Thursday, April 24, 2014

4-25 - 5-2


In-active School Lunch Accounts: Aloha Parents &/or Guardians,  We have noticed that we have a large number of students with money in an inactive lunch account.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be leaving Hale Kula (any time between now and May 29th) so that we can have this money ready for you to pick up in the office.  If you know that your child will not be eating school lunches, we can close the lunch account now to save being overwhelmed on the 29th of May  - just let us know :-)  Thank you, Agnes Leinau, Vice Principal, Hale Kula El.

Congratulations to all the students who submitted videos to the Olelo Youth Xchange competition. We submitted 5 entries this year. Three of our videos were chosen as finalist this year:
            What Most School’s DON’T Teach (Mini Documentary - created by Alex Bartholomees, Kent Shepherd, Skylar Malocha, Jocelyn Stuck)
            Choose Water for a Healthy Life (Public Service Announcement - created by Deziree Ensrud, Cheyenne Barfield, Falesoa Tufi, Hanna Strom)
            Be Cool, Come To School (Public Service Announcement - created by Nettie Oswalt, Ella Reibsome, Ariana Carter).

You can view their public service announcement and mini documentary on our HKES Kids Vimeo channel at https://vimeo.com/channels/485987.


Come to P14 to vote to approve new PTO Board for 2014 – 2015 school year. Last day to vote is April 30
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Fri. April 25              Leilehua Complex Track Meet

Fri. April 25 & Sat. April 26  Iolani Fair 2014 noon – 10:30pm. Admission is free. This annual fair features family friendly games and booths, food stands live entertainment and more 943-2252

Sat. April 26        Waipio Shopping Center hosts its Spring Swap Meet and Craft fair from 8am – 1pm. Shopwaipio.com or 523-9744

Sat. April 26        Old Drugs: The National Take-Back initiative accepts unused or expired medications for safe, anonymous disposal from 10am – 2pm at Mililani Town Center, north end. Or Schofield Barracks Exchange near the flower shop. Call 541-1930

Mon. April 28      School Community Council Meeting at 3pm in the library

Tues. April 29      Chaperone Training in P14 at 8am

Wed. April 30      School is out at 1:10 every Wednesday

Thurs. May 1        May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i
                      Breakfast with my Soldier for these classes only B1, C1, C2
                      Dominos fundraiser for PTO – order from Dominos on post all day and make money for the school

Fri. May 2          Every Friday School Store in P14 afterschool – Nothing over $1.00

Classroom Happenings at Hale Kula



I often wonder if parents know how much learning is going on in our classrooms.  I've been taking some photos as I go into classrooms to do observations.  Periodically, I'll post some photos and describe what they are.
 Fifth graders chose an Enrichment Club they wanted to belong to; clubs meet on selected Fridays each month.  Students learned about optical illusions in their Grade 5 Art Enrichment class. 
The Gardening Club is a hands-on opportunity
for students to learn about organic gardening and to raise vegetables, herbs, and colorful flowers.
The fifth grade Coding Club are meeting in groups to create an educational game in Scratch.
Fifth graders were able to plant koa seeds to replenish our native forests.  Once the seedlings grow a little bigger, they will be transplanted until they're ready to be taken to the forest for replanting. 
Fourth graders are working with Hawaiian Studies teacher, Kumu Selena, to make ipu, a rhythmic instrument used in many hula.  Ipu are made from gourds and the seeds must be removed before the gourd is ready to be cleaned and polished.  
A second grade class read "Watermelon Days" and then completed this art project, learning about "overlapping."  They incorporated writing into this assignment.  The colors are so vibrant, and the students were quality producers!
Some of our classrooms are participating in a project, studentsrebuild.org called "Water Challenge." Students are making beads which will be turned in to buy clean water for villages in Tanzania. 
As part of 2nd grade's Resource Day, students learned about exercise and fitness and danced to gonoodle music videos. Healthy kids = happy kids!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

4/18 - 4/26


YMCA Camp Erdman is hosting the 2nd annual "Heroes at Home" military youth camp from June 15-20, 2014. It is free and open to all military youth ages 11-14 that have had, will have, or currently have a parent or legal guardian deployed. This residential camp is open to age-eligible youth from ALL branches of service. Space is limited and slots are filling up fast! Complete the registration form at
http://www.ymcahonolulu.org/files/content/camp_erdman/programs/heroes_at_home/eregistration_heroes_at_home-1.pdf
today and submit it via email to
scalbero-hun@ymcahonolulu.org; mail it to 69-385 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI, 96791; or fax it to 808-664-8825.

