Week of 9/15/23
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
In speaking to our Upper School students and faculty last week, I referenced the work of Hawaiʻi architect and designer of much of our Upper Campus, Vladimir Ossipoff. We were in our annual Upper School Convocation and I wanted to connect the simple and rugged structure of our Davies Memorial Chapel, where we were gathered, with our commitment to the body of work that will make up our educational journey as a community this year.
I found a lecture Mr. Ossipoff delivered in the late sixties to our HPA student body of that time. The excerpt from his talk that felt most meaningful to our current work together was “Indigenous materials in themselves impose limitations both of structure and choice and by working within these limitations — by improving one’s skill within the imposed limits through repetition and constant striving for betterment — enduring structures do result.” He was referring to the native ʻōhiʻa trees, used for posts and supports, and the uncovered and raw concrete, used to create the thick and powerful walls of the building. To connect building foundations to the learning expedition of our students and staff is profoundly simple, powerful, and more relevant now than ever in both education and life.
Ossipoff’s statements resonate with me as they relate to our HPA Core Values. When we discuss the Pursuit of Excellence, I believe “improving one’s skills through repetition and constant striving for betterment” is the essence of our intentions. We push our students to build a strong foundation, in order to then find their inner selves, their passions, and what makes them happy. So often we see that happiness is difficult to attain without the prior work of building a strong base. This day-to-day work is intentional and sets us up for both the measurable and the immeasurable complexities of our search for happiness and our own versions of success.
We are settled into the school year now and each strand of our programs is now focused on growth. How do we grow? By stretching, working, and doing, day after day. I mention this often, but we seek the “aggregation of marginal gains.” This important work adds up and the product is not only measurable but— and I feel this most strongly — the journey, the how we grow, and what we do to get there, is what makes us our best. In the end, “enduring structures do result.”
As Head of School, an important part of my work is to ensure that our institutional foundations are sound in preparation for the vital work we do here at HPA. In the coming weeks, you will be hearing from me and members of the leadership team about our HPA Fund. The HPA Fund (our annual fund) provides essential unrestricted support – a foundation – for the student experience at HPA; closing the gap between tuition and the many costs above and beyond that provide access to exceptional learning opportunities. Our focus for our parent community is to generate as much participation, in any increment, as we can. Having 100% participation is a lofty aim, but one I truly believe we can accomplish. Our goal is to raise $1.1 million for the Fund this year. Your support helps to get us there. When we come together with a common mission, participating in what feels right, the aggregation of marginal gains will total a success for our students and our programs.
As we pursue excellence together, I remain humbled by your support and commitment to HPA and our mission.
Happy Aloha Friday!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 9/15/23
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,
Preparing speeches for Student Council elections, perfecting the backstroke, bar graphing classmates’ birthdays, interviewing a real-life environmental scientist, turning a small moment into a personal narrative, and chanting an oli during our Lower School assembly — these are just a few of the happenings that have been taking place across the Lower School this week as we move through our first month of this new school year. My favorite times of each day continue to be the early morning greetings and the midday free play (recess!), two specific moments when I get to exchange aloha with our Lower Schoolers and let them know how glad I am to see them. Each interaction is unique and extraordinary (“Look at this wooden shelter I built, Ms. Kwong!” “Can I perform a dance at the next assembly, Ms. Kwong?” “I swallowed my tooth, Ms. Kwong!”) I am reminded each day of the enthusiasm and boundless energy of our learners, as well as our privilege and kuleana of providing them with exceptional learning opportunities.
Upcoming Musical Experiences
We are excited for our students in grades K-3 to attend the musical, The Carp Who Would Not Quit, from the touring Honolulu Theater for Youth, showing at Kahilu Theater. The show features interactive performances with origami inspired puppets and original live music, reimagining traditional fables from Japan and Okinawa. 2nd and 3rd grades will attend Monday’s show, and kindergarten and 1st grade will attend on Tuesday.
