Welina mai käkou i keia Makahiki Hou o Ke Kula Ha‘aha‘a ‘o Kamehameha ma Kapälama!
The new 2013-2014 school year has gotten off to a great start. Itʻs hard to believe the first quarter is already coming to a close. We continue to engage our students in a rich variety of learning experiences that are WEO infused, challenge them to think critically and apply new learning. They use a variety of resources to continue to build their background knowledge, and strengthen their intellect and abilities.
This is an exciting new time at KES. We are currently preparing for our 1:1 laptop program in grades 4-6 this year and a future 1:1 iPad program in grades K-3 next fall. A critical aspect of integrating these devices into the daily learning experience is to ensure our students understand their kuleana to utilize these tools in an ethical manner. Our project team leaders continue to coordinate sessions for students, teachers and soon parents. Students in grades 4-6 had a chance to attend a session on September 20th with Josh Gunderson on Digital Citizenship, Cyber bullying, and Online Privacy. Josh presented four key rules of social networking shared below in Mrs. Lumʻs 4th grade class summary of Joshʻs Words of Wisdom:
Mahalo a nui loa to all of our parents and caregivers who attended our open houses held in August and our Parent Conferences held over the past several days. We value you as our partners in your child’s educational journey.
We look forward to an equally exciting and engaging 2nd quarter and as always, please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.
Me ka hauʻoli,
Mrs. Ronnie Kopp
“Only God can change a caterpillar into a butterfly.
Only God can change a heart and make it new.”
The spiritual theme for all of the Kamehameha Schools is Ke Ola Hou, The New Life. The poster features the beautiful red Kamehameha butterfly and the anchor verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The caterpillar represents the “old things,” our selfish, sinful ways and the butterfly represents the new creature, the “new things” that God produces in our lives. As only God can transform a caterpillar into a butterfly; so only God can transform a heart and make it new.
How does this happen? God graciously reaches down to us and gets our attention, turning our eyes from ourselves to look up to Him. He opens the eyes of our minds and hearts and helps us to see how great His love is for us. (He did this by sending His Son to die on the cross to pay for all of our sins.) As we begin to believe, trust, and follow Christ, God changes us from the inside out, giving us new desires to love Him and to love others.
This year, let it be a year for Ke Ola Hou. Together, let us look up to Ke Akua and be changed!
CHRISTMAS CHAPEL WORSHIP SERVICE
Friday, December 6, 2013
All families are invited to join us at our Christmas Chapel Worship Service. This will not be a performance, but rather a time for us to gather together as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The service will last approximately 45 – 60 minutes. We are also looking into the possibility to live stream the service for those of you who are not able to attend. Further information will be forthcoming.
SPN SURVEY FOR PARENTS – Due October 31st
You recently received an email requesting your participation in a climate survey, titled WE SUPPORT. Your input is valuable to us and we humbly encourage all families to take some time to provide us with this important feedback. The last day to take the survey is October 31st.
To access the survey, please go to: http://www.wesurvey.org/C4KSKC23
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE WEO (WORKING EXIT OUTCOMES)
At this year’s Open House we revisited the WEO framework, and shared our focus for this year as Ke Ao ‘Imi Naʻauao, the Ao for knowledge and wisdom. There are four WEO statements in this Ao that we’ll refer to over the course of the year with examples of ways in which our students learning reflects these intended outcomes. These are:
Nānā i ke kumu-Look to the source.
Utilize various sources (i.e. kūpuna, kumu, loea, moʻolelo, wahi pana, moʻomeheu) to foster inquiry and seek knowledge.
Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ʻikena a ka Hawaiʻi-Great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiians. We create, share and apply knowledge in purposeful and relevant ways.
Engage in critical thinking to apply traditional knowledge to my contemporary context.
Lawe i ka maʻalea a kūʻonoʻono-Take wisdom and make it deep.
Transform my knowledge through the blending of imagination, intuition, and intellect.
He aupuni palapala ko‘u ‘o ke kanaka pono ‘o ia ko‘u kanaka-Mine is a kingdom of education, the righteous man is my man.
