Education briefs
Advertiser Staff
Project on 442nd wins nationally
A team at Enchanted Lake Elementary School has won a platinum award from Think Quest, a nonprofit organization that supports technology in education, for placing first in the sixth- to eighth-grade division of its national contest.
The Think Quest team at Enchanted Lake developed a Web site honoring the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion.
The 442nd, created during World War II as a U.S. Army unit of Japanese Americans, included the 100th Infantry Battalion. It became the most decorated American military unit of its size.
The Web site addresses the mistreatment of Japanese American civilians during World War II and tells how young Japanese American men volunteered to serve in the 442nd and the 100th Battalion. The Web site helps develop an awareness of the American public's wartime attitude toward Japanese Americans and is intended to deter similar treatment of American Muslims in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
Members of the team are Ayo Sawada, Kerianne Kubota, Allison Kawano, Christina Wong, Kelson Higashi, Kyley Zabriskie, Joshua Morgan, Amanda Vegas and Rebecca Bjorke. The coaches were Mari Nomura and Lena Kanemori.
The Web site can be seen at: library.thinkquest.org/CR0210341/.
Summer readers can win prizes
The Young Adult Summer Reading Program will start Monday at all 50 state libraries.
The program is available to students who will enter Grade 7 or higher levels this year. Readers can register at their local library and pick up a Z-Reader Card with titles recommended for the summer vacation.
Teens are encouraged to visit the library once a week. They will be eligible to enter drawings for free prizes, including a back-to-school shopping spree at Pearlridge Center for three winners. Pizza Hut will give out $25 gift certificates; Borders will give away $10 gift certificates at each branch.
Youngsters from preschool through the the sixth grade can participate in the Children's Summer Reading Program.
Kids can receive a Z-Reader Card. Those who read one book per week will receive a free incentive while supplies last.
Library system names top worker
Nyla Fujii-Babb, children's librarian at the Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library, has been named the public libraries' employee of the year.
Fujii-Babb, known as Aunty Nyla, brought in more than $37,000 in grants last year to launch a touring program in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 2000, she was a featured teller at the 28th annual National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tenn.
The staff at 'Aiea Public Library was named the state system's team of the year. The award recognized staff members' success in establishing a U.S. passport acceptance facility in 'Aiea, making it the first in the state library system to serve that function.
Awards for sustained superior performance were given to Laurence Cabanting, library assistant; Jon Takaki, audio visual production specialist; Ninfa Tolentino, children's librarian at Makawao Public Library; and Joseph Young, library assistant.
'Making Tracks' at Pearl City
Pearl City Public Library will present a musical storytelling program, "Making Tracks Across America," at 3 p.m. Monday in the children's room.
The free program will kick off the Summer Reading Program for children and teens.
Upcoming programs include "Appropriate Pets" by the Hawaiian Humane Society at 3 p.m. June 26 and a presentation by graphic novelist Stan Sakai at 1 p.m. June 28.
Starting the week of June 17, the library will offer puzzle time at 10 a.m. on Mondays and storytime for young children at 10 a.m. Wednesdays.
Call the library at 453-6566 for more information or for a sign language interpreter. The library is at 1138 Waimano Home Road.
