Week of 11/4/22
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who have served our country in protection of our freedoms, which we were able to exercise this week with the privilege of voting.
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of speaking to our students at an Upper School assembly. The ultimate goal of my talk was to support them with the importance of prioritizing balance at this time of year. As I was going through my persuasive argument that simplification, prioritization, and focus would best prepare them for the rigors of finals — it became clear to me that there was a bit more to this logic than just a plea for early exam prep.
As usual I was able to sprinkle in a few classic quotes that have been around for years, which usually is received with reactions that fall somewhere between, “What does that even mean?” to “How old is this dude?!” — but if you can’t laugh at yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to think it’s funny either. The first gem was, “There will come a time when December asks what you did all November.” The time is now for us to narrow our scope and start to rely on the structures in our lives that help us operate at our best. For our students, this means getting enough sleep, eating well, prioritizing studying over other hobbies, getting plenty of exercise, and leaving some time to play. I pointed out that this is what a typical day at school is intended to look like. Our challenges and pressure points build when we get these out of balance, or worse yet, add a few unhealthy things to the mix. I encouraged everyone to consider a four week plan and write it down. This was reinforced with the classic, “We don’t plan to fail, we just fail to plan.” No one laughed… but I got the feeling everyone was picking up what I was putting down.
While I was encouraging simplifying their lives and prioritizing activities, I did offer that if there something to add to their plate this time of year, it’s a healthy dose of gratitiude. As we know, it just makes the receiver feel good, and quite beautifully, makes the giver feel energized, as well. I was able to sneak in another favorite, “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.” Finding and maintaining balance is a lifelong journey. Preparing for exams in November is a great example — a sample size, and a building block of a foundation that will need to be strong and dependable. It is the practice of process that prepares us. The more our kids go through this process, the more they build habits and routines that they will be able to draw from when things get more challenging.
I think Thelonius Monk’s quote best sums up our quest for balance when he quipped, “Simple ain’t easy.” While I think he was honoring the complexity of music, it certainly translates to our own daily lives and our students’ developmental journeys.
Here’s to the journey in seeking a healthy balance and encouraging our young people to do the same.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Happy Aloha Friday!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 11/4/22
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,
In this busy season of learning and collaborating, we are proud our Lower Schoolers are exhibiting their core values of respect, integrity, wonder, and pursuit of excellence in full force. Our core learning skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking remain at the forefront as our students embark on a variety of learning journeys at the Village Campus.
A recent highlight is our After School Program Robotics class, coached and led by our K-8 EdTech Specialist, Ms. Mellon Monello. Starting with early coding opportunites during K-2 EdTech classes during the school day, followed by introductory robotics classes in grade 3, students develop interest and understanding of programming. Our 4th through 8th-grade students can then opt into our After School Robotics team, which participates in the Hawaiʻi First Lego League Robotics program. Each year, First Lego League sets the theme, with this year’s theme being “SuperPowered.” The students have been collaborating to design and program a robot to accomplish missions based on this theme, while other members of the team work together on an Innovative Design Project where they research, prototype, and present their ideas for solutions to big problems — in this case, energy use. This past Saturday, our team competed at the district level against other teams on the island. HPA students exhibited teamwork, perseverance, and pursuit of excellence as they encountered unexpected challenges during the competition, and rose to the occasion as they were deemed to have exhibited “gracious professionalism,” a goal and point of evaluation during the competition. Well done, students!
Their next event will be on Saturday, December 3, on Oʻahu at the State Championship with teams from all over Hawaiʻi! Mahalo to all our families who support the students in this endeavor and to Ms. Monello for her coaching and expertise! In thinking of our cross grade level experiences, we also want to share that the Lower School will be holding our first-ever Makahiki games on Monday, November 21. This is a new endeavor that K-8 Hawaiian Studies teacher, Kumu Kūwalu, has taken on as we seek to grow our Wā Pilina
program we started last year (intentional cross grade level learning opportunities). Traditionally held with our Middle Schoolers at the Village Campus, this year 8th graders will support and guide the Lower School students for a full day of Makahiki fun! An intentional interdisciplinary collaboration between our PE and Hawaiian Studies classes, LS PE teacher, Ms. Betsy Tranquill (“Coach T”) has been partnering with Kumu Kūwalu to support our students with place-based learning in combination with physical education and good sportsmanship. The students have been excited to learn about this important Hawaiian harvest celebration and to participate in these traditional games. On the day of the Lower School Makahiki games, students are encouraged to come to school in HPA red, whether it is a PE shirt or other red shirt. Let’s show our school spirit as we engage in this important Hawaiian cultural learning experience!