As mentioned in last week’s bulletin, kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders will also get to be in the audience for our upcoming 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade performance, Where the Wild Things Are, based on the beloved picture book by Maurice Sendak. We are thrilled to have families of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders attend the student performance on Friday, October 13, at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) at the Upper Campus. Doors will open at 1:45 pm for the 2:15 pm performance. Families of 3rd-5th graders should be on the lookout for further communication from Mrs. Di Bartolo regarding rehearsals at GPAC in the days leading up to the show, which will require drop off at the Upper Campus on Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12. All students, K-5, will be dismissed directly from GPAC on the day of the performance, Friday, October 13. Our upper elementary students have been preparing for the show with much enthusiasm and we are looking forward to their performance!
Childcare During Faculty Work Day
Students between the ages of 5-12 years old are welcome to attend the Village Campus Childcare Program offered during our HPA Faculty Workday on Friday, September 22. Below are details:
What: Village Campus Childcare Program — a day of interdisciplinary learning, creativity, and fun!
Date: Friday, September 22
Time: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (though you are free to note the hours you need on the sign up form below)
Where: Village Campus
Cost: $100
Students will need to bring: Lunch, a snack, a water bottle, and a rain jacket.
To sign up, please fill out this form. If you have any questions, you may contact Mrs. DeMille directly at mdemille@hpa.edu. Please note that we need a minimum of five students to sign up in order to run the program.
Each fall, HPA’s families come together – in the spirit of participation and giving – to support the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund), providing flexible, immediate financial support that directly benefits all of our students, every day. Your support for the Fund last year helped make our new lower school play structure a reality! Thank you!
The HPA Fund makes every day special here at our Village Campus; from our library and our beloved garden to our playing fields and art classes, we could not do it without your generosity. Please make your gift today and get us to 100% participation in the Fund. High Five for the Fund!
Have a wonderful weekend, Lower School ‘ohana.
Mālama pono,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
High Five for Fund
Each fall HPA’s families come together – in the spirit of participation and giving – to support the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund), providing flexible, immediate financial support that provides our students abundant inspiration and opportunities for growth, every day.
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 18.
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 18: 3:00 to 5:30 pm, Village Campus Flu Clinic, Kohala Field
• Tuesday, September 19 to Thursday, September 21: Scholastic Book Fair, Taylor Library
• Friday, September 22: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
• Sunday, October 1: Keiki Triathlon
Helpful Lower School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, K-5
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
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, 2023-2024.
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 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,
At our Village Campus Open House on September 6, I shared the sentiment that parents and teachers are like workers on different shifts, each striving and cooperating to ensure that the children grow into their best versions of themselves. An important aspect of that cooperation is sharing information. Our citizenship program in Middle School is set up to do just that.
You may see that a teacher has entered a conduct message when a student comes to class unprepared or tardy. At first glance, these may seem like petty instances to earn a ‘conduct’ entry. However, our view of these is not from a disciplinary standpoint. We are sharing information. That way we are working together to help our students develop the habits that will make them successful. On our end, we know that we can all forget something from time to time or get caught up and arrive a bit late. We just want to keep our eyes open for habits that need correcting so we can work with the students and their parents to help them stay on top of their day.
This week’s ‘Fly on the Wall’ buzzes all over school. In Ms. M’s 2D Art and Design class, students are creating drawings to enter into the Hawaiʻi Nei Art Contest. This contest asks applicants to submit a piece of artwork representing an endemic or indigenous Hawaiian flora or fauna. While the students’ work is still in progress, early peeks seem to indicate we’ll be submitting some serious contenders.
On Wednesday afternoons, we have a 30-minute period for Clubs. These Clubs are wide-ranging and this quarter it includes sports and activities like football, soccer, basketball, cross-training, and Waimea Walking. We have arts such as knitting and craftwork, and garden arts. We also have Clubs to exercise the mind such as investment and chess. I actually spent all my time leading the Football Club and each week I am impressed with the enthusiasm and sportsmanship with which the students participate. These Clubs are a great chance for students to broaden their horizons, dig into a particular interest, and unwind at the midpoint of the week. We will have a new offering of Clubs in October and always welcome student suggestions.
Please mark your calendars for our annual Middle School Dance and Lip Sync on Friday, September 29. We start at 6:30 pm with music and dancing for Middle School students. Then at 7:45 pm, we invite parents into Hale ʻĪnana to watch the Lip Sync competition. You don’t want to miss it! The Advisory groups never fail to entertain!
