Week of 8/26/22
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Risking getting a bit lost in metaphor: the beginning of each school year is much like preparing for a long trans-pacific flight. Several weeks ofadministrative and faculty meetings, new student and returning student orientations, and Opening Days activities — including the necessary trainings, preparation, and set up to begin classes — is time well spent in order to ensure the annual journey goes smoothly for all. While we do not offer pre-check, I was encouraged by the positive energy, engaged audiences, and helpful feedback offered related to orientation and Intake Conferences.
We have now made it through eight days of classes, a weekend of activities, and introductions to other areas of school life. Our divisions have held assemblies, our varsity teams have competed, our fall production has been announced, and many of our grade levels have completed their class retreats. We have enjoyed a seamless take-off and are just now getting to cruising altitude when we can get a little more comfortable in our seats, loosen our seatbelts, drop down our tray tables, pop on a movie — and even move around the cabin a little if we desire. The structures of our academic and co-curricular programs are taking over, allowing feelings of predictability and support necessary for us to thrive. While we constantly search for clear skies and smooth flying, we know there will inevitably be a bit of turbulence. The good news is, we are prepared. Stepping out of the flight metaphor, turbulence in the academic, social, or athletic journey is where the best learning occurs. We have systems and resources in place to support our students during the rough patches and through times filled with growing pains. Developmentally, our students are poised to grow, and our faculty are prepared to motivate, support, and serve them, while offering skills,strategies, and safe spaces for learning, self-discovery, and independence.
I look forward to our journey together and appreciate you choosing Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 8/26/22
Lower School
Each week, Lower School Principal Dora Kwong writes a message to K-5 families highlighting joyful moments and meaningful lessons and offering a glimpse into what students and parents can plan for in the weeks ahead.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong
Aloha Lower School families,
Aloha, Lower School families! Walk into any K-5 classroom during the first class period of the day and you will see similarities in each learning space — morning aloha, engaging activities, and sharing circles. This is a special community time that teachers carefully plan to cultivate classroom communities with a sense of belonging and connection, fostered by our core values of respect, integrity, pursuit of excellence, and wonder.
This morning time may seem simply like a “settling into the day” type of routine, but is an intentional strategy meant to provide meaningful engagement, encourage voluntary participation, establish a sense of predictability and safety, and facilitate social emotional awareness amongst all our students. Our Lower School teachers know that our restorative practices support all students to have a voice in their learning and, ultimately, be agents of change in our communities and the world at large. It has been exciting to see students embrace these seemingly simple morning routines this first full week of school, and we look forward to the meaningful learning and interconnectedness that will come as a result of this daily community building.
Next Friday, September 2, we have a special day scheduled for grades K-5. Our programming seeks to provide an intensive, interdisciplinary, experiential day for students to benefit from the expertise of their specialist teachers and working with students across age groups — all while remaining rooted in mālama kaiāulu. Students will be meeting in “buddy” partnerships with another grade level (Kindergarten with grade 3, 1st- graders with 4th-graders, and 2nd-grade with 5th-grade). We started our Wā Pilina program — wā meaning time, and pilina meaning connectedness or the relationship among all things — last year. Among the many goals of Wā Pilina, we seek to have students build community, support inquiry, connect meaningfully with one another across age levels, and to provide holistic experiences nurturing intellectual, social-emotional, and moral growth.
The theme for this year’s Enrichment Day is KULEANA (responsibility) — one of the four essential practices from our HPA sustainability wheel, mālama kaiāulu. The overarching question that will guide the day’s activities and learning is, What is your kuleana to yourself, your school, and your community?
Students will be engaged in cross-curricular enrichment classes and activities with specialist teachers pairing together to facilitate learning through three areas of focus: Music & Movement, Research & Technology, and Garden & Art. We will meet together for a full school morning assembly to ground our purpose with an oli and mindfulness practice, as well as have a closing assembly to end our day with reflection and song.
Enrichment Day also provides a concentrated time for K-5 faculty to work with individual students to complete our first of three benchmark reading assessments using the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System. This assessment assists your child’s grade level teacher in guiding them to select independent reading books that can be read by the child with very little support. The assessments are also foundational in providing the teachers with data for planning and facilitating guided reading instruction in the classroom.
