Blog
Our Learners Exhibit Habit #5: Seek First to Understand!
Last Friday, we had an assembly to honor each of our learners for exhibiting Habit 5 of the 7 Habits: “Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood.” Learners and staff are working to implement all of the habits from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and it has been a rewarding and growing experience for all of us here at Alaka ‘i O Kaua ‘i!
Exploring Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School Culture: Habit 3 of the 7 Habits
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles on the pillars of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School’s educational philosophy and approach. You can find more articles by clicking here.
This week, we look at Habit #3: Put First Things First. This habit, which all of us at Alaka`i O Kaua`i are working to put into practice, is about identifying and organizing one’s priorities. In essence, someone who puts first things first is saying, “I spend time on things that are most important. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow a plan. I’m disciplined and organized.”
Dr. Stephen Covey said that “first things” are basically all those things that you value most in your life. So, you should manage your schedule according to your priorities to get all essential things done on time.
Skills that can be learned by putting first things first include:
- Time management
- Cultivating a strong work ethic, flexibility, and adaptability
- Interpersonal skills
- Self-management
- Being accountable and responsible for actions and results
- Cultivating analytical skills
An effective way to implement Habit #3, according to Covey, is breaking down activities into four quadrants of urgency and importance:
- Quadrant 1: Urgent and important
- Quadrant 2: Not urgent and important
- Quadrant 3: Urgent and not important
- Quadrant 4: Not urgent and not important
Covey suggests you become more aware of your internal drive, values, and goals. This makes it easier to say “yes” to the actions that are based on these factors. This way, values and goals are less often overruled by (non-important) urgent matters. Remember that whenever you say “yes” to one thing, you will no longer have time for something else. Time is the most valuable and least replaceable of all resources. Things that appear urgent will most likely trigger a “yes” if you are asked to help out. It’s useful to understand that saying “no” is also a legitimate option.
By identifying what’s most important to you, and where your passions lie, you can more easily learn to put first things first.
Join us next week as we explore Habit #4: Think Win-Win.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
Upcoming Events
Click here for the School Calendar
Click here for the Community Calendar
2/9: Alaka ‘i O Kaua ‘i Valentine’s Day card-making at Kukui Grove Center’s Gifts from the Heart, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
2/13: Learner-Free Day – Institute Day for Staff
2/14: Kids Heart Challenge
2/17: Presidents’ Day – No School
2/20: Minimum Day
2/20-21: Learner-Led Conferences
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School Introduces Kindness Club!
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School is special because of our curriculum focus. The two main pillars of our curriculum are Project-Based Learning and Social-Emotional Learning. Last week, a new school club was formed to support the social-emotional needs of our learners. Our 4th grade facilitator, Ms. Kate, and a 4th grade parent, Mrs. Sally Nichols, have helped our learners start a new club called Kindness Club.
The Kindness Club is described as “an opportunity for all learners who are interested to meet during lunch to talk about what kindness is and how they can bring it into our school community daily, as well as create projects to serve those around us.”
Ms. G and Mrs. Nichols gave a presentation to invite learners to become involved in the Kindness Club.
Good results from this new Kindness Club have already manifested throughout our school as our learners left notes for their facilitators and peers expressing their appreciation for them.
Please Join Us: 4th Grade Presentations of Learning This Friday!
Driving Question:
What value did the Wa’a Kaulua have in ancient Hawaii,
and what about the design made it functional?
Learn from our 4th graders!
Date: Friday, January 30
Time: 10:00- 10:45 a.m.
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Is Taking the Kids Heart Challenge!
Our school has officially kicked off Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association. Be sure to check your learner’s backpack for all the details. We are learning how to keep our hearts happy and healthy! Get started now by downloading the FREE APP called Kids Heart Challenge for Apple or Android OR visit www.heart.org/
Earn a wristband and ALL the Heart Heroes, Perrie, Knox, Nico, Sofie, Crush, and Sunny, when you raise lifesaving donations.
Nico loves making others happy by showing kindness. Thank you for your kindness and helping our school and the American Heart Association save lives!
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Kindergarteners Celebrated 100 Days of School!
On January 21, our kindergarteners had a fantastic time celebrating the 100th day of school by participating in lots of fun activities, including dressing up like they were 100 years old!
