{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Makawao Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":66.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6460683,"projectId":9712395,"letterContent":"These materials have been such a wonderful addition to the classroom! The foldable floor tables have been great for portable science stations, and also small group math and writing workstations! When the boxes arrived we got out the ocean specimens right away and loaded them into the wooden tray and students analyzed them every free moment they got! They also loved exploring with the color mixing lenses and relating it to our science lessons on color.\r\nI am so grateful for your support and generosity. It is inspiring to see how excited these young learners are when presented with engaging and novel science materials. They are natural learners and strive to make meaning of the world around them. Giving them access to real science tools is helping to provide a solid foundation for future learning, while stoking the flame of curiosity to continue pushing their exploration and wonder. \r\nThank you for believing in this project and the power of science.","fullyFundedDate":1768147519040,"projectUrl":"project/science-stations/9712395/","projectTitle":"Science Stations","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6460683_orig.jpg?crop=1689,1689,x350,y310&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666168890014","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/holly-lee808"},{"teacherId":1116498,"projectId":9772111,"letterContent":"Literacy centers allow for targeted practice. While I work with a small group on specific phonics rules, other students are at centers reinforcing what they've already learned.\r\nThe matching beginning sounds has helped increased phonemic awareness.\r\nThe love the colored bins to know which group they are in that day.\r\n\r\nDifferentiated Learning: Centers allow students to work at their own level. A \"Reading\" center might have graphic novels for one group and chapter books for another.\r\n\r\nIncreased Engagement: Moving between stations (like word work, listening, and writing) prevents \"brain fatigue\" and keeps students active.\r\n\r\nRetention: By practicing the same skill in different ways (e.g., building a word with tiles, then writing it in a sentence), students move information from short-term to long-term memory.","fullyFundedDate":1759439069095,"projectUrl":"project/looking-to-start-literacy-centers/9772111/","projectTitle":"Looking to Start Literacy Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Morella","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1116498"},{"teacherId":8362290,"projectId":9772378,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our students were able to participate in a truly special project: creating our class book, Our Beautiful Hands. Using the materials you provided, each child explored paint, texture, and color to create handprints that became meaningful representations of themselves. What began as a sensory-rich art experience grew into something much more. It became a celebration of identity, creativity, and connection.\r\n\r\nWatching the students engage in this project was incredibly meaningful. Some children jumped right in, excited to feel the paint and see their handprints come to life. Others took a little more time, needing reassurance and gentle encouragement, but still proudly participated. Each page reflected not only their creativity, but also their comfort, confidence, and willingness to try something new. The joy, curiosity, and pride they showed made this experience unforgettable.\r\n\r\nAs part of this project, I took photographs of the students actively engaging in activities that highlight how they use their hands to scoop, build, create, paint, hug, play, and share. These pictures were included in our book alongside their handprints. The combination of images and artwork allows students to retell their own stories, not only through paint on paper but also through meaningful visual connections. Our Beautiful Hands has become more than a book. It is now a treasured classroom artifact that reinforces belonging, communication, and the many wonderful things our students' beautiful hands can do.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your incredible generosity and for believing in my students. Your support created more than an art project; it created confidence, connection, and lasting memories. My students and I are deeply grateful for your kindness and for the meaningful difference you have made in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759445310999,"projectUrl":"project/from-messy-art-to-meaning-creating-a-vo/9772378/","projectTitle":"From Messy Art to Meaning: Creating a Voice Through Storytelling","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ashley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8362290_orig.jpg?crop=1815,1816,x0,y78&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728978687957","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8362290"},{"teacherId":9264419,"projectId":9941011,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our students are actively using the Lakeshore journals every day to strengthen their writing skills in meaningful ways. These journals have become an essential part of our literacy block, giving students a space to practice vocabulary, apply grammar skills, and edit their work within real writing tasks. One powerful moment occurred during a class discussion after a writing session, when students confidently shared their work and explained how they revised sentences using new vocabulary—something many had previously struggled to do.