Parent
January 9, 2014
Connection
Breaking News
Christmas Tree Recycling Through January 17th
Click HERE for important dates
Middle School Orientation for Fifth Grade Families
The middle school faculty is hosting a meet and greet open house to welcome current fifth grade families to the middle school! You’ll get a chance to meet the teachers and get a feel for the culture of the middle school. Please join us on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. in the Noni room. Refreshments offered.
Community Garden Breaks Ground
Progress is being made on our community garden project. When completed garden plots will be available for students and their families, staff, faculty and members of the greater community. Read more about this project and how you can get involved on page 4.
USC Summer Programs For High School Students
The University of Southern California offers a sneak peek of “freshman year” to current high school students. Over 20 courses are offered in the subject areas of architecture, engineering, performing arts, pre-law, and more. USC Summer Programs begin July 6, and give students a four- or two-week college experience. Upon successful completion of the fourweek program, students receive 3 units of USC credit. Visit http://summer. usc.edu for more information and the application, which is reviewed in a first come, first served basis.
Don’t know what to do with last year’s Christmas tree? We have a small wood chipper perfect for recycling it. The mulch created will be used for the Island School Community Garden. Trees should be as clean as possible and dropped off during the school day in the grass island just past the Frear building.
Alumni T-Shirts For Sale
$12 each in children’s and adult sizes. Limited number available. Contact Peggy at peggy@ischool.org or stop by her office. You may also order online at http://diamondmindinc.com/island. html. Specify shirt size/s and ISAA SHIRT.’ These shirts are approved for school uniform use.
Alumni Gatherings Over The Holidays
The ISAA Holiday Reception was a great success! Many thanks to the Kaua‘i Beer Company for hosting and to the ISAA Holiday Comittee for organizing this annual event: Peter King ‘86, Nathaniel Evslin ‘98, Ita Rubio ‘01, Clare Petterson ‘02, Eimy Frampton ‘04 and Natasha Arruda ‘06. After Christmas, Sean Magoun organized an Alumni vs. Voyagers soccer scrimmage. Playing on the alumni team were: Milo Spindt ‘94, Colby At the ISAA Holiday Ayonon Reception – Kim ‘00, Logan Mayfield ‘08 and Domingo ‘11, Daniel Miller ‘12.
Pierce Murphy ‘11, Ben Steuri ‘12, Cole Moore ‘13, Travis Kim ‘13, Christian Potter ‘13 and Bronson Griep ‘13.
SCUBA Dive Sunday Join us this Sunday, January 12, 8
a.m.-2 p.m., at Koloa Landing for a Navigation clinic. Learn and practice tools and techniques to help you increasing confidence, save time and reduce stress underwater. This dive is mandatory for those interested in earning their Advance Open Water Certification. It’s not too late to sign up for the Advance Open Water class and/or purchase the Marine Voyager SCUBA club card. Contact Joe Corbo if you are interested.
New Teachers On Campus
We welcome two additions to the Island School faculty. Kaua‘i boy Norman Acupan, who holds a BA in communications from Southern Oregon University, now teaches Journalistic Writing and Yearbook and will publish the Parent Connection. Jen Schwartz grew up in Brazil and, besides assisting Mrs. Liesse in the 3rd grade, will also teach basic Portuguese to the students.
To contact the publisher of Island School’s Parent Connection, email norman@ischool.org
I.S. Chronicles
The teachers and staff surprised the student body with a “flash mob” dance number to “Jingle Bell Rock” in the gymnasium during the holiday pep rally.
ELEMENTARY – Congratulations to our Elementary Student Council Officers elected on Dec.19: President Amber Asuncion, Vice President Veda Parker, Secretary Kahana Heen and Public Relations Officers Callie Yavinsky and Taylor Mielke-Suiza. SENIOR UPDATE – Austin Cook was accepted to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Lansen Eto was accepted to Boise State University in Boise, ID, Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and early admission to Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA. Kawena Kawaihalau was accepted to the Art Institute of California in Orange County, CA. Makali‘i Pratt was accepted to Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, and St Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA. Kristina Scheppers was accepted to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR. Ivana Wu was accepted to Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, including a Presidential Scholarship. Eman Zafirides was accepted to University of Nevada at Reno. PK-FIFTH GRADE– Santa Claus visited students in PK-5th on Friday, Dec. 20. He was greeted with a holiday song from the students before passing out Secret Santa gifts.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT– On Friday, Dec. 20, Student Government organized a holiday pep rally to recognize the winter KIF athletes. A highlight of the gathering was a surprise “flash mob” by the teachers and staff who danced some impressive choreography to “Jingle Bell Rock!” Many thanks to Daryl Edwards who choreographed the number and taught it to the enthusiastic dancers. MUSIC– On Friday, January 17, fifty-one members of the Island School Alaka‘i Chorus (high school) leave for O‘ahu to participate in the fourth annual Ho‘olokahi Festival
All-High School Mass Chorus Festival. This event, organized by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, is put together to give Hawai‘i high school singers an opportunity to sing challenging music with a top-notch choral clinician. Over 200 high school singers from across the state will join together to rehearse for two days before presenting a concert at the Central Union Church in Honolulu. Seventeen members of the Island School ‘Opio Chorus (middle school) will join the high school chorus on Saturday to see the national touring company of “The Lion King” and hear Sunday’s Ho‘olokahi Festival concert.
From the North Pole to Puhi. Mr. Claus delivers gifts to Ms. Shantelle’s class.
