Week of 5/5/23
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
As May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, I will try to string together the many highlights from the past week in a way that best represents this wonderful time of year at HPA.
Last week, the Upper School entered Davies Memorial Chapel for the first time in a few years as an entire community for our Senior Speaker Series. With music from a few faculty members, some introductory words from an English-teaching alumna, and well-crafted messages of reflections, future aspirations, and gratitude — there was a feeling of connectedness and care for one another that set a wonderful tone. This morning we returned for a second round and got to hear from two more courageous seniors who stories didn’t leave a dry eye in the place. Then 11 of our “lifers” — seniors who have been with us since kindergarten, shared appreciation for their 13-year journey at HPA. The entire presentation was meaningful and uplifting for everyone in attendance. We are so proud of our Class of 2023!
Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to sit at a table during formal dinner with a fun group of boarding students, diverse in their ages, backgrounds, and experiences. We broke bread, laughed, and swapped stories and summer plans. It was impossible to sit there and not be awed and inspired by our young people’s care and appreciation for their peers and this place.
May also means culminating assessments and events. Our students are taking Advanced Placement exams, end-of-quarter tests, and competing in league and state championships. This highlights their skills, their characteristics, and their process. Did they prepare enough to be at their best during the most important time of the semester? Are they able to be mindful and shut out the distraction in order to focus on the moment? Can they rise to the occasion with a bit of nerves and anxiety, with the outcomes mostly in their hands? All great, safe processes that weave into a durable and ultimately beautiful mosaic of experiences they can eventually use to get them through the next challenge. As if it was scripted, our girls’ track team pulled off an amazing, come-from-behind victory to claim the BIIF championships during the days honoring legendary Coach Stan Shutes.
The way our community came together this week to surpass our May Day fundraising challenge through a vast range of support, from long-time alumni, to new families, to current staff, to friends of the school, is a testament to the collective love for this place and our people. The spirit of giving and aloha for Coach Stan Shutes, for our student experience, and for our school has been palpable all week.
And then, this morning’s K-5 May Day celebration! There is nothing like watching our youngest students take the GPAC stage to perform the mele and hula they have been working to master all year long and watching their faces beam with pride when the audience roars with applause. The theme of this year’s May Day was ʻO wai ʻoe? E nā meʻe Hawaiʻi. (Who are you? The heroes of Hawaiʻi.) And, while watching our elementary May Day celebration today, I saw exactly that in every small, powerful body and heart on that stage.
Tying us all together — with our wonderful and spirited ʻOhana Association leading the way — we honor our faculty in all divisions. In a week dedicated to teacher appreciation, we salute our faculty, our mission deliverers, our way finders, and our magic-makers. From kindergarten to 12th grade and everywhere in between, our faculty are truly the best!
May is here like an exclamation point of full circle connections – a lei of beauty and gratitude and honoring. As I reflect back on how we started the school year — the unknown and the potential of what’s next — I recognize that same feeling as we prepare to head into summer. There is excitement, anticipation, and possibility in the air, and I hope everyone takes a moment to breathe it all in and enjoy how far we’ve come.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 5/5/23
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,
Thank you for your support of our keiki! Our Lower Schoolers have just gathered to share mele and hula with you at our May Day performance featuring the spirit of our heroes and the rich history and culture of Hawaiʻi. It has been immensely moving to witness their growth these many weeks as they have embodied all that is Ka Makani in their pursuit of excellence for this momentous occasion. Thank you all for your loving support of our students and our school. For those of you who may have missed it or just want to experience it all over again, here is a link of their beautiful performance that can be shared with your loved ones.
