School news and events for the week of {date}
Dear Parents,
In his 1926 classic, “Winnie the Pooh,” A.A. Milne wrote, “Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.” Our little pink friend was grateful for the abundance he had in his life: great friends, a warm place to sleep, and a few tasty “haycorns” to eat. As we approach the conclusion of 2018 and break for the winter holiday, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who help make Alaka’i O Kaua’i an amazing place to be. We are an Ohana with many gifts and talents, which we share daily with one another and, most importantly, our learners. From the classroom to our homes and community, our collective efforts to develop the whole child are filled with passion, commitment, and a willingness to make decisions that may be hard in the present, but will have a positive and lasting influence for all in the future. Parents, of course, are such a critical part of all we hope to accomplish on behalf of our Alaka’i learners. I am grateful to you for doing what I know firsthand is the hardest, most rewarding and joyous job of all. Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gift.
I am also grateful to our wonderful, talented, creative, inquisitive, optimistic, resourceful and resilient keiki. Often, they make us laugh, sometimes they make us cry, but always they make us think. Most of all, they help us hone our skills as educators as we grow and learn alongside them. In the spirit of this holiday season, I want to extend my thanks to our entire Ohana; parents, learners, staff, and governing board for everything that you do for our school. As we enjoy the upcoming holidays, it is my fervent wish that each of you receives and returns the seasonal bounty of blessings and good tidings that make these days truly special. It is also during this time that I am reminded of my own good fortune to have been able to serve as the Interim Director for the past couple of months. It has been a true joy to be a part of Alaka’i O Kaua’i’s founding year! As of Dec. 17, Mr. Fred Birkett will be onsite as the new school director. I hope that you will stop in and welcome him personally. I will be back in January after break to provide support during the transition.
I believe the faces of our keiki best express the true meaning of this holiday season. They radiate a sense of unbridled enthusiasm, untainted hope, and unabashed joy for life and the opportunities that await them. To the parents and friends of the Alaka’i O Kaua’i, please have a safe and joyous holiday season!
Linda Krystek
Presentation of Learning
Thank you to all of the families who came out to celebrate our first Presentation of Learning on Friday, Dec. 14. Our facilitators and learners were so excited to show off all the hard work that has gone into our school-wide unit of study focused on the garden and sustainability here on Kaua’i. The learning… Read more
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… Read more
Love and Logic Parenting Workshop on Jan. 15
Linda Krystek will be offering “Parenting with Love and Logic, Part 1” at Alaka’i O Kaua’i on Tuesday, Jan. 15, from 2:45-4 p.m. in the Library. Join us to learn how to show love and empathy while setting limits and holding children accountable with logical consequences. We will be diving deep into the Five Core… Read more
Ohana Network Membership
We sent home Ohana Network Membership forms on Friday. If you would like to join our school’s first parent/family organization, please return this form to the front office. Meetings will be held regularly to support efforts in the areas of outreach, fundraising, and creating enrichment programs for our students. Our next meeting will be held… Read more
Alaka’i Bumper Stickers & Pencils for Sale
We have some great Alaka’i O Kaua’i bumper stickers and pencils for sale in the front office. They are $2 per sticker; $1 per pencil.
Extra Change of Clothing for Your Keiki
Now that we are in the heart of mud season here at Mount Kahili, please be sure to put an extra change of clothes in your child’s backpack so they are able to change if they get muddy or wet. We are also happily receiving clothing donations of all sizes/genders for children who do not… Read more
Lost and Found
Please check the Lost and Found right outside the office for any items that may belong to your child. Any items not recovered by Winter Break will be donated to charity or discarded.
Alaka’i O Kaua’i Facebook Page
Did you know that Alaka’i O Kaua’i has its own Facebook page? We invite you to “Follow” or “Like” our page to get the latest pictures, videos, and information about what is happening on campus. This is also a great way for everyone to share news about our wonderful school with their friends and community.
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree in our front office is to show our appreciation for all the hard work and time our facilitators at Alaka’i O Kaua’i invest with our keiki. In the main office, you will find a Giving Tree with paper ornaments that include teacher’s name and what they may be needing or hoping for… Read more
School Photos
Our Photo Retake Day has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 17th. If your child was absent on the previous photo day, or you would like a picture retake, please put this date on your calendar. Order forms will be available at the front desk once we return from Winter Break.
Volunteer Requirements
At Alaka’i O Kaua’i, we love and appreciate all of our volunteers! If you haven’t already done so, please get a volunteer application and fingerprinting/background check packet if you intend to continue (or begin) volunteering with us in the school. We ask that everyone please complete these packets as soon as possible! We will also… Read more
Reminders Regarding Arrival and Dismissal
Please note that school begins at 8:15 a.m. Please drop your child off by 8:10 a.m. so they make it to class on time. This is very important for the flow of our classroom schedules and their morning meetings. Similarly, we want to remind you also that dismissal is at 2:25 p.m. Please do not… Read more
