HALE'IWA — Hale'iwa Elementary School is small but its academic gains have been big, especially in its reading and math programs, where students focus on improving test scores.

"By the end of kindergarten a lot of our children can read," said school counselor Nami-Anne Dolan, who credits the school's Reading Master Direct Instruction Reading program for improving reading scores. "We think it's really made the difference."

When the program was initiated about six years ago, many students were placed in corrective reading sections because they read below grade level, Dolan said. Now there are few corrective reading sections and students who are having trouble get immediate attention, she said. Students are tested three times a year and aren't allowed to move ahead until they have mastered the section they are working on, Dolan said.

The program originally was developed for special education students but was retooled for the entire school, she said.

Students work in small groups and spend 1 1/2 hours a day in the program, said Louise Kawahakui, who normally has seven children in her first-grade reading class. The scripted lessons are based on phonetics and involve lots of repetition, Kawahakui said. The program includes comprehensive language, a literature component and spelling.

After 40 years of teaching and trying many different reading programs, Kawahakui said she likes this one the best even though she was reluctant at first to use it.

"Other programs involve creativity but I'm going to stick to reading mastery because I find with this repetition and review the kids are having progress," she said. "They're reading and they're happy."

What are you most proud of? The major gains in the Hawaii State Assessment in reading and math. The school met the NCLB benchmarks and to made adequate yearly progress this year.

Best-kept secret: "We have the nicest, most pleasant faculty and staff at our school," Principal Diane Matsukawa said.

Everybody at our school knows: Janine Mikasa, the librarian who works with all of the classes. "Her focus on literacy engages the students to read and write," Matsukawa said. "She is also the Leadership students' advisor and works with students to plan spirit activities."

Our biggest challenge: To continually increase the percentage of students proficient in reading and math.

What we need: Enrollment has been decreasing over the years. At one time the school had 500 students, but with the closing of the sugar plantation, young families moved away. "We need more students," Matsukawa said.

Projects: Canned food drive, asthma class, Christmas project for disadvantaged students, art contest for Friends of Waialua Library, kindergarten gingerbread house making with parents, and the Fun Run fundraiser.

Special events: Good Citizen assemblies; Parent Back to School Night, a spaghetti dinner gathering to introduce math and reading programs to our parents; and spirit activities.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.