{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pohakea Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":32.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9974370,"projectId":10105208,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in providing additional volume of reading texts for our Arts & Letters ELA program. Your support has a direct and profound impact on our classroom library and, more importantly, on the hearts and minds of my third graders.\r\n\r\nWe are currently immersed in Grade 3, Module 3, focusing on the complex and moving experiences of immigrants. These supplemental books are essential tools that allow my students to build deeper knowledge beyond our core curriculum. They are helping our class explore the difficult \"why\" behind immigration—why families choose to leave their homes—while also discovering the beautiful ways objects and \"keepsakes\" hold onto memories and meaning.\r\n\r\nThe students have been particularly captivated by two titles that have sparked deep classroom discussions:\r\n\r\nThe Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border (Stephen Briseño & Magdalena Mora): Through the eyes of Noemi and her mama, my students are witnessing the reality of fleeing a home in Mexico. Following the \"notebook keeper\" has taught our class the invaluable roles that kindness and hope play in the face of uncertainty.\r\n\r\nLailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story (Reem Faruqi & Lea Lyon): This story has been a wonderful bridge for my students to understand the immigrant experience of balancing two worlds. Watching Lailah navigate her first Ramadan in the United States while missing her friends in Abu Dhabi has encouraged my students to think about how they can build connections and celebrate diverse cultures in our own school.\r\n\r\nBecause of these texts, we aren't just reading; we are growing as scholars. These books provide the perfect canvas for us to apply the skills we practice daily, including:\r\n\r\nAnalyzing Story Elements: Identifying characters, settings, and plot shifts.\r\n\r\nLanguage Use: Exploring how authors use specific words to evoke emotion.\r\n\r\nCentral Ideas: Synthesizing the bigger picture of the human experience.\r\n\r\nCommunication: Utilizing speaking and listening skills during peer discussions.\r\n\r\nNarrative Writing: Using these stories as mentor texts for our own writing pieces.\r\n\r\nThank you for being a vital part of our learning journey. By putting these books in my students' hands, you are helping them develop not just as readers, but as empathetic global citizens.","fullyFundedDate":1771595876011,"projectUrl":"project/turn-up-the-volume-building-stronger-pi/10105208/","projectTitle":"Turn Up the Volume: Building Stronger Pilina (Connection) Through Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Muraoka","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9974370"},{"teacherId":3087879,"projectId":10104989,"letterContent":"This project was PACKED with essentials that my students needed to close out the year! From folders, to tape, to extra glue sticks (these are always used so fast), to highlighters and expo pens, this restock was so necessary. We have been hard at work to finish this year on a high note and these supplies have been helping us to reach for our highest potential. There's even a few supplies (like those red pens) that have been helping me out to make sure that I have the supplies I need to best teach each of my students. We are all so grateful for the contribution to our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1771537302378,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-finish-the-year-strong/10104989/","projectTitle":"Help Us Finish the Year STRONG!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Stern","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3087879_orig.png?crop=452,452,x0,y81&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1665011253596","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sdesilva"},{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":9772929,"letterContent":"For many students in an inclusion setting—particularly those with ADHD, autism, or sensory processing disorders—sitting still in a hard plastic chair is an exhausting cognitive task. When a student's body is uncomfortable, their brain spends its \"bandwidth\" on physical regulation rather than the lesson.\r\n\r\nProprioceptive Input: Items like wobble stools, standing desks, or therapy balls allow for \"micro-movements.\" This subtle physical engagement provides the brain with the sensory input it craves, actually increasing the student's ability to focus on the teacher.\r\n\r\nTactile Comfort: For students with high anxiety or emotional regulation needs, soft seating like bean bags or floor mats creates a \"low-pressure\" environment. A soft space can act as a de-escalation tool, allowing a student to remain in the room and engaged with the community even when they feel overwhelmed.","fullyFundedDate":1759199104993,"projectUrl":"project/seats-supplies-and-success/9772929/","projectTitle":"Seats, Supplies, and Success~","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":8216212,"letterContent":"Many of our learners are \"visual thinkers.\" They struggle to process purely auditory instructions or dense blocks of text. With the ability to print in high-resolution color, we now create Visual Schedules and First-Then boards that provide a predictable structure for students with autism. We can print real-world photographs to build background knowledge for English Language Learners and vivid diagrams that help ADHD students anchor their focus. Seeing a complex scientific process in bright, clear color on their own desk—rather than squinting at a distant whiteboard—makes the difference between a student feeling \"lost\" and feeling \"included.\"","fullyFundedDate":1708135523336,"projectUrl":"project/seeing-is-believing/8216212/","projectTitle":"Seeing is Believing!