Kwajalein Hourglass THE KWAJALEIN HOURGLASS Volume 39, Number 66 Friday, August 20, 1999 U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands Special Edition Teaming up for education The Kwajalein School District s 46 teachers gather for a photo offers a new schedule for high school students and a number of Wednesday while preparing for the 1999-2000 school year, new classes (see story on page 5). So kids, enjoy this weekend which starts for students Tuesday. The teaching staff includes as if it s your last without homework for awhile, because it could 13 new members (each profiled on pages 2-4). The district also be. (Photo by Jim Bennett) Dewaruci makes delightful visit Story and photo by Peter Rejcek A pair of bare-footed Indonesian sailors lock brown, wiry arms together on the deck of the KRI Dewaruci in a spontaneous game of pancho, or arm wrestling. The two men grunt, muscles bulging with effort, looking like a couple of crabs in battle as they squat on the wooden planks of the 58-meter long ship. As sud- denly as it began, the match ends in a stalemate, both men smiling brilliant white grins. Those toothy smiles became commonplace on Kwaja- lein this past week as the Indonesian Navy Training Ship returned to the island en route to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Much like the first trip in May, a host of activities and exchanges of good will took place between Kwaj residents and their unique visitors. Some residents apparently enjoyed the visit so much they even considered running away and joining the Indonesian Navy. Five-year-old Luke Wilcox, surrounded by a table of energetic, gesturing cadets in uniform during Mondays Emon Beach party, said he wanted to become a sailor because they have swords. Patrick Riordan, top, follows an Indonesian cadet down from the (Continued on page 12) foremast during a tour of the ship from top to deck Monday. Friday Page 2 Kwajalein Hourglass August 20, 1999 Kwajalein Schools recruit world of experience in new teachers By Peter Rejcek and Jim Bennett classroom. Educational settings to Thirteen new teachers will bring me are very hopeful places to work, to Kwajalein classrooms experience Schoolhouse facts she said. I was ready to change. and backgrounds from all over the Superintendent: Karen Ammann As far as her initial impression of United States and world, for that High School principal: Steve Howell Kwaj, Theo Riley said, I love the matter, this school year. Teachers: 46 warm weather I like being sur- Many were hired through job fairs, Students rounded by the ocean. word-of-mouth, and to a great de- Elementary: The Rileys are not the only wife- gree, the World Wide Web. 287 up 20 husband team to join the school sys- Like high school journalism from last year tem this year. Josh and Marianne teacher Mike Riley, who was looking High Trandall of South Dakota, married for an inter- School: 207 three weeks ago, come to Kwaj hop- national job up seven from ing to save a little money and experi- when he last year ence a different kind of lifestyle. clicked his Marshallese students in Josh Trandall also said the warmer mouse on Guest Student Program: 55 weather would be a welcome change Kwaj. to South Dakota winters. The rest, Its a as more He said he wants to bring that good chance than one commitment of excellence to Kwajs to save new col- school publications. more money league Im looking forward to trying to than where noted, is his- build a high school newspaper that we were at, tory. truly is the students voice and thats Mike Riley Josh Tran- Im kind available to the whole island, he dall said of of surprised we all dont live in huts said. I truly believe the success of a the couples with the breeze blowing through, student newspaper depends on stu- move. Just Riley, 49, said when asked about his dent ownership. a different initial reaction to the island lifestyle. Its an avenue for student writ- experience. There are some incredible, interest- ing, added Riley, whose career in Also a Josh Trandall ing people on this island, and I want law was cut short by his first teach- chance to my students to write about them. ing job in a Montana prison. work with different kids. A native of Montana, Riley has I guess I thought I could do more Marianne Trandall will teach spent much of his teaching career in good in the world by teaching writing, eighth and tenth grade English. A Cody, Wyo., where he taught news- than by being a lawyer, Riley mused. graduate of Blackhill State Univer- paper and yearbook, winning nu- His wife Theo Riley, who will di- sity, this will be her second year to merous awards along the way. vide her time between being a school teach school. She said teaching was psychologist a tradition in her family. The Kwajalein Hourglass