Posted on: Thursday, June 15, 2006
OUR SCHOOLS | PAUOA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students thrive in supportive setting
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
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Pauoa Elementary students Chaelyss Tenney and Colby Wong host a video production that highlights successful students. It is part of the school's positive behavioral support program, which principal Gregg Lee says has helped improve the children's behavior.
Pauoa Elementary School
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AT A GLANCE
Where: 2301 Pauoa Road Phone: 587-4500 Web address: www.k12.hi.us/~pauoa/ Principal: Gregg Lee, five years School nickname: Lehua School colors: Red and white History: Pauoa was built in 1847, one of the earliest schools in Hawai'i. Until 1892 lessons were taught in the Hawaiian language. While it was first built on church property, the school was later moved to its present location in Pauoa Valley with the construction of two classrooms. Buildings have been replaced over the years, but the school continues with an enrollment of about 50 percent part-Hawaiian and Hawaiian students. The most recent renovations occurred three years ago when the entire school was refurbished, including repainting inside and out and new whiteboards in the classrooms, and other improvements as part of an overall Department of Education sprucing up of the state's oldest public schools. Testing: Here's how Pauoa Elementary pupils fared on the most recent standardized tests. Stanford Achievement Test: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils scoring average and above average, compared with the national combined average of 77 percent. Third-grade reading, 79 percent; math, 80 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 78 percent; math, 85 percent. Hawai'i State Assessment: Listed is the combined percentage of pupils meeting or exceeding state standards, and a comparison with the state average. Third-grade reading, 57 percent, compared with state average of 51.8 percent; math, 25 percent, compared with 28.5 percent. Fifth-grade reading, 61 percent, compared with state average of 55.6 percent; math, 23 percent, compared with 25.5 percent.Computers: 30 in the lab and two in each of the 30 classrooms. Enrollment: 430 students, which is at capacity. Enrollment remains steady. Low-income enrollment: 44 percent
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Pauoa Elementary, one of the state's oldest public schools — and one that taught in the Hawaiian language for its first 45 years — takes pains to notice and reward the positive things its students do every day of the year.
The school gives out daily recognition slips to students "who are caught in the act of being respectful, safe or responsible," said principal Gregg Lee.
Then, each week the names of all honored students are read over the public address system and a handful of those students — whose names are drawn from a hat — win small surprises.
The two-year-old program has yielded improvements in student behavior, Lee said.
Overall, the school is filled with warmth and enthusiasm, from the Akatsuka family who write grants for the school and have launched weekend math workshops, to Big Brothers who come in after school to mentor and tutor children, to the two kupuna on hand who teach Hawaiiana as well as help put on one of the most extravagant and beautiful May Day celebrations around.
The school also has seen several staff members win awards, including Faye Miyamasu, who was Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for the Honolulu store, and Kay Chin, who received an "Everyday Heroes" award from the Department of Education.
What are you most proud of? "The teamwork of our school faculty and parents," Lee said. "People are just committed to making the school a better place. We have a committed core group who share the same expectations envisioned for our school."
Best-kept secret: The traditional May Day. The school's two kupuna, James Kamaka and Julianna Shimabukuro, not only help in the Hawaiiana classes, they work on preparing the students for their songs and dances.
Everybody at our school knows: Troy Orias, the student services coordinator who helps run the positive behavioral support quarterly assembly, the program that recognizes courteous and responsible students.
Our biggest challenge: Raising math scores. Although the school is in "good standing, pending" under No Child Left Behind, Lee is pushing for improvements in math and will be bringing in a new program recommended by the DOE. A trainer will be under contract to assist in tutoring. Additionally, parents have helped create weekend math project days for families. The school recently won a $50,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs — a grant written by a parent — and some of the money will be used to assist in drilling math.
What we need: "For parents to be continually involved in a way that promotes learning at home, including reading to their children and showing daily interest in what they're learning," Lee said.
Special events: May Day, Spring Fling, parent workshops during the year that are a joint partnership with Kamehameha Schools and partnerships with Big Brothers and First Presbyterian Church, who mentor and tutor children at the school.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: Colby Leong was one of the students shown in a photo above. His name was incorrect in a earlier version of this story.