Upcoming Events
Click here for the School Calendar
Click here for the Community Calendar
1/27: Board Meeting
1/31: 4th Grade Presentations of Learning, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
2/14: Kids Heart Challenge
Exploring Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School Culture: Habit 2 of the 7 Habits
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles on the pillars of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School’s educational philosophy and approach. You can find more articles by clicking here.
When was the last time you went on a trip to a new place without first looking up directions? Unless you have a superhuman sense of direction, you searched for how to get where you were going, whether on your phone or an old-school paper map. That’s what this week’s habit is all about.
Last week, we discussed the first of the 7 Habits: Be Proactive. A proactive person believes in taking responsibility for their lives and investing their time and energy on things within their control — and not losing sleep over the things they can’t control.
But how does one successfully lead a proactive life? Part of the answer lies in Habit #2: Begin With the End in Mind. Starting a proactive journey is difficult if you don’t know where you are trying to go. Beginning with the end in mind is very much like consulting a road map.
In short, to begin with the end in mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of the desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing one’s proactive muscles to make things happen.
To reinforce a mind-set of beginning with the end in mind, Dr. Stephen Covey encouraged developing what he called a personal mission statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life.
So what does it look like for learners to embrace a Habit 2 mind-set and develop their personal mission statements? Helpful steps include reminding themselves of the following:
- I plan ahead and set goals for myself.
- I am prepared at all times.
- I think about how the choices I make now will affect my future.
- I think about the positive or negative consequences of my actions before I act.
Do you know why Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School’s focus on developing children who are free thinkers fits so well with the 7 Habits? Because, for instance, Habit 2 is based on imagination — the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. When children are empowered to imagine what can be, the results can be incredibly inspiring.
Join us next week as we explore Habit #3: Put First Things First.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
Board Meeting at Alaka`i O Kaua`i January 27
As a reminder, due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this month’s board meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, instead of the third Monday of the month.
Anyone who would like to have a more informal conversation, ask questions, or share information with the board is invited to come to the meetings early (at 4:00 p.m.) to talk with one or two of our board members.
Exploring Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School Culture: Habit 1 of the 7 Habits
Last week, we introduced a vital element of Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School’s approach to education — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Learning and practicing the 7 Habits has been instrumental to our learners’ success living out the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School motto of “free to think, inspired to lead” — not to mention how it helps our staff thrive.
This week, we’re continuing to unpack the habits with Habit #1: Be Proactive. In short, being proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control.
In general, most of us fall into one of two categories: Either we’re reactive to situations in life, affected by factors outside of ourselves and believing we have no control over situations — or we are proactive, realizing that we are “response-able” and that we have freedom to choose our responses. A proactive individual peppers their language with “I can” and “I will,” while a reactive person falls back on “I can’t” or “if only.”
In short, proactive people focus their efforts on what Dr. Stephen Covey calls their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about, like health or problems at work. On the flip side, reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern — things over which they have little or no control.
It has been amazing to see how understanding these concepts empowers Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learners to take charge and command over both their education and their lives. We’ve seen time and again how it trickles down to every aspect of their lives, and that is at the heart of the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School model: developing the whole child so that they are equipped to live with purpose and intent.
As Dr. Covey said, “The proactive approach to a mistake is to acknowledge it instantly, correct, and learn from it.” When children learn to apply this in an academic setting, it can only spread to every other area of life.
Next week, we’ll continue exploring what makes the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School approach to education so innovative, explaining Habit #2: Begin With the End in Mind.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
Board Meeting at Alaka`i O Kaua`i January 27
Due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this month’s board meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, instead of the third Monday of the month.
Anyone who would like to have a more informal conversation, ask questions, or share information with the board is invited to come to the meetings early (at 4:00 p.m.) to talk with one or two of our board members.
Exploring Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School Culture: The 7 Habits
We’re happy to introduce a new series of articles in the Monday Message, aimed at unpacking some of the essentials of the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School educational model.
Our educational model is driven by much more than simply making sure children are good students. Rather, it’s focused on equipping them to be lifelong learners who are fully developed and prepared to lead in the 21st century.
Whether you’ve been part of the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School family for a while or are fairly new, you’ve most likely heard a lot of talk about “The 7 Habits” and how important they are to what we do. Stephen Covey’s best-selling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been deeply influential in the shaping of our approach to project-based learning, as well as our staff development. We are constantly inspired by how we see our learners put the 7 Habits into action.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll expand on each of the habits, how they relate to learning at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and even practical ways you can incorporate them into your daily life.
