PARENT STORIES
FINDING JOY IN GIVING BACK From judging the Middle School science fair, to decorating the haunted house for the Fall Family Festival, to creating a parent-to-parent video to raise money for the Annual Fund, Sharon Nakamura loves giving back to IPA. “It’s so nice to feel like you’re part of the community,” she says. “The kids are great, the parents are great, the teachers are great. Who wouldn’t want to volunteer if they have the time?” For Sharon, donating her time has been a way to express her appreciation for the education her daughter Haley received at IPA. After graduating in May, Haley is now a freshman majoring in Civil Engineering at MIT. “Sending her to IPA really gave her the edge, because she’s thriving here,” Sharon says. “The education she got, the nurturing that she got from her teachers — they really care.” Volunteers are a big part of what make the school special, she adds. “It enhances what’s already there,” she says. “When parents get involved, it adds that magic touch.”
"When parents get involved, it adds that magic touch." Sharon Nakamura
STUDENT STORIES
THE CONFIDENCE OF AN IPA EDUCATION When Noah Chapman arrived at IPA in second grade, he barely spoke to anyone. After being bullied for a speech impediment at his old school, he was shy and withdrawn. But within a few weeks, that started to change. Three years later, Noah is a chatterbox with his friends, and speaks up in public when he’s out with his family. “He’s gained confidence, he’s more outgoing,” says dad, Paul. “We saw a big difference.” Paul attributes the change to IPA’s culture of respect and encouragement. He says Noah has thrived in an environment where teachers lead with values like personal responsibility, caring for others, and doing what’s right. “When you have teachers speaking to him like a peer and showing him respect, it can’t help but raise the confidence in a young person,” he says.
"He’s gained confidence, he’s more outgoing. We saw a big difference." Paul Chapman
ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY | 2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Today, Noah is excelling at school, mastering new study skills, and talking about going to college. “To be in the 5th grade and saying, ‘I’m going to the University of Hawaiʻi,’ that’s a big deal for me,” says Paul. “As parents, it’s wonderful to see this transformation.”
