Head of School Farewell Address

MAHALO & ALOHA

Earlier this year I announced my intention of moving out of state to pursue another Head of School opportunity. As I look back on my tenure as Head of School the past five years, a few highlights come to mind. Most importantly, I want to reiterate it has been a pleasure working with all the quality people in the Kaua‘i community that have embraced our family. I attribute the enjoyment of this experience to the caliber of people in the Island School family which include faculty and staff, students, L. SHANNON GRAVES / HEAD OF SCHOOL . alumni, our Board of Directors and parents. The highlights of my tenure were collaborating with students daily in providing an excellent student golf, and tennis. Volleyball and soccer teams are more centered education and in developing partnerships with competitive and are on the verge of qualifying for states. both Kaua‘i Community College and Kamehameha Schools. Due to the increase in participation and competitiveness We doubled our pre-K program from 20 to 40 students in athletics, we plan to add baseball and girls basketball in and Native Hawaiian students from 44 to 90. Another the coming school year. Chorus concerts continue to excel accomplishment is the growth in enrollment from 376 and sell out within 24 hours. The Mock Trial team won the students when I began my appointment in 2015 to 426 State Championship in 2018, Science Olympiad dominates students in 2020. Additionally, our standardized testing at the county level, drama productions continue to provide and Advanced Placement test scores have increased each opportunity for our students to gain confidence speaking year. Island School ranks third in the state among private in front of audiences. State and county level art awards are schools with an average score of 640 in math and 637 common for our students as well as recognition in the state in reading on the SAT. Our average score on Advanced spelling bee. Senior Capstone and National Honor Society Placement exams is 3.66. Because of the high expectations projects continue to tackle many issues that affect all of us for our students, Island School is poised for continued and help to educate our greater community. Island School growth in academics. students excel in all aspects of the educational experience Island School is a fantastic school and Kaua‘i is a because they are surrounded by students and faculty that fabulous community. I have had the privilege of watching have a desire to be great. two of my children graduate from here. Board President The next step is to continue to develop the Kathy Richardson and I have worked together during commitment to fundraising and development so that we this time of transition of my Head of School duties so can build additional classrooms for our students as we have that the school continues to function smoothly after my outgrown our current classroom buildings. Financially the departure. With the appointment of Kate Conway, exciting school is debt free and uses its resources conservatively days lie ahead as Island School embarks on a new era while providing for the needs of students and teachers. with Kate’s experience in private school education. I am However, the need to make a concentrated effort to develop pleased with the selection and wish Kate and Island School a culture of philanthropy is instrumental in expanding the every success. When I was appointed Head of School in already exceptional opportunities offered to our students. 2015, academically the school had a solid reputation, I want to thank the Island School community for and we continued to build on the strengths of the the opportunity to work for you and the Island School academic opportunities for our students while developing students. I wish the board, faculty and staff, and our partnerships with the community to expand enrollment, students all the best and I look forward to hearing about the and make Island School attractive to students from all over continued growth and excellence produced by Island School Kaua‘i. We made strides in expanding extra-curricular children. activities and athletics to develop a well-rounded education for our families. We added basketball, won three league Sincerely, titles in boys cross country, sent numerous athletes to state competitions in track, cross country, air riflery, swimming,

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