Week of 8/30/24

What's Happening at HPA This Week?

Message from the Head of School

Aloha HPA ʻohana,

Here they come, moving instinctively, reading and reacting, like an army of ants working meticulously. The ball moves from one side of the field to the other, and soon enough it is just me and what I think is the lone attackman, with the ball midway between us. I crouch into a stance, work pants rolled, intensely contemplating an aggressive charge toward my opponent or a more strategic step to the side to increase my angle and lessen theirs. As the offense closes the space, I commit, lunging to my left — a blink later, he instinctively counters by quickly passing the ball to the other side of the field to a wide-open teammate who easily taps the ball into the goal.

A feeling of dejection instantly floods my nervous system, immediately followed by a touch of anger, then humility, and laughter, and positivity. I shake it off, knowing there is more time in this game, more time in the 3rd through 5th-grade recess, meaning more time for me to possibly make a save and help my team.

Village Campus recess is no joke. Come ready or don’t come at all. I got to spend lunch down there earlier this week, taking in all the learning, all the interactions, and and all the fun that goes on — from foursquare to fort building, skipping to swinging, yelling to singing. It was magical. The soccer game I jumped in seems to occur regularly, and the participants seem to wear their favorite uniforms, play as if it is the league championship, and apparently know all the rules of the game and maybe to life. While opinions seem to differ on each game situation, at least this day, things resolved fluidly, without adult mediation, and with continued movement toward the next opportunity for extended play.

Opportunities, failures, and “next plays” are so important to see coming, take part in, and then move on from as quickly as possible. This sentiment of forethought, failing well,and flexibility has been at the heart of several recent academic public voices. There was a wonderful graduation speech at Dartmouth College last May that touched on this and went viral. I highlighted elements of it earlier this month in our first Upper School assembly – underlining the energy and purpose of these moving and motivating words and lessons. NAIS President, Debra P. Wilson, in her August note to Heads of School does an amazing job sharing her perspective:

“…I sense an acceptance that in this dynamic time, we will just have to be as ready as we can be. We’re all putting plans in place, as we should. But we also have to be prepared to adjust when the context around us changes and to use what we learn to adapt, grow, and work smarter. And we’ll have to be ready to face some failures along with our wins.

Tennis great Roger Federer hit on this idea of relative wins and losses in his recent graduation speech at Dartmouth. It’s worth watching, or re-watching, even if your house isn’t full of tennis fanatics, as mine is. In Federer’s second “tennis lesson,” he explains that although he won 80% of the matches he played as a pro, he only won 54% of the points, or barely more than half. Those who rise to the top are not the best because they win every point, he says, but because they know they will lose again and again and have learned how to handle it. They can see that what’s behind them is behind them.

Federer concludes that this mindset “frees you to fully commit to the next point… with intensity, clarity, and focus.” I’m hoping we can all keep such a mindset as we consider the year behind us and plan for the one to come.”

I’m inspired by the wisdom Federer shared, and I hope it serves as a reminder that in education, as in life, it’s not about winning every time but about showing up, learning, and growing through every experience. Our students are doing this everyday, in the many different arenas they enter. Exceptional learning opportunities abound. Challenging and missing problems on homework leads to being more prepared for tests, failures with projects leads to better projects, having things not work in practice leads to trying to fix them to work in games or life.

When I roll up my work pants and hop back in the goal for the next K-5 recess game, I will take this mindset. Let us enjoy the clarity of the moment, be present and do our best. Then, move on to the next opportunity with that same awareness, interest, and zeal.

This three day weekend came quickly, and August will be in the rear-view when we re-connect. There is so much to be grateful for. Let’s stay in the moment and enjoy the process.

Happy Aloha Friday. Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!

Gratefully,

Fred Wawner
Head of School

School Bulletins for the Week of 8/30/24

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.

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From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong

Aloha Lower School families!

