Parent Connection: Sept. 5, 2013

Parent

September 5, 2013

Connection

Breaking News Click HERE for important dates

After School Basketball Club Starts Monday

The Middle School Basketball Club will start Monday, September 9.

Practices are after school every Monday and Wednesday from 3:15 until 4 pm. Participants must have a pair of basketball shoes, socks and athletics clothes to participate.

Permission forms can be found on page 6.

Fun Over Autumn Break

OUT IN THE COUNTRY at Hanchett Ranch in Moloa‘a. Grades 5-8 (plus their younger siblings).

October 7 - 11. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Horseback riding, farming, hiking, Hawaiian crafts. Sleepover Oct. 10-11, with imu. $200 each. Contact keana@ ischool.org to sign up. Spaces are limited.

CHEER CAMP with Ms. Rachelle.

October 7 - 11, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

Weinberg Gym. Ages 5-11 years old. $115 each. Learn the fundamentals of cheerleading, jumps, Island School cheers, dances and team bonding.

Contact the Office to sign up or email Rachelle Alayvilla with questions at rachelle@ischool.org.

Student & Parent College Workshop Tonight Thursday September 5 6-8 p.m. Main Hall. Presented by Joan Shaw, College Counselor and

Patti Pears, College Admissions Consultant. Free and open to families from all high schools on Kaua’i. This event does not replace the annual Island School College Night, which is held for Island School students and parents later in November. The November event will be specially tailored to Island School students.

For more information, contact Joan Shaw, at joan@ischool.org.

A Well Deserved Vacation

Bob Springer is taking a short trip to the Mainland to visit relatives. He will return on Monday, Sept. 16. In his absence, Sean Magoun will be in charge.

Gift Wrap Sale Now Through September 24th

Students in elementary and middle school have begun their fall fund raising effort to help fund class activities. Packets have been distributed with catalogs loaded with tempting gift items from Great American Opportunities. You can even order online by going to http:// www.gaschoolstore.com/. Our School code is 2198281. Choose from magazines as well as over 1,400 different gift items! Tell your neighbors and relatives. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, September 24.

Free Flu Vaccinations

The Hawai‘i Department of Health will be offering FREE Flu vaccinations again this year on Nov. 5. The vaccination will be open to students in grades Kindergarten

through 8. Information about the vaccination program has been distributed to students. The forms are due tomorrow, Sept. 6. You can also register online at https:// vaxonlinereg.doh.hawaii.gov/ VaxMe_Login_SSL.php. Be sure to print the form and return it to the Office. Forms received after September 6, will be collected but will be considered “waitlisted” and must be separated from those received by the deadline. Contact the Office if you have any questions.

Booster News

The Island School Voyager Booster Club’s Booster Club Mission is to support monetarily and emotionally the athletic program and all of our participating athletes on or off island.

The membership drive is in full swing for the Booster Club. Watch your inbox for membership info and forms which are being emailed this week.

Please consider joining the Booster Club! Mahalo and welcome to our new Booster members and Banner Sponsors (see Mahalo column on page 3). Save the date for the Annual Booster Club Golf Tournament “fun-raiser,” scheduled for Sun., Nov. 3, at Kaua‘i Lagoons.Teams, individual players, hole sponsors, corporate sponsors, and volunteers are all needed to participate or help with the tournament. Details will be forthcoming next week. For more Booster information, contact Kymry Perez, Booster Club President, at 808.635.1490 or kymry@kymry.com.

Voyagers

To contact the publisher of Island School’s Parent Connection, email peggy@ischool.org

I.S. Chronicles CROSS COUNTRY – The Island School Cross Country team is set for a fantastic season. We have the biggest team ever! Recently, they were fortunate to have Tyler McCandless, professional long distance runner and 3 time Kaua‘i Marathon Winner visit and practice with our team. Island School has four cross country team alumni competing at the collegiate level: Pierce Murphy ‘11, at the University of Colorado, Lauren Spears ‘11, at the University of Santa Clara, Ryan Perez ‘12, at California Lutheran College and Joy Claypoole ‘13, at St. Olaf’s College.

Voyager Cross Country team: Tyler

McCandless, professional runner and three time Kaua‘i Marathon winner, is pictured in the center in the green shirt.

AIR RIFLERY – Island School hosted a pre-season match last Saturday, with Kaua‘i High and Waimea High in attendance. Chad Andrade ‘14, was the sole Island School male scoring shooter, collecting 458 points out of 600.

Kaua‘i High led the pack in both boys and girls events. Voyager girls competing included Alex Obert ‘16, Jessica Raitz ‘16, Amanda Nguyen ‘16, Deanna Sloger ‘16, Lauren Oelke ‘16, Cambria Ort ‘17, and Ariana Wilson ‘16.