To get things started, though, we wanted to take today to introduce the 7 Habits.
- Habit 1: Be Proactive: Being proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. Proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control.
- Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind: At the heart of this is beginning each day, task, or project with a clear vision of one’s desired direction and destination, and then continuing by flexing proactive muscles to make things happen.
- Habit 3: Put First Things First: This is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment by moment, and deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. Habit 3 is about life management, as well — your purpose, values, roles, and priorities.
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win: This habit presents life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. A win-win approach means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying.
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood: This habit can help transform communication. Too often, many of us can listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. We can filter everything we hear through our life experiences and our frame of reference. Consequently, we decide prematurely what the other person means before they finish communicating.
- Habit 6: Synergize: This is the habit of creative cooperation. It’s a process of teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. It thrives on the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. To “sharpen the saw” means to preserve and enhance the greatest asset you have — you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Coming up next week, we’ll dive into the first habit, Be Proactive, discussing what it looks like in practical terms and how you can make it part of your life.
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Spelling Bee Results Are In!
Congrats to our Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Spelling Bee champ, Isabella Salamey (4th grade), and all our spellers! Our top two spellers will advance to the Kauai District Bee on January 16 at Chiefess Middle School cafeteria at 6:00 p.m.
We held the Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Spelling Bee for grades 4-6 on Friday, January 10, in our gymnasium. The spelling bee was open to all of our learners in grades 4-6, who could advance to the district bees with the potential of ultimately going to the state spelling bee and finally the national spelling bee!
Final Local Spelling Bee: Kama’aina Kids Hawaii State Spelling Bee
Location: The New Hope Oahu auditorium at 290 Sand Island Access Road
Date & Time: March 13, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
All district bees will be completed by February 26, 2020.
Key Dates:
- January 10, 2020 – School Bees Completed
- February 15, 2020 – Big Island District Bee
- February 26, 2020 – Maui County District Bee
- January 16, 2020 – Kauai District Bee
- February 1, 2020 – Honolulu District Bee
- February 7, 2020 – Windward Oahu District Bee
- February 13, 2020 – Central Oahu District Bee
- February 7, 2020 – Leeward Oahu District Bee
- March 13, 2020 – Kama’aina Kids Hawaii State Spelling Bee
Check out the Scripps National Spelling Bee website for more information.
Extra Clothes for Rainy Days
Ah, rain! There’s been a lot of it lately, and sometimes that results in muddy clothes. Parents and guardians of learners in ALL grades, we encourage you to send an extra change of clothes and shoes for rainy days to keep your kids clean, dry, and comfortable so they can focus on another fun-filled day of learning at Alaka’i O Kaua’i!
Upcoming Events
Click here for the School Calendar
Click here for the Community Calendar
1/20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no school
1/23: Jump for Heart Assembly
1/27: Board Meeting
Upcoming Events
Click here for the School Calendar
Click here for the Community Calendar
1/6: Learner-Free Day (Staff PL)
1/7: Classes Resume
1/10: School Spelling Bee for Grades 4-6
1/23: Jump for Heart Assembly
Friday, January 10: Alaka`i O Kaua`i Spelling Bee
We are holding the Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Spelling Bee for grades 4-6 on Friday, January 10, at 11:30 a.m. in our gymnasium.
The top speller from our school will receive a free one-year subscription to Britannica Kids!
The Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Spelling Bee will include only spelling, not vocabulary.
This spelling bee is open to all of our learners in grades 4-6 since they are the ones who can advance to the district bees with the potential of ultimately going to the state spelling bee and finally the national spelling bee! The top two learners from our school will advance to the Kauai District Bee on January 16 at Chiefess Middle School cafeteria at 6:00 p.m..
Final Local Spelling Bee: Kama’aina Kids Hawaii State Spelling Bee
Location: The New Hope Oahu auditorium at 290 Sand Island Access Road
Date & Time: March 13, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
All district bees will be completed by February 26, 2020.
Key Dates:
- January 10, 2020 – School Bees Completed
- February 15, 2020 – Big Island District Bee
- February 26, 2020 – Maui County District Bee
- January 16, 2020 – Kauai District Bee
- February 1, 2020 – Honolulu District Bee
- February 7, 2020 – Windward Oahu District Bee
- February 13, 2020 – Central Oahu District Bee
- February 7, 2020 – Leeward Oahu District Bee
- March 13, 2020 – Kama’aina Kids Hawaii State Spelling Bee
Check out the Scripps National Spelling Bee website for more information.