Speaking of reading, please be reminded that families are an essential partner in supporting your child’s literacy skills. Some ways you can
support your child(ren) in reading include:
- Encouraging your child to select books that interest and excite them
- Visiting our community library together
- Reading books to and with your child, and talking about them together
- Listening to your child read books and talking about them together
- Modeling reading your own books and sharing about it with your child
- Most importantly, enjoying your time together reading, writing and talking!
Enrichment Day is a regular school day with the same starting times, ending times and lunch procedures. As usual, every child should have a
water bottle, an extra layer and a rain jacket.
Please note, however, every child should come in their physical education attire and comfortable running shoes, as all students will be engaged in movement and learning outdoors and indoors throughout the day.
We look forward to all the learning that will take place on Enrichment Day!
Warmly,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Tuesday, September 6.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Lower School Family Resources tile located in myHPA
Coming Up
- Friday, September 2, from 8:00 to 8:30 am: ʻOhana Park for Coffee; Village Campus
- Friday, September 2: KULEANA Enrichment Day
- Monday, September 5: Labor Day holiday, school closed
- Wednesday, September 7: K-8 School Photo Day
Student Support
Ms. Baydo (K-8 School Counselor) rbaydo@hpa.edu and Mr. Ludes (K-8 Learning Specialist) jludes@hpa.edu are available to discuss and support social-emotional and academic concerns for your child(ren). Please connect with them via email.
After School Program, K-5
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu), if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for more information.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Lower School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to Past Parent Email Communications, 2022-2023.
myHPA
In addition to Seesaw, many important resources can be located on our community portal, myHPA. Check the Lower School Family Resources tile for the most up-to-date information.
Middle School
Each week, Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering pens a note to 6-8 families reflecting on the activities and accomplishments of the week and previewing what students and parents can look forward to in the coming days.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Glenn Chickering
Aloha Middle School families,
Aloha Middle School families! As we settle in, we feel confident that our community is coming together, and we have the makings of a great year ahead. Our Class Retreats are meant to foster friendships while exploring our island so that students feel comfortable with their peers and teachers and see school as a place where they can be themselves and be curious about the world around them. From the smiles and laughter that they brought home from those trips and continue to bring to school every day, it seems we are on the right track!
There is a great quote from Sir Ken Robinson; “The gardener does not make the plants grow. The job of the gardener is to create optimal conditions for growth.”
As children go through Middle School and all the changes that come with adolescence, optimal conditions for growth require that they are in an environment where they feel safe to be themselves and are comfortable asking questions. When children know that there is a great support group around them of peers and faculty alike who will accept them for who they are in the best conditions for growth. We’ll continue to cultivate that sense of community and belonging in our early weeks and throughout the year with an Advisory program designed to help students feel connected to their community and their personal values, so that they engage in their learning with integrity and a sense of purpose.
We introduced grade 8 students to the process of peer mediation with the support of West Hawaiʻi Mediation. Peer mediation is a powerful tool for students to learn conflict resolution and build lōkahi (harmony) in our community. In the coming weeks, we will also introduce this to grade 6 and 7 students. Once all students have been introduced to the concept, we ask for interested students who may want to learn more about it and work with teachers to become peer mediators.
Next week our Clubs will start, which offer a smorgasbord of activities from basketball to beadwork, garden art, yoga, dance, and so much more, helping to foster our core value of wonder. Ask your child about their top choices for these Clubs. We’ll also selects our Student Council members next week and then get started planning fun lunchtime tournaments, helping with projects around the campus, and learning about the students’ ideas to make Middle School even cooler.
Thanks for your support for such a great start to the school year!
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Schedule
Our Middle School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, August 29.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Middle School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
- Thursday, September 1 – Friday, September 2: Swim Assessments; Dowsett Pool
- Friday, September 2, from 8:00 to 8:30 am: ʻOhana Park for Coffee; Village Campus
- Monday, September 5: Labor Day holiday, school closed
- Wednesday, September 7: K-8 School Photo Day
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Middle School Family Resources tile located in myHPA
After School Program, K-5
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu) if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for more information.
