Week of 9/9/22
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
I want to start and end this note with a smile.
Last week, HPA lost a dear friend and pioneer. Susie Jones, Village Campus PE teacher, Residential Director, and ambassador of inclusivity and aloha, lost her short battle with cancer. Susie was a gifted educator who made everyone around her feel welcome and as if they were the most important person in the room. Our students followed her everywhere, and our faculty and staff felt supported and connected to her work and her as a person. PE came naturally to Susie, as did caring for our Middle School boarding program. Students and faculty in that program did incredible work, went on amazing adventures, and most of all, were cared for with unconditional love.
Maybe it was her crazy costumes, the brandishing of a bullhorn at school events, or the big laugh that was shared in any meeting or activity. Susie made school fun. She made work fun. And she made life fun. She gave us a lot during those years. A leader in making students feel they belonged, no matter where they were from, what they looked like, or what baggage they may have brought with them — Susie built infrastructure for inclusivity that we are simply adding to today. I wasn’t Susie’s best friend, but when we were in a meeting or helping out in the swim unit for the K-5 group together, it sure felt like I was. What a gift that is!
On days when I question myself on maybe leaving the big foam shaka in the car for Village Campus drop-off, or think maybe it’s time to retire the silly blue wig worn during Olympics — it’s Susie who pops in my mind and leaves no doubt. We can get serious work done, grow tremendously, and support others in finding and being their best selves without taking ourselves too seriously. I appreciate all the gifts that Susie gave HPA and those of us who were lucky enough to work alongside her. Her impact and contributions continue to be felt, and will live on as we, as a community, forge ahead. I will do my best to make those around me feel the way Susie made so many of us feel. On even the toughest of days, it will make us smile.
We are rolling on both campuses, with quizzes and tests, picture days, ACT’s, athletic competitions, and a dance or two on the books. Let’s continue to enjoy our work together in supporting our students and each other to be our best selves
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 9/9/22
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,
The Lower School gathers together grades K-5 every other week for an all-division assembly, and it is always a treat. From guest speakers to student performers, and with our mindfulness practice and focus on a particular core value, our assemblies seek to underscore the beauty and privilege of being a member of the Ka Makani ʻohana. Our 5th graders led us in our morning oli, Hiki Mai and Kumulipo, and we made connections between our featured core value of respect to our Enrichment Day focus of kuleana. This week we invited Upper School Poʻo Kumu, Kumu Kaʻai, to visit with us. He gifted us with his time and presence, as well as a beautiful hula and song. This spurred the children to ask thoughtful questions about his love for Hawaiian culture and language, to which he revealed he only developed and learned more about later as a high schooler. His sharing about his journey as a lifelong learner of Hawaiian culture inspired all of us!
At the end of our assembly, our featured student performers, Kenzi G., and Suri S. came to sing a song and play guitar. These talented students showed us what hard work can produce and while sometimes a performance may not go exactly as originally planned, it is how you respond to the bumps in the road that really matter. We were all so proud of them! They are role models for all our students and truly embody the Ka Makani spirit.
This Saturday marks the Mid-Autumn Festival , a traditional holiday that is celebrated by many people of East Asian descent, including myself and my ʻohana. On this day, the moon is at its brightest and fullest. It is a time for family, gratitude, and celebration of bounty. No matter what your culture or ethnicity, the significance of the moon as well as the symbolism it carries for each of us transcends language or earthly destination. Whether or not you and your family celebrate, I hope you will take a moment to gaze at the full moon Saturday evening with your loved ones, with the knowledge that no matter who or where we are, we all gaze and benefit from the same beautiful moon.
Have a restful weekend, Lower School ʻohana!
