Whenever possible, I like to walk around the campus to see what our students and faculty are doing.  This morning I notice students in grade three thoroughly engaged in reading their biographies while others are spread across the floor sorting geometric solids to see which are congruent.  Several teachers are conducting individual student reading assessments.  The faculty has agreed to assess reading three times a year using the developmental reading assessment instrument.  This allows teachers to assess reading progress and determine instructional goals.

It is unusually quiet as 4^th grade is off campus to the see a play, The Lion Dance, and half of second grade is at the Hawaii State Art Museum as part of the Art Bento program a partnership with the museum. These field trips are not considered extra but vital to exposing our students to the many opportunities available to them.  How our students conduct themselves in public is important and many organizations remark on how well behaved and cooperative they are.  This is definitely a reflection of family and school.  The opportunity to participate in a variety of off campus programs authenticates and enriches student learning.

In many classrooms, our University of Hawaii student teachers have taken over the planning, implementing, and teaching responsibilities.  We are very proud to be the largest single site for elementary undergraduate student teachers in the state.  Our teachers are excellent mentors.   This week our faculty met with UH College of Education professors to learn more about how we might expand this partnership.

Fifth grade students are busy gathering evidence to support learning goals set last October and to re-set or recreate goals for the remainder of the school year.  I listen to teachers question students to help them think more deeply about who they are as learners so as to make meaningful decisions about how best to describe what they have learned and what they still need to do.  Goal setting conferences are scheduled for February 10^th.  The goals setting process promotes reflection and offers students an opportunity to actively engage in setting their own learning targets.

First grade students are attending special subject classes.  Mr. Doike is testing agility, coordination, and speed as students move through the serpentine of cones.  The special subject classes are buzzing with activity.

Often my responsibilities as administrator is to be the big picture person and hold the mission and vision of the school at the forefront of decision making,  to be the face of the school, or to respond and attend to the accountability measures established by state and federal program regulations.  And while I love my job, the real heart of our work is in the classrooms.

As I make my way around the campus, it is obvious that our school is thriving.  It takes many hands to make this happen.  Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit in the chair of our school registrar while she attended a training session.  We are transferring to a new student data system and the registrar is the critical point person in this effort.  Standing in someone else’s shoes helps me appreciate what it takes to do her job.  It reminds me that every position is vital to the smooth running of the school.

Wendy Lagareta, CEO