Student Support
Please remember that we will be outside as much as possible during lunch and recess, so a rain jacket for light rains and a pareo or small beach towel for picnicking will be great to have at school. Students should also bring a water bottle to school each day. Ms. Baydo (K-8 School Counselor) rbaydo@hpa.edu and Mr. Ludes (K-8 Learning Specialist) jludes@hpa.edu are available to discuss and support social-emotional and academic concerns for your child(ren). Please connect with them via email.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Middle School Family Resource tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2022-2023’.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the Middle School Family Resources, and the Middle School Student Resources.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!
I would like to begin by thanking our ʻOhana Association for putting together an awesome Back-to-School Bash! It was great to see everyone out on a beautiful and breezy day. I would also like to thank everyone who came to join in the festivities. The best communities are the ones that have people who give back. Oftentimes, the most meaningful way of giving back is to be present. This reminds me of a Capstone project that one of last year’s seniors completed that focused on hoʻokupu, which are offerings. The project was entitled “Mai paʻa i ka leo,” don’t withhold your voice.
One element that was a highlight of the project was the idea that if you have nothing to give, your voice and your presence are powerful enough. During the Upper School’s first assembly on Monday, I offered an oli to open the year. This oli has a line that says, “A hiki mai nō ʻoukou, a hiki pū me ke aloha,” and you all have arrived with aloha. As I continue to meet new students and families, it is clear that each of you has arrived with aloha, and those good intentions are felt. The Back-to-School Bash is no different. It was clear that everyone who came brought good energy and enthusiasm, which was a privilege to be a part of. I look forward to continually meeting people and feeling that positivity, or as I like to call it, good vibes.
A hiki mai nō ʻoukou me ke aloha. Aloha ē, aloha ē, aloha ē.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule will resume as a ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, August 29.
We encourage all students and families to access the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Upper School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
- Saturday, August 27: SAT Test Administration
- Wednesday, August 31: Photo Day for Junior and Senior students
- Friday, September 2: Photo Day for Freshman and Sophomore students
- Friday, September 2, from 8:00 to 8:30 am: ʻOhana Park for Coffee; Village Campus
- Monday, September 5: Labor Day holiday, school closed
- Friday, September 9, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Back-to-School Dance
- Saturday, September 10: ACT Test Administration
Student Support
Should your child need additional learning support, we encourage you to reach out to JoAn Canning, our Upper School Learning Support Center Director, by emailing jcanning@hpa.edu. In addition, our counselors are ready to assist any student who needs additional support to navigate these unusual and unprecedented times. Please feel free to reach out to the Upper Campus counseling team of Tiffany Freitas at 808-881-4038 or tfreitas@hpa.edu and Steve Furchner at 808-640-4441 or sfurchner@hpa.edu.
Ka Makani Athletics
This year, HPA will be live streaming the last home game (also referred to as the “Senior Game”) for most sports, and some home playoff games.
Volleyball
• Senior Game vs. Honokaʻa: Thursday, October 13, at 5:00 pm – JV/Varsity
Cross Country*
*Not live, but an edited highlights video will be posted to Youtube on the same day as the meet
• Home Meet vs. All Schools: Friday, October 14, at 3:30 pm for girls, and 4:30 pm for boys
Football
• Senior Game vs. Honokaʻa: Saturday, October 22, at 3:00 pm
Playoff schedule to be announced
Student Life
School Photo Day
Our Upper School Photo Day is scheduled for Wednesday, August 31, for junior and senior students, and Friday, September 2, for freshman and sophomore students, from 8:30 to 9:50 am in the Taylor Commons conference room, located in the dining hall.
If you wish to order photos, please place your order online at Reed Takaaze photography using the code HPAHS923. Your child may also pick up a photo order form at the Upper School Academic Office or the Student Life Office. Unfortunately, students are not able to charge their KaMakaniCash account to pay for the photo package.
All students must take a photo for the yearbook and receive a School ID. Students do not need to order a photo package to have their photo taken. All students are expected to adhere to the HPA dress code for their photos. Props will not be allowed in your official school photo.
If a student is unable to take their photo on their assigned day, they should reach out to Mrs. Lihau at lihau@hpa.edu as soon as possible.