Yesterday was the first match of the season, against Kaua‘i High. Chad was the third top scorer, with 237 points out 300.

SIXTH & NINTH GRADES – 6th and 9th graders will take the Stanford Achievement Test during their A day PE class periods beginning September 11. The test is spread out over several days and assesses the basic curricular objectives in the areas of reading, mathematics, language arts, science, and social science. Testing in the fall allows teachers to use the data in designing their lessons for this school year. We ask parents’ support in encouraging their children to get a good night’s sleep the night before testing, to arrive to school in time, and to eat a breakfast rich in protein. Students who finish test sections early may use the time to check their work or read a novel, so it’s helpful if they bring a book to school.

HAWAIIAN HISTORY – Ms. Calhoun’s students will visit the Hokule‘a on Monday. Kumu Kauka will accompany the group to add her expertise on Hawaiian voyaging.

CHORUS – Each year the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association organizes a choral music festival to give Hawai‘i high school singers an opportunity to sing challenging music with a top notch clinician in a major concert. Over 250 high school singers from across the state join together for three days to rehearse and present a free public concert in Honolulu. For the 4th year in a row, the Island School Alaka‘i Chorus (high school) will attend this festival, making us, once again, the only

Island School teachers & staff finished the Kaua‘i Marathon last weekend! l-r: Joan Shaw, Cindy Wortmann (walked the half-marathon), Shantelle Manibog, Melissa Riopta (ran the half-marathon) and Mary Castelanelli (came in 2nd in women’s division in full marathon).

neighbor island school to participate.

Students attending this year’s festival will work under Dr. Ronald Kean, Director of Choral Studies at Bakersfield College. Following rehearsals with Dr. Kean, the students will present a free public concert at Central Union Church in Honolulu.

This year’s festival takes place January 17-19, 2014, and includes a visit to the Blaisdell Concert Hall to see the national touring company’s production of “The Lion King.” Island School ‘Opio Chorus members (middle school) also have the opportunity to join the high school in seeing “The Lion King” as well as watching the high school perform at the concert on Sunday, Januaryy 19.

While the trip is optional, all middle and high school chorus members are encouraged to participate.

YOGA – Mr. Reynolds is teaching Yoga Fitness to high school students.

He has invited guest instructors to enrich the class. Today, Micki Evslin, certified yoga instructor, was guest instructor.

ENGLISH –10th-12th grade English students are encouraged to enter the “Meaningful Volunteering and What It Means To Me” contest sponsored by the Hawai‘i Access to Justice Commission. Deadline for submission is Sept. 24. Full information is on page 5.

Parent Page Mahalo to Parent Association

♥♥♥

♥ ♥ ♥ the 5th grade family members who have been

Shelter-in-Place Kits Have Arrived

The PA has funded kits to be used in emergency situations for each classroom. We are excited to be able to help purchase this pro-active and much needed equipment that will be used in the unlikely case of a school lockdown. Kits contain water pouches, a snack supply, a sanitation toilet with accessories, privacy screens, thermal blankets and other aids should students need to be confined to a classroom for a duration of time.

Helpers are needed to put the kits together. Please meet in the Teachers’ Workroom this coming Tuesday, September 10, after morning drop.

FREE Computer Safety & Awareness Seminar Sept. 11, Wed at 5:30-7:00, Koa Room.

Nathaniel Evslin, Technology Dept. Head, will keep us up to date on the latest apps, social media & tech trends.

RSVP required - edwardsohana@hawaiiantel.net Childcare available upon request.

Mahalo to our 2013-2014 Room Parents PK: Vera Ericco K: Denra DeBusca 1: Karen Summerhays & Vera Errico 2: Clare Obert & Utako Fukada 3: Krystal Bedwell 4: Claudia Trask & Debra DeBusca 5: Keli Wilson & Tamara Jeffries

6: Rochette Dahler & Kristi Buchanan 7: Amy Sherrer & Carla LaFratta 8: Sam Suttell 9: Laura Cushnie 10: George Knox 11: Sandy Catlin 12: Lianne Malapit

Your Room Parents have stepped up to the plate to facilitate communication among the various school groups: administration, teachers and parents. You will be hearing from them throughout the year, providing important and useful information and letting you know how you can be involved.

GO TEAM!

helping out this week with The Phantom Tollbooth: Deyanna Mielke, Ross Asuncion, Logan Asuncion, Sharon Inanod, Marjorie DeSouza, Renato DeSouza and Tamara Jeffries. Also to Mike Goto, Sandy Johnson and Daniel Bicciche for their assistance. ♥ ♥ ♥ the following new Booster Club members:

Lance & Lorrie Eto, Daniel Bicciche, Sandy Catlin, Ralph & Laura Cushnie, Charles & Felicia Cowden, Tim & Sara Dysinger, Fred & Cadice Pascual, Gaye & Larry Miller, Rex Riddle and Kim Medd. Mahalo also to our new Banner Memberships: Sudz Car Wash, Kuhio Auto Group and the Island School Parent Association.

