COURTESY OF WAIANAE HIGH SCHOOL
Students in the Freshman Success Program are in constant communication with their teachers, who help them reach their full potential.
Fresh start
A special program gives
freshmen the tools they need
to make the transition from
intermediate school
Waianae High School motivates its freshmen. The class of 2007 is sectioned off from the high school veterans and broken up into four teams identified by color-coded lanyards so they can focus on their studies and future endeavors.
The Freshman Success Academy program was designed to instill skills, drive and knowledge and keep them in school long enough to graduate. Developed by Johns Hopkins University and originally called "Talent Development," Waianae and Campbell are the only schools in Hawaii to adopt this teaching method.
Each day a ninth-grader is expected to be in class on time, wear the standardized uniform dress top and a team-colored lanyard, and carry a school planner and a school I.D. The students attend class as teams throughout the day.
Roll is taken at the beginning of every class and passed on to the next period's teacher. This procedure makes it so that each teacher knows exactly who was absent before their class and who doesn't have a uniform. It cuts down on rule breakers.
Teachers perform sweeps during their preparation periods. They catch all loiterers and escort them to the class where they belong.
"Because there are far more checks, there are less students that get lost in the cracks," said Asa Yamashita, Academy English coach and teacher. "Every day a good 98 percent are in class," she added -- more than the past few years.
There are open lines of communication to ensure the success of the child. The planner becomes not only a homework reminder but also a means to communicate with the parent or the teacher. The parent can leave a message in there for the teacher or vice versa. Teachers call regularly to become better acquainted with the parent and to update them on their child's progress.
Counselors even do home visits for the parents who can't attend a conference. Students attend one-on-one sit-downs with an adult to evaluate grades after each report card is issued. This keeps these newcomers on their toes.
The academic setup emphasizes reading and math. The first semester is spent in a strategic reading class as well as a transition to advanced mathematics. By the second semester they all have English I and Algebra I. To further enrich these students, they have a course called freshman seminar that teaches them study and social skills. It also gives them guidance on career choices.
"I feel my classes definitely prepare me for my future; they make it hard and I want to graduate," Crystal Teisina said. "We stepped up a bit from intermediate to high school. It's much harder, but my teachers help me out a lot."
Along with motivating the students through constant checks, incentives to do well are also offered. Mystery field trips are awarded to those who meet the standards each quarter, with the number of standards required to attend increasing by one every quarter. The faculty hosted an award ceremony for the most outstanding, as well as most improved, student of every team. Sometimes the teachers prepare mini carnivals, live entertainment and wacky games for students to participate in during their lunch break. This gives them some positive reinforcement for their hard work.
This new program at Waianae High School motivates the students toward graduating and reaching their full potential. Looking at the procedures, hard work, dedication and student-parent response, the Freshman Success Academy is on the right road to a successful future.
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No shortage of motivating
activities for Waianae
studentsMany events -- like a canned food
drive -- get kids involved
Junior Michael Holt goes to school, walks into class and sits down at his desk. He takes out his planner and looks over the monthly events that have yet to happen.
Prom, homecoming and graduation are just some of the events that pop up during the year. Besides using rewards or incentives, activities are planned to help motivate the students.
This is the time when a lot of kids want to find out who they are and where they belong. Belonging is a very desired thing. With school-sponsored activities, they can feel like they are part of the school. Students get involved with activities because it helps build bonds with one another.
Junior class adviser Wendy Kaneshiro says that the students are motivated because "they want to do a lot of things, they have ideas and want to do things like community services."
But not all students are "internally motivated" according to Janice Uemori, Student Activities coordinator. Some need a reason to participate.
This is where activities come in.
Most of the activities are planned by the Student Union. In the beginning of the year, activities like Homecoming and Spirit Week bring classes together. The Student Union works closely with organizations like the American Lung Association, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Read Aloud program to help keep students participating. Some of the ways they do that are canned food drives, door decorating contests, hoops for hearts and various lunch lounges.
Aside from the Student Union activities, there are also extracurricular programs. These include clubs, sports and other organizations. Students' interests keep them involved. Art club, Spanish club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes let them participate in things that they normally wouldn't do alone. An after-school program that features poi pounding is open to anyone interested. It teaches about the native Hawaiian culture and encourages all students, Hawaiian or not, to participate.
Although it is sometimes difficult to motivate students, it isn't hard to find motivation among them. Junior Sheila Agrade uses activities like the Student Union and the National Honor Society to motivate herself.
"I like these activities because I can make a difference," Agrade says.
Students want to belong. Activities help to do this. Uemori thinks that hopefully the right motivation will lead them in the right direction.
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About ‘Hawaii’s Schools’
Each week, Hawaii's teenage reporters and photographers tell us about their high school. This week's school is Waianae High School.
Newspaper: Ka Leo O Waianae (The Voice of Waianae) Editor: Liberty Peralta Faculty advisers: Lorraine Gershun, John Allen III and L. Candy Suiso
Searider facts
Address: 85-251 Farrington Highway, Waianae 96792 Founded: 1957 First principal: Raymond Torii (the school's football field is named after him) Current principal: Joann Kumasaka Faculty: 243 Students: 1,862 Nickname: Seariders Colors: Red and blue Web site: www.waianae.k12.hi.us
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You Asked...
What motivates you to come
to school every morning?Walter Kaluhiokalani
Freshman
"My girlfriend, because her motivation makes me do my work."Emerald Gates
Sophomore
"My friends, because they motivate me to do my work."Sherraine Kahale
Sophomore
"My friends, because they make school fun."James La'a
Junior
"Football, because I need good grades in order to play."Deann Ualesi
Junior
"The ability to learn is what motivates me to come to school."Dwey Davis
Junior
"My parents, because I want to prove to them that I can be someone."Nastashia Paredes
Senior
"The art club because it gives me a chance to do what I love, which is design clothes."Andrew Southiphong
Senior
"The teachers, because they're preparing me for college."
Click for online
calendars and events.
