Hale Kula Elementary School NOVEMBER 2012 Parent Bulletin

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Office: 622-6380 www.HaleKula.k12.hi.us Waianae & Ayres Aves on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 96786

Aloha Parents! November is the month for sharing thanks and gratitude to those who have volunteered and shared their time with our students and our staff. Make a Difference Day was held at Hale Kula on Saturday, October 13 with our military partners, the HHBN 25th ID as well as parents, staff, and students. Nearly 50 volunteers showed up bright and early to paint, garden, and complete other odd jobs to beautify our campus. We appreciate the assistance of all the volunteers who showed up to help as well as those who brought refreshments for the workers! Additionally, we had volunteers from Weston Solutions who completed projects in our fourth and fifth grade gardens. We strongly believe in making learning relevant, and these kinds of garden projects have the opportunity to involve our students in real-world experiences and integrated curriculum. We have many opportunities for volunteers to become involved with school activities. Parents can volunteer to assist in the classroom, the library, or the tech center; they can help teachers prepare instructional materials for the classroom, help at special activities, or supervise students at recess on the playground or at lunch in the cafeteria. We are so grateful for all of our volunteers parents and community members who make Hale Kula such a wonderful place for our students, staff, and families! As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the end of the month, I want to express my special thank you to all of you for your support and assistance of Hale Kula! You truly exemplify our school vision, Working, learning, and succeeding together! Mahalo! Jan Iwase, Principal

Title I
For the past few years, Hale Kula has been receiving Title I funds because we have met the criteria of having 35% or more of our students qualify for free or reduced meals under USDA guidelines. As a Title I school, we receive additional funding to provide supplementary services for our students. This year, funding is approximately $140,000 and expenditures include funding for 1.5 teacher positions, professional development for teachers, school and family partnerships, and instructional resources. As a Title I school, we are required to monitor progress of all students who qualify for free or reduced meals, to ensure that they receive support if they are not at grade level for reading or math. Our Response to Intervention Literacy Coaches work with those students, and they also assess students at regular intervals to ensure that they continue to meet grade level targets.

End-of-the-Day Procedures
All students should check to be sure they have everything they need at the end of the school day. It is the students responsibility to check before leaving the classroom. We have had students come to the office after the teacher has left for the day, requesting that we open the door so they can retrieve something they forgot. Please understand that we will not be unlocking the door for any student. If you find that your child is consistently forgetting to bring homework or other important papers home, please discuss your concerns with the teacher. Perhaps an incentive plan can be developed to assist your child to be more responsible.

School Community Council

School Community Councils enable shared decision-making among principals, teachers, parents, students, and community members to improve student achievement. The SCC is a major part of the overall, decision-making structure at each school. It consists of a group of people who are elected by their peers to represent the members of the school community. The primary role of the SCC is to review and evaluate the Academic and Financial Plan and to ensure that the needs of all students are addressed. There are an equal number of community stakeholders and school staff on the SCC. At Hale Kula, we have 3 parents, 1 student, and 1 community representative and 3 teachers, 1 noncertificated staff, and 1 principal on our SCC for a total of 10 members. We are looking for a parent representative and alternate for the School Community Council. If you are interested in serving, please email principal jan_iwase@notes.k12.hi.us. According to the By-Laws, the SCC will appoint the representative and alternate to serve for the remainder of the school year.

Mahalo to the PTO!

Our Hale Kula PTO has generously donated funds for some of our school-wide programs. Thank you, PTO! During the first quarter, they donated $50 gift cards to these deserving people: To Volunteer DeShelia Lanier a $50 gift card to Ruby Tuesday. Mrs. Laniers name was randomly selected from the list of all volunteers who were recognized on the Hooray for Volunteers blog at hoorayforvolunteers.blogspot.com. Visit this site to see what others have shared about these awesome volunteers or to nominate someone! To Librarian Michelle Colte a $50 gift card to Ruby Tuesday. Mrs. Coltes name was also randomly selected from the list of all staff who were appreciated on the hoorayforhalekulastaff.blogspot.com. Anyone can nominate a worthy staff member for making a difference for your child or your family. To Emilio Cota and Julicia Chapman a $50 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen. Their names were randomly selected from the list of all 171 students who were in school on-time, all day, every day during the first quarter. We hope the whole family can share in this prize since it is the family who needs to make this a priority for their children. Great job to all those who were nominated during the first quarter (we are now accepting nominations for the second quarter) and to the students and families who qualified for the Perfect Attendance awards!

