{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kalihi Waena Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":61.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6540988,"projectId":9777394,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Because of you, our classroom has been transformed into a dynamic space where every student can find their \"perfect\" way to learn. When the boxes arrived, the energy in the room was electric. My students' eyes lit up as we unpacked the flexible foldable seats and lap desks, and there were cheers for the \"fun\" additions like the magnet toys and ball coordination catching cups. Even the essential supplies, like the whiteboard cleaning spray and hot glue gun refills, were celebrated because the students realized they finally had the professional tools needed to be true creators. One student even looked at the new setup and said, \"It feels like we're in a real office now where we can actually get things done.\"\r\n\r\nA specific moment that stands out happened during our small group instruction sessions this week. Instead of struggling to find a quiet space, students grabbed their foldable seats and lap desks to create a comfortable, focused circle on the rug. We used the desk dividers to help those working independently stay in the zone, while the group at the table used their dry erase boards to map out story structures. During our break, we took the ball coordination catching cups outdoors, which created a wonderful opportunity for my students to interact with peers from other classes. It was heartwarming to see students from different grade levels laughing and playing together as they shared the new equipment. We capped off the session by using the vocabulary sort cards to categorize new words we discovered, fueled by a well-deserved round of cookies and snacks.\r\n\r\nYour contribution provided a wonderful peek into our classroom, and we are now looking forward to using these resources to bridge into future fourth grade concepts. We are beginning to plan science and social studies lessons where students will use these supplies to explore complex ideas like animal adaptations, different types of energy, and the history of Hawaiian government and the land. By using our new materials to analyze historical texts and diagram scientific cycles, my students are already building the advanced thinking skills they will need next year. Thank you for believing in our classroom and giving my students the freedom to learn in ways that truly work for them.","fullyFundedDate":1759461282904,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-flexibility-and-focus-transf/9777394/","projectTitle":"Literacy, Flexibility, and Focus: Transforming the Classroom With Essential Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6540988"},{"teacherId":5633850,"projectId":9773390,"letterContent":"The influence of \"Ready to Learn\" was immediate and practical. When the boxes came, my Kindergarteners were overjoyed to see the National Geographic animal books and couldn't wait to \"read\" about their favorite animals. We're now using dry erase sleeves as simple writing stations, with students sliding in paper to practice tracing letters, writing animal words, and constructing their first sentences. Having their own pencil cases has also given students a strong sense of responsibility, as they organize their own markers and instruments. The next step is for each student to practice writing a whole sentence about an animal they've studied to share with the class.","fullyFundedDate":1759463238460,"projectUrl":"project/ready-to-learn-supplies-to-spark-engage/9773390/","projectTitle":"Ready to Learn: Supplies to Spark Engagement and Joy","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramilla","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5633850_orig.jpg?crop=1124,1125,x0,y202&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1627545885153","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/wivinia-ramilla"},{"teacherId":5633850,"projectId":9438027,"letterContent":"My kindergarten students are naturally interested about the world, and there is nothing they enjoy more than animals! These nonfiction books transform \"learning to read\" into a wild adventure, enticing children to practice their skills with creatures such as sharks and lions. Rather than simply memorizing words, my students will become young scientists, exploring real-world facts and expanding their vocabulary one page at a time. Your help transforms our classroom into a discovery zone, where my youngest students are actually thrilled to pick up a book and explore the world around them!","fullyFundedDate":1752789084151,"projectUrl":"project/books-for-inspiring-readers/9438027/","projectTitle":"Books for inspiring readers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ramilla","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5633850_orig.jpg?crop=1124,1125,x0,y202&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1627545885153","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/wivinia-ramilla"},{"teacherId":8102167,"projectId":9897463,"letterContent":"Because of this generous support, our classroom has become an active STEM lab where students engage in hands-on, inquiry-driven learning across multiple projects throughout the year.\r\n\r\nFrom engineering challenges and material science explorations to design thinking, measurement, and problem-solving tasks, students are not simply completing activities — they are thinking like scientists and engineers. They plan, test, revise, analyze results, and improve their designs based on evidence. Whether experimenting with physical materials, constructing models, exploring reactions, or building prototypes, they are developing critical thinking skills that extend far beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nThese projects strengthen collaboration, perseverance, and creativity. Students learn to embrace productive struggle, analyze mistakes as data, and communicate their reasoning using academic language. They practice measurement, ratios, observation, data collection, and cause-and-effect relationships in authentic contexts.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, access to high-quality STEM materials and immersive learning experiences is limited outside of school. These donations help close opportunity gaps and ensure that every child — regardless of background — can participate in rigorous, engaging, future-ready learning.\r\n\r\nBecause of this support, our classroom is not just a place where students consume information. It is a space where they build, test, innovate, and discover. You have helped create an environment where curiosity is valued, confidence grows, and students begin to see themselves as capable problem-solvers and future innovators.","fullyFundedDate":1765906086537,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-discovery-transforms-learning-i/9897463/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Discovery Transforms Learning Into Joy, Wonder and Lifelong Curiosity","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Keunyoung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8102167_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753114281787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8102167"},{"teacherId":8102167,"projectId":9962475,"letterContent":"Because of one incredibly generous donor, our third-grade team received eight Meta Quest headsets—technology that would not have been accessible to our students without this donation. This contribution has transformed our grade level's instructional landscape and expanded what is possible in a public elementary classroom.