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Education

Teacher Expands Music Knowledge

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Teacher Expands Music Knowledge

Updated.

Bob Underwood is on a mission to change lives with a new afterschool music program. It incorporates a number of instruments, including the violin.

 “I only do this because I love music,” said Bob Underwood, a first grade teacher at Kaunakakai Elementary School. Underwood is currently offering violin classes through the 21st Century program, and hopes to expand to trombone and trumpet classes soon.

He is joined by bandmate and friend, Rob Stephenson, president of Molokai Chamber of Commerce. Stephenson teaches saxophone, flute and clarinet at Kaunakakai Elementary; Underwood offers his violin classes at Kaunakakai, Kualapu`u, and Maunaloa Elementary. Between the two, there are around 40 students involved, ranging from kindergarteners to senior citizens.

Underwood has been playing bass guitar since his college days and now wants to pass the torch on to his students. He believes that music can further students in other subjects as well.


 “Studies have shown that learning an instrument can tune the ear better, making it easier to hear foreign language,” Underwood said. He also noted a connection to improved science and math scores.

Molokai lost the high school band program in 2004 after the departure of its music teacher. Since then, brass and woodwind instruments have been void in the classroom.

A Legacy
The 21st Century Grant has been stimulating young minds on Molokai since it began in 2001. It has funded programs such as Summer Bridge Math, Robotics, and ‘Connecting Molokai M’s: Me, My Mind, My Mana`o’ - a program which fosters the learning of local heritage.

Underwood wants to thank Kaunakakai Elementary Principal Janice Espiritu for her support. Espiritu was instrumental in bringing the 21 Century Grant program to Molokai.

“We wouldn’t be having these classes if it wasn’t for her,” Underwood


For those who are interested in learning one or more of these instruments, contact Bob Underwood at Kaunakakai Elementary School 553-1730

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Support Not Small for Little League

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Support Not Small for Little League

Keiki of Molokai’s favorite sport have just been gifted with state-of-the-art equipment by a generous local family. Barney and Pake Naki have always had a soft spot for baseball on Molokai, and recently decided to donate to the island’s Little League teams.

“Once again, we’re very blessed,” said the league’s president, John Kaalekahi Jr. “We’ve received some gifts from some very good people.”

The donation is coming from the proceeds of a DVD Barney just made. A legendary bowhunter according to his wife, Barney has been shooting a bowhunting video for nearly two years, sharing his techniques and advice on hunting.

“We knew the proceeds we wanted to donate, and what better way to donate than back home,” Pake said.

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Ho`omana Hou School

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Honor:
Danielle Mersberg                         4.12
Shaquille Rapanot McGuire          3.9
Seiona Dudoit                                3.57

Honorable Mention:
Mikayla Tengan                            3.48

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Beach Clean Up

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Beach Clean Up

My class participated on Feb. 1, 2011 in a worldwide beach clean-up. There were schools from Molokai, Big Island, Oahu, California, Oregon, the east coast, and even from distant places such as Japan, Spain, Italy and Kosovo.

What Would You Do?
By Makani Davis

What would you do if you saw marine life being killed by nets, cans, six packs, or more? Would you sit there and watch it break down? I hope not, because you’ll be watching nearly until you die! Stand up and fight for our wildlife! You don’t need to be an adult to do it, because fourth and fifth graders can clean up too if they want to.

Make a change in sea life. I want to see it happen. Make the beaches clean. You don’t need to be any certain age; you just need too believe that you can. I believe and I will help. The next step for me is to get others to help. Will you help me? Will you help the environment? Make a difference!

Step up and grab a hand to fix our world and keep the atmosphere clean. Go to the beach and look around; see what you can pick up. You won’t believe what you can do. You can change things!

I’m Just a Butt
By Acey Reyes

One day, a class of school kids came to the beach. They found a lot of rubbish. They also found me! I’m a cigarette butt. I am really grateful that they picked me and a bunch of my friends (over 110 of us in all!) up. If they didn’t, I would be there a very long time.

I’ve just been waiting for someone to pick me up. After they carried me away, the next day I got to come out and become part of a beautiful ‘garbage’ sculpture with my friends.

If the kids had left me there, I would be littering the area. I am also toxic and if a fish or other marine animal mistakes me for food, they could get very sick and die. Now I’ve been rescued and don’t have to worry about being eaten! Thank you, kids!

Two more reflections will be shared in next week’s Dispatch.

 

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Draw a Picture, Save Some Water

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

The Department of Water Supply (DWS) is now accepting applicants for its second annual Water Conservation Poster Contest for students in Maui County.  Entry deadline is March 18, 2011, and the contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Every student who creates and submits an entry will receive a Certificate of Participation.  First place winners will receive U.S. Savings Bonds of $100, second place $75 and third place $50. A total of 18 prizes will be awarded with first, second and third prizes presented to winners in each competition level. 