Warmly,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, October 10.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Lower School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
- Friday, September 23: Faculty work day (all divisions), no classes
- Wednesday, September 28: K-8 School Photo Retake Day, 8:00 to 8:30 am
- Wednesday, September 28: Early release for Lower and Middle School students
- Friday, October 7, from 7:45 to 8:30 am: ʻOhana Association Park for Coffee, hosted by Kindergarten families
- Friday, October 7, from 1:45 to 3:00 pm, Lower School grades 3-5 Musical, GPAC
- Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Student Support
Ms. Baydo (K-8 School Counselor) rbaydo@hpa.edu and Mr. Ludes (K-8 Learning Specialist) jludes@hpa.edu are available to discuss and support social-emotional and academic concerns for your child(ren). Please connect with them via email.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Lower School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to Past Parent Email Communications, 2022-2023.
myHPA
In addition to Seesaw, many important resources can be located on our community portal, myHPA. Check the Lower School Family Resources tile for the most up-to-date information.
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,
It’s been a short but action-packed week in Middle School. Everybody was looking sharp for our school photos on Wednesday. Please know that we do have a makeup day scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, for anybody who may have missed it.
Our Student Council representatives gathered together for their first meeting, and they are full of energy, enthusiasm, and ideas for the coming school year. We’ll kick things off next week with our first lunchtime tournament. The Student Council decided unanimously that we start with ‘Capture the Flag.’ Students will compete in their Advisory groups for the chance at a pizza party.
If you haven’t done so already, we hope you will look through our Course Overviews, which provides timely updates on the happenings in your children’s classes as part of our ‘Window to Learning’ commitment. These consistent glimpses into your child’s work at school can help us best partner on their learning journey. Students are getting excited for the return of our famous Lip Sync contest on Friday, September 30. In Advisory groups, students are preparing a Lip Sync ‘smash-up’, or medley of songs to which they will lip sync and choreograph a dance routine. They need to choose at least one song that is a ‘time warp’ (a song from a precious decade), at least one ‘cheesy love song,’ and at least one song from ‘around the world. Dress for the dance is casual, but students are welcome to dress up if they’d like. Students can be dropped off beginning at 6:45 pm in the normal school day drop-off area. The Lip Sync Dance will start at 7:00 pm at Hale ʻĪnana, and DJ Bernie Bern (aka Mr. Bernstein) will be spinning favorites until 8:00 pm. At that time, students will get into their Advisory groups to get ready for the Lip Sync contest, which will start at 8:15 pm. Parents are invited to watch the Lip Sync portion of the dance. We’ll wrap up at about 9:00 pm, and students will be dismissed to their parents. We will also have supervision at the normal pick-up area. The ʻOhana Association is looking for some volunteers to help with decorating from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and clean-up from 9:00 pm until pau. They’re also accepting food donations (no nuts, please). If you are able to help with any of this, please click on this link HPA Middle School Dance September 30 to sign-up or you can email MJ Allison at mjrjkimmy@gmail.com with any questions. In the spirit of our work to create a more consistent window into your child’s learning, I am going to start offering some ‘Fly on the Wall’ observations. One of the great privileges of being principal is having the opportunity to drop into classes and witness firsthand the great things going on. In Grade 7 U.S. History today, students were doing a great activity in which they examined a scenario in which there was a fictional ‘Fight in the Lunchroom.’ After the fight, there were a number of different stories from different students, teachers, and staff as to exactly what happened. The scenario specified that nobody was lying, yet there were many different versions of what actually happened and who was at fault. The activity asked students to consider why there were many different perspectives if nobody was lying. It also asked students to think about the different relationships witnesses may have with the perpetrators and the factors that make some stories seem more plausible than others.
This sparked some great discussions and insights into perspectives and the need to take the time to understand the sources of stories and their ‘view’ of events. This activity will help prepare students for their unit about the European discovery of the New World and their mock trial looking at the views of the many different constituents involved with the European exploration and settlement in the New World. With a science project on the horizon, 8th-grade science students got a chance to explore the Upper School’s Energy Lab to get inspired. Dr. Wiecking has an amazing collection of tools, technologies, and projects that he and his students have been working on. The building itself is a work of art and innovation that students across the campuses can learn from (and in). The 8th graders have been focused on tectonic plate movements that trigger tsunami waves because these waves can be a problem for islands like us. This trip to the Energy Lab was strategic in that students have been asked to think critically and creatively in order to redesign or innovate ways to make the tsunami warning system better. Students learned about the seismographs Dr. Wiecking and his students built, which sent earthquake data to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Being exposed to the creativity and ingenuity that went into the E-Lab and all the tools inside definitely got the students’ wheels turning. The bus ride back to campus was full of conversations about the gadgets we saw, imagining how to use them, and how cool it will be to have classes at that E-Lab next year. Thank you, Dr. Wiecking, for hosting us; you’ll see us again soon.
