Week of 9/18/25

What's Happening at HPA This Week?

Message from the Head of School

Aloha HPA ʻohana,

In a recent re-read of Wendell Berry’s, Our Only World, this quote, dog-eared from a reading quite a while ago, stood out to me. “The gait most congenial to agrarian thought and sensibility is walking. It is the gait best suited to paying attention, most conservative of land and equipment, and most permissive of stopping to look or think.”

This week reminded me how much we learn when we take the time to walk alongside our students, colleagues, and friends — listening, noticing, and appreciating the details that make our community thrive.

On Tuesday, I stepped into one of our English Language Learning classes — not as an observer, but as the subject of an interview. It was humbling to try to answer questions like, “What are you good at?” and “What would you have done differently when you were a student?” (Oh boy, where to start?). The truly remarkable part, though, was sitting in a circle with students from eight different countries, each carrying their own story, asking thoughtful questions, and showing me what it means to learn a new language while also building a new life in a new place. I left that class inspired, having learned far more from them than I offered in my one-hour visit.

A day later, I was summoned to the second-grade lanai after drop-off by two students eager to share their writing — in the form of cards. Their pride, joy, and eagerness to explain each sentence reminded me that learning is as much about the process of discovery and courage as it is about the final product.

That same afternoon, I had the privilege of welcoming a new friend from Parker Ranch and walking across campus with him as I shared HPA’s history, our current experiences, and the bright future we are shaping. Surrounded by the energy of students at work and play, speaking about our mission was both affirming and energizing. We were both reminded of and grounded in the longstanding connection of our two organizations – Parker Ranch and Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy – honoring traditions of Hawaiʻi and lifting up young people through education and place. Walks like these are all encompassing; a reminder that you are following in others’ footsteps, that you are a steward and responsible for a continued story, and that you are on a good path with good people moving ahead together for a good reason.

This week is a classic HPA week: bustling with swim units, experiential learning trips, book fairs, ʻohana meetings, home games, and plenty of good ʻol fashioned homework. I hope I see you on campus, proudly wearing your Ka Makani RED.

Walking with you, in gratitude and wonder.

Gratefully,

Fred Wawner
Head of School

School Bulletins for the Week of 9/18/25

Lower School

Each week, K–5 families receive updates highlighting joyful moments, meaningful lessons, and a glimpse into what students and parents can look forward to in the weeks ahead.

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Pilina: Weekly Highlights Connecting Us on Campus

Bringing together highlights, stories, and connections from across our Lower School community this week.

Aloha Lower School ʻOhana!

• Scholastic Book Fair: Our book fair this week was a huge success and we could not have done it without our very many parent volunteers. In K-8 Librarian, Mrs. Tarnas’ words, “Although the Book Fair is a fundraiser, it truly has been a reading excitement raiser, and a parent friend raiser. It has been inspiring to listen to kids cruise around really discussing books and sounding excited about book recommendations and predictions. Over the last few years, I have seen parents build new friendships and develop community from their time with each other at the Book Fair. The Book Fair confirms my love of being surrounded by books and the people they bring together.”

• K-5 learning Highlights:

Kindergarteners are growing in their literacy skills. Ask them about the elements of a story, and to compare and contrast Wili Wai Kula and the Three Mongooses with Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Their observations and awareness of literary elements are growing, and their ability to engage in discussion is joyful and astounding. Our K scholars are also in the midst of their annual Book-A-Day unit, led by and in collaboration with our esteemed librarian, Mrs. Tarnas. The goals of the program are to support students and their families with a new book to read each night from a thoughtfully curated, diverse collection of books and, of course, to support strong literacy skills and foster a love of reading.

1st graders are preparing to embark on their annual interdisciplinary unit of study, “Who Am I and Where Does My Food Come From?” With unit goals ranging from building community to understanding community resources, students will engage in learning activities that ask them to learn and share their family traditions, participate in a plant study and identify parts of a plant, observe and learn the life cycles of fruits and vegetables, and understand how the sun, moon, and weather systems affect plant and animal growth. A deep dive encouraging aloha ʻāina and community building, our 1st graders will soon have their very own garden party to kickoff this special learning journey.

2nd graders celebrated National Encouragement Day last week by creating gratitude cards with encouraging words and aloha for all our faculty and staff. Our grown ups were so thrilled to open their mailboxes and find these thoughtful treasures. Alongside practicing important letter-writing skills, including sentence structure, capitalization, and punctuation, students engaged in an exercise of gratitude, noticing what others do for our community, and sharing those acknowledgements with them. Discussions involving what our community members do and how they make the system work support our keiki to recognize the parts of a whole and how we all contribute. Mahalo to our 2nd-grade teachers and students for your beautiful and thoughtful letters and cards.

3rd graders have completed their class read-aloud, a perennial favorite, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Our young scholars then connect to their class discussions of characters by examining character traits and selecting one that most represents themselves. If you were a king or queen of Narnia, what type of virtuous character traits would you have? An exercise in thinking about their own identities and describing themselves, then creating a story describing how they would join King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant in an adventure rounds out an imaginative learning experience while weaving in literacy goals that support our learners in practicing core skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

4th grade participated in the International Coastal Cleanup at ʻŌhaiʻula (Spencer Beach Park), where students engaged in Wā Pilina with Upper School Marine Biology Teacher Ms. Laura Jim and her high school biology students. Beyond simply removing debris, our haumāna learn how marine pollution impacts coastal ecosystems and the species that depend on them. Side by side with older students, they sorted and classified the collected trash, transforming the cleanup into a living science lesson. The data will be shared with the Ocean Conservancy and other organizations working to protect our ʻāina, giving students a sense of contributing to a global effort while also caring for their own community. This annual event not only nurtures environmental stewardship but also strengthens their relationship to the shoreline as a place of learning, responsibility, and aloha ʻāina.

