School news and events for the week of {date}
Social Emotional Education
The foundation of Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School centers around Project-Based Learning, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Students, Love and Logic, and the social emotional development of all our learners.
We encourage all our facilitators (teachers) to help our learners become aware of their social emotional feelings, and the social emotional feelings of their classroom peers. Our learners exhibit this through interactions with peers at school, as well as friends and relatives outside of school. Since our learners have been in school for approximately 6 months, many of our learners are exhibiting the characteristics found in our 7 Habits curriculum, which includes one characteristic they all are encouraged to exhibit on a daily basis.
Many of our Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School learners have incorporated the 7 Habits principles into their lives. I recently saw this characteristic on full display when Kainoa, a new 4th grade learner, enrolled in our school approximately three weeks ago. His first two weeks of school were pretty rocky; however, little by little he began to adjust to his new school and classroom environment and got to know the personalities of many of his classroom peers.
One day, when Kainoa was playing with his peers during recess, he fell and broke his leg, (which was not immediately evident). With only 1 hour left in the school day, our newest learner was laying on the ground in excruciating pain. At that point, many of his peers surrounded him to find out what happened. Two of his classmates stayed with him, applying an ice pack to his leg. These two classmates took turns holding the ice-pack as they let the new learner know just how sorry they were he was hurt. While they were administering the ice pack, both of these learners expressed how glad they felt about having him as a part of their class and encouraged him to return to school as soon he is well.
The response of these 4th grade learners toward Kainoa was proof that our curricular model (7 Habits and social emotional learning) is working and practiced on a daily basis. This is what makes Alaka`i O Kaua`i Charter School such a special place to be for all of our learners.
Thank you,
Frederick A. Birkett, Ed.M
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School Director
Lei Day at Alaka’i O Kaua’i — Friday, May 3rd
On Friday, May 3rd, we welcome everyone to join us for our inaugural Lei Day Celebration! At 11 a.m., we will have a schoolwide picnic during which parents are invited to join their learners for lunch outside on our beautiful playground. Following lunch, we will have a hula performance in our school gym at 12… Read more
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… Read more
Join us for the Charity Walk!
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 as well as our community. Click here to DONATE, PLEDGE or WALK with us! We can’t wait to… Read more
Desperado Orchestra Music Ensemble
Earlier this month, the Desperado Orchestra Music Ensemble held its Spring Music Recital. Three of our learners, Andrew James (AJ), Makayla Timko, and Raegan Baldwin, received an award for practicing for at least 1,000 minutes or over. Congratulations to our talented and hard-working learner musicians! Last week, we invited the director of the Desperado Orchestra… Read more