Education

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

From sand to sea, Molokai’s keiki were entertained by ocean-themed activities while parents learned about family resources in our own backyard during the Keiki Expo’s 10th anniversary Saturday morning.

“It really takes a whole village to raise a child,” said event volunteer Liz Luan. “This has been an awesome highlight our great resources here on Molokai.”

The family event, brought to the community by the Molokai Keiki Group, was held at the Mitchell Pauole Center and featured more than 25 organizations focusing on educational, health and safety programs for young children, prenatal to five years old.

“[Over the last 10 years] our focus has been kept strictly to services we can get on island and also provide an activity for the kids,” said Keiki Expo co-organizer Becky Takashima.…

Molokai Athletics Welcomes New Assistant Director

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

With high goals set to bring more sports tournaments, more games and to build the athletics program on the island, the Molokai High School Athletics Department welcomes new Assistant Athletic Director, Joannie Espiritu-Tanabe, to the team.

“Having an assistant alleviates a lot of stress for me,” said Hoku Haliniak, MHS athletics director. “[Espiritu-Tanabe] is very organized and can step in whenever I need help.”

She said much of Espiritu-Tanabe’s job involves helping her at sporting events, taking care of traveling arrangements, scheduling, and making sure coaches have correct paperwork and students are eligible to play. That will leave Haliniak more time to bring more sporting events to the island, she said.…

Navigating Your Child’s Education Plan

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Hawaii Disability Rights Center News Release

A workshop called “Navigating Through Your Child’s Individual Educational Plan” will be held on Thursday Jan. 23 on Molokai to assist parents of children with disabilities become more active participants in their children’s education and rights.

Assisted by Hawaii Disability Rights Center advocate Verna Waikiki, the workshop will teach parents about Individual Education Plans (IEP), parental safeguards and parent’s rights, the importance making a transition plan as children get older, and the transfer of rights when youth reach adulthood. Waikiki will also explain the “service grid” (who’s going to do what and for how long) and other important information for parents of children with learning disabilities, such as how to access services.…

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

First Book-Molokai News Release

First Book-Molokai has awarded book grants to All God’s Children Preschool, Maunaloa Elementary School, Kaunakakai Elementary School Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes, and Aka`ula School.  First Book-Molokai provides new, high quality books to children to start their own home libraries.  They also receive bookplates on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

The $5,000 book grant we received from the Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. has enabled our program to give thousands of enticing new books to the children we serve on an ongoing basis.  The Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. provides needed funding for Hawaii’s nonprofit organizations that benefit women, children, youth, and needy programs. …

Grassroots Benefit Keiki Design Contest

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

2014 Grassroots Benefit Committee News Release

A Second Annual Grassroots Benefit event will be held on Saturday, July 5 at the Kaunakakai Ballpark. This family oriented, educational, community event raises funds for the Ho`ola Hou Community-Based scholarship  — 100 percent of ticket proceeds are donated to the fund. The event also promotes local, organic farmers, and emphasizes healthy environment, lifestyle, food, and families – from keiki to kupuna.  This year’s theme is Aloha `Aina.

The purpose of the 2014 Grassroots Benefit – Keiki Design Contest is to inspire keiki to express and demonstrate an understanding of the Hawaiian concept “Aloha `Aina” through art, and to establish a theme design for the 2014 Grassroots Benefit event.…

Student Leaders Take Senator on Campus Tour

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Student Leaders Take Senator on Campus Tour

Molokai Middle School Press Release

Molokai Middle School (MMS) students showcased their school with pride to an unlikely visitor last month. Sen. Mazie Hirono took a one-hour tour led by the MMS Student Council. Hirono’s initial interest in the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and Garden Bed programs got her attention and prompted her visit.

Noteworthy programs offered by teachers and partnerships with the Molokai community all played an important role.  Highlights of Hirono’s visit included a tour of the school’s Vegetable Garden Beds, Activities and Assemblies Program (a clothes drive to aide the victims of the Philippines), O’ Hina I Ka Malama Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (Mo`omomi Project), STEM (VEX Robotics), The Girl’s Bridge Team, History Club, Media Broadcast Wheel, Restored Greenhouse, and the newly constructed Halau that sits mauka of the school.…

Monsanto’s Science Education Fund

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Monsanto Fund News Release

Molokai High School was among 14 Hawaii public schools and educational organizations recently awarded more than $12,000 in grants from the Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund. The program was established by The Monsanto Fund to support science education in Hawaii’s public schools.

Funds went to support a variety of programs at the schools including robotics, renewable energy projects, a watershed service learning fieldtrip, composting project, and equipment and supplies for chemistry and science classes.

Monsanto’s grant program is available on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai where Monsanto employees live and work. Public schools serving students in intermediate grades through college for educational purposes related to science are encouraged to apply for Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund grants.…

Excused or Unexcused is Not the Issue

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Laura Peterson, Molokai Resource Teacher

You may be hearing more about the importance of consistent attendance in school these days.  Attendance in school is critical for keeping up with academics that are increasingly rigorous.

Many schools are taking research-proven steps to reach out to students who are absent.  An example of this would be a short face-to-face conference with a student upon return.  Another would be an offer to help students catch up on missed work, or a peer-to-peer tutoring program where a buddy is assigned to help the student catch up.  A home visit by school personnel or the school social worker is important if the concern needs to be personally delivered to the home.…

Girls Basketball Enjoy Undefeated Season

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Girls Basketball Enjoy Undefeated Season

With an undefeated Maui interscholastic League (MIL)Division II record this season, the Lady Farmers took to their home court last weekend, looking to add another win under their belts against Hana. Today, they sit at a record of 8-0 after their final scores of 46-11 Friday night and 37-22 on Saturday.

“They are the only [Division II] team in the MILs [this year] with that record,” said Hoku Haliniak, Molokai High School (MHS) Athletic Director.

Girls basketball coach Lee DeRouin said Molokai has a history of strong athletes and a good basketball program and praised the team’s defensive skill—getting turnovers, transition points and easy baskets.…

Boys Basketball: Molokai vs. Seabury

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Boys Basketball: Molokai vs. Seabury

Molokai High School Sophomore Kaimana Kahale moves the ball down the court during the season opener of boys basketball last Friday night against Seabury. The Barn shook as the crowd roared and stamped with excitement during their first game of two last weekend.

The Farmers came close to take to take the lead, however Seabury pulled ahead at the final buzzer with a score of 59 to 51. High scorers of the night were sophomore Jordan Boswell making 8 points and senior David Rapanot sinking 23.

“We did well, but there are a lot of things we need to improve on…[like] passing,” said Molokai coach Carl Adolpho Jr.…