The Counseling Corner

In light of the recent Sandy Hook tragedy, we thought it would be valuable to share some guidelines:

• Turn off the news: TV coverage is too graphic and overly dramatic. The repetition of such scenes can be disturbing and confusing.
• Have a conversation: It’s best not to force children to discuss the incident, however, adults need to be open and ready to answer their questions. Often times, children are “loyal” to their parents non-verbal cues. They think, “Maybe I shouldn’t talk about it cause my parents aren’t.” Start with what they already know, and go from there.
• Reassure your children that they are safe: Children will do as well as the adults around them. So dealing with our insecurities and fears away from our children is helpful. Talk about the people in their life who keep them safe every day.   

Events of community violence are not easy for anyone to comprehend or accept. Understandably, some young children may feel frightened or confused. As parents, we can best help by listening and responding in an honest, consistent and supportive manner.

Excerpts taken from: Crisis Management Institute and AACAP 

Over the next few weeks, Mr. Kudo and Mrs. Kāneakua will be presenting a Guidance lesson on personal body safety. The lessons are from a curriculum that was created by Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children. The presentation for each grade level will be taught in a simple, age-appropriate manner. The overarching theme for all lessons is: My body is special and it belongs to me.

Taking a break to smile for the camera

Students have begun the tedious process of removing weeds from the soil in their māla. What started out as a pile of weeds is now looking  like a māla fit for planting. While weeding can be boring at times, some of our students have gardens at home and understand the importance of soil preparation. Once all the weeds are out, the students can begin incorporating organic compost into the soil to add nutrients and increase water retention. After the soil is prepped, about a third of the space in the māla will be used to plant kalo. The other two-thirds of the māla will be used to plant vegetables of the students’ choice. Hopefully, if all goes well, they will see the fruits of their labor by the new year.

Before

After 4 recesses of weeding

Hui Aloha `Āina is the name of Kula Ha`aha`a’s new garden club for third through fifth graders. The purpose of the club is to give students a “hands-in-the-dirt” experience with growing vegetables in the hopes of developing a relationship between the students and the `āina that will eventually translate into reverance for the land.

The māla that is being used is located outside of the science and Hawaiian studies classrooms. Due to the small size of the māla, Hui Aloha `Āina can only accommodate 10 students at this time. We had many applicants for the club, however, only the first 10 were invited. The remaining students are being kept on a wait list in case a spot opens up or we are able to expand. Students work in the māla with Mr. Kudo on Tuesdays and Thursdays during their recess.

The club’s first order of business is to transform the currently weed-filled soil into soil that can support a vegetable garden. Once the area is cleared, students will prepare the soil and begin to sow the seeds of various vegetable plants. They will maintain the garden which will mean a lot of weeding and watering, while waiting for the vegetables to grow. The final and most fun step will be the harvesting, yum!

Here at Kula Ha`aha`a, Guidance lessons are taught approximately twice a month in each class by Mr. Kudo and Mrs. Kāneakua. Mr. Kudo is working with our upper elementary students in grades 3 – 5 and Mrs. Kāneakua works with our younger students in grades K – 2. Lessons during the first trimester focus on the personal/social development of your child. The main topic covered so far has been FRIENDSHIP. In exploring friendship, students have learned to mālama their friendships with others. They discussed attributes of a good friend and reflected on the friendship qualites that they possess. In the next couple of weeks, the topic will move on to Bullying (grades 3-5) or Dealing with Bossy Friends (grades K-2). Please stay tuned.

Happy first graders in their “free dress”.

Today was the first of nine Nā Koa Reward days for the 2012-13 school year. Students who came to  school everyday on time and made good behavior choices were allowed to come to school in free dress. Any student who did not participate today shouldn’t fret, the second monitoring period will begin on Monday, September 10th.

The second Nā Koa Reward Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2012. This means that students will need to meet the two criteria for almost three weeks in order to qualify  for the second reward. What the reward will be is still undetermined as we are seeking input from our haumāna as to the kind of reward they would like to have. We will keep you posted.

Don’t forget: Tuesday, September 4th, marks the end of our “grace” period to be in compliance with the dress code. This means that faculty members will begin to give written reminders to students who do not meet dress and appearance guidelines.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that pertain to the dress code: 

• Q: Can my child’s shoes have a little bit of pink, green, purple or another color not approved by the guidelines?

      A: No, shoes must be black, white, gray, royal blue, or navy blue.

• Q: Can socks have colors other than the approved colors?

      A: Yes, as long as the color is not visible while wearing shoes. For, example,      reinforced toes and heels.

• Q: Can my child wear a navy blue Quiksilver jacket with a small logo?

      A: No, jackets should be solid in approved colors and only KS logos/words are acceptable.

• Q: Can my belt have grommets or studs?

      A: No, belts should be solid navy blue or black.

We’re one step closer to the Nā Koa Reward Water Play Day now that our second punch day has passed. 228 or 89% of our keiki earned a punch on their punch card this time around. Remember, your child needs two out of three punches during each trimester to earn their spot at the culminating reward day. Our annual water play day of fun is coming up on Thursday, May 17th.  

Ms. Everett's class listens to a story about the many jobs that Santa had before he became Santa.

Third trimester Guidance lessons bring the world of work to the classroom. In the lower elementary classes, Mr. Kudo is helping students to be more aware of careers by having them identify various tools and the jobs that go with those tools. The keiki are also exploring the process of how one chooses an occupation based on their likes and the skills needed for that job.  One of the activities has the students look at their report card to understand the connection between what they’re learning now and how those skills will be used in the future.

In the upper elementary classes, the lessons are a little more personalized in that students are expressing what they want to be when they grow up and tying it to career pathways. They also learn the distinction between careers and jobs. Students take various interest inventories to find out what their preferences are and how they match up to different career choices. So the next time you ask your child what they want to be when they grow up, dig a little deeper to learn if they know what kinds of skills would be needed for that job.