Contact: Greg Knudsen
Date: November 4, 2005


Kauluwela, Lunalilo, and Nuuanu Elementaries are
Hawaii's Nominees for 2006 Blue Ribbon School Program


This release was prepared by Bright Light Marketing Group.
Contacts: Sheila Yamato (808) 484-0411, Frito-Lay of Hawaii or
Lynette Lo Tom (808) 275-3004, lynettte@brightlightmarketing.com


Frito-Lay of Hawaii and Hawaii State Department of Education
Honor Kauluwela Elementary, Lunalilo Elementary and Nuuanu Elementary
as 2006 Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools

Schools will Represent Hawaii in National Program

Kauluwela Elementary School, King William Lunalilo Elementary School, and Nuuanu Elementary School were named Hawaii's Blue Ribbon Schools. The announcement was made today by Frito-Lay of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Department of Education at the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program awards ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa. The three schools, chosen from among 20 schools from Oahu and the Island of Hawaii, will represent Hawaii in the national 2006 No Child Left Behind ­- Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

The schools were awarded $3,000 each from Frito-Lay of Hawaii. Aloha Airlines provided air transportation for neighbor island representatives to attend the luncheon.

"Frito-Lay of Hawaii is pleased to continue to support the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program," said Lori Presti, vice president and general manager for Frito-Lay of Hawaii. "It is a wonderful program that honors schools for their dramatic improvement in test scores and those that consistently perform in the top 10 percent on state tests."

Kauluwela Elementary School, located in the heart of Honolulu, is a Title I, year-round school that serves many students from low-income families, including immigrant families. It is dedicated to providing the best research-based curriculum for helping students learn and achieve. Its primary focus is the development of basic skills in reading, mathematics and oral and written communication skills.

Kauluwela Elementary School is being recognized for having at least 40 percent of its students from disadvantaged backgrounds and for being in the top 40 percent on state assessments and for demonstrating improved student achievement.

King William Lunalilo Elementary School, located in the McCully area, has an enrollment of approximately 600 students in kindergarten through grade 5. The school has established a comprehensive student support system to create a rich learning environment for students. Teachers strive to support every child in achieving the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards by modifying instruction and employing a variety of teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of every child. Lunalilo Elementary was eligible for the program in two categories: 40 percent or more students are from disadvantaged backgrounds and its students achieve in the top 10 percent.

Nuuanu Elementary School, located in Nuuanu Valley, was founded in 1960. The year-round school maintains its reputation for providing quality instruction for students in a nurturing and caring environment. Nuuanu Elementary is supported by its parent organization, which sponsors the before-school care, after-school care and summer school programs. The school serves an enrollment of 380 in kindergarten to grade 6 and its students consistently perform in the top 10 percent on state test in their grade level category (grade 5) in reading and mathematics.

Other outstanding elementary and secondary schools that were eligible for this program were: Aina Haina Elementary, Education Laboratory New Century Public Charter School, Haaheo Elementary (Hilo), Henry J. Kaiser High, Iliahi Elementary, Kahala Elementary, Kaimuki Middle, Koko Head Elementary, Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School, Maemae Elementary, Manoa Elementary, Momilani Elementary, Niu Valley Middle, Noelani Elementary, Prince David Kawananakoa Middle, Queen Lydia Liliuokalani Elementary, and Royal Elementary.

The Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program honors elementary and secondary schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at the highest levels. The three selected schools are Hawaii's nominees to the No Child Left Behind ­ Blue Ribbon Schools Program. These schools have shown dramatic improvement in test scores to high levels or those that are achieving in the top 10 percent of schools in the state in both reading and mathematics. At least one-third of the schools must have 40 percent or more of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Aliiolani Elementary School, Hokulani Elementary School and Kahala Elementary School, last year's winners in the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program, were recently selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2005. In addition to the $3,000 the schools received in 2004 from Frito-Lay, the schools received an additional $1,000 each from Frito-Lay upon receiving the national honor.

Since 1988, 41 Hawaii public schools have been nominated to the national level of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program of which 27 were named National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Frito-Lay of Hawaii established the Hawaii's Outstanding Public Schools Program in 1985, which evolved into the Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 1988. It was renamed the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program in 2003. The Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program is evaluated by a panel of judges on criteria based on academic accountability targets and acceptable growth in reading and mathematics as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.


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Additional Information on Hawaii's 2005 Blue Ribbon Schools


Kauluwela Elementary School

Gwendolyn Lee, Principal
2005 Hawaii Blue Ribbon School

Kauluwela Elementary School, located in the heart of Honolulu is a year-round, Title I school that serves many students from low-income
families, many of whom are immigrant families. As a result, English proficiency and other language skills such as listening and speaking are emphasized and integrated into all curriculum areas. The school is dedicated to provide the best research-based curriculum for helping children learn and achieve. Staff members are trained and committed to providing a caring and exciting learning atmosphere. The primary focus is the development of basic skills in reading, math and oral and written communication skills. A school-wide technology program provides on-line support for basic reading and communication skills and also provides opportunities to integrate technology into other content areas. Students use the school-wide computer program to practice and reinforce reading skills daily.

Monthly Parent Literacy sessions involve parents in helping their children maintain a high level of learning. Parents may also participate in night school classes held at the school to improve their own English proficiency and reading skills.

In partnership with parents, Kauluwela Elementary strives to develop positive character traits, sound values and positive attitudes toward life-long learning.

Vision: Every Child Learning and Achieving.

