{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kailua Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":39.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9657348,"projectId":9772200,"letterContent":"Mahalo for your incredible generosity and support of my students. Your kindness is making a real and lasting difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful for how you have invested in a group of students who are endlessly curious, creative, and hardworking. They bring so much energy and enthusiasm into our classroom every day, and because of you, I can now provide them with meaningful opportunities to connect language learning with culture, creativity, and community.\r\n\r\nThe laptop screen extender is already transforming the way I teach. It allows me to display lessons more clearly, share resources seamlessly, and keep students engaged with interactive visuals. The poster board, pens, beads, and washi tape are giving students hands-on ways to express themselves while practicing language skills. Watching them create cultural projects with pride has been incredibly rewarding.\r\n\r\nThe origami paper and sushi molds have brought Japanese traditions to life in ways that textbooks simply cannot. Students light up when they can physically create something connected to what they are learning. These tangible experiences make the language feel real and memorable.\r\n\r\nThe snacks have been especially meaningful. Knowing that no student has to focus on learning while hungry helps create a classroom where everyone feels cared for. The classroom essentials — from hall passes to cleaning supplies and stress-relief tools — ensure that our space stays safe, organized, and welcoming for all.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our classroom is more than just a place to learn vocabulary — it is a space where students feel supported, energized, and excited to grow. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping create an environment where they can truly thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1759419526781,"projectUrl":"project/creativity-culture-and-care-building/9772200/","projectTitle":"Creativity, Culture, and Care: Building a Welcoming Japanese Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ornellas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9657348"},{"teacherId":9657348,"projectId":9161546,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students are now able to experience Japanese language and culture in a hands-on, meaningful way every single day. Instead of only reading about vocabulary or writing on plain paper, they are actively creating, practicing, and immersing themselves in the language.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite classroom moments was when students first opened the origami paper. Their excitement was immediate — they were amazed by the bright colors and patterns. We used the paper to practice colors and shapes in Japanese while I gave step-by-step directions entirely in Japanese. Students were so focused on listening carefully so they could successfully complete their origami creations. When they finished, many proudly held up their cranes and said the colors aloud in Japanese without prompting. It was a powerful moment of confidence and joy.\r\n\r\nThe calligraphy brushes and ink have brought a completely new level of engagement to our kanji lessons. Students were fascinated by the ink and the careful brush strokes required. You could feel the room grow quiet with concentration as they practiced writing characters slowly and intentionally. Several students commented that it made them feel like \"real Japanese artists.\" This experience helped them understand that writing kanji is not just memorization — it is also an art form rooted in culture.\r\n\r\nThe flashcards have strengthened our daily speaking practice. Students use them in partner games, rapid-response drills, and role-play conversations. I've seen students who were previously hesitant to speak now volunteering to participate because they feel more confident with the vocabulary.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we will continue building on these skills by combining art and language in larger cultural projects. Students will create mini cultural showcases that incorporate origami displays, written kanji art, and spoken presentations. These materials are helping us move toward a more immersive classroom where students don't just learn about Japanese — they experience it.\r\n\r\nYour support has made our classroom more interactive, creative, and joyful. My students feel proud of their work, more confident in their abilities, and more connected to the culture behind the language. Thank you for giving them these opportunities.","fullyFundedDate":1742129751806,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-japanese-to-life-hands-on-lear/9161546/","projectTitle":"Bringing Japanese to Life: Hands-On Learning Through Language and Culture","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Ornellas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9657348"},{"teacherId":8355550,"projectId":9772224,"letterContent":"Aloha Donors,\r\n\r\nMahalo nui loa for your generous donation of class snacks! Your kindness helps keep our students fueled, focused, and ready to learn—especially on busy days when they're coming from PE, rushing in from lunch, or trying to power through the last periods of the day.\r\n\r\nFor many middle schoolers, a small snack can make a big difference. It helps them settle their bodies, regulate their energy, and stay engaged in learning instead of being distracted by hunger. Your support also helps build a classroom culture where students feel cared for and supported—like they belong here.\r\n\r\nThank you for showing up for our ki","fullyFundedDate":1759195694308,"projectUrl":"project/fuel-for-learning-snacks-organization/9772224/","projectTitle":"Fuel for Learning: Snacks & Organization for Middle Schoolers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Espie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8355550_orig.jpg?crop=1443,1443,x334,y243&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1678430010076","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/farmtofork-introtoag"},{"teacherId":4432103,"projectId":9772853,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations to the students of my classroom and the students at Kailua Intermediate. We put the EXPO markers to use right away at our vertical whiteboards to make learning more engaging and collaborative.\r\nThe students were very excited to see big boxes arriving for our classroom. They saw the support and were shocked that the materials were all purchased donations to our classroom, not purchased by myself or the school.\r\nWe are going to continue our learning on the vertical whiteboards to make learning interactive and engaging to all students.","fullyFundedDate":1759410200301,"projectUrl":"project/supply-school-wide-math-celebration/9772853/","projectTitle":"Supply School Wide Math Celebration!