That same afternoon, from 3:15 to 5:00 pm, we have our first annual Harvest Fête, also a Wā Pilina, with efforts from students in K-5, and an interdisciplinary mash-up between Art and Garden classes from Ms. Alexa Hustace and Mrs. Lauren Prutow McKenna. Middle School students will also help harvest in preparation for the event. As mentioned last week, proceeds from the event will be going to The Food Basket, an organization chosen by our 5th graders to combat food insecurity. All families are invited. Students have been bringing home invitations with their pinch pots following their weekly Art class. Monday, November 21, promises to be a beautiful multi-disciplinary day full of learning, collaboration, and community!
Speaking of community, please be reminded that our Student Council-led Food Drive will begin this Monday, November 14 and run through Monday, November 21. Participating families can have their child bring in food items to school in the mornings. Student Council leaders are looking forward to bringing donations to the Annunciation Food Pantry to support our local community ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
As we look ahead to the holidays, the ʻOhana Association is working to gather a team to create a float for Waimea’s 62nd Annual Twilight Christmas Parade. All are invited to a meeting to plan for the float and parade in the VC Ulumau Garden on Wednesday, November 16, from 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
Finally, items in our VC Lost and Found will be donated the week of November 21st. If your child is missing any personal items, please remind them to go have a look before then. We have quite the variety of water bottles and sweatshirts!
Have a beautiful weekend, Lower School ʻohana. Thank you for all your support and collaboration for our keiki!
Warmly,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator, Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou! Our grade 5 students have been hard at work completing their first full inquiry cycle culminating in the Native American Museum. During my visits to our 5th grade classroom, I am inspired by how Kumu Larsen infuses collaboration, critical thinking, and wonder throughout student learning. Some recent highlights are discussions on clothing and its relationship to the environment, deep thinking routines in exploring complex math problems, and small group collaboration to revise analytical writing. It will be exciting to see the students apply these skills as they start on their capstone project journey before we break for the Winter Holiday.
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, November 14.
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
- Monday, November 21: Lower School Makahiki Games, rock your red HPA gear!
- Monday, November 21: 3:15 to 5:00 pm, Pinch Pot Harvest Fête, Ulumau Garden
- Monday, November 21: Last day of Thanksgiving Food Drive; fresh (perishable) food drop off.
- Wednesday, November 23 – Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Holiday, no classes
- Monday, December 5: K-12 Faculty Work Day, no classes
- Wednesday, December 14, 5:30 to 6:15 pm: Holiday Chapel
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.
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,
This past week we hosted a Middle School Open House for families considering HPA for their children next August. It was great to see the interest in the community for what we are doing here at HPA — but what really made the event special were our Middle School students who volunteered to be ambassadors and tour guides for the prospective students and their families. Our current students showed up with so much aloha and enthusiasm for their school. They warmly welcomed all the families and professionally led them around the school to visit teachers and classrooms and learn more about our program and community.
Afterward, more than a few of the families stopped to tell me how much they enjoyed their tour guides and how well-composed they were throughout the tour, graciously answering questions and offering their perspectives. To see our students volunteer to show off their school and do so with so much grace was certainly one of the highlights of the year for me. A big mahalo to all our of Student Ambassadors and the Admissions team for setting up an Open House filled with so much aloha. The accolades for last year’s Grade 8 Capstone students keep coming in, Pemma Norbu and Kuʻulanianela (Anela) Ormsby were special guests at last weekend’s Hawaiʻi International Film Festival where the films they created for their 8th-grade Capstone projects were accepted and shown as part of the student showcase.