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Girls, Gowns and Grins

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Girls, Gowns and Grins

Despite the persistent rain, beauty queens kept their hair neat, makeup unblemished and dresses immaculate at the Lanikeha Carnival and Beauty Pageant last Saturday. After all, the show must go on.

Fistfuls of glitter and shining costumes brightened the dreary day where over 70 girls, ages zero to 18, showcased their talent and beauty for a chance to be crowned winner of their age division.

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Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Tutu’s Corner

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

One-to-one correspondence means linking a single number name with a single object. This is real counting.  Most adults think that children are counting when they can memorize numbers in order.  However, until a child is able to link one object with one number, usually by pointing, he or she is not really counting. This linking ability demonstrates that a child is thinking in terms of quantity. Learning to think this way is the necessary beginning of all number operations.
Most two year olds begin one-to-one correspondence by learning the concept of two. They can hold up two fingers when asked how old they are. Thus, a good place to begin teaching real counting, at this age, is with the concept of “one and two.” When a child is three, it is a good time to add the concept of “three or four” if they are ready.


At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we have a mathematical thinking area, which gives our young keiki many one-to-one counting opportunities. During circle time, we link counting numbers with actions, such as “Let’s clap three times – 1, 2, 3.”

Try This at Home:
Use your keiki’s age as a beginning place to start one-to-one correspondence:
•    Two years: Start with body parts – two eyes, one nose, one mouth, two arms, two legs, etc. Ask your two year old to get two spoons. When your child asks for cookies, ask him or her to tell you how many they want. Most likely the child will say one or two.
•    Three years: Ask your child to set the table, making sure that there is a plate, glass, fork, spoon, etc. for each member of the family.
•    Four years: Ask your keiki to count as many objects as he or she can. Make sure your child is counting and touching as they go. Blocks, eating utensils, rocks, and shells are good examples of things to count. If your four year old has had plenty of counting and touching experiences, he or she will have no trouble counting and touching up to 10 objects.
•    During snack time let your keiki serve you and themselves.
•    Count good night kisses before your child goes to sleep.

Remember, one-to-one correspondence gives children experiences in “real counting.”
Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation.  Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Kualapu’u School 5K Race Series Announced

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Community Contributed

By Sue Forbes-Kikukawa
 
We are excited to announce the inaugural “Kualapu`u School 5K Race Series.”
 
Five 5K (or 3.1 miles) races are planned on Molokai during the months of March and April. The races begin promptly at 8 a.m. – Saturdays March 5, March 26, April 2, April 9, and April 23.
 
The intent of the 5K race series is to prepare and to select a Kualapu`u School team for the first Honolulu 5K for Kids on May 1. We also plan on having FUN-raising during this time as well – the cost to send a team of four boys and four girls is $1,500.  Event organizers are hoping to raise this money by asking all adult 5K participants to make a donation to the Kualapu`u School team in lieu of a regular entry fee. 

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Competing for Calculation

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Competing for Calculation

Math is fun for these Molokai kids. Molokai keiki math whizzes went to Maui this weekend for the Mathcounts competition. After weeks of preparation, 11 students from three Molokai schools – Molokai Middle, Kaunakakai Elementary and Aka`ula School – went head to head against 40 other students from around the county.

Although none of the students were able to advance to the state level of MATHCOUNTS, they said they were thankful for the chance to participate. “I think it was really fun. The problems were very hard,” said Kori-Lee DeRouin, a seventh grader at Aka`ula School. “I was nervous, but I had a good experience.” The students traveled to Maui last Friday to prepare for Saturday’s competition at Maui Waena Intermediate School. During three rounds of math questions for the students, including 40 speed round-answer questions in 30 minutes. “My favorite was the speed round. The questions were very challenging,” said Eric Svetin, a sixth grader at Kaunakakai. Svetin and his teammate Jershon Kaalekahi were the youngest out of their competitors. Kaalekahi said he had a great time and had fun sovling the difficult problems. “It’s a good mental workout,” he said. Other students who are interested in some mind puzzles and calculation riddles are encouraged to attend the second annual Molokai Math Day on Feb. 26, at the Mitchell Pauole Center from 9 a.m to 2 p.m.

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Molokai’s College Growing

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Molokai’s College Growing

Donna Haytko-Paoa has been envisioning a fully-supported community college for Molokai for 20 years – science classrooms with Bunsen burners, and room for performance art.

“It seems like I’ve spent my whole career tying to expand [the college],” she said. As the college’s coordinator, as well as a professor, her work is now coming to fruition – the Molokai Education Center is advancing into its second phase of growth.

Representatives from the college made a land price agreement deal with Molokai Properties Ltd (MPL) a few weeks ago. The 3.2 acre parcel is adjacent to the current college, and was agreed at $500,000. The next step is for Governor Abercrombie to release the appropriated $500,000 funds, and for the University of Hawaii (UH) Board of Regents to sign off on the deal.

to us,” Haytko-Paoa said. “We all agree this is the best use of the land. This is about education and it benefits all of us.”

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