My grandfather, a very wise man, is one of my greatest teachers. Among the many lessons he taught me was the importance of education- he always told me that a good education opened doors and made things possible… that it was something that no one could ever take away.

As an educator, I am now in the position to teach my children that very same lesson. A few months ago, we started our career unit and I asked the students that age old question: What do you want to be when you “grow up?” I got a few professional athletes, doctors, veterinarians, and even teachers. But my favorite? The one who said he dreams of being a college graduate. At ten years old, my students do not really know what their futures hold. But the boy who dreams of that college degree knows that that is the golden ticket that will help get him wherever he wants to go.

Hundreds of men and women will receive their tickets (also known as college degrees) this Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the University of Hawaii’s 97th Commencement Exercises. I will be there watching (and cheering) as some of my friends celebrate this momentous occasion. And even though I’m not the one walking to the tune of, “Pomp and Circumstance,” I still get goose bumps when I see the pride on the faces of all the graduates, hear the inspirational commencement speech, and watch the turning of the tassel. Graduation symbolizes a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance, and most of all, the beginning of an exciting future. Congratulations to the Class of 2008! May you use your golden tickets to redeem everything that your hearts desire!

This is actually a photo from the Winter 2007 graduation, which I attended to see my friend, Shannon, get his Masters degree! Looking forward to a similar scene this Sunday! This Spring, I’m celebrating the graduation of my fantastic friend and student teacher (our students send their love!) Natalie Liu, who has earned a Bachelors degree in Education, and my colleague and dear friend, Sarene Oda, who has earned her Masters Degree in Education! She is an amazing Kindergarten teacher that I’d wish for my own child.

In the spirit of graduation, please share your favorite college memories, post-college advice, or congratulations messages here. And here’s a question for you- how has your college degree helped you achieve what you have wanted in life (I’m going to share your comments with my students, so inspire away!)?

My college degree has allowed me to spend every day working alongside dedicated professionals and friends, teaching the best people on Earth- children. Can’t beat that ticket for the biggest chocolate factory in the world.

There are currently 83 very excited fourth graders from Noelani Elementary School anxiously awaiting our grade level trip to the Big Island on May 7-9 (the 37 adult chaperones are getting sleep while they can).

Throughout the school year, the students have learned about how the hot spot under the Pacific Plate formed underwater volcanoes that eventually became our Hawaiian island chain. They learned about the Polynesians traveling to Hawaii with their canoes, about the early life of the Hawaiians and the ahupua’a, and about Kamehameha the Great and the monarchy that followed. The students learned about the overthrow of the monarchy, plantation life and the sharing of cultures, and all of the other major events that shaped what Hawaii has become today. All of these things will come to life when we visit the Big Island in just a few days. The students will walk through a lava tube, stand on an active volcano, and circle the crater of Kilauea. They will relive history as they visit the missionary house at the Lyman Museum, walk the grounds of Pu’uhonua O Honaunau (the City of Refuge), and explore the Amy Greenwell Gardens (where they will learn about the ancient Hawaiian foods, plants, and lifestyle). The students also will go to the amazing Imiloa Astronomy Center, where they will participate in hands-on Science activities and see a state-of-the-art planetarium show.

Although the trip is stressful for us teachers, it is the highlight of the year and one of the reasons that I feel so fortunate to teach fourth grade. For three days, we get to take our children on what is for most of them the biggest adventure they’ve had in their young lives. We get to experience things that are new and exciting, and make memories together that will last a lifetime.

There are so many people who make our trip happen, so a big THANK YOU goes out to all of you. Noelani’s PTA has always supported our trip, and our dedicated fourth grade parents have tirelessly worked all year long on everything from fundraising, to ordering t-shirts, to packing hundreds of snack bags. We appreciate all of you, and are grateful for your commitment to helping us provide this opportunity for our children.

As 120 of us are getting ready for a visit to our youngest, ever growing island for an educational and fun-filled three days, please wish us a vogless and happy time! Aloha!

This past weekend, I celebrated Earth Day (the official day this year is Tuesday, April 22) by making my little corner of the Earth cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.

