OUR SCHOOLS • CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pillars called symbolic of strong educational foundation

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Central Middle School could easily have had a more appealing name. After all, the grounds were once the site of a princess's palace and the home of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, founder of the Kamehameha Schools.

Central Middle School Principal Penelope Tom says her school "is what I always imagined a school to look like." Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The school is surrounded by high-rise buildings, small businesses and a shopping center, and has a six-lane highway running right through the campus. The grounds are just a short way from the State Capitol, historic Chinatown and the financial centers downtown.

The main building was built in 1926 and, with its enormous wood-floored auditorium and six-pillared facade, is listed in the Hawai'i Register of Historic Places.

The aging school is both a blessing and a curse, according to principal Penelope Tom.

The buildings need constant attention to keep everything from electricity to plumbing in working order, but the school is a joy to be in, Tom said, adding that the students love the school.

"Central is what I always imagined a school to look like," she said. "The six pillars and the strong foundation. And that is what education is, for us to give them that foundation to pursue whatever they want to pursue."

The school has seven buildings, but the campus was split in two when Vineyard Boulevard was built years ago. The state had to erect a foot bridge over the road for students to get to their music and physical education classes.

The state spent $1.5 million last year to renovate most of the buildings with new windows, floors, paint and electrical upgrades. An additional $500,000 will be spent to finish the project next year.

Central offers the basic middle-school curriculum of math, language arts, social studies, science, health and physical education. Electives in fine and practical arts, foreign languages, sports and technology also are offered, as well as programs for special-needs students.

The Rotary Club of Downtown Honolulu has adopted Central Middle School. The club presented students in the English as a Second Language program with $1,500 worth of new textbooks last month.

The club also is supporting the school by judging its science fair, building a new circulation desk in the library, hosting essay contests and helping with other projects.

• What are you most proud of? The teachers and the students, Tom said. Some students' parents work two jobs, so the children have to wake up, dress and come to school on their own.

"We have students waiting at the school for breakfast," said Tom. "I'd rather have them here than walking around on the streets. Many times teachers put out so much. It is not unusual for teachers to buy uniforms for the homeless kids and help them with field trips."

• Best-kept secret: Our location. "People ask where are you, but when I say 'the six columns,' they know where. They pass it every day," Tom said.

• Everybody at our school knows: Rositter Scanlan, who put five children through the school, has been a volunteer and employee at the school for more than a decade and is president of the PTSO. She heads the school's Time Out Program for Students, or TOPS, for students who are disruptive in class.

"My favorite ones are the disruptive ones that really want the attention," she said. "You get into their hearts, and they really take you in."

• Our biggest challenge: Meeting the requirements for No Child Left Behind. "That is a challenge all schools are facing."

• What we need: More time. "Time for our teachers to articulate and implement a lot of the things being asked of them."

• Projects: Campus renovations include putting in science labs. All eighth-graders will be required to take science starting next year.

• Special events: The school celebrates the birthday of Princess Ruth Luka Ke'elikolani on Feb. 9. Head custodian Roger Aquino is in charge of the event, which include students activities, historic displays and, of course, a big birthday cake.

To get your school profiled, contact education editor Dan Woods at 525-5441 or dwoods@honoluluadvertiser.com.