Photo By Lt. Col. Troy Frey | Students from Linapuni Elementary School perform push-ups with the Soldiers of the...... read more read more
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Soldiers from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command participated in the Sixth Annual Linapuni Elementary School Field Day on May 20, 2016, as part of the U.S. Army Hawaii School Partnership Program, at the Linapuni Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The U.S. Army Hawaii SPP allows Soldiers to become involved in the education and well-being of children by creating bonds between Hawaii’s public schools and Army units.
“Our partnership with the 94th AAMDC is very important because the Soldiers serve as positive role models for our students. We strive to make school a fun and engaging place so that students are excited about coming to school. Their presence today made our field day a very special occasion,” said Cindy Sunahara, the principal of Linapuni Elementary School.
The partnership between Linapuni and the 94th AAMDC also lets the children learn about the military.
“A lot of our students come from needy families and single-parent families. This partnership allows the keiki to get a good role model,” said Susan Kondo, the Linapuni Elementary Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator. “They meet the Soldiers and get exposure to why the military is here and what they do. They learn to appreciate the military and learn to be grateful for the freedoms they have.”
The field day allows the Soldiers to introduce physical activities and fitness-inspired games to the kids, which is beneficial to everybody involved.
“The field day benefits the students because it emphasizes the importance of health and physical fitness and the positive benefits it can have on their life,” said Spc. Stanley Fields, an intelligence analyst and the current 94th AAMDC noncommissioned officer of the year who also serves as the unit’s liaison with the school. “The field day also benefits the Soldiers because it allows us to give back to the community that supports us, and also opens our eyes to just how much our presences means to a very special group of children who look up to us.”
The school-wide event has evolved over the years and the students now look forward to the field day.
“Now the kids know the military is coming and get excited,” shared Kondo. “The first time it was quiet, but now the kids are yelling and chanting and having fun.”
The kids are not the only ones excited about the experience. The Sea Dragons are happy to volunteer their personal time at Linapuni.
“I volunteer because children have zero control over their circumstances, and despite that, they get up every morning and go to school and give it their absolute best. I'm always willing to help those who do their best to help themselves,” shared Fields. “In addition, we are role models to these kids, which is a responsibility I take very seriously and will do my part to ensure they have a positive perception of the military and understand that we truly care about their well-being.”
“I volunteered for the simple fact that I love kids,” said Staff Sgt. Rian Phidd, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 94th AAMDC. “I especially love to see the expressions on their little faces when you show them that you really care.”
“I believe that other Soldiers should volunteer to get the experience and to potentially feel the same type of compassion that I did,” continued Phidd.
Fields agreed with the sentiment, “Soldiers should volunteer because it will put into perspective the true meaning of selfless service and what it means to contribute time to a cause that's much bigger than yourself.”
The partnership between the Sea Dragons and Linapuni Elementary will continue to grow.
“We love our partnership with the 94th AAMDC! We cannot imagine not having them helping out with our other schoolwide events such as the Halloween pumpkin carving and our Aloha Assembly,” said Sunahara. “We would love to have the Soldiers help us initiate a morning exercise routine for the entire school. The reason is to reduce our high absentee and tardy rates.”
On Thursday, May 26, Linapuni Elementary will hold their Aloha Assembly. Sunahara has invited Fields and Capt. Jefferey Scott, the commander of HHB, 94th AAMDC to represent the Sea Dragons so that she can formally recognize the 94th AAMDC for their outstanding partnership and contributions to the keiki of Linapuni Elementary.
“Thank you so much to the 94th AAMDC Soldiers for volunteering their time at our major school-wide event. As part of the Healthy School Initiative, we embrace healthy lifestyles and making healthy choices that include being physically active,” expressed Sunahara. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the 94th AAMDC because definitely, ‘it takes a whole village to educate a child.’"
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2016 15:25 |
| Story ID: | 198942 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Sea Dragons Serve as Role Models for the Keiki, by LTC Troy Frey, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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