The ʻOhana Association is working to gather a team to create a float for Waimea’s 62nd Annual Twilight Christmas Parade. All are invited to a meeting to plan for the float and parade in the VC Ulumau Garden on Wednesday, November 16, from 2:15 to 3:00 pm. As we turn our attention toward the Makahiki season and get ready for Middle School’s Makahiki Games, we are also planning a few other special things. On Monday, November 21, our Grade 8 students will host and referee the Lower School Makahiki Games. This is an excellent opportunity for leadership and creating pilina and lōkahi at our Village Campus. Meanwhile, grades 6 and 7 will engage in a variety of activities designed to help give back to our community and the world community, as well as work on their Advisory’s Lono Pole for the Makahiki Games. Grade 6 and 7 students, who are performing in the showcase on Friday, December 2, will use a good part of that day as a retreat for rehearsals here on campus.
On Tuesday, November 22, all Middle School students will take part in Makahiki Games that will be hosted and refereed by senior students from HPA and Kanu o ka ʻĀina Charter School. We will also continue our tradition of Makahiki food baskets that we will share with our friends and families at Kanu o ka ʻĀina. Please keep your eyes peeled for a letter and sign-up sheet from your child’s advisor about these baskets.
While this is the season for giving, there may be some of your children’s things sitting in our lost and found that you are not quite ready to donate just yet. Please ask your children to take a look for that shirt, hoodie, water bottle, lunch bag or anything else they say is lost. Many of them are waiting patiently on our lost and found shelf, which we’ll clear out during the Thanksgiving break to donate to the St. James Thrift Store.
Our friends at Waimea Nature Park will be hosting Mayor Roth for 1.5 mile ‘Walk with the Mayor’ on Tuesday, November 15 starting at 4:30 pm. Mayor Roth is a strong supporter of sustainability issues and has recognized the work our Middle School students have done in the park. If you have the opportunity to go for a stroll on Tuesday afternoon try to make it to the park to walk with the Mayor.
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend in this island paradise!
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator, Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou! In recent weeks students have worked to submit proposals and draft their project plans. Students are developing competencies in goal-setting and decision-making as they distill information from their community needs assessment into a cohesive project idea. The next step is to submit drafts of their project plan for final feedback. Heading into the Winter Break, our goal is to have a mock-up of their product ready for peer feedback. We all look forward to seeing their creations come to life!
Schedule
Our Middle School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, November 21. 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
• Monday, November 21: Grade 6 and 7 Service Day & Performing Arts rehearsals; Grade 8 will host the Lower School Makahiki Games
• Tuesday, November 22: Middle School Makahiki Games
• Wednesday, November 23 – Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Holiday, no classes
• Friday, December 2: Middle School Performing Arts Showcase at GPAC from 2:00 to 3:05 pm. Please note that all Middle School students will
be picked-up at GPAC at 3:10 this day. A bus will bring after school program participants back to the VC for those activities.
• Monday, December 5: K-12 Faculty Work Day, no classes
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!
Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono. This is a phrase that many who live in Hawaiʻi are familiar with. We are told that it is our state motto. However, this phrase came long before when Hawaiʻi regained its independence after being temporarily ceded to Great Britain. The series of events that prompted Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, to relinquish his power temporarily was subsequently restored after further inquiry. It was during this time that Kauikeaouli addressed his people to let them know the kingdom has been restored and will continue in perpetuity — ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
This phrase came at a time that is now known as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, or Restoration Day, which is on July 31, 1843, one of Hawaiʻi’s main national holidays. There was a lot that transpired in Hawaiʻi in the year 1843, including one of the most unimaginable feats of all — gaining international recognition as an independent nation State by some of the world’s largest powers. November 28, 1843, is known as Lā Kūʻokoʻa, or Hawaiian Independence Day. This is when Great Britain and France formally recognized Hawaiʻi’s independence. Soon after, the United States also recognized Hawaiʻi’s independence. Lā Kūʻokoʻa is a national holiday that embodies all of the national pride and consciousness of Hawaiian people and was celebrated as widely as other nations celebrate their own independence day.
HPA’s Upper School faculty were lucky enough to learn a little about the events that led to Lā Kūʻokoʻa from a very respected Hawaiian scholar and researcher named Kauʻi Sai-Dudoit. On November 4, the teachers viewed a presentation to help us learn about the day, as well as why it is important for us to continue to celebrate Hawaiian holidays like this.
