Week of 4/14/23
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
This week Hilo, Hawaiʻi proudly hosts the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival — a week full of talent, effort, passion, and excellence on display for all to see. Hilo is the epicenter of the hula world at this time of year. In our 14 years here in Hawaiʻi, my family has made it a priority to gather around the TV during this special time to watch the amazing beauty, grace, and expertise of the participants as they represent their hālau, their communities, their islands, and their culture using the gift of mele and hula. The stories they present through dance come to life and fill the observer with energy and emotion. It is simply mesmerizing. Each hālau has their own unique style. Each performance has a depth of nuanced movements that share a story. All are beautiful and moving.
Those with a deeper understanding of the traditions of hula naturally are in a position to hold even greater appreciation for the excellence on display this week, but there is no exclusion based on experience. Full disclosure, sometimes for me its like when I’m watching my daughters’ water polo matches. I don’t know all of the rules or what exactly is going on, but the spirit of their excitement and dedication just takes over. This event is all about sharing gifts and talents in the most sincere way possible — a beautiful event to witness.
As I referenced last week, many of our students in each division will showcase their hard work with capstone presentations and exhibits on both campuses in the coming days. After putting a great deal of time and effort into the construction of their thesis and project, they now have to present, explain, and at times, defend their efforts. This, to some, is a very challenging phase. This is discomfort is healthy and will help them grow. Nonetheless, we all get butterflies in our bellies when it is time to present or perform in front of an audience. I tell myself that it let’s me know I’m alive!
There was no better example of the capstone journey than last Friday’s Middle School performance. This exhibition day featured one of our 8th graders, Liam Grayson, who had written, casted, and directed a play. Liam also managed the set up and logistics, even considered the bus transportation from the Village campus to our Gates Performing Arts Center for teachers and classmates. Navigating the ups and downs of operating a large-scale event was truly an exceptional learning experience for Liam, who pushed boundaries and the ceiling of what is possible. In following up with Liam over the weekend, there were already ideas and alterations being considered for his next piece of work.
We are already approaching the end of sports seasons with a few senior games this weekend and next. Again, culminating events are approaching in different spaces in our students’ lives. Know that they feel the energy of these events. While it is a healthy practice to expereince anxiousness and a bit nerves, helping them recognize these feelings in themselves and building coping skills to not just survive but thrive serves them well. This takes a keen eye by us as parents. When we can help our children see things coming and give them space to identify their own feelings and behaviors, they will be in better shape as they navigate their educational and life journeys. We don’t often take the time to practice the art of finishing things successfully. We are speaking about this and helping our kids build this very skill in several different arenas across our campuses this month.
Take good care, and tune in to the Merrie Monarch Festival this weekend if you get a chance.
Best,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 4/14/23
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,
Across our K-5 classes, we incorporate independent projects that allow for learning to be active, self-driven, and motivating. Through these projects, students can prepare to become learners who can conceive, manage, problem-solve, adapt, and communicate ideas effectively to others. Along the way, each classroom project builds on our core learning skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking so that a studentʻs confidence grows along with their experience. Throughout the journey, a teacher supports, advises, and facilitates.
The scaffolding of these smaller projects throughout Lower School prepares students for their fifth-grade year, the first of three capstone years at HPA, with the other two in 8th grade and 12 grade. The capstone experience serves as a “culminating academic and intellectual milestone in each grade, where students direct their personal passions and interests toward real issues in the community or larger world.” Through the capstone experience, skills are strengthened even further and help to produce a tangible product that demonstrates their learning. The 5th-grade capstone experience is a project based learning experience whereby students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. 5th-grade teacher, Kumu Larson, works with students through the three phases: exploration, expression, and exposition. Our focus on Mālama Kaiāulu and sustainability is the compass by which students have traveled on their journey of learning and engagement through these past months. We are looking forward to having all fifth-grade families and their guests on campus this Tuesday, April 20, to experience the culmination of this exciting time period in our young scholarsʻ lives. Please remember to RSVP using this form so we can check you in upon arrival on Tuesday. We look forward to seeing you at the Sustainability Fair!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and an important reminder for us as educators, parents, and caregivers to make time to hold conversations about safety with your keiki. K-8 Counselor, Rachel Baydo, will be sharing her counseling newsletter with you on our Seesaw for Schools app, with helpful resources such as Hot Chocolate Talk, which includes ways to talk to children about body safety, and how to empower them to speak up and report abuse. I encourage you to download their guide to look for advice, best practices, and age appropriate conversation starters that are right for you and your family.
