Ka Leka Makua `o Nowemapa `O ka la 30 o

Ka Leka Makua ‘o Nowemapa
November Parent Newsletter
‘O ka la 30 o ‘Okakopa, 2012
October 30, 2012
We are thankful for sunshine, for wind, and for rain
We are thankful for kalo, and tall sugar cane.
We are thankful for rice, for fish, and for poi,
For every good dish, and Thanksgiving joy!
ALOHA e Na Makua o Winne G-1, ALOHA Parents of Winne G-1,
ALOHA . . . How we love this “local” style, Thanksgiving grace. We’re singing this before lunch
throughout the month of Nowemapa, as well as composing our “Mahalo Ke Akua” prayers. Your kukui is
planning to oli, sing, and do the blessing for your own Thanksgiving gathering. We will also appropriately
begin learning the OLI MAHALO.
‘OKAKOPA HIGHLIGHTS . . .
ALOHA UNITED WAY, Colin's un-birthday and Cade's birthday, Pep Rallies, Gates Science Workshops:
"Crayon Rocks," and "Soil Investigation, Homecoming & Flaming P, Class Picnic, Buddy time," PCA: "I'm
Game," Parent Conferences, Streams Lesson & field trip with Kumu Leong, Girls Swimming, G-1“Boo-kathon” with our latest class read: The Half-A-Moon Inn – just in time for Halloween, and some fun treats,
HAU‘OLI LA HELEUI – Happy Halloween!
NOWEMAPA HIGHLIGHTS . . .
BIRTHDAYS . . . We will celebrate Kiara, Brendan, Kaitlyn, and Sydni's birthdays this month.
Mahalo for sending in those simple, individual sized birthday treats. Hau‘oli la hanau ia ‘oe!
NOVEMBER CALENDAR . . . A hard copy of our NOWEMAPA- NOVEMBER calendar is going home
with your kukui. Please be sure to post it where you can refer to it daily. Make an “early note” of
birthdays, field trips, special events, chapel days, specials, and other reminders.
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER . . . GOING GREEN . . . No hard copies going home. Go to our website for
calendars, newsletters, and photo albums.
GIRLS SWIM . . . Girls swim (unless otherwise noted). You should have received a swimming
st
letter from the P.E. department with details. Last day for Na Kukui girls is November 21 .
WETLANDS & WATERBIRDS LESSON . . . Kumu Marion Leong returns to Ka Papa 'Ekolu on
th
Friday, November 9 with our lesson to prepare for yet another fabulous field trip in early
December. This time, our focus will be on Hawaiian wetland areas and native, migratory, and
shore birds.
th
HOLIDAY . . . No school on Monday, November 12 , Veteran’s Day! WOOHOO!
th
BUDDIES . . . Meeting up with our "Chili Beans" on Tuesday, November 13 .
TRIP . . . We will head for “Ke ahupua‘a o KUALOA and HAKIPU‘U" on Wednesday,
th
November 14 , with Outdoor Education kumu, Andy Nelson. This is an all-day trip. Your
kukui needs: swimsuit (wear to school), small towel, dry clothes, lunch, snack, water,
slippers, sunscreen, cap/hat, (opt.). WE WILL GET WET! Being in the wa‘a - canoe is on our
agenda, as well as legends, and cleaning the outside of our IPU gourd.
‘ao‘ao ‘elua - page 2
th
PCA: IPU & CORDING . . . On Thursday, November 15 , 9:45 am to 12:00 noon, our Parent
Classroom Activity opportunity focuses on helping Na Kukui to saw the tops off our gourds for our
"ipu heke 'ole" hula instruments. We will also make raffia cording for our ipu with parent kokua.
MAHALO NUI LOA!
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS . . . Enjoy this 5-day weekend! There is no school for Grades
st
K-8 on Wednesday, November 21 . Enjoy this long, Thanksgiving weekend - HAU‘OLI LA
HO‘OMAIKA‘I - HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! It is my hope that your kukui will give an OLI
th
and BLESSING in 'Olelo Hawai‘I for your 'ohana. School resumes on Monday, November 26 .
th
PCA: HOLIDAYS . . . On Tuesday, November 27 , from 9:45 am to 12:00 noon, our Parent
Classroom Activity will focus on fun preparation for the holiday season. We have been studying
“metaphors” in class, and our 3 projects will be metaphors for each kukui. We will create: tabletop
Christmas trees, original grapevine wreaths, and ornaments. Mahalo for signing up at Open
House for this event, however, it’s not too late to join in the fun. E-mail or jot a note if you would
like to join us for this fun holiday event. We promise holiday music and seasonal treats for all too!
th
BOYS SWIM . . . Boys begin swimming on Wednesday, November 28 . Wear swim shorts,
slippahs, and sunscreen. Bring towel and dry clothes to change into when pau. Goggles OK.
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS and more . . . continue on . . .
A. HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE . . . You should have received the handout regarding counting and
phrases in Hawaiian. Your kukui is getting “maika‘i loa” at counting and even skip-counting.
E OLA KA ‘OLELO HAWAI‘I - THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE LIVES!
B. HAWAIIAN STUDIES/SCIENCE . . . The focus this month is on 'AINA and WAI – our land and
our most precious resource, fresh water. Field studies take us to Ha’iku Stream and Kualoa. We will also
be conducting super science experiments via Gates Science Workshop.
C. HOMEWORK. . . Mahalo for your continued support regarding homework. Please continue to
check planners, sign reading logs over the weekend, help with spelling list words, handwriting, math, and
home journaling. Na Kukui are fulfilling their “kuleana” (responsibility AND privilege!) when it comes to
being responsible for their homework - both doing it and turning it in on time. MAIKA‘I LOA!
D. MATH . . . We are now in Unit 3 which will focus on Linear Measures and Area. This has to be
my favorite unit by far, as we focus on measurement, perimeter, area, etc. MAHALO for being there for
your kukui as we proceed with our Everyday Math program and using our Math skills in everyday
situations (e.g. calculating averages, modes, etc.)
E. MELE . . . This indeed is one of Papa ‘Ekolu’s favorite times. Ask your kukui to sing some of
our all time favorites which include: Mele Aloha, Eia Makou, On the Island, C-A-T, The New Spring.
F. PLANNING TO SUCCEED . . . “If I plan to learn, I must learn to plan.” This concept was
discussed in many of our parent conferences. Our Punahou student planners have helped tremendously.
Our planners are also filled with fun facts, jokes, maps, wise sayings, etc. Look through these frequently.
H. READING/WRITING WORKSHOP . . . We culminated our Hawaiian LEGENDS literature unit.
We have also enjoyed Stone Fox focusing on its themes and comprehension. Half-a-Moon Inn will help
‘ao‘ao ‘ekolu - page 3
us focus on "main idea" and "inference." We now have several poetry formats to express our writing
thoughts. Learning about and practice using SIMILE and METAPHOR was also a focus for us. Then,
we’re in for a holiday treat as we read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We'll also compare the book to
the movie. Which version will Na Kukui enjoy more? (book or movie?)
I. S.U.R.F. . . Silent Uninterrupted Reading for Fun continues to be one of this class’ most
favorite things to do. Some of you have expressed concern regarding your kukui’s choice of books that
are too easy for his/her supplementary reading. I will encourage your kukui to “balance” choices, including
a chapter book in his/her repertoire too. We also have a great literature collection in the classroom. As
discussed in our parent conferences, we will focus on balancing our literature choices, enjoying the entire
spectrum in our “genre” buffet!
J. SPELLING & WORDLY WISE . . . You have seen several spelling lists and Wordly Wise
lessons now. Mahalo for helping your kukui to study and review these. Our spelling lists continue to reflect
our present curriculum and words needed to help your kukui in his/her writing. We continue to practice the
mechanics of writing (e.g. punctuation) and hone in on vocabulary and comprehension skills, which we
USE in our assignments.
K. SWIMMING . . . Swimming on P.E. days for our NA KAIKAMAHINE – GIRLS continues until
st
November 21 . MAHALO for having your daughter prepared for swimming with suits, towel, and change
of clothes. Your kukui should wear her swim clothes to school in the morning on P.E. days (usually A & D
days). Towel and change of clothes should be in a plastic bag. Wet suits and towels will go home every
swim day. THANK YOU for your support with this. We are so very fortunate to be able to offer swimming
th
as part of our regular P.E. classes at Punahou. NOTE: BOYS swimming begins on November 28 .
L. VALUES . . . ‘OLELO NO‘EAU . . . NOVEMBER focuses on LOKOMAIKA‘I –
COMPASSION, and its partner values of GENEROSITY and SERVICE. How appropriate as we partiipate
in our Service Learning opportunities via AUW, food drive, and other endeavors.
Several ‘OLELO NO‘EAU or WISE SAYINGS will guide us through the month. My favorite is:
'A'ohe pilo uku.
No reward is a trifle.
Even a small gift is appreciated.
('Olelo No' eau # 205, 'Olelo No'eau, Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, 2004.)
M. SERVICE LEARNING for the holidays . . . The holiday season provides many opportunities
to brighten the lives of those who are less fortunate. Stay tuned for news from me and our room parent
team regarding Na Kukui 'Ohana efforts to make a difference this season in the quality of lives for families
in Hawai'i nei. MAHALO NUI LOA!
UA PAU . . . Finished for now. Please email any comments and/or questions. Post that NOVEMBER
calendar. Continue to be grateful for your wonderful kukui and ‘ohana, this wonderful school we call Ka
Punahou, and this amazing ‘aina that we are privileged to call home!
ALOHA A HUI HOU, E MALAMA PONO . . .
Max Nu‘uhiwa, Ke Kumu o Ka Papa ‘Ekolu, Na Kukui o Winne G-1, Ke Kula ‘o Punahou
E-mail: [email protected]