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Coming Up
- Friday, September 23: Faculty work day (all divisions), no classes
- Wednesday, September 28: VC Photo re-take day, 8:00 – 8:30 am in the library
- Wednesday, September 28: Early release for Lower and Middle School students
- Friday, September 30: Middle School Lip Sync/Dance, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Hale ʻĪnana
*Parents are welcome at 7:45 pm to watch the Lip Sync competition - Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21: Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences
A Message from the K-8 Librarian, Kristin Tarnas
Aloha Middle School families! As I spent time in our Taylor Library this summer, I thought a lot about what would make your Middle School children feel comfortable and drawn to their library. So having them cruising through, hanging out, and checking out books has been particularly exciting for me as our new K-8 librarian! If you are interested in getting involved with our Friends of Taylor Library hui, please use this interest form link to let me know. This form and other information can be found on our HPA Libraries website, a collaboration between Angela Weisner, our Upper School librarian, and I.
Our Thelma Parker public library is also an excellent resource for you and your family, and this Saturday, September 10, they are having an outdoor NASA@My Library event. While you are there, you could use or get your library card to access a statewide collection of books and many useful online tools and resources. Wishing you time for a good read in the near future!
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.
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.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani!
Aloha e nā ʻohana o ka makani! September marks Hawaiian history month! One of the significant pillars of our mission statement is to honor the traditions of Hawaiʻi, and I believe we are doing a better job of that. I visited the Lower School assembly as a guest speaker on Monday, which was a treat! While walking to Hale ʻĪnana, where the assemblies are held, I heard young voices proudly singling Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī, the national anthem of the Hawaiian Kingdom, composed by King Kalākaua. Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī is something that I was not fortunate enough to learn until I got to high school, especially not all three verses, as I heard it being sung by one of our Lower School classes.
The educational consciousness of Hawaiʻi’s people about Hawaiʻi’s history is taking a turn for the better. The more we learn about the events that led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian government and the campaign of Americanization that was poised to remove the national consciousness of aboriginal Hawaiians and non-aboriginal Hawaiian subjects alike, the more we start to ask deep and difficult questions. For example, how did Hawaiʻi so quickly shift from being a primarily Hawaiian-speaking nation to an English-speaking nation? How did Hawaiʻi become a state of the United States? When did the heads of State agree to a treaty? Was there a treaty at all? The answers to these questions typically lead to better questions, which is the key indicator of a successful education system.
One resource that I often recommend for anyone that wants to dig a little deeper into Hawaiian history is a video series put together by the Smithsonian called Language of a Nation. It highlights some of the leading scholars that devote their life’s work to re-educating Hawaiʻi’s people and the world about Hawaiʻi’s history. Hawaiian history month began with the 184th birthday of our late Queen Liliʻuokalani on September 2. Liliʻuokalani was many things for the Hawaiian Kingdom. She was a strong stateswoman, a musical composer, and a clear supporter of education, among other things.
To close, I would like to leave you with a well-known phrase that Liliʻuokalani shared with the people of Hawaiʻi. E ʻonipaʻa i ka ʻimi naʻauao. Be steadfast in the seeking knowledge.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2022-2023 Daily Schedule will resume as a Mamo day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, September 12.
