http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/ en Copyright 2010 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:29:32 -1000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss As reported by the court historian -- The County of Mid-Pacific opened its gates Friday morning under fair skies and gentle winds. Robin Hood and the merry HUGSS and KKIDS greeted the lords, ladies, knights in shining armor, and townsfolk from nearby counties as they streamed into Mid-Pacific proper. The festivities began mid-morning when citizens shared their inquiry findings with esteemed elders. His Majesty King Bruce I welcomed the barons and ladies who sat beside him at the head table and invited all good citizens to dine in the Great Hall.  Knights, peasants, and damsels feasted on cheese, fruits, breads, and roasted chicken and drank deeply from goblets filled with sparkling wine. The merriment continued in the courtyard where citizens were entertained by honorable knights from lands near and far.  


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/03/reliving-mediev.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/03/reliving-mediev.php Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:29:32 -1000

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/03/i-was-very-happ.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/03/i-was-very-happ.php Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:48:46 -1000 They entered through the school gate, smiling broadly, just as excited as the children who awaited their special guests at the annual Grandparents' Day celebration. Over 300 grandparents and friends visited their grandchild's classroom where they participated in activities or listened to inquiry presentations.  I saw grandparents sitting beside their grandchildren -- painting, writing, playing board games, even a game on the Smartboard. I observed the interactions between adult and child and noticed the eye-to-eye, leaning in toward the other, the quick and easy smile, the playful banter, the gentle hug, and the bursts of laughter. After a short half hour in the classrooms, we headed for Bakken auditorium, which quickly filled to capacity. Each specialty area of our educational program-- character education, music, physical education, and art -- was highlighted. From slideshow to live performances, we were all so impressed with the caliber, quality, and diversity of our program and our learners.  I was so taken by the program, that there I was, the principal, thinking -- Gosh, I'd love to have my children at this school! It was a mighty proud day at MPI, and none prouder than our grandparents who we celebrated with fond appreciation.
]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/they-entered-th-1.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/they-entered-th-1.php Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:46:14 -1000
During our February assembly this past week, Coralie Matayoshi, executive director of the Hawaii American Red Cross spoke to the students about the significance of their fundraising efforts. She expressed her admiration and appreciation to our students, especially the students in Torry Montes' multiage third and fourth grade class who spearheaded and organized the fundraiser. $1,500 raised in one day from a bake sale and collections at the autoline is impressive, yes! But even more amazing was the fact that the $1,500 will be enough money to provide clean water to a million people in Haiti! That's $1,500:1,000,000 people. I told the children that I was going to be much more mindful about spending even $5 at a fast-food drive-thru. Imagine, I told the attentive audience, how many people could be supported with just $5. Ms. Matayoshi presented Ms. Montes' class with a certificate of appreciation. To further extend their inquiry, the students in Ms. Montes' class will be visiting the American Red Cross headquarters at Diamond Head to gain a deeper understanding about how this international relief agency operates.  


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/real-math-1500.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/real-math-1500.php Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:35:39 -1000 Gung Hee Fat Choy and Welcome, Year of the Tiger! We celebrated this auspicious year with the arrival of the Gee Yung International Association who performed the lion dance on our campus.  As soon as the doors opened wide to welcome the lions, the children immediately recognized the sound of the instruments warding off evil spirits and began streaming out from their classrooms. Children waved their red envelopes filled with currency to offer the lions wending their way into classrooms. It was such fun to see the children giddy with delight, jumping up and down. Some formed lines with their hands on top of the person's shoulders in front of them, imitating the dance movements of the lions. My red envelope was attached to lettuce leaves, and then tied to a long, graceful branch of bamboo. I held the branch high, prompting the lion to stand on its hind legs to "eat" the lettuce and envelope, and the lion graciously passed to me a red card with shiny, gold letters -- a message of good health, happiness, and prosperity for the school community. This card is posted on the office window. The lion dance is such a wonderful cultural experience for our students. Many thanks to Dr. Kuo, who arranged for the visit, Audrey Mueh for the beautiful bamboo branches, and Linda Hasegawa for preparing the branches. But there was more in store for our students -- !


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/rrrroarrrr-year.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/rrrroarrrr-year.php Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:34:04 -1000

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/empowering-our.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/02/empowering-our.php Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:36:17 -1000

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/how-we-create-a.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/how-we-create-a.php Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:26:16 -1000
I attended the memorial service this past Saturday for Reverend Burton Linscott, former minister of the Church of the Epiphany and principal of Epiphany School for 28 years.  In his retirement, "Poppa," as he was lovingly called by all who knew him, tutored children for many years until just last year. Poppa died last Wednesday in his Kaimuki home at the age of 96. He visited the former Epiphany faculty and students two years ago and had lunch in the dining room. I will never forget our children encircling him, singing one of their favorite chapel hymns. The look on his face was pure joy. He was deeply satisfied that his Epiphany School became an integral part of Mid-Pacific. Many of us, including families and faculty who were affiliated with Epiphany, will remember his stern yet compassionate demeanor.  He loved the children -- all children -- and dedicated his entire life to the education of young children. He was a rector, husband, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, and academic. We will always remember him as a lifelong teacher and learner.


