July 2017 Dear Parents, I hope that you’ve had a wonderful, restful summer with your family and are excited for the new school year. Our teachers look forward to welcoming your children to the 2017-18 school year. We have worked together this summer to further develop our curriculum in our continued effort to help each student maximize his or her potential. Our personalized curriculum ensures that each child is known, understood, and challenged to be his or her personal best. The curriculum is intentionally designed to cultivate creative thinkers, confident learners, and compassionate leaders. We ground our curriculum in the universal values of kindness, love, and service for the betterment of humankind. These skills and foundational values will allow our students to be successful and thrive in our rapidly changing and complex world. To enhance our culture of thinking, learning, and doing we will focus on developing the emotional intelligence of our students. The evidence is clear, people who are emotionally intelligent build meaningful and fulfilling relationships, are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, and are more successful in school and in life. Last year our school was awarded a multiyear grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation to implement the RULER program developed by researchers at Yale University. This nationally acclaimed, evidence-based program provides us with tools and strategies to help people Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, and Regulate their emotions. These skills play an important role in developing happy, healthy, engaged and productive learners. You may learn more about the RULER program by reading the enclosed article by Dr. Ruth Fletcher, or by visiting http://ei.yale.edu/ruler/ and reading “Should Emotions Be Taught In Schools?” by Grace Rubinstein on the benefits of social emotional learning in schools. I am also happy to introduce to you a new faculty member, Ms. Deborah Shintaku, who will join us as our Educational Technology and Curriculum Resource Teacher. Ms. Shintaku earned her Bachelor’s in Education and Master’s in Education from University of Hawaii at Mānoa and has served as teacher and computer resource teacher for the past 13 years. She most recently served as computer resource teacher at Hawaii Baptist Academy and brings with her vast experience and knowledge in technology integration, robotics and coding. Ms. Shintaku will assist our St. Andrew’s faculty in their STEAM endeavors. Enclosed with this summer mailing, you will find a letter from your principal introducing the new teachers joining us as well as details regarding the exciting new developments taking place in our educational programs. Additionally, you will find important information to assist your family in preparing for the new school year. All the Best,
Sophie Halliday Director of Educational Programs
Dear Lower School Families, Aloha and welcome to a new year in the Lower School! We are very excited to share this wonderful journey together with your daughter and her family. I am incredibly blessed to be part of a community that continues to honor our founder, Queen Emma Kaleleonālani, guiding our students in a personalized learning environment, grounded firmly in our Hawaiian heritage and spiritual values. Your daughter’s educational experience and social and emotional growth will be guided within a culture of care, love, and service. We are proud to be fulfilling our mission to help children learn and grow to be courageous and empowered to strive for the highest. New Teachers In addition to our new families, we are extraordinarily fortunate to welcome three excellent Lower School faculty members. Our first grade teacher, Ms. Tara Wengronowitz, earned a BA in English and Communications from Boston College and completed education coursework at John’s Hopkins University. A former corps teacher for Teach for America, her years of educational training and teaching experience will bring a highly personalized and caring learning environment to her students. Tara looks forward to instilling in students the, “intentional empowerment to develop into servant leaders with the academic skills and character foundation to make a true impact on the world.” A graduate of The Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, our second grade teacher, Ms. Kaitlin Kalm, earned a BA in Elementary Education from Loyola University with a minor in Special Education. Due to her years of teaching experience, most recently from The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Ms. Kalm advocates that “younger grades are vitally important to student success as they progress in later years.” Our new fourth and fifth grade Science and Math teacher, Ms. Julia Behrendt, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a BA in Elementary Education. She brings with her vast knowledge and experience in multi-age learning, differentiated instruction, personalized learning, and flexible learning environments. With a passion for teaching, Ms. Behrendt shared, “I am eager to lend my talents to St. Andrew’s Schools, which values female education as much as I do.” We are grateful to Mrs. Gray-Wolff, who will be teaching our third graders in Semester 1, while Mrs. Eleanor Guerrera is on leave to care for her mother. She will return Semester 2 when Mrs. Gray-Wolff moves off-island. A Sense of Self and Community: Learning Opportunities We have an exciting and enriching year ahead of us - Back to School Night, Nā Kūpuna Day, Lower School Student Council and Spirit Weeks, Field Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace, Fourth and Fifth Grade Camp and other annual favorites such as our talent show and Christmas program. Opportunities for academic advancement and
