Posted on: Thursday, October 14, 2004
OUR SCHOOLS | 'ILIAHI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Soldiers give students lessons in fitness
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion (Assault), 25th Aviation Regiment, at Schofield have been coming to 'Iliahi Elementary School on Tuesdays for 14 years to lead students in physical fitness.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Partnerships, like the one with the 25th Aviation Regiment, contribute a lot to the closeness of students, parents and faculty of this small school tucked away in the heights of Wahiawa.
• What are you most proud of? "Our cohesive and dedicated faculty and staff working collaboratively to provide the best learning opportunities for our students and parents," Serikaku said.
• Best-kept secret: Ka Nani O Keiki, a family education center for 4-year-olds and their parents to prepare preschoolers for entry into kindergarten. "Parents learn with their 4-year-olds and gain experiences on how to encourage and support their keiki," Serikaku said.
• Our biggest challenge: Traffic congestion before and after school, and not enough parking spaces to accommodate parent programs and activities. • What we need: An air-conditioning unit for office staff, who are exposed to vehicle fumes from drop-off and pickup traffic. • Projects: Kinder KAMP (Kindergartners Are Most Precious), annual orientation on Saturday before school opens; Open House, six different evenings for each individual grade level; Parent Days, in which each grade level invites parents to join students in the classroom.
• Special events: Spaghetti dinner/ student talent night; Spring Fiesta; Christmas with Santa.
"They spent the whole day here and have helped us in many other ways, like painting benches on Make a Difference Day," 'Iliahi Principal Jane F. Serikaku said. "Their ranks are small (because of deployment) but they still come."
Shan Yonamine, 9, gets away with a big yawn before a performing arts rehearsal at 'Iliahi Elementary, a close-knit school in Wahiawa.
• • •
| At a glance
Where: 2035 California Ave., Wahiawa Heights Phone: 622-6411 Web address: www.k12.hi.us/~iliahi Principal: Jane F. Serikaku, 16y´ years at school; 32 years DOE School nickname: Dragons School Colors: Blue and yellow History: Opened in 1963; 'Iliahi is Hawaiian for sandalwood, which once was found in abundance in a forest where the school now stands. Testing: Here's how 'Iliahi Elementary pupils fared on the most recent standardized tests: Stanford Achievement Test: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third-grade reading, 88 percent; math, 86 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 84 percent; math, 89 percent. Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards tests: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average. Third-grade reading, 46 percent, compared with the state average of 46.7 percent; math, 20 percent, compared with state average of 26.7 percent. Fifth-grade reading: 61 percent, compared with state average of 49.9 percent; math, 32 percent, compared with state average of 22.5 percent. Special Programs: Closed-circuit TV team of fourth-graders, directed by Sherri Miyabuchi and Charlene Nekomoto, broadcast weekly programs to school; Na Kamali'i O 'Iliahi performing arts group (hula, singing, 'ukulele), directed by Robyn Caneda and Tom Yamamoto. Computers: At least one Mac per classroom; P.C. and Mac computer labs. |