Lastly, congratulations to our Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl students! Students in grades 4-7 who elected to participate in the quiz bowl read through the book list and met once weekly during their recess times to discuss the books and prepare for the bowl. Their pursuit of excellence and love for literature paid off because one of our teams won second place in the Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl yesterday! We could not be more proud of these young readers! How wonderful the quizmaster was Meg Medina, the Newberry Award winning author who is visiting with us today. A huge mahalo to K-8 librarian, Mrs. Kristin Tarnas, for her hard work and dedication in organizing and supporting both the Quiz Bowl experience as well as the author visit!
Have a great weekend, Lower School ʻohana!
Me ka mahalo nui,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou. It is with great excitement that I announce the 5th-grade Capstone Sustainability Fair on Tuesday, April 18, from 12:00 to 2:45 pm. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all HPA families and community members to stop by the Village Campus during the designated hours to view the various student projects that will be on display. These culminating presentations are an important milestone for students to share their projects and their growth with our community.
We ask that those attending check in at the welcome booth located in the drop-off gazebo upon arrival. From there, families of 5th-grade students will be directed to their students’ presentation rooms or the project exhibitions spread throughout the Village Campus. The 5th-grade families will be receiving specific communications from Kumu Larsen about their students’ presentation times and locations so they will be able to view their formal presentations. We welcome all HPA community members to view the exhibitions located in Hale ʻĪnana and the garden areas.
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, April 17.
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
• Tuesday, April 18: 12:00 to 3:00 pm, 5th-grade Capstone Sustainability Fair
• Friday, April 21: Faculty work day, no classes K-8
• Friday, May 5: 9:30 to 11:00 am, GPAC, K-5, May Day performance
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.
Summer at HPA
Enrichment Camps: Swim Lessons (multiple levels)
Our summer enrichment camps offer a unique and comprehensive learning experience, allowing you to explore a variety of different interests and develop new skills. One offering is swim lessons, which are offered for a variety of ages and experience levels.
For more information and to explore all our summer options, click the link below.
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,
One of my favorite ways to end a Middle School assembly is with a quote pertinent to our overall topic of that assembly — be it one of our Core Values, Core Skills, Mālama Kaiāulu or Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. I’d like to start this week’s All-School Bulletin with a quote from Charles Darwin;
“In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
I feel this quote does a great job of articulating a big piece of the ‘why’ driving our capstone program. It is important for us to prepare our children to work effectively with not only the diversity in their local communities but also with the wider global community as we work to make this world environmentally, socially, politically, and economically sustainable.
Our students’ capstone projects include a ‘community needs assessment’ to help them identify ways in which they can better themselves and their communities using their strengths and interests. This has enabled our students to create some wonderful, unique, and beneficial projects that show the value of engaging with their communities and the natural world.
We hope you get a chance to see some of these great projects at our Capstone Showcase at Hale ʻĪnana next Thursday, April 20, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Also, if you are able to help with some snacks and sodas or cleaning up afterward, please see this sign-up sheet:
8th-Grade Capstone. Many thanks!
On the subject of our Class of 2027, upon the completion of their capstone projects, we begin to turn our attention toward their transition to the Upper School. First up is a trip to the Upper Campus on Thursday, April 27, to meet key administrators, faculty, coaches, and student leaders. They will learn more about programs, tour the school, and experience some of the 12th grade capstone presentations. There will be an email coming soon with more specifics about that visit.
We will also be sharing more information about course registration for 9th grade soon. Advisor reports will be shared with parents on May 1, which will include course recommendations from teachers. Advisors will be helping students with course registration on Monday and Tuesday, May 8 and 9.
In general, the 9th-grade course selection are scripted for students. They are able to give their preferences for art electives, but placement in those courses are contingent upon the blocks they fall in relation to their required courses and language class.
We will also be hosting a dinner and dance for 8th-grade students at Anna Ranch on Saturday evening, May 6. Keep your eyes peeled for more details about this and how you can help if you’re able.
And please mark your calendars for the 8th-grade Transition Ceremony at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the Upper Campus on Wednesday, May 24, from 10:00 to 11:00 am. All Middle School students will be attending, and parents are welcome also. Pick-up for all Middle School students will be at GPAC at 11:00 am on this day.
As we wind down, or rather ʻramp upʻ these last weeks of school, please keep your eyes on the ‘Coming Up’ dates below. We’ll stay in touch about upcoming events, and never hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
And finally, When the Lava Flows and Feeling Different is OK, two films made by some of our 8th grade students in a Hawaiian Studies and Ed Tech collaboration will premier on PBSʻs Hiki Nō series on Tuesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. You can catch the live stream here:
https://www.pbshawaii.org/livestream/
I hope you have a great weekend!