Please consider Giving a High Five for the HPA Fund! Each fall HPA’s families come together in the spirit of participation and giving to support the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund), providing flexible, immediate financial support that directly benefits all of our students, every day.
At the Middle School, the Fund supports things like our dynamic experiential learning curriculum, theme week, capstones, and community service that fosters deeper connection and healthy relationships with our environment and one another. The HPA Fund makes it all possible. Make your gift today and help us reach 100% participation this year.
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
High Five for Fund
Each fall HPA’s families come together – in the spirit of participation and giving – to support the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund), providing flexible, immediate financial support that provides our students abundant inspiration and opportunities for growth, every day.
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator, Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou. The beginning of the capstone experience is always an exciting period for our 8th-grade students. We kick off this journey with a range of collaborative and reflective activities, all aimed at igniting their curiosity for a specific topic they will explore throughout the year.
This year, we’ve introduced a series of activities designed to inspire students to think deeply about the stories behind their names, communities, and gifts. This past Thursday, we also had the privilege of hosting valued community members who shared how these elements influence their professional lives. Keala Kahuanui, a Project Director with Nā Kālai Waʻa, discussed the link between voyaging and food. Uakoko Chong, the ʻĀina Education Coordinator from Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili, spoke about resource sustainability. Naka Nathaniel, a journalist for Civil Beat, focused on the art of storytelling.
All these interactions serve as the foundation for the year-long capstone experience. In the upcoming months, I look forward to giving you insights into our students’ learning journeys through regular updates.
Schedule
Our Middle School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 18.
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
• Monday, September 18: 3:00 to 5:30 pm, Village Campus Flu Clinic, Kohala Field
• Friday, September 22: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
• Friday, September 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm: Middle School Dance and Lip Sync, Hale ʻĪnana
• Monday, October 9 to Thursday, October 12: Middle School Theme Week
• Friday, October 13: No classes for Middle School
Helpful Middle School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, Grades 6-8
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
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’.
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
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā maka o ka ʻupena a ka makani!
E kōkua kekahi i kekahi. Everyone should help one another. The focus of this week’s message is around kōkua, which is help and support. It is very common for people to provide help when it is needed, and it is far less common for people to ask for help. I recently spoke with a good friend of mine who worked as a strength coach for Maui High School and has since returned to live in the United States to be closer to family. He is originally from Kentucky. The time he spent living on Maui greatly impacted him and his daughter was born while they were living on Maui. We spoke about the tragedy on Maui that has been left behind by the fires, and he wanted me to know how badly he and his family wanted to find a way to kōkua, especially his six-year-old daughter, who wanted to help her friends back on Maui.
In his loving way and with his Kentucky accent, he told me, “You know you Hawaiians can be bull-headed when it comes to doing things your way, and I love that about you guys”. We were talking about the many families and students whose nature and upbringing keep them from wanting to be seen as an inconvenience, keeping them from asking for too much, as well as those who have yet to enroll in other schools or are likely adamant about staying put to provide a helping hand toward rebuilding. While on the one hand, it can be admirable, on the other hand, we were thinking about the long-term impacts of students away from school. Help is needed, and our complicated history here in Hawaiʻi makes people hesitant with low trust due to some opportunistic bamboozling in our past.
Here at HPA, we also want to offer help and we may also be a little guilty of having a difficult time asking for help. In truth, the airlines have it right when emphasis is placed on masking ourselves first in order to be able to help another. That being said, it is true that we also need to rely on some help to be able to help others in need. Our collective power as a community is exemplified each year by our support for the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund). The Fund helps make the HPA experience thrive across our campus, and your support makes it possible. Any boost that is provided may allow us greater opportunity to support a student with financial aid, who may be a Maui student who has been displaced by one of the fires.
Please share your gift today, at whatever level feels comfortable. Help us get to 100% participation – give a High Five for the Fund. Every little bit helps and these contributions help us to support our students and the programs we offer. Mahalo for your support in helping us to kōkua kekahi i kekahi.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
High Five for the Fund
Each fall HPA’s families come together – in the spirit of participation and giving – to support the HPA Fund (our school’s annual fund), providing flexible, immediate financial support that provides our students abundant inspiration and opportunities for growth, every day.
Schedule
Our Upper School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule will resume as a Mamo day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, September 18.
