Innovations PCS
75-5815 Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 327-6205
Fax" (808) 327-6209
Director: Barbara Woerner
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Innovations PCS Director: Barbara Woerner |
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West Hawaii Today |
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Innovations Students donate seascape mural to yacht club
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:00 AM HST |
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What started as a casual conversation over dinner has become a treasured art piece at Keauhou Kona Yacht Club. Several months ago, club commodore Charles Perez remarked to friends how much he admired the mural on the corner of Palani Road and Kuakini Highway. This comment inspired Innovations Public Charter School teacher Sally Bobb to create a learning opportunity and community partnership for her third- and fourth-grade students. The class theme this year is the "Power of Contributing." Bobb and team teacher Mimi DuVigneaud help students explore how others contribute to their well-being and in turn, how they can contribute to make their community a better place. The students decided an ocean scene would integrate their studies with the Keauhou Kona Yacht Club. The children designed the 8-by-24 foot mural and recruited parents Dana Waite, Pam Wong, Kelly Sundberg and Kay Levine to help coordinate the effort. The mural was recently unveiled at a dinner with students, parents, teachers and yacht club members in attendance. A short video presentation about the community spirit of Innovations moved an anonymous donor to request matching gifts. As a result, more than $5,600 was raised to help build a classroom for the young artists. Third- and fourth-graders at Innovations currently attend class in a renovated garage/warehouse space. The estimated cost of the much-needed classroom building is $300,000. Although Innovations' is a public school, as a Hawaii charter school, it receives no state funding for facilities. The seascape mural is typical of the integrative curriculum of Innovations. Working collaboratively on a large project like the mural provides students an opportunity to express the knowledge they obtained through independent research. Reading, writing, scientific inquiry and mathematics are all integrated into the final presentation. When asked about the learning experience, fourth-grader Grace Sundberg said, "My favorite part was painting the sea creatures." Fellow classmate Kaia Hiro wants everyone to know that, "the coral is dying." She said that she learned through her research that "every time people step on coral, it breaks off and dies. We need to protect it." Emma Waite added that's why, "It's important to show people the fish that live in the sea." Innovations Public Charter School is on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona. For more information, call Barbara Woerner at 327-6205.
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