The Prep 2017 Summer Mailing

July 2017 Dear Parents, I hope that you’ve had a wonderful, restful summer with your family and are excited for the new school year. Our teachers look forward to welcoming your children to the 2017-18 school year. We have worked together this summer to further develop our curriculum in our continued effort to help each student maximize his or her potential. Our personalized curriculum ensures that each child is known, understood, and challenged to be his or her personal best. The curriculum is intentionally designed to cultivate creative thinkers, confident learners, and compassionate leaders. We ground our curriculum in the universal values of kindness, love, and service for the betterment of humankind. These skills and foundational values will allow our students to be successful and thrive in our rapidly changing and complex world.

To enhance our culture of thinking, learning, and doing we will focus on developing the emotional intelligence of our students. The evidence is clear, people who are emotionally intelligent build meaningful and fulfilling relationships, are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, and are more successful in school and in life.

Last year our school was awarded a multiyear grant from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation to implement the RULER program developed by researchers at Yale University. This nationally acclaimed, evidence-based program provides us with tools and strategies to help people Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, and Regulate their emotions. These skills play an important role in developing happy, healthy, engaged and productive learners. You may learn more about the RULER program by reading the enclosed article by Dr. Ruth Fletcher, or by visiting http://ei.yale.edu/ruler/ and reading “Should Emotions Be Taught In Schools?” by Grace Rubinstein on the benefits of social emotional learning in schools.

I am also happy to introduce to you a new faculty member, Ms. Deborah Shintaku, who will join us as our Educational Technology and Curriculum Resource Teacher. Ms. Shintaku earned her Bachelor’s in Education and Master’s in Education from University of Hawaii at Mānoa and has served as teacher and computer resource teacher for the past 13 years. She most recently served as computer resource teacher at Hawaii Baptist Academy and brings with her vast experience and knowledge in technology integration, robotics and coding. Ms. Shintaku will assist our St. Andrew’s faculty in their STEAM endeavors.

Enclosed with this summer mailing, you will find a letter from your principal introducing the new teachers joining us as well as details regarding the exciting new developments taking place in our educational programs. Additionally, you will find important information to assist your family in preparing for the new school year.

All the Best,

Sophie Halliday Director of Educational Programs

July 2017 Dear Prep Families, We are gearing up for the 2017-18 school year and look forward to welcoming your son to the new school year. St. Andrew’s Schools is leading the way in innovative programming to prepare boys to become their best, courageous selves. Our focus this coming school year is strengthening and aligning our educational programs more closely to our renewed and forward-thinking School mission and vision.

I would like to share with you some exciting news and several opportunities for the next school year.

New Hires and Departing Teachers In June, Mrs. Haas informed us of an opportunity she accepted, which will take her to Italy to teach music. We wish her the best of luck and will certainly keep in touch. She has a special love for The Prep and will always be part of our family. Please see the attached letter that Mrs. Haas wanted to share with everyone.

It’s an honor to share that we have an excellent teacher stepping into the second grade. Ms. Tishia Shetterly holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and worked as a kindergarten teacher for the DoDea educational system where she was at the forefront of national practices. This past year, she worked as second grade Primary Years Program (PYP) teacher at an international school accredited through the International Baccalaureate program. She also holds a number of continuing development certificates that include 21st-century skills, Jolly Phonics, and Making the PYP Happen, in addition to an Associate Degree in science. Mrs. Shetterly has a passion for inquiry-based and hands-on learning and is eager to help The Prep continue its progress in creating a personalized experience for your boys.

Ms. Leeza Holguin, our new fourth grade teacher, comes to us from Japan. This past year, she was a first grade teacher at The United School of Tokyo, an international school located in Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Holguin holds a M.A. in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from New York University. Additionally, she is New York State dual-certified in both Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education for Students with Disabilities. Miss Holguin has multiple years of experience teaching at the elementary level and is looking forward to providing a personalized/inquiry-based transdisciplinary curriculum that helps students make effective connections with the world around them.

Learning Through Fellowship, Nature Treks and Club Opportunities We have so many exciting, upcoming events! They include Back to School Night, Nā Kūpuna Day, Parent and Pie Day, Spirit Weeks, Field Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace, fourth Grade Camp and other annual favorites such as our Talent Show and Christmas Program. We also have several club opportunities that are new this year. The boys may participate in Scripps Spelling Bee (Gr. 3 and 4) and/or National Geography Bee (Gr. 4). Leadership opportunities will also be offered to fourth grade students through Student Council. The P.E. department will be launching an Intramural Sports program in the Lower School for fourth and fifth graders in The Priory and The Prep. During the school day, volleyball will be offered in mid-September and basketball in December.