Upcoming Events
Click here for the school calendar
12/20: Facilitator Workday
12/23-1/3: Winter Break
1/6: Learner-Free Day (Staff PL)
1/7: Classes Resume
Classroom Holiday Wish Lists
Aloha, Alaka’i O Kaua’i Families!
Please consider donating to your child’s classroom for the holidays. Each wish list is below. Every little bit helps our facilitators and keeps our learners happy and excited to come in each and every day! We appreciate you for choosing Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School, and we wish you a wonderful and happy winter break.
Also, if you order something on Amazon or elsewhere and you are worried it may not arrive until after the break, please go ahead and order anyway. Our facilitators will continue to be thankful and appreciative throughout the New Year!
Mahalo!
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Office Staff
Alaka`i O Kaua`i’s First Annual Winter Production
Last Friday, December 13, 2019, was a very exciting day for everyone at Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School, because we had our very first annual Winter Production!
Our music teacher, Elizabeth Lawson, who joined us this year to direct our school-wide music program, drew the best out of our learners.
All learners in K-7 performed beautifully, each grade performing a unique musical number centered around the holidays.
If you were at the concert, we’re certain you’ll agree that you saw some very special performances!
Nearby Winter Break Activities
Looking for fun activities for your children during Winter Break? We’ve included some options nearby! See below to learn about Poipu Beach Athletic Club’s Winter Break Events as well as Healing Horses Kaua’i’s Winter Break Horsemanship and Riding Camps. (Note: Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is not affiliated with these providers, but we are sharing this information as a courtesy to our families.)
Kindergarten Project-Based Learning in the Garden!
Our kindergarteners are in the midst of a project-based learning unit on gardening. They’re learning what’s needed to create a successful garden and what plants need to thrive.
Our driving question is “How can we make our garden into a beautiful reality?”
Through many hands-on activities, learners are mapping and constructing a bird’s-eye-view picture of our orchard. They have learned to identify plants in the garden and worked together to make garden signs. We introduced learners to the insects and other creatures they will find in the garden and their characteristics.
Through a reflection and presentation process, learners will work together to make group decisions in planning a classroom garden tour for our Presentation of Learning.
Learners will review characteristics of mature produce and discover how to harvest different types of fruits. They have learned about the parts of plants and their functions and will use the garden to teach a hands-on plant-based activity at our upcoming POL.
Upcoming Events
Click here for the school calendar
12/20: Facilitator Workday
12/23-1/3: Winter Break
1/6: Learner-Free Day (Staff PL)
Alaka`i O Kaua`i School Office Staff
Alaka`i O Kaua`i School is well into its second year of operation. Consequently, we are still putting policies, procedures, and systems in place to provide an outstanding learning environment for learners and staff. As with many new organizations, we have had many updates to our staffing, from facilitators to education assistants. In addition, we have new additions to our front office staff, who support our classroom facilitators and education assistants in many different ways.
I’d like to introduce three staff members who work in the office — two part-time and one full-time. Our primary office staff member is Ms. Jennifer Glass. The two support office staff members are Ms. Aimee Leonard and Ms. Giselle Gregorius. Giselle is also our part-time school counselor.
Their presence has made our school office a professional environment where school staff, parents, learners, and visitors feel comfortable and supported. These three staff members are outstanding representatives of Alaka`i O Kaua`i School.
With gratitude,
Frederick A. Birkett, Ed.M
School Director
Pictured above, left to right: Ms. Jennifer Glass, Ms. Aimee Leonard, Ms. Giselle Gregorius
Kindergarten POLs
The week of Oct. 1 in kindergarten, we did our first community helpers Presentation of Learning (POL). We are so proud of our kindergarteners! They worked so hard the past month to learn all about the community helpers.
In this POL, the learners got to pick who they wanted to be when they grow up. The goal was that the learners be able to articulate who they were, what tools they would use, and how they help the community.
Project-based learning is a great way to showcase an individualized learning around what each learner finds interesting.