What an amazing day it was! Despite the weather concerns, our K-5 students were able to experience Lower School Enrichment Day, an intensive, interdisciplinary, and experiential learning day designed to provide our students with a unique opportunity to benefit from the expertise of their specialist teachers. This day is rooted in the concept of Mālama Kaiāulu, which emphasizes caring for and nurturing our community, with our specific theme being pilina (connectedness), and more deeply, Nā Ala Pilina (pathways of connections).

Our students engaged in hands-on activities and lessons that extended beyond their usual classroom experiences, allowing them to work closely with peers from different grade levels. Our cross-curricular enrichment sessions and activities with specialist teacher-facilitated learning through three areas of focus (Music & Movement, Research & Technology, and Garden & Art) provided opportunities to explore rhythm, beat, and meter through rhymes and movement, create books about pilina in our lives, and create community art through reflection and kilo.

The focus was on collaboration, creativity, and experiential learning — learning values that we hold dear in the Lower School.

Wā Pilina Buddy Partnerships
I’m thrilled to share that we are continuing our Wā Pilina initiatives, now in its fourth year! Wā Pilina, meaning “time of connection,” reflects our commitment to fostering relationships and building a sense of community among our students. As part of this initiative, our students are paired with a “buddy” class from a different grade level to participate in collaborative activities. Our partnerships include:

Kindergarten with 3rd grade
1st grade with 4th grade
2nd grade with 5th grade

Through these partnerships, we aim to provide holistic experiences that nurture intellectual, social-emotional, and moral growth. Ending the day with reflection and our full school hula closed the day’s theme of Nā Ala Pilina as a K-5 community.

Save the Date for our Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Wednesday, September 18!
Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA! on Wednesday, September 18, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. We will be sharing more details in the coming days but plan for an afternoon that includes classroom visits to each of your child’s grade-level, advisory, and specialty classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our incredible HPA faculty and see your child(ren) engaged in their daily learning spaces.

Portrait of a Graduate: We Need Your Input!
We are also in the process of developing our school’s Portrait of a Graduate, and we need your help! This process aims to define the qualities and skills we hope all our students will embody upon graduation from HPA. With a foundation in our Core Values of respect, integrity, wonder, and pursuit of excellence, we are asking parents to contribute their ideas on the qualities they would like their children to possess and what they hope our teachers will model for them in the classroom.

To gather your valuable input, we have created a survey that we encourage all parents to complete. Your feedback is crucial in helping us shape a vision for our graduates that reflects our shared aspirations for their future.

We are excited to work together to enrich our students’ experiences and help them grow in multiple dimensions. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school community.

Finally, please take a look at our most recent library newsletter, from K-8 Librarian, Mrs. Kristin Tarnas.

Have a wonderful weekend, Lower School ʻohana!

Me ke aloha pumehana,

Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal

Kīpona Scholarships
Kīpona Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year are open now through December 1. Offered through Kamehameha Schools, eligible applicants must be entering grade 6 or 9 (current 5th and 8th graders), and be a Hawai‘i resident. (Lived continuously in Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of application date.) More details and the application are available here. Current Kīpona Scholarship recipients must reapply by December 1.

It is with great pride that we officially announce the beginning of a truly momentous occasion — our 75th anniversary! Throughout this school year, we will celebrate together and invite you to join us in remembering that we are all — alumni, students, parents, faculty and friends — Ka Makani. Take a stroll through our historical timeline, meet just a few of the many Ka Makani who make us proud, and read about our vision for the future in the 75th Anniversary feature just launched on our website. There, you will also find information about planned gatherings for the year ahead, and have a chance to pre-order our very special 75th anniversary aloha wear collection. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @HawaiiPrep to stay in the loop about all of the festivities.

Schedule
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day holiday.

Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Tuesday, September 3.

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, September 2: Labor Day holiday, no classes K-12, school closed
• Tuesday, September 3: K-12 classes resume
• Wednesday, September 4 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Wednesday, September 11: School Picture Day
• Wednesday, September 11 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 to 6:00 pm: Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA!
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Friday, September 20: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12

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.

After School Program, K-5
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu), if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for our Lower School families with more information.

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, 2024-2025.

myHPA
In addition to Seesaw, many important resources can be located on our community portal, myHPA. Check the Lower School Family Resources tile for the most up-to-date information.