Club Fair
Are you interested in starting a new club or continuing an existing club? If so, please complete the 2022-2023 Creation of a Student Led Club by Monday, August 29, 2022. If your club is approved, there will be a Club Fair on Thursday, September 1, 2022, during lunchtime, where you can advertise your club and students can sign up to join your club.
Student Activities Calendar – myHPA
To make it easier to locate student activities, we have added them to the myHPA calendar. Here you will be able to locate the Student Council, Residential Life, Outdoor Program, and other activities in one location!
Whom to Contact at HPA
If you are unsure who to contact regarding a specific question or issue, please refer to our Whom to Contact guide.
Day Student Parking on Campus
Any day students wishing to park on campus must fill out the 2022-2023 Student Vehicle Registration form. All student pick-ups and drop-offs are at the Rutgers Tennis Center parking lot. Upon arrival on campus, all students must check in at the Student Life Center before heading to class, regardless of whether they are late. If a student needs to leave campus before their last school commitment, including sports and co- curriculars, they must receive parental permission sent to attendance@hpa.edu beforehand, and they must sign out at the Student Life Center before leaving campus.
Day Student Check-in and Check-out
HPA is a closed campus, all student pick-ups and drop offs are at the Rutgers Tennis Center parking lot. If a parent or guardian wishes to come to campus during the academic day, they will need an appointment with one or more of the following:
- Upper School Office (upperschool@hpa.edu)
- Poʻo Kumu (Principal), Kaʻai Spencer (kspencer@hpa.edu)
- US Administrative Assistant, Līhau Wengler-Ioane (lihau@hpa.edu)
- Dean of Campus Life, Mark Noetzel, mnoetzel@hpa.edu.
Student’s Advisor
- Student Life (studentlife@hpa.edu)
- Health Services (infirmary@hpa.edu)
- Athletics: Steve Perry (sperry@hpa.edu)
- Extra-curricular programs: Daena Craven (dcraven@hpa.edu)
Residential Life
This week saw the continuation and evolution of a growing HPA tradition, Tuesday Night Leagues! This year, we launched our inaugural Wiffle Ball Season, which will run from Tuesday, August 30, to Sunday, October 9. Each Tuesday night, a collection of eight teams, comprised of residential students, day students, and faculty, gather to slug it out on Anna’s field in our 6-week Wiffle Ball Season! This tradition began as a one- time basketball tournament on Atherton Court back in 2019, dreamed up by student leaders and faculty, and has grown to now include multiple seasons, with end-of-season championships, running throughout the year! This past Tuesday saw a gathering of nearly 70 community members
to play, cheer, and enjoy an hour of community-building. Our second annual basketball season will kick off on Tuesday, October 11. We wish all of
the competitors a good season!
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Upper School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2022-2023’.
Test Prep Boot Camp Opportunity
Test Prep Boot Camp Opportunity
Once again, we will be partnering with Tutors Across America to provide a discounted Online ACT/SAT Boot Camp from Friday, September 16, to Sunday, September 18. Camp includes two practice exams — actual past ACT and SAT exams — for each test. Our HPA students qualify for the discounted rate of $199 (a $200 savings!) using the coupon code “HAWAIIPREP” at checkout.
Boot Camp Schedule
- Friday, September 16: 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm
- Saturday, September 17: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm)
- Sunday, September 18: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm)
College and Coffee for Seniors
Starting on Friday, September 9, and continuing on late-start Mamo Fridays throughout the fall semester — college counseling will hold open office hours from 8:30 to 9:45 am to support seniors with college applications and essays.
CC Tuesday Worknights for Seniors
College Counseling will hold monthly evening work sessions from 5:45 to 7:15 pm for seniors to work with our counselors.
Senior Parent Night: Tuesday, September 13
Our College Counseling team will host a Senior Parent Night via Zoom on Tuesday, September 13, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. A Zoom link will be available closer to the date.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Upper School Family Resources and the ‘Upper School Student Resources.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
All-School News
COVID-19 Policies & Information
While masks continue to be optional indoors and outdoors, there will be times when we will require everyone — students, families, guests, and employees — to wear masks. You will be notified in these instances. Everyone, regardless of age or vaccination status, must have a clean mask with them at all times should HPA officials determine they are necessary.
For a complete directory of all our health and safety protocols, please review our COVID-19 Policies & Information Resource Board on myHPA.
