Monday message 02.21.2022

Aloha to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community. I hope this message finds you in good health and happiness as we sail through the month of February.

It is a little hard to imagine that we are roughly two-thirds of the way through the 2021-22 school year already. We certainly enjoyed another active week on our beautiful campus with our learners, as you can see from this week’s photos. Ms. Joeanne captured a stunning rainbow in a photo with some of our happy Grade Five learners. We celebrated Valentine’s Day complete with creative artistic Valentine boxes that were built by our keiki. Mr. Jon enjoyed having a helper as he continues to build additional outdoor classrooms so our learners can be outside as much as possible. Project-based learning activities are abundant as you can see from the Grade Five work on indigenous people. As we continue along with our Team Ko DreamUp to Space project, where else would you find a school campus with a real helicopter?

Learner-Led Conferences are coming up soon on Friday, February 25th, and again on Friday, March 4th, here on campus. For people new to our learning community, if you have questions about these events, you can speak with your classroom teacher.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School facilitators are transforming the traditional teacher-led parent-teacher conferences in favor of learner-led conferences that engage keiki in the process. These conferences provide powerful opportunities for learners to demonstrate and advocate for their own learning. Learner-Led Conferences are an opportunity for learners to showcase their accomplishments, projects, and progress toward their Individual Learning Plan Goals. The learner is in charge of conducting and leading the conference with their ohana, which is a significant shift in educational approach.

Learner-Led Conferences (LLCs) place learners at the helm of facilitator-supported discussions with parents about their academic progress and learning. LLCs also often present opportunities for learners to prepare, reflect on, and discuss evidence of their learning and growth by way of sharing chosen learning artifacts or portfolios. This is a time for your keiki to proudly show what they know and introduce you to their classroom, learning environment, and campus.

A friendly reminder that Learner-Led Conferences are not traditional parent-teacher conference. If you have concerns or questions you want to discuss with your keiki’s facilitator in depth, please reach out to schedule a separate date and time for this meeting.

As state of Hawai’i funded property we are required to follow the state of Hawai’i Governor’s Proclamation orders. Accordingly, we will have a health check-in station located at the entrance to Main Campus where we will perform a temperature check and ask for negative COVID test or vaccination card. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in following the expectations set out for us by the state of Hawai’i.

As Monday, February 21st, is Presidents’ Day, there will be no school for our learners on that day.

Mahalo for your support of our unique charter school and malama pono.

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

“Ua ola no i ka pane a ke aloha.”

There is life in a kindly reply.