On November 28, 2022, HPA’s Upper Campus will be celebrating Lā Kūʻokoʻa. The day will include reenactments, music, food, games, and crafts. Before celebrating this day, it is very important to clarify our purpose, which is why the teachers participated in this training. The ripple effect of HPA celebrating this day has already begun as other schools are starting to hear about HPA’s celebration plans. The more we act on the knowledge that we gain about this place, the more we cause positive momentum. I am very excited to celebrate this day and I look forward to sharing Hawaiʻi’s most impactful holidays with students from around the world. Many of them come from countries that have treaties with the Hawaiian Kingdom. Aloha Lā Kūʻokoʻa!
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, November 21. 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
- Friday, November 18: Fall Ball, semi-formal dance
- Wednesday, November 23 – Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Holiday, no classes
- Friday, December 2: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Gates Performing Arts Center, Holiday Gathering & Christmas Parade Float Decorating hosted by the ʻOhana Association
- Monday, December 5: K-12 Faculty Work Day, no classes
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
Our winter athletic schedule has been updated. You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Student Life
Lā Kūʻokoʻa
November 28, 1843, is known as Lā Kūʻokoʻa, or Hawaiian Independence Day — when Hawaiʻi gained international recognition as an independent nation state by some of the world’s largest powers. Great Britain and France were the first to recognize Hawaiʻi’s independence formally. Soon after, the United States also recognized Hawaiʻi’s independence. Lā Kūʻokoʻa is a national holiday that embodies all of the national pride and consciousness of Hawaiian people and was celebrated as widely as other nations celebrate their own independence day.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of Lā Kūʻokoʻa holiday celebrations across Hawaiʻi as more education, and awareness about the significance of this momentous milestone in Hawaiʻi’s history has been raised.
On November 28, 2022, HPA’s Upper Campus will be celebrating Lā Kūʻokoʻa. The day will include re-enactments and performances from students, along with special musical guests Ikaakamai, Kaʻikena Scanlan, and Heua’olu Sai-Dudoit. Students will engage in traditional Makahiki games, as well as cultural demonstrations and workshops, including kuʻi ʻai (kalo pounding), lei making, and lauhala weaving. There will also be a live mural and screen-printing booth honoring Timoteo Haʻalilio and Kauikeaouli for their aloha ‘āina advocacy as patriots of Hawaiʻi.
Before celebrating this day, it is very important to clarify our purpose: the more we act on the knowledge that we gain about our history and culture, the more we embody HPA’s mission “to provide exceptional learning opportunities in a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawaiʻi.”
We are very excited to celebrate this day, and we look forward to sharing one of Hawaiʻi’s most impactful holidays with students from around the world — many of them come from countries that have treaties with the Hawaiian Kingdom. Aloha Lā Kūʻokoʻa!
Fall Ball is Friday, November 18, 2022
Fall Ball, our semi-formal dance, will take place off-campus, on Friday, November 18, at the Kahilu Theater Town Hall, in Waimea, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickets went on sale on Thursday and will be on sale on Monday and Tuesday. This dance is closed to outside guests; only currently enrolled HPA students may attend.
The ticket cost is $45 and includes a sit down catered meal and rental of the town hall. Upon purchasing a ticket, all students must sign the Code of Conduct form in myHPA and be passing Citizenship by Wednesday, November 16.
For more information, please review the Fall Ball email that was sent on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Conduct Points
Please remember that the deadline for clearing off any excessive conduct points before the end of the semester is Friday, December 9. Failing Citizenship is considered as having four (4) or more conduct points on the record. Students who are failing Citizenship at the end of the semester will be placed on academic probation for the following semester, will not be eligible for student awards such as the Dean’s List, etc., and will still be required to work their remaining points off down to zero (0). If there are any errors on the record, students must contact the attendance office at attendance@hpa.edu.
Residential Life
As Thanksgiving Break draws near, we are working to gather information on which of our students will be traveling over the break, staying with friends or family on-island, or electing to stay on campus. Please review the information shared with you in an email sent to you on Wednesday, November 9, which is summarized again below: Residential students who are leaving campus for the break If your child will be signing out to leave campus and gather with friends or family for the holiday, either on- or off island, please note that we will require that they submit a negative result for a Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of their return to campus. If they do not submit one prior to arrival, they will have to stay in quarantine housing until we can have them tested here. At home, Rapid Antigen tests are acceptable, and we have plenty available for your student to take with them for the break. Please remind your child to collect a test kit from the infirmary before departing campus.
