OUR SCHOOLS • LA'IE ELEMENTARY
Campus of achievements emerging
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
LA'IE — After more than three years of failing to meet federal education requirements, La'ie Elementary School is emerging as a campus of achievements.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The school is one of 23 statewide to make adequate yearly progress as a corrective-action school last year. In a new reading program,
Palako Yagodich of Malama Hawai'i meets with La'ie Elementary pupils to assist them in Hawaiian studies. From left: Vaunelle Hingano Pakalani, Melenaite Fakatou, Pare Mahoni, Lauren Kamauu and Phoebe Kung.
92 percent of its 600 pupils improved their abilities in the first eight weeks. The number of pupils reading above the seventh-grade level more than doubled. And the pupils' talent earned the school $10,000 in an Oscar Mayer contest.
Teachers, pupils, parents and the rest of the community are all working together to improve education, especially in reading, said Deborah Voorhies, school principal since 2002.
"The entire school community is embracing the same vision and it's all about student achievement," Voorhies said.
The vision includes a new Success for All reading program that trains teachers and provides a parent involvement coordinator who calls parents when children aren't getting their work done. Pupils are tested every eight weeks to detect the problem readers before they fall too far behind and to give the help that's needed, she said.
Parent participation is encouraged through quarterly reading nights with the children, who receive a free book to take home, Voorhies said. The Malama 'Ohana Foundation provided a $5,000 grant to purchase the books.
"We're trying to build family libraries because we know there's so many families that don't have libraries at home," Voorhies said.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
There is strong family and community involvement, said vice principal Gay Nall. Between 300 and 600 people show up for the reading nights.
"The entire school community is embracing the same vision and it's all about student achievement," Deborah Voorhies said.
Brigham Young University- Hawai'i provides student teachers and holds special classes on its campus for the children, Nall said.
The Polynesian Cultural Center hosts the school's May Day program every other year and Hawaii Reserve Inc., which manages property for the university, is connecting the school to the new sewer system, saving the state tens of thousands of dollars, she said. In a recent beautification project for the Mormon Temple, HRI included a new dropoff site for La'ie Elementary students, landscaping at the school and a parking lot for teachers.
"I've been in five different schools and this school has the highest community involvement of the five schools," Nall said.
• What are you most proud of? The Success for All reading program and how the school, parents and community embraced the vision for improvement.
The school is also proud of finally organizing a school/community-based management council that will have more input on how the campus operates.
• Best-kept secret: "We're a performing arts school," Voorhies said. Many of the children perform at the Polynesian Cultural Center, including one fire-knife dancer.
• Everybody at our school knows: Karen Maeda, school librarian, historian and photographer. Maeda is able to get the children to use the library with games and other incentives.
• Our biggest challenge: With the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards test this month, the biggest challenge is to pass that and get out of corrective action.
• What we need: Math books that cost $50 each and air conditioners for the portable classrooms that reach temperatures of 98 degrees.
• Projects: The Malama Hawai'i Project expands the knowledge and awareness of the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in the areas of Hawaiian navigation, the ahupua'a system, protection of the environment and Hawaiian values. At the same time, kupuna are doing the same for pupils in kindergarten through third grade.
• Special events: A carnival to raise money for math books and air conditioners will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow. The carnival will include rides, games, entertainment, food and a cooking-with-coconut competition.
• Computers: 20 total, with one in each classroom and two computer labs.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
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| Mormon school went public in 1927
• Where: 55-109 Kulanui St., La'ie • Phone: 293-8965 • Principal: Deborah Voorhies, since 2002 • School mascot: Gecko • School colors: Green and white • History: Mormon missionaries opened La'ie School in 1895. It was turned over to the territorial government in 1927 and renamed La'ie Elementary School. About 80 percent of the pupils are of Polynesian descent. Approximately 69 percent qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. • Testing: Here's how La'ie Elementary pupils fared on the most recent tests. Stanford Achievement Test: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils scoring average or above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third-grade reading, 91 percent; math, 94.8 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 85.5 percent; math, 86.6 percent. Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average. Third-grade reading, 44.9 percent, compared with 41.9 percent; math, 26.9 percent, compared with 24.1 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 51.2 percent, compared with 40.8 percent; math, 13.1 percent, compared with 19.6 percent. • Enrollmet: 600 — and "bursting at the seams." |
