Aloha mai kakou to the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, and welcome to the fresh calendar year of 2025. Sincere best wishes to you all for a successful year ahead filled with health and happiness.

Please accept our great gratitude for supporting the numerous project-based learning activities we hold on campus. A perfect example is the Grade Two class project of creating soap. The learners, under the great guidance of Mrs. Shay, grew their loofah in their school garden, harvested the loofah, and incorporated the dried loofah into their newly created soap. As shown in the main image this week, the learners were happy to sell their soap and all sales will directly fund their future project-based learning activities. The other photos this week show several grades coming together to celebrate a project-based learning activity, in addition to the Physical Education classes enjoying parachute games.

We enjoyed a smooth return to campus last week and appreciate everyone’s helpfulness in settling back into our school operational routines. One area we are trying to improve in 2025 is tardiness. We ask that everyone be on campus and ready to participate in the Morning Piko that starts at 8:45 am.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is honored to be part of “The Thinking Classroom Hawai’i” cohort under the steady guidance of Harvard University. Last week, Ms. Tina visited from Massachusetts to work with our staff on protocols to help reach a deeper level of thinking for our learners. Then again this weekend a dedicated group of our staff members traveled to O’ahu for numerous sessions to gain a greater knowledge of the program. We are fortunate to have such an engaged group of educators who work at our school and are constantly looking for ways to enhance the education offered here. We also wish to acknowledge the generosity of the state of Hawai’i Charter Commission for their financial support of our involvement in “The Thinking Classroom Hawai’i.”

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School continues to grow and expand our program offerings. We are currently searching to fill two Educational Assistant positions that would be working in Middle School and Special Education. If you have any interest in working at the school, please contact us and we can share more details.

Best wishes for a wonderful week ahead. Malama pono.

DJ Adams
Po’okumu (Director)
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School
Koloa, Hawai’i