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, September 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Lava Lounge, GCAC
• Tuesday, September 19: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Upper School Flu Clinic, Gates Performing Arts Center
• Friday, September 22: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
• Wednesday, October 4 – Saturday, October 7: ʻOhana Days
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.
ʻOhana Days
Save the Date for ʻOhana Days!
Where: Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Upper Campus
When: Wednesday, October 4 – Saturday, October 7, 2023
Who: Upper School grades 9-12 and their families
We are thrilled to announce our plans for the upcoming ʻOhana Days (formerly known as Family Weekend), which features classroom visits, parent-teacher conferences, special presentations, student performances, athletic events, and many opportunities to engage with our Upper School community. It is a great way for our families to connect and to get a glimpse into their child’s life at HPA.
Wednesday, October 4
Mark your calendars and clear your schedules to join us on our Upper Campus for a full day of programming on Wednesday, October 4. We will gather in Kennedy Square for a Welcome Orientation and an overview of the day, which includes a 15-minute visit to each of your child’s classes and an opportunity to connect with our incredible HPA faculty. In addition to a student musical performance, families will be treated to a special screening of Hometown Legends, a documentary produced by fellow HPA-parent, Kolby Moser. We will wrap up the day with dinner in our Taylor Commons Dining Hall, after which parents are invited to join our Head of School Fred Wawner at Atherton House for drinks and dessert and more time to network with one another.
Thursday, October 5
In-person Parent-teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 5, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Families will have the opportunity to schedule 10-minute one-on-one conversations with each of their child’s instructors. More details on how to register will be sent in the coming days. Later that evening, our JV and Varsity Girls Volleyball team will be taking on Kohala starting at 5:00 pm in Castle Gymnasium.
Friday, October 6
Parent-teacher Conferences will continue on Friday, October 6, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, in a virtual format via Zoom for those families who were unable to attend in-person on campus the day before. Once again, families will have the opportunity to schedule 10-minute one-on-one conversations with each of their child’s instructors. More details on how to register will be sent in the coming days. For those who will be in Waimea, we invite you to join us on campus at 3:30 pm for what promises to be an exciting BIIF Cross Country Meet.
Saturday, October 7
Our HPA Football team goes head-to-head against Kāʻu on Saturday, October 7, at 3:00 pm. We’re looking forward to all of our Upper School families joining us in the stands to cheer on our Ka Makani. Our fans will have the opportunity to fuel up with several food truck offerings, including Jaw Jacker Grindz, Sugar Shack, and Wilson’s Snack Shack.
Look for an email with the complete ʻOhana Days schedule and how to register for Parent-teacher Conferences in the coming days.
Ka Makani Athletics
Here’s the updated fall athletic schedule and weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Student Life
Freshman Class Representatives Election
We are beginning the Freshman Class Elections process! Every year, in October, we elect three freshmen to represent their class. By holding the election in October, it allows new students a chance to get to know one another before the election.
Timeline
- Thursday, September 2 – Applications are due by 9:00 pm
- Week of September 25 – 29 – Interviews with Class Leaders
- Week of October 2 – 6 – Students work on their speeches
- Friday, October 6 – all speeches are due to Mr. Quayle and Mrs. Knight for approval
- Thursday, October 11 – each applicant will give a 2-minute speech to their class followed by electronic voting
- Friday, October 1 – winners are announced
Upcoming Student Life Events:
Friday, September 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Lava Lounge, GCAC
Friday, October 27: Haunted Walk
October 30 to November 3: Upper School Spirit Week
Saturday, November 4: Fall Ball, Kahilu Town Hall
Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering five trips for the 2023-24 school year.
- Thanksgiving – New York City: Trip full, waitlist additions accepted
- Thanksgiving – Kauaʻi Island: (details and cost pending, minimum 6 participants, maximum 13)
- Spring Break – Coral Reef Ecology & Conservation Fiji: Trip full, waitlist additions accepted
- Spring Break – Expedition to Australia & New Zealand with EF Tours (deadline for $100 discount and 14-day risk-free enrollment September 30, enrollment deadline November 13, space is limited)
- Summer – Splendors of the Mediterranean: Italy & Greece with EF Tours (deadline for $100 discount and 14-day risk-free enrollment September 30, enrollment deadline February 5, space is limited)
Don’t hesitate to contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration, eligibility, and travel grants.
