OUR SCHOOLS • MAUNAWILI ELEMENTARY
Kailua campus proud of teachers' can-do attitude

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KAILUA — At Maunawili Elementary School, teachers and staff are not afraid to try new ideas.

Computers in the Maunawili Elementary School library undergo a cleaning by TEKie Service Club members, from rear, Sara Newman, Jordan Imamura and Ian Coble, all of them fifth-graders. The campus has a total of 130 computers, 120 of them for student use. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Whenever you get an idea or just a thought in your head, you bounce it off someone — it's not a wall," Takeno said. "It doesn't end there. Everyone here is willing to help, and it's all for the kids. It's a neat place to work."

The can-do attitude has resulted in the school's being chosen to test a new state report card and becoming the state pilot location for the Diana Day Vision Management Program to improve student behavior by teaching self-control through lessons that build character, teach cooperation/ manners and instill values.

The teamwork is evident and the staff at Maunawili Elementary believe they have taken the concept to new levels. When a reporter showed up, 12 people on a team were prepared to explain the workings of the Windward school; usually only a principal is present.

For 10 years the school has held fund-raisers for its technology program, raising nearly $133,000. The campus was the first to be completely wired for Internet access in 1995 and all the work was done by volunteers, said Mark Rieben, technology coordinator. It has a computer lab plus a mini-lab in the library and at least two computers in each classroom.

Recently the multimedia teacher received a donation of seven computers with video input capabilities. Her fifth-graders are producing an educational video about campus life.

The children are the beneficiaries of these new ideas and technology advances: They have attained higher average SAT scores, consistent first places in their division in the Castle Speech Festival year after year, and the ability to type 21 words a minute by the time they leave the school, said principal Arlyne Yonemoto.

"Maunawili is always at the forefront of doing what needs to be done," said Yonemoto.

"We collaboratively meet challenges head-on."

• What are you most proud of? Yonemoto said she takes pride in the students and the curriculum and services that the school has developed to help students learn. She cited the integrated curriculum, student service clubs and the Comprehensive Student Support System that targets all students, not just those having problems.

• Best-kept secret: The principal, Takeno said. A role model who is always available and very supportive to teachers and students, "she makes us want to do our best," Takeno said. She said Yonemoto is often the only principal who attends professional workshops with her teachers. "Even our union tells us how lucky we are to have her as our principal," she said.

• Everybody at our school knows: Auntie Nani Burgess, coordinator of the Parent-Community Networking center as well as

A-Plus and SCBM. She has been at the school for 19 years, first as a parent and then in various roles, said Rieben, the technology coordinator. Burgess always encourages new ideas and is the ambassador of aloha, Rieben said, and Burgess never says no.

"Nani is the glue, over the years, that has kept the school and the community working together." Rieben said.

• Our biggest challenge: Having enough time to do the planning and collaboration necessary to develop and implement innovative ideas and getting the media to look at the schools as a whole rather than just focusing on SAT scores, said Joy Kaneshiro, fourth- and fifth-grade teacher.

• What we need: Time to collaborate and train, money for substitutes, textbooks and new furniture.

• Special events: Castle Speech Festival on May 17 and Spring Festival on May 23.