Our Schools • Kanoelani Elementary
Technology power comes from 'the tower'
By Adrienne Ancheta
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Kanoelani Rainbow News Crew's latest 10- to 15-minute production is showing at Kanoelani Elementary School on every television in the school. It's not because it is a live broadcast or because each television has been synchronized to play the taped program; rather, it is the product of "the tower."
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
The tower is a black, six-foot-tall, metal shelving unit in the school's library with various electronic boxes and a small television monitor stacked on it. All the school's televisions are hooked up to the system, which can show a single video on all of them. Officially, it's called the "audio visual media controller center," but even the school principal, Vernon Young, calls it the tower.
Erin Ohira, 5, right, talks with friend Kimberly Yamada, 6, in their kindergarten class.
"We have to keep up with the times because our kids have to be able to function in society," Young said.
Kanoelani is one of the first public schools with the system and has been a model for other schools looking into similar technological advances, Young said. So far its use has been confined to videotaped programs, but Young is looking at possibly using it as a closed-circuit network to simulcast awards ceremonies so all parents and children can be accommodated.
• What are you most proud of? Young attributes Kanoelani's success to its faculty and staff. "Everybody wants to be here," Young said. The teachers work overtime to help work on standards-based teaching methods and write for grants.
• Best-kept secret: "We have one of the best community PTAs," Young said. The school's organization has been recognized in the past, most recently receiving awards from the Hawai'i State PTSA for parent involvement and creative membership in 2001.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
• Everybody at our school knows: Joella Hirano, the school administrative service assistant at Kanoelani. Besides organizing administrative work and supporting school activities, she is "information central."
Fifth-grade teacher Brynn Leake teaches a math class at Kanoelani.
"I think sometimes people overlook SASAs, but she is the one all the teachers, parents and kids go to if they have questions," Young said.
• Our biggest challenge: Implementing the new standards-based instruction required by the Hawai'i Department of Education, finding replacements for senior staff once they retire and keeping instruction and administration abreast of the changing times.
• What we need: Personnel, money and facilities. Classrooms are in short supply on the campus, even with every area of green space occupied by portables and teachers' workrooms having been converted into classrooms.
• Projects: The school was awarded a $50,000 grant that it will use for students who have low test scores. Young hopes to hire three part-time teachers to provide small-group instruction, with an emphasis on reading.
• Special events: Kanoelani will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, and the staff is planning celebratory events, which will culminate in a party with food, games and entertainment.
• • •
Kanoelani Elementary at a glance
• Where: 94-1091 Oli Loop
• Phone: 675-0195
• Web address: www.kanoelani.k12.hi.us
• Principal: Vernon Young, one year
• School nickname: Rainbows
• School colors: Teal and white
• Enrollment: 840
• SATs: Here's how Kanoelani students fared on the most recent Stanford Achievement Test. Listed is the combined percentage of students scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third grade, reading: 86 percent; math: 89 percent. Fifth grade, reading: 89 percent; math: 95 percent.
• History: Kanoelani opened in 1982 with only two classroom buildings. The library was in two classrooms and the office in another. A library and office building were built just three years ago to accommodate the school's needs.
• Special features: The closed-circuit video network, which allows simultaneous viewing of videos on all televisions throughout the school, was installed last year.
• Special programs or classes: The chorus class at Kanoelani consists of a large group of third- through sixth- graders. During the Christmas season, the group performs at malls and department stores. An added feature of the class is the time retired and current teachers and staff volunteer to help the traveling group.
• Computers: Each classroom has three computers. The school also has a computer lab and computers in its library.
To get your school profiled, call education editor Dan Woods at 525-5441 or e-mail dwoods@honoluluadvertiser.com
