Hokulani Bright Spots
29 May 2020
Beginnings and Endings
Thank you for your support, patience, and cooperation this year. While fourth quarter tested our collaborative and cooperative skills, it also affirmed that all of us working together makes a difference. I am proud of students, faculty, staff, and families who rallied together and made the swift shift to distance learning. While the learning curve was a bit steeper for some of us than others, I'm glad that we all made the climb together. And when life as we knew it spins, we look for silver linings knowing that our children are depending on us to stay calm and remaining hopeful.
Silver linings:
- increased family time;
- more home cooked meals and/or more baking;
- less use of fossil fuel;
- truly putting health and safety ahead of other priorities;
- gaining more understanding and awareness of how students learn, the importance of connection, and that relationships are key to learning;
- still acknowledge our award winners for third and fourth quarter through slide shows and images;
- time for teachers to meet and learn with teachers in other grade levels;
- vertically aligning learning skills, identifying entry and exits skills, and making the time to prioritize or re-prioritize learning standards, expectations, and goals;
- professional development and professional learning; and
- having the opportunity to re-imagine education.
Over the summer, a group of volunteer faculty and staff will continue to work with me to think through school opening and planning for the various ways to learn and teach. Updates will be posted on our website and hope to provide information by the end of June. I would like to give our volunteers some time to breathe and relax before resuming thinking and planning. Of course the plans will need to be fluid and varied so that we are able to respond to situations with little to no transition time. This is an exciting time in education as we move deeper into optional models of learning.
Our office will continue to be open in the summer from 8 - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Social distancing practices will still be required (face masks, limited visitors at a time in the office). If the light in the office is on, please knock on the door and someone will come greet you.
Thank you to the families who sent in photos and appreciation notes to our teachers. To say that it was well received is an understatement. We were all very touched and cheered with the outpouring of support.
We bid our fifth graders a fond farewell as they move onto their next schools. We know that they have fortitude, talent, and heart and will continue to make a difference. There are also some students who are moving on to other schools, other states, other countries. We also wish them well and are grateful that they chose to be a part of Hokulani.
Please enjoy the summer. We look forward to welcoming the students back in August.
Take care,
Laurie Luczak
You're off to great places! Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting! So get on your way. (Dr. Seuss)
Presidential Awardees
Awards of Excellence and Achievement
Achievement Award (Silver):
- Hope Bayudan
- Ariah Bonifacio-Faleao
- Shyla Doi
- Yuko Morishima
- Haley Smith
Excellence Award (Gold)
- Emma Fuleky
- Eva Kauinui
- James Oh
- Kaya Okimoto
- Asher Yamane
- Humi Yoshizawa
Each recipient receives an award signed by the Secretary of Education, President of the United States, and me. They also receive a pin. I also awarded Citizenship pins to our Student Body Officers: James Oh, Asher Yamane, and Hope Bayudan for their service this year.
Congratulations to the recipients and their families. Well done!
About Us
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Email: info@hokulani.k12.hi.us
Website: http://www.hokulani-elementary.com/
Location: 2940 Kamakini Street, Honolulu, HI, United States
Phone: (808) 733-4789
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HokulaniElementarySchool/
Twitter: @HokulaniEl