\r\n\r\nWe implemented a structured after-school Meta Quest program serving 16 students, who participate two days per week. Through intentional rotation and collaboration, we have also integrated the headsets across the third-grade level, ensuring equitable access for multiple classrooms.\r\n\r\nStudents are developing foundational digital fluency by learning to navigate the Quest interface, manage virtual environments, and engage responsibly in shared digital spaces. Beyond technical skills, they are practicing collaboration, communication, and problem-solving as they join one another in virtual worlds—building classroom community in immersive environments.\r\n\r\nAcademically, students are viewing 360-degree educational experiences that deepen conceptual understanding through immersive, experiential learning. These virtual field experiences allow students to explore environments and phenomena that would otherwise remain abstract. Additionally, students are beginning to explore the engineering side of virtual map design—an introduction to spatial reasoning, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving.\r\n\r\nResearch supports immersive learning as a powerful tool for engagement and retention. We are witnessing that impact firsthand. Students who may struggle with traditional instruction are thriving in this interactive format. Confidence, curiosity, and collaboration are increasing across the board.\r\n\r\nThis initiative simply would not exist without this generous donation. What began as eight headsets has become a catalyst for innovation, equity, and inspiration within our third-grade community. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to expand our students' worlds—both virtually and academically.","fullyFundedDate":1768006390633,"projectUrl":"project/vr-voyages-from-classrooms-to-galaxies/9962475/","projectTitle":"VR Voyages: From Classrooms to Galaxies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Keunyoung","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8102167_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753114281787","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8102167"},{"teacherId":5718806,"projectId":9773446,"letterContent":"I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your incredible generosity in bringing this project to life. In a community where families often face significant financial hurdles, your support provides more than just \"supplies\"—it provides equity, safety, and a sense of belonging. The Chromebook holders have completely transformed our physical space; by clearing the \"cord chaos\" and protecting our technology, you've helped create a professional, organized environment where my students can truly focus. Having dedicated headphones for state testing and daily lessons has also removed a huge layer of stress, ensuring every child can hear their instructions clearly and perform at their absolute best.\r\n\r\nBeyond the academic tools, your donation has touched the \"heart\" of our classroom. The SEL toys and indoor recess activities have become essential tools for emotional regulation and joy, especially on rainy days when we can't head to the playground. These items, along with the birthday treats, show my students that they are celebrated and seen. Seeing them wear their class shirts once a week has fostered a beautiful sense of ownership and pride—it's a visible reminder that they are part of a team that cares for them.\r\n\r\nYou haven't just funded a list of items; you've invested in the dignity and potential of some truly resilient children. By providing the tools their families may not be able to afford right now, you are proving to my students that their community believes in their bright futures. Thank you for making our classroom a safe, organized, and joyful place to grow!","fullyFundedDate":1759448974473,"projectUrl":"project/the-tools-for-tomorrow-supporting-learn/9773446/","projectTitle":"The Tools for Tomorrow: Supporting Learning, Focus, and Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Chang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5718806_orig.jpg?crop=320,320,x0,y38&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724218817272","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/alohamrschang"},{"teacherId":7930135,"projectId":9774358,"letterContent":"Our school practices the social-emotional learning program Choose Love. Through Choose Love students learn how to be courageous, how to forgive, how to show compassion, and how to show gratitude. When students display these traits at school, they are rewarded with our school's form of money, Lion Kala. Attendance is also something we are continuously trying to improve at our school. Students are rewarded with Lion Kala for coming to school every day and on time. With the money they collect, they are given the opportunity to go to our school store to purchase items such as toy cars, pencil cases, push button games, and hand sanitizer. Students enjoy this opportunity and look forward to visiting our school store. Students can make purchases and they seem to be happy with what they buy. We feel that these incentives are a positive way to promote good behavior and good attendance.\r\nThank you for your generous support of our social-emotional learning and attendance initiatives. Your contribution made a direct impact on our Choose Love program. Through the Choose Love curriculum, our students are learning to live their lives with courage, forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude. To reinforce these lessons, we utilize \"Lion Kala\", which is our school's form of money which is given to students when they put these values into action. Because of your support, we are able to keep our school store stocked with items that students are excited to earn.\r\nYour donation also helps us address one of our most critical goals: restoring school attendance to pre-pandemic levels. By incentivizing attendance through the Lion Kala, we have been able to work on motivating students to come to school every day.","fullyFundedDate":1759430101907,"projectUrl":"project/amazing-rewards-for-choosing-love/9774358/","projectTitle":"Amazing Rewards for Choosing Love","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7930135_orig.png?crop=432,432,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1692057512462","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7930135"},{"teacherId":8819593,"projectId":9773231,"letterContent":"The resources that were donated has greatly impacted my students learning. We used the supplies to conduct an Engineering Project. Students were given a problem and background information about natural disasters and how people are unable to receive necessities on land. So they were to build something to protect needed \"supplies\" in the plastic easter egg that was filled with 15 pennies for some weight. Each group worked together to build and test their projects, dropping from the second floor of our school. As an extension of our learning, we invited the Honolulu Fire Department to help us drop the projects from about 40 feet high and 95 feet high using their ladder truck. The students were so excited to test their project and were even more excited when their egg \"survived\" the drop! \r\nAs the boxes started arriving to our classroom, the students asked me multiple times what was inside and if it was for them. When I finally opened the boxes and showed them what was inside, they were so surprised that people donated all of the supplies for them to use. \r\nThe next steps for my students this year is to continue to push their excitement for learning by introducing another engineering project in the 4th quarter. They will be building a zip-line to transport items to another location. