OUR SCHOOLS • HOLY NATIVITY
Close-knit school proud of individual attention
By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer
Holy Nativity School was midway through its annual fall fund-raiser when the Sept. 11 attacks hit New York and the Pentagon.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
School officials watched nervously as their families dealt with the national tragedy and the ensuing economic crisis that hit Hawai'i with the falloff of tourism.
Marissa Dimitrion and her kindergarten classmates work on a project at Holy Nativity School. The 'Aina Haina school has a computer lab and at least three computers in each classroom, and its goal is to provide a laptop to each student in grades 4 to 6.
Then they were amazed with what happened. The school's wrapping-paper sale became the most successful fall fund-raiser Holy Nativity has ever done. Even as some families have struggled with tough economic times, the year's various fund-raisers have brought in more than $70,000, the largest amount in the school's history.
"We are all a family and we do take care of one another," said Abbi DeLessio, president of the school board. DeLessio said it's the commitment of the parents and the values-based education that makes Holy Nativity special.
At Holy Nativity, the small, close-knit campus has just 184 students from age 2 through sixth grade. That allows for an average of 11 students for each teacher or teacher assistant, and translates to close attention for each child.
"We can work with individual programs and individual children and develop individual curriculum," said Head of School Bob Whiting. "We don't want the students to be bored or frustrated. We want kids to be at the top of their game."
All of the students take art, including ceramics, Japanese, Christian education, Hawaiian studies and physical education, in addition to regular course requirements. As the oldest students on campus, sixth-graders take on a leadership role by mentoring younger children.
Each grade level takes turns in leading the all-school chapel once a month.
Where: 5286 Kalaniana'ole Highway, 'Aina Haina Phone: 373-3232 Web address: www.holynativityschool.org Head of School: Bob Whiting, known as "Dr. Bob" around campus. He started at Holy Nativity July 1 after 37 years as a teacher and administrator for Kamehameha Schools. "What makes it so much fun is the kids I see every day," Whiting said. "They're so honest. Little kids tell it like it is." School nickname: Hawks School colors: Blue and White Enrollment: 184 children from age 2 through sixth grade History: The school was founded in 1949 as a ministry of the Church of the Holy Nativity in 'Aina Haina. Computers: The school has a computer lab with 17 computers and at least three computers in every classroom.
"We want the students to be good people," DeLessio said. "It's really important to us."
At a glance
Students at Holy Nativity also become travelers at a young age. Each year, fourth-graders take a four-day trip to the Big Island to study the environment, fifth-graders go to Mokuleia for a week to study ocean science and biology, and sixth-graders take a week-long trip to Arizona to study Native American culture and camp at the Grand Canyon.
• What are you most proud of? The children and their parents. Holy Nativity prides itself on being a family school and has had generous support from parents. This year, Whiting said, more than $70,000 has been raised through various efforts to help with tuition scholarships, playground equipment, supplies and in-service education for the faculty.
• Best-kept secret? The campus. Even though it's a small school, Holy Nativity has three play fields, an indoor gymnasium and large, air-conditioned classrooms. Whiting said people are surprised to find all that is packed onto the cozy campus. The school and church form a courtyard that is the central point of the school.
• Everyone at school knows? Everyone else. With 184 students, the school is small enough that all of the teachers, students and parents know one another.
"It is a very family-oriented school," DeLessio said.
• What we need: The school is trying to improve the economic diversity of its student body through scholarships and by reaching out to public schools in the area to find students who may qualify.
"We want our campus to be as broad and diverse as possible," Whiting said. Another big challenge is in technology. Holy Nativity is working to increase the number of computers in each classroom from three to five, move the computer lab to a new site, increase the number of computers there from 17 to 28 and install wireless technology. In the future, the school would like to provide a laptop computer to every child in grades 4 to 6.
• Special events: Lei Day Festival May 1 to honor graduating sixth-graders and retiring teachers, a Discovery Fair on May 16 to highlight student science projects, and a Christmas Pageant. The school has several fund-raisers throughout the year, but the biggest is Pa'ina, held at Waialae Country Club, which features silent and live auctions.
