A Culture of Kindness

Aloha Island School ‘Ohana,

What an interesting week. I find myself simultaneously immersed in two very different aspects of my role as Head of School…the annual Island School Auction for tomorrow evening and important questions around how to build and sustain a culture of kindness both on and off campus.

The last few days have me diving into details with our Development Team and auction co-chairs for the school’s grand annual event, the Island School Auction. This evening requires Development Team and co-chair organization alongside countless faculty, staff, and community volunteers devoting hours to coordinate this event. We are all working hard to raise funds for financial aid so we can serve as many youth of Kaua‘i as possible. The generosity of spirit and dedication to the mission of Island School is inspiring!

Simultaneously, the last few weeks have me working alongside Division Directors as we address how students treat one another…what is a joke and what is hurtful, what is standing up for a friend and what is harming a peer. All our students / your children are learning, and when they make mistakes, how do we hold them accountable for their actions? We’ve been working hard to look at our systems of making sure behavior expectations are clear, and that a text in a chat can be just as hurtful as a physical altercation…and in fact, digital exchanges can have even more lasting, broader impact. How do we parent in this digital age? How do we guide students as educators, when the broader, digital world is so much closer to our students than when we were growing up? Our world needs us to continue to develop a culture of kindness in our young people (and really adults too)…alongside a culture of academic excellence, a culture of athletic dedication and competitiveness, a culture of artistic expression and appreciation, a culture of responsibility for the ‘āina…this is hard and important work.

There are no easy answers for either of the big issues above – distinct socio-economic disparity on our island and throughout Hawai‘i (at the root of the need for financial aid) and young people growing up in this age of digital acceleration where the line of what is a joke and what is hurtful is too often blurred.

But I do know that both of these large issues require our partnership as a community to support young people to have access to an enriching education so they can fulfill their potential and be well-rounded individuals that have kind, open hearts to approach problem solving from a position of empathy and care.

I look forward to working alongside the many volunteers as we get ready for Saturday night and mingling with those who will attend the Auction Gala as we do our collective best effort to raise funds for financial aid. AND, I look forward to working with you as ‘ohana, our faculty and staff, and our students as we continue to take collective steps together to further deepen a culture of kindness at Island School.

As always, please know how much gratitude I have for your belief in Island School and entrusting us with these important years of your child’s education. 

Together,

 

Nancy Nagramada

Head of School