(Photo courtesy of Department of Education)

MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii State Board of Education Member Keith Amemiya, Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe, and community partners have announced a new Intermediate Athletics initiative aimed at increasing learning opportunities for seventh- and eighth-grade students.

The program is being piloted in the Zones of School Innovation (ZSI), starting this fall in the Nanakuli-Waianae complex. Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa complex area will hold a kickoff this winter.

“When we come together to help our youth succeed in life, there is no greater partnership,” Abercrombie said. “I am grateful for the all of the partners who recognize that this program is a long-term investment we are making in these students.”

“Students who are involved in extracurricular activities outside of the normal school day have been found to be more engaged in the classroom,” Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe said. “We believe this program will have a positive impact on students who choose to participate.”

Engaging more students in extra-curricular activities fulfills BOE/DOE’s Strategic Plan, which sets increasing the percentage of students participating in these activities as a target in its student achievement goals.

This new pilot program will fill a gap in sports opportunities for public school students at these grade levels.

All intermediate athletes also participate in After-School All-Stars program that provides them with academic support through tutorials and homework assistance and have at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) to participate.

Sports included for this year’s pilot program:

* Nanakuli High & Intermediate (7th and 8th grade students)
Boys: Football, Basketball
Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer

* Waianae Intermediate
Boys: Football, Basketball
Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer

* Ka‘u High & Pahala Elementary (7th and 8th grade students)
Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer
Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer

* Keaau Middle
Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer
Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer

* Pahoa High & Intermediate (7th and 8th grade students)
Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer
Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer

Generous donations from community partners totaling $750,000 have been secured for equipment, transportation, officials and coach stipends.

* McInerny Foundation: $175,000
* James & Abigail Campbell Family Foundation: $150,000
* Duane Kurisu: $150,000
* Bank of Hawaii: $100,000
* Kamehameha Schools: $100,000
* First Hawaiian Bank: $50,000
* Island Insurance Foundation and others: $15,000
* Keith and Bonny Amemiya: $10,000

In addition, Roberts Hawaii School Bus has agreed to provide free ground transportation for all sports competitions involving the participating schools.

BOE member Keith Amemiya engaged donors to support this program.

“This program provides intermediate school students in the Zones of School Innovation with the opportunity to participate in activities that are not offered at most public middle schools across the state,” he said. “We’ve received lots of positive feedback on this initiative and are excited to see it finally begin.”

For more information about intermediate athletics, contact Raymond Fujino at 808-421-4394.