It is only Mona Smoot's second week as acting principal of Red Hill Elementary, but already everyone knows her name.

Teachers and students are not shy about waving "hello" to the new principal and are getting used to her dropping into classes once in a while. One parent even stopped by yesterday morning to drop off a letter for Smoot about fundraising ideas.

"She's very visible, and that's a good thing," said Claire Uehara, the school's curriculum coordinator.

Smoot's visibility combined with a receptive staff make for a great combination, Uehara said.

There are also about 10 new faculty members this year, which makes for a time of transition, Uehara said.

Red Hill Elementary is nestled within a private housing complex in the hills of Moanalua, with Coast Guard housing just beyond the parking lot fence. It isn't the typical location for a school, Smoot said.

"We're tucked away back here," Smoot said, and many people don't even know the school exists.

Just five years ago the housing complex was owned by the state and provided affordable living for Moanalua residents. But now the complex is private, and that changed the school's demographics drastically, Uehara said.

"We used to have a lot of local students," she said. But now at least 65 percent come from military families. The enrollment also dropped from 700 to 450 over the past five years.

But Smoot said the cozy enrollment allows teachers to give specialized attention to pupils, which has benefited the school when it comes to achieving standards.

Red Hill, with its "breathtaking" view of Honolulu and Tripler Army Medical Center, has a spacious campus with at least two classrooms that are not being used, Smoot said. Those two extra classrooms will help when renovations — two classrooms at a time — begin on the campus next March.

New dry-erase boards, windows, carpeting, sinks, cabinets and a coat of paint will go into every space on campus, Smoot said. "It's a beautiful campus to start with," she said, adding that renovations will only improve that.

What are you most proud of? "Our receptive staff and their ability to give individualized attention to our students," Smoot said.

Best-kept secret: "This school is a best-kept secret," Smoot said. "Coming down the road, who would think this is where you'd end up?" she said.

Everybody at our school knows: Claire Uehara, the school's curriculum coordinator.

Our biggest challenge: Maintaining standards and achieving state goals, or achieving "adequate yearly progress," through test results, Smoot said. "We've made our AYP, but the harder part is keeping it up and (achieving) the new ones."

What we need: "Every school always needs more teachers," she said. "It would be nice if we had a few more so we can cut the class sizes down a little."

Projects: A schoolwide renovation to begin in March 2006.

Special events: Spring Sharing, Book Fair, Curriculum Fair.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.