Celebrations of Deeper Learning

It’s a busy but exciting next few weeks in April and May at the preschool and elementary! Students are gearing up for their Celebrations of Learning, during which time every student in every classroom will showcase their learning in the second semester. This event is more than a presentation. It is the culminating experience of a year framed by an overarching question or inquiry. And such is the nature of a question and kilo (in Hawaiian cultural practice, keen observation using the senses), one curiosity naturally leads to the next. The inquiry is a year of unfolding exploration, discovery, and innovation. What parents will experience is learning made visible through writing, speaking, art, and performance. Celebrations of Deeper Learning!

This period in our school year has already launched with the kindergarten and multiage first and second grades. Their artistic works, springing from their year-long inquiries, are proudly displayed at the Capitol Modern Museum Hawaiʻi’s State Art Museum, the primary venue for the display of art in public spaces. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Kindergarten and Multiage 1-2 exhibit is open to the public now through April 25. The Kindergarten inquiry began with close observations of plants growing in an area of the campus that is often bypassed. From their questions emerged discussions about the inter-relationships of the natural elements (e.g., wind, rain, sun) and insects, more research at Foster Botanical Gardens and the school campus.

On April 24, 5:30-7 p.m., the Fifth graders present their Capstone presentations. Unique to Mid-Pacific, these capstones are a fine example of an independent inquiry that addresses this essential question: Who am I as a learner? Students make direct connections to the Learner Profile. These ‘deep dives’ undertaken by each student is an introspective exploration of their identity, from their origins to an examination of their evolving relationships with learning in school, people, extracurricular activities, passions, places and spaces.

The Preschoolers and their parents will share a co-constructed perspective of the future, an inquiry project that began with children’s questions about imagination, memories, and dreams. On April 25, 5:30-7 p.m., the inquiry transforms spaces into students’ and parents’ visions of the future. The children’s inquiry journey has taken them to conduct research at the State Capitol Museum, Bishop Museum, and UH-Mānoa Art Gallery.

The Multiage Third & Fourth gradersʻ celebrations of learning are scheduled at Mid-Pacificʻs Hopwood Gallery on April 25-26 at different times during the day so that parents of each of the four classes can fully experience the exhibit. The inquiry on understanding the concepts of unity and diversity is most appropriate for the times we are living in; students have been examining these concepts through the lens of science, literature, and social studies and an opportunity to meet with high school students in the DEIB club.

Multiage First and Second graders will share their learning in May, an inquiry about “story,” literally and metaphorically. Beginning with their own name stories to family stories to the story of Mid-Pacific to science as story, each class will unravel their stories on different days in their own classrooms at 10 a.m. (May 12, Iʻiwi 11; May 14, Manu o Ku 12; May 15, Manu o Ku 13; May 16, Iʻiwi 12).

I canʻt think of a better way to share studentsʻ learning than through these opportunities when the children can take their parents by the hand to speak confidently and proudly about their inquiry journey. Pretty amazing to have the entire preschool and elementary actively involved in curating their own celebrations of learning! Truly the Mid-Pacific way.

E Kūlia Kākou! Let’s strive and aspire together!

For our children,

Edna L. Hussey, Ed.D.
Principal