June 2, 2025

5/30/2025

Aloha Island School ‘Ohana,

How can it possibly be that the 24-25 school year is over?!? I look back at the year, and I marvel at all that we accomplished together…

45 seniors - the largest Island School graduating class in our history
30 year anniversaries for both Sean Magoun and Kumu Sabra Kauka at Island School
40,000 minutes achieved by the 2nd Grade in their reading challenge
The only off-island elementary choral group to participate in the O’ahu elementary choral event
Our 1st ever Island School student to represent our state at the International Science and Engineering Fair
Our first ever 4-peat for Girls Team KIF Swim Champions
Our first ever 3-peat for our Individual KIF Golf Champion, who went all the way to be 2nd in the state
Our first STEAM Day in Elementary School
The return of the 8th grade overnight immersion study trip, now established on Big Island
The highest netting Gala fundraiser in its 38-year history to support financial and and overall school programming
Over $13,000 earned by the Elementary School students to support the Annual Voyager Fund through their Jog-a-Thon efforts
Our Robotics Team achieved its highest ranking yet in competition at the state level
Another KIF championship for our Mixed Paddling varsity team, who went all the way to be 3rd in the state
Hosting our first Wa’a Day
Another incredible Hōʻike with over 1,000 guests to join us in honoring our student learning through the practice of Hawaiian culture
Incredible carrots and eggplants planted, cared for, and harvested by our 3-4 year old students in Nā Pua Keiki
Our first season in 13 years for our girls basketball team
Hundreds of hours of community service completed across our island to make a positive contribution across Kaua’i through class projects as well as individual service hours completed by high school students
Fighting hard on the field in the inaugural season of girls flag football
Launching of our Middle School ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian Language) program

and the list could go on and on…

What a wonderful year this has been. We have so much to be proud of, and we will continue to grow and seek out ways to improve as a school. And while I still feel new, I feel the ground more firmly under my feet here in what feels more and more clearly like our home. The first two years of anything is not typically easy…and I can confirm that has been true for me, for sure. And, there are so many ways that I admire and feel so honored to be a part of this special school community.

We’ve had a great year together, and I look forward to moving closer and closer to our 50th anniversary. I hope you have a wonderful summer ahead, that the change of pace for your children allows for more time to dive into a good book, fish for hours along a fast flowing river or the gleaming blue ocean, support and care for elders in their lives, set their sites on achieving an athletic or academic goal…whatever it is, I hope your children have a wonderful summer.

**Please be sure to review the announcements below, including a request for parents.guardians to complete a simpler survey about the 24-25 school year.**

For those not returning to Island School, we wish you well, especially our graduates!

And for the students we will see in the fall, while I am glad for a slightly slower pace over the next few weeks, as I’m guessing you are too, I can already tell that I am looking forward to seeing you again, bright smiles and all.

Mahalo nui loa,

Nancy Nagramada P ’29

Head of School

n.nagramada@ischool.org

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