September 8, 2011

To contact the publisher of Island School’s Parent Connection, email peggy@ischool.org

Stanford Achievement Testing for Grades 6 & 9Next week Stanford Achievement Testing will take place for grades six and nine. Sixth graders will be tested during their B3 homeroom class and 9th graders will be tested during their 9th grade PE class over the course of three or four class periods, depending on the pace of the class/es. Students should be reminded to rest up the night before the test, eat a good breakfast, bring a snack, water, two pencils, and something to read in case they finish a test section early. They will not be dismissed from the testing site early.

Introducing Chris Sweitzer and Mary CastelanelliOur math & science departments are happy to welcome two new faces. Chris Sweitzer’s face isn’t so new, as he had mentored our robotics team for two years and taught a stage lighting workshop last fall. He and his wife moved here from Rhode Island in 2009, where he was the floor manager for a local television show.

Chris earned his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University, and a B.A. from University of New Haven,

in Connecticut. Mary holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles. In addition, she was senior captain and four-year starter on the UCLA varsity soccer team. She was also a member of the U.S. National Soccer Team where she traveled internationally for games. Before coming to Island School, she worked under Dr. Carl Berg and Surfrider as a water quality technician on the North Shore. She deserves kudos for running last weekend’s Kaua‘i Marathon in 3:36:15, placing her fourth overall and qualifying her for the Boston Marathon!

Drive Slow - Be SafeLast week we mentioned the need to be careful while driving in front of the school. The driveway between the Frear Center and the Wilcox Gymnasium is another area where student and parent drivers need to sloooooooow down. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic in that area, especially before and after school. Also, when entering and exiting campus, be sure to observe all traffic signs and yield to traffic on the KCC road. Thank you for your kokua!

Change is Good!Since the start of this school year, change has already become commonplace! The Book Bus has been vacated, its products and services having been moved to what formerly was called “The Aloha Room.” This has become Alice Pajela’s (Coordinator of Purchasing) office as well. When Alice moved from her

cubicle, Daryl Edwards (Assistant Director of Development) relocated there. Taking Daryl’s desk, next to Valerie Rivera, is Melissa Riopta, who has switched jobs, from 1st grade Aide to Assistant to the Purchasing Coordinator and Accounts Clerk. Taking Melissa’s job as 1st grade Aide is Florita Rubio, (I.S. alumna, ‘01), who had been the Kindergarten Aide. Kindergarten teacher, Shantelle Manibog returns from maternity leave this coming Monday, September 12th. At this time Rachelle Alayvilla, who has been substituting for Shantelle, will revert to being Shantelle’s aide.

Think Island School When You ShopEarn money for I.S. in two easy ways:• Sign up or renew for eScrip (escrip.com) Our account is listed under “Island School Parent Association.”• Shop & Score for the I.S. Athletic Dept. Let your Big Save & Times cashier know you want your Kraft purchases credited to Island School!

Annual ReportsElementary parents should check their child’s backpacks for the 2010-2011 Annual Report, which is being distributed early next week. Middle and High School parents will receive theirs in the mail. You’ll enjoy reading about the highlights and accomplishments of the past school year, as well as the names of our generous donors. Don’t miss the Annual Giving envelope tucked inside so you can send in your contribution.

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FIRST GRADE – The class has been making various projects to go with their reading books. This week the will be making vegetable soup to go along with last week’s book, Growing Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert.

ECONOMICS – Dr. DuPuis’ students are having a great time working on a budgeting project where they imagine their lives as if they were age 25. The point is for them to research and calculate their income and expenses, including rent in their chosen location, tuition fees if they’re pursuing a higher degree, college loan payments, maintenance and insurance of vehicles and other necessary expenses for entertainment and miscellaneous items. They are learning to balance their income and expenses and create a budget where they’ll have something left over to invest in retirement funds and stocks. Next, students will simulate an investment exercise where they are given $30,000 (in play money!) to invest in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Stay tuned for their results.

ISLAND SCHOOL BAND– Monday, Sept. 12th from 3-4 p.m.

in the Weinberg Gym: Organizational Meeting for the new I.S. Band, grades 5-8. Interested students must attend. Parents are welcome to attend. Please contact Liz at liz@ischool.org, if you have any questions.

COMPUTER TECH – Ed Eaton’s 6th grade class has begun learning about Internet safety using materials from the 21st Century Common Sense Media curriculum. They will be covering the following units: Safety and Security, Digital Citizenship and Research and Information Literacy. If you’d like to read about this in more detail, visit their website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum.

MIDDLE SCHOOL – A great time was had by all at last Friday’s retreat at Hanapepe Salt Ponds. Students rotated through eight stations, participating in games including Peanut Butter River, Fire Hat, Tug-o-War, Volleyball, Camo-Splash and Helium Stick. Each activity was designed to reenforce the 6R’s and encourage friendships among the students. A couple light of rain squalls served to cool everyone off on this absolutely gorgeous day. Photos on islandschool.shutterfly.com are available for viewing. The password is islandschool.

AIR RIFLERY – If it’s a Wednesday, and it’s