Representing Island School

Aloha Island School ‘Ohana,

Wow…I am still not used to the incredible amount of rain that occurs here in Kaua‘i. That lightning was amazing. I don’t know about you, but I had a hard time sleeping! Thank you to our K-12 families for pivoting to virtual conferences or rescheduling for next week, so we can ensure our safety given the weather and its impact on water levels and road conditions.

For those having conferences this week or next, I hope you had or will have a meaningful opportunity to engage with your child’s/children’s teacher(s) to talk about growth and success this year. This exchange is such an important time to pause from our regular schedules and engage in reflection and curiosity in supporting our students with their goals. 

It’s been an exciting week with students returning last week from a wonderfully successful Science Fair competition and then a few days later the Science Olympiad competition, both of which were held in Honolulu. Our students represented Island School so well and brought home awards for their hard work. Laura Lee, the lead teacher for Science Fair as well as she and Joe Corbo, the co-leads for Science Olympiad were so proud of how all the students did. Big thank you to all the families who made the trip possible and supported their children’s participation.

We also represented our school so well at the County Track Meet across the weekend. WOW, our elementary and middle school students worked so hard in the various track and field events. In fact, I happened to run into Mayor Kawakami at the Kaiola Hale after paddling practice on Monday, and he made a point to tell me how impressed he was with the Island School athletes. Other observers noted the camaraderie and support our students showed all their fellow participants. Such a BIG thank you to the Physical Education team of Archie Achuara, Jen Pomroy, and Emily Thomas for preparing the students so well for the range of events, modeling and infusing the spirit of teamwork and positive sportsmanship in all that we do, and giving their entire weekend to the track meet events. We are so grateful to them and all the students who participated and the families who supported them. Go Voyagers!

Finally, even though the incredible downpour had me confirming through the early morning that my flight was fine, I headed to Honolulu early today to begin my orientation as a new Board member, with my tenure officially beginning this summer, for the Hawai’i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS). It is an honor to be asked to join this Board of Directors that works with the HAIS staff to implement accreditations for member schools, sets accreditation standards, and creates and implements strategic plans for the association of schools. It is so valuable for Island School to have a seat at the table, for our school to have representation alongside others in order to engage in not only networking for shared resources and opportunities but also to bring forward the distinct perspective we have for our school community. 

I look forward to seeing you back on campus on Monday.

As always, please know how much appreciation I have for your belief in Island School and entrusting us with these important years of your child’s education. Stay safe, as we hold gratitude for the gift of rain that makes our garden island possible and for the shelter we have to protect our families. Thank you for keeping in our thoughts those who do not have secure homes right now and may need our help, particularly in the coming days given the weather.