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou. It is that time of year when we celebrate the hard work of the 8th-grade capstone students with a culminating Grade 8 Capstone Expo on Thursday, April 20, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. We welcome all HPA families and community members to stop by Hale ʻĪnana on the Village Campus during the designated hours to view the various student projects that will be on display.
During this time, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the Grade 8 students as they share about their process, final product, and reflections on these culminating projects. At 3:15 pm, we will be pausing the exhibition with some welcome announcements with Middle School principal Glenn Chickering, Head of School Fred Wawner, and myself. 8th-grade families will be receiving specific communications from their advisors about the event, but we welcome all of those in our HPA community to participate in this important community presentation.
Schedule
Our Middle School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, April 17.
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, April 20: Grade 8 Capstone Showcase
• Friday, April 21: Faculty work day, no classes
• Thursday, April 27: Grade 8 visit to the Upper School, drop-off and pick-up at Upper Campus for 8th-grade students only
• Saturday, May 6: Grade 8 Dinner and Dance at Anna Ranch, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm
• Monday, May 8 and Tuesday, May 9: Upper School Registrar visit to go over 9th grade schedules
• Friday, May 12: Middle School Performing Arts Showcase at GPAC, from 1:45 to 3:00 pm. Parents welcome
• Tuesday, May 23: Grade 6 and 7 Class Retreats; Grade 8 drop-off at GPAC for Transition Ceremony practice
• Wednesday, May 24: Grade 8 Transition Ceremony at GPAC, from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Parents and guests are welcome. Students will be dismissed following the ceremony.
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.
Digital Citizenship Resources for Parents
Parenting in the Digital Age: Resources for Parents
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.
Summer at HPA
Enrichment Camps: Black Rocket Python Programmers
Our summer enrichment camps offer a unique and comprehensive learning experience, allowing you to explore a variety of different interests and develop new skills. One offering is Black Rocket Python Programmers, which is for students ages 8-14 from June 5-9.
For more information and to explore all our summer options, click the link below.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!
Ola mau ka hana noʻeau nani o Hawaiʻi! Long live the arts of Hawaiʻi! It is officially the week of Merrie Monarch, which always brightens the town of Hilo with beautiful lei, colorful prints, music, and festivities. If you have ever gotten a chance to be in Hilo during the Merrie Monarch festival, you are likely very familiar with the festive atmosphere that I am describing. For those of you who have not gotten a chance to experience it, I would highly recommend that you put it on your calendar for next year and the year after. The Merrie Monarch is one of the largest gatherings of the Hawaiian community to celebrate the beauty of hula, music, language, crafts, and historical knowledge.
As someone that has participated in the Merrie Monarch Festival, I can confidently say that the journey of learning and discovery is just as memorable, if not more than the final performance. While the viewing audience is able to be mesmerized by the captivating performances, they don’t see all of the work and time that is required to get to that final product. This is much like the journey that our seniors are currently taking as they finalize the last touches of their capstone projects. I am really looking forward to seeing as many capstone presentations as possible, especially the ones that I was able to provide assistance.
As we get closer to the Upper School capstone presentations week — which is the last week of April — let us all find a way to support our seniors in our own small ways. If a senior student is feeling overwhelmed or anxious about their upcoming presentation, a little nugget of support can go a long way. These projects are massive feats. Imagine how nerve-wracking it must be for a student to present a project of this magnitude in a language that is not their first language. Similarly, imagine how fulfilling it must be for a Hawaiian student to learn a Hawaiian craft or practice through this process that they likely would not have gotten a chance to learn, which results in a newfound self-discovery. This is something that I know is happening with some of our students, and I am excited to see them share their latest skill acquisitions.
Ola mau ka hana noʻeau nani o Hawaiʻi!
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Capstone Update from 9-12 Capstone Coordinator Greg McKenna
Aloha mai kākou. We are excited to announce the Senior Capstone Showcase week, Monday, April 24 – Friday, April 28. We will be celebrating each student as they present their capstone journeys this year. We welcome all HPA families and community members to stop by the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) at the Upper Campus to view the various student presentations. We will also be providing a YouTube live stream of the Showcase for those family members who are not on island.