College Counseling
Brown University Evening Presentation, Friday, September 15, 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Brown University will host an informational session at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the HPA Upper Campus on Friday, September 15, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. This event is open to all students and families in the Hawaiʻi Island community. If you are interested in attending, please register via this link.
Seniors of our Class of 2024:
Mahalo to everyone who was able to attend College Counseling’s Senior Parent Night. For those who missed it, please see this email from September 14, with our slides and presentation.
Please also be sure to carefully review this email from Thursday, August 31, with details about our senior fall programming. Seniors should be working towards completion of the Senior Fall Application Checklist, which is located in the “Drive” of each student’s and parent’s SCOIR account.
College Visits, Monday, September 18 – Thursday, September 21, 2023
All visits will take place in College Counseling from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm
Monday, September 18: Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Tuesday, September 19: Creighton University (Omaha, ME)
Wednesday, September 20: Seattle University (Seattle, WA)
Thursday, September 21:Hawaiʻi Pacific University (Honolulu, HI)
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.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
HPA Today
Enduring Legacy of Tradition
Students ring in the academic year by honoring Maui at Convocation in Davies Memorial Chapel
Ulumau & Ulu Mālama Gardens of HPA
Join us in the garden! We have planned several upcoming community workdays to learn and grow together. All are welcome, please use this link to sign up or email wquayle@hpa.edu or lprutrow@hpa.edu with any questions.
Admissions
HPA will be hosting Open House events for all three divisions — Lower, Middle, and Upper School — in the month of November. Please help us spread the word!
Lower School
November 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Middle School
November 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Upper School
November 10, 8:30 to 11:00 am
As a reminder, the 2024-2025 application is now available online to apply any HPA siblings and share with your friends and family. 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
Aloha all!
Greetings from the HPA Advancement office! It’s a pleasure to write to you this week! I always feel that this is quite a special time of year. With several weeks of school riding our coattails, Ka Makani energy is jumping across our campuses. Friendships are reignited or acquainted anew. Classrooms, fields, and gathering spaces welcome and inspire with fresh opportunities. There is a relief in routine for both students and families after a summer of spontaneity, camp and travel juggle, and the lounge of unstructured days. We are all ready (I know this Mama is!!) It is time for our kids to be back in school — to be together again!
With this togetherness, we are reminded of our commitment to community and connectedness. A reciprocity that is important in any family or network — vital in ecosystems for thriving and resilience. Our mission at HPA and the student experience is not hinged on one moment or a single human. It is defined and brought to life through the efforts and hearts of many coming together for a shared purpose.
Living in Hawaiʻi, having a sincere connection to this place, accentuates this depth of connectedness, this sense of self and service. Respect for a host culture and tradition is a gift and something that grounds us at a deeper level in our learning and living together. The desire to give and be part of something greater than ourselves is foundational in Hawaiʻi and at HPA and it is carried on in the hearts of our alumni Ka Makani.
It is this sense of belonging and our shared belief in HPA’s mission and the student experience that inspires us to give each year and raise our sites to the horizon of possibility. Working in Advancement at HPA, we are always lifting up our priorities and looking to the school’s future — asking the questions: where are we going?…how will we get there?…and who will join us? The HPA Fund (our annual fund) is essential to this work. This annual effort is focused on 100% participation of all HPA families and is the foundation of our unrestricted giving for the year. Funds that allow us to address the day to day immediate needs — a flexibility that is exceptional for our operations and that underpins our continued focus on excellence.
Fred will be writing to you all soon inviting you to join him in this HPA Fund giving effort – to give a High Five for the Fund. We look forward to connecting about this initiative and other giving opportunities at HPA. It is an important year for participation and we are deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of our HPA family — for contributing in so many ways to our resilience, sustainability, and horizons. We are wonderful together — consistent and transformational — and I am thankful for this opportunity to connect with you. Have a fantastic weekend!
Me ka mahalo nui,
Hannah Hind Candelario ‘01
Assistant Head of School for Advancement
Alu Mai 2023
HPA’s Alu Mai Gala in support of Financial Aid is right around the corner!
Come with a generous heart and enjoy a fabulous night of dinner, dancing, and giving for future generations.
