KALAHEO — Two Kaua‘i schools placed in the top three of the Arts Excellence Schools by the Hawai‘i Alliance for Arts Education program, Thursday. Carol Yotsuda was on hand to present Erik Burkman, principal of Kalaheo School, with a check
KALAHEO — Two Kaua‘i schools placed in the top three of the Arts Excellence Schools by the Hawai‘i Alliance for Arts Education program, Thursday.
Carol Yotsuda was on hand to present Erik Burkman, principal of Kalaheo School, with a check for $3,000 as the school’s award for being one of the top three schools in Hawai‘i which were recognized as an Arts Excellence School.
Yotsuda also made the trip to the North Shore where Kaua‘i Pacific School was presented with a $1,000 award for being one of three private schools recognized as a 2009 Arts Excellence School.
Overall, eight awards were announced for the state including the two Kaua‘i schools.
“Quality work is something all students at Kalaheo School strive for,” said Burkman during a special assembly where Yotsuda and the school’s student population were treated to a performance by the Kalaheo Sunshine Express.
“This is one time when you are acknowledged for quality.”
Supplementing the Arts Excellence award, Burkman said he was pleased to have the school’s PTSA announce the winners of this year’s Reflections program, an art-based program in four divisions.
Emily Sullivan was the winner in both the Film and Literature divisions with Isabelle Gampon topping the Visual Arts and Photography divisions for Kalaheo School.
“Kalaheo School received an A++ in the programs leading to its selection as an Arts Excellence School,” said Yotsuda, a former art teacher.
“The students, teachers and parents all believe art is an important part of learning.”
Yotsuda noted Kalaheo School utilizes programs in music, singing and dance as part of its educational curriculum.
She said in addition to the school support, another criteria leading to the school’s high ranking was the support it receives from its parents and the participation the school has in the community.
“The bottom line is the school integrates curriculum and art,” Yotsuda said. “Everyone at Kalaheo School understands the importance of art and education.”
Burkman brought Marly Madayag, the drama teacher, and Laine Griffith, the school’s music director and leader of The Kalaheo School Sunshine Express, onto the stage, noting the advances both programs have achieved at Kalaheo School and being leaders of art at the school.
Other schools being named Arts Excellence include Pomaika‘i Elementary on Maui, Wilson Elementary on O‘ahu as the other two top three schools.
Innovations Public Charter School on the Big Island and Haiku Elementary on Maui each were recipients of $1,000 awards.
Joining Kaua‘i Pacific School were Hanahou‘oli School on O‘ahu and the Hawai‘i Prepatory Academy on the Big Island as Private School awardees.
Yotsuda said the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance has been supporting art in schools for the past 30 years.
For the past 14 years, the State Foundation on Culture and Arts has provided $3,000 to each of three public schools receiving the Arts Excellence award, states the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance Web site.
Hanalei School was the last Kaua‘i school named as an Arts Excellence School in 2003 in the elementary division after being named for the first time in 1997.
Kaua‘i High School received the award in 1998 in the high school division.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