Middle School

Each week, Middle School Principal Michael Cservenak 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.

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From the desk of your Division Principal, Michael Cservenak

Aloha Middle School families,

Our 8th-grade capstone team brought the 8th grade together this past Tuesday to engage them in reflective work in relation to their capstone journey. Mr. Bernstein, supported by Kumu Kūwalu and the 8th-grade advisors, rooted several journaling exercises in the Hawaiian word, naʻau. Naʻau has many meanings from literally referring to ‘guts’ to a ‘unification of the mind and heart’. In the exercise this past Tuesday, students were asked to “listen to their naʻau” and allow that intention to drive introspection as they move forward with their capstone explorations. As an observer to this powerful exercise, I found it insightful not only to the 8th-grade team but also to our Middle School as a whole. At this point in the school year, the dust settles and the march of assignments, projects and social challenges can take over. It can be easy to lose track of what truly guides us and roots us in our work as students, teachers and leaders. As parents, you will begin to see a bank of feedback collecting in the form of graded work and commentary from teachers but I invite you to return to this concept of listening to your naʻau and seeing your child for the shining beacon for us all they are each day even if things are challenging.

This past week, we launched the first week of Middle School Clubs, which will usually only be about 30 minutes a week and refresh quarterly. Students knitted, made crafts, explored investment strategies or went for a refreshing walk along the Waimea Trail. Others played flag football, 3-v-3 basketball, soccer or lacrosse. The objective of the Clubs block each week is to give students across grade levels the opportunity to connect and explore an activity or topic with freedom while connecting students with peers and teachers they may not always have the opportunity to work with on a regular basis. In the Middle School Assembly that followed students shared warm appreciation and affirmation for their teachers and staff who thoughtfully ran clubs. I personally had a blast with our flag football club and look forward to spending the quarter with these students.

All applications for Student Council representatives along with two letters of recommendation from teachers are due this coming Tuesday, September 3. Representatives from last year spoke with students at Assembly and shared both the commitment serving on Student Council entails and how much fun it can be. I hope to develop this year’s Student Council into ambassadors for the school who can help plan for 6th-grade transition and serve as representatives to outside guests and partners.

Lastly, our trips to ʻOhaiʻula Spencer Beach Park and Puʻukohala Heiau, Kīholo Bay and Ulu Mau Puanui for Middle School Retreat day went forward after careful monitoring of Tropical Storm Gilma showed it had weakened considerably and severe weather was no longer a threat. I was able to join many of the activities and was further convinced through the efforts of our teaching team to make place-based learning a priority that HPA is truly a place to learn like nowhere else!

You can check out the newest edition of the HPA Taylor Library News to find out how you can join Friends of the Library in the 2024-2025 school year.

Save the Date for our Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Wednesday, September 18!

Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA! on Wednesday, September 18, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. We will be sharing more details in the coming days but plan for an afternoon that includes classroom visits to each of your child’s grade-level, advisory, and specialty classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our incredible HPA faculty and see your child(ren) engaged in their daily learning spaces.

We are excited to work together to enrich our students’ experiences and help them grow in multiple dimensions. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school community.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mahalo nui loa,

Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal

Schedule
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day holiday.

Our Middle School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Tuesday, September 3.

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.

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.

After School Program, Grades 6-8
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu) if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for our Middle School families for more information.

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, 2024-2025’.

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’.

myHPA Tutorials
myHPA is your window to your child’s progress in school. Here you will find their schedules, their assignments, their grade books and so much more. Ms. Monello and our IT team have put together a number of tutorials to help you navigate the myHPA parent portal.

Please note this myHPA Middle School Parent Tutorial, which gives you an overview of using myHPA as a window to your child’s learning in real time.

Upper School

Each week, our Upper School leadership team provides valuable insight into campus culture while sharing updates with 9-12 day and Residential Life students and parents on everything taking place, from academics to athletics and the arts.

