 Math standards. The application of adding and subtracting in real life experiences gave our students confidence in their mathematical fluency. They truly enjoyed working on this project.","fullyFundedDate":1758654253178,"projectUrl":"project/painting-through-the-arts/9631505/","projectTitle":"Painting Through the Arts","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. T.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2117016"},{"teacherId":2117016,"projectId":9647228,"letterContent":"I'd like to thank you for your support with funding \"The Creative Pod.\" We were able to create lots of art. Majority of the art created was sold at our school event, which generated funds that went toward our school garden and our class socials. \r\n\r\nOur first graders were able to use their skills and apply them to designing art, selling art, and creating core memories. When it came to designing and executing their designs, GLO #4 or Quality Producer is something we aimed for. Students needed to count back change to the customer, which touched upon their Gr. 1 Math standards. The application of adding and subtracting in real life experiences gave our students confidence in their mathematical fluency. They truly enjoyed working on this project.","fullyFundedDate":1759597543857,"projectUrl":"project/the-creative-pod/9647228/","projectTitle":"The Creative Pod","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. T.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2117016"},{"teacherId":3197047,"projectId":9578601,"letterContent":"The materials from Building Bright Minds in a Colorful STEM Classroom! have transformed the way my kindergarten students explore, create, and problem-solve each day. Using building toys, paper cups, cotton balls, tape, and index cards, students work together to design towers, bridges, and imaginative structures during our STEM centers. Headphones are now used during independent learning and technology stations, helping students stay focused and confident as they work at their own pace. Storage containers keep materials organized and accessible, empowering students to independently select tools and take ownership of their learning.\r\nWhen the students first saw the new materials, their excitement was immediate and contagious. Eyes lit up as they explored the bins, asked questions, and eagerly shared ideas with classmates. One memorable moment occurred during a building challenge where students were tasked with creating the tallest structure that could stand on its own. Cheers erupted as they tested, rebuilt, and proudly explained their designs to peers. \r\nThe next steps for my students include deeper STEM investigations focused on planning, testing, and improving designs. Students will begin drawing blueprints, using trial and error to strengthen structures, and reflecting on what worked and what they would change next time. With the continued use of these materials, my students are developing confidence as young engineers and problem-solvers. Thank you for helping create a colorful, engaging learning environment where curiosity and creativity thrive every day.","fullyFundedDate":1759453706245,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-minds-in-a-colorful-stem/9578601/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Minds in a Colorful STEM Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Whitmer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197047"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50981","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":339,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":52,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":22,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":66.1,"schoolId":50981,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kula Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kula Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/maui-school-district/kula-elementary-school/50981"}