Walk or Bike and Get to School on Time

The campaign to get more students walking or biking to school continues until November 22. We would like to reduce traffic around school and ensure that students get to school before the tardy bell rings at 7:55 a.m. Our goals are to have 63% of our students walking or biking to school and to reduce the number of tardies by 50%. We are taking data and we hope to be able to reach our goals! Its good for our health and good for the environment!

Physical Education Matters

Jerry Bevacqua & Ted Enoki Leilehua Complex Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 9th at Leilehua High School 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Students will be participating from: Hale Kula, Solomon, Wheeler, Wahiawa, Iliahi, Ka'ala, Helemano Turkey Trot for Charity on Wednesday, November 14th. This is a Community Service activity to benefit Hawaii Foodbank. 8:00 to 12:00, wear closed toe shoes and be ready to run. Each grade level at their time, will come to the PE field and donate canned food. Then they will go around the course for 20 minutes to music.

Transition Center
Connie Blevens, Transition Coordinator Hale Kula Transition Centers mission is to assist new students and families in their transition to our school. We offer daily tours and informational sessions about our campus. Tours are available Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoons at 12:00pm or 11:30am on Wednesdays. We also offer a morning orientation and tour every Tuesday at 9:00am. We would like to welcome the following students to our ohana who arrived in October: Alicia & Matthew Akama, Carmen Amond, Frankey Baker, Marissa Briggs, Zane Bryan, Brandon & Brianna Bumbury, Joshua & Kathryn Capell, Makenzy Caudill, Keirston Christy, Sierra Cowher, Cederia Dennis, Kady Durisseau, Dearre & Naveah Farris, Juwlian Garcia, Gabriel Gillum, Alexandra Heasley, Aydin Laffler-Otero, DaRon Leary, Christopher & Nicholai Lopez, Eliana & Eloy Martinez, Dujuan Miller, Anna Post, Jonathan Powers, Emma Ramirez, Caleb, Casen, & Gavin Reed, Maddie Rodriguez, Antonio Roman, Layla & Trinity Schamerhorn, Ny-jariah Simpkins, Dawson Szyper, Jaden Taylor, Heath & Heather Thompson, Falesoa, Filogia, & Ioasa Tufi, Daniel Valin, Sophia Vanderkooy, and Yadier Viera.

Greeters Club
Connie Blevens, Greeters Club Advisor Duty Reminders The following students are reminded of their assigned Greeter Week for November. Please make sure you arrive by 7:30 daily during your scheduled week. Nov. 5 9 Joshua Honeycutt, Haiden Jennings, Hannah Leake, and Ella Reibsome Nov. 13 - 16 Jalen Crawley, Kelly Forgo, Brayden James, Manaia Moore, and Taylor Quenga Nov. 19 - 21 Mackenzie Bender, Schuyler Calhoun, Cannon Jean, and Gabriel McMasters Nov. 26 - 30 Bryson Adams, Andre Church, Hailie Johnson,Madelynn Key,Kennedy Pemberton Every Tuesday Nathan Winston

Dress Code Matters

Strapless or spaghetti straps or transparent tops are not ok unless another top is worn over or under. Straps on shirts must be 1 inch wide. Any clothing or accessories that are deemed unsafe, leave at home. Running shoes or flats are best at school. Students should not wear make up.

