Week of 2/24/23

From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong

Aloha Lower School families,

Experiential learning abounds in our Lower School, and these past weeks students in grades 3-5 especially have been participating in a multitude of opportunities that support them to delve deeply into guiding questions and curricular objectives. Third grade is in the process of culminating their interdisciplinary unit on “How Big is Big?” with explorations that involved mammals, sequoias, scale modeling, and more. This week began a preview into their next interdisciplinary unit, Wind Energy & Engineering. Diving into an engineering challenge that asks students to create windmill blades that work to lift a weight, students will gain experiential understanding to support thoughtful inquiry, allowing them to ask informed questions directly to experts at the Hawi Wind Farm, their excursion today. Using that information will be a building block for their understanding in engineering design practices, which they will then apply to other design projects. We look forward to seeing their application of their learnings!

In grade 4, Papahānaumokuākea is the “place” through which students use the lens of culture and science to take a closer look at marine life — such as green sea turtles, marine birds, and monk seals. With their guiding question, “As we look at the past, how does it impact our future?”, students think deeply about human impact on a pristine location. HPA Upper School Science Teacher and co-director of HPA’s Sea Turtle Research Program, Ms. Laura Jim, and director, Mr. Marc Rice, in collaboration with Mālama Honu Natural Resource Director, Pi’i Laeha, invited 4th-graders to observe real data collection of two-year-old honu originating from Sea Life Park’s turtle breeding program, and learn more about the fishponds on and around Mauna Lani. During this excursion, students gained more information about turtles in general, turtle research and health assessments, Turtle Independence Day, data gathering (such as weight, length and width of carapace), the importance of data collection as well as understanding the health of animals and the ocean. Safely handling the turtles was certainly a highlight! Through expert Ethan Souza, associate natural resource director with the Mālama Honu program, 4th graders also studied early Hawaiian use of fishponds, the legend of Naupaka, and sustainability of places and people. Ms. Doi and Mrs. Kalama regularly take 4th graders on excursions for learners to develop their sense of place, and make clear, real-life connections to their science and social studies work.

I had the chance to connect with some of our 5th graders this week as they continue onward in their Capstone progress. With all projects under the umbrella of mālama kaiāulu and a focus on a particular United Nations Sustainability Goal, students are engaged in research in a variety of topics, including the effect of moss in the watershed, mulching with invasive species, urban container gardening, sustainable food menus based on carbon footprints, and so much more. This coming week will be focused on prototyping and the writing process. They have been connecting regularly with their mentors, teachers, and others in the community who have particular experiences or expertise in their chosen topics. Their capstone showcase will be on April 18. More information on that is to come!

Coming up next week on Friday, March 3, from 3:15 to 5:15 pm, all Village Campus families are invited to the 4th grader’s second annual Plant Sale! This year, they are partnering with Keilana Hunt, an 8th grade student whose Capstone project is focusing on community building and belonging, to host a Spring Festival. Mrs. Prutow-McKenna has sent all Lower School families a message on Seesaw with details, and here is a message from Keilana herself:

I’m excited to co-host the first ever Spring Festival and Plant Sale as we come out of the pandemic and build community again! The Spring Festival was planned to bring the community together and give people a sense of belonging. It has been exciting to bring Middle and Lower School students together to create the activities featured in the booths, and work with teachers and leaders across the campus to bring this celebration to life. 

The 4th-grade class has worked hard to craft this year’s plant sale. They were empowered to lead the sale and further build skills to prepare them for their capstone projects in 5th grade. They set goals, delegated assistance from other grade levels, and collaborated on ideas as a team to make this sale come to life furthering our understanding of pilina. Similar to my capstone mission, their goal is to share our love of land and each other and get more plants into the community. 

Mahalo to the ʻOhana Association for helping to support this event by organizing the potluck and tent lending. It has truly been a community effort and I hope that we all take time to appreciate each other and our Village Campus.

Activities at the Spring Festival will be free of charge and the proceeds from the Plant Sale will go be donated to the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center in Hawaiʻi, which they visited last semester. Please come and join us for fun, friends, plants, and connection.

A very special Wā Pilina event, we are looking forward to this gathering of our Village Campus ʻohana. Please reach out to Mrs. Prutow-McKenna (lprutow@hpa.edu) or Keilana with any questions.

Mahalo to all our families who were able to support our K-2 performers this past Wednesday. It was a colorful celebration of the joys of musical theatre and all the dedication and pursuit of excellence that comes with putting on a production. The children were exuberant and the audience lively. We are so proud of them!

Have a beautiful weekend, Lower School ʻohana!

Me ka mahalo nui,

Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal

From the desk of your Division Principal, Glenn Chickering

Aloha Middle School families,

Tonight’s the night! We will be grooving in Hale ʻĪnana tonight with our Masquerade Ball. Students have been super excited for this dance, and we are grateful to the ʻOhana Association for all of their support in getting ready for the dance — decorating, supplying food, chaperoning, and helping to ensure its success. As a reminder, parents are not invited this time, but Ms. Monello will have her photo booth set up, so there will be plenty of great photos to share afterward.

We will get started at 6:00 pm with food on the lānai outside Hale ʻĪnana. The dance will kick off at 6:30 pm and wrap up at 8:30 pm. Drop-off and pick-up will take place in our regular morning drop-off and pick-up areas. If your child is going home with somebody other than you, please make sure to let your child’s advisor know who they have permission to leave with ahead of time.

