Posted on: Thursday, January 20, 2005
OUR SCHOOLS | CARDEN ACADEMY OF MAUI
Focusing on academics, values
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
PUKALANI, Maui — The Carden Academy of Maui took root in 1996 with a group of four homeschooled children studying in a kitchen.
Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser The school has experienced steady growth since its inception and is in danger of outgrowing its location, according to principal Kristi Bourlai. The academy leases space from Grace Church but is not affiliated with the church or any other religious group.
Bourlai said the school has added several buildings in recent years to accommodate growing enrollment, which now stands at 90 in grades K-6, and she is looking to buy property to build a new campus.
The academy got its name from Mae Carden, who started the first Carden School in 1934 in New York City and promoted the Carden Method of teaching until her death in 1977. The method focuses on teaching ethical and social values and providing academic growth through individual attention. There are approximately 100 Carden Schools in the United States, including the West Maui Carden Academy, which is not related to the Upcountry campus.
Like other Carden schools, the Pukalani school believes strongly in developing an appreciation for art and music. Pupils participate in creative movement, drama, art, music and band classes. Instruction in the French language begins in kindergarten.
Character education, good manners and discipline also are important at the school, Bourlai said.
"With our small class size and discipline policy, we are able to teach a wide variety of children with different abilities," she said.
The Carden Academy of Maui added the sixth grade this school year, and plans to expand to seventh grade in the fall and eighth grade the following year. It has a staff of seven full-time teachers, six part-time enrichment teachers and three office staff.
Bourlai said she looks forward to a bigger campus that will include space for a library and computer room.
Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.
The group expanded and moved to a cottage in Ha'iku, and in the fall of 1998, founders Jeri Karcey, Lori Brewster and Tamara Anderson established the Carden Academy in Puka-lani, with 20 students.
Drama and creative-movement teacher Barry Jones leads a group of energetic fourth-graders in a class.
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| At a glance
Where: 55 Maka'ena Place, Pukalani, Maui Phone: (808) 573-6651 Principal: Kristi Bourlai, who joined the school last July History: Formally established in 1998 with kindergarten through grade five, later adding grade six. The school received 501(3)(c) nonprofit status in 1999. Grades seven and eight will be added in the fall and in 2006. Enrollment: 90 pupils in grades K-6 Computers: Four, for use by sixth-graders for report writing. Carden stresses cursive writing starting in second grade; computers are not used in lower grades. Bourlai said most children have computers at home, and with the academy's tightly structured curriculum, there is little time for Web surfing or educational games. |
