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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 7, 2008

Maunaloa making big progress

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

On a Maunaloa School field trip to Hale O Lono, fifth-grade teacher Kimberly Kaai holds a test tube of water that will be analyzed later by students. From left are sixth-graders Taylor Keliihoomalu, Kahumoku Lindsey and Yasmeen Demmers.

Mariah Dudoit

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Where: 128 Maunaloa Road, Maunaloa, Moloka'i, Maui District

Grade span: Kindergarten through sixth grade

Enrollment: 62 students

Race/ethnicity enrollment: Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian, 83.4 percent; other, 16.6 percent.

Free and reduced-price lunch eligible: 80.7 percent

Special-education students: 7 percent

Computers on campus: 70 computers for student use

Principal: Joe Yamamoto, nine years

School nickname: Roadrunners

School colors: Blue and gold

What are you most proud of? "We have a caring and committed staff and everyone knows each other," said Joe Yamamoto, Maunaloa Elementary School principal. "We met the No Child Left Behind adequate yearly progress in reading and math for the first time last year. And over the past eight years our special-education population has decreased from 19 percent to 3 percent."

What is your biggest challenge? "Continuing to make the No Child Left Behind adequate yearly progress," Yamamoto said. "And, continuing to provide a level of educational support services in spite of the continual loss of funds through the weighted student formula."

Special events: Every second and fourth Friday, the school holds assemblies where they sing the school alma mater and recognize students who exemplify our school expectations with a Super Roadrunner program.

The school participates in regular Open House, Makahiki Games, Read Across America, May Day, and last year, the entire school had a field trip to Moloka'i Ranch's Kaupoa Beach Camp as a year-end celebration.

History: The school is one of four rural elementary schools on the island of Moloka'i. The first classroom building was built in 1937 on 10 acres of land.

Well-known alumni: Jan TenBruggencate, former staff writer for The Honolulu Advertiser; Phillip Sabado, artist; Harry Kojima, TV personality; Mike McCutcheon, former minor league baseball player and Sashamon, musician.

Phone: 808-552-2000