OUR SCHOOLS • HE'EIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Neighborhood spirit fuels educational approach that works

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

When Beverly Shinsato was teaching fifth grade at He'eia Elementary School, one of her students claimed to be sitting at his dad's old desk.

Cheryl Hazama, fourth-grade teacher at He'eia Elementary School, checks with students during the DEAR, or Drop Everything And Read, period. Despite qualifying as a high-poverty school, He'eia's scores beat state averages in standardized reading and math tests. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"His name is inside the desk," he said.

The community has grown up around He'eia Elementary, a friendly school nestled between the Ko'olau Mountains and Kane'ohe Bay. Once a cow pasture, the surrounding area is now home to apartment buildings, single-family homes, restaurants, businesses and one of the state's largest shopping malls.

But the school retains its neighborhood charm, untouched by the urbanization just beyond its chainlink fences.

"He'eia is really the community's well-kept secret," said Jennie Yee, who runs the school's Parent-Community Networking Center. "We're not showy, but we prepare our kids very well."

With about 45 percent of the 630 students part-Hawaiian, learning about the Islands' history, language and culture has become an integral part of He'eia's curriculum. Fourth-graders are required to learn about native plants, customs and history.

The school also runs a kupuna program, where seniors in the community share their life stories and experiences with students. "It gives them important values of the Hawaiian culture firsthand," said principal Susan Young.

About half the students get lunch free or at a reduced price, a ratio that qualifies the school for federal Title I money for high-poverty schools.

• What are you most proud of? Young credits the resourcefulness and creativity of her staff and community support in getting what the school and its students need. Teachers hustle for grant money to pay for new reading and math programs. Principals in the Castle complex work together to improve the transition between schools. The school's strong Parent-Teacher Association looks for creative ways to raise money. And community involvement, from the Navy-run fitness programs to the Kane'ohe Community Family Center's monthly family-oriented activities at the school, has added to the environment.

• Best-kept secret: "Our ability to find resources," Yee said. "Things happen here without people realizing it. There's a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes." For example, the PTA raises about $25,000 each year for the school. It brings in about $400 a month just from a soda machine strategically placed near He'eia District Park. The group raised $30,000 for new playground equipment, installed in March.

• Everybody at our school knows: Betty Yoshita, the technology coordinator and computer teacher. In addition to teaching computer classes, she troubleshoots, trains teachers and finds ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum. "She has brought us into the technology age," Yee said.

The community also remembers Cynthia Onizuka, a former sixth-grade teacher who died in January 2001. Onizuka always fought for her students, teachers said. She implemented many programs, such as Read Aloud Fridays, that have become school traditions. "She made things move," Young said.

• Our biggest challenge: Overcoming the negative press that public schools get. Young feels the success of her school is proof the system works. "We're fighters; we're in there doing everything we can for the kids," she said. "We're going to survive. But it does bring our spirits down."

• What we need: New computers.

• Projects: About 40 classrooms are being completely renovated starting this summer. By fall, rooms should be equipped with dry-erase boards, new windows and carpet and repaired cabinets.

• Special events: Every year in March, the school hosts the Fubbulous Fair to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. Green eggs and ham are served at breakfast and students focus on reading during the day. At night, teachers run educational games and activities in the cafeteria for students and their families with a related theme. In March, more than 700 people attended, despite storms and near-flooding conditions at the school.