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From the desk of your Upper School leadership team

Aloha Upper School families,

As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we are reminded of the incredible legacy that our school has built over the years — a legacy rooted in our deep commitment to excellence, community, and the unique spirit of learning that defines Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy. This milestone is not just a celebration of our past, but a powerful reminder of our kuleana (responsibility) to shape the future. We are the heirs of the hard work and dedication of those who came before us, and we recognize the importance of continuously refining and enhancing our work today to sustain HPA for the next 75 years and beyond.

In this spirit, we are embarking on an exciting journey to hone our vision for the essential knowledge, skills, and attributes our students will embody upon graduating from HPA. This vision, known as the Portrait of a Graduate, will serve as the foundation of our K-12 Academic Program, ensuring that these core qualities become the cornerstones of an HPA education, guiding our students toward success in all their future endeavors.

In tandem with this vision, we are also exploring the Professional Characteristics of Excellence that define the qualities and practices we expect from our educators. These characteristics extend beyond subject expertise, and instead, reflect a commitment to continuous learning, the ability to inspire curiosity and creativity, a dedication to nurturing each student’s potential, and an unwavering respect for the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that enrich our community.

The foundation of this work is HPA’s Mālama Kaiāulu, our school’s commitment to cultivating the community of spirit, land, and people. The word mālama means to care for, to protect, and to preserve, while kaiāulu refers to the collective community. Together, Mālama Kaiāulu represents our dedication to fostering a deep sense of responsibility, connection, and stewardship in everything we do. This approach is what makes learning at HPA truly special, as it connects academic excellence with a profound sense of place and purpose.

But this journey cannot be completed without you — our committed and passionate parent community. Your insights, hopes, and dreams for your children are essential as we craft these visions. We want to ensure that our Portrait of an HPA Graduate reflects the diverse aspirations you hold for your children’s futures and that our educators continue to meet the highest standards of excellence.

To that end, I invite you to participate in a survey that will help us gather your invaluable perspective. Your contributions will play a crucial role in shaping an educational experience where HPA remains unparalleled — a place where learning is truly like nowhere else. Our graduates will emerge not only academically and professionally prepared, but also holistically developed, deeply rooted in our core values of Integrity, Respect, the Pursuit of Excellence, and Wonder. Furthermore, as they embark on their future journeys, they will carry with them a profound connection to our island home, guided by the principles of Mālama Kaiāulu, ready to make their mark on the world.

Your voice is vital as we chart the course for the next 75 years of excellence at HPA. Together, let us make sure that our school continues to be a place where every student can thrive and every teacher can inspire.

Mahalo nui loa for your partnership and dedication to our HPA community.

With gratitude and aloha,

Dr. Amanda Aragon
Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator

Student photographers Kelan K. ’26 and Makana L. ’28 contributed to this gallery.

Schedule
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day holiday.

Our Upper School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Tuesday, September 3.

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, September 2: Labor Day holiday, no classes K-12, school closed
• Tuesday, September 3: K-12 classes resume
• Tuesday, September 10 at 8:30 am: Upper School Convocation
• Friday, September 20: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12

Student Support
Should your child need additional learning support, we encourage you to reach out to Amanda Aragon, our Upper School Learning Center Coordinator, by emailing aaragon@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.

Student Life
Ka Makani Athletics
Another fall season is ready to roll. Let the games begin! Here’s the updated fall athletic schedule and the weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.

Day Student Check-in and Check-out
Starting Monday, September 9, students may stop checking in at the Student Life Center once they are able to show that they have downloaded the app Safe2SpeakUp. Until the app is downloaded and they have logged in successfully, day students will still be required to check in before attending their first commitment of the day, even if they are running late to class. Students must sign out at the Student Life Center if they are leaving campus before their last commitment of the day, including athletics and co-curriculars. If a student is returning to campus during the academic day, they must sign in at the Student Life Center before heading to class along with a note from their appointment.

