With the re-opening of school looming, AIG Hawai‘i stepped up to the plate Tuesday morning when Carmen Quisiem, AIG Hawai‘i’s Neighbor Island manager, and Marietta Oyamot, AIG Hawai‘i’s Kaua‘i office customer service representative, presented a $700 check to Wilcox Elementary
With the re-opening of school looming, AIG Hawai‘i stepped up to the plate Tuesday morning when Carmen Quisiem, AIG Hawai‘i’s Neighbor Island manager, and Marietta Oyamot, AIG Hawai‘i’s Kaua‘i office customer service representative, presented a $700 check to Wilcox Elementary School.
Funds from the AIG grant will be used to procure materials, specifically award certificates, that will be presented to students at the school’s monthly Character Education Program assemblies, states a press release from AIG Hawai‘i.
The fire which destroyed a portable classroom where the materials were stored, came just two weeks after AIG Hawai‘i hosted a Hot Spots at the school just two weeks prior to the March 4 fire.
“AIG Hawai‘i held our speeding awareness event, Hot Spots, at the school two weeks prior to the fire and we are happy to continue to help the school with its Character Education Program which teaches important values that the children can use throughout their lives,” said Robin Campaniano, president and chief executive officer of AIG Hawai‘i, in the release. “We recognize the importance of fostering and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture which is an integral part of the Character Education Program, and we are proud to be able to do our part in helping to continue such an important program.”
Karen Heresa, the Wilcox Elementary teacher who occupied the portable classroom, and Sherry Scott, the principal for Wilcox Elementary, were on hand to receive the grant.
Since the fire that destroyed almost all of the material in the classroom, the East Kaua‘i Lions Club has also stepped forward with two separate contributions to help Heresa recover materials that were destroyed in the fire that was discovered by EK Lions who were on campus to prepare for their annual pancake breakfast.
The certificates which will be acquired through the generosity of AIG Hawai‘i are normally presented to two students from each class at a monthly school assembly.
The students are recognized for exhibiting one of nine Hawaiian values that form the basis for the Character Education Program.
The nine Hawaiian values include aloha (compassion), ‘ohana (family), kuleana (responsibility), laulima (working together), malama (to take care), kokua (help), ho‘oponopono (solving problems), ‘ike (to show recognition), and lokahi (peace/harmony).
During the course of the school year, the school emphasizes one of the values each month. Teachers discuss the importance of the value with students, and one selected grade level prepares a performance themed around the value to perform at the assembly.
“We are extremely grateful to AIG Hawai‘i for its generous donation to our character-building program,” said Scott. “The donation is greatly needed and will enable us to develop the characters of all our students throughout the year.”
As Heresa and Scott accepted the check amidst the activity of school custodians and other officials preparing for the re-opening of school later this month, Scott said there are plans for a replacement building already in place.
She said hopefully, the shipment of the replacement building and the installation schedule will have the building ready by the time school opens its doors.