Seek and apply knowledge ethically.
Here are some examples of Nānā i ke kumu:
Grade 6 participates in a 3 day Imu Workshop on the Waianae Coast. The students learn about the history of the Waianae coast from various community partners. These partners share Moʻolelo about important ancestors and events specifically tied to the area. The ʻāina also becomes the source of knowledge when students engage in traditional practices such as selecting pohaku for use in building an imu, preparing the food items for cooking, and providing service to community members through the sharing of the meaʻai, constructing planters for growing vegetables, and kōkua at a shelter. The experience extends student learning and serves as a foundation for “How To” genre writing and student reflections.
Aaron Mahi shares his manaʻo with keiki
Students work with Uncle Roy to build an imu.
In Chapel our student chapel team members teach others about the word of God through their messages and song focused on this yearʻs spiritual theme of “Ke Ala Hou”.
Two classrooms in grade 3, while on their field trip to Pōkaʻi Bay, were so excited to see the Hōkūleʻa docked there. Students had an up close view of her as she continues to travel around the state, sharing and learning with communities.
In each of the above examples, students were inspired to ask further questions which serve as the foundations for reflection, research, and inquiry.
PARENT – TEACHER – STUDENT CONFERENCES
Our teachers have enjoyed meeting with all of you at the recent parent, teacher, student conferences. We hope the conferences provided an excellent opportunity to support student self-reflection and to collaborate on goal setting with the teacher and your child. Teachers also shared with you beginning of the year assessments in Language Arts to communicate progress and inform development of academic goals. For those of you who were unable to make your conference, please note that these are required and you should contact your teacher to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Teachers will be finalizing the conference summary form to capture your discussions and goals that were set. We ask for your signature on the form to acknowledge that you are supporting the goals and action plans agreed upon at the conference.
Forms will be sent home no later than October 15th for your review and signature. Please return the form to your child’s teacher who will make a new copy of the signed form to be sent home. If already signed when you receive them, please keep this as your copy. Again, mahalo, for partnering with us in your child’s educational journey.
WANT TO PUBLISH A BOOK?
The next Golden Pencils Book Sale will be on Dec. 16th at the Hi`ilei Media Center.
Book submissions for publication are due Nov. 8, 2013.
Please view the iMovie trailer on the Golden Pencils website for more information:
Thank you for your support in following the procedures established for our KES students. Here are a few reminders regarding procedures and issues which we ask all parents to review with their student(s):
KS Terminal and Early
All students from grades K-12 are welcome to utilize the Kamehameha Bus Terminal located at the corner of Kapālama Avenue and School Street. Consider making one drop-off for all of your students at Kamehameha.
Students in grades3-6 must be dropped off at the Terminal which opens at 6:00 a.m. Supervision by KES staff begins at 6:30 a.m. Students sit in line according to their arrival time. Early morning buses begin departing from the Terminal at 6:55 a.m.
If a student has need to be at tutoring, practice, tryouts, etc. that student may move up in line to the first bus if they tell the KES staff who is monitoring the Terminal.
If your student needs to get to tutoring, band or chorus practice, Bible club, tryouts for basketball, volleyball, etc. they cannot be dropped off at KES unless they are in grades K-2. Teachers, coaches, and club advisors know students in grades 3-6 must be dropped off at the KS terminal. Students will not be considered late when arriving at KES via the Terminal bus.
Students in grades K-2 (and their older siblings) may be dropped off at KES from 6:45 a.m. If your K-2 student arrives at KES before 6:45 a.m., please park and wait until 6:45 to release your K-2 student. Students should not be dropped off at KES prior to 6:45 a.m. which is when Security arrives at KES. If you need to drop-off your K-2 student before 6:45 a.m., please leave your student at the KS Terminal. The only students who may be at KES prior to 6:45 a.m. are those arriving via KS community buses which may be affected by favorable morning traffic patterns some mornings.
Pick-Up for After School Extra-curricular Activities
Please avoid lining up before 3:20 p.m. for pick-up at the KES island.