This week’s Fly on the Wall takes you into Ms. M’s Fiber Arts class, where students have just completed a unit on indigo dye, the world’s only source of natural blue. Indigo has been an important part of human culture for over 1,000 years, driving trade and agronomy, fashion trends, and rich cultural traditions in many parts of the world. Indigo is a special and magical dye that has a life of its own. Once a vat has been mixed, it comes alive through a mysterious fermentation process. Fabrics dipped in a healthy vat emerge a lime green. Once exposed to the air, the fiber turns dark blue before your eyes in a magical oxidation process.

Students in Fiber Arts learned a number of traditional Japanese binding techniques called shibori. They used rubber bands, string, clamps, and stitches to create resist patterns in their fabric. Each student created two throw pillows, two scarves, and a Japanese wood grain banner.

Their pieces are on display in the library and the dining hall. Please come see the magic of this breathtaking color and the students’ remarkable work during Student-led Conferences.

We had a great morning of work on the Waimea Greenways Trail this past Sunday morning, thanks to the efforts of Kiran, one of our 8th-grade capstone students. Kiran organized a work crew in collaboration with volunteers at the trail to help clear fallen trees and make way for more planting. Great work, Kiran! And a big mahalo to all who joined the crew.

Speaking of HPA Capstone, mark your calendars for the Spring Festival and Village Campus’s Annual Plant Sale on Friday, March 3, after school from 3:15 to 5:15 pm. This is organized by capstone student Keilana Hunt for her project in partnership with Mrs. Prutow McKenna. It will be held at the Puʻu Ohu Field and the Ulumau Garden. This will be an all eco-friendly event with music, potluck-style food, games, and activities

From Keilana:
“I’m excited to co-host the first ever Spring Festival and Plant Sale as we come out of the pandemic and build community again! The Spring Festival was planned to bring the community together and give people a sense of belonging. It has been exciting to bring Middle and Lower School students together to create the activities featured in the booths and work with teachers and leaders across the campus to bring this celebration to life.”

The 4th-grade class has worked hard to craft this year’s plant sale. They were empowered to lead the sale and further build skills to prepare them for their capstone projects in 5th grade. They set goals, delegated assistance from other grade levels, and collaborated on ideas as a team to make this sale come to life, furthering our understanding of pilina. Similar to my capstone mission, their goal is to share our love of land and each other and get more plants into the community. 

Mahalo to the ʻOhana Association for helping to support this event by organizing the potluck and tent lending. It has truly been a community effort, and I hope that we all take time to appreciate each other and our Village Campus.

Activities at the Spring Festival will be free of charge, and the proceeds from the Plant Sale will go be donated to the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center in Hawaiʻi, which they visited last semester. Please come and join us for fun, friends, plants, and connection.

As we prepare for Student-led Conferences on Thursday, March 9, and Friday, March 10, the Village Campus office will soon send out a form to schedule time with your child’s advisor. These conferences are a great way for students to talk about their learning journeys and share with you the projects and units that helped them foster HPA’s Core Skills of Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Communication. They will be using their Digital Portfolios to take you on a journey through some of their learning this school year. Please note that you only need to schedule with your child’s advisor and not all of their teachers.

And finally, the ʻOhana Association would love your help with Park for Coffee dates coming up on Wednesday, March 1, and later in the semester. If you’re able to assist, please sign up here. Many thanks!

We appreciate all of your support. Enjoy your weekend!

Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal

From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer

Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!

ʻAʻa i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila ma ka hale. This phrase encourages us to dance when the music moves us and to leave bashfulness at home. While the phrase speaks about dancing, it can easily be viewed as a metaphor for anything that pushes the boundaries of our comfort zones. We have just completed our famous and beloved HPA Upper School Olympics, where many of our students bloom and release layers of shyness along the way. Students often participate in activities beyond their comfort zone, where their growth is witnessed in real-time moments, their eyes open, and their perspectives instantly expand. In most cases, it is a positive experience. However, there are also moments of struggle. Both of which provide opportunities for learning.

I recently listened to a podcast that featured Dr. Edith Eger, a well-known survivor of the Holocaust. Early in the interview, she said, “The worst prison is the one you build in your mind.” Working in education is often centered around teaching students to believe in themselves, to take risks, and to learn from their mistakes. We often hear, “I can’t do this, I’m not good enough, it’s too hard.” These are mental prisons. Teenagers often need just a little nudge to realize that the key that will free them from this mental prison is a tiny shift of an approach that hasn’t been tried yet.

One of the many beautiful aspects of HPA Olympics festivities is watching students free themselves from barriers that have somehow been placed in their minds. The art of play and performance are organically crafted moments that usher growing minds to new places. The struggle is an important part of this. As adults, we are often quick to provide solutions and fix problems to create a clear path. It is in our protective nature to do this, even though the most impactful learning and growth are often a result of some struggle.

In education, it is easy to get caught up with the content covered within a traditional classroom’s four walls. I hope we can challenge that thought process within ourselves and see the learning opportunities resulting from play, service, community building, environmental advocacy, traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and otherwise. These things do not always appear on a transcript but are important aspects of becoming an engaged and productive community and society member. Activities like HPA’s Olympics are important traditions because of this. There is a lot to be learned in these activities because it forces our students to ʻaʻa i ka hula, waiho ka hilahila ma ka hale. Jump in and try something new. Leave any shyness or fear behind.

Life is too short to be bound by mental prisons. Bob Marley may have said it best in these famous words: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.” ʻAʻa i ka hula, my friends.

Ke aloha nō,

Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu