{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kula Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9167612,"projectId":10108442,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your generous support. I enjoy creating a safe and comfortable space for my special education students to learn in. My goal is that kids want to come to my room. I believe that when kids feel safe, comfortable, and seen, more learning can happen. The best feeling is when kids ask to come to my room. I feel then like I've accomplished my goal.\r\nLooking over the list of things I ordered, two things that stood out are the squishy stress balls. These have provided so much motivation for my students. I can't talk enough about the importance of helping children find their own internal motivation to learn. I find this especially important for children with special needs, as their struggles to learn are greater. Having resources in the classroom, even if it's as simple as a squishy ball, can help to teach motivation, giving kids the drive to achieve their learning goals.","fullyFundedDate":1771697569833,"projectUrl":"project/special-education-classroom-supplies/10108442/","projectTitle":"Special Education Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brightbill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9167612"},{"teacherId":2117016,"projectId":10108056,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and I, we would love to thank you for contributing to our calming space. You've helped us create a welcoming and enjoyable place to calm ourselves. \r\n\r\nThe moment that they saw the large box enter our room, they were intrigued to know what was inside. As I opened the box in front of them, they were surprised and shock to see the pieces of the couch. We built the couch right in front of them and they all got to take a photo on the couch sitting in groups of three. \r\n\r\nThey are using the couch during silent reading times and for calming purposes. The next steps will be to introduce them to the next phase of calming our students and that's going to be them working on positive affirmations and soothing themselves with coloring these affirmations.","fullyFundedDate":1771684596450,"projectUrl":"project/a-calming-space/10108056/","projectTitle":"A Calming Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. T.","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2117016"},{"teacherId":3197053,"projectId":10104235,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom. The students really do love the vertical whiteboards. We use them for our special BTC learning style and social studies and some math practices. The students have been more engaged in their lessons and have also come out of their shelves on are much more willing to participate with each other. It has been not only an academic growth and journey, but also a social emotional one.\r\n\r\nWe most recently had a professional development where the teachers came into teach classes with the students and they were able to utilize the whiteboards as well as the expo pens and other supplies to start their podcast for social studies. Thank you so much for your help.","fullyFundedDate":1771609425305,"projectUrl":"project/the-write-stuff-vertical-surfaces-for-c/10104235/","projectTitle":"The Write Stuff: Vertical Surfaces for Collaborative Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kakiuchi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3197053_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1627613883339","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3197053"},{"teacherId":8820878,"projectId":10105428,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in providing our classroom with vertical whiteboard surfaces and fresh markers! The moment the students saw the new \"thinking stations\" go up, the energy in the room completely shifted. They were so eager to get out of their chairs and start working; there was a literal buzz of excitement as they grabbed their markers and headed to their assigned boards. We now have enough for everyone to have access to their own board. \r\n\r\nCurrently, we are using these resources for our collaborative math problem-solving sessions. Instead of sitting quietly at desks, my students are now standing in small, random groups of three. This vertical work has made their thinking visible—not just to me, but to each other. I recently watched a group of students who usually struggle with confidence \"borrow brilliance\" by glancing at a neighboring board, which gave them the spark they needed to persist and solve a complex multi-step word problem on their own.\r\n\r\nOur next steps involve expanding these vertical surfaces into our literacy blocks for collaborative essay outlining and \"story-mapping.\" Because the whiteboards are non-permanent, the students feel much safer taking academic risks and making mistakes, knowing they can just wipe it away and try again. You haven't just given us supplies; you've transformed our classroom into a dynamic space where every student is an active, standing participant in their own learning.","fullyFundedDate":1771620700113,"projectUrl":"project/being-a-stand-up-learner-part-2/10105428/","projectTitle":"Being a Stand Up Learner Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cowell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8820878"},{"teacherId":8978405,"projectId":9773395,"letterContent":"First of all, thank you so much for your amazing contribution. With your generosity, I have been able to provide out students with amazing tools, aiding them in their regulation techniques and identifying their feelings. All of the students were so happy to see the multiple lego sets, and could not wait to start building away.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you so much for this opportunity. I truly appreciate it. I will be able to utilize all the materials for not only our current students, but for many years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1766967888552,"projectUrl":"project/lego-for-coping-skills/9773395/","projectTitle":"LEGO for Coping Skills!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Haruka","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8978405_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1697825771984","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8978405"},{"teacherId":9167612,"projectId":9530473,"letterContent":"Some of the supplies ordered were for our class store. They were very excited to help me stock the store. This gave them a new boost that I think will keep them motivated through the rest of the school year. I find that having some extra motivation can help improve the students' time on task and how much they get out of their day. \r\nOther supplies, such as the sensory strips and the visual timer, have been very helpful for some of my students who can struggle with focus. Also, the weighted animals have been a nice way to help students focus and bring a sense of calm.\r\n\r\nThank you very much for contributing to our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769260140885,"projectUrl":"project/special-education-supplies/9530473/","projectTitle":"Special Education Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brightbill","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9167612"},{"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"}],"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":65.7,"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"}