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sarsfield","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4432103_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1498185399594","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4432103"},{"teacherId":8826326,"projectId":9776486,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations! I'm so grateful to have financial assistance in improving my classroom for the benefit of my students. Your contributions mean a lot to the middle schoolers here in Kailua!\r\n\r\nThe futons have been a huge hit - students enjoy lounging there to read books, or even just relax after an assignment is complete. They love the weighted duck stuffed animal, and the headphones have obviously been very practical and useful. What a difference it makes to have functioning headphones for the entire class!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for all of your help!","fullyFundedDate":1759584062005,"projectUrl":"project/a-better-classroom/9776486/","projectTitle":"A Better Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8826326"},{"teacherId":9707693,"projectId":9909307,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your wonderful donation to fund our \"Dream It? Create It!\" project. The donation allowed us to receive Macally Keyboards and Mice, and Panasonic Headphones and the impact was immediate and powerful. The keyboards and mice allow my students to interface with the Mac computers with precision and reliability. And the Panasonic Headphones help students monitor their audio projects with high fidelity. \r\n\r\nThe students in my classes create original videos, digital flyers, song tracks, and animations where their creative and technical skills to flourish. My digital media classes are part of the Career and Technical Education curriculum at our school, linking classroom assignments to real-world jobs. From animators, camera operators, and foley artists, to graphic designers, directors, and audio engineers my students will gain the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1763778911511,"projectUrl":"project/dream-it-create-it/9909307/","projectTitle":"Dream It? Create It!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Furukawa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9707693"},{"teacherId":1981587,"projectId":9774176,"letterContent":"Thanks a million for funding these items! It's remarkable how something as simple as a good pair of headphones can level the playing field for different kinds of learners. Students can fully engage with online content, and those who need to block out distractions are able to use the headphones for that reason. \r\n\r\nOf course the snacks and prizes are a hit, and the students and I both love having new things to celebrate effort, growth, and sometimes a \"just because\" snack.\r\n\r\nMahalo for investing in the belief that every student deserves the tools to succeed.","fullyFundedDate":1759458888289,"projectUrl":"project/headphones-needed/9774176/","projectTitle":"Headphones Needed!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kiakona","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1981587_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1612752251466","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kiakona"},{"teacherId":1911700,"projectId":9772706,"letterContent":"My students are very grateful for the new digital scales we have received. \r\nWhen they first saw the new scales, they were delighted as they were having to using old balance scales that were not very accurate measurements and only measured to the nearest gram. The new scales are easier to use and way more accurate. \r\n\r\nWe were able to use them in a lab helping describe force and friction. Students were able to weigh their shoes to the nearest tenth of a gram and using a spring scale compare their force of friction of their shoe vs their neighbors on different surfaces. They were able to see that two factors affect the force of friction-mass and types of surfaces involved. Without the new scales they would not be able to find the mass of their shoes and compare them with the mass of their neighbor to see that the more mass, the more force of friction. \r\n\r\nWe were also able to use these for an egg drop lab, where students had to use the scales to measure the mass of their contraption to protect the egg as it would be dropped. This was used to compare data with other students to see if mass affects the force of gravity which is connecting Newton's Laws\r\n\r\nWithout the generous donation, we would not be able to do the experiments to teach us science concepts with hands on activities.","fullyFundedDate":1759194825251,"projectUrl":"project/weighing-in-on-science-experiments/9772706/","projectTitle":"Weighing in on Science Experiments","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Kerkstra","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1911700"},{"teacherId":10294354,"projectId":9776454,"letterContent":"The addition of the dedicated small group table has truly transformed how I connect with my students. During our recent essay unit, it served as a writing conference center, where I could provide individualized, tailored feedback that each student needed to succeed. My favorite moments are seeing the quietest students, those who might usually stay under the radar, find the confidence to come sit with me. It has turned asking for help from a scary task into a courageous, everyday choice.\r\n\r\nThe reveal of the new table was a highlight of our semester. My homeroom students were absolutely ecstatic to see a space dedicated specifically to their growth. It was fascinating to observe their first reactions: rather than the usual scramble to sit by friends, several students went straight to the small group table to set up their workspace. This new resource has provided them with a sense of pride in their classroom. By choosing the table over their usual seats, they are demonstrating a newfound readiness to engage with me and their assignments in a more focused, meaningful way.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead to the next quarter, I am excited to transition our classroom into a more dynamic, station based learning environment. The new table will serve as a dedicated teacher station, which will be the heart of our differentiated instruction. This setup will allow me to provide targeted interventions and conduct one-on-one oral reading fluency checks in a focused setting. By having this designated space, I can meet each student exactly where they are, ensuring that those who need extra support receive the specialized attention required to bridge achievement gaps.