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":9061438,"projectId":10108133,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to our grade 6 classroom. Most of the items were used sor supplement homework assignments, fluency practices and preparing for our State testing. Pictures are of the light breakfast that students could choose from so they will not be hungry during testing. Mints were purchased from your donations so students are able to stay awake and concentrate while testing is happening. This has helped my class tremendously as it contributes to their success. \r\n\r\nMy students are ecstatic to hear that these items were donated as most items are a luxury for us to have within our 4 walls. Most students come to school without eating breakfast or having snacks during recess, so they were happy to hear they were able to have something in their stomachs prior to taking one of the biggest test this school year. We appreicate you and all you do for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1771696044903,"projectUrl":"project/shining-through/10108133/","projectTitle":"Shining Through","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pancipanci","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9061438_orig.jpg?crop=1723,1723,x685,y2116&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1741671370680","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9061438"},{"teacherId":7942242,"projectId":10103290,"letterContent":"Thank you for the materials you have generously donated to our classroom. Your donation has helped students grow academically and socially. \r\n\r\nStudents are strengthening their math fluency in a fun and engaging way. They enjoy using the 10-sided dice just as much as they love using their new dry erase sleeves. The sleeves are such a great investment because students can restart the game by erasing their markings and I can easily change out the math game template. Playing math games is awesome because students get to interact with each other and practice their math at the same time!\r\n\r\nThe large dry erase surface is an important tool that allows students to share their thinking and document their work when working in groups. It makes it easy for me to monitor the group's progress to ensure students are on the right track when solving math problems.\r\n\r\nThe desk shield is such a good visual reminder for students to remember they should be focusing on their own work, especially when taking assessments. They definitely enjoy using them!\r\n\r\nThe timers are a helpful way to keep us on track. It also serves as a visual reminder about how much time we have left to do an assigned task.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has allowed us to engage in our learning in a fun and meaningful way. Thank you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1771599922317,"projectUrl":"project/common-classroom-materials/10103290/","projectTitle":"Common Classroom Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kanda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7942242"},{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":10056960,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and staff of our inclusion classroom, I am writing to share our deepest thanks for your thoughtful donation of food and healthy snacks. While a donation of this nature might seem like a simple gesture, its impact on the daily lives of our learners is both profound and transformative.\r\n\r\nIn an inclusion environment, we work diligently to create a space where every student—regardless of their neurodiversity or physical needs—feels safe and ready to learn. One of the most significant hurdles to academic engagement is regulation. For many of our students, maintaining the sensory and emotional balance required to focus on a lesson is an exhausting task. Your donation provides the essential fuel that allows them to sustain that focus. When a student's nutritional needs are met, their cognitive load is lightened, their anxiety decreases, and their capacity for sustained understanding begins to flourish.\r\n\r\nFood in our classroom serves as more than just a snack; it is a vital instructional tool. We often use these resources to facilitate social-emotional learning. For a student working on communication goals, sitting down to share a snack becomes a natural, low-pressure environment to practice turn-taking, requesting, and peer-to-peer interaction. These moments of \"shared table\" experiences are where some of our most significant breakthroughs happen. They foster a sense of belonging and community that is the very heartbeat of inclusion.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, for our students with sensory processing differences, having access to these resources allows us to incorporate \"sensory breaks\" that keep them grounded. A crunchy snack or a cold drink can be the exact input a child needs to reset after a challenging transition. By providing these resources, you are directly contributing to a classroom culture where \"equitable access\" applies to everything—from the books we read to the energy we provide our bodies.\r\n\r\nYour gift ensures that hunger never becomes a barrier to a child's participation. It tells our students that their community cares about their well-being in a holistic way. It allows me, as their teacher, to focus on instruction rather than worrying about whether a student has the physical stamina to make it through the afternoon.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has turned our classroom into a true \"home away from home\"—a place where students are nourished in both mind and body. Thank you for recognizing the importance of these foundational needs and for your unwavering commitment to making our inclusive environment a success.","fullyFundedDate":1770747770224,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-every-learner/10056960/","projectTitle":"Fueling Every Learner","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":8821867,"projectId":10103823,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students and staff, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your donation of a new printer. In an inclusion classroom, we work with a beautiful spectrum of learning styles, and having a dedicated printer is more than a convenience—it is a vital tool for equity.\r\n\r\nFor many of our learners, text-heavy assignments can feel like an insurmountable wall. Your gift allows us to bridge that gap instantly through the power of visual literacy. By incorporating high-quality images, color-coded diagrams, and visual schedules, we can translate abstract concepts into concrete ideas. These visuals act as an anchor, helping students sustain their understanding throughout a lesson rather than losing the thread of the conversation.