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 9, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Back-to-School Dance
- Saturday, September 10: ACT Test Administration
- Friday, September 23: Faculty work day (all divisions), no classes
Student Support
Should your child need additional learning support, we encourage you to reach out to JoAn Canning, our Upper School Learning Support Center Director, by emailing jcanning@hpa.edu. In addition, our counselors are ready to assist any student who needs additional support to navigate these unusual and unprecedented times. Please feel free to reach out to the Upper Campus counseling team of Tiffany Freitas at 808-881-4038 or tfreitas@hpa.edu and Steve Furchner at 808-640-4441 or sfurchner@hpa.edu.
Ka Makani Athletics
Our fall athletic schedule has been updated and be sure to check out the weekly schedule as well. You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
This year, HPA will be live streaming the last home game (also referred to as the “Senior Game”) for most sports, and some home playoff games.
Volleyball
• Senior Game vs. Honokaʻa: Thursday, October 13, at 5:00 pm – JV/Varsity
Cross Country*
*Not live, but an edited highlights video will be posted to Youtube on the same day as the meet
• Home Meet vs. All Schools: Friday, October 14, at 3:30 pm for girls, and 4:30 pm for boys
Football
• Senior Game vs. Honokaʻa: Saturday, October 22, at 3:00 pm
Playoff schedule to be announced
Student Life
Ka Makani Travel
We are excited to share that HPA students are once again planning to travel internationally during Spring Break 2023.
Destinations for March 2023 are Japan and Spain. The deadline to enroll in Spain or Japan is October 31, 2022. A $100 discount is being offered by the tour provider through September 30, 2022.
For additional information, contact Adrienne White at awhite@hpa.edu
Residential Life
The year continues to progress, and our students are bustling with busy schedules and exciting programs! We also recently elected our Dormitory Representatives to Student Council for the year, and they are beginning work on the programs they want to build and events they want to plan.
The intramural Wiffle Ball League is nearing its close, and the students are getting excited for the upcoming shift to basketball. Our students continue to engage in a weekly curriculum that intersects with their lives in and out of the classroom; this past week, we took a look at good nutrition and how they can create balanced meals in our dining hall. This also gave students the opportunity to provide input into what has gone well this year in dining and what they would like to see change, which has already started to be implemented!
We are also delighted to have our Outdoor Program back in full swing after two years of limited available camping spots around the island due to the pandemic. This past weekend, students engaged in our second overnight camping trip this semester down at Kīholo Bay. Students got to set up tents under the stars along the beach, cook, swim, snorkel, stand-up paddle board, and enjoy a weekend away from technology.
Residential Life
This week, all students at the Upper Campus were able to attend a series of workshops that shared information about the science and impacts of addiction to substances in their lives and were given resources on how to seek help if they or one of their friends is struggling with substance use. They were also provided with information about campus safety and were led
through a thoughtful discussion on identity. Our residential community also got additional information and resources related to these topics in the context of their community at school.
These workshops serve as a complimentary and foundational part of our residential curriculum. At the start of each week, our residential students will gather in groups to discuss topics that range from their own health and wellness, some skills for living in a community, issues of identity and belonging, and learning more about our host culture and environment.
The groups students gather in will vary in size from week to week so as to be best suited for the topic at hand. We value taking a small amount of time each week for a 45-minute discussion on topics that do not always find their way into the classroom setting. Engaging with these topics can help our students be safer, happier, and develop important skills for their time at HPA and beyond. We are very grateful for the time, and attention are given to us this week by Mr. Glen Hall from Prevention Works!, and hope that it will help some of our students seek the help and resources that they need.
College Counseling
Test Prep Boot Camp Opportunity
Once again, we will be partnering with Tutors Across America to provide a discounted Online ACT/SAT Boot Camp from Friday, September 16, to Sunday, September 18. Review this email for more information.
Fall Programming for Seniors
Our College Counseling team offers student support across various needs — ranging from individual meetings to small group work sessions to all-class workshops to assist with college applications and essays. We also support parents by hosting two parent nights. For more information, please take a look at this email with important dates and details.
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.