As a reminder, HPA is a closed campus, so if a parent or guardian wishes to come to campus during the academic day, they will need an appointment with one or more of the following:

Upper School Office (upperschool@hpa.edu)
- US Administrative Assistant, Līhau Wengler-Ioane (lihau@hpa.edu)
Assistant Head of School for Upper School, Mark Noetzel (hpaus@hpa.edu)
Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator: Dr. Amanda Aragon, aaragon@hpa.edu
Capstone Program Coordinator: Pualani Lincoln Maielua ‘01, plincolnmaielua@hpa.edu
Athletics: Steve Perry (sperry@hpa.edu)
Extra-curricular programs: Kaʻai Spencer (jspencer@hpa.edu)
Student’s Advisor
Student Life Center (studentlife@hpa.edu)
Health Services (infirmary@hpa.edu)

Day Student Attendance Protocols
A parent or guardian must email attendance@hpa.edu before 9:00 am if they need to excuse their child for that day. Please note that students will only be excused for appointments or family or medical reasons. Unexcused absences will result in conduct points which can result in the student being restricted to campus for boarding and/or ineligible for academic awards, i.e. the Dean’s List. Students are responsible for checking their conduct points and attendance records and should reach out as soon as possible if there are any errors.

For long-term absences, please also reach out to the Upper School Office and the student’s advisor to coordinate a plan for the missing classes.

If a day student is ill, please do not send them to school, but email attendance@hpa.edu and include Health Services (infirmary@hpa.edu), and a nurse will follow up with the proper return-to-class procedure. If a student already on campus begins to feel ill, they must report to the infirmary, where the nurses will take care of them. If a student fails to do so and is absent to a class, the absence will be unexcused.

Hele-On Bus Passengers – Shuttle from Village Campus to Upper Campus
For students who ride the Hele-On Bus to school each day, HPA will offer a shuttle from the Village Campus to the Upper Campus. Route 76 Green Line arrives at the Village Campus at approximately 7:45 am. The HPA Shuttle will wait for students behind Isaacs Art Center. Students need to get off the bus at Longs Drugs and walk across the street to board the shuttle to the Upper Campus. For students who take the late bus, the shuttle will be parked at the bus stop just past the Waiaka Bridge on Kawaihae Road by 8:20 am. For questions or more information, you can contact Auxiliary Services at 808-881-4041 or email auxiliary@hpa.edu.

Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering four trips for the 2024-25 school year:

Thanksgiving 2024 – New York City: An Urban Adventure (tentative itinerary & cost); the deadline to enroll is September 3, 2024 → 3 spaces remaining
Spring Break 2025 – Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with EF Tours, the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → limited space available
Spring Break 2025 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours; the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → available
Spring Break 2025 – Heights of Peru with EF Tours; the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → available

EF Tours offers scholarships for their trips, the application can be found here: EF’s Global Citizen Scholarship Fund. The deadline to apply is August 13, 2024. To apply, you must be enrolled in an EF Tour.

Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration, eligibility, and travel grants.

Whom to Contact at HPA
If you are unsure who to contact regarding a specific question or issue, please refer to our Whom to Contact guide.

Residential Life
The semester is truly off and running now, with almost two weeks of school behind us, students are starting to settle into their routines. On the horizon, we have several opportunities for engagement coming up, including our intramural Tuesday night wiffle ball league, elections for Dorm Representatives to the Student Council, and our first home football game of the season!

This weekend we have a variety of different activities happening on and off campus, including a trip to the beach, an Outdoor Program hike, a shopping trip to Kona, Varsity athletics, and a community service project just to name a few. While every student has homework each weekend and should take ample time to rest, we hope that they all take the opportunity to enjoy activities with their friends!

College Counseling
Junior Parent Night is Coming Up!
Junior Parent Night: Tuesday, September 10, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm (HST)
College Counseling will provide families with an overview of their junior year at HPA. Topics we will discuss include important dates, standardized testing, individual counseling sessions, key assignments, and how to use our online college planning resources. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

Senior Parent Night: Recording and Slides
Mahalo to those who joined us this week for our Senior Parent Night presentation. For those who were unable to attend, here are the presentation slides, as well as a recording of the meeting.

The Parent Input Form that we referenced is also attached here. Mahalo for completing this by October 1, if you have not already done so.

