Week of 4/7/23
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Our Core values of wonder and the pursuit of excellence are on full display across both of our campuses. April brings a special academic time for each of our divisions as we celebrate our student work in our Capstone Showcase events in grades 5, 8, and 12. The HPA Capstone program represents the pinnacle of learning experiences achieved by the end of each division. Capstones are sustained-inquiry, interdisciplinary projects that serve as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students. Students are assessed on HPA’s core academic skills of Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking.
HPA’s Capstone Program has evolved over time. About ten years ago, a group of dedicated educators began a research and development journey to advance our curriculum that would eventually lead us to what is now a routine academic highlight of the year. With the capstone experience, we take a set of established learning goals and objectives, then ask our students to identify a community problem and develop independent ideas around finding a solution for their identified issue. This requires communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Our students are given the guard rails of rubrics, checkpoints, and feedback loops. They have the freedom to try their ideas, iterate as needed, and likely experience some levels of failure, and then the support they need to persevere in order to try the whole process again. It is a beautiful, real, and iterative process.
In so many ways, the capstone journey for our students is a preview of what is to come in real life. Working on solutions to complex problems in order to improve systems or situations is what life is all about. Developing the understanding and willingness to put yourself out there, knowing there is a possibility, even a probability, that failure could be the result rapidly increases our ability to grow. Our students most often adapt and then thrive in the time just after a failure occurs. When I mention failure, it is not in the context of getting a poor grade or not completing the project. The failure I am referring to is the kind that occurs naturally along the way as our students figure things out. It is a necessary growth point that provides experiences that can be drawn on for years to come.
So check your emails, and get your calendars ready because it’s capstone season, and our students’ work is ready to be showcased! Come and celebrate student learning and achievement in real-time.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend!
Best,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 4/7/23
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,
How do we encourage students to be curious, open to learning, and excited about school? At the Village Campus, we work hard to build welcoming communities in our classroom spaces so the children come to school each day with a sense of belonging. We know that when children have this, they can be their best selves to learn and thrive. This week, we were excited to invite to our campus Ms. Rosetta Lee, a well-known diversity and belonging educator who has worked with hundreds of schools in our country and abroad to build inclusive communities. She hosted an assembly with our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders on the topic of “No Joke Zones and Pump Ups.” What are some things that we love to joke about? Where are areas that we may be feeling less silly about that would hurt our feelings? This can be different depending on the individual, and it is our job as caring community members to notice the impact we have on one another. Likewise, what are some “pump ups” for you? What does your friend or loved one do that makes you feel included and cared for? Do you appreciate acts of kindness or words of affirmation, for example? Students reflected on this and talked together about ways they could listen to others in addition to expressing themselves in these areas.
Likewise, for our kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders, students engaged in a virtual session in their own classrooms as Ms. Lee led a workshop on “Welcoming Differences.” What are some “ouch moments” that you have experienced? Has anyone ever told you, “that’s stupid” or “that’s gross”? Alternatively, what are some “welcoming ways” we can let others know that we care and appreciate them? For our youngest learners, we practiced three strategies:
1. Don’t yuck someone’s yum.
For example, someone might have food you have never seen before in their lunchbox, wear a different kind of color than you like, or watch a show you think is for younger kids. Saying “Yuck! Ew!” or “That is for babies!” might be something that comes immediately to mind. Instead of giving them an “ouch” moment, don’t yuck someone’s yum! Choosing kind words or not saying anything at all can help keep our community inclusive.
2. Be curious.
If something seems different to someone, one might say, “You’re weird!” or “That is not normal.” Instead, try phrases like, “How interesting!” or “Tell me more!” Being curious and having wonder allows us to share more about ourselves and learn more about one another.
3. Give things a try.
Be mindful of ‘almost missed opportunities.’ Sometimes when we are afraid of trying new things, we miss out on a lot. Be open to trying new experiences, such as projects, activities, foods, or ideas. Being in a diverse community, we can learn a lot from each another, deepening our relationships and understandings, as well as enriching our lives. Ms. Lee shared that when she first came to this country, she was too afraid to try pizza for two whole years. Talk about an ‘almost missed opportunity!’