competition will be available through our Scripp’s Spelling Bee and National Geographic Bee. Our faculty completed a two-year review of our science curriculum. Our learning by doing approach to science using the Engineering Design Process and STEAM will continue to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. During the summer, our curriculum review team of faculty leaders began a comprehensive two-year review of our social studies curriculum that will prepare our young students for life, college, and careers through inquiry in civics, geography, history, and economics. Nature treks and learning trips encourage the exploration of our community and the natural wonders around them to enrich their physical, spiritual, and social-emotional well-being. The P.E. department will be launching an Intramural Sports program in the Lower School for fourth and fifth graders in The Priory and The Prep. During the school day, volleyball will be offered in mid-September and basketball in December. In spring 2018, some of our students from both The Priory and The Prep will be voyaging on a waʻa, Kānehūnāmoku, a 29-foot double hull sailing canoe for a hands-on dynamic and living classroom for students, learning all about sailing, teamwork, and communication. Opportunities for service learning are integrated throughout each grade level including our school-wide partnership with the Hawaiian Humane Society. Health and well-being is emphasized through our E Mālama I Ke Kino program with gardening, aquaponics, vermiculture, and mindfulness. As mentioned in Ms. Halliday’s letter, faculty will be implementing RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning into their classrooms. Weekly religious studies are integrated into our Chapel service with Chaplain Annalise. Our school values continue to be integrated throughout the schools through language, songs, and hula, through our Haleuluhe curriculum. Our students will continue to explore their interests, exercise their creativity, and communicate their learning to others during our Explorations time. We look forward to greeting our students in the fall beginning with our ʻOhana Barbecue - a time for fellowship and to welcome new families to our ʻohana. During the ‘Ohana Barbecue, you are more than welcome to bring your daughter’s school supplies to her new classroom. Please login to the Parent Portal for resources and information for students and parents including our After School Care program. Finally, please visit www.standrewsschools.org/17-18 for back to school information and forms. We have enclosed a handy checklist for you so that your daughter will be ready for our new school year. In the interim, please feel free to contact the Lower School Office (532-2444) with your questions or comments. Thank you for your continued commitment to your child's education and unwavering dedication to St. Andrew’s Schools. Mahalo nui loa,
Kaʻipolani Bailey-Walsh Lower School Principal
The Priory LS Back-to-School Checklist For your convenience, please use this Back-to-School Checklist to prepare for the 17-18 school year. To access forms, flyers and instructions, please refer to the 17-18 School Year Info page on our website (standrewsschools.org/17-18). Health Information and Student Health Form (Form 14) Please submit your child’s annually updated Student Health form to the Lower School Office (K105). You may contact our school nurse, Mrs. Deborah Sherman (dsherman@standrewsschools.org) with any questions. PowerSchool Update your Annual Student Registration in PowerSchool. Please refer to the Annual Student Registration Instructions posted. Canvas Log in and update your notification preferences in Canvas, our Learning Management System. Please refer to the Parent Canvas Instructions. ‘Ohana BBQ (Gr. K-12, Thursday, August 17, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM) RSVP for our ‘Ohana Barbecue (http://tinyurl.com/ohanabbq). Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies to their classrooms this evening.
After School Program (Gr. K-5) Register your child for our After School Care Program and Enrichment courses (standrewsschools.org/register). Please refer to ASAP Online Registration Instructions. Computer Registration (Gr. 5) Bring your computer for annual registration on August 7 or 8, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to Queen Emma Library, Kennedy Hall 210. Please refer to 17-18 Computer Information for computer specifications. Questions? Please contact the Technology Department (technology@standrewsschools.org). Responsible Technology Use Policy (Gr. 4 and 5) Please read the Responsible Technology Use Policy and review it with your child. Supply List Please purchase your child’s school supplies for the school year. Please refer to the Supply List. Uniforms Please peruse our Uniform Information and Uniform Guidelines to purchase your child’s uniform. Questions? Please contact the Lower School Office (532-2444) and we will be happy to assist you.
