Nakamura

LAHAINA – Aloha! Mahalo to the “rockers” of Opportunity Rocks 2014! Don Lehman, Lahaina Rotary, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association for student packets, and to all the participating hotels: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort, Kaanapali Ocean Resort, Napili Kai Beach Resort, Ritz-Carlton Club-Kapalua Bay, Royal Lahaina Resort, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, and Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Parents, we are so fortunate to be part of a community who embraces our students. Mahalo!

Back in spring 2011, Lahaina Intermediate went through a self-study with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We received a term of six years (maximum term) with a three-year mid-cycle visitation. On Tuesday, March 4, a WASC visiting team came to LIS to observe what changes had taken place since 2011. Our school’s Leadership Team, headed by Accreditation Coordinator Rose Baagoe, facilitated all Focus Group meetings to prepare the Mid-Cycle Accreditation Progress Report. At the conclusion of the team’s visit, they stated how our report didn’t do justice for what they witnessed in our classrooms, and “Lahaina Intermediate School has been proactive in its response to the ongoing Focus on Learning (FOL) process and the follow-up in areas from the accreditation team visit in March 2011.”

They expressed great pleasure to see how much growth LIS has made in three short years. That is such a compliment for all the hard work our staff has put into improving the quality of LIS. We want to also thank our parents for believing in us when we asked for the shortened Wednesday schedule two years ago. Collaborating and planning instructional strategies across all content areas have had a positive effect on our school, not just in the academic area but in classroom behavior. The drop in student misbehavior during class time has dropped significantly due to a clear direction, school-wide. Thank you to all our staff for your dedication and hard work in sharing the vision of excellence. We are truly on our way. As stated to the Leadership Team, our goals to improve will always be moving, stretching us as educators, stretching our students as learners. Our job, on behalf of our students, is to pursue those goals, always moving our school toward excellence.

On March 5-6, our eighth-graders took the eighth grade ACT, titled, EXPLORE. This test is to measure college and career readiness. Every year, students, beginning with the eighth-graders to the juniors in high school, take the ACT for their specific grade level. The school’s overall results are included in our overall STRIVE-HI annual rating. I will share our results when we receive them before the end of the school year.

During the week of March 10, our students took their first opportunity for HSA-Math. I will share those results with you next month.

Have a restful spring break. See you in the final quarter of this school year. Until then, IMUA, LIS!