Purple Up Pictures
Everyone looked so great on Tuesday wearing purple to support our military children. Check out pictures: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c9a87rlilrl8ffeu2dp6alnl2u0

Lunch Room supervisors:
Several of our lunch room supervisors will be leaving us at the end of this school year.  We are currently in need of substitutes who will be able to become full time in August.  There are two shifts 1.5 hours and 2 hours per day.  Pay is $8.00 per hour.  Please stop by the office and leave your name and phone number for Mrs. Leinau to schedule an interview.  Thank you.

The Hope Garden is competing for a grant of 10,000 - 20,000  dollars.  Most votes get the garden to the final judging.  Please help by voting every single  day from today until April 21st. copy past this link in browser  http://www.seedsofchangegrant.com/
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Fri. April 18         NO SCHOOL – Good Friday


What: Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo
When: Saturday, April 19, 2014, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Waik
iki Aquarium
            In celebration of Earth Month, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services and the Hawaii State Department of Health present the 7th annual Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo.
            The free expo will have interactive booths to showcase programs that preserve and protect Hawaii’s environment, including demonstrating rain gardens. The expo promotes the importance of keeping O‘ahu’s streams and stormwater runoff free of pollution, from the mountaintops to the ocean.
            Popular morning radio deejay, Maleko of Star 101.9 will emcee. Todd Cullison, executive director of Hui o Koolaupoko, will give three talks.
            Activities include hands-on displays; picture taking with Apoha, the oopu, and friends; water pollution prevention information; Everday Clean Water Hero award medals; activity books and ocean-related arts and crafts for keiki. Families will receive passport booklets to be stamped upon visiting the booths. The first 500 families to complete the stamps in their passport booklet will receive a free native Hawaiian plant, courtesy of Hawaiian Electric Company. Drawings will be made at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for water-related prizes, i
ncluding family passes to the Waikiki Aquarium. Food will be available for purchase. Complimentary water stations will be provided by Aloha Water for guests who bring refillable bottles.
            Surgeonfish feeding will be featured. The surgeonfish being bred at the Aquarium, are valuable to Hawaii’s ecosystem for their potential role in feeding on invasive algae.
            The event co-sponsors are the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services and Hawaii State Department of Health. Waik
iki Aquarium is an event partner.
Free parking and shuttles are available at Waikiki Elementary School beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Sat. April 19        Mililani Town Center celebrates Easter from 10am to 1pm. Chinese lion dance, mini games, egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny 625-0108

Mon. April 21       Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am

Tues, April 22      2nd Grade Field Trip for Earth Day
                      Jamba Juice for $2.25 & Book Swap for kids books

Wed. April 23      Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am
                      PTO Meeting in P14 at 11:30am

Thurs. April 24     Breakfast with my Soldier for these classes only E4, H1, H2
                      Chaperone Training in P14 at 8am

Fri. April 25           Leilehua Complex Track Meet

Sat. April 26       Waipio Shopping Center hosts its Spring Swap Meet and Craft fair from 8am – 1pm. Shopwaipio.com or 523-9744

Sat. April 26              Old Drugs: The National Take-Back initiative accepts unused or expired medications for safe, anonymous disposal from 10am – 2pm at Mililani Town Center, north end. Or Schofield Barracks Exchange near the flower shop. Call 541-1930

This and That

First of all, we would like to thank all the parents for cooperating with our request to remain in the cafeteria until 2:05 (1:05 on Wednesdays) so that classrooms can bring closure to the school day without being disrupted.  Our teachers have shared that they appreciate everyone's cooperation in following this new procedure, and they find the end-of-day routines are much smoother now. Mahalo for your understanding :-)

Second, if you have a few minutes, please complete the Parent Survey which is on Survey Monkey. The link is https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VNBSH59, and it takes only a few minutes to complete.  Your responses will help us to improve the school.  If you are satisfied with the education your child is receiving and if you have been involved in school activities, we want to hear from you, too.  The School Community Council as well as our staff use the results to improve Hale Kula.  You can complete the survey on your mobile device as well.