To access the resource tiles we highlighted in our presentation, please log into your myHPA account, open the “Groups” tab where you will see “College Counseling 12.” If you are having trouble accessing your student’s Scoir account, email college@hpa.edu.

Important: All new seniors and any seniors planning on applying Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, or Early Decision are required to schedule their first appointments with Mr. Kelsey and Ms. Montgomery by the end of the August. Before your appointment, please review our list of tasks below that you should try to complete in advance of your first senior meeting.

TASK 1: Work on your College Counseling TO DO list
Below is a list of tasks to work on in the weeks ahead. You may have already completed many of these tasks. If so, keep up the great work! If not, please work towards completing these assignments before your first senior individual meeting:

Please ensure that both you and your parents/guardians can successfully log in to Scoir, and reach out to us if you have any trouble.
Complete and submit the Self-Input Form
Complete and submit the Parent/Guardian Input Form.
List all of the colleges you are thinking about in your Scoir account in either the “Following” or “Applying” column in the “My Colleges” section.
Request two letters of recommendations for your college applications and then officially request the letters in your Scoir account (Colleges and Applications → Manage Applications).
Complete or edit the “Overview” sections with your personal information.
Revise and update your Common Application.
Spend time on the “Activities” section of the Common App to truly highlight your extracurriculars.
Draft your main college essay and send it to your college counselor for feedback.
Add all of your Common Application colleges to your Common Application.
Organize and draft the supplemental essay prompts for colleges on your list that require supplemental essays.
Register for ACT and/or SAT for the senior fall (if applicable).

TASK 2: Schedule an Individual Check-in Meeting
Beginning on Wednesday, August 14, Mr. Kelsey and Mrs. Montgomery will be available for individual check-in meetings. Please click below to select a 30-minute time slot for an individual appointment with your assigned counselor. All meetings will be in the College Counseling Center.

Kelsey Appointment Link

Montgomery Appointment Link

If you are a new senior, or are unsure of your assigned counselor, please contact us directly at college@hpa.edu.

TASK 3: Register for the SAT and/or ACT and Test Prep (if appropriate)
We will offer the following SAT and ACT tests at HPA. Seniors register and pay for these tests by logging on to their College Board or ACT accounts and paying with a credit card. Listed below are the fall test dates that will be offered on the HPA Upper Campus this fall.

SAT Dates – Fall 2024

Saturday, August 24
Saturday, October 5 (registration deadline September 20)
Saturday, November 2 (registration deadline October 18)
Saturday, December 7 (registration deadline November 22)

ACT Dates – Fall 2024

Saturday, September 14 (late registration deadline is August 25)
Saturday, October 26 (registration deadline September 20)
Saturday, December 14 (registration deadline November 18)

ACT/SAT Test Prep Boot Camp–Register Now!
HPA will once again partner with Tutors Across America to provide an Online ACT/SAT Test Prep Boot Camp from Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8. The online Boot Camp has been designed with a focus on 11th and 12th graders, but all grade levels are welcome to participate. For underclassmen, this course will serve as early preparation for the PSAT in October and any future SAT/ACT testing.

ACT/SAT Test Prep Virtual Boot Camp
Friday, September 6: 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Saturday, September 7: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (break for lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm)
Sunday, September 8: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (break for lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 pm)

Students who have attended the Boot Camp have averaged 3 to 7-point improvements on the ACT and 150-200 points on the SAT, representing a 30-40 percentile point increase. The program includes two practice exams for each test — using actual past ACT and SAT exams.

While the cost to attend the camp is typically $399, HPA students qualify for a discounted price of $199 using the coupon code HAWAIIPREP at checkout.

How To Enroll in the ACT/SAT Class

Go to: http://TutorsAcrossAmerica.com/ACTcourse
Scroll down to find your course.
Enroll as directed.
Use coupon code HAWAIIPREP at checkout to get the 50% discount.

If you have questions about the program, you may contact Wendi Whitteker at wendi@tutorsacrossamerica.com, or feel free to reach out to testing@hpa.edu. This course is offered in a virtual format only. There is no in-person option.