Cars must not block the access to the outer lane of the Nahi`ena`ena parking lot because KS community buses need to pick-up students at KES. These buses begin departing KES at 3:20 p.m. and it is important that buses leave campus in a timely manner.
The Makanani Gate should be used for cars lining up for pick-up of students participating in extra-curricular activities. The Makanani Gate opens at 3:15 p.m. After entering through the Makanani Gate, continue driving up Bishop Drive and line-up at the right side against the curb. Cars should stop at the top intersection (just before the Nahi`ena`ena parking lot) and wait until the middle lane inside the parking lot is open and KS buses have picked up KES students. A security guard will sometimes be available to assist in directing traffic.
Do not enter the lower Kekelaokalani parking lot and drive around toward the gym. Car pick-up is not allowed behind Kamāmalu. Parking in this area is reserved for teachers who often return to KES after attending meetings in other parts of campus. Please do not park in these assigned stalls.
Parents picking-up students from Kama`āina Kids during this time should park in the Kekelaokalani parking lots and walk in to claim their students at the location where Kama`āina Kids is conducting their activity.
Your compliance to these established procedures will help traffic at KES flow smoothly while promoting safety for everyone. We appreciate the positive example you set for your student as you follow these procedures. Please contact Dr. Sandi Tuitele at 842-8382 if you have any questions or concerns. Mahalo!
Internet Safety Presentation – October 15th
On Tuesday, October 15 there will be a free Internet Safety presentation for parents from 5:30-6:30pm in the mauka side of our Keku`iapoiwa Dining Hall.
The presentation will cover Internet Safety Basics & Digital Citizenship in preparation for our school’s laptop rollout coming up in mid-November. The Book Fair will also be open from 5:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
If you would like to attend, please R.S.V.P. at: surveymonkey.com/s/internetsafetypresentation.
The next Scholastic Chess Tournament is on Sunday, October 20th. If your child is interested in competing, contact Mr. Guy Ontai for registration details (HawaiianDragon@chess.com).
KES Cub Scouts Recruitment – October 16th
Our KES Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be at the Aloha Council recruitment on October 16th at the Stadium Mall Ice Palace, from 6:30pm- 8:30pm. If you are interested in learning more about Cub/ Boy Scouts and are in the neighborhood, stop by and look for our Kamehameha Pack 385.
Health and Wellness
Did you know…. “Obesity is an epidemic in Hawaii, with adult rates more than doubling since the mid-1990s. Additionally, about one in every three children entering kindergarten in our state is already overweight or obese. The danger is that obesity can lead to chronic diseases later in life, such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.” (http://health.hawaii.gov/physical-activity-nutrition/)
Start to instill good eating habits and exercise into your keiki’s life. A good daily guideline to follow is that of “Hawaii 5210 Let’s Go!” http://www.hawaii5210.com/:
5 Fruits, Roots, and Vegetables
2 hours of screen time
1 hour of physical activity and
0 sugary drinks a day.
With Halloween right around the corner, please keep in mind that we encourage our haumana to bring healthy snacks to school (such as trail mix, pretzels, granola bars, dried fruit, popcorn).
Be on the lookout for more information coming out soon from our KES Health and Wellness Committee.
If you would like to support our KES Robotics Teams, you can find them at the following tournaments:
Cyborg Warriors (6th grade) at Kapolei Middle School on Nov. 2;
808 Storm (5th grade) at Wai`anae District Park on Nov. 9;
Robotics Warriors (4th grade) at Kalani High School on Nov. 11.
KES Athletics and Robotics
We are still collecting Boxtops for Education, to support our 4-6th grade haumana who participate in the quarterly Christian School Athletic League (CSAL) sports, as well as our Robotics program.
Boxtops can be dropped off in our KES Main Office.
Mahalo for your support!
The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation
Third Annual “Inspired in Hawaii”
Essay, Poster and Video Contest
The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation “Inspired in Hawaii” Contest encourages Hawaii’s students to “dream big and make Hawaii a better place.” This year’s contest has $10,000 in cash awards and other prizes. All entries must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013.
Please go to the link below for further information and official contest rules and entry forms. If your child/children would like to participate, you will be responsible for submitting their entries.