Holiday Greetings!

McKinley High: How Do They Do It All?

Take for instance, volunteer, Clayton Uza... busy financial advisor for AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL. His calendar is plotted weeks in advance. And yet, he makes the time to work with McKinley HS students in Gwen Maeda & Dee-Ann Murakami's classes teaching the JA High School Financial Planning Program. Is the secret in that planner he carries around?

Then there's Raeceen Woolford, the reigning Miss Hawaii. She has a smart phone. With a couple of taps, she was able to find a free day and volunteer to help Clayton with the JA McKinley class. Did that smart phone help her graduate with honors, play college volleyball and win the Miss Hawaii title too?

No. Must be more than just a time management tool that enables successful people to do more. Success doesn't come easily. Raeceen said it took a lot to get where she is today. Likewise with Clayton. The message from both volunteers to the students was the same and so simple. To get to where you want to be and do want you want to do, "work hard!"

Kaimuki High: PYF

PYF is the new text shortcut for students in Kaimuki High School's accounting class. "Pay Yourself First" was the mantra at the first session on goal setting & budgeting and what most of the students remembered by the last.

BANK OF HAWAII branch managers, Reid Hinaga, Kapahulu; Rowena Pingol, Manoa; Keith Shiroma, Waikiki; Daniel Yokoo, Kaimuki & Estelle Awaya, Kaimuki Personal Banking Officer taught five sessions of the JA NEFE High School Financial Planning Program covering goal setting, budgeting, saving, investment choices, credit, identity theft, fraud and insurance to a crowded room of 32 students. And wrapped up with a fun, thought-provoking game that recapped the financial life lessons.

"My students felt really special having these important members of our community take time out of their busy schedules to teach them. The volunteers were great and would make fantastic teachers if they ever want to give up banking!"

Johnathon Griffith

Kaimuki HS Business Teacher

Mokapu Elementary: It Ain't Easy

Mokapu Elementary is located on Kaneohe Bay MCAS. Almost all of the students come from military families living on base and surrounding areas.

It ain't easy for the students to handle a move every three years. 5th grade social studies teacher Adrianne Vincent said that some of her students at age 10 are already on their third rotation.

It ain't easy for the students to handle the deployments. Adrianne said they start acting up in class before & after the parent deploys. And again before & after their return.

It sure ain't easy to teach a JA class here but Rick Rohr, financial advisor at FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL PLANNING and Jenna Sanders, 2nd year JA volunteer, are taking on the challenge and teaching the 5th grade program, "Our Nation" this fall.

We commend you both for your commitment to the students!

McKinley High: What Norm Wants, Norm Gets!

This is Norman Takeya. Building & Construction instructor with HCC's Construction Academy. He has a full line of shop classes at McKinley High School filled with the toughest kids on campus. Norm's mentoring the construction of a sustainable house powered by photovoltaic panels with his "senior project" students. He also holds a couple of ukulele-making classes in the evening for interested HCC faculty and staff. Busy guy. You would think he would cut back his curriculum because of Furlough Fridays but instead he's saying, "Eh, don't forget about me!"

No worry, Norm! We'll get you setup with a volunteer for your JA class. If you can work it into your curriculum with 17 less days this school year, JA will certainly support you and all the other teachers who are requesting our financial literacy lessons... we promise!

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11/9/09 Clayton Kirio, CPA & entrepreneur, started Norm's JA program, "Be Entrepreneurial!" today.