Day 1, Monday, April 24:
https://youtube.com/live/2jfSSTy552A?feature=share
Day 2, Tuesday, April 25:
https://youtube.com/live/mgWmSngf8oI?feature=share
Day 3, Wednesday, April 26:
https://youtube.com/live/rF7kZfvj69Y?feature=share
Day 4, Thursday, April 27:
https://youtube.com/live/AuK7UL2ZhC4?feature=share
Day 5, Friday, April 28:
https://youtube.com/live/e67rBqHcBbY?feature=share
Schedule
Our Upper School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, April 17.
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, April 21: Advisor-Parent Conferences, no classes
• Monday, April 24 – Friday, April 28: Senior capstone presentations
Advisor-Parent Conferences
The Upper School Advisor Conferences will be offered virtually and in-person on Friday, April 21. Advisors will be reaching out next week to schedule a conference time with families. In-person conferences will be held in the Taylor Commons Dining Room and surrounding areas from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Virtual conferences will be available from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
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 spring athletic schedule has been updated, and be sure to check out the weekly schedule as well. You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
College Counseling
Support for Seniors and Senior Families
While many seniors have already received news from their colleges, others are awaiting admissions decisions and financial aid offers that will arrive in the coming weeks. Wherever your senior is in this process, College Counseling is here to help, whether by talking through college options, offering support and guidance, or helping to interpret financial aid packages.
For your reference, we are including two articles that we hope you will find useful.
Helping Your Teen Make a College Decision
College Rejection: How to Take the Sting Out of Difficult News
We also recommend Karen Coburn’s Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years as an excellent parent resource for processing the transition to college. Please reach out at college@hpa.edu if you need us. We look forward to our continued work with you.
Testing
Accessing Scores from the School Day SAT
Scores from the School Day SAT exam have been released. Students can access their scores by logging into their College Board account.
Accessing Scores from the School Day ACT
Scores from the April 4th School Day ACT exam will be available 4-8 weeks after the exam date. Once scores become available, students will receive an email from ACT with directions on how to access exam scores through their myact.org account.
Class of 2023
Mahalo to all the families who completed the Commencement ticket survey with their soon-to-be graduates. We are reviewing everyone’s responses and are working to accommodate as many people as possible. To clarify, if a senior has a sibling who attends HPA — they do not need a ticket out of the allotment of six (6) given to each senior. These HPA students and/or employees may sit with their families in the ticketed-seating section (NOT the employee/student section).
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at graduation@hpa.edu if we can be of assistance.
Links:
Class of 2023 End-of-Year Events Ticket Survey
Class of 2023 End-of-Year Events reminder email – March 19, 2023
Grad Night 2023 Volunteer Form
Class of 2023 End-of-Year Events – ʻOhana meeting – January 31, 2023
Class of 2023 End-of-Year Events – Resource Board & Slides
Class of 2023 End-of-Year Events – Calendar
Upper School Library
Did you know that most states require librarians to hold a Master’s of Library and Information Science? Both Mrs. Tarnas at the Taylor Library and I hold this degree. Years of research show that having a certified school librarian and access to books is an indicator of student success, including higher test scores, reading ability, research skills, and more (Lance et al. Why School Librarians Matter: What Years of Research Tell Us).
Help us celebrate the Dyer Library by purchasing a book or maker space tool from our Amazon Wish List, or donate one of the following items to support our library programs and help us build our mini-maker space:
- Yarn
- Knitting needles
- Crochet hooks
- Sewing machine
- Craft supplies
- Hot cocoa
- Tea
- Puzzles
Please reach out to me at aweisner@hpa.edu if you would like to donate any of the above items or have something else you’d like to donate to our library programs.
Mahalo!
Angela Weisner ‘03, MLIS
Upper School Librarian
Student Life
On Monday, four candidate teams (President and Vice President) took to the stage to deliver their candidate speeches at our assembly. Immediately following the speeches, the student body voted, and we are happy to announce the winners for the 2023-2024 Student Council President, Alden Collinson, and Vice President, Alex Goodman. Congratulations to all candidates!
Next week we will hear speeches for Security and Treasurer, followed by voting.
Class Representatives will give their speeches at the Class Meeting on Thursday, April 20, which will also be followed by voting.
Executive Dorm Representative candidates will speak at the All Residential Life Meeting on Monday, April 24, and voting will immediately follow.
Good luck to all that have applied!
Residential Life
The residential community is buzzing with different activities coming up from this weekend, having multiple home sporting events (the last home games of the season for baseball and water polo!), a Dorm Wars event in the pool, trips to the Waikoloa Night Market, SCUBA diving, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and more! Coming up, we have the return of our Tuesday Night Leagues with an Indoor Soccer season scheduled for the next four weeks of school, an open mic Lava Lounge, along with the ongoing student council elections and prefect selections! It will be a busy end to the school year but with lots of memories made in the balance!