All-School News
Advancement & Alumni
Mark your calendars and save the date for Saturday, November 19! Alu Mai 2022 marks the return of HPA’s annual fundraising gala and auction in support of financial aid. We invite you to join in for a delightful evening of dinner and dancing under the stars in support of opportunity and access for future generations at HPA. Secure your spot today, purchase a table or an individual ticket. E alu mai!
COVID-19 Policies & Information
While masks continue to be optional indoors and outdoors, there will be times when we will require everyone — students, families, guests, and employees — to wear masks. You will be notified in these instances. Everyone, regardless of age or vaccination status, must have a clean mask with them at all times should HPA officials determine they are necessary.
For a complete directory of all our health and safety protocols, please review our COVID-19 Policies & Information Resource Board on myHPA.
Health & Wellness
In partnership with KTA Super Stores, we will be hosting two influenza and COVID-19 vaccination clinics this year, one on the Upper Campus and one on the Village Campus.
To receive either the influenza or COVID-19 vaccination, please register in advance by Tuesday, September 13, using the following forms below:
Click here to sign-up for the influenza vaccination.
Click here to sign-up for the COVID-19 vaccination or booster.
Most insurance companies — including GeoBlue, United Health Alliance, Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente — cover the cost of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Please reach out to your insurance provider to determine your eligibility for coverage.
We encourage you to contact your physician or child’s physician if you have any questions about the seasonal flu or COVID-19 vaccine. You also may speak to any of HPA’s Registered
Nurses by contacting our Infirmary at 808-881-4022 or by email at infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus) or vcinfirmary@hpa.edu (Village Campus).
Isaacs Art Center
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. Gallery works for sale may also be viewed on our website. Be sure to also visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for highlights from ongoing exhibitions. Sales from gallery artwork have supported the HPA Financial Aid program since its opening in 2004.
Safety Protocols
Campus Access
During this time, campus access is limited to current students, employees, essential contractors, and approved guests — all of whom have completed a daily thermal/symptom check and a screening questionnaire. Guests to campus will have had their hosting faculty or staff member fill out the appropriate form and will have received permission from their supervisor.
Should a family member of a student need a meeting with a faculty, staff, or administrative team member, kindly contact them so that they can apply to have you come to campus. From that point, security team members will be alerted to your appointment date and time and let you onto campus.
At the Upper School, please do not park and walk onto campus without an appointment. Similarly, at the Village Campus, kindly call or email for an appointment so that arrangements can be made. Mahalo, for your understanding and respect for this process.
If you See Something, Say Something
We ask all families to join HPA in keeping our campus safe. While on the HPA campus, if you see anything out of the ordinary, we ask that you please report it to the school or local authorities immediately. This will help us maintain the safest campus for our students.
- Imminent threat to life or property: call 911 immediately and email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
- Anything out of the ordinary: email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
CrisisGo for Parents
It is important that all families are set up with CrisisGo, HPA’s school emergency communication tool. To set up CrisisGo SMS/Email subscription, please click on this invitation link and complete the form by adding your name, email, and cell number (this is an important step if you would like to receive an SMS message) and click on the Subscribe button. Should an emergency occur, you will be alerted by email and SMS messaging.
You can also locate these instructions by logging into myHPA, clicking on the resource tab, and selecting the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile.
Safe2SPeakUp for Middle and Upper Students
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.
ʻOhana Association
Please be sure to join us on Thursday, September 22, for the first ʻOhana Association general meeting of the year at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the Upper Campus from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This will be an opportunity to hear updates from the ʻOhana board, and meet other families over wine and refreshments. Bring the kids for a family-friendly movie!
Don’t forget to check our annual calendar of events for the 2022-2023 school year regularly for updates. Also, just a quick reminder to support your ʻOhana Association by shopping with AmazonSmile. It’s simple!
- Go to this link and select Hawaii Preparatory Academy as your designated charity.
- Instead of going to Amazon.com to shop on the web, go to smile.amazon.com.
- If you use the Amazon app to shop from your phone, go to this webpage to learn how to set up the Amazon iOS or Android app to donate to HPA.