LIHUE — Wilcox Gym was filled with the sound of drums Friday as Island School turned another year older. “Much like personal birthdays, we reflect on the past and look at what we have become as we look at the
LIHUE — Wilcox Gym was filled with the sound of drums Friday as Island School turned another year older.
“Much like personal birthdays, we reflect on the past and look at what we have become as we look at the future, and what lies ahead,” said Shannon Graves, head of the school. “Birthdays are terrific milestones. They help us reflect on who we are, challenge us to think about what we may become and what we still want to achieve.”
“This morning, we honor our history, and think back to January 1977, when Island School began,” he added.
Island School, which turns 39 years old, has much to celebrate.
Last year, Island School seniors earned over $1.4 million in scholarships and were accepted to over 80 colleges and universities. Its graduates have gone on to schools like Chaminade University, Duke University, Pepperdine University and the University of Chicago.
“I’m happy to see the students are doing what they want to do,” said Peggy Ellenburg, one of the school’s founders. “We follow them forever, and it’s good to know we helped them.”
Ellenburg said she’s impressed with the way the private school has grown and today has nearly 400 students.
“There’s a diverse student body, and that makes me happy,” she said.
During Friday’s celebration, Graves thanked the founders, board of directors and other volunteers. The school’s success is a credit to the community’s support, he said.
“Schools just don’t begin and exist because of an idea; they exist because of the combined efforts of many people,” he said. “We need a community of love to carry that lofty project to completion.”
Island School requires its students to complete 20 hours of community service a year. Projects have ranged from cleaning beaches and gardening to maintaining the grounds at the Lawai International Center.
“For its birthday, the school didn’t ask for gifts, they had the students give back to the community as a thank you for their support,” Ellenburg said.
Island School was founded by seven women. When the first classes began on Jan. 27, 1977, only 12 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade, were enrolled.
What started small soon grew into a thriving and challenging school that aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, initiative and respect to its 385 students, Graves said.
“We embrace the future the founders modeled for us, and we strive for excellence in this dynamic, ever-changing world,” Graves said. “Our traditions remain; we continue to have small class sizes and teachers who get to know the students individually and challenge them academically.”
Through nearly four decades years, Island School has weathered challenges like rebuilding after Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a move to Puhi and administrative changes, Graves said.
“We continue to achieve the dream the founders had for us, we overcame terrible odds, and have made it to 39 years,” Graves said.
