Letter from Our Leadership

A Letter from Head of School, Kate Conway & Board President, Kathy G. Richardson

Katherine G. Richardson

President, Board of Directors

Kate Conway

Head of School, Island School

Aloha Island School ‘Ohana and Friends,

When we returned to campus in August of 2020, we hoped that we would be able to remain on campus for at least a few weeks, and maybe even the first quarter before having to transition to distance learning. Due to the efforts of the whole community, we remained open for the entire 2020-2021 school year!

During the 2020-2021 school year, we focused on social-emotional learning and executive functioning skills, COVID mitigation, and maintaining our existing excellence in academics. Faculty and staff rose to the challenge and took on additional responsibilities. Families stepped up to take extra precautions. Students assumed the responsibilities of wearing masks, distancing, and still achieving academic successes. We all came together in lokahi - the value of teamwork- to understand and uphold our kuleana - personal sense of responsibility, and be the true Island School ‘ohana that we are.

The 2020-2021 Annual Report is a celebration of our generous donors, partners, and foundations whose efforts increased even in the midst of a pandemic, to support the efforts of our students, families, faculty, and staff. So many supporters rallied to ensure that Island School could continue in our mission of “Educating the mind, inspiring the heart. Preparing Kaua‘i’s youth to lead lives of significance.” We deeply appreciate all who gave!

While athletics and activities were greatly impacted by COVID regulations, we still managed to achieve the following:

● Provided a Distance Learning Option for students who could not physically attend for short or long term ● Continued our partnership with Kamehameha with a continued increase of Native Hawaiian students attending Island School ● Continued our partnership with Kauai Community College to provide a model of excellence in Early

Childhood Education ● Held engaging Learning Voyages on campus ● Upheld traditions during COVID (Birthday, Prom, Graduation, May Day, etc.) ● Created a beautiful May Day video and celebrated May Day by engaging in a day of cultural activities and learning involving numerous community members ● Recieved recognition for numerous student artists and local and state competitions ● Streamed 3 plays (see article on p. 9) ● Presented Senior Capstone live for students and online for family and friends ● Participated in National History Day - our team advanced from district to state, and one group won the

WURST FAMILY FOUNDATION: MARTIN F. WURST AWARD for an outstanding project related to transportation or machinery and its impact on history. Island School teacher Pat Gegen received the

Hawai’i Council for the Humanities and Matson Giving, Outstanding Hawai’i History Day Teacher

Award (Junior Division) ● Participated in two Model United Nations virtual conferences this year and our students received 3 awards of recognition for their work as Best Delegate (x2) and Honorable Mention Delegate ● Participated in Mock Trial state tournament in the Hawaii Young Lawyers Division where Island school was awarded the 2021 Professionalism and Civility Award ● Participated in club sports: ISV Varsity boys and girls JV and Varsity volleyball teams took the Kulea

Club Championship. The boys soccer team won the HYSA/KSA U19 Club League Championship. We had one individual boys champion for the Kauai Community Youth Tennis Tournament. Our Varsity boys basketball team was runner-up in the Last Dance Basketball Tournament ● SAT Scores Math: 591 Reading: 613 ● Invested over $27,000 in our faculty and staff for professional development ● Held a successful online auction ● Built outdoor learning spaces ● Completed the first phase - grading and site preparation - of the New Classroom Building ● Began construction of the baseball field ● Improved the faculty and student parking lots ● Partnered with the Booster Club to construct an imu and refurbished the garden in that area to create a beautiful outdoor venue and learning area that produces delicious food

All of this was possible due to generosity in time, effort, and financial support. IS is rooted in the full definition of ‘ohana and that is deepened by the sense of malama - the value of stewardship that each of us hold for our community. To serve, honor, protect, and care for - these values and maintaining our sense of kuleana, are what bind us together on our voyage through each year of school.

Thank you for allowing us to instill these values in Kaua‘i’s youth and remain accessible to our community. The generosity of donors is what allows us to keep our tuition low and quality of education high. Thank you to the Board, administration, staff, faculty, students, families, community partners, donors, and foundations for all that you do to support our mission and vision for our Voyagers.

Mahalo,

Kate Conway Head of School Katherine G. Richardson President, Board of Directors www.ischool.org 5