\r\n\r\nWhen a student can see a \"visual roadmap\" of their day or a picture-based guide for a science experiment, their anxiety drops and their engagement soars. They transition from being passive observers to active participants because they finally have a \"key\" that unlocks the curriculum. Your generosity ensures that no student is left behind simply because they process information differently. Thank you for helping us turn our classroom into a space where every child can see a path to success.","fullyFundedDate":1771445593610,"projectUrl":"project/click-print-ready-to-learn/10103823/","projectTitle":"Click! Print! Ready to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cherae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8821867"},{"teacherId":10384318,"projectId":10108324,"letterContent":"I am writing to share the immediate impact of your donations. In our inclusion classroom, these resources are essential for providing differentiated support to all learners. Your generous donations are already making a world of difference in our classroom!\r\n\r\nFor Mathematics: The math kits and animal figurines serve as 'manipulatives' that help students master addition through touch and play.\r\n\r\nFor Literacy: The Language Arts kits are actively strengthening our core spelling and writing skills.\r\n\r\nFor Social-Emotional Support: The portable lava fidgets act as powerful sensory motivators, encouraging students to persevere through difficult tasks.\r\n\r\nFor Science: We are using the colored paper, printer ink, and figurines to build detailed habitat models for our science curriculum.\r\n\r\nThank you for your incredible generosity. Mahalo for supporting our journey!","fullyFundedDate":1771695264344,"projectUrl":"project/kindergarten-inclusion-classes-need-your/10108324/","projectTitle":"Kindergarten Inclusion Classes Need Your Help","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10384318"},{"teacherId":9564903,"projectId":9782258,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity in supporting our \"1st Grade Resources\" project. When the boxes first arrived in our classroom, the atmosphere was electric! My students were jumping with joy and could not wait to see what was inside. One of my students even asked, \"Is this all for us?\" It was a beautiful moment that reminded me how much it means to them to know that people they've never met care about their education.\r\n\r\nWe have been using these new resources daily to enhance our small-group learning time. Specifically, during our last literacy block, the students were able to engage with the materials in a way that was previously impossible. These tools have turned abstract concepts into hands-on experiences that truly stick. Looking ahead, we plan to use these resources to anchor our upcoming science unit, allowing the students to explore and discover at their own pace. Your support has not only provided \"stuff,\" but it has also provided inspiration and a renewed love for learning in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759602193178,"projectUrl":"project/1st-grade-resources/9782258/","projectTitle":"1st Grade Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Molina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9564903"},{"teacherId":8979581,"projectId":9773862,"letterContent":"Your a big shout out for all your support. Your donation has a huge impact on my class. With the IXL program, the students soared to access reaching mastery. Since the start of our program, students have spend over 115 hours and answered 14,300 questions, making progress in well over 166 skills. What a huge accomplished all with your generous donation.\r\n\r\nOf course, it could not be done without the rewards and incentives provided with your support. The incentives provided that extra boost to get students hooked into the program. Now five months in, students are just eager to complete the skills without looking for that extra treat or reward. This is true intrinsic motivation at its best.","fullyFundedDate":1759417016831,"projectUrl":"project/level-up-with-ixl/9773862/","projectTitle":"Level Up with IXL","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Agunat","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8979581_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y486&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759191989668","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8979581"},{"teacherId":9564903,"projectId":9706933,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in funding our classroom project! When I shared the news with my students, the room was buzzing with excitement. It is truly heartening to know that there are people like you who value education and are willing to invest in the potential of our students. Your support provides more than just supplies; it provides a sense of validation and encouragement that resonates deeply within our school community.\r\n\r\nBecause of your contribution, my students now have access to cardstock paper, and crayons which will directly impact our daily learning. These resources allow for a more hands-on, engaging experience that simply wouldn't have been possible without your help. You've not only enhanced our physical classroom but also sparked a renewed curiosity in my students. We are so grateful for your kindness and for being a vital part of our journey this year.","fullyFundedDate":1757868370543,"projectUrl":"project/2nd-year-teacher/9706933/","projectTitle":"2nd Year Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Molina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9564903"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50811","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":493,"numTeachers":33,"percentFrplEligible":56,"percentAsian":33,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":4,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":17,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"14.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.9,"schoolId":50811,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pohakea Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pohakea Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/leeward-oahu-school-district/pohakea-elementary-school/50811"}