The Big Show As the last bell of the day rings, most students go home, but a handful head to classes that teach them to be creative, musical, dramatic and artistic.
The Learning Center teaches
About Nanakuli
and integrates creative arts
You AskedBy Kaitlyn Lagrimas and Ashley Palakiko
Ka Leo 'O Nanakuli
They go to the Arts and Communication Learning Center on campus.
The center offers courses during and after school in drama, visual arts, band and multimedia. These programs also work together to create integrated projects.
The Learning Center gives "students a curriculum that is unique and isn't offered in their school or the traditional classroom," said Thomas Alejo, visual arts teacher.
Commitment and dedication are what Principal Levi Chang emphasized to these students. "The Learning Center will be going through big changes in the next two years, but the product will be real top-notch," Chang said.
Learning Center coordinator Robin Kitsu also leads the drama program, in which students learn acting, singing, choreography and dance.
They also learn English skills to help them analyze their characters.
"The integration of the four courses makes the shows more lively, energetic and fun," said Laphina Peneku, a fourth-year drama student.
The visual arts department teaches drawing, painting and how to make backdrops and props for shows.
"I think this class helped me to better understand art and the artists' pain and struggle or happiness they go through to fulfill their life's work through paintings," said student Crystal Manwarren.
The band department, taught by Randal Vause and Roy Kimura, marches in with live music. The students provide orchestration for Broadway musicals and other projects.
"This was a good experience because it was fun to work with the drama students," said Loana Moore, a junior in the band program. "It was also challenging because we needed to work with the drama students in getting the timing right when the person would sing."
Starting this year, students in the multimedia program, taught by Royden Apana, will be part of the Learning Center. They will bring their audio-visual skills to the projects.
These four courses combine their talents to create a spectacular show.
Last school year, the major event was the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."Several projects are planned for this school year:
>> In November the band students will do a marching field show, with the drama students providing vocals and dance and the visual art students creating backdrops.
>> In April the Learning Center will present "Showcase," a fashion show with products created by the visual art students. This show will incorporate live music, video effects, comic sketches and vocals.
>> In May the center will present the musical "Little Shop of Horrors."
For students interested in arts and communications or planning a future as a director, musician, artist or actor, the Learning Center is the right place. They can perfect their skills while gaining the experience needed to reach their goal.
Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers will tell us about their high schools. This week's school is Nanakuli High & Intermediate. About this page
Newspaper: Ka Leo 'O Nanakuli
Editors: Sheena Mendonca and Grace Rodrigues
Faculty adviser: Robin Kitsu
Next week: Sacred Hearts Academy
Address: 89-980 Nanakuli Ave., Waianae, HI 96792
Phone: 668-5823
Principal: Levi Chang
Vice Principals: Darin Pilialoha and Flora Nash
Facts:
>> Established in 1967.
>> Only school in the Leeward District that is an intermediate and high school combined.
>> Every classroom has at least one computer.
>> The first complex on Oahu to be found in compliance with the Felix consent decree.
>> One of the first high schools in Hawaii to have most of the campus connected to the state's wide area network.Site: Located on more than 60 acres of land and surrounded by Hawaiian Homestead lands.
Vision: All students will have the knowledge, competence and orientation for success and will demonstrate caring, dignity and integrity.
Mission: Success for all through "one team, one community."
Motto: Kulia I Ka Nu'u ("We seek the highest").
Colors: Black and gold.
Mascot: Golden hawk.
Class mascot, colors, flower:
2002: White tiger, blue and silver, white rose.
2003: Honu (turtle), teal and white, plumeria.
2004: Bulldog, red and black, puakenikeni.
2005: Dragon, silver and baby blue, no flower chosen yet.
Major events this school year:
>> Performing Arts Club production: Oct. 26-27, Nov. 2-3.
>> Powder Puff Football Game: Nov. 16.
>> Winter Ball: Dec. 20.
>> Night of Performing Arts: Feb. 17.
>> Song Festival: March 7.
>> Junior/Senior Prom: March 18.
>> Learning Center Showcase: April 19.
>> Freshman/Sophomore Banquet: April 20.
>> Commencement: June 1.
By the numbers
1,310: Students.
118: Teachers.
9: Clubs.
71: Percentage of the student body that is of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry.
4: Single-story circular buildings designed to promote unity between students and teachers and nurture an atmosphere of warmth and harmony for academic and social activities.
2: Two-story buildings.
140: Students in the first graduating class, June 1972.
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What is the hardest thing about being a teenager today? You asked
Merribeth Rosello,
freshman:"Sometimes people put too much responsibility on you, and they tell you to grow up, but you don't know yet. You feel in between where you're not grown up yet but you sort of are. It's confusing."
Jessica Butler,
junior:"Peer pressure, as everyone wants people to do things like having sex, smoking and things like that."
Kaleka Akana,
senior:"Living up to your parents' expectations, because they usually set their standards so high."
Kahea Moniz,
junior:"Peer pressure from friends and pressure from family when it comes to making decisions."
Mary Gomes,
eighth grade:"Your parents, because even though they care about you, they're on you all the time."
Dazzerie Dano,
freshman:"Making your own decisions without help from parents and influence of friends, because you're not sure if the decisions you make are right."
Bobbie Villamor,
senior:"Finding yourself, because when you first start off as a teenager, you're like, 'What am I going to do, what do I want to do, do I want to be this?' And then you try a whole bunch of different things, and it's really hard to find yourself."
Samantha Nicholas,
sophomore:"Stress from parents, stress from teachers to pull the grades and stress from going through relationship problems when you think you're in love with someone."
Siaki Penitito,
senior:"Trying to keep my grades up along with all of the extra-curricular activities I'm involved in."
Kevin Kwan,
senior:"Peer pressure to do drugs and have sex, and having to be strong enough to give them a straight answer on what you don't want to do."
Click for online
calendars and events.