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, 2024-2025’.

myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Upper School Family Resources’, and the ‘Upper School Student Resources’.

All-School

Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.

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Community Focus

Run Like Ka Makani

Join us and “run like Ka Makani” at the 17th Annual Run for the Dry Forest at Pu’uwa’awa’a
on Saturday, October 19. There is a race length for everyone, so bring the whole family! Register for the run by September 1 for an early bird discount.

We have special HPA Ka Makani swag for the whole family — just be sure to let us know ahead of time who will be participating by registering here. We’ll bring your goodies to you on race day! See you there!

Admissions

We are excited to welcome the new season of admissions as we prepare for the launch of the 2025-2026 academic year application on September 1. Be sure to apply for a sibling and share it with your friends and family.

If you are a current family applying for a new child for the 2025-2026 school year, go to myHPA and find the “To apply a new child to HPA” resource tile.

The admissions team will also be out on the road in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!

Advancement & Alumni
As we kick off the new school year, we are filled with gratitude for your incredible generosity in support of our outstanding students and programs.

Looking ahead, we are excited to work together with our HPA community of families, alumni, and friends to carry last year’s extraordinary momentum forward with purpose and aloha for HPA.

Auxiliary Services
For students who ride the Hele-On Bus to school each day, HPA will offer a shuttle from the Village Campus to the Upper Campus. Route 76 Green Line arrives at the Village Campus at approximately 7:45 am. The HPA Shuttle will wait for students behind Isaacs Art Center. Students need to get off the bus at Longs Drugs and walk across the street to board the shuttle to the Upper Campus. For students who take the late bus, the shuttle will be parked at the bus stop just past the Waiaka Bridge on Kawaihae Road by 8:20 am. For questions or more information, you can contact Auxiliary Services at 808-881-4041 or email auxiliary@hpa.edu.

Health and Wellness
Magnus Health forms are now overdue. Please log into your child’s Magnus Health portal, via your myHPA parent account, to complete outstanding items. Students will not be allowed to attend classes if these items are not completed. If you have any issues logging in, reach out to infirmary@hpa.edu for assistance, as soon as possible so we can help.

We are asking that everyone routinely assess themselves for symptoms of illness — which can be mild, so please pay close attention. If you or your child(ren) develop any symptoms of illness, contact your healthcare provider and HPA Health Services at vcinfirmary@hpa.edu (Village Campus) or infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus). Please keep your child(ren) home until they are no longer sick.

ʻOhana Association
Our ʻOhana Association hosts a variety of events and activities for our school community throughout the year. As parents of HPA, you are automatically part of the ʻOhana Association. There are many ways to participate, and we encourage everyone to get involved. It is a great way to meet your fellow parents and support our amazing Ka Makani community. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events, and be sure to email ohana@hpa.edu with any questions, or to find out what volunteer opportunities are available!

Save the date for our first ‘Ohana Association General Meeting and Parent Mixer on Thursday, September 19. All are welcome to attend! Come meet your fellow Ka Makani parents, and learn more about what the ‘Ohana Association is all about! The event will be held at the Isaacs Art Center adjacent to the Village Campus. More details to follow.

Isaacs Art Center
With the start of a new school year, there’s a vibrant energy on our campuses. From kindergarten to Upper School, students are reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and embracing the excitement of fresh beginnings. Our teachers are eager to build positive learning communities, enriched by new curricula and the camaraderie of their students.

At the Isaacs Art Center, we share in this enthusiasm. Our connection to the Waimea and broader island community is at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to sharing Hawaiʻi’s rich artistic heritage with ʻohana across the island and supporting HPA’s financial aid and educational programs. This is our kuleana — our responsibility and privilege.

About Isaacs Art Center
Located next to HPA’s Village Campus, the Isaacs Art Center offers a unique glimpse into two centuries of Hawaiian art. Here, contemporary works by living local artists stand alongside masterpieces by Hawaiʻi’s legendary artists. The gallery is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and resilience of Hawaiʻi, as seen through the eyes of those who have drawn inspiration from these islands.