Dear St. Andrew’s Schools ʻOhana, I hope you are enjoying your summer vacation. I am looking forward to beginning my second year serving as chaplain to this amazing community. It is truly a privilege to serve the students, families, and faculty of St. Andrew’s Schools in this capacity. Our beloved founder, Queen Emma, invited the church to be involved with our school from the very beginning. As the only diocesan school in Hawaiʻi, we continue to enjoy a special relationship with the Episcopal Church. At St. Andrew’s Schools, we both embrace our heritage as an Episcopal school and strive to create an environment that welcomes people of all faith traditions. One of the hallmarks of the Episcopal church is inclusivity and the commitment “to respect the dignity of every human being.” I see this lived out daily in our common life at school, from the playground games to chapel services. I am excited to announce a change to the chapel program for the upcoming school year. There will be three separate chapels beginning this fall. The Priory Lower School, The Priory Upper School, and The Prep will each have their own weekly chapel service on Tuesdays. This separation allows for more developmentally appropriate activities, opportunities for leadership, and the space to explore themes relevant to each specific group. We will gather for all-school chapel approximately once a month to celebrate holidays and special occasions. As we look to the new school year, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or pastoral needs. I am available by phone and email. I am always happy to meet in person, as well. My prayers are with all of you as we move into the upcoming school year! Blessings,
The Rev. Annalise Pasalo Chaplain apasalo@standrewsschools.org (808) 532-2460
The RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) By Dr. Ruth Fletcher, Head of School St. Andrew’s Schools
The RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) http://ei.yale.edu/ By Dr. Ruth Fletcher Let’s face it, emotions matter. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence understands this and has been eagerly teaching people how to develop their emotional intelligence, or EQ, for over 15 years. Using pioneering research and partnering with field experts to build effective approaches for teaching emotional intelligence the Yale Center documented measurable improvements in emotional skills for those using the holistic and integrated RULER approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL). RULER stands for: Recognizing emotions in self and others Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions Labeling emotions accurately Expressing emotions appropriately, and Regulating emotions effectively. Because emotions drive learning it is critical to teach children and adults how to understand and manage emotions. The RULER program provides an in-depth school curriculum on emotional literacy for children, teachers, staff and families. It focuses on the acquisition and practice of essential emotional skills: • Building community through group agreements, • Identifying and naming feelings, • Engaging in a process to improve reflective practices and self-regulation, and • Practicing problem solving for complex situations. To this end, faculty, staff and families learn about the Anchors of Emotional Intelligence, four tools that teach emotional intelligence skills to students and adults. These tools help to foster a warm, positive school community and a strong schoolfamily partnership, the four anchor tools are: The Meta-Moment (a six step process that helps manage intense emotions “in the moment” in order to have more satisfying outcomes), The Blueprint (a tool for helping family members develop empathy and perspective taking), The Family Charter (a tool that encourages personal and social responsibility, harmony and trusting relationship at home), and The Mood Meter (a tool that helps to develop emotional awareness and allows people to share their emotions in a safe way). Once the Anchor tools are embedded in the culture of the school, faculty and staff are trained on the Feeling Words Curriculum, which enable teachers and students to recognize and express a full range of emotions. Lessons are interwoven into the daily academic curriculum – students practice their emotional intelligence skills by thinking, speaking, and writing critically about their emotions and hone these skills by recognizing, respecting and responding to multiple perspectives.
Through the RULER curriculum students learn to identify and express their emotions in a positive way, helping them to understand themselves and others, which ultimately builds supportive relationships and strong decision making skills. The evidence of this program’s effectiveness is clear. Schools, public and independent, nationally and internationally, have used the RULER program to great success. Studies show that classrooms that use RULER exhibit greater emotional support, better classroom organization, and more instructional support at the end of the second year of implementation. In addition, students in classrooms using RULER showed higher yearend grades and higher teacher ratings of social and emotional competence compared to the control group. Compared to other schools, classrooms in RULER schools were rated as having higher degrees of warmth and connectedness between teachers and students, more autonomy and leadership among students, and teachers who focused more on students’ interests and motivations. Students using RULER are less likely to bully other students and have better leadership skills and attention. Teacher who use RULER have better relationships with students, less burnout, and better relationships with administration. St. Andrew’s Schools has adopted the Yale’s RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to serve as our foundation and springboard for developing emotional intelligence. When social emotional skills are strong students are more inclined to cooperate and collaborate with each other, and more apt to become confident learners, creative thinkers and compassionate leaders. For more information about the RULER programs please go to http://ei.yale.edu/ruler/. For more information on learning and parenting please explore the links below: • A Plan for Raising Brilliant Kids, According to Science by Anya Kamenetz • Should Emotions Be Taught In Schools? By Grade Rubinstein • The End of Average: Todd Rose’s ʻ8 for 8’ (8 minute YouTube video) • Alison Gopnik: The Gardener and the Carpenter – Talks at Google (50 minutes) • Emotions, Learning, and the Brain: Exploring the Educational Implications of Affective Neuroscience by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a summary by Rebecca Gotlieb