Finally, a big MAHALO to all the families who came to the Read Aloud Program sessions!  The cafeteria was filled for the last RAP session tonight, April 16.  A special shout-out to Ellen Petry who coordinated the event with RAP staff and to all the volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to help out.  RAP would not be possible without the assistance from all the volunteers!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

A Virtual Field Trip Via Google Glass

Fourth graders from Mrs. Durante's class had an opportunity to participate in a virtual field trip to Volcanoes National Park with fifth graders from Keeau Elementary School on the Big Island. Other participating schools were University Lab, Nanakuli Elementary, and Peterson School in Mexico City. On Monday, the fifth graders went on a field trip and shared their experiences via Google Glass. What a unique opportunity for our students and for others who participated via Google Hangout!

All students learned an oli (chant), taught by students in the Hawaiian Immersion class at Nanakuli Elementary School. The oli was to ask permission to visit the volcano. A viewer said it was a "chicken skin" moment.
Brandon Brannon from University Lab School (wearing a Google Glass) was an organizer of this collaborative project.
These are students from Peterson School in Mexico City. When our teachers shared this project via Google+ and asked if anyone wanted to join this virtual field trip, Peterson School responded. They can see an active volcano from their school. These students shared with our Hawaii students in English . . . they are true global citizens.
During the "down" time, students at each school were able to share some of their learnings so far (the project is definitely not over yet), and each school sang their school song. School pride was evident!

Friday, April 11, 2014

4/11 - 4/19

Lunch Room supervisors: Several of our lunch room supervisors will be leaving us at the end of this school year.  We are currently in need of substitutes who will be able to become full time in August.  There are two shifts 1.5 hours and 2 hours per day.  Pay is $8.00 per hour.  Please stop by the office and leave your name and phone number for Mrs. Leinau to schedule an interview.  Thank you.


The Hope Garden is competing for a grant of 10,000 - 20,000  dollars.  Most votes get the garden to the final judging.  Please help by voting every single  day from today until April 21st. copy past this link in browser  http://www.seedsofchangegrant.com/

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Fri. April 11 JPO Competition - Good Luck Eagles

Fri. April 11 Wheeler Elementary School is honored to present:
Dr. Lori Leyden of Project LIGHT-Rwanda And the Tapping Solution Foundation  from 2:30-4:30pm In Wheeler Elementary School’s Transition Center-Rm. B202
We are very happy to welcome Dr. Lori Leyden to Wheeler Elementary School! She will be giving a free workshop to teach a very simple, easy, and beneficial technique (or what I like to call a “wellness tool”) called “Tapping” that helps to release stress, anxiety, or stuck negative energy. If you would like to learn this technique for yourself and/or your students, please RSVP with Rema Eltringham, PCNC Facilitator at Wheeler El., at Rema_Eltringham@notes.k12.hi.us or call 622-6400 or 342-1820.

Sat. April 12 THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF HAWAII PRESENTS: SENSORY FRIENDLY FILMS – STATEWIDE!!! Rio2 at 10:00 amOahu Dole Cannery  Free for the first 75 children at each site! ‘Sensory Friendly Films’ are where the lights are little more raised, the sounds are a bit softer, there’s an acceptance of quirky, ‘stimming’ behaviors and there’s an allowance of Gluten Free Casein Free snacks.  This accommodates sensory sensitivities that many children on the spectrum may have.  Parent tickets will cost $7.50
Sat. April 12 Leilehua High School Going Green Day from 9am – 1pm. Turn trash into cash for community programs. Collecting: scrap metal, bicycles, computers, printers, scanners, used household cooking oil, batteries of all kinds, used eye glasses, prom dresses, pet food, towels, etc. Also collecting canned goods to support the Hawaii Food Bank.

Mon. April 14 Chaperone Training in P14 at 8;00am
5TH grade Field Trip to Bishop Museum for A2, P17, F4

Tues. April 15 Purple Up – wear Purple today to support month of the military child

Wed. April 16 RAP last session – Families come to school 5:30 – 7:45. Dinner served and families read to

Thurs. April 17 Breakfast with my Soldier for these classes only E1, E2, E3
                        Poem in Your Pocket – Carry a poem in your pocket to share
                        5th Grade Field Trip to Bishop Museum for A1, A3, P13