Classified Ads KCA SEASON BEGINS: The kickoff concert of the Kaua‘i Concert Association season is Sunday, Sept. 15 at 4pm at KCC. Opening the season will be Soyeon Kate Lee and Ran Dank, 2010 1st & 2nd place winners of the Naumburg Piano Competition. Season tickets are an incredible deal - seven world-class shows for only $175.

Also, deeply-discounted or even free tickets are available for low-income students and their families, seniors, and those with limited resources for most of the concerts this year.

Info on the season and tickets is at http:// kauai-concert.org/.

WANTED TO RENT: Island School parent with two children (grades 6 & 11) looking for 2-br house or apartment. Call Kimberly at 360-547-9826.

CPR CLASS: Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) course teaches participants how to respond to life-threatening emergencies. The course focuses on primary care through a combination of knowledge development, skill development and realistic scenario practice to make sure participants have the confidence in their ability to provide care when emergency situations arise. Enrollment is $55 per person. Call Peter for more information: 635-1268.

WANTED FOR 5TH GRADE PLAY: Still looking for a foot-powered kiddy car to borrow. Also need used nylons in any color and any condition.

Contact Peggy for information.

Earning College Credits in HS Passing AP Exams can give students a head start in college Advanced Placement, or AP, exams are commonly associated with high school honors classes. Students who pass an AP exam with a certain score are given college credits by most colleges and universities. Any student may elect to take an AP exam, whether or not s/he is enrolled in an official AP course. In some high schools, AP classes are offered, which follow a college-level curriculum designed by the American College Board. Island School offers honors courses in math and science, which prepare students for the AP exam given in May of each year.

with a 50% passing rate, which was better than previous years. Each year the students have been doing better.

A 93% passing rate this year is a substantial improvement.”

The exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with a 3 considered passing. This year the average exam score at Island School was a 3.8, where the national average was a 2.9. Overall, 92% of IS students passed these exams in 2013, where the national average was a 60% passing rate. Two students earned the highest possible score of 5. Bronson Griep ’13, earned a 5 in AP Calculus AB and Daniel Wu ’16, earned a 5 in AP Calculus BC.

The Island School Honors Calculus I, Honors Calculus II, Advanced Physics, and Advanced Biology classes are all taught using the AP syllabi as a guide (Island School is the only HS on the island to offer Calculus II and Advanced Physics.) Students taking these classes are encouraged to take the AP exams in the spring. Most universities will accept a 3 or higher for college credit on AP Math and Science exams.

Some of the more competitive universities will only accept a 4 or higher.

Math & Science Departments Raise Standards Dr. Kozak pointed out that, besides the tremendous efforts of the students, these year-to-year improvements have also been a result of a concerted effort by the entire Math and Science Departments.

“Several years ago we changed the math textbooks Island School Students Score Well on AP and curriculum standards in the high school and Exams middle school so that they were aligned with national This past spring, our students took more Advanced standards. As a result, students have been coming Placement exams in math and science than in the into Calculus better prepared each year, which is a school’s history. Eleven students took thirteen AP credit to their outstanding Island School teachers.” exams: eight took AP Calculus AB (Honors Calculus Better prepared students allows Dr. Kozak to cover 1), two took AP Calculus BC (Honors Calculus II), two the required material more quickly, leaving at least took AP Physics B (Advanced Physics) and one took two weeks prior to the AP exams for review and U. S. History. practice.

“This was the best year so far in terms of the number of students passing and the number of students taking the AP exams,” said Dr. Kozak, who taught the honors classes last year that offered the AP math and science exams. “In 2012, six students took AP exams

To see which scores are accepted for credit at a particular university please visit: https://apscore. collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-creditpolicies.

Island School 3-1875 Kaumuali`i Hwy Lihu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i, 96766

September 5, 2013 A weekly publication We’re on the web at www.ischool.org

Boys & Girls Middle School Basketball Permission Form The Middle School Basketball Club will start Monday, September 9.

We will practice after school every Monday and Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4 pm. Participants must have a pair of basketball shoes, socks and athletics clothes to participate.

Your signature acknowledges your permission for your middle school student to participate with this club. Please fill it out and return it to Mr. Devlin or Mr. Lynch. ___________________________ _______

Student Name Grade

___________________________ _______ Parent/Guardian Signature Date _________________________________

Emergency Contact #

Please contact Eric Devlin for further information: ericd@ischool.org 808-429-3229