The new 5th grade schedule this year includes a dedicated day each week focused on building Capstone skills and collaborations. On these days, teachers come together to guide and support our young scholars as they explore the tools and practices that will prepare them for their culminating projects. Students are developing skills in book creation, podcasting, and public speaking, while also learning how to research, organize ideas, and communicate with clarity and confidence. The dedicated time allows for deeper collaboration between teachers and students, as well as among peers, creating a community of learners who are practicing creativity, critical thinking, and storytelling. Rooted in authentic, hands-on experiences, this work not only equips students with technical skills but also helps them find their voice and see the impact their stories and ideas can have on others. Mahalo to Mrs. Liu, 5th Gr Teacher, Ms. Monello, K-8 EdTech Specialist, Mrs. Tarnas, K-8 Librarian, and Mr. Bernstein, K-8 Capstone Coordinator, for their collaboration and support of our 5th-grade leaders.

• Teacher Learning: Taking a moment to also spotlight teacher learning, the Village Campus is sending a passionate cohort to the upcoming regional Schools of the Future Conference on Oahu in October to focus on project-based learning, early childhood education, and technology in school, among other topics. With 8 teachers spanning K-12 representing HPA, we are excited for the learning they will bring back to all of us. Of note, our 3rd-5th-grade lead teachers will be a part of this cohort (alongside Ms. Walker, Ms. Monello, and Ms. Wadlegger from the Village Campus) and are excited to enhance their PLC and teaching practice.

Me ka mahalo nui,

Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal

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4.9.26 Lower School with UC Capstone_Dylan Vincent_Gyotaku Painting Demo

Schedule

Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 22.

We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Lower School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.

Coming Up

• Friday, September 19: Lower & Middle School Faculty Workday, No Classes, Grades K-8

• Wednesday, September 24: ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA

• Sunday, September 28: Keiki Triathlon, Upper Campus

• Wednesday, October 15: 3rd-5th Grade Musical Performance, GPAC

Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator, Dagan Bernstein ‘97

The Grade 5 Capstone journey is off to an inspiring start as students dive into discovering their passions and interests.

Over the past month, they’ve explored their interests through inventories, peer interviews, and communication practice. Recently, they conducted faculty and staff community interviews to better understand the needs within our HPA ʻohana. The insights they gathered will help guide students to identify important needs in our community and design projects of impact.

We are excited to see how our youngest Capstone students will channel their creativity, curiosity, and sense of kuleana into meaningful projects that embody and support our school’s Mālama Kaiāulu framework.

Keiki Triathlon

It’s triathlon season again! This year’s event will take place Sunday, September 28, at the Upper Campus from 9:00 to 11:00 am.

The objective of the Keiki Triathlon is to provide an opportunity to celebrate movement, learning, and our Core Values that are an integral part of our physical education and health classes.

Important Links:
Keiki Triathlon Information
Frequently Asked Question’s

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, 2025-2026.

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.

HPA Fund - It Takes All of Us

Powering Possibilities

The HPA Fund powers everything that makes HPA extraordinary—every student, teacher, classroom, and program. From financial aid to capstone projects, libraries to gardens, giving to the HPA Fund fuels the wonder our students experience every day. Our overall HPA Fund goal is $800,000, and every gift counts. What matters most is participation—when we all join in, every student benefits.

Each year, tuition covers most—but not all—of the cost of an HPA education. The difference, or “gap,” makes up the rest. This year, that gap is $1,290 per student. Collective support for the HPA Fund helps us reach 100% participation and fills the gap, ensuring that we can continue to provide the outstanding HPA experience for every Ka Makani. It takes all of us!

All-in Party!

Each class that reaches 100% family participation in the HPA Fund between now and December will earn a pizza party to celebrate the accomplishment! And the first class to get there will receive a special surprise gift!

Donor Offers $25,000 per class! Yes, you read that right—$25,000 per class!

To sweeten the deal, an anonymous donor has stepped forward with an incredible challenge: for each class that reaches at least 80% participation, this donor will give $25,000 to the HPA Fund. This is a true game-changer for our HPA Fund effort, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Make your gift today and help us unlock this amazing gift and get this friendly inter-class competition underway!

Many thanks to those who have already given. Join in, everyone!

Support the HPA Fund

Middle School

Each week, 6–8 families receive updates reflecting on recent activities and accomplishments, along with a preview of what students and parents can look forward to in the coming days.

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Pilina: Weekly Highlights Connecting Us on Campus

Bringing together highlights, stories, and connections from across our Middle School community this week.

Aloha Middle School Parents and Families,

This coming week is an exciting time for pilina and joy. The Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA event for all families is Wednesday, September 24 at 2 pm. You can see all details and RSVP here.

Our Back to School Dance: “Into Space” is Friday, September 26 at 6 pm. We have reached out to all families for support and our 7th grade families as our core group of decorators for this fun event.

Please continue reading below for an important update on our 8th Grade Capstone Program.

Important Reminder: There is no school for students on Friday, September 19, for a Faculty PD and workday.

With aloha,

Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal