z Principal`s Message z - Noelani Elementary School

NOELANI SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN
No. 6
January 13, 2011
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z Principal’s Message z
Dear Parents and Friends,
Happy New Year!
Hi, My name is Shirley. I
am in the 4th grade. I
go swimming, singing and
piano lessons. I would
like to be a writer or an
artist when I grow up. I
love Noelani.
Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! I hope everyone
enjoyed the Winter Break and that the New Year brings much joy, peace, and prosperity. As for
Noelani’s faculty and staff, we are well rested and look forward to this exciting 2nd semester.
With minimal revisions, we expect Noelani’s 2011-2012 Academic and Financial plan to be approved
shortly. The approved plans will be posted on our school website by the end of the month. I have also
posted on the Principal’s webpage the information shared at the 2nd SCC Community Forum held on
December 14. I encourage everyone to review it.
Students will be receiving their 2nd quarter report cards on Friday, January 14. The report card, or
“Status Report,” is to provide feedback on your child's achievement in meeting the grade level content
standards. Please note that for some content areas, such as language arts, students have all year to
“meet proficiency.” Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher or
counselor.
Noelani’s annual JOG-a-thon is scheduled for Friday, February 11th. This PTA fundraising event is
a fun way to educate students about the importance of health and fitness for school-aged children
while raising monies to support Noelani’s physical education program. More information is forthcoming.
In February, all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Online Hawai‘i State Assessments (HSA)
for Reading and Mathematics. We have tentatively set the following dates:
•
Grade 5: February 7 and 9, 2011
•
Grade 4: February 14 and 16, 2011
•
Grade 3: February 23 and 28, 2011
Please be sure your child is well rested, has eaten breakfast, and is on time to school. For most students,
this will be their second opportunity to take the assessment. If they are absent, we cannot guarantee
make-up sessions will be provided. Their third and final opportunity will be administered in April.
At our Open House in August, I mentioned that Noelani Elementary School will undergo Whole
School/Classroom Renovations this school year. At present, construction has been set to begin in March
and continue through the summer. This will entail 4 classrooms at a time being relocated to the library,
library lab or cafeteria for 2-week intervals. While this will be a mass undertaking, we hope to systematize the process and minimize the disruption to student learning. We will pass on more detailed information in February.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Mahoe, Ph.D.
Principal
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FROM THE PTA: Noelani Jogathon
Jogathon 2011 is just around the corner. Dust off those running shoes and wash those smelly socks,
and join in a day of fun with our students and entire Noelani Ohana!!
Come out on Friday, Feb. 11 for Jogathon at 8:30 a.m. and stay for lunch. Jog, cheer, and show your
support for our school and for the benefits of maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle.
Don’t forget, funds raised through sponsorship of student joggers go to support enrichment programs at
Noelani such as P.E., music and computer technology. Therefore, turn in your sponsorship donations.
Watch the Jogathon bulletin board, in the back of the cafeteria, as it tracks student sponsorships to reach
the Noelani Ohana’s goal of $25,000.
It’s not too late to be involved. To volunteer, call parent committee chairperson: Corey Hirano at 2207195.
Welcome Ms. Natalie Liu!
Please help us welcome Ms. Natalie Liu to our Noelani Ohana. Ms. Liu has been hired to
serve as Mrs. Nishiki’s replacement in grade 2 (Mrs. Nishiki retired in December). Ms. Liu is quite
familiar with our school. A few years ago, she completed her student teaching here at Noelani with
Mrs. Brummel. In addition, during the first quarter of this school year, Ms. Liu served as a long-term
substitute for grade 4, and during the 2nd quarter, as a long-term substitute for grade 1. Ms. Liu has a
Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree in educational technology.
Book of the Month
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore
A rabbit, a bear, some mice, a fox, and a worm. A house, a hat, a table, a bed, and lunch. That’s
what each creature thinks when it sees a book for the first time. Then a curious boy finds it and
shares the wonderful stories inside with some new friends. A short, endearing story good for
snuggling with on chilly winter days.
AFTER-SCHOOL A+ PROGRAM EFFECTIVE FEB. 1, 2011
First child
Second child
Third child
Fourth child
$80
$75
$70
$70
ASBESTOS
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act(AHERA) requires our school to notify the faculty, staff
and parents of the presence and status of asbestos containing materials in our school buildings The law
further requires a management plan based upon the findings of the initial inspection.
We have conducted the required six months surveillance on December 29, 2010 and will complete the
next surveillance in June, 2011.
GEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS
Current returning students on GE’s, do not need to renew their GE for 2011-2012. Incoming students and presently enrolled students who have moved out of the Noelani School district, but wish to
remain at Noelani, must apply for the Geographic Exception.
Noelani students who are applying to another public school and those who are applying for middle
school can submit their forms to our school office.
Incoming Kindergartners and new students to the DOE must submit their forms to their home
school.
We will accept application forms from Jan. 1 thru March 1, 2011.
Siblings of students presently enrolled at Noelani on a Geographic Exception must submit their GE
forms by March 1st to be considered Priority 2. Any forms after March 1st will be placed on a Priority 4 list.
Application forms are available at any public school. Submit the completed application with a selfaddressed stamped envelope. Multiple applications to various schools are suggested in the event the
school enrollment may be filled to capacity. The chance lottery at Noelani will be during the first
week in April.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Registration begins in February for all kindergartners. If you know of anyone living in our district who has a
child who will be 5 years old by Dec. 31, 2011, please notify them of the registration period. To register, you
will need to bring in these documents: Form 14 (health card) with a current TB test, birth certificate, and 2
current utility bills to verify your address. You may call our school office at 988-1858 for more information
or visit our school website at www.noelani.k12.hi.us
JAN. 14
FEB. 11
FEB. 23-25
Report cards go home
Jogathom
Gr. 4 Big Island Trip
Calendar of Events
JAN
14
17
21
27
Report cards go home
Martin Luther King Holiday - no school
Student Council Leadership Conference
Gr. K (B4) Makaha Farms
FEB
2
11
21
25
23-25
Gr. K (B2 & B3) Makaha Farms
Jogathon
President’s Day Holiday - no school
JPO Bowling
Gr. 4 Big Island Trip
MARCH
9-10
10
11
14-18
25
28
Gr. 5 Turtle Bay Trip
3rd Quarter ends
Non-instructional day for students
Spring Recess
Kuhio Day Holiday - no school
Non-instructional day for students
APRIL
1
16
22
28
Report cards go home
Beautification Day
Good Friday Holiday - no school
JPO Drill Competition
MAY 25
26
Awards Assembly
Gr. 5 Graduation
Last day of school