Makiminato ES (formerly Machinato ES) History
Opened: 1969
Closed: 1987
Machinato Elementary School was located at Makiminato, which was on the northern outskirts of Naha. Its buildings were twenty-four Quonset huts, and the first year, 1958, it opened for 462 first through sixth graders. A student, Frederica Marshall, recalled that the Safety Patrol wore GI helmets painted bright yellow that made them look like walking mushrooms.
Makiminato School, previously called Machinato Elementary School, was opened August 28, 1969. For the 1969-70 school year, Makiminato received a brand new permanent concrete building designed as a school with sixty-six classrooms and all of the support facilities: auditorium, gymnasium, media center, etc. Approximately 1,900 students in grades kindergarten through 5th were enrolled. In 1974, the 6th grade was added, and in the 1975-76 school year the middle school grades of 7th and 8th were included. In 1976, Makiminato School had a student population of approximately 800 students and a faculty of forty-six.
The first yearbook for the school, The Islander, was produced for the 1977-78 school year. Betty Oshuro was the principal and Fred Drath the assistant principal for the 1978-79 school year. There were over 800 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The school had an active band and chorus, and the intramural program included football, basketball, and volleyball.
By the 1981-82 school year, the school served 440 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. At this time, the school was a modern concrete two-story building with facilities that were shared with Makiminato Middle School, although there were two separate staffs and administrations.
There were thirteen classroom teachers for grades one through four serving 335 students. Additionally, there were two kindergarten teachers who had a total enrollment of 105 children. Full time specialists included speech pathologist, Learning Development / EMR (Educable Mentally Retarded), and Japanese culture teacher. Part-time specialists included a psychologist, nurse, counselor, reading, compensatory education, librarian, art, physical education, and music teachers.
The school facilities included a gymnasium and stage; a cafeteria with a hot lunch program; a library; an audio-visual room; a large, well-equipped playground; music room; art room; and an activity room for each grade level.
On her webpage, Emily Nakama Chun wrote that “Although the school is not very old several traditions have been established. The school mascot is the shi-shi dog. Our colors are blue and white. Our motto is ‘We stand tall and proud.’ Makiminato students compete very successfully in the areas of sports, academics, and the arts with the other Department of Defense Dependents Schools on Okinawa and in the Pacific region.”
According to the ’79 school yearbook, the school mascot, the shi-shi dog, stood “for the good qualities of the school, the faculty, and the students. Originally from China, he is a combination of the loyal dog and the fierce lion. He is strong and eager. He is proud of what he stands for. He guards what he knows and is right and honest. Shi shi dogs often come in pairs – working together. Whether he is guarding a castle or a cottage he does his best. You see shi shi dogs at work in all kinds of weather, both day and night, doing their job well. They are unafraid of the most precarious positions and are often found perched on roofs and ledges. Shi shi dogs come in countless varieties and sizes. They show individuality in the various positions they take. By choosing the shi shi dog as our mascot we hope to draw attention to the characteristics we value here at Makiminato— courage, persistence, eagerness, responsibility, honesty, pride, and creativity.”
Makiminato Elementary School closed in 1987.
Information from dissertation by Harold Clifford Brown, 1981; school yearbooks; webpage by Emily Nakama Chun and DoDDS School Information Guides