It all started when…
A Turnaround Arts Success Story
Focusing on whole-school arts integration helped Kalihi Kai Elementary rise in the rankings. Academic scores, attendance, and morale have all improved since they became a Turnaround Arts school.
Turnaround Arts Hawai‘i at the White House
On May 25th, 2016 representative students from Kalihi Kai Elementary, Waianae Elementary and Kamaile Academy Public Charter School were honored to perform with other Turnaround Arts children in the White House Talent Show. Hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, it was a celebration of the progress that the Turnaround Arts program has made in its first year.
During the show, Michelle Obama announced a new partnership with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Below, a short clip of the students performing with local Turnaround Artist Paula Fuga.
Turnaround Arts Hawai‘i Launched
The official launch of Turnaround Arts Hawai‘i took place on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at Kalihi Kai Elementary. The school teams and students from Kalihi Kai Elementary, Waianae Elementary and Kamaile Academy Public Charter School were so excited as they gathered to begin this journey and to meet their Turnaround Artists; Jake Shimabukuro, Jack Johnson and Alfre Woodard. The smiles on their faces expressed it all!
Many honored guests came to celebrate with the schools, including First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, Superintendent of the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Kathryn Matayoshi, as well as senators and representatives of the Waianae and Kalihi districts.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generous support of many, including The Learning Coalition, The James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation, the Swayne Family Foundation, the Zilber Family Foundation, the Weissman Family Foundation, the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and many other community members.
Hawai'i Schools Selected by White House Committee in Expansion of Turnaround Arts Program
Turnaround Artists Jack Johnson, Jake Shimabukuro and Alfre Woodard to Work in three Oahu elementary schools
It was announced in June 2015 that the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) will expand its successful Turnaround Arts Program into five additional sites including Hawai'i, as the program continues to successfully help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement using the arts as a tool.
The Committee also announced that Turnaround Artists Jack Johnson, Jake Shimabukuro, and Alfre Woodard will "adopt" Hawai'i Turnaround Arts schools and work directly with students and teachers to support their learning.
The Hawai'i State Department of Education and Hawai'i Arts Alliance are the local program partners for Turnaround Arts. Schools selected for the Turnaround Arts program include Kalihi Kai Elementary School, Kamaile Academy, and Waianae Elementary School.
Click HERE to read the full press release