School book drive
nets $48,000Moanalua Elementary tops its
$45,000 goal for new math texts
When parents at Moanalua Elementary School launched a fund-raising drive in March to replace obsolete math textbooks, the $45,000 price tag seemed daunting.
Tonight, the parent-teacher association will present a check for $48,000 to the school, after a hugely successful fun run and community donation drive.
"I almost fell down when they told me," said parent Michelle Yu, who had been watching an oversized "thermometer" on campus that gauged the campaign's progress. "It was hovering around $6,000 for the longest time. I really didn't think we were going to make it."
Lori Shimoda, a PTA member who coordinated the campaign with treasurer Robyn Hata, said it seemed to strike a chord with people because the need was so basic. Donations came from all directions, even from people without connections to the school who read about it in the newspaper.
"It was something really fundamental," she said. "I think because of that, people just gave. We weren't selling anything. We weren't giving them anything in return. The kids had to go out and ask aunties and friends. They did a great job."
The school's 700-plus students collected pledges for the "Strides Out of Pride" fun run, held on Friday, featuring a 20-station obstacle course designed by Jeff Wong, Moanalua's physical education teacher. Parents also reached out to businesses and community groups to enlist their support.
University of Hawaii volleyball and football players joined volunteers from Tripler Army Medical Center and parents to man the stations on that muggy day.
"It was a very good partnership we developed on this," said PTA President Elton Teshima.
The money raised will go to buy a math curriculum for the school encompassing arithmetic as well as real-life problem solving and critical thinking skills that are now required to meet new standards for learning. Students are now using textbooks that are 10 years old.
Principal Ronald Hirai said he was "just floored" by the results of the campaign. "We have a group of very supportive parents," he said. "I appreciate every one of them."
Shimoda's next task is to print up a list of all the donors and students who obtained pledges.
"We're going to slap it on the inside of all the textbooks," she said, "because these are the people who bought them. We're so grateful to everyone who supported the campaign.