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Tutors and students recognized at community celebrations

By Staff | Apr 7, 2011

From left, ShaRon Fredy, Pat Endsley, Debra Kruck and Richard Endsley celebrate another successful year for the Lahaina Complex After School Tutor Enrichment Project.

LAHAINA — The Lahaina Complex After School Tutor Enrichment Project last week held four community celebrations to honor its students, mentors and supporters.

The tenth annual End-of-the-Year Lahaina Intermediate School Tutor Project Awards and Dinner was a huge success with over 200 people in attendance.

Parents and supporters enjoyed watching students compete in math and vocabulary contests, participate in speech and readers’ theater plays and receive student achievement awards.

The audience enthusiastically applauded the spectacular drama performance by the students in the Monday creative arts program coordinated by Louisa Shelton, and the Na Kupuna ‘Ohana Serenaders provided wonderful dinner music.

Lahaina Intermediate PTSA President Debra Kruck and Vice President ShaRon Fredy presented a check of $4,000 in support of the school’s tutoring programs.

Pat and Richard Endsley, founders of the Tutor Project, thanked the LIS PTSA for its many years of support.

Pat Endsley stated, “We are so fortunate to have the LIS PTSA as one of our sponsors. These parents work so diligently and effectively to raise funds and do so many excellent projects to improve the quality of education for our middle school youngsters.”

Representing Maui County were Mayor Alan Arakawa and his wife, Ann; West Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran; and Zeke Kalua, administrative assistant to the mayor for West Maui.

The county has been a loyal supporter of the Tutor Project for many years.

Mayor Arakawa congratulated and thanked everyone in attendance. He said, “This literacy project is one of the best, and I often brag about it to other groups.”

Tom Donovan, vice president of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, expressed his delight in joining the LIS tutor programs.

The 22 dedicated Ritz-Carlton volunteers who tutored students in math, reading and social studies made a significant difference in the lives of many of youngsters, Pat said.

“These dedicated volunteers had positive attitudes, were reliable, humorous and highly competent,” she noted.

Donovan stated, “The Ritz contributes to the community in many ways, but helping our youngsters in school is vital. We look forward to tutoring again next year!”

During the week, celebrations were also held at three other sites.

Lahainaluna High School students who tutored 50 fourth-graders in math were honored and thanked at an after school event that included achievement awards and pizza.

Evening celebrations and award events were also held at King Kamehameha III School and Princess Nahienaena School.

Approximately 550 students, parents, tutors, support staff and guests attended the four celebrations.

On behalf of the total project, Pat thanked everyone for making the project’s tenth year in operation a success.

She gave much of the credit for success to the dedicated coordinators and tutors. Some 130 volunteers tutored 339 students this past school year.

The best record for perfect attendance was achieved by students in grades 3-5. A total of 131 perfect attendance awards were presented.

Thanks to the generosity of the two Rotary Clubs of Lahaina, Beyond the Rainbow Foundation and the Bendon Family Foundation, every student in the project received a book for participation. Many other students earned book awards for winning math and social studies contests.

On Sept. 19, 2011, this community-school cooperative partnership will begin its 11th year of trying to make a positive difference in the literacy and performance levels of the participating students.

Programs will include creative arts and hula on Mondays, math on Tuesdays, and reading, test taking skills and social studies on Wednesday afternoons.

“It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. That motivating, positive concept is alive and well in Lahaina,” Pat concluded.