About Island School
E Komo Mai – Head of School Welcome
E Komo Mai
Aloha and Welcome to Island School!
We are so glad to share with you our School, where for nearly 50 years we have provided Kaua’i our distinctive program from which our students become independent thinkers and explore with curiosity, creativity, and confidence. From the voices of our young Pre-Kindergarteners in their outdoor classrooms to the robust debates amongst our juniors and seniors, we hold the student voice at the center of all we do. Island School is an environment where students feel safe to voice their opinions, take risks in their learning, and seek new challenges. We cultivate a dynamic learning environment where respect, compassion, and integrity are fundamental aspects of our college-preparatory program. As you get to know our community, you will see that we are a relationship-based school. Teachers are wholly dedicated to the well-being of every student, and we foster meaningful partnerships with our families and readily stay connected with our alumni. We work hard so that every member of our community is celebrated, seen, and belongs.
Our nearly 500 PK-12th grade students are challenged daily to live our mission: “Educating the mind, inspiring the heart. Preparing Kauaʻi youth to lead lives of significance.” We know that when our students embark on their journeys beyond Island School they will do so as confident, able, compassionate young people ready to make a positive difference in their worlds.
Thank you for your interest in Island School. The vibrancy of the Island School ‘ohana is best experienced in person, and so I invite your family to visit and witness our incredible learning community firsthand. We are Voyagers, and we invite you to begin a journey with us.
Mahalo,
Nancy Nagramada
Head of School
Weekly Notes from Nancy
Research indicates the reason children and parents choose a particular private school is based on several factors:
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1. The College Preparatory Program
Island School graduates have been accepted at more than 120 different institutions across the country, from the East Coast to the West and in Hawaii. These institutions include U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C. Berkeley, The New School in New York City, Whitman College, Pepperdine University, University of Notre Dame, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Clark University, Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, Bates College, UCLA, and more. -
2. Greater Sense of Community
Community service is encouraged and promoted for all Island School students. Students work with organizations such as the Kaua‘i Humane Society, Friends of Lydgate Park, National Tropical Botanical Gardens, and Koke‘e Discovery Center throughout the year to participate in beach clean-ups, native plant restoration and other community service opportunities. High school students are required to give a minimum of 20 hours of community service per year. -
3. Character Development
Discipline, respect, and integrity are fully integrated into an Island School education. Our teachers put time and energy into our Social Emotional Learning curriculum in order for it to thrive, and for all of our students, from pre-school through 12th grade, to receive the benefits of these curriculum.
Our Traditions
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Fall Festival
Held on our upper fields at the beginning of the school year, Fall Festival is a night for Island School families to come together for games, food, music, and dancing. Parents, students, and friends participate in fair games, carnival rides and line dancing, while raising money for class funds during that academic year. -
Island School Birthday
Each year, during the last week of January, all Island School students and staff gather for an assembly to honor and acknowledge the history of Island School, and celebrate its growth and expansion. -
May Day
Students from elementary through high school spend months preparing for Island School's annual May Day ceremony by practicing hula and making their own costumes. May Day at Island School is a day of performances celebrating Hawaiian stories and history. Each grade level gives a performance, and family and friends fill bleachers to watch and enjoy!