Additionally, we would like to remind everyone that students may not sign out to their own care, either in a hotel, Airbnb, or other accommodation. Students must sign out to the care of a present, supervising adult, which HPA defines as someone who is 25 years of age or older.
Residential students who will be traveling off island
If you have not done so already, please submit your child’s flight confirmation itinerary to travel@hpa.edu as soon as possible so that we may solidify arrangements for transportation to and from the airport. If they require their passport to travel, they can stop by the Student Life Office on Monday, November 21, or Tuesday, November 22, to collect it, along with their travel information. They should also submit their Orah
Leave
Request no later than Sunday, November 20.
Residential students who will be staying on-island (but off campus):
In addition to collecting an at-home covid-19 test kit before departure, students should make sure that their Orah leave request is submitted no later than Sunday, November 20.
Residential students who will be staying on campus
For students who elect to stay on campus for the holiday break, we are planning a large number of activities for them to enjoy, which will include some familiar favorites, such as daily trips to the beach, shuttle buses to Waimea, Kona, and Waikoloa for shopping, dining, and entertainment, as well as community gatherings on campus each day.
Additionally, we are in the process of securing reservations with a number of tour companies around the island to offer opportunities for students to have special experiences during the break. These include ziplining, boat trips, a Manta Ray night snorkel, surf lessons (if conditions permit), and special restaurant reservations. All activities booked through tour companies will have limited availability, and will come with an additional cost, and sign-ups will begin next week for students who are going to be on campus during the break.
Winter Break travel
Winter Break (December 16, 2022 to January 8, 2023) is quickly approaching! Please start thinking about your flights; when booking, please refer to our Travel Dates which you can find on the myHPA calendar and in the email titled HPA Travel Dates 2022-2023, sent on October 26, 2022.
If you have already booked your flights, please forward your airline’s confirmation email to travel@hpa.edu as soon as possible. All airline itineraries are due on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
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’.
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.
Scholarship Opportunities
At HPA, we believe that scholarships and aid are, at the core, about opportunity.
All-School News
Admissions and Financial Aid
For those HPA families who will be re-enrolling for the 2023-24 academic year and would like to apply for financial aid, scholarships and grants, our financial aid application is now available on the HPA website for your convenience. The deadline to apply for financial aid is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Sunday, January 15, 2023.
The admission application for the 2023-24 school year is now open! Spread the word and help us grow our Ka Makani ʻohana. You can also visit and share the link to our in person and virtual Admission events page. We are excited to work with siblings of current students and prospective families new to HPA!
Advancement & Alumni
Give your HIGH FIVE FOR THE FUND! Now through Wednesday, November 9 our goal is to encourage 100% of our families to join in to support our students and our school by making a gift to the HPA Fund. Every gift, any size, makes an impact. Even $5! By joining in you help make it possible for HPA to offer programs and experiences that challenge and nurture our children, inspiring them to do good work and to dream big.
Up high! Let’s make it happen!
Get your tickets for Alu Mai 2022! Saturday, November 19, marks the return of HPA’s annual fundraising gala and auction in support of financial aid.
We invite you to join in for a delightful evening of dinner and dancing under the stars in support of opportunity and access for future generations at HPA. Secure your spot today, purchase a table or an individual ticket. E alu mai
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
The 2022-2023 cold and flu season kicked off early this year–in September! We are seeing an increase in both respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses on both our Village and Upper Campuses. While there’s no need to panic, we do ask for your continued partnership and diligence in monitoring your children for symptoms of illness and keeping them home when sick. One of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of germs is proper handwashing.
Hawaii Poison Control Center has trained nurses, pharmacists, and toxicologists available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They offer free advice, and it is 100 % confidential. Their telephone number should be on everyone’s cell phone: 1-800-222-1222.
Hawaii CARES (formerly The Crisis Line of Hawaii) offers 24-hour a day, 7-days a week resources, including crisis and mental health resources and substance use treatment services. Call 9-8-8 or 1(800) 753-6879 or text ALOHA to 741741.
Isaacs Art Center
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.