Just before the Little League World Series, Damien Memorial principal Burt Tomita got a call from Michael Memea's parents saying "We're going to be a little late" for the start of the school year.

Tomita's response: "Be as late as possible," said Damien president Brother Greg O'Donnell.

Memea and the rest of the world champions complied and yesterday, Memea's schoolmates — along with players' schoolmates at seven other schools — spent the day making posters and congratulatory banners to welcome their friends home. Meanwhile, administrators were quickly planning special assemblies to honor the new world champs.

At Damien Memorial School, fellow students gathered after school yesterday in the room of student activities director Hilary Stevens to create colorful signs declaring "Damien loves you" and "Congratz Slugger" to greet Memea, an eighth-grade student at the Kalihi school. While Memea missed a week of school, Damien learning specialist Tracy Morreira is dedicated to helping him catch up.

"We're sort of going crazy right now," said 'Ilima Intermediate vice principal Naomi Aimoto. "Kids are making posters to put up in the cafeteria, in the classrooms and all around the school. ... We have it on the marquee out front — 'Congratulations world champs.' "

Meanwhile, Mid-Pac middle school dean Vera Matsumoto had been working with center fielder Harrison Kam's teachers to get assignments to him on the Mainland by e-mail or express delivery.

"The Little League coaches all insisted that the players study an hour to an hour and a half a day," said Mid-Pac communications director Scot Allen.

Merle Kaneshiro-Jones from Hanalani School is confident Ty Tirpak hasn't fallen behind in his schoolwork.

"He missed leadership camp last week and this week is spiritual emphasis week, but he hasn't missed a lot of school," said Kaneshiro-Jones, the school's community relations director. "But our teachers are so good and they'll work with him."

Sister Davilyn Ah Chick, principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which first baseman /pitcher Layson "Kaeo" Aliviado attends, said that while he has missed two weeks, his teachers are prepared to give him extra tutoring. Even when he left for the games, she wasn't upset about missed academics.

"They're using their gifts to the fullest," she said of the team. "So we supported them, prayed them on and blessed them."

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.