Making History

The close of one calendar year and the start of a new one always holds time for reflection.

Our last Summer Magazine highlighted how 2025 held so much for us to be proud of:

 

And so much more…

With the start of January, we also can turn towards all that we can look forward to in 2026, knowing it will hold its own history-making moments.

In this spirit, I want to highlight a way that I am particularly excited about how we will make school history this March. By now you should have received your invitation for the Island School’s 47th Annual Gala. I love the sun print of the ‘upena ho’olei (throw net) created by Upper School Art Teacher Derrick Little and the Middle School Art class that is intended to symbolize our interconnectedness as a community. And perhaps you noticed that this important community event, for the first time in the school’s history, will be held on our beautiful campus.

 

We are thrilled that we can bring this event home – an event that has led the way to enable us to fulfill our mission of serving Kaua’i youth. The Gala has been a critical way our community has committed to the importance of keeping Island School as accessible as possible for families across our island home. The funds raised via the Gala for financial aid and other critical areas of the School’s programming are essential because tuition alone does not cover the cost of an Island School education. Having this elegant event right on our campus will allow us to integrate the power of what we do as a School even more effectively.

 

Please don’t get me wrong – moving the event to our campus was no simple choice. In many ways, it is a heavier lift than hosting the event offsite. And, at the same time, the Advancement Team and I, together with our dynamic co-chairs Erin Gushman ’02, P’33, P’35, and Hannah Lerman P’27, P’34, are clear that centering the event at Island School is essential. By welcoming our community onto the campus they so generously support, this extra effort allows us to place Island School at the heart of the experience—and ultimately to do as much good as possible in meeting our financial aid and program support needs.

 

We look forward to our community joining together in whatever way you can to help us make the Island School Annual Gala on March 7, 2026 a history-making success. 

As always, mahalo for being a part of the Island School ʻohana and for all the ways you uplift our community. We are excited for what is ahead in 2026 with you. 

Together,

Nancy Nagramada P’29

Head of School