That belief system revolves around the school's mission statement: Learners learn at different rates and in various ways; learning experiences should be meaningfully connected and applied to life; and personal accountability is important to success.

"We want the parents, staff and students to embrace this concept so that everyone can work in one direction."

With the newly established School Community Council in place, the school is able to focus on encouraging its pupils to learn in their own way, he said. Every morning, two hours of uninterrupted work is devoted to improving basic skills in reading, writing and math. Support staff are assigned to classroom teachers to lower the student-teacher ratio and to help with individual attention where needed, Castro said.

"It's an approach that has improved our test scores," he said.

But it's not all just about learning the basics at Manana.

Among its other programs, the school offers pupils in Grades 3-6 the chance to participate in the Na Keiki 'O Manana chorus, an institution at the campus since 1977.

The children must audition for a place in the chorus, which has about 50 members. The chorus performs in concerts around the state in winter and spring tours.

• What are you most proud of? "How we've been united as a school around our schoolwide beliefs," said Castro.

• Best-kept secret: "How hard we work to meet the needs of all learners," Castro said. "We've invested a lot of thought and energy into providing a system of teaching and learning that will be supportive of all students."

• Everybody at our school knows: Aaron Paragoso, the school chorus teacher who leads Na Keiki 'O Manana.

• Our biggest challenge: "To continually get students to fulfill their individualized potential against the backdrop of the ever-increasing state and federal mandates, yet still embracing the reality that everyone learns at different rates and in various ways," Castro said.

• What we need: "We need to build upon the successful partnerships we have with our families and community partners to enhance our efforts in providing a quality standards-based education for all of our students," Castro said.

• Special events: Fun fair and annual craft fair put on by the students and staff; Fitness Day to highlight exercise and a healthy lifestyle; Na Keiki 'O Manana Winter and Spring Tours.

In addition, the school offers Ready Set Kindergarten, a reading readiness program for pre-kindergartners; a Skills for Success program for pupils needing social and organizational support; and Extended Learning Time for afterschool tutoring.