Salisbury inspires readers and writers

Students in grades three through six were treated to an inspiring morning with children’s author Graham Salisbury, author of several well-known books such as Under the Blood-Red Sun, House of the Red Fish (a sequel to Under the Blood-Red Sun), and Blue Skin of the Sea (a collection of short stories). He has won notable literary awards for his work — the Scott O’Dell Award, the PEN/Norma Klein Award, and the Hawaii Nene Award (determined by children’s votes across Hawaii). He grew up in Kane`ohe and Kailua on O`ahu, and Kailua-Kona and Kamuela on the Big Island. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and three children. He told the students stories about growing up in Hawaii and also revealed how he overcame his fear of speaking by writing two-minute talks in a Dale Carnegie course, which he enjoyed so much that it led to writing longer pieces, even novels. One of the most important things he said he learned when growing up is that life is a series of choices, which he illustrated so well in the stories he narrated.  The children so clearly connected with his stories that there was nary a distraction. Parents, don’t be surprised if your third, fourth, or fifth grader tries to get you to take a trip to the library or to a bookstore with him/her. What a gift to inspire others to read and write!
The Mid-Pacific Parent Community Association invites you and your family to learn how to “Help Protect Your Children and Family from Internet Victimization and Crime” with guest speaker, former HPD Detective Chris Duque.  The session, appropriate for upper elementary parents, is on November 20, 5:30-7:00pm, in Bakken Auditorium (no childcare available). Please RSVP to mpipto@midpac.edu by this weekend and include the number of persons attending.

You should have already received information on the special community event we are organizing for our students to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The Walk for Diabetes, our second on this campus, is November 21, 9:00-10:00am. All able students and faculty in the preschool and elementary will walk a course that will take them around the inside perimeter of the MPI campus. During the past two weeks, PE teacher Pam Jenkins and UH student teacher Jason Sahara have been integrating learning about Type 1 diabetes (the type that usually strikes in childhood) with physical movement.  Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, and amputations and a leading cause of nerve damage, stroke, and heart attacks. I’m sure that your children may know even more than you know about what causes diabetes and how it can be prevented. Please make sure your child dresses appropriately (MPI t-shirt, shorts and athletic shoes with socks) on Wednesday and eats a good breakfast. We are proud to support JDRF and all children who have Type 1 diabetes.

Even though Thanksgiving is a roasted turkey away, we’re getting ready for MPI’s third year of participation in the Annual Manoa Christmas Parade, December 8, beginning at 5:00pm. Typically, our preschoolers and their families are the main contingent from MPI, but everyone in the elementary school is also invited to participate.  The preschool will form a Christmas-decorated wagon brigade in which our keiki will ride while wagons are pulled by parents. The rest of us, dressed in cheerful red and green and all the frills, will walk behind the wagons. It’s a festive Manoa community event and is guaranteed to spark the holiday spirit. Promise! If you’re interested in joining us, please email preschool parent Andrea Stoebenau at stoebs@hawaii.rr.com by November 21. The more, the merrier!

Thanks, everyone, for encouraging your children to participate in Treat-or-Treat for UNICEF.  We collected $1,497.13 — a huge chunk of change!

Be sure to review the schedule for the end-of-semester conference with your child’s teacher. The form is included in today’s packet. If you’d like to schedule a meeting time with any of the specialists, please contact them directly at your earliest convenience. Their work with your children is equally important and valuable as the work of your  child's classroom teacher.
• Shirley Rivera, Gr. 3-5 Character Education & Counseling, PS-Gr. 5.  441-3839 or srivera@midpac.edu.
• Loriann Yukihiro, K-2 Character Education & PS Character Education & PE, 441-3838 or lyukihiro@midpac.edu.
• Jill Brooks, Gr. 1-5 Art, 441-3837 or jbrooks @midpac.edu.
• Pam Jenkins, K-5 Physical Education, 441-3819 or pjenkins@midpac.edu.
• Diane Koshi, K-5 Music, 441-3812 or dkoshi@midpac.edu

We are not planning to send out a Thursday packet next week, but please look for my weekly letter.

For our children,

Edna L. Hussey
Principal



 































 

Posted on November 15, 2007 6:26 PM | Permalink