An extension of the beautiful work that takes place in all our classrooms, Ms. Lee’s time with us helped provide more strategies to keep our diverse community inclusive and full of belonging. Our teachers also had time to meet with her on Tuesday afternoon and reflect together about the ways in which we allow for wonder and make safe spaces for student dignity. We talked about the importance of teaching simple tools easily leaned upon with our youngest learners, while older students benefit from exploring their sense of self through thoughtful questioning and support. We were also reminded about the importance of being careful of media marketed to children. Often, movies and shows may exhibit the opposite of what is desired when building positive relationships and inclusive communities. For example, a plot might include showing exclusive behaviors that are then resolved using more inclusive behaviors. However, the bulk of the show may entail modeling these inappropriate behaviors while spending only a few minutes on the resolution and resulting positive behaviors and outcomes. A child may not developmentally be ready to follow the plot fully, resulting in the focus being on undesired behaviors such as violence, bullying, exclusiveness, or the like.
What type of welcoming strategies do you talk about at home? Which one of the above resonates with you the most? Is there one that your child actively practices at home?
Just a reminder that HPA will be welcoming Meg Medina, celebrated Newberry Award-winning author and this year’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, next week on Friday, April 14. Our 3rd through 5th-grade students will participate in a presentation from Ms. Medina, and our K-2 students will get to hear a read-aloud from her. If you are interested in having your child receive a signed copy of one of her books, please reach out to Mrs. Tarnas, K-8 Librarian, or access the form she has posted on your child’s Seesaw account in Messages.
Have a lovely weekend, Lower School ʻohana! I am grateful to be a part of this inclusive community!
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 10.
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, April 14: Meg Medina, Author’s Visit at Taylor Library
• 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: Epic Origami
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 Epic Origami, which is for students ages 8-12 from June 12-16.
Explore all our summer options at 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,
I hope you were able to make it to Liam’s capstone presentation of his original play, Our Oldest Enemy, which he presented at Gates Performing Arts Center on Friday afternoon. Liam wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this play — taking care of all the minor logistical details, as well. Great work, Liam!
Speaking of HPA Capstones, there are so many more interesting projects that our students put lots of hard work into that we would love to share with you. Please mark your calendars for our Grade 8 Capstone Expo on Thursday, April 20, from 2:30 – 3:00 pm at Hale ʻĪnana, where students will be thrilled to share their work with you.
Earlier this week, we welcomed Ms. Rosetta Lee, a renowned educator specializing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging work, to our campuses. Rosetta spent time with some of our students and teachers during lunch for a discussion about affinity groups. She also had a meeting with one of our 8th-grade students whose capstone project is focused on raising awareness of and preventing microaggressions. She then led a special assembly for Middle School students — also focusing on microaggressions — and finished the day with a workshop for all Village Campus teachers discussing different needs for different ages in helping them navigate relationships in healthy ways.
A big thank you to Ms. Tarnas for all the work she has put into preparing Lower and Middle School students for the Heluhelu Quiz Bowl, taking place in Hilo on April 13. This will be hosted by author Meg Medina, our National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Meg Medina will then join us on campus on Friday, April 14, and will host a special assembly for Middle School students.
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 10
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 13: Helu Helu Quiz Bowl
• Friday, April 14: Meg Medina, Author visit at Taylor Library
• 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
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: Skate Board Engineering
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 Skate Board Engineering, which is for students ages 11-17 from June 19-23.
Explore all our summer options at the link below.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!
As we continue to get deeper into the final quarter of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the amazing achievements that all of our students have accomplished thus far. The dedication to the pursuit of excellence and wonder has been nothing short of inspiring, and the talented and driven student body always moves me.
