Children take valentine-sharing to heart
By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
As first-grader Laura Duckworth diligently decorated dozens of cupcakes, the bubble-gum pink frosting ended up on her fingers, palms, nose and cheek. For nearly two hours Wednesday evening, the 6-year-old, her sister Ashley and their mom worked on the treats that Laura and Ashley passed around yesterday to their classmates at Kanoelani Elementary.
Rechele Duckworth of Waipi'o helps her daughter Laura, 6, decorate cupcakes to be taken to school.
In the family's dining room, which did double duty as Valentine's Day workshop, the offerings were spread out on a table: freshly baked goodies, boxes of carefully sorted heart-shaped candies, and signed and sealed "I-Spy" and "Finding Nemo" valentines.
Early Wednesday afternoon, as mom Rechele Duckworth, 33, a full-time student at Leeward Community College, took time out to shop for cupcake molds at Party City in Waikele, she wondered whether she would be able to fit cupcake-baking in between the valentine-signing, homework and housework.
By the time the cupcakes were frosted, Duckworth had decided that the hectic shopping and preparation were worth it. "I want them to understand that it's nice to give a gift and not expect anything in return," she said.
Valentine's Day celebrations at school provide some of the sweetest moments of the year, as girls and boys labor to scrawl their autographs on red and pink cards for classmates and bring in heart-adorned treats for their teachers and friends. Parents and teachers say the payoff is huge, but the massive exchange of cards, cupcakes and candy treats doesn't happen without some coordination on their part to plan projects and make sure no child is left out of the fun.
For the littlest kids, it's all about fun. "The frosting's the best part," Laura Duckworth said.
Teachers and parents have to keep the big picture in mind.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
Renaye Oyer, a kindergarten teacher at Sacred Hearts Academy who has a class of 23 girls, said she has to be mindful of every student.
First-grader Laura Duckworth prepares cupcakes to share with classmates. Teachers make sure no one's left out when treats are shared.
"They actually have a list where they have to check off names to make sure ... everyone on their list gets a card," Oyer said. "So nobody gets left out."
Yesterday, Oyer's students showed off the mailboxes they'd made out of empty milk cartons and construction paper to hold their precious valentines. They'd been using the concept of "mail" to teach the girls about names, numbers and directions, as well as the importance of giving.
The kindergartners have been exchanging valentines all week. At a party today, the class will exchange more cards and treats.
"We're trying to practice being kind and doing kind things for each other," Oyer said.
But Valentine's Day isn't just about sharing good things, said 6-year-old Kau'i Hoopii, one of Oyer's students. "You get to love," the kindergartner said, after taking a good long time to think about it.
In Melody Coloma's third-grade class at Sacred Hearts, the girls wanted to make valentines for an alumna awaiting a heart transplant in Boston. So Coloma found angel cards for the students to paste together, color and write prayers on.
"It makes me feel happy to help someone," said Rachel Coen, 8.
In careful cursive, 8-year-old Alexis Fargo wrote on her angel, "May the Lord guide you each day. His love will warm your heart." She had neatly colored it red.
She began to sign it, "Love, Alexis," then paused.
"Can we put our last names?" Alexis asked Coloma.
"Yes, you may," Coloma replied, and Alexis completed her project.
"It gives (the kids) a good feeling to know that they're not just thinking of themselves, but that they also think of others," said Remee Bolante, lower-school vice principal at Sacred Hearts. "The awareness of thinking of others is heightened on Valentine's Day."
In the Wong family's Manoa household, Brandi Wong chose not to go overboard with Valentine's Day projects. Wong bought valentines and Tootsie Roll lollipops for her school-age daughters to hand out to their classmates at Manoa Elementary School.
"I try to keep it simple. That way, it stays fun," said the at-home mom of four girls, ages 7 to 1.
Second-grader Alana, Wong's eldest daughter, said they had Hello Kitty cards for the girls and Spiderman cards for the boys in her class. "It's fun to share and give," the 7-year-old said.
Before the two school-age girls brought their valentines to class, Wong patiently sat with Alana and 5-year-old kindergartner Maile, guiding them as the girls wrote their classmates' names and their names on each valentine.
Rechele Duckworth, the Waipi'o mother, said parents need to take the time for projects with their children.
"Kids today are so wrapped up in video games and television ... , they don't necessarily bond with their family like they used to," Duckworth said while watching her daughters frost the cupcakes. "I think it's important, because they need to have a sense of family."
Appreciation for her classmates was on the mind of Duckworth's oldest daughter, Ashley, 11, who often receives treats at school on holidays.
"This is just something to say 'thank you,' " the fifth-grader said while sprinkling red and white candy hearts on the cupcakes.
Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.
