Posted on: Thursday, November 25, 2004

Education Snapshot — Ali'iolani Elementary

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

When Ali'iolani Elementary won $3,000 for being named one of three Hawai'i Distinguished Schools, the school could have used it to buy a new computer or other fancy equipment.

Instead, principal Gerald Teramae brought in inflatables from Xtreme Fun Rentals, bought cupcakes for the students and served bento to the faculty and staff.

"How does one item benefit the whole school?" Teramae said. Having a fun day raises morale across the school and teaches all the students an important lesson: "School is a fun place to be and we celebrate successes."

Ali'iolani has a lot to celebrate, with consistently improving test scores and now statewide recognition.

What made the difference: While Teramae credits his teachers and staff with making the difference, counselor Sari Kakihari and librarian Diane Pang say he has made positive changes in the year and a half he has been at the school. "We have a really good principal," Pang said.

The staff says some of the school's strengths are offering time for teachers to collaborate, intervention for students struggling to learn, community outreach and a standards-based curriculum.

How they did it: This year the school started offering teachers a monthly articulation day so grade-level teachers have time to collaborate. To give classroom teachers the time to meet during the day without having to worry about lesson plans for substitutes, the school hired four part-time fine arts teachers to supervise the classes. The students spend articulation days learning music, art, character education and drama. While the school focuses heavily on meeting the standards, "it is important to build a well-rounded person," Teramae said.

To encourage good behavior, Kakihari set up a Positive Behavior Store where students can earn prizes if they are found to be demonstrating positive behaviors like being caring, being responsible and always learning.

To attract parents, the school created a parent center and also began offering adult classes in English as a second language to bring parents with limited English onto campus. Several parents stay after class to volunteer at the school, Teramae said.

College Connections also offers after-school tutoring for about 20 to 25 kids.

In addition, before school, Ali'iolani recently started offering early morning care to minimize fighting and arguments that can occur when the children are unsupervised.

Other factors: The school aligned its curriculum to the standards, which is evident in the classrooms where school work is displayed along with the standard it meets. Some classes even recite the state's "General Learner Outcomes" after the Pledge of Allegiance.

Recently the school also opened a special education preschool class for two to five children. "We will take care of the people in the community who request services," Teramae said.

The school has also started using new "Benchmark Tracker" software to help identify specific student needs immediately instead of waiting until the end of the year or when test scores are returned.

Most of all, the school is proactive. When data or assessments identify a certain need, the school will address it as long as there is adequate money and personnel.

"We don't just wait for things to happen," Teramae said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.