Nature treks and learning trips encourage the exploration of our community, and the natural wonders enrich students’ physical, spiritual, and social-emotional well-being. Along with other special trips this year, the fourth graders will be embarking on a camping night at Coconut Island that will be both educational and relationship building. In the spring, some of our students from both The Priory and The Prep will be voyaging on Kānehūnāmoku, a 29-foot double hull sailing canoe, for a hands-on experience learning all about sailing, teamwork, and communication. Opportunities for service learning will also be integrated throughout each grade level.

Our two-year review of our science curriculum engages our students in science through a learning by doing approach using the Engineering Design Process and STEAM activities that encouraged critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and creativity. This summer, our Curriculum Review team of faculty leaders began a comprehensive two-year review of our social studies curriculum. These efforts will help us continue to integrate, align, and bolster our curriculum to foster globally aware and compassionate leaders.

Health and well-being will be emphasized through our E Mālama I Ke Kino program with gardening, aquaponics, vermiculture, and Mindfulness. Weekly religious studies will be integrated in our Chapel service with Chaplain Annalise. As mentioned in Ms. Halliday’s letter, faculty will be implementing RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning to enhance our students’ emotional intelligence. Our Hawaiian values will continue to be practiced throughout the schools through language, songs, and hula in our Haleuluhe curriculum. Our students will continue to explore their interests, exercise their creativity, and communicate their learning to others during our Explorations time.

Please login to the Parent Portal for resources and information for students and parents including our After School Care program. Also, visit www.standrewsschools.org/17-18 for back to school information and forms. We have enclosed a handy checklist for you so that your son will be ready for our new school year.

Please feel free to contact the Lower School Office (532-2444) with your questions or comments.

We look forward to seeing you at our ʻOhana Barbecue on August 17. During the ‘Ohana Barbecue, please feel free to bring your son’s school supplies to his classroom. Unitl then, we hope you enjoy the last days of summer with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Paul Burgess Principal of The Prep

The Prep Back-to-School Checklist For your convenience, please use this Back-to-School Checklist to prepare for the 17-18 school year. To access forms, flyers, and instructions, please refer to the 17-18 School Year Info page on our website (standrewsschools.org/17-18).

Health Information and Student Health Form (Form 14) Please submit your child’s annually updated Student Health form to the Lower School Office (K105). You may contact our school nurse, Mrs. Deborah Sherman (dsherman@standrewsschools.org) with any questions.

PowerSchool Update your Annual Student Registration in PowerSchool. Please refer to the Annual Student Registration Instructions posted on the 17-18 School Year Info page on our website (standrewsschools.org/17-18).

Canvas Log in and update your notification preferences in Canvas, our Learning Management System. Please refer to the Parent Canvas Instructions posted on the 17-18 School Year Info page on our website (standrewsschools.org/17-18).

‘Ohana BBQ (Gr. K-12, Thursday, August 17, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM) RSVP for our ‘Ohana Barbecue (http://tinyurl.com/ohanabbq). Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies to their classrooms this evening.

After School Program (K-5) Register your child for our After School Care Program and Enrichment courses (standrewsschools.org/register). Please refer to ASAP Online Registration Instructions posted on the 17-18 School Year Info page on our website (standrewsschools.org/17-18).

Responsible Technology Use Policy (Gr. 4) Please read the Responsible Technology Use Policy and review it with your child.

Supply List Please purchase your child’s school supplies for the school year. Please refer to the Supply List on the 17-18 page.

Uniforms Please peruse our Uniform Information and Uniform Guidelines to purchase your child’s uniform.

Questions? Please contact the Lower School Office (532-2444) and we will be happy to assist you.

Dear St. Andrew’s Schools ʻOhana, I hope you are enjoying your summer vacation. I am looking forward to beginning my second year serving as chaplain to this amazing community. It is truly a privilege to serve the students, families, and faculty of St. Andrew’s Schools in this capacity.

Our beloved founder, Queen Emma, invited the church to be involved with our school from the very beginning. As the only diocesan school in Hawaiʻi, we continue to enjoy a special relationship with the Episcopal Church. At St. Andrew’s Schools, we both embrace our heritage as an Episcopal school and strive to create an environment that welcomes people of all faith traditions. One of the hallmarks of the Episcopal church is inclusivity and the commitment “to respect the dignity of every human being.” I see this lived out daily in our common life at school, from the playground games to chapel services.