Fri. April 18 NO SCHOOL – Good Friday 


Sat. April 19 What: Mauka to Makai Environmental ExpoWhen:  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Waikiki Aquarium In celebration of Earth Month, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services and the Hawaii State Department of Health present the 7th annual Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo.The free expo will have interactive booths to showcase programs that preserve and protect Hawaii’s environment, including demonstrating rain gardens. The expo promotes the importance of keeping O‘ahu’s streams and stormwater runoff free of pollution, from the mountaintops to the ocean. Popular morning radio deejay, Maleko of Star 101.9 will emcee. Todd Cullison, executive director of Hui o Koolaupoko, will give three talks.Activities include hands-on displays; picture taking with Apoha, the oopu, and friends; water pollution prevention information; Everday Clean Water Hero award medals; activity books and ocean-related arts and crafts for keiki. Families will receive passport booklets to be stamped upon visiting the booths. The first 500 families to complete the stamps in their passport booklet will receive a free native Hawaiian plant, courtesy of Hawaiian Electric Company. Drawings will be made at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for water-related prizes, including family passes to the Waikiki Aquarium. Food will be available for purchase. Complimentary water stations will be provided by Aloha Water for guests who bring refillable bottles. Surgeonfish feeding will be featured. The surgeonfish being bred at the Aquarium, are valuable to Hawaii’s ecosystem for their potential role in feeding on invasive algae.The event co-sponsors are the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services and Hawaii State Department of Health. Waikiki Aquarium is an event partner. Free parking and shuttles are available at Waikiki Elementary School beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Friday, April 4, 2014

4/5 - 4/12


April Parent Bulletin is on our school website and you can click this link to see it. http://www.halekula.k12.hi.us/pages/Hale_Kula_Elementary_School/Parents/Parent_News/Parent_Bulletin


The Hope Garden is competing for a grant of 10,000 - 20,000  dollars.   Please help by voting every single day from today until April 21st. copy and past this link in browser  http://www.seedsofchangegrant.com/

Lost & Found:  Outside of the cafeteria, nearest the playground, is a table overflowing with lost/found items .... mostly jackets, sweaters, water bottles, and lunch boxes.  Every year in May the school donates whatever is left on the lost and found table to the Base Thrift Store.  If your child is missing any of these items please check the lost and found table and help yourself.  Happy hunting ;-)

Butterfly Conservatory at Pearlridge Center, Downtown Center Court through April 19 from 10am – 5pm. Features hundreds of living butterflies, free for keiki under age 8 with a paying adult of $3.00 pearlridgeonline.com
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Sat.  & Sun April 5-6 Hawaiian Scottish Festival and Highland Games at Ala Moana Beach Park, McCoy Pavilion from 9am – 5pm. $1.00 admission. The 33rd  annual festival features bagpipes and highland dance competition, celtic foods and crafts for purchase and much more 780-8810

Sat. April 5         Yard Sale Mania on Schofield

Sat. April 5         Kendama Tournament at Praise Chapel – 1203 Whitmore Ave across from the park. Registration 10am Fee: $4.00. tournament starts @noon. 753-8314

Mon. April 7        School starts at 7:55 every day. Being on time is very important.

Tues. April 8        Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am

Wed. April 9        Report Cards distributed

Thurs. April 10     Breakfast with my Soldier for these classes only D1, D2, D3

Fri. April 11         JPO Competition

Fri. April 11             Wheeler Elementary School is honored to present:
                           Dr. Lori Leyden of Project LIGHT-Rwanda And the Tapping Solution Foundation  from 2:30-4:30pm In Wheeler Elementary School’s Transition Center-Rm. B202
Welcome Dr. Lori Leyden to Wheeler Elementary School! She will be giving a free workshop to teach a very simple, easy, and beneficial technique (or what I like to call a “wellness tool”) called “Tapping” that helps to release stress, anxiety, or stuck negative energy. If you would like to learn this technique for yourself and/or your students, please RSVP with Rema Eltringham, PCNC Facilitator at Wheeler El., at Rema_Eltringham@notes.k12.hi.us or call 622-6400 or 342-1820.

Sat. April 12   THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF HAWAII PRESENTS: SENSORY FRIENDLY FILMS – STATEWIDE!!! Rio2 at 10:00 amOahu Dole Cannery  Free for the first 75 children at each site! ‘Sensory Friendly Films’ are where the lights are little more raised, the sounds are a bit softer, there’s an acceptance of quirky, ‘stimming’ behaviors and there’s an allowance of Gluten Free Casein Free snacks.  This accommodates sensory sensitivities that many children on the spectrum may have.  Parent tickets will cost $7.50