Kapaa High School | 4695 Mailihuna Rd. Kapaa, HI 96746 | Main Office Hours: 7am - 4pm M-F, Year Round | 808.821.4400
Nancy Borilez
, Kapaa High Parent Community Network Facilitator | Room I-102 (Main Office Bldg) | Direct 808.821.4401 x106 | nancy_borilez@notes.k12.hi.us

Monday, November 28, 2011

Updates - Week of November 28th

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break! I am glad to be back and would like to acknowledge both Diane and Todd for covering for me while I was on leave.

With approximately 14 instructional days left in the second quarter (1st semester), please take that time to critically assess every student's progress per your curriculum maps. For those students struggling, be sure to document interventions such as differentiated instructions, tutorials, parental notifications, etc. Closing the learning gap through interventions are stated within our current academic plans which we are accountable to provide an update to the School Community Council.

As shared earlier, work in planning for SY 2012-13 academic goals, financial supports, and staffing continues. I believe that any plan should be easy to understand with a few clear goals based on data and accountability. I'm tentatively planning to have a faculty meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7th to discuss next year's draft as well as other operational items. While our school's academic plan isn't finalized until the end of the school year, I need to submit our draft in January 2012.

Program offering discussions for SY 2012-13 master schedule continue as departments share their requests. As we align courses within the Academy framework we need to be conscious that our 2012-13 student enrollment projection is around 1,012. I am committed to maintaining our current staffing count to support for reasonable class sizes. A new bell schedule to meet the Board of Education credit requirements, implementing our Academy focus, and honoring department's request for additional courses is also a priority.

Reminder that our school's fire inspection will be happening on Monday, Nov. 28th. @8:30 a.m. Inspectors to be walking through the entire school facility so be sure to recheck that there are no violations.

Weekly Calendar:

Monday, Nov. 28th: Fire Inspection 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 29th: Principal @Complex Area Leadership mtg. 8 - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30th: Open for Bell schedule meetings 1:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1st: Vice-principals @Complex Area VP mtg 8 - 3:00 p.m.
Common Planning for HUI, Academy, Inclusion, IEPs, & Bell Schedule 2:30 p.m

Have a great week!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Weekly Updates for Nov. 14-17

Folks, sharing this week's updates per my discussion with Mr. Hamada and looking forward to having him return very soon.

As you are aware, the Hawaii Department of Education has a contract in place to have photovoltaic systems installed at all of our schools. The official press release shares that there are no up-front cost to DOE and the we will be able to purchase the electricity for less than half the current utility company cost....savings estimated around $1 million per year. This affords a wonderful opportunity to further align our quest for sustainable energy and model environmental responsibility. Will keep everyone posted in terms of timelines.

Very pleased with the feedback per the recent PLC session with Apple. Special thanks to Nani Daniels, Jim Uyeda, and Kepano Kukewa for donating their time and their commitment for continued support at no cost. The education of our students remain fundamental in terms of standards, literacy, critical thinking, etc. in preparing them for college and careers. We are now challenged in how we utilize technology resources as an integral part of instruction. Across all content areas and support programs, strategic use of technologies is reality. With the 9th grade HUIs in place and SLC Academies for grade 10 in SY 2012-13, technology continues to evolve as part of that normal learning process. Clearly that rate at which we acquire and share information, project based learning, research, assessments, and communicate, reminds us that we must be open to learning and utilizing using technologies as professional learning community.

In reviewing the mid-quarter data, see that we are again faced with a high number of failures. Several questions needs to be addressed such as which and why are these students failing, who are receiving tutorial and interventions, differentiation instruction, patterns, parental contacts, etc. These same issues are stated within our current academic plans and something that needs quality discussion time.

While we are still only into the second quarter, planning for next school year is already taking place addressing academic, financial and staffing. Currently, our student enrollment is just a little over a 1000 students and our SY 2012-13 projection is near the same. One of our plans are to maintain our staffing count to support for reasonable class sizes, SLC HUIs and Academies. Draft AC/FIN for SY 2012-13 will be discussed with staff in early December at which time several decisions need to be made. One of which is our current bell schedule as we are challenged in the additional courses teachers are asking to offer compounded with erratic class size in trying to support common planing.

Weekly Calendar:

Thursday, Nov. 17th: Common Planning for HUI, Academy, Inclusion, IEPs, & Bell Schedule 2:30 p.m

Have a great week!

Diane Ayre
Vice Principal
Kapa'a High School
4695 Mailihuna Rd
Kapa'a, HI 96746
(808) 821-4401, ext. 130
(808) 821-4420, fax

Sunday, November 6, 2011

UPDATES Sunday, November 06



Folks....in communicating with Mr. Hamada, here's this week's updates:

Congratulations to Michelle Rundbaken and her students Ilona Oliver and Raquelle Matayoshi for placing 1st place in the statewide Farmers Insurance Hawaii, Hot Shots Video Competition on Oahu. Their video "Dear Ilona" gave a very inspirational message about losing a friend to drunk driving. Job well done and thank you for making Kapaa High School and our community very proud.

Want to also acknowledge Kelly Bailey and the math department for their good work as the grade 10 students just finished the first round of the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA). Overall there was solid communication and coordination which helped get that high percentage of student participation. Also pleased to see that collectively, they are on top of things in terms of knowing their students' proficiency status and able to support those targeted students. Both Science and English will be administering the HSA shortly and know that their coordination and team work will be there as well.

While we are acknowledging good work, special thanks to Mr. Shane Tanioka and members of New Hope as they have been working very hard through the weekend painting the rest of "A" building. Very inspirational to see adults and students generously give their time, labor and commitment in helping to better our school.

With the mid-point of the second quarter around the corner, critical that we take an accounting of students' progress per your curriculum maps. Our targeted goal of 95% of students being able to demonstrate proficiency to the standards can be and must be realized. As a professional learning organization, your continued review and use of data remains fundamental in guiding instruction. Time has been afforded be it through your department, cross curriculum, and common planning meetings and we remain committed to providing additional department and/or cross content PLC days as we challenge ourselves to positively impact student growth. Attached is our current SY 2011-12 Academic/Financial plans that reflect our school's focus. Please take time to review especially goal 1 where we already know which groups of students are struggling and what we are promising to do for them. Overall, we are moving in the right direction and know we must remain vigilant.


Our SLC Academy work team continues to make good progress. As you are aware, starting with next year's 10th graders, our school will be organized into two Academies.....HOPES and IDEAS. While the content focus may be different, both academies' themes will have similar outcomes in terms of academic rigor, internships, service, sustainability and senior projects. Academy teachers will develop units of study aligned with the academy's goals/themes to improve student engagement, build deeper critical thinking skills and develop stronger academic performance skills. Bottom line...academies will be built on common students, common teachers, common planning and common themes. Please take time to get an update from your content area peers who are serving on this work group as in about a month, we'll be working with interested teachers in terms of staffing for SY 2012-13.

Finally, best wishes to our varsity football team and their coaches as they play for the KIF Championship on Monday, Nov. 7th @Vidinha Stadium. It's been an exciting season and here's to a great game!

Weekly Calendar:
Monday: Nov. 7th: Department & Cross Curr Mtgs 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Nov. 9th: Michelle Swanson w/Academy Work Team 8:00 a.m. I102

Thursday, Nov. 10th: Ms. Swanson w/HUIs 8:00 a.m. I102
Common Planning - all departments 2:30 p.m.

Have great week!