KOLOA — Charles Brown, a fifth-grader at Koloa Elementary, joined the school’s ukulele band because he loves to play and sing. “I taught myself how to play the ukulele, and I wanted to get better,” he said. Other students wanted
KOLOA — Charles Brown, a fifth-grader at Koloa Elementary, joined the school’s ukulele band because he loves to play and sing.
“I taught myself how to play the ukulele, and I wanted to get better,” he said.
Other students wanted to join the band because it gives them an outlet to do what they love — perform.
“I enjoy singing, and I want to play an instrument,” said Jeremiah Garcia, another fifth-grader.
The band, which is made up of 12 students, would not have been possible if it weren’t for Aloha Angels, a nonprofit that raises funds to support teachers and students at Kauai public schools.
The organization started funding after-school programs in 2014 after Sherry Gonsalves, principal at Kilauea Elementary School, emphasized the importance of needing an outlet for students to learn subjects like art, music and sports, which are not taught during the school day, said Ric Cox, president of Aloha Angels.
“She told me the greatest need in funding is for mentoring programs,” Cox said.
After talking toRotary Club of Hanalei Bay members, the Aloha Angels raised funds for five after-school programs at Kilauea Elementary.
Two years later, Aloha Angels has raised $344,000 to help fund after-school programs districtwide. It costs about $1,000 to adopt a club, Cox said.
Koloa Elementary Schools stopped receiving government funding for after-school programs, and the school went without them for about two years, said Vicki Cano-Braman, PTA secretary.
Jenni Batalucco, another Koloa Elementary parent, said she chose the school because of its after-school programs.
“But when we moved here, they said they didn’t offer them anymore,” she said.
By January 2015, the PTA had raised the funds to support five after-school programs — two each for music and track, and one about money — on their own.
But they needed help, Batalucco said.
When she heard Aloha Angels was supporting after-school programs in Kilauea, Batalucco met with Cox to see what could be done about getting funds for Koloa.
With the support of the Aloha Angels, Koloa Elementary Schools was able to get the funds for another 10 clubs, which were offered during the first semester of this school year.
Cano-Braman and Batalucco, who are the after-school coordinators for Koloa Elementary, said 15 clubs, ranging in subjects from art and chorus to Spanish and sign language, are funded by the Aloha Angels.
By the end of this year, 350 students will have participated in the free after-school program, Cano-Braman said. She hopes every student who wants to be in a club will be in one.
“We want to be able to say yes to everyone,” she said.
That’s a sentiment Cox echoes.
“I want to provide more clubs in more schools, and expand into middle and high schools,” he said.
By the beginning of 2016, six schools — Kanuikapono Public Charter School and Kilauea, Hanalei, Koloa, Kapaa and Wilcox elementary schools — had at least five after-school programs available to students.
Cox is focusing on elementary schools because he believes that’s where the need is.
“Those are the early developmental years, and what students get in kindergarten, they keep with them throughout their school career, rather than only having it for one or two years before college.”
The clubs are limited to 12 students to inspire a mentoring relationship between the student and the teacher, Cox said.
“Some children may not have a caring adult in their life or don’t have quality time with a parent, so we encourage the teachers to have a one-on-one time with the students,” he said.
“We ask the teachers what they are passionate about, and they love they have the freedom to pass along their skills and talents.”
At Koloa Elementary, clubs are also chosen according to what the students want to do, Batalucco said.
“It’s about what they want to do versus what they have to do,” she said.
Two of the popular clubs at Koloa Elementary School are art and cooking, mentored by Jennifer Johnston.
“It’s fun to teach kids something that’s not part of the curriculum,” said Johnston, a first-grade teacher.
In August, Johnston was teaching art. But she introduced cooking during one of her lessons, and the kids loved it, she said.
She plans to teach students how to make no-bake cookies and fruit kebabs.
“I wanted to teach them something they could do on their own,” she said.
Ukulele band was so popular that they had to offer two classes — intro to ukulele, for students new to the instrument, and ukulele band, for students with experience, Batalucco said.
On Wednesday, the ukulele band was learning to harmonize to “Lava You.” The band was led by Rachel Iha, a Hawaiian teacher at Koloa Elementary.
“Playing the ukulele was a form of happy expression, and I love playing,” said Lilia Ramos, a fifth-grader.
Third-grader Renee Seamster added, “My mom liked to play when she was little, and I want to be just like her.”