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for bringing excitement to my students!","fullyFundedDate":1763597741325,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-please/9773231/","projectTitle":"Supplies Please!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Urata","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8819593"},{"teacherId":589711,"projectId":9773790,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting this class. They are students who recently arrived in the United States with very limited English language skills. Although this is a very big barrier to learning, there is something else that interferes with learning as well. These students often feel uprooted from the only home they have ever known and miss it terribly. Many of the items in this project are highly motivating. Students earn kala (Hawaiian for money) for good work and behavior. These inducements help to keep our students focused on learning.\r\n\r\nI am especially grateful to the donors who funded this project. Without it, I would be spending my salary to keep my students motivated, which is a hardship. Thank you again for allowing my students to remain highly motivated!","fullyFundedDate":1759372154798,"projectUrl":"project/replenish-our-classroom/9773790/","projectTitle":"Replenish Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Charnin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp589711_orig.jpg?crop=320,320,x0,y40&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1659562311524","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/589711"},{"teacherId":9531319,"projectId":9773940,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible support and for providing such a wonderful variety of resources for our 4th-grade classroom! This donation is a true game-changer that addresses everything from our daily organization to our most exciting STEM projects.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has provided us with essential hands-on tools like the Simple Circuit Kits, Building Blocks, and Stopwatches, which are already bringing our science and engineering lessons to life. The Privacy Folders, Dry Erase Boards, and Expo pens are helping our students stay focused and collaborative during daily work, while the 9-Bin Toy Organizer, Deli Containers, and Mesh Zipper Pouches ensure that our new materials stay neat, accessible, and ready for learning.\r\n\r\nWe are also so grateful for the \"extras\" that make our classroom a safer and more active place to be, such as the Assorted Bandages, Jump Ropes, and Mini Mirrors. Finally, the Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards give me the immediate flexibility to purchase high-quality, classroom-tested resources that perfectly match my students' needs at the exact moment they need them. Thank you for investing in our classroom and for providing us with the tools to make learning engaging, innovative, and perfectly tailored to every child!","fullyFundedDate":1759455035713,"projectUrl":"project/new-tools-new-learnings/9773940/","projectTitle":"New Tools, New Learnings!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9531319_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y1008&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715041846375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/akanewilliams"},{"teacherId":9531319,"projectId":9548151,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible gift of Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) gift cards! This donation is a game-changer for our 4th-grade classroom. TPT is a unique platform where teachers create and share high-quality, classroom-tested resources, and your generosity gives me the immediate flexibility to purchase exactly what my students need the moment they need it.\r\n\r\nIn 4th grade, our students' needs are diverse and ever-changing. Whether I am looking for a specialized STEM engineering challenge, a differentiated reading comprehension unit for our latest novel study, or interactive math games that make fractions fun, these gift cards allow me to access the best materials available. Because of your support, I can spend less time creating materials from scratch and more time focused on direct instruction and supporting my students' growth. Thank you for investing in our classroom and for providing us with the tools to make learning engaging, innovative, and perfectly tailored to every child!","fullyFundedDate":1759286199003,"projectUrl":"project/teachers-pay-teachers/9548151/","projectTitle":"Teachers Pay Teachers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Williams","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9531319_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y1008&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1715041846375","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/akanewilliams"},{"teacherId":8832765,"projectId":9777391,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation to our classroom. The new storage shelf for our math manipulatives has made a difference in our daily learning environment. This organization does more than just tidy up the room; it empowers my students to:\r\n\r\nFoster Independence: Students can now easily find and put away the tools they need for hands-on problem solving.\r\n\r\nMaximize Learning Time: We no longer spend precious minutes searching for materials; everything is accessible and ready to go.\r\n\r\nValue Their Tools: Having a dedicated, high-quality space for our resources teaches the students to respect and care for their learning materials.\r\n\r\nMahalo for investing in our classroom and for believing in the potential of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1759460893556,"projectUrl":"project/a-shelf-for-success-organizing-our-math/9777391/","projectTitle":"A Shelf for Success: Organizing Our Math Kits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jones","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8832765_orig.jpg?crop=2227,2227,x796,y1542&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1668305558329","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8832765"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50845","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":432,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":42,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":39.0,"schoolId":50845,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kalihi Waena Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kalihi Waena Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/honolulu-school-district/kalihi-waena-elementary-school/50845"}