\r\n\r\nWhen students first received their journals, they were excited and eager to begin writing right away. Having their own dedicated journal gave them a sense of ownership and pride in their work. The daily prompts—ranging from narrative to opinion and nonfiction—have helped students explore different writing styles while applying the skills they are learning. Even reluctant writers have become more engaged, knowing they have consistent opportunities to practice and improve.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, students will continue using these journals to deepen their writing abilities by expanding ideas, strengthening sentence structure, and participating in thoughtful peer and class discussions. Your support has opened the door for our students to grow as confident writers, and we are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact this project is having in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769017325443,"projectUrl":"project/wonderful-writers/9941011/","projectTitle":"Wonderful Writers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Holtvedt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9264419"},{"teacherId":6460683,"projectId":9827620,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation to this gardening project! We planted our classroom garden and are excitedly watching the sprouts come up! The students are thrilled to get out side and dig in the dirt to plant seeds. Having them experience how easy it is to grow our own food is critical! Pretty soon we will be able to start harvesting our first veggies: radishes! We will be able to use the kid sage knife and cutting board to cut slices for everyone to try! By spring break we should have cucumbers and snap peas to try, and soon after tomatoes and hopefully watermelon! \r\nYou have enable a wonderful outdoor science lab! Mahalo for enriching their science education and for giving them the tools to teach about growing their own food!","fullyFundedDate":1765413099306,"projectUrl":"project/growing-our-garden/9827620/","projectTitle":"Growing Our Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6460683_orig.jpg?crop=1689,1689,x350,y310&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666168890014","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/holly-lee808"},{"teacherId":6460683,"projectId":9699747,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your generous support of Sensory Solutions. My student right away used the vibrating butterfly, it was a wonderfully calming support for her when she was feeling unregulated. The students have also been enjoying and using the scented dough and stamps during calm time. The class is very excited about the sensory table (and has been very excited about taking turns to sit on the little stools) and we can't wait to fill it with the kinetic sand and rice.\r\nMahalo for supporting the entire class, and in particular students that have extra sensory needs. These tools help them to regulate their strong emotions, and that helps keep everyone learning!","fullyFundedDate":1765413100663,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-solutions/9699747/","projectTitle":"Sensory Solutions","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lee","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6460683_orig.jpg?crop=1689,1689,x350,y310&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666168890014","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/holly-lee808"},{"teacherId":7941188,"projectId":9780330,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. The materials obtained will give my students a voice. Some people disregard or speak for students who are nonverbal. They do not realize that these students are capable of processing information and have a lot to add to discussions. \r\n\r\nIt is my mission to make sure all my students are heard. My nonverbal students have so much so say. Using technology allows them to ask/answer questions, express their wants/needs, justify opinions, retell information, protest, compliment and converse with peers and adults. These are skills that many of us take for granted because we are verbal. We need to provide our nonverbal students with a voice so they can contribute and be heard!","fullyFundedDate":1759550274433,"projectUrl":"project/help-me-be-heard/9780330/","projectTitle":"Help Me Be \"Heard\"!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Janel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7941188"},{"teacherId":8579993,"projectId":9775667,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the materials you donated to our classroom. My students are already using these new resources every day. We have been using them during lessons and small group activities, and they have helped make learning more hands-on and exciting. One special moment was seeing students work together using the materials and feeling proud of what they created.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they were very excited. Many of them smiled, asked questions, and could not wait to start using them. They felt happy knowing that people cared enough to help our classroom. Your kindness made them feel supported and motivated to do their best.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, our next steps are to continue using these materials to strengthen our current lessons and build new skills. The students will use them to practice, explore new ideas, and grow more confident in their learning. Thank you for giving us a peek of your support and for being part of our classroom journey. We truly appreciate you.\r\n\r\nSincerely,","fullyFundedDate":1759494411109,"projectUrl":"project/upgrade-upgrade/9775667/","projectTitle":"Upgrade Upgrade","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Corey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8579993_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y100&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753118875017","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579993"},{"teacherId":9264532,"projectId":9774521,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much for your generous support in funding our Helping Students Minds Grow project! My students were absolutely thrilled to learn that we'll now have containers and folders to help keep their desks and our classroom neat and organized. This will make such a big difference in helping them stay focused and take ownership of their learning space.