Week Full of Events
As the culminating experience for four four-year-olds who had been planning a party to celebrate the 5th birthday of Ms. Leigh, one of the assistant teachers in the Golden Owls’ classroom, the entire preschool gathered in the Dining Room for the much-anticipated celebration. Ms. Leigh observed in the afterschool program that the same group of students often chose to dramatize a birthday party, so their natural interest became the emerging inquiry for the students.
In discussing the schema for a birthday party, the students began a year-long curriculum, which included “real” reasons for writing (e.g., letters to various staff members who might have knowledge of an oven on campus to bake a cake, making lists of birthday party essentials and a shopping list, party invitations). They developed many skills for drawing, painting, and sculpting a pinata. They learned how to frame their questions (in writing and orally) and where to look and whom to ask for information. The planning required collaboration, especially when everyone had an idea not easily abandoned or negotiated. Even President and Mrs. Rice joined the preschoolers for the celebration.
Although it’s been a week since the May Day celebration, the memories of our children’s performances are vivid! Many thanks to the many parents who contributed significantly to the success of the program: Ted Jung, Jr., for use of the extensive array of technical equipment, Tim and Mardi Savage for the production work, their work crews, Newton Koshi for the audio equipment, Ronnda Heinrich for all the photography, Monique Todebush and Sandy You for organizing the Saturday work sessions, Korina Hanohano-Jung for set design, Howard Hoddick for the megatron screens, and Keith Aotaki for managing the control board.
There were many equally wonderful parents — too many to name here! — who moved all of the May Day paraphernalia, set it up, and took everything down in lightning speed after the program. We wish to thank faculty members Pam Jenkins for her assistance and Noelani Vitarelli for her creative choreography. Kudos to music specialist Diane Koshi for her artistry and vision. We can hardly wait for the DVD!
Even though we’re fast-approaching the end of the school year, there are still lots of great learning experiences every day. About fifty students, mostly freshmen and sophomores from Marina De’Abreu’s Spanish classes, visited the Multiage 1-2 classes and Kindergarten to read to our students the children’s books they designed and wrote in Spanish.
This past Wednesday, Frank De Lima gave two excellent presentations to students in Kindergarten through the fifth grade. His message to students in K-2 focused on the value of schoolwork, family, and laughter. He also spoke to the students about the difference between teasing and the art of comedy. Students in grades 3-5 learned about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
The Fifth Graders participated in “shadowing” activities in the Middle School. They sat in sixth grade classrooms to meet the teachers and get a glimpse of learning in various core classes. An eye-opener, I think, for some students! And many parents have been coming in to hear their children’s inquiry presentations. Quite a busy place!
Next Tuesday, May 15, is the MPI Children’s Choir last Pizza Hut fundraising event. We’ll be distributing flyers in autoline next week.
If you don’t know what to do with the MPI uniforms your children have outgrown, you can bring these items (laundered and folded) to the T-Shirt Exchange Table on conference days, May 24-25, organized by the `Ohana. Bring an MPI uniform (whatever you have) and pick up the same number of an appropriate used-shirt size for your child. The exchange is on an honor system. (Only MPI uniforms, please.)
One of our multiage 1-2 students, Jonathan M., had the honor of naming a newborn sloth at the Honolulu Zoo. Jonathan entered the name “Quando,” meaning “one,” in the zoo-sponsored naming contest and won!
Finally, I know all of our MPI preschool and elementary parents received a letter from Middle School Principal Pua Ka`ai announcing the new position she has accepted at Kamehameha Middle School as their principal for the coming school year. We wish Pua well on her new venture; she will be missed here by her colleagues and are grateful for three strong years of her leadership, wisdom, and educational expertise. We have already begun accepting applications for the position and will conduct a thorough search for her successor. In the meantime, President Rice and the other administrators are planning for a smooth transition to a new middle school principal.
For our children,
Edna L. Hussey
Principal
Posted on May 10, 2007 3:56 PM | Permalink