I am excited to announce a change to the chapel program for the upcoming school year. There will be three separate chapels beginning this fall. The Priory Lower School, The Priory Upper School, and The Prep will each have their own weekly chapel service on Tuesdays. This separation allows for more developmentally appropriate activities, opportunities for leadership, and the space to explore themes relevant to each specific group. We will gather for all-school chapel approximately once a month to celebrate holidays and special occasions.

As we look to the new school year, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or pastoral needs. I am available by phone and email. I am always happy to meet in person, as well. My prayers are with all of you as we move into the upcoming school year!

Blessings,

The Rev. Annalise Pasalo Chaplain apasalo@standrewsschools.org (808) 532-2460

The RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

By Dr. Ruth Fletcher, Head of School St. Andrew’s Schools

The RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) http://ei.yale.edu/

By Dr. Ruth Fletcher Let’s face it, emotions matter. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence understands this and has been eagerly teaching people how to develop their emotional intelligence, or EQ, for over 15 years. Using pioneering research and partnering with field experts to build effective approaches for teaching emotional intelligence the Yale Center documented measurable improvements in emotional skills for those using the holistic and integrated RULER approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

RULER stands for: Recognizing emotions in self and others Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions Labeling emotions accurately Expressing emotions appropriately, and Regulating emotions effectively.

Because emotions drive learning it is critical to teach children and adults how to understand and manage emotions. The RULER program provides an in-depth school curriculum on emotional literacy for children, teachers, staff and families. It focuses on the acquisition and practice of essential emotional skills: • Building community through group agreements, • Identifying and naming feelings, • Engaging in a process to improve reflective practices and self-regulation, and • Practicing problem solving for complex situations.

To this end, faculty, staff and families learn about the Anchors of Emotional Intelligence, four tools that teach emotional intelligence skills to students and adults.

These tools help to foster a warm, positive school community and a strong schoolfamily partnership, the four anchor tools are: The Meta-Moment (a six step process that helps manage intense emotions “in the moment” in order to have more satisfying outcomes), The Blueprint (a tool for helping family members develop empathy and perspective taking), The Family Charter (a tool that encourages personal and social responsibility, harmony and trusting relationship at home), and The Mood Meter (a tool that helps to develop emotional awareness and allows people to share their emotions in a safe way).

Once the Anchor tools are embedded in the culture of the school, faculty and staff are trained on the Feeling Words Curriculum, which enable teachers and students to recognize and express a full range of emotions. Lessons are interwoven into the daily academic curriculum – students practice their emotional intelligence skills by thinking, speaking, and writing critically about their emotions and hone these skills by recognizing, respecting and responding to multiple perspectives.

Through the RULER curriculum students learn to identify and express their emotions in a positive way, helping them to understand themselves and others, which ultimately builds supportive relationships and strong decision making skills.

The evidence of this program’s effectiveness is clear. Schools, public and independent, nationally and internationally, have used the RULER program to great success. Studies show that classrooms that use RULER exhibit greater emotional support, better classroom organization, and more instructional support at the end of the second year of implementation. In addition, students in classrooms using RULER showed higher yearend grades and higher teacher ratings of social and emotional competence compared to the control group. Compared to other schools, classrooms in RULER schools were rated as having higher degrees of warmth and connectedness between teachers and students, more autonomy and leadership among students, and teachers who focused more on students’ interests and motivations. Students using RULER are less likely to bully other students and have better leadership skills and attention. Teacher who use RULER have better relationships with students, less burnout, and better relationships with administration.

St. Andrew’s Schools has adopted the Yale’s RULER Approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to serve as our foundation and springboard for developing emotional intelligence. When social emotional skills are strong students are more inclined to cooperate and collaborate with each other, and more apt to become confident learners, creative thinkers and compassionate leaders.

For more information about the RULER programs please go to http://ei.yale.edu/ruler/.

For more information on learning and parenting please explore the links below: • A Plan for Raising Brilliant Kids, According to Science by Anya Kamenetz • Should Emotions Be Taught In Schools? By Grade Rubinstein • The End of Average: Todd Rose’s ʻ8 for 8’ (8 minute YouTube video) • Alison Gopnik: The Gardener and the Carpenter – Talks at Google (50 minutes) • Emotions, Learning, and the Brain: Exploring the Educational Implications of Affective Neuroscience by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a summary by Rebecca Gotlieb