\r\nWith your help, we've also been able to transform our Classroom Library into a more inviting and accessible space. Books are now sorted into clearly labeled sections, science, animals, fantasy, leveled readers, and chapter books are making it easier for students to find what they love and discover new interests.\r\nWe're equally excited about the colored paper, tag board, and jars. These materials will be used for hands-on projects and creative activities that make learning fun and meaningful.\r\nThank you again for believing in our classroom and investing in our students. Your kindness and generosity have truly made an impact!","fullyFundedDate":1759454245141,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-minds-grow/9774521/","projectTitle":"Helping Student's Minds Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gardanier","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9264532"},{"teacherId":8826026,"projectId":9774278,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity in bringing a class set of novels, practice books, and snacks into our classroom. When the boxes arrived, my students' excitement was palpable; there were actual cheers as we unboxed the materials together. One of my students, who usually struggles to stay engaged during independent work, immediately asked, \"Is this really for us to keep in our room?\" Seeing their faces light up made it clear that they felt truly seen and supported by people like you.\r\n\r\nCurrently, we are using these resources to problem solve and conduct Book Clubs. Just today, I watched a small group of students use the Daily Math Books to solve a problem we'd been stuck on for a week. They weren't just following instructions; they were collaborating, laughing, and thinking critically. It has transformed our \"quiet\" work time into a vibrant, hands-on lab where students feel empowered to take risks and experiment with their ideas.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next step is to share our learning with other classes. These resources aren't just one-time treats; they have become a foundational part of our daily learning environment. You have provided my students with the tools they need to succeed, but more importantly, you've shown them that their education is worth an investment. We are so grateful for your part in our classroom journey!","fullyFundedDate":1759420316613,"projectUrl":"project/tools-to-grow/9774278/","projectTitle":"Tools to Grow","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Middleton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8826026"},{"teacherId":8402898,"projectId":9774867,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of rewards, stickers, and a treasure box for my pull-out Special Education classroom! These items are just what my students needed to soar.\r\n\r\nEach day they come into the classroom, my students check out their sticker charts posted on the bulletin board, and excitedly count how many more stickers they need to earn a trip to the treasure box. They are much more compliant with the rules of learning, attending expertly to earn their stickers. This makes them superior scholars, and their academics are greatly improved.\r\n\r\nWhen a student has earned treasure box, the other students cheer, and watch with anticipation as the winner chooses a precious item from the pirate's loot. I will continue to use these items to motivate my students for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1759445965217,"projectUrl":"project/treasures-for-star-students/9774867/","projectTitle":"Treasures for Star Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kinny","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8402898_orig.png?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649214355582","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8402898"},{"teacherId":9264476,"projectId":9780036,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our 'The Art of Variety' project! Because of your donation, my students' hands are now busy creating, exploring, and learning. The sensory materials have helped students regulate their emotions and express themselves when words aren't enough. I have already seen a difference: when a student feels overwhelmed, they now have a tactile outlet that helps them refocus and return to their lessons. These supplies aren't just 'extra' materials; they are essential tools that ensure every child, regardless of their sensory needs, feels safe and capable in our art room. \r\n\r\nSeeing the joy on all of the students' faces as they dive into a new art project with the supplies included in this project is a direct result of your kindness. We are so grateful to you for providing the variety of art mediums you have to help students discover their voices and build their fine motor skills.Thank you so much for your investment in our creative journey!","fullyFundedDate":1759624144163,"projectUrl":"project/the-art-of-variety/9780036/","projectTitle":"The Art of Variety","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Valdez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9264476"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50985","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":463,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":54,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":21,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":33.9,"schoolId":50985,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Makawao Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Makawao Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/maui-school-district/makawao-elementary-school/50985"}