Zen Kuriyama assists Kawena Ching with some computer work. (Photo courtesy of Parker School)

By Elliott Warkus | Parker School Senior

Historic Parker School, Waimea’s tiny private institution, is taking great leaps to bring its educational experience up to the highest standards of the modern scholastic system by introducing new technologies and exploring novel methods of instruction.

Visitors to the school will notice the computer-driven Smart Boards that have complemented or replaced traditional whiteboards. The high-tech boards are the result of a generous grant to Parker School and have increased the role that technology plays in the classroom, allowing microscope feeds to be played in front of the class and pages of math notes to be posted online.

Classrooms, however, aren’t the only places on campus to undergo significant renovation. Sleek, black PC computers running on the Windows 7 operating system have replaced the banks of years-old machinery in the two Upper School computer labs, and the Middle School lab has undergone a similar upgrade.

The Journalism room, home to a class and extracurricular activity that didn’t exist two years ago, is outfitted with top-of-the-line Apple iMacs.

Under the guidance of Assistant Headmaster Shellie
Note-Gressard, the Parker journalism students are using their new computers and video cameras to produce a series of broadcasted news reports.

The Parker School Broadcast, as it is known, is the product of Parker School’s new podcasting class and another sign of the changing times.

Of course, the innovations and improvements aren’t all technical. Parker School’s energetic Ms. Buscher, art teacher since 2008, has introduced some changes of her own. Since she assumed control of the Upper School arts classes, Parker students have regularly been painting murals on the abandoned building near the intersection of Hawaii Belt Rd. and Kawaihae Rd.

This year, for the first time, Ms. Buscher is leading an organized Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art class. Though Parker School’s AP program has been providing intensive courses in math, history, science and English for years now, the new AP Studio Art class is the first AP to offer college credit for a non-“core” class.

Another recent addition to Parker School was the debate team, which was formed by Headmaster Carl “Doc” Sturges in 2007.

Over the past few years, the debate team grew from a 10-member squad to a statewide powerhouse consisting of dozens of accomplished debaters—nearly one-third of the school, at one point.

Parker School has since been recognized as the school with the greatest ratio of debate team to student body in the nation. It was recently added to the list of the nation’s top 100 debate teams as well, an impressive feat for a high school with barely more than 100 students.

All of these changes have occurred as Parker students are exceeding all previous standards of achievement. Among the senior class are three National Merit Semifinalists, including Kimo Hon, Mary Kamitaki, and Elliott Warkus whose scores ranked fourth, ninth, and 50th in the state, respectively.

These and other seniors are eyeing a gauntlet of top-tier colleges like never before, with several applying early decision or early action to locations like Yale and Stanford.

Through all of its changes, however, Parker School has retained the qualities that make it such an excellent place to teach and learn: an inclusive and close-knit student body, friendly faculty and above all devotion to the spirit of ohana that drives this little school.

Though it holds strong links to its heritage, Parker School is keeping its gaze straight ahead—and the future is only getting brighter.

— Find out more:
www.parkerschool.net

Dominick Pagano adds a personal touch to the school's Peace Mural. (Photo courtesy of Parker School)