Discipline with Love and Logic
At Alaka’i O Kaua’i, our school-wide discipline policy is based on the foundational skills of Love and Logic. Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide, as it is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. Alaka’i O Kaua’i believes:
Respect, appreciation, and love prevents potential problems
- When learners feel respected, appreciated and even loved by their teachers, they are far more motivated and cause far fewer problems.
Freedom to problem-solve and make decisions fosters motivation
- Learners are far calmer and more motivated when their faciltators allow them to make choices and solve their own problems within limits.
Focusing energy on problem prevention is rewarding
- Successful educators focus most of their energy on simple tools for preventing misbehavior or keeping it small, rather than trying to provide consequences for every problem.
Showing empathy and compassion is effective
- When consequences are necessary, effective educators provide them with sincere empathy or compassion.
10 Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Day at School
Do you ever ask your child about how his or her day went and get a one-word answer? Read this article to find out 10 questions that are great conversation starters!
“The trick is to ask about things that are specific, but still open-ended. Move beyond ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’ by asking your child to describe his world.”
Click here to read more.
Driving Reminder
Please remember to DRIVE WITH ALOHA! As a community, we all share our school road. Please be mindful of your speed, passing with care (only if necessary), and practice patience in one-lane areas.
The Importance of Learning Outside
We love to see learning “al fresco” at Alaka’i O Kaua’i.
Why is learning outside so important? An article entitled The Benefits of Learning Outside the Classroom states that direct experience outdoors is more motivating and has more impact and credibility.
The results from learning outside the classroom can be instantaneous as well as active and, therefore, impact behavior as well as tap into the learning styles of the more kinesthetic learner.
Through skilled teaching, interpretation or facilitation, learning outside the classroom can readily become a stimulating source of fascination, personal growth and can lead to breakthroughs in learning.
Active learning readily develops the learning skills of inquiry, experiment, feedback, reflection, review, communication, problem solving, an enterprising attitude and cooperative learning.
Quality learning experiences in “real” situations have the capacity to raise achievement across a range of subjects and to develop better personal and social skills. When these experiences are well planned, safely managed, and personalized to meet the needs of every child, they can:
- Improve academic achievement
- Provide a bridge to higher order learning
- Develop skills and independence in a widening range of environments
- Make learning more engaging and relevant to young people
- Develop active citizens and stewards of the environment
- Nurture creativity
- Provide opportunities for informal learning through play
- Reduce behavior problems and improve attendance
- Stimulate, inspire and improve motivation
- Develop the ability to deal with uncertainty
- Provide challenge and the opportunity to take acceptable levels of risk
- Improve young people’s attitudes
What is Morning Meeting?
Every morning, our learners gather together for Morning Meeting. It’s an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically. Each morning, learners and facilitators gather together in a circle for 20-30 minutes and interact with one another during four purposeful components:
- Greeting:Learners and facilitators greet one another by name and practice offering hospitality.
- Sharing: Learners share information about important events in their lives. Listeners often offer empathetic comments or ask clarifying questions.
- Group Activity: Everyone participates in a brief, lively activity that fosters group cohesion and helps learners practice social and academic skills (for example, reciting a poem, dancing, singing, or playing a game that reinforces social or academic skills).
- Morning Message: Learners read and interact with a short message written by their facilitator. The message is crafted to help learners focus on the work they’ll do in school that day.
Ways to Get Involved
Interested in being a “Class Parent”? We would love to have you! Anyone interested in helping support a specific class, please contact the facilitator.
Class Parents are there to support by volunteering in the classroom, organizing special activities, helping coordinate field trips or class parties — whatever the facilitator and class needs! A huge MAHALO to those who have already jumped in to help. We really appreciate you!
ILPs
We are looking forward to your collaboration with your learners and their facilitator on the ILPs.
Alaka’i O Kaua’i embraces the whole child, focusing on both social-emotional and academic skills. In lieu of the traditional
parent/teacher conference, the learners, facilitators, and parents/guardians collaborate annually to create Individualized
Learning Plans (ILPs) to guide instruction.
Everyone works together to reflect on, monitor, and make adjustments to the ILP as needed. The primary goal of the ILP is to ensure that each child reflects on their own achievements and identifies areas in which they need to improve. Therefore, each learner will be working toward attainable goals aligned to their individual development.
