Monday message 01.10.2022

Aloha kakahiaka 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 roll into 2022. We had a wonderful transition back to campus last week and it was GREAT to see everyone again to hear of their Winter Break experiences.

Mahalo for your support of our unique charter school, and we have added a new twist to social-emotional learning at recess times with the addition of tetherball on campus. We are extremely pleased to share that our keiki discovered new ways to resolve potential issues when Four Square was brought to campus this year. We decided that with the success of Four Square it might be a good opportunity to add new activities for learning and FUN while outside at recess.

We also embraced the New Year with a new bus route serving our learning community to the south and a little bit west. Mahalo kakou for your support of this shift and for the changes with the pickup procedures after school. For the safety of our learners we have moved all the morning dropoff and afternoon private vehicle pickup to Main Campus. We will monitor the effectiveness of these changes and determine if any further alterations are needed. We appreciate that people in our learning community drives with aloha, especially given the challenges of a gravel road.

Last Tuesday was an incredible opportunity for me to present a workshop at the Hawai’i International Conference on Education (HICE) held in Waikoloa. The Hawai’i International Conference on Education had over 800 participants this year with a focus on best practices in education globally. In my absence, mahalo nui loa e Kumu Chris Town (Alaka’i O Kaua’i governing board member) who returned to his career of a highly successful education administrator and was kind enough to pen a few thoughts about his experience as director, which are included here:

“I had the experience of covering for Director DJ Adams on the first day of school after winter break. As a board member and retired principal at Kalaheo, on Oahu, New Mexico and Colorado, I’m sometimes asked to assist when needed during special circumstances. Last week’s circumstance was that Director Adams was very honored to be presenting at a prestigious conference on the Big Island, at the Hawai’i International Conference on Education (HICE) for other school leaders. What a privilege to have a director who is known as a valuable resource for other schools in our state! When I arrived on campus, I greeted the children on both our buses, including our new bus from the south side. The children were so excited to return. They were enthusiastic and joyful. I’m really proud of our school, parents, and staff who have joined in unison, commitment, and enthusiasm to learn and work together.This month’s character trait is HONESTY. Honesty, when coupled and taught along with other 7 Habits-related traits such as respect, helps create the necessary foundation upon which our project-based learning is based. It’s part of our continuing emphasis on social emotional skills that help us learn together, and feel safe and happy. I see this manifested here at our very unique Alaka’i O Kaua’i Public Charter School. I feel privileged to be a member.”

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.