On Saturday, April 19, Noelani Elementary held its annual Beautification Day. Noelani students, faculty and staff, parents, and community groups worked from 8 to 11 am weeding and painting areas throughout the campus. The difference we made in just a few hours was amazing! What was even more beautiful than the campus itself was seeing our combined hands, energy, and hearts working together.

Announcing Beautification Day

Here are my friends (fellow Noelani teachers) painting!

I worked on cleaning this bed of all the dead leaves

Doesn’t it look tidier?

On Sunday, April 20, I checked out Malama O Manoa’s Great Tree Giveaway at Manoa Valley Pavilian Park. Malama O Manoa had prepared to give away over 1,000 trees to loving families promising to plant the trees. By the time I arrived at 11:30am, there were only about 30 trees left! I talked with a volunteer arborist who told me all about the remaining trees- the Kukui Nut, Monkey Pod, and Milo. He also told me about the wonderful chaos that took place when the line of people waiting for the giveaway began swarming the front of the pavilian and grabbing the trees that were placed in alphabetical order. I am looking forward to an even greener Manoa as those trees begin to flourish.

Just a few of the trees were left from the 1,000 tree giveaway!

Tonight (Monday, April 7), my husband and I took our first ballroom dancing class, and we had such a fun time! The Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association organizes the classes all over town, and because it is a non-profit organization, the cost is kept low. Tonight was the first of ten sessions, and the class we joined meets on Monday nights in the Noelani Elementary School cafeteria. Each night is actually broken up into three separate dance classes that you can register for. The times for the classes are 7 pm, 7:50 pm, and 8:30 pm and the dances are the East Coast Swing, the Fox Trot, and the Mambo (respectively). You must register for two classes minimum, but at $8 per class (for the entire ten sessions), it’s a great deal!

I heard about the ballroom dancing classes from my sister, Shayna, who began taking classes last quarter with her boyfriend. They loved it so much that the dance classes became the center of conversations at several family events… low and behold there were five couples from my family there tonight registering for the start of the new quarter (the featured dances change each quarter)! What a great bonding experience this will be!

We registered for the East Coast Swing and the Fox Trot dances (the Mambo seemed a bit too advanced for us beginners). There were about 30 couples in attendance, and all were positive and eager to learn the dance steps. The classes began with the instructors showing us the final dance so that we had an idea of what the dance was supposed to look like. We then broke up into two groups (male and female), and the male instructor taught the men while the woman instructor taught the women a few steps. Then we paired off and tried the steps together. Yes, my husband stepped on my toes several times and we bumped into my cousin once or twice… but we were dancing! And it was fun!

Here’s my family (my sister and her boyfriend, my uncle and aunty, my husband, and cousins) registering for the classes! We all signed up for the first two classes, plus paid an extra $10 for a yearly membership (which gets us into the monthly community dances for free)!

Our instructors demonstrating the dance for us- hope we end up half as good as them!

The men and women practicing their steps solo

Our official dance cards! Can’t wait until next week!

So put on your dancing shoes, grab your favorite partner, and come join us!

On Saturday, March 15, a friend who teaches at Noelani with me sent out a mass e-mail to a bunch of our co-workers. It read something like this:

FYI- The Pizza Hut and Taco Bell in Manoa Marketplace are closing on Tuesday! Read here to find out more.

Yes, this was very big news to our Noelani lunch group. We have given the little take-out fast food joint lots of business over the years! At least once a month, one of us would call in an order and make a lunch run to Taco Bell. And the delicious Pizza Hut pizzas would show up as faculty refreshments a few times a year (just last month, the purchased pizza saved my grade level from having to prepare refreshments- picking up pizza is so much easier than slaving away in the kitchen!).

The closing of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell really came as a surprise to us, as I’m sure it did to many others in the community. I would always see the place full of kids after school grabbing a quick snack, or moms and dads heading to their cars with a stack of pizza boxes in their hands at dinnertime.

Now comes the big question- what will occupy the space left behind? Does anyone have the inside scoop? I’m personally hoping for another eatery! If you could choose what would take Taco Bell/Pizza Hut’s space, what would it be?

The letter that was posted for a few days prior to the closing of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

Pizza Hut and Taco Bell officially closed