As we approach the end of our academic year and transition into a long break from school, we are excited to offer a special talk story with our very own FLIK food services nutritionist, Jenna Lewis, on Monday, May 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 am in our Village Campus Dining Hall. During her nutrition presentation for all our K-8 Village Campus families, she will be covering the following topics:
– the feeding practice and the overall messaging about food to give to children
– the role of the parent and the child
– how to raise young people to be intuitive and adventurous eaters
– affirming cultural and traditional practices around food
– nutritional considerations when it comes to choosing foods to offer
– how to help kids make different choices, whether at home or at school
We invite you to drop off your child(ren) and come to the dining hall for some light refreshments at 8:00 am prior to the talk beginning at 8:30 am. We hope you can attend this special family event!
Me ka mahalo nui,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
A note from Mr. Chickering, Middle School Principal
Aloha Grade 5 families,
I know it’s hard to believe — as I went through it just last year! — but your children are heading into Middle School next year! Middle School is a time of change — with multiple teachers, new schedules, new programs, lockers, and more! It can be a lot to wrap your head around for both students and parents, and in order to shed some light on these changes, we will be hosting a few activities the week of May 15.
On Monday, May 15, from 3:30 to 4:40 pm in the Village Campus Drama Hall, we will host a parent information session to share the overall structure of the Middle School and answer questions you may have. Students are welcome to come to this as well, but we will also be hosting a few sessions for them during school that week.
Ms. Baydo will be bringing a group of 6th-grade students to her time with Grade 5 on Tuesday, May 16, to answer 5th-grade students’ questions and help share some insights to demystify 6th grade and Middle School.
On Wednesday, May 17, I will host the Grade 5 students for a preview of the Middle School program, a tour of the Middle School area, and a special recess on Kohala Field.
I hope these sessions will give a good overview of what to expect and what to be excited about when we start 6th grade in August. Please know that you can always reach out to me with questions at any time.
All my best,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
gchickering@hpa.edu
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator Dagan Bernstein
Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo! My deepest gratitude to our learning community for supporting our 5th-grade students at their capstone presentations and Sustainability Fair. Their presentations were reflective, engaging, and exemplified our core value of the pursuit of excellence. This is a team effort, and I don’t have enough room to list all the people that help bring these significant projects to life. Kumu, families, community members, administrators–we all work together to support our students. It is an honor to be part of this team. Great job, 5th graders!
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 8.
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, May 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 am: FLIK nutrition presentation, Village Campus Dining Hall
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
Ka Makani Keiki Camp
Arts, sports, hiking, and enrichment on campus and around our island to fill the summer days. Runs weekly from June 5 to July 28. The deadline for registration is May 15.
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,
As we wind down and celebrate our last weeks of school, we have focused on finishing strong and celebrating and sharing our accomplishments in assemblies. In classes, students will also be putting work into their digital portfolios to ensure their favorite artifacts of the year are uploaded and they take the time to reflect on their learning. At this time of year, it is common for people to feel a combination of excitement about what’s ahead and stress about all that is going on as we finish up the school year, and we are focused on supporting each other with kindness.
Ms. M and Ms. Tali are wrapping up a great collaboration with 6th-grade students. After Spring Break, the sixth-grade students embarked on a collaborative project in visual and performing arts that involved making masks and writing a play. They began by studying creation myths from different cultures to gain an understanding of why myths are important. The students then worked in groups to write their own creation myths, make plaster casts of their faces, and transform them into characters using sculptural elements.
They are currently adding the final touches to their masks and scripts and eagerly await the upcoming Performing Arts Showcase on Friday, May 12, where they will present their finished products. Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to showcase their creativity and hard work during the end-of-school assembly, where some groups will perform their short stories for the entire Middle School. This project has been a fantastic opportunity for the students to explore their creativity and engage in a fun and collaborative process.
During our Middle School Performing Arts Showcase on Friday, May 12, We will feature two plays written by our 7th and 8th grade Playwriting students and performed by our 7th and 8th-grade Theater students. We will also hear our ʻUkelele Ensemble perform some of their favorite pieces. Parents are welcome to attend these performances at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the Upper Campus. The show starts at 1:30 pm. Please enter the Upper Campus through the east gate nearest the Tennis Center. Please note that pickup for all Middle School students on Friday, May 12, will be at GPAC at 3:10 pm.