Parent Page
Parent Association Cookie Exchange
Shhhhh - the PA is planning the next Staff Appreciation event for Valentine’s Day. Room Parents will be contacting you soon. Next meeting: February 4th 1:00 p.m. in the Teachers’ Workroom
Classified Ads Kauai Voices Concert - “A World in Harmony” Friday & Saturday, January 17 & 18, 7:30 pm.40voice vocal ensemble w/ multiple instrumentalists of varied cultures. Songs of hope, peace, price, welcome & joy from around the world -- Korean, Slovak, Hawaiian, Swahili, Celtic, Jamaican, Hispanic, Hebrew, American. At St. Michael & All Angels Church, Lihu‘e. Tickets: $10 in advance/$15 at door/$10 students. Available from KV singers, Jim Saylor Jeweler, St. Michaels Church, Kalaheo Cafe, Wine Shop Koloa, Waimea Plantation Cottages Contact margeejf@yahoo.com.
E Kanikapila Kakou 2014 Week #1: Featuring Kimo Hussey and the Kaua‘i Kama‘ainas. Monday, January 20, 2014, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort Jasmine Ballroom. Contact giac05@ icloud.com or visit www.gardenislandarts.org. POW! Art Exhibtion - Pastels, Oils, Watercolors Original paintings & prints of all sizes from award-winning Kaua‘i artists Helen Turner, Emily Miller, Major & Connie Inch. Come watch the artists at work! Monday, January 20, 5 - 7 pm. Artists’ reception on Martin Luther King Day. Live music with Easy Living Jazz January 20 - 27, 2014; open 10 am - 5 pm daily Kaua‘i Society of Artists Exhibition Space, Kukui Grove Center. Contact Helen Turner, HIT@ helenturner.com or visit www.helenturner.com.
Mahalo to
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♥ ♥ ♥ The Eto family, Kasey Fernandez and Utako Fukada for donations to our costume collection. ♥ ♥ ♥ The Dressler family and Maddie Halladay and family for their donation to the Learning Resource Center. ♥ ♥ ♥ Chris Sweitzer for sharing his expertise in theatre lighting with the drama department. ♥ ♥ ♥ Daryl Edwards, Diane Ferry, Sabra Kauka, Alan King, Kori King, Morgan Miike, Lulu Schilleci, Ajia Sclafani, Layne Taylor and Maureen Valdez for helping with the auction solicitation mail-out. ♥ ♥ ♥ Sharron Weber for a gift to the boys’ varsity soccer program. ♥ ♥ ♥ Julia Leung and Dr. Thomas Potter for contributions to the Alaka‘i Chorus. ♥ ♥ ♥ Mary Lou Barela, Mary & Robert Capwell, Diana Loomis Dahl, Jim Guerber, the Harding Education & Charitable Foundation, Sharon & Wayne Inanod, Alan & Monica King, Joan Maas, William D. Pratt, Kathy & Wayne Richardson III, Howard Schirmer, Martha Harding Stevens and Rosemary Stevens & Jack Barchas for donations to Annual Giving. ♥ ♥ ♥ Daniel Bicciche for donating a wheel barrow to the community garden. ♥ ♥ ♥ Richard Porto for helping Island School celebrate the holidays! SHOPPING BAGS: The third grade class is still selling shopping bags for $12 each, three for $33. Contact a third grader or email Lynda Liesse at lynda@ischool.org. WANTED TO BORROW: Rotary style phone to use in the high school play, The Mouse That Roared. Red prefered or can paint. See Peggy E.
Community Garden - a place to plant Promises to be a great community resource. The Island School Community Garden Pilot Project is a three-year plan that began in July 2013. It is currently on track to be used for planting in spring, as soon as the plots and irrigation system are installed. It will start as one-third of an acre and Island School hopes to expand and refine it to focus on six points of interest. According to the Community Garden Pilot Project’s Strategic Plan, they are: 1. Provide the local community (Lihu‘e and adjacent areas) with a place to build and maintain volunteer driven garden plots and gathering spaces for families to grow vegetables and fruits using environmentally conscious methods. 2. Provide a value-added year-long enrichment program dedicated to healthy living and environmental responsibilities for students of Island School and other educational institutions and venues. 3. Provide a variety of on-site workshops and events that engage both children and adults on the benefits of sustainable food production. 4. Provide summer and school-break employment opportunities to students ages 13 to 18 years of age, with educational emphasis on the complex relationship between food, the environment, and health. 5. Provide students with an exciting mix of nonacademic activities to promote appreciation for the local environment and culture.
Our community garden is taking shape next to the Solar Farm.
6. Generate a supply of garden grown produce to augment the regular school-year cafeteria needs of Island School; provide for donations to the local food bank; allow the community access to a dedicated area for growing their own food; build support for local agriculture. Fencing has been installed, raised beds are being built, and work is being done so planting can begin as soon as possible. A Family Work Day will be scheduled soon, so please come and pitch in to complete our Community Garden. This project has been funded in part through grants from the Mabel Wilcox Foundation and the Annie Sinclair Knudsen Memorial Fundof the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Additional support has been provided by Akamai Fencing, Home Depot, Kaua‘i Nursery & Landscaping, Glover Honsador, Kaua‘i Small Engine Service Center, Hana Hou Tree Service, Gaylords/Kilohana and the County of Kaua‘i Recycling Center. We appreciate the leadership and support for this project provided by our Board of Directors. Contact Mike Goto if you’d like to become more involved.
Island School 3-1875 Kaumuali`i Hwy Lihu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i, 96766
January 9, 2014 A weekly publication We’re on the web at www.ischool.org