The result is a cohesive and cooperative staff that communicates well with one another, and pupils who gain leadership skills and a caring attitude, said Ige.

"The school runs so well because of the staff," said Ige. "They put all their effort out there for the students and the students' response to that effort is they behave well. They are easy to work with." Ka'elepulu is one of three public elementary schools in the Enchanted Lake area. Pupils who attend Ka'elepulu live between two stoplights on Keolu Drive that are a little more than a mile apart.

Ige said most of the pupils' parents are well educated and have set high standards for their children. There is no swearing on campus and there are no mean kids, she said, attributing that to parental values.

• What are you most proud of? The pupils, Ige said. "Each child has their own special talent that they bring to our campus."

• Best-kept secret: The support from parents and community members who assist the staff in helping their children and the school succeed. "We really do appreciate them and their various efforts," Ige said.

• Everybody at our school knows: Wes Masuda, the sixth-grade — and only male — teacher on campus, and kindergarten teacher Sandy Williams. Ige said that Masuda "always has these really fun games and he makes learning really fun" and that "the students learn a lot from him." Williams helps each kindergartner begin the Ka'elepulu way of learning: Think positively and go for it, Ige said.

• Our biggest challenge: Everyone must multitask.

• What we need: Electrical upgrades to provide added power for technology, including multimedia learning centers in each classroom.

• Projects: Children in kindergarten through grade 3 participate in enrichment activities such as arts and crafts, cooking, games, Italian language and decision-making. In the WINGS program, for grades 4 to 6, natural talents are channeled into leadership groups that plan activities and enrichment programs such as daily broadcasts at school, drug education, fitness, newspaper and music/ thinking games. After school, Ka'elepulu has a Japanese language class and School of Rock, a band.