\r\n\r\nI am deeply grateful for your investment in our classroom. Watching my students' faces light up as they gathered around the table for the first time was a reminder of how much of an impact thoughtful resources can have. Your contribution is directly supporting our daily interventions and helping my most hesitant learners thrive. Thank you for believing in my students' potential and for helping me create an environment where every child can receive the personalized attention they deserve.","fullyFundedDate":1761403844976,"projectUrl":"project/small-group-instruction-table-for-keiki/9776454/","projectTitle":"Small Group Instruction Table for Keiki","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Krawczyk","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10294354"},{"teacherId":4474482,"projectId":9777635,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support in providing our classroom with whiteboards, dry erase markers, and precision measurement calipers. Kailua Intermediate School is a grade 7 and 8 middle school located on the island of Oahu. We serve a diverse population of students that includes about 30% military families. Your donation has made an immediate impact on how my students experience mathematics each day, transforming it from a subject focused on answers into one centered on thinking, communication, and genuine understanding.\r\n\r\nUsing these materials, I continue to implement the Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) pedagogy, which emphasizes collaborative problem-solving and visible thinking. Students now work in random groups of three standing up at vertical whiteboards, where they are encouraged to explore problems, test ideas, revise strategies, and explain their reasoning aloud. The whiteboards and markers have become essential tools—students are no longer confined to paper, but instead actively stand, discuss, sketch, erase, and refine their thinking in real time.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful outcomes has been the growth of math communication. At the boards, students talk constantly, questioning one another's assumptions, justifying their choices, and negotiating meaning together. The rules of BTC are the three students work together with only ONE marker and the student using the marker can ONLY write others' ideas. If they have an idea, then they will need to pass the marker and explain to the new scribe what they are thinking. This makes communication a critical step in learning and increases true understanding. I regularly hear phrases like, \"Why does that work?\" or \"Can you explain that another way?\" These conversations are not prompted by me; they arise naturally because the environment invites collaboration. Students who were once hesitant to speak in class now contribute ideas freely, knowing that mistakes are part of the learning process and easily erased from the dry-erase boards. The shared space of the whiteboard removes fear and replaces it with curiosity.\r\n\r\nWhat excites me most is the authentic development of knowledge and understanding I now see daily. Instead of memorizing procedures, students construct their own reasoning. They try approaches that don't work, analyze why, and adjust. Learning happens publicly and collaboratively, allowing students to build on each other's thinking. I often step back and observe rather than direct, watching students take ownership of the mathematics in front of them.\r\n. \r\nWe, as adults, often forget how hard it is for kids to sit down for hours a day. My kids love getting up. I am created daily with the question \"Are we working at the boards today?\" \r\n\r\nYour generosity is helping me work towards a classroom culture where thinking is valued, communication is constant, and learning is meaningful. Thank you for believing in our students and for helping make mathematics an active, engaging, and human experience. The impact of your support will continue to shape how my students learn, collaborate, and think long after this project ends.\r\n\r\nMahalo nui loa-","fullyFundedDate":1759456545176,"projectUrl":"project/build-thinking-classrooms-at-our-interme/9777635/","projectTitle":"Build Thinking Classrooms at Our Intermediate School Maths","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Howe","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4474482"},{"teacherId":9683859,"projectId":9782555,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible contribution to our \"8th Grade Science Classroom Revitalization\" project. Your generosity has provided us with a handheld vacuum, broom, and cleaning supplies, as well as a cozy rug, lap desks, and an engaging gravity well model. This blend of practical essentials and inspiring scientific tools has supported the positive atmosphere in our classroom space. \r\n\r\nIt has been so cool using the gravity well model. We used it to visualize how objects warp the fabric of spacetime. The hands-on aspect of this tool helped make our learning about this topic more inclusive. \r\n\r\nHaving cleaning supplies has instilled a great sense of pride and ownership in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759610955310,"projectUrl":"project/classroom-revitalization/9782555/","projectTitle":"Classroom Revitalization","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reddy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9683859"},{"teacherId":9683859,"projectId":9730748,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for your generous donation of dry erase whiteboard film, model tooth animal replicas, Expo markers, Cheez-It crackers, and whiteboard magnets. Your support has truly transformed our 8th-grade science classroom into a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment.\r\n\r\nThe whiteboard film and markers have revolutionized our collaborative problem-solving. Instead of just watching me at the front of the room, students are now gathered in small groups around their own writing surfaces, solving problems together. This hands-on approach has made abstract concepts feel much more tangible. \r\n\r\nAdditionally, the Cheez-It crackers have been much appreciated by the students throughout a long day. Having a nutritious snack available helps fuel their concentration, ensuring that hunger never stands in the way of a breakthrough during a challenging lesson.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, our next step is to use the animal tooth replicas to discuss real-world examples of the connection between morphological features and animal behavior!","fullyFundedDate":1759417554542,"projectUrl":"project/showing-our-thinking/9730748/","projectTitle":"Showing our Thinking","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reddy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9683859"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_50936","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":749,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":24,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":60.7,"schoolId":50936,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kailua Intermediate School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kailua Intermediate School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/hawaii/windward-school-district/kailua-intermediate-school/50936"}