Our collection includes the world’s largest gathering of paintings, drawings, and watercolors by Madge Tennent, one of Hawaiʻi’s most esteemed artists. These pieces are displayed alongside works by other renowned artists such as Herb Kane, Martha Greenwell, Lionel Walden, Lloyd Sexton, D. Howard Hitchcock, and Jean Charlot, making our gallery a truly remarkable destination.

The Isaacs Art Center also plays a vital role in the education of HPA students. Under the leadership of our Center Director, Mollie Hustace, students explore art history with the option to prepare for the AP Art History exam. Beyond the exam, the course offers inspiration and critical context for our aspiring studio artists, designers, architects, and historians. The gallery also offers the Community Arts Program, directed by Alexa Hustace which invites students and teachers from area schools to learn about historic art and create original works.

Become a Docent at the Isaacs Art Center
As we continue to grow and expand our outreach, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team of volunteer docents. We are particularly in need of docents on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you or someone you know has a love for art and education and would like to contribute to our mission, we would be thrilled to have you on board.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with the art and culture of Hawai‘i, connect with our community, and make a meaningful impact.

If you’re interested or know someone who might be, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to discuss how you can be a part of this special endeavor.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support the Isaacs Art Center and the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy community.

Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Gallery works for sale may also be viewed on our website. Be sure to also visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for highlights from ongoing exhibitions. Sales from gallery artwork have supported the HPA Financial Aid program since its opening in 2004.

Safety Protocols
Campus Access
During this time, campus access is limited to current students, employees, essential contractors, and approved guests — all of whom have completed a daily thermal/symptom check and a screening questionnaire. Guests to campus will have had their hosting faculty or staff member fill out the appropriate form and will have received permission from their supervisor.

Should a family member of a student need a meeting with a faculty, staff, or administrative team member, kindly contact them so that they can apply to have you come to campus. From that point, security team members will be alerted to your appointment date and time and let you onto campus.

At the Upper School, please do not park and walk onto campus without an appointment. Similarly, at the Village Campus, kindly call or email for an appointment so that arrangements can be made. Mahalo, for your understanding and respect for this process.

If you See Something, Say Something
We ask all families to join HPA in keeping our campus safe. While on the HPA campus, if you see anything out of the ordinary, we ask that you please report it to the school or local authorities immediately. This will help us maintain the safest campus for our students.

Imminent threat to life or property: call 911 immediately and email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
Anything out of the ordinary: email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu

CrisisGo for Parents
It is important that all families are set up with CrisisGo, HPA’s school emergency communication tool. To set up CrisisGo SMS/Email subscription, please click on this invitation link and complete the form by adding your name, email, and cell number (this is an important step if you would like to receive an SMS message) and click on the Subscribe button. Should an emergency occur, you will be alerted by email and SMS messaging. You can also locate these instructions by logging into myHPA, clicking on the resource tab, and selecting the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile.

Safe2SPeakUp for Middle and Upper Students
Similarly, Middle and Upper School students received instructions during orientation on how to upload the Safe2SpeakUp app. This is a companion app to CrisisGo. It will allow the school to alert students of emergencies that happen on or off campus and enable students to communicate with us about their safety status. They can also use the app to alert the school about any behaviors they are concerned about. Students can also locate instructions on setting up Safe2SpeakUp in myHPA, and they were also emailed the video shown at orientation which walks them through the process of uploading the app and registering, step-by-step.

All students can also submit an Online Bully/Harassment report by clicking on this link, which can also be located on the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile on myHPA.

myHPA Resource Boards
Past HPA communications and other important information can be found on myHPA. We are continuing to make updates to our student and parent resource boards, so please be sure to visit them regularly.

Week of 8/30/24

What's Happening at HPA This Week?

Message from the Head of School

Previous All-School Bulletins

School Bulletins for the Week of 8/30/24

Lower School

From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong

Middle School

From the desk of your Division Principal, Michael Cservenak

Upper School

From the desk of your Upper School leadership team

All-School

Community Focus

#KAMAKANISTRONG

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