and work- It was teaching or nothing, she ing in Ray- Commanding Officer.....................Col. Gary K. McMillen joked. Public Affairs Officer..............................Preston Lockridge theons em- Josh Editor............................................................Pat Cataldo Associate Editor...........................Jim Bennett, Peter Rejcek ployee assis- Trandall Feature Writers...................................Barbara Johnson tance pro- graduated .........................................................................Bob Fore ...............................................................Liz Omalyev gram, joins with his Classified, Sports, TV ............................................Dan Adler Riley on Circulation Manager.................................Bobby Lamug Sr. masters Kwaj. degree from The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which liberated A former Northern the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb English State Uni- 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized Army newspaper published by the Commander, teacher and versity, and USAKA/KMR, under provisions of AR360-81. It is guidance will teach prepared by a Raytheon Range Systems Engineering Theo Riley editorial staff under contract DASG60-94-C-0067, counselor, physical printed on an offset press, and distributed Tuesdays Theo Riley got her doctorate from education and Fridays to a circulation of 2,500 military per- sonnel, federal employees, contractor workers, and Montana State University. Riley said at the el- Marianne Trandall their families assigned to the command. The views she prefers the classroom setting to ementary and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the hospital, where she worked for 11 those of the Department of the Army. school. Mail should be addressed to: Hourglass, P. O. years in Cody. So, why teaching as a profession? Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254-3539; Since Ive been in educational local 53539. All classified ads and notices must be My parents werent teaching, so I submitted by noon Friday for Tuesdays publication settings, I enjoy the energy in the thought Id try something different, and noon Wednesday for Friday's publication. Friday August 20, 1999 Kwajalein Hourglass Page 3 Instructors find Kwajalein unique, eager to join community . he said. I enjoy teaching. home, said the second grade teacher ticularly those involving aquatics, Besides work, Josh Trandall said from Athens, Ala. Here you just open such as scuba diving. he plans to enjoy the recreational up the closet and they have all kinds I want to be in the water as much activities offered at Kwaj. of stuff for you to use to teach your as possible and on the soccer I want to try scuba diving, he lessons. field, he said. Soccer is one of my said. I like sporting activities soft- Unlike her other colleagues, who passions. ball, snorkeling, those sorts of are all new to Kwaj, Lamon has been While sports also play a big part in things. here since last year, when she moved Cris Laythams life, the new school As for Marianne, I plan to watch to the island with her husband, Jack, librarian said he has plans to tour as him do all these things. who works for Boeing. much of the So far, the couple said they are Its not home, but I like it, Lamon Pacific area most impressed with the resources said of her Kwaj experience. as possible provided by Kwaj schools. This will be Lamons ninth year to while living Its nice. They have lots of stuff. teach school. She received her un- on Kwaj. Books beyond your wildest imagina- dergraduate degree from Athens State Id like to tion, Marianne Trandall said. I never University, and her masters degree see some of saw so many copies. Usually you from Alabama A&M. Lamon said she the other is- have to run off copies. is eager to return to the classroom. lands in the Also among the schools newly- I got bored staying at home, she area, he weds is kindergarten teacher said. I was going crazy. You can only said. The Kathleen Wilcox. go to the beach so many times. wife and I Wilcox, of Another Internet hire, Jeff decided we Conway, Oberlin, 32, said he became a teacher wanted to Cris Laytham Ark., joins because of his desire to work with move overseas. her hus- children. The 27-year-old educator, who band Joe I love also taught social studies in a Kan- Bruce kids. I love sas City suburb for several years, Wilcox, a working said he is enjoying the island lifestyle. mechanic with kids, I like it. You cant beat the view, with the Util- said Laytham noted. I think its going to ity Depart- Oberlin, a take a while to adjust to the slower ment, after Penn State pace. their wed- University The people have been great since ding July 24. Kathleen Wilcox graduate.