•April 16, 2017
Aloha and mahalo for your help and support in the self-study process and the WASC visit. Mahalo to members of the steering committee (Liana, Scott, Gerry, Tracy, Niki and Romeo) for their help in coordinating meetings, managing school information, authoring their section(s), and hosting the visiting committee on top of their daily responsibilities to our school community. Mahalo to faculty, staff, parents, community members and students in bringing this story together and producing a self-study in a brief amount of time. There is still more to do before we are notified of our re-accreditation status by the end of the calendar year. Remember that no task is too big when done together by all.
Go Seasiders.
Kaulana Smith
•March 15, 2017
For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck and happiness for today and every day. Author unknown.
Our school just completed its mock interviews for the WASC Accreditation visit April 10 through 13. Administration, staff, students, a parent and Governing Board members were in attendance. These school members participated in 30-minute meetings to reflect on the findings of the school self-study (15 chapters, student and parent groups). Mahalo nui loa to Natalie Nimmer, our self-study adviser, who flew in from Oahu after a full day of mock interviews for another charter school. Natalie provided the needed mentorship, guidance and professional expertise in this self-study process. We will see Natalie again. Me ka mahalo.
Kulana Smith
E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauao. (He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge.)
•March 2, 2017
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. Dr. Seuss
I start today’s update with this quote to sum up my personal journey in coordinating the school’s self-study. After much last minute editing and proofreading, the self-study was completed and sent to WASC this past Monday. Those that participated had much to share in recognizing where we come from, where we are, and where we need to go. Summary of findings and conclusions were shared with the board and faculty.
If you are interested in reading the self-study, see any of the steering committee chairs, governing board members, or Mr. Garcia. Keep in mind that the self study is not complete until we have participated in the visit in April and develop a school-wide action plan for final consideration by WASC in determining our accreditation status. Mahalo nui loa ia kakou. Kaulana
•February 9, 2017
Ma ka hana ka `ike.
As we proofread and edit this week here are some dates to keep you posted:
Feb. 14th - Self study submitted to Governing Board for review
Feb. 21st - Special GB meeting for approval of self study
Feb. 27th - Submit LCPCS Self Study to WASC
March 14th - Mock interviews at school
March 17th - tentative school assembly to celebrate our efforts
April 9th - Arrival of WASC Visiting Team
April 10 - 13th - WASC Visiting team on campus
April 13th - School assembly for visiting team to deliver its recommendations Mahalo to Katy (parent) and Kale (friend of LCPCS) for help with proofreading of the entire document. Visit our Self Study board at school. It is in the doing that one learns.
•January 17, 2017
ʻAʻole pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi.
In this new year we continue our celebration as we tell the story of LCPCS through our self study. Time afforded many of us here at the school a sense of redirection and purpose with the arrival of our new school director, Romeo Garcia. What it did not grant was the time to gather as a community to review final versions of the self study. As I continue to coordinate information gathering and drafting, I ask for your patience in allowing for the final revision and publishing for governing board approval. I am available to field questions regarding the self study; you can contact me through email:
[email protected]. I also provide monthly updates at the monthly Hui Makua meetings, you are welcome to join us to see how you can help.
Not all knowledge is taught in one school.
•December 12, 2016
A`ohe hana nui ka alu`ia.
Aloha Seasiders!
Our timeline has changed! The WASC visit will be April 10th through 13th, with an LCPCS welcome on Sunday. This means that we have earned a few more weeks to work on our self study. Be on the lookout for a date and time to meet and review chapter draft(s) over the winter break.
Also, contact steering committee chairs on the status of the following sections:
School Profile: Kaulana Smith
Introduction: Kaulana Smith
I. Institutional Core Values: Kaulana Smith (Survey: Click
HERE)
II. Teaching and Learning: Scott Smith (Survey: Click
HERE)
III. Financial Sustainability: Gerry Delgado
IV. Operations: Tracy Jardine
V: Stewardship and Leadership: Administration, Liana Honda; Governance, Niki Hubbard
VI: Improvement and Sustainability: Liana Honda and Scott Smith
"No task is too big when done together."
•November 11, 2016
Pupukahi i holomua.
Aloha Seasiders, The steering committee has reviewed available documents and data, met with their committees, and started drafting the self study. In the process we have discovered that there is much to consider with a closing window of time. Let us commend the steering committee, which also functions as LCPCS' Leadership Team, on its efforts to gather, communicate, analyze, and draft our self study. Mahalo to those who participated in the online surveys. Pass the word on to other Seasiders to weigh in on Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School for re-Accreditation 2017. Mahalo to parents who have approached the school on how and where they can help. Mahalo to faculty, staff, and board members for taking the time to review sections of the self study at the start of the school year. Pupukahi i holomua: unite to move forward.
As always, I am available for clarification and direction. I am with students or in meetings all day so email is the best way to contact me:
[email protected]
•November 7, 2016
LCPCS welcomes Natalie Nimmer! Natalie, LCPCS's Self-Study Advisor, visited our school today. As with many of us, Natalie was taken with the beauty of the school campus, and with its students, faculty and staff. Kumu Honda gave Natalie an introductory tour of the grounds and classes, Mr. Smith set up a meeting for Natalie to sit and talk with students, and later she met and worked with teachers and staff on our self study.
Mahalo to Niki Hubbard, Governing Board Chair, for joining our working meeting; Niki was a part of Natalie's presentation on the re-accreditation process and fielded questions on the governance section of the self study. Natalie will be working with Kumu Kaulana, LCPCS Self-Study Coordinator, on the self study draft this week.
Natalie Nimmer is a former principal with an extensive background in education, and has been working in charter school accreditation for the past 5 years. Natalie has worked with Kumu Honda, Mr. Decoito, and Kumu Kaulana in prior school accreditation and is excited to be a part of LCPCS' FIRST re-accreditation.