One of the highlights of the upcoming weeks will undoubtedly be the senior capstone presentations that will take place during the last week of April. This is a momentous occasion for our graduating seniors, who will have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge, skills, and passions to their peers, teachers, and families. These sustained-inquiry projects have forced our seniors to grind through a long process, which will greatly help them as they continue to pursue major projects in the future.
Last year, we made a shift that asked all teachers to bring each of their classes to serve as audience members for the capstone presentations. The hope is to expose all of our underclassmen to the amazing work of the seniors, which may ignite a spark of interest in any of our underclassmen that may not yet have an idea that moves them. The hard work and dedication to these capstone projects are a testament to the strength and resilience of our community. Let us come together to celebrate their achievements and look forward to the bright future that awaits them.
In closing, I have a message for our seniors. I want to remind you that each of you has the power to make a positive impact on your community and the world around you. Whether it is through your capstone project or your everyday interactions with your peers, teachers, neighbors, and family members, your actions and words have the ability to inspire and uplift those around you. I am confident that you will continue to make us proud and make a difference in the world. You inspire me, and I hope you find inspiration in each other.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Capstone Update from 9-12 Capstone Coordinator Greg McKenna
Aloha mai kākou. Coming back from Spring Break, our seniors have been finalizing and sharing their capstone products while reflecting on their capstone journeys this year. I would like to first commend Alden Mazo and Minami Asbjornson who just returned from the Hawaiʻi State Science Fair on Oahu. There, each presented research and experiments from their capstone projects, and both placed second in their respective divisions! Congratulations!
Other students have shared their capstone products with the community in a variety of ways, from meals highlighting the students’ home culture paired with local produce, to mindfulness retreats, to exo-planet astronomy lessons presented schools around Hawaiʻi Island. We are looking forward to our first culminating capstone event this coming Friday, April 14, where we will show several student produced films at our second annual Capstone Film Festival, followed by the first annual Capstone Product Expo at lunch that same day.
Looking ahead, 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. As this week approaches, we will be sending out more specific information with presentation schedules and student project lists.
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 10.
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 according to a 2016 study, “students who chose to read self-selected literature for pleasure performed better in English, mathematics, science, and history” (Whitten, et. al. The Impact of Pleasure Reading on Academic Success)? As school librarians, we are trained to select materials for our libraries that reflect our student’s interests and meet their academic needs. Access to books and libraries is so important to a student’s overall academic success, and during School Library Month we celebrate libraries and all of the amazing resources they provide!
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
We are at the start of our Student Council election timeline. On Monday, we will have speeches for the running mates of President and Vice President, followed by the election. Results will be announced on Tuesday early afternoon!
Should a student not get elected to either of those positions, there is still time to apply for Class Representatives, Security, Treasurer, and Executive Dorm Representative. All applicants are asked to review the Executive Student Council job descriptions, Class Representative job description, and Student Council Constitution before applying for any position.
Deadlines
Sunday, April 9, at 10:00 pm – applications for Class Representatives are due
Tuesday, April 11, at 10:00 pm – applications for Security, Treasurer, and Executive Dorm Representative are due
At the end of April, we will send out an application for Student Ambassadors.
Residential Life
HPA was delighted to host Ms. Rosetta Lee on our campus this week, and the Residential community had the opportunity to hear from her directly about cross-cultural communication and how to navigate communicating with people from very different backgrounds. As we progress through our selection process for next year’s dormitory Prefects, the lessons learned will help our current and future student leaders communicate more effectively with the students in their halls and in their dormitories.
Candidates for the position of Prefect will be going through an individual interview process, as well as group interviews, over the next few weeks. We are excited about the pool of candidates we have and expect to have decisions on next year’s leaders in the dormitory by the end of April.
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
Do you have a passion you want to pursue? Our specialized four-week academies are designed for day and boarding middle and high school students ages 11-17. We are offering the following academies:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Nature's Classroom Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy
• 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 Association
Thank you so much to those who were able to join us this morning for ʻOhana Association’s Park for Coffee at the Village Campus. It was a great way to kick off the weekend!
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 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
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.