LIHU‘E — Waimea High School culinary arts teacher Kui Souza works his magic with students in a 100-year-old building on campus, getting help from the community when faced with situations not covered by his operating budget. Working around the shortcomings
LIHU‘E — Waimea High School culinary arts teacher Kui Souza works his magic with students in a 100-year-old building on campus, getting help from the community when faced with situations not covered by his operating budget.
Working around the shortcomings of the old building, Souza and his culinary arts students have developed a positive reputation in the community and the school, working to prepare lunches for guests during the school’s Career Day and other special occasions.
“That is the kind of stories we talk about,” said Kaua‘i Complex Area Superintendent William Arakaki. “It shows people what the schools and teachers are doing — our Shining Stars.”
Souza and his culinary arts program are one of the featured stars on the current episode of “Kaua‘i’s Shining Stars in Education” which is aired on Ho‘ike Community Television Channel 54 on Sundays at 8 p.m., Mondays at 5 p.m., and Thursdays at 10 a.m.
The 30-minute video, produced by Sean Doi, Kaua‘i Complex Area Special Resource teacher, Elliot Lucas, a camera technician, and an editor, is also available for viewing on a Web channel, http://vimeo.com/channels/kauaishiningstars. The current and archived videos are available for viewing 24/7 on the Web channel from any computer or smartphone device, Doi said.
“Kaua‘i’s Shining Stars” is the state Department of Education, Kaua‘i Media project headed by Doi, who is producing a television and Web-based show, which feature stories about the Kaua‘i Complex Area and school’s programs, events, staff, students and projects, Doi said in a letter to school principals.
Inaugurated in November, the current December show, which airs Sunday, features Waimea High School and Souza and the culinary arts program along with the Kalaheo Elementary School third grade class garden and the Kaua‘i High School AVID program.
The inaugural episode, which is available in the archives on http://vimeo.com/channels/kauaishining stars, features the King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School Aloha Peace Project, the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School and Kapa‘a High School’s Peer Mediation Program headed up by instructor Keith Kitamura.
Doi said work on the January episode started this week, and viewers can look forward to a discussion with the Kapa‘a Elementary School robotics program, finishing in the Top 3 at the recent Lego Robotics competition held at Island School.
Also featured will be a visit to the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School and science teacher Paul Holwegner, the Kaua‘i District Teacher of the Year.
“Paul brings science concepts to life using 21st century resources, which help speak to the digital language of our students,” states a DOE flier on Teacher of the Year. “He engages students with technology in a game setting, or creates a crime scene ‘CSI’ lesson, which makes the mysteries of science relevant, understandable and practical.”
The tour wraps up with a visit to the school’s Winter ‘Ohana Night where families come to the school to eat, listen to a guest speaker and acquaint themselves to resources available from vendor stations.
The January show is scheduled to hit the Ho‘ike airwaves on Jan. 3.
Visit http://vimeo.com/channels/kauaishiningstars for more information.
Kauai’s Shining Stars in Education – Episode #1 from Sean Doi on Vimeo.