We hope to see you there!
We are happy to share our summer reading books for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Ms. Tarnas has these books in the library. Please fill out this form to order books for your child:
HPA Middle School Summer Reading Book Order Form 2023. We will deliver the books to the students, and your KaMakaniCash account will be charged.
A big mahalo to the ʻOhana Association and 8th-grade parents who are helping us with our 8th-grade Dinner and Dance at Anna Ranch on Saturday! 8th-grade students can begin arriving at 6:00 pm, and we will serve dinner at 6:30 pm, start dancing at 7:30 pm, and wrap up at 9:00 pm.
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Schedule
Our Middle School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 8.
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
• Saturday, May 6, at 6:00 pm: 8th-grade Dinner and Dance at Anna Ranch
• Monday, May 8, and Tuesday, May 9: 9th-grade course requests with advisors
• Friday, May 12, at 1:30 pm: Middle School Performing Arts Showcase at GPAC; Parents are welcome. Please enter through the East Gate nearest the Tennis Center. Pick-up for all Middle School students will be at GPAC at 3:10 pm.
• Tuesday, May 23: Grade 8 drop-off at the Upper Campus for Transition Practice
•Tuesday, May 23: Grades 6 and 7 class retreats. Drop-off and pick-up as normal at Village Campus for Grades 6 and 7
• Wednesday, May 24, from 10:00 to 11:00 am: 8th-grade Transition Ceremony at GPAC; 8th-grade students are to be dropped off by parents at GPAC at 8:00 am and will be dismissed from GPAC at 11:00 am
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
HPA Summer Enrichment Camps: BrainMatterZ Program
The BrainMatterZ program has returned to Hawaii Preparatory Academy! This Brain Lab is one of the few research based programs that improves cognition, executive functioning skills, working memory, reading speed, and auditory processing. It is based on the science of neuroplasticity and it is backed by extensive clinical trials. The BrainMatterZ Brain Lab helps students raise SAT and ACT scores, enhances their ability to take tests and to perform under pressure.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!
As I contemplated something to focus this week’s message on, the first thing that came to mind was a talk that was given during Monday’s assembly by Mr. Kimo Higgins. Mr. Higgins shared a very personal and challenging moment in his life that led to a long road of struggle. He shared about a bad car accident that he was in, the moments leading up to the accident, and his long and arduous road to recovery. He focused on making wise decisions and ensuring that everyone in the room is able to live a life that is not tied to any feelings of guilt, regret, and sadness that could be avoided.
The story that Mr. Higgins shared was told at a very timely moment in the school year. As the school year comes to an end, students often start to make plans for gatherings. The temptation to make unwise decisions during gatherings of this nature is very high. The maturity level of teenagers, mixed with peer pressure, can often result in an unsafe recipe. In the case of Mr. Higgins, the injuries he experienced left a life-altering impact. He shared about the physical and mental challenges that he now has to deal with. However, he also admitted that he would not trade places with anyone who has to live with the guilt of causing such harm unto others, or worse yet, the loss of life.
While the message was humbling, the mood in the theatre was very appreciative and eye-opening. It not only helped our students to get a better understanding of who Mr. Higgins is as a person and his journey. The undertone of aloha and care for others was very clear to me, and I hope it was equally as clear for our students. As the school year inches closer and closer to the finish and the excitement of graduation parties starts to fill the air, please assist as a keen set of eyes and ears to guide our students toward wise decision-making. While our students may appear to be very mature, guidance is still needed.
Aloha nō kākou kekahi i kekahi. Let’s all have aloha for one another.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule will resume as a ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, May 8.
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
• Monday, May 1 – Thursday, May 11: AP Exams
• Monday, May 15: Upper School Awards Ceremony
• Thursday, May 18, begins at 8:00 am: Hoʻonanea, Upper School Art Showcase
• Friday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 24: Upper School Final Exams
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.