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King William Charles Lunalilo Elementary School

Dean Nakamoto, Principal
2005 Blue Ribbon School

King William Charles Lunalilo Elementary School is located in the McCully area. The school has an enrollment of approximately 600 students in kindergarten through grade 5. The majority of the population is Asian Americans, with one in 10 students coming from bilingual families. Many students also attend Lunalilo School through geographic exception.

Historically, Lunalilo Elementary School has maintained an excellent academic reputation, ranking high among public schools in the annual SAT testing. It is proud to be named on the state's "Honor Roll" for meeting and exceeding national norms on statewide testing in reading and math.

Teachers continually strive to support each child in achieving the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards by modifying instruction and employing a variety of teaching strategies to meet the individual and unique needs of every child. The school communityıs effort to help every child achieve is evident by its standard-based learning, active participation in a safe and drug-free environment and network of school-family-community partnerships.

Mission: Together ­ school, home and community ­ we will provide a safe, nurturing and challenging environment for helping each child become well adjusted, healthy, responsible, a productive citizen, an achiever of standards, and a critical thinker.

Motto: We are Lunalilo School are Life Long Learners. Growing, Caring,
Learning... We are a Team!

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Nuuanu Elementary School

Clayton Kaninau, Principal
2005 Hawaii Blue Ribbon School

Nuuanu Elementary School, founded in 1960, serves 380 students from kindergarten to grade 6 that represent a variety of ethnic groups. More than 50 percent of the students receive geographic exception to attend this school.

Some of the factors that make Nuuanu a popular choice include: 1) a strong and established academic core program; 2) a convenient location for parents working in the metropolitan Honolulu area; 3) availability of a before-school and after-school care program; and 4) language schools and YMCA programs within close proximity to the school.

The school has received several commendations over the years for student achievement. It received the Sustained High Achievement Award during the 1983-84 school year and a Sustained Superior Achievement Award in 1986-87 from the Honolulu District. It received a National Award for Excellence in Education in 1985-86. In 1991-92, Nuuanu Elementary was a Honolulu District recipient for the Elementary School Recognition Program and was honored as one of six elementary schools finalists in Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program sponsored by Frito-Lay of Hawaii.

Nuuanu Elementary provides quality instruction for its students in a nurturing and caring environment. Its teachers work on curriculum alignment projects that match with the National Goals 2000 and Hawaii State Goals, Hawaii State Commission on Performance Standards and the Essential Content. Faculty has received in servicing on effective teaching and learning strategies, and in 1995-96, Nuuanu School was selected as a Success Compact literacy school. Its School/Community-Based Management Council supports the Success Compact literacy improvement process by sponsoring parent workshops that support literacy in the home environment.

Vision: We are learners for life.

Mission Statement: To develop and nurture the knowledge, skills and capabilities of all so that we are able to use information wisely, adapt to change and pursue lifelong learning.


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2005 Hawaii's Distinguished Schools -- List

Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools (3) Others (17)
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Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools
Sponsored by
Frito-Lay of Hawaii
Nominated / Selected Schools
From 1985-86 to 1987-88, Frito-Lay of Hawaii sponsored Hawaii's Outstanding Schools Program as a local recognition program only.
In 1988-89, Hawaii's Outstanding Schools Program became the program to identify nominees for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
From 1988-89 through 2004-05, 41 schools were nominated and 27 were selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
From 1985-86 through 2004-05, the U.S. DOE has awarded 31 National Blue Ribbons to public schools in Hawaii.
1985-86
Elementary
Manoa Elementary
selected
Nuuanu Elementary
selected
1986-87
Secondary
Moanalua High
selected
1987-88
Elementary
Kaala Elementary
selected
1988-89
Secondary
Kahuku High & Intermediate
selected
Kailua High
selected
Waiakea High
selected
Wahiawa Intermediate
1989-90
Elementary
Aikahi Elementary
selected
Mokulele Elementary
Waiahole Elementary
selected
1990-91
Secondary
Kalaheo High
selected
Kawananakoa Intermediate
Radford High
1991-92
Elementary
Likelike Elementary
selected
Mililani-uka Elementary
selected
Kapunahala Elementary
selected
1992-93
Secondary
Castle High
selected
Leilehua High
selected
Waipahu High
1993-94
Elementary
Linapuni Elementary
selected
Pearl Ridge Elementary
selected
Waihee Elementary
selected
1994-96 (skipped 1 year)
Secondary
Dole Intermediate
selected
Kailua Intermediate
selected
Waiakea High
selected
1996-97
Elementary
Kilohana Elementary
Momilani Elementary
selected
Waialua Elementary
1997-98
Secondary
Kaimuki Middle
selected
Leilehua High
1998-99
Elementary
Aikahi Elementary
selected
Kaiulani Elementary
selected
Nimitz Elementary
1999-00
Secondary
Aiea High
Hana High & Elementary
Kaimuki High
(Only Aiea High met criteria assessment for national Blue Ribbon Schools)
2000-01
Elementary
Noelani Elementary
selected
Kohala Elementary
Waikoloa Elementary
(Only Noelani Elementary met criteria assessment for national Blue Ribbon Schools)
2001-02
Secondary
Aliamanu Middle
Central Middle
Waimea High
(Schools did not meet criteria assessment for national Blue Ribbon Schools)
National program underwent changes and skipped 2002-03
(no longer alternating grade levels)
2003-04
Momilani Elementary
selected
Liholiho Elementary
selected
Royal Elementary
2004-05
Aliiolani Elementary
selected
Hokulani Elementary
selected
Kahala Elementary
selected
2005-06
Kauluwela Elementary
pending
Lunalilo Elementary
pending
Nuuanu Elementary
pending


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