ILPs
Alaka’i O Kaua’i embraces the whole child, focusing on both social-emotional and academic skills. In lieu of the traditional
parent/teacher conference, the learners, facilitators, and parents/guardians collaborate annually to create Individualized
Learning Plans (ILPs) to guide instruction. Everyone works together to reflect on, monitor, and make adjustments to the ILP as needed. The primary goal of the ILP is to ensure that each child reflects on their own achievements and identifies areas in which they need to improve. Therefore, each learner will be working toward attainable goals aligned to their individual development.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
Thursday, Aug. 22: Minimum Day (K-7)
Aug. 22-23: Literacy Assessments (K-7)
Monday, Sept. 2: Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
Tuesday, June 25th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Thursday, July 4th: School Office Closed (Fourth of July)
Bubble Bonanza PBL
Mrs. Ashley’s class just finished up their latest installment of Project-Based Learning, “Engineering Bubble Wands”. They presented their designs to the 1st and 2nd grade classes and then took them through the engineering design process, where they were given the opportunity to construct their very own wands.
They also experimented with different designs and created bubble formulas to help discover all the things bubbles can and cannot do. They wrapped up their presentation with their BUBBLE BONANZA showcase, where they took their classmates out to the field and blew them away with some of the biggest bubbles the learners have ever seen. Their Bubble Bonanza showcase was a great success for all!
Field Day & End of Year Celebration at Alaka’i
All our keiki had a wonderful time at Field Day last week! We had a wonderful time playing field games, running in the sprinkler, going down the Slip N Slide, and playing more games in the gym with the Tapias! Mahalo to everyone who came out to celebrate the end of the school year with us. We look forward to making this fun event an Alaka’i O Kaua’i tradition in the many years to come.
Alaka`i O Kaua`i Kindergarten Graduation 2019
A huge mahalo to Miss Casey, Ms Ari, and Miss Claire for truly celebrating our kindergarten keiki, and to all the families who came to support them! The inaugural Alaka’i O Kaua’i kindergarten class is officially ready for first grade!
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
Friday, June 21st: Kindergarten Graduation, 12:30-1:40 p.m.
Tuesday, June 25th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
SCHEDULE CHANGE: Tuesday, June 11th – King Kamehameha Day – NO SCHOOL
& Kindergarten RoundUp CANCELLED
Friday, June 14th: Schoolwide Field Day & End of Year Celebration
Friday, June 21st: Kindergarten Graduation, 12:30-1:40 p.m.
Tuesday, June 25th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
YOU’RE INVITED: Field Day & End-of-Year Celebration this Friday
This Friday, June 14th, we will be holding a schoolwide Field Day and End of Year Celebration. Field Day activities will take place between 9-11 a.m. All parents are welcome to participate and join in the fun!
If you would like to help facilitate the field games, we are looking for helpers. Please contact Claire at cl************@al**********.org if you’d like to support your child’s class games!
After our field activities, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be a whole school picnic, followed by an ice cream social and other treats! Families are all welcome! We will end our celebration with an assembly in the gym before dismissal. We hope everyone will be able to join us for our End of Year Celebration on Friday!
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
Tuesday, June 11th: Kindergarten RoundUp
Thursday, June 13th: Miss Casey’s Presentation of Learning
Friday, June 21st: End of School Year Celebration & Kindergarten Graduation
Tuesday, June 25th: Last Day of Classes
Alaka’i is Still Enrolling for School Year 2019-2020!
Please help us spread the word that we are still enrolling Grades K-7th. We have spaces still in all grades, including Kindergarten! We ask that you please share with your friends and continue to let people know about our school. Interested families are welcome to schedule a tour directly with Claire, or come to the school on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. to take a tour. Mahalo for your support.
ALSO…
We will be holding another Kindergarten RoundUp for new prospective families on Tuesday, June 11th, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This event is an opportunity for new families to visit our campus and our kindergarten classrooms, learn about our program, and meet our outstanding facilitators. Keiki are welcome! Please help spread the word about this event. All are welcome!
Amazing Summer Camp Opportunity
While the school year is coming to a close, we’re excited to share an amazing learning opportunity for summer break.
This camp is open to learners entering grades 7-12 (for the 2019/20 school year), who will travel to the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kaua’i this July for the inaugural year of Camp Kahili!
This exciting camp offers teens the opportunity to enjoy 1-3 weeks on the island. The project-based learning curriculum is focused on STEAM, multicultural studies, and international learning. There will also be a variety of awesome excursion opportunities allowing learners to explore the island.