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/poppa-linscott-1.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/poppa-linscott-1.php Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:45:32 -1000 Salsa Under the Stars this past Friday, this is what you would have seen and heard: a cast of over 900 students from all grade levels, families, grandparents, alumni, faculty and staff streaming through the gates onto the elementary campus . . .  festive lights and paper decorations . . . rhythmic Latin music by the legendary Mr. Salsa himself, Rolando Sanchez, and his talented group . . . a large gathering of people on the courtyard lawn bouncing, bopping, head-nodding, shoulder-shaking, hip-tipping to the music . . . plates brimming with the makings of burritos, salsa and chips . . .  children running in the dark between dancers . . . ten lines of people following the lead of the dance instructor on stage . . . . four steps to the right, pivot, pivot, use your hips, point, tap, point tap . . . strains of laughter harmonizing with echoes of La Bamba . . . . For myself, it was just pure joy to see the wonderful mix of all ages enjoying the music, dancing, food, and celebration of this MPI community. Salsa Under the Stars was much more than a dance party. It was a demonstration of how a school community collaborates and makes great "music" together. (See the all-school photo gallery.)


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/a-demonstration.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/a-demonstration.php Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:43:27 -1000 Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2010! Aloha, families! After the two-week interim, it was a joy to welcome the students back to school, many them wide-awake and enthusiastic as they stepped out from their cars or walked onto campus. As you can imagine, the children were brimming with yuletide stories of Christmas gifts, family outings, and New Year celebrations, and the teachers made sure there was plenty of time this past Wednesday morning to share these memories at morning circle. What does a school do during the interim? Many teachers enjoyed the holidays with their families and friends, some traveling to be with family across the Pacific.  On campus, the business and school offices remained open while maintenance crews did extensive cleaning in the classrooms, such as floor waxing and carpet cleaning. Speaking for the faculty, I know how much we appreciate our maintenance teams and the outstanding job they do in keeping our facilities and campus safe, well maintained, and aesthetically pleasing. 

Prior to Wednesday when students returned to school, the preschool and elementary faculty met on Monday to review school, professional, and personal goals and met in grade-level groups to plan second-semester curriculum inquiries. On Tuesday, the K-12 faculty gathered in our elementary dining room to hear a riveting presentation by Alfred Solis of the Buck Institute for Education, on project-based learning, another name for inquiry-based learning. This non-profit is focused on improving teaching and learning in the 21st century by creating and disseminating knowledge, practices, research, and products for effective learning, specifically project-based learning. The faculty is excited about this professional development resource, which will serve to improve our teaching schoolwide.


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/off-and-running.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2010/01/off-and-running.php Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:37:18 -1000 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. You can tell he's a pro with young children as he entertained their questions about Santa's house visits (What does Santa do in Hawaii in most homes without chimneys? Several children knew the answer: he has a key!) And throughout the week, music teacher Diane Koshi has been taking various classes to sing Christmas carols in the nearby community -- senior citizens care homes, preschools, and right here on our MPI campus.


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/12/christmas-is-he.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/12/christmas-is-he.php Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:04:35 -1000 Deck the Halls with plastic "boomwhackers."  But everyone at the performance will agree that the highlight was full audience participation in the Twelve Days of Christmas. It was masterfully executed! Every section of Bakken was assigned a line from the English carol with accompanying gestures.  On cue, five to six rows of energized parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles jumped to their feet to sing and dance their line.  I think whenever I hear the carol, images of enthusiastic families, led by their children, will dance in my head. Special thanks to the Middle School `Ohana for organizing the post-performance refreshments so that the preschool and elementary parents could remain in the auditorium for the entire performance.  


]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/12/wonder-of-wonde.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/12/wonder-of-wonde.php Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:39:09 -1000

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/following-throu.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/following-throu.php Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:17:02 -1000

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/assessments-for.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/assessments-for.php Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:52:32 -1000 We're fast-approaching an important period in the school year when the teachers are helping their students take stock of their learning process through self-reflection.  While students are constantly assessing how they're learning, they're selecting evidence of their progress and beginning to compile these pieces in a portfolio. Many of you are familiar with this process.  However, as explained in earlier letters posted to the website, we have developed a performance continuum for inquiry learning -- and we've revised the reading and writing performance continua.  Parents of students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to attend an informational session on either November 23 or 24, 6:00-7:00pm, in the dining room. I'll explain the new look and focus of these continua. If needed, childcare will be provided for MPI students only, limited to 25 each night. Please call the school office, 441-3800, to reserve a space for childcare.  What changes should you expect? The following is a summary of the rationale for our revisions--

]]> http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/assessment-for.php http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/2009/11/assessment-for.php Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:30:06 -1000