Greeting the digital
revolution

Computers dominate courses
and clubs from media and math
to social studies

From graphing calculators and Palm Pilots to digital cameras and computers, technology is swiftly advancing through the classrooms of Sacred Hearts Academy.

Sacred Hearts Academy Address 3253 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, HI 96816 Principal Betty White Nickname Lancers Motto Orare et laborare About the school's newspaper: Name: Ka Leo Faculty adviser: Gaylen Isaacs Editorial Board: Cydrienne Llamas, Rachel Magaoay, and Malori Mindo

"When I started here in 1996, there was virtually no use of computers or other digital media. Now we have constant changes and turnovers with technological software and hardware to raise the quality of teaching and the level of student understanding and achievement," said Jennifer Higa, visual arts chairwoman.

Once regarded as a traditional and conservative school, the academy has upgraded its programs and curriculum primarily through a digital revolution.

"Without a doubt, the school must be spending a lot of our tuition money on technology, because the upgraded programs are fantastic and fun to use," junior Chanzen Loo said.

Loo should know. With no previous experience, this past summer, she single-handedly wired the school's new iMac G5 lab for media classes and spent two to three hours installing graphic design software on each of the lab's 20 computers.

Randall Pong, the school's technology coordinator, said, "I gave her directions, and Chanzen finished all the wiring within a short matter of days. She saved the school lots of money on the newly equipped $75,000 lab."

Courses like video production and photojournalism have now gone digital. All video and photo editing is done on computers, and output images and movies are transferred to CDs and DVDs.

Senior Shaina Solomon said, "I like video production because it gives me some insight on the behind-the-scenes action with media broadcast journalism."

Classes like digital imaging, computer animation and digital photography introduce students to various useful computer design tools and techniques like improving photo quality, adjusting hues and cropping images.

"In computer animation we learned how to use tools to merge two pictures together into one, produce animations, crop photos and create collages. Learning these different techniques was worthwhile but was extremely time-consuming and required a lot of patience," freshman Chelse Takahashi said.

Deborah Kula, math department chairwoman, remembers life before technology and often shares with students their good fortune of having access to exciting technology.

"Paper and pencil were king," Kula said. "Worksheets reigned. Before technology, students graphed functions through painstaking point-by-point plotting. Now graphing calculators allow students to focus on the process instead of the calculations."

The modernization of the curriculum has not been accidental.

"Getting our girls ready for the job market in the 21st century means that they must be technologically savvy," Principal Betty White said. "Every teacher is responsible for incorporating technology into the curriculum, and technology poses challenges for some teachers."

Social studies chairwoman Cathy Matsuno said, "We have to adapt to technology to meet our ever-changing demands. Ten years ago, I had the greatest learning curve ever, but I've been successful in adapting my teaching style specifically to integrate multimedia, CD-ROMs and video, to make my teaching more exciting."

White added, "Most importantly, on a daily basis we emphasize to the girls that there is a connection between their chosen profession and the paycheck they will take home as adults. Along with health professions, jobs in technology are heading the list of accessibility."

"Working with professional software and hardware helps students gain real experience in design and media," Pong said. "Girls with skills in design and media will have an edge in college and on the job."

Science teacher Steve Huffman incorporates technology into his teaching, which benefits students and the environment.

"I like technology because I am carrying less in my already stuffed backpack," freshman Janelle Matsuura said. "Mr. Huffman has an almost paperless class because he requires us to turn in homework, lab reports and research electronically. All our work is contained in a single network folder."

"In journalism, I learn not only how to write articles for the newspaper, but also how to design layouts," junior Megan Agliam said. "Using professional software like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, I learn firsthand how it is in an actual newspaper facility and television stations. Since I plan on majoring in broadcast journalism, these technological programs bring me one step closer to becoming the next Leslie Wilcox."

REBECCA DEBO / SACRED HEARTS ACADEMY Sophomore Taylor Tokunaga, left, shares some family pictures with counselor Karrie Poppinga. Tokunaga, 15, cares for four younger brothers and sisters after school, helping with dinner, homework and housework, in their single-parent household.

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Students learn leadership
comes in many fields and forms

The school brings in inspirational
speakers from UH, government
and private industry

For more than 90 years, students at Sacred Hearts Academy have experimented with leadership in the classroom, in the community and in their own families.

"Leadership is taking the initiative and making sure things get done right," said junior Cara Smith, an athlete and member of the National Honor Society.

The academy, like all other public and private schools, offers many opportunities through clubs, sports, student government and extracurricular activities to help students gain the confidence and experience to become leaders in and out of the classroom.

"My teachers patiently encouraged me to take the lead in many activities, but my favorite was working in speech club and off campus with Big Brothers Big Sisters," said 2005 graduate Dai Ngo, now attending Northwestern. "Teachers helped me become the leader that I am, even though I was nervous and unsure at first."

Senior Mele Meyer remembers when she was on the Lower School's student council as treasurer and then president. Now she is the senior class president.

"As class president, decisions are up to me and the officers, with our adviser there to guide us along the way," Meyer said. "We actually have a lot of independence."

"Being a leader also comes with responsibilities and consequences, and at times a lot of stress. Sometimes my classmates are not willing to help or give suggestions; often they just criticize," said Meyer. "It's important that we are confident about our decisions, although we can't please everybody all the time."

Prom committee member Brandie Magno agreed: "After the junior prom, my committee got many complaints and negative comments about food and the amount of space in the room. At first it bothered us, but our adviser told us not to take it personally."

"To help us seriously think about leadership positions, often dominated by men, the academy frequently brings in professionals from the community to talk to us. Most often they are women," said senior Bo Min Kim.

"The people the academy invites to speak to us are women who are exceptional leaders, whether they are lawyers, governors or heads of a major organization. They inspire us and make us want to succeed," she said.

"My favorites so far have been Gov. Linda Lingle, University of Hawaii regent Kitty Lagareta, Iditarod winner Libby Riddles and especially UH engineering professor Audra Bullock, who looks like a spiffy model," said senior Cristina Cordero.

Some students perform and develop leadership through service. Sophomore Taylor Tokunaga's dad died a few years ago, and she has assumed leadership earlier than most of her peers.

"As the second-oldest child, helping out is the least I can do to make things easier for my mom," Tokunaga said. "I watch over my siblings who are 4 through 13. I help them with their homework at night and prepare dinner every day. When I wake them up in the morning, I make sure the kids are ready for school."

"It pleased me," Tokunaga concluded, "when my counselor said, 'Taylor, you have real leadership!'"

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