Camp Themes
- Week 1: Marine Biology (July 7-13)
- Week 2: Earth & Space (July 14-20)
- Week 3: Engineering & Coding (July 21-27)
Tuition includes ground transportation in Kaua’i, accommodations, daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, academic courses and excursions.
SPACE IS LIMITED for this camp, so please click here to learn all about Camp Kahili and register your learners today!
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
Monday, May 27th: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, June 11th: Kindergarten RoundUp
Thursday, June 13th: Miss Casey’s Presentation of Learning
Friday, June 21st: End of School Year Celebration & Kindergarten Graduation
Tuesday, June 25th: Last Day of Classes
Alaka’i is Still Enrolling for School Year 2019-2020!
Please help us spread the word that we are still enrolling Grades K-7th. We have spaces still in all grades, including Kindergarten! We ask that you please share with your friends and continue to let people know about our school. Interested families are welcome to schedule a tour directly with Claire, or come to the school on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. to take a tour. Mahalo for your support.
ALSO…
We will be holding another Kindergarten RoundUp for new prospective families on Tuesday, June 11th, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This event is an opportunity for new families to visit our campus and our kindergarten classrooms, learn about our program, and meet our outstanding facilitators. Keiki are welcome! Please help spread the word about this event. All are welcome!
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
May 13-21st: SBAC Testing for Grades 3-5
May 22-24th: Kokee Field Trip for Grades 4-5
Friday, May 24th: NO SCHOOL
Monday, May 27th: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
Lei Day at Alaka’i
A big MAHALO to everyone who contributed to and attended Alaka’i O Kaua’i’s first ever Lei Day Celebration. We look forward to growing this wonderful tradition with our school community in the years to come!
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
May 13-21st: SBAC Testing for Grades 3-5
May 22-24th: Kokee Field Trip for Grades 4-5
Monday, May 27th: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
Upcoming Events
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
May 6-10th: Teacher Appreciation Week
Saturday, May 11th: Kaua’i Charity Walk
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10
Our wonderful facilitators and staff play a pivotal role in our children’s lives, inspiring a lifelong love of learning and discovery and making a difference in their well-being and long-term success.
Let’s show our thanks and gratitude to these stellar educators. Join us during Teacher Appreciation Week to #ThankATeacher for all that they do to help our children reach for the stars.
Please let me know if you have time to volunteer on Friday, May 10th, at 11 a.m. so we can let the staff have lunch together plus help me lead a schoolwide activity for our learners. Please email Cara Brosius (mom to Sofia and Spencer) at ca*********@gm***.com.
Thanks in advance!
This year, we are doing the following activities to show our appreciation:
- MONDAY: Breakfast on us! Please sign up to bring a breakfast item. SIGN UP HERE
- TUESDAY: You make us BLOOM! Bring your facilitator/staff a flower (fresh, artificial, or hand-drawn)
- WEDNESDAY: Facilitators are NOTEWORTHY. Write (or draw) your facilitator a note to explain how they have impacted your life this year.
- THURSDAY: My Facilitator’s a TREAT! Treat your facilitator to their favorite snack or treat
- FRIDAY: Staff Luncheon; Please sign up to bring a dish. SIGN UP HERE
Charity Walk is Coming This Saturday!
Please come support our school for our second year participating in the Kauai Charity Walk, Saturday, May 11th, at the Vidinha Soccer Field. This wonderful event is a FUN way to help raise funds for our school arts and music programs.Last year, we raised $5,000 that went toward our playground!
Click here to DONATE, PLEDGE or WALK with us! We can’t wait to see you there!
The pledge amounts are $35 for adults and $25 for children. A T-shirt and breakfast is included. There will also be a Alaka’i-sponsored bounce house for the keiki!
Know someone who may be interested in enrolling their child at Alaka’i? This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the school and 2019-2020 enrollment.
About the Charity Walk
The Charity Walk, founded in 1974 and expanded statewide in 1978, is now Hawai‘i’s largest single-day fundraising event by a nonprofit organization. Since its inception, more than $32 million has been raised to support hundreds of local charities throughout the state. Spearheaded by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and it’s nonprofit arm Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, the Charity Walk is traditionally held every May on Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Lana‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, and O‘ahu. Money raised on an island or county stays there. The public is invited to participate in this event featuring a morning of great food, fun, fabulous entertainment, and a little exercise to help island charities.