Health & Wellness
We are asking that everyone routinely assess themselves for symptoms of illness — which can be mild, so please pay close attention. If you or your child(ren) develop any symptoms of illness, contact your healthcare provider and HPA Health Services at vcinfirmary@hpa.edu (Village Campus); infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus); or employeetravel@hpa.edu (all employees). Please keep your child(ren) home until they are no longer sick and have been cleared for return. For more information, please review our COVID-19 Decision Tree and our COVID-19 Positive Cases Policy.
Isaacs Art Center
You’re invited to our special exhibition, Kuku Kapa E, honoring the evolving tradition of kapa creation. Kuku Kapa E runs through September 30. We are honored to present the historic kapa moe from the Hind Vredenburg Collection, a key piece from the revival of kapa making. Instrumental in this revival was Marie McDonald who retired to Waimea in 1973, dedicating her time to growing wauke and creating stunning kapa with both traditional and contemporary designs. Now continuing her mother’s legacy, Roen Hufford is the curator for this exhibition. As a revered teacher and visionary for Kuku Kapa E, Roen inspired the kapa artists in our island community and beyond to submit their masterful creations for display.
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. Gallery works for sale may also be viewed on our website. Be sure to also visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for highlights from ongoing exhibitions. Sales from gallery artwork have supported the HPA Financial Aid program since its opening in 2004.
Safety Protocols
Campus Access
During this time, campus access is limited to current students, employees, essential contractors, and approved guests — all of whom have completed a daily thermal/symptom check and a screening questionnaire. Guests to campus will have had their hosting faculty or staff member fill out the appropriate form and will have received permission from their supervisor.
Should a family member of a student need a meeting with a faculty, staff, or administrative team member, kindly contact them so that they can apply to have you come to campus. From that point, security team members will be alerted to your appointment date and time and let you onto campus.
At the Upper School, please do not park and walk onto campus without an appointment. Similarly, at the Village Campus, kindly call or email for an appointment so that arrangements can be made. Mahalo, for your understanding and respect for this process.
If you See Something, Say Something
We ask all families to join HPA in keeping our campus safe. While on the HPA campus, if you see anything out of the ordinary, we ask that you please report it to the school or local authorities immediately. This will help us maintain the safest campus for our students.
- Imminent threat to life or property: call 911 immediately and email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
- Anything out of the ordinary: email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
CrisisGo for Parents
It is important that all families are set up with CrisisGo, HPA’s school emergency communication tool. To set up CrisisGo SMS/Email subscription, please click on this invitation link and complete the form by adding your name, email, and cell number (this is an important step if you would like to receive an SMS message) and click on the Subscribe button. Should an emergency occur, you will be alerted by email and SMS messaging.
You can also locate these instructions by logging into myHPA, clicking on the resource tab, and selecting the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile.
Safe2SPeakUp for Middle and Upper Students
Similarly, Middle and Upper School students received instructions during orientation on how to upload the Safe2SpeakUp app. This is a companion app to CrisisGo. It will allow the school to alert students of emergencies that happen on or off campus and enable students to communicate with us about their safety status. They can also use the app to alert the school about any behaviors they are concerned about.
Students can also locate instructions on setting up Safe2SpeakUp in myHPA, and they were also emailed the video shown at orientation which walks them through the process of uploading the app and registering, step-by-step.
All students can also submit an Online Bully/Harassment report by clicking on this link, which can also be located on the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile on myHPA.
ʻOhana Association
Please be sure to join us on Thursday, September 22, for the first ʻOhana Association general meeting of the year at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the Upper Campus from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This will be an opportunity to hear updates from the ʻOhana board, and meet other families over wine and refreshments. Bring the kids for a family-friendly movie!
Don’t forget to check our annual calendar of events for the 2022-2023 school year regularly for updates. Also, just a quick reminder to support your ʻOhana Association by shopping with AmazonSmile. It’s simple!
- Go to this link and select Hawaii Preparatory Academy as your designated charity.
- Instead of going to Amazon.com to shop on the web, go to smile.amazon.com.
- If you use the Amazon app to shop from your phone, go to this webpage to learn how to set up the Amazon iOS or Android app to donate to HPA.