Big Island's gifted students meet

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

HILO — Kayla Stormont took a sip from the plastic cup, wrinkled her brow, then began to write. Without knowing what she was drinking — a combination of orange, passion fruit and grape juices — the fifth-grader from Waiakeawaena Elementary School wrote a haiku for the "Edible Poetry" workshop:

Fruit waiting in bowls
On vines and in the fruit trees
Juicy, squirt, squirt, squirt.

Kayla was one of more than 150 students from Big Island elementary schools who participated in G/T Day at Waiakea High School yesterday. It was the first time G/T Day, which has been held within the Waiakea complex since 1995, included schools from all of the island. Of 46 schools invited, 16 programs for gifted/talented students participated.

Organized by the G/T sophomore class at Waiakea High, the daylong series of workshops encouraged hands-on participation, creative expression and critical thinking. Workshop topics ranged from making terrariums to building rockets.

Mariko Fujio-White and Shaun Crittendon participate in a chemistry workshop on G/T Day. Aside from workshops that encourage creative expression and critical thinking, the event offers an opportunity for gifted students to be around others like them from other schools and to feel less isolated. Courtesy Dory Miyashita

"I'm going to keep it at home and mess with it," said the sixth-grader from Konawaena Elementary School, who wants to be a pro motocross racer when he grows up. "The best part (of G/T Day) was trying new things."

Thanks to a $2,000 grant from the Cottington Trust Fund, organizers for the annual event were able to expand the program to accommodate more students. The grant paid for guest speakers, workshop presenters, equipment, supplies and transportation for students from schools outside of Hilo.

"The goal was to give gifted students the opportunity to share with each other and be around other gifted students," said Dory Miyashita, the G/T resource teacher for the Hawai'i district. "It's wonderful to see the kids actively participating and engaged in the sessions together."

Gifted students often feel isolated and alienated, said longtime G/T teacher Shellie Naungayan, whose students planned the event as part of a graded project for her sophomore English class.

"They think no one understands how they feel," Naungayan said.

Having older G/T students run the workshops and help out with activities gives the younger students role models, she said.

"Most of these students grew up attending G/T Day themselves," Naungayan said. "So they know what to expect. It gives them a chance to work together toward a common goal ... and it teaches them about leadership and giving back to the community."

There's a distinct difference between G/T students and those in AP, or advanced placement: If AP defines the box, G/T thinks outside it.

"They're highly curious, they ask a lot of questions, they're not typical," Miyashita said.

To participate in G/T programs, students have to be screened, take aptitude and achievement tests and submit sample work.

James Linden remembered how much fun G/T Day was when he participated almost 10 years ago.

"I always looked forward to it every year," said the Waiakea High sophomore, who conducted a workshop this year. "I just wanted this to be fun for them."

Learning should be fun, organizers say. And planning "hands-on, minds-on" activities was important in making the workshops memorable for the students.

Learning about Greek history and culture was a hit with Emily Oda, a fifth-grader at Waiakeawaena Elementary. She especially enjoyed sampling Greek food.

"It was interesting," said Emily, who wants to be an interior designer, "and a lot of fun."

Even the sophomores who spent the past two months planning the entire event didn't feel as if they wasted a Saturday that could have been spent at the mall or watching movies.

"I learned how to be a leader and how important teamwork is," said Joelle Penisten, 15, who organized the workshops. "And I learned how to be a kid again."

Reach Catherine Toth at 535-8533 or at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.