Health & Wellness
We are happy to announce our annual flu clinic dates! In partnership with Waimea Primary Care, we will host clinics on both our Upper and Lower Campuses as part of our commitment to the health and safety of your families.
Village Campus
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023
Time: 3:00 to 5:30 pm
Place: HPA Village Campus, Kohala Field *Parent/guardian must be present
Upper Campus
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Place: HPA Upper Campus, Gates Performing Arts Center *Parent/guardian attendance NOT required
Please register in advance by Friday, September 15, using the form below, and bring both an ID and insurance card to your appointment.
Click here for the Waimea Primary Care Influenza sign-up link
Influenza vaccines provided by Waimea Primary Care, for our students, are the following:
- FluLaval Quadrivalent, Preservative-free
- Fluarix Quadrivalent, Preservative-free
- Flucelvax Quadrivalent, Preservative-free
The brand of vaccine used is based on availability of supply. On the day of vaccination, you will be informed, by Waimea Primary Care, of the vaccine received.
The influenza vaccine provided by Waimea Primary Care, for our employees, is the multidose Flucelvax Quadrivalent. This is a cell-based vaccine free of eggs and antibiotics. The multidose vial contains a small amount of preservative in each dose.
Most insurance companies — including GeoBlue, United Health Alliance (UHA), Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA) and Kaiser Permanente — cover the cost of the influenza vaccinations. Please reach out to your insurance provider to determine your eligibility for coverage.
We encourage you to contact your physician or child(ren)’s physician if you have any questions about the seasonal influenza vaccine. You also may speak to any of HPA’s Registered Nurses by contacting either of our infirmaries:
Upper Campus: (808) 881-4022, infirmary@hpa.edu
Village Campus: (808) 885-2504, vcinfirmary@hpa.edu
Links:
Waimea Primary Care Influenza sign-up link
Influenza Vaccine Information Statement
FluLaval Quadrivalent
Fluarix Quadrivalent
Flucelvax Quadrivalent
COVID-19 Policies & Information
After careful consideration, we have adjusted the HPA COVID-19 Policy, 2023-2024, effective as of July 1, 2023.
For more information, please review this email from Head of School Fred Wawner which was sent on June 30, 2023.
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);infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus); or employeetravel@hpa.edu(all employees). Please keep your child(ren) home until they are no longer sick and have been cleared for return. For more information, please review our COVID-19 Decision Tree.
ʻOhana Association
The ʻOhana Association is recruiting for two room parents for each Village Campus (K-8) grade for the 2023-24 school year. We are looking for folks who are interested in sustainability, sharing cultural practices, and connecting with the community, among others. Room parents know what’s going on at school, get to know faculty, make new friends, and create fun experiences for our students, and ʻohana. Room parents will benefit from the organized support of Ratna Amin,ʻOhana VP Lower School, and Michele Sullivan,ʻOhana VP Middle School.
Room Parents Support Classrooms
- Each grade will receive $150 per semester to spend on class activities!
- Collaborate with teachers and other parents to plan activities throughout the year
- Get other families involved with specific class/Village Campus activities
Room Parents Communicate with Families
- Assist with distributing ʻOhana materials and communications to families
- Help your families participate in school activities and ʻOhana events
- Recruit help for ʻOhana events.
- We will use the “signup.com” platform to make sign up easy
Room Parent Meetings
- Kickoff Gatherings of all Room Parents (late August)
- Mini-training about privacy and expectations for the classrooms and then promote these guidelines to other parent volunteers
- Shape the ʻOhana Association 2023-24 program for Village Campus
- ʻOhana Association general meetings (two per year)
- ʻOhana Association sponsored Lower School events
- Online training for student-facing volunteers
To be a grade K-5 room parent, contact ohana_vplower@hpa.edu / 510.390.4167 (Ratna)
To be a grade 6-8 room parent, contact ohana_vpmiddle@hpa.edu / 808.896.9648 (Michele)
If you have questions or want to be involved with ʻOhana in a different way, please feel free to contact us. Mahalo for all you do as families! Here’s to an awesome 2023-24 school year!!
Ratna Amin P ‘27 & ‘32
Lower School Vice President
Michele Sullivan P ‘29 & ‘32
Middle School Vice President
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.
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.