On Thursday, April 13, you should have received this email regarding your child’s end of year travel information, upcoming travel dates, and their commitments after final exams. Please remember to share your child’s travel itinerary by Monday, May 1, so that we can begin to plan out end of the year shuttles to the airport, dorm cleaning, and check-out.
Students will be returning next school year are allowed to store up to three large boxes/suitcases in the dormitory storage rooms over the summer, which are locked and secured until they return in the fall. Those not returning that may need to ship belongings home or on to college should begin to make those plans early.
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.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies: Nature's Classroom
Attention all young science enthusiasts, aspiring journalists, and those looking to explore Hawai'i. Take your investigation skills to the next level with our exciting new Nature's Classroom Academy. With hands-on experiences ranging from the highlands of Waimea to the beaches of the Big Island's west coast, you'll explore topics in biology, chemistry, environmental science, social sciences, literature, and journalism through Hawaiian cultural experiences.
Other academies include:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy (waitlist)
• ELL Academy
The academies run from June 26 to July 21.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
HPA FIlm Series
Hold Your Fire
As the first offering of our film series, we are very excited to host a special documentary screening of Hold Your Fire, a critically-acclaimed film by Waimea resident and HPA parent Stefan Forbes.
We invite you to join us on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 6:30 pm at the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on HPA's Upper Campus. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker. Admission is free and open to the public.
Advancement & Alumni
Welcome Back!
As we enter the final months of the school year, please take a moment to make your annual gift to the HPA Fund. We rely on the generosity of or current families, along with alumni, and friends, to sustain the outstanding educational experience we offer every student, every day, here at HPA.
How Your Support for the HPA Fund Makes a Difference EVERYDAY
School Gardens (check!), two libraries (check!), experiential learning (check!), beautiful campus community (check!), amazing and dedicated faculty (check! check!) – none of this is possible without the HPA Fund! If you haven’t made your gift, there’s still time! Want to know more about the Fund and everything it makes possible for our students? Visit our Priorities & Impact page.
P.S. Save the Date!
Mark your calendars, Alu Mai 2023 is coming! It’s never too early to start planning for a FABULOUS party in support of a WONDERFUL cause! Save the date for this year’s Alu Mai Gala in Support of Financial Aid at HPA. Can’t wait to see you there!
ʻOhana AssociationIt’s the most important time of the school year — celebrating our teachers! We could use your help showing them love for everything they do for our kids.
We are organizing a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon at the Upper School on Friday, April 28, and we need your help to make it special! Sign up here to donate a lei or contribute food or small gifts. Every donation is welcome!
Our ʻOhana Association elections are coming up on Saturday, April 29, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the HPA Upper Campus. Refreshments will be served, so please come and enjoy.
For those who may be interested in joining the ʻOhana Board, we have some terrific board leadership opportunities open including Lower School Vice-President, Middle School Vice-President, events coordinators for Lower and Middle School, community liaison, and more. You can read the job descriptions here. It is a wonderful way to meet and connect with other HPA families. To learn more or get involved, please email ohana@hpa.edu.
For those who were not able to make it to Park for Coffee on April 7, no worries, there is another opportunity coming up on Friday, May 12, 2023, from 7:45 to 8:30 am at the Village Campus. Come and enjoy coffee, donuts, and conversation (bring your own mug!). We look forward to seeing you there!
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.
- HPA COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, 2022-2023
- HPA Community Safety Pledge, 2022-2023
- HPA COVID-19 Positive Cases Policy
- HPA COVID-19 Decision Tree
For a complete directory of all our health and safety protocols, please review our COVID-19 Policies & Information Resource Board on myHPA.
Health & Wellness
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. If you or someone you know need help, please 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 student’s family member 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
Families, it is extremely important that the school is able to communicate not only with parents/guardians, but also with each student, via their mobile device. We are asking all students in grades 6-12, who bring a phone to school, to download theSafe2SpeakUp app.
Safe2SpeakUp allows us to inform students of emergency events when immediate action is needed. Teachers and administrators would also receive the information so that our community is on the same page. Please review the instructions below and assist your child with downloading the Safe2SpeakUp app.
This is a companion app to CrisisGo, an app that teachers and administrators use on their devices. 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 anonymously about any behaviors they are concerned about.
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.
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.