AP Exams
AP attendance on test days
- Morning exams: Students must attend afternoon classes assuming there is still instruction/review that is beneficial for upcoming final exams.
- Afternoon exams: Students may skip morning classes to further prepare for an afternoon AP exam. Parents/guardians must email attendance@hpa.edu to excuse students from morning classes.
After the final test day
- Seniors: If the senior is passing conduct, and a parent has signed the senior privilege form, they may be excused from attending further AP classes after the completion of the AP exam.
Freshmen – Juniors: Students must continue to attend classes through Thursday, May 18. Teachers are not required to conduct further assessments and may use the time to cover topics that are difficult to include in an AP curriculum.
Ho’onanea, Upper School Spring Art Showcase
HPA’s Upper School Art Department is proud to present Hoʻonanea, our spring arts showcase, on May 18, 2023! This day-long celebration of art begins with an Open Studio Exhibition in the Gerry Clark Art Center (GCAC) showcasing works from Ceramics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, and Photography. Please join us at the morning reception, where refreshments will be served from 8:00 to 9:00 am! Then, join us in the Davies Memorial Chapel at 11:45 am for a lunchtime performance of classical works by our String Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble. In the afternoon, a performing arts showcase will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) at 4:00 pm featuring works from Advanced Acting, Acting Through Song, Comedy 101, Instrumental Ensemble, and Musicianship. Hoʻonanea encompasses everything art does for humanity. The word hoʻonanea means to enjoy, satisfy, entertain, absorb, pleasure, and be content. We hope you can attend, enjoy HPA student art, and hoʻonanea pū mai me mākou! More information on parking and guest-to-campus guidelines to follow.
Capstone Update from 9-12 Capstone Coordinator Greg McKenna
Aloha! The Senior Capstone Showcase was an incredible, weeklong celebration of the work that our 12th-grade students had completed this year. They shared how they collaborated, thought critically, communicated, and found creative ways to address important issues while engaging with their community. A huge mahalo to our entire HPA ʻohana for attending the presentations in person at GPAC or virtually through the live stream. The interaction through the Q&A sessions were a powerful reflection for the seniors while providing inspiration to the younger students as they consider their own capstones in the future. Specifically, it is important to thank Jared Terpak, Ari Bernstein, and the whole AV team, who supported the showcase by taking care of the audio, video, and lighting so beautifully. Similarly, a big thank you to Kumu Ka’ai and the teachers at our Upper School for bringing their students to the presentations throughout the week. And finally, thank you, seniors, for all your amazing work this year in our HPA Capstone Program!
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
AP Exam scores will be available to students online at apscore.org in July. Students will also be able to access their scores at that time by signing in through My AP.
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. You should have received a confirmation email on Wednesday, April 26, indicating how many Baccalaureate and Commencement tickets you will be receiving. If you have not, please contact us at graduation@hpa.edu. As a reminder, the deadline to submit for additional tickets has passed, and we are unable to accommodate future requests. Tickets will be distributed during the last senior class meeting on Thursday, May 11.
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
Ka Makani Travel
It’s not too early to be thinking about next year’s adventure opportunities with Ka Makani Travel!
Spring Break 2024
Expedition to Australia & New Zealand with EF Tours $6,049 per student
Summer 2024
Spendors of the Mediterranean with EF Tours $5,199 per student
For more information, please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator, Ms. Adrienne White, at awhite@hpa.edu.
Student Life
This is a reminder, and per the Senior Privileges email that was sent on April 19, if a senior wants to participate in Senior Privileges, they MUST be passing citizenship (three or fewer conduct points.) Among other things, Senior Privileges include being able to sign out during the day and electing not to attend co-curriculars. Students who have four or more conduct points are NOT excused from their co-curriculars and will be marked as absent and assigned additional conduct points. Should you have any questions, please reach out to attendance@hpa.edu.
Seniors are who considered to be failing citizenship will have their diploma withheld until they have worked off their conduct points to a passing mark, including after graduation.