Parent Teacher Organization Updates

Stacy Timmins, PTO President Hale Kula PTO has a few exciting things happening in November. Our next Dominos Pizza Night for 2012 will be on November 2. This will be our last pizza night until February. Thank you to all those who have supported the Hale Kula PTO through pizza nights! Buddy Pictures for the 2013-2013 Yearbook will be on November 7th, 8th and 9th. The cost is $1 per child per picture. November 7th Buddy Pictures will be after school next to the office. Buddy Pictures on November 8th will be at recess for Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades. November 9th Buddy Pictures will be during recess for 1st, 3rd and 5th grades and there will pictures after school next to P14. General Membership Meeting will be on November 13th at 2:30 in the Library. Members in attendance have a chance to win a door prize. Not a member yet? Stop in and join! The last thing on the PTO Calendar is Box Top and Campbells Soup Label Collection on November 30th. Keep clipping those box tops and soup labels. Thank you for your ongoing support of Hale Kula PTO!

Hale Kula Highlights

Hale Kula Highlights is a weekly email to keep you up to date on whats happening at school the following week. Please go to this website hkeshighlights.blogspot.com Enter your email address and click submit. Don't worry if your email still appears on the screen. You will get a confirmation email from feedburner to activate this. Click on it and click OK. Then you will be emailed weekly on school and community events.

Mon. Nov. 5 Tues. Nov. 6 Wed. Nov. 7 Thurs. Nov. 8 Fri. Nov. 9

Chaperone Training in P14 at 10:00 am NO SCHOOL Election Day Buddy Pictures for yearbook. $1.00 for each person in pic. Also Nov. 8 & 9 1st Grade Field Trip to the Aquarium for P5, P6, P10, H3 Make up picture taking If you dont like your pics, bring back to retake Complex Volleyball Tournament -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon. Nov. 12 NO SCHOOL Veterans Day Parade in Wahiawa on Calif. Ave. 10am 11am Tues. Nov. 13 4th Grade Field Trip to Iolani Palace and the state capitol PTO General Membership Meeting in the Library afterschool Everyone come Wed. Nov. 14 Turkey Trot canned food drive wear closed toe shoes, each grade level runs Thurs. Nov. 15 4th Grade Field Trip to Iolani Palace and the state capitol Fri. Nov. 16 Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am School Store in P14 after school every Friday nothing over $1.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon. Nov. 19 School Community Council Meeting 3:00pm TRIBES- Mutual respect and appreciation of cultures: Wear cultural clothes Tues. Nov 20 Jamba Juice & Book Swap - $2.25 for 8oz smoothie. Exchange old books TRIBES-Appreciation and support of friendship: Wear yellow & show kindness Wed. Nov. 21 Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am TRIBES- Mutual respect for environment: Wear green and pick up trash Thurs. Nov. 22 NO SCHOOL Happy Thanksgiving Fri. Nov. 23 NO SCHOOL Good Luck shopping or stay home to relax the choice is yours --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon. Nov 26 Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00am Tues. Nov. 27 Flu Clinic for those that turned in signed forms Wed. Nov. 28 Boxtop 4 Education & Tyson & Campbells Pick up from classrooms Thurs. Nov. 29 1st Grade Field Trip to the Aquarium for P4, P11, H4 Fri. Nov. 30 1st Grade Field Trip to HTY Christmas Talk Story --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon. Dec. 3 School Community Council Meeting at 3:00 pm Tues. Dec. 4 Chaperone Training in P14 at 8:00 am Wed. Dec. 5 Jingle Bell Run Bring a toy to donate and wear closed toe shoes to run Thurs. Dec. 6 6:00pm 7:00pm Christmas Caroling under the stars for families Fri. Dec. 7 Kindergarten Gingerbread event for families in cafeteria 1pm 2pm (not J1) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mon. Dec. 10 School starts at 7:55 every day get a tardy slip from office if you are late Tues. Dec. 11 Jamba Juice & Book Swap - $2.25 for 8oz smoothie. Exchange old books Wed. Dec. 12 J1 Gingerbread event for families in the classroom Thurs. Dec. 13 Super Eagle Assembly in the cafeteria from 5:00 pm 6:00 pm Fri. Dec. 14 Last day of school for 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Have a happy safe vacation. If you are moving, we wish you safe travels. School resumes Jan. 3

Hale Kula Events in November & December