Monday message 05.09.2022

Message from the Director

Aloha to the good people in the Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School learning community, in good health and happiness as we just completed the first week of May.

Mahalo nui for all of your support of our efforts to provide a top quality FREE education for the keiki of Kaua’i. On May 1st, the rankings of schools in the state of Hawai’i for the 2020-2021 school year were released and with this message it is with great pride and admiration of our work together that these outstanding outcomes are shared with you.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School has been recognized as the fastest-improving charter school in the state of Hawai’i. We moved up 55 (that’s right — 55!) placings in the state rankings, to slightly edge runner up Kona Pacific Charter School on Big Island which finished second at 54 spots. This is based on a sample size of all elementary charter schools in the state of Hawai’i. Congratulations to everyone in our learning community on this outstanding achievement.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School has also been recognized as the third-fastest improving school out of 196 elementary schools in the state of Hawai’i. We wish to acknowledge our colleagues at Kalaheo School for finishing first with a 59 position improvement while Ho’okena Elementary in Captain Cook (Big Island) moved up 56 spaces. Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School finished third in the entire state, despite receiving half the funding of those fully funded HIDOE schools. Congratulations to our learning community once again on this outstanding achievement.

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is able to enjoy this incredible growth due to the work of three key areas. Our inquisitive learners are the reason for our existence and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and improvements. Check out the photo of the happy Grade Four class who are outside this week working on the Na Kupu Lau event to be held on Friday, May 20th.

Our dedicated staff cares deeply about the success of our learners and we are blessed to have these amazing people working with our keiki.

The staff consistently shares their love of learning and have worked hard collectively to help prepare our Grade Three to Grade Six classes for their SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) mandatory state testing. We share a photo of our Testing Coordinator Ms. Malissa and Education Assistant Ms. Whitney preparing some “brain food” breakfast for our learners before writing last week.

We also enjoy the unconditional support of our learning community that includes parents and Board of Directors that will quickly step forward to assist the school. As a current example the staff was treated to delicious coffee and treats repeatedly last week as part of National Staff Appreciation Week so mahalo for making our week on campus so special!

Mahalo to everyone for helping us all create the unique special place that Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School is and let’s continue to work in collaboration for further improvements to the education of our keiki.

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.