Residential Life
Summer Departures
As of Monday, May 1, all student travel information for their summer departure is past due. If you have not yet sent your child’s travel itinerary to travel@hpa.edu, please do so as soon as possible. Even if they will not need transportation to the airport, we appreciate your assistance as we plan for the end of the year.
With less than a month left in the current year, our residential students are preparing for the end of the year, transitioning to the next, and looking forward to summer! In addition to focusing on their academic work and upcoming exams, there are a number of events to look forward to, including our final Lava Lounge of the year, our annual Dorm Wars Closing Ceremonies, Formal Dinner, celebrations, and many more activities!
To prepare for summer and move-out, students were informed this past week of the process for packing up their rooms.
- Starting next week, to help students start to declutter and begin slowly packing up, we will be holding a clothing and school supplies drive to benefit local students in need.
- All returning students may store up to three (3) boxes or suitcases in our locked storage closets for the summer. The school has a limited supply of storage boxes that students are welcome to utilize.
- Graduating seniors who wish to sign out with their families before graduation are welcome to do so but will be required to fully pack up their rooms before doing so. They may leave a set of bed sheets and a small bag with clothes they will need for Baccalaureate, Commencement, and Grad Night, but should otherwise be moved out.
As we look ahead to next year, we want to recognize the students who stepped forward to lead our residential community next year. After a series of individual interviews, applications, and a group interview process, the residential faculty are pleased to announce the students who will be serving as next year’s dormitory prefects. We look forward to working alongside them next year to help make our community and student experience as positive and welcoming as it can be!
Miron Amanai Van Duijvenbode
Samuel Faiola
Alexander Goodman
Martina Guerra Bovea
Maxwell Heilmann
Victoria Holmes
Regan Jackson
Isabella Jeffers
Mailee Johnson
Mingyeol (Justin) Kim
Chun Cheng (Bruce) Lee
Luke Linebaugh
Alexander Link
Murphy Makely
Marcela Rodriguez Millan
Haruno Murakami
Sumire Nagai
Katherine Philpott
Contessa Ricci
Daniela Rojas-Castelblanco
Rowan Schiermeyer
James Skyrm
Zixun (Eric) Tang
Jack Van der Reis
Zane Vannatta
Benjamin Wyatt
Lily Yamauchi
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.
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Nature's Classroom Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy (waitlist only)
• ELL Academy
Runs from June 26 to July 21. Reserve your spot now, as spaces are filling up!
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
Advancement & Alumni
May Day Challenge
Congratulations and mahalo, everyone! Our May Day Challenge — dedicated this year to our iconic Stanford W. Shutes Track — has been met!! Our ‘ohana contributed a total of $51,975 to restore our beloved Stanford W. Shutes Track. Because YOU helped us reach our goal, an anonymous donor will be making a special contribution of $20,000 to the effort. On behalf of all Ka Makani who will run, jump, and soar here—mahalo!
HPA Fund
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 our current families, along with alumni, and friends, to sustain the outstanding educational experience we offer every student, every day, here at HPA.
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 for Alu Mai Gala 2023
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
It’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.
Village Campus Teacher Appreciation
National Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12! In celebration of our Village Campus faculty and staff, the ʻOhana Association with support from K-8 families, will be hosting a luncheon on Wednesday, May 10. Please sign up here to donate food, small gifts, and lei. Lei will be distributed by the 5th graders on Aloha Friday. In addition, K-8 students are asked to make signs, thank you cards, and decorations to adorn their classroom doors and honor the wonderful faculty and staff at the Village Campus. Lower School room parents will help organize Lower School door decorating on Sunday, May 7, and we would love the support of any Middle School students or families! Please email Ohana_vpmiddle@hpa.edu if your Middle Schooler can help decorate!
Thank you so much for your support, Village Campus families! If you have any questions or can help with Teacher Appreciation Week activities, please email Ohana_vplower@hpa.edu
Park for Coffee
There is another Park for Coffee 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.