Registered for success

Counseling and computers combine for a class act

EVEN THOUGH students are still working through their second-semester classes, registration for next year has come and gone at Maui High School.

Maui High School Name Maui Hi-Notes Faculty adviser Mike Green Editor Wylie Duarosan Address 660 S. Lono Ave. Kahului 96732 Principal Randy Yamanuha Colors Blue and white Nickname Sabers Enrollment 1,585 Faculty and staff 116

Class selection must be done early because student demand determines what courses are offered. Registration procedures have moved into the 21st century in that students' selections are immediately entered into a computer database.

Students can then validate their class choices and alternatives.

Before, students had to fill out a paper form that would be entered into the computer later. With the new system, the master schedule that places students can be built much sooner.

The school's redesign team has already implemented a new rotating seven-period schedule this year. The extra period has been added so underclassmen can fulfill a new state Department of Education policy requiring high school students to earn 24 credits for a basic graduation diploma.

The schedule change gives students a chance to use the extra period to take another elective class. Freshmen and sophomores need to select two electives, juniors three and seniors five after they sign up for their required classes.

During the registration process from Feb. 7 to 17, students met one on one with staff advisers who worked to help them make better class choices.

"It gives students a chance to ask any questions they might have rather than having all these second thoughts the first day of the new school year," said redesign leader Ignacio Arcas.

These advisers went out to the feeder schools, Maui Waena and Lokelani Intermediate, to answer eighth-graders' questions and register them for courses.

Students seem to find these personal meetings more effective than simply turning in a piece of paper.

"I like this new registration process because it gives me a chance to ask questions or get advice about my class decisions," said freshman Marlo Antes.

Ninety-three percent of the student body is registered at this point, compared with 75 percent of students who used paper forms in previous years.

"Not only are we able to assist students in choosing classes, but we are also able to do a on-the-spot credit check," said faculty member Shane Okamoto. "The personalized nature of the new registration process makes it easier to identify students who are missing credits and therefore allows us to offer them as many credit recovery options as soon as possible."

Phasing out of the honors classes also was a part of the redesign effort.

"Being in an honors class doesn't necessarily mean you're doing honors work," said Arcas. "But an advanced placement class has a planned curriculum so you will be doing advanced work. Therefore, abolishing the honors classes motivates students to take a challenging class that will help them in college."

This strategy is one that seems to be working, as enrollment in advanced placement classes is up by 88 percent, which is 190 students more than last year.

Students' overall reactions to the new registration and class policies have been mixed. There are some students who enjoy the new registration policy more than the old one.

"I like it because I don't have to wait until August to find out my schedule," said Angela Guerrero, a sophomore.

But junior Bianca Galam said, "I do not like it because the new policy doesn't allow us to switch our classes if we change our minds."

Overall, the new registration procedure has proved to be beneficial for the students and faculty.

There is now a feeling that students are better informed and can make better decisions.

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Diverse clubs await kids after school

Wake up. Go to school. Go home. Do homework. Eat. Go to sleep. Repeat. This sounds like the normal, everyday routine for the "average" high-schooler, right? But today's high school students tend to be anything but average.

For many students at Maui High, an ordinary day doesn't end with the last school bell. Instead of just going home, many students are off to some kind of extracurricular activity. It's also not unusual to find several of these students participating in more than one.

One of the most common activities is sports. Whether it is playing for school teams, for clubs or for fun, athletics are an important part of students' lives.

"I enjoy playing soccer and running cross-country because they help me stay in condition," said freshman Grant Cabebe.

Sophomore Ashley Honda also makes athletics a part of her after-school life. "I have been swimming for five years now," said Honda, who is also a member of the cross-country and track teams. "I initially got involved with it for the exercise, but now I have made so many good friends."

Many students are also involved in their communities, serving through school clubs. Junior Nathaniel Salazar, a member of the school's National Honor Society chapter, serves the community through activities like tutoring classmates and organizing book and food drives.

"I like helping the community," Salazar said. "It's a chance to give back, and it gives me a good feeling."

With such busy schedules and so many things going on, the weekend would seem to be a perfect opportunity for students to relax and do nothing school-related.

But although Maui High students try to take a break from academic work, their weekends are far from empty. Games need to be played, and club activities are often on the schedule.

The activities that students are involved in are as varied as the students themselves. Some students play in bands or hit the beach. Others pursue their hobbies or participate in cultural activities.

Maui High School has a diversified student body with equally diverse interests. Whether their activities are school-related or self-initiated, Maui High students try to learn and improve themselves by doing more than simply hitting the books.

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"What is your own unique word or phrase, and what does it mean?"

William Neil Puaa III
Senior
"'Awesomatic.' In general, my word means 'congratulations.' I say it after winning a sports competition or after I earn an awesome score on an exam."

Maylene Bumanglag
Senior
"'Twhacky.' My unique word means 'whack, weird or funny.' I say it to describe people."

Naomi DeLara
Junior
"'Monkey!' It means 'randomness,' or I just say it when I can't think of anything else to say."

Toni Ong
Junior
"'Mushi mushi gunit.' My girlfriend and I were bored one day, and we were just putting random words together. We came up with this phrase and decided that it would mean 'I love you.'"

Jhazmyne Capa
Sophomore
"'Crackers!' I say this word when I bump into people or things, because I tend to do that a lot."

Bradley Nafus
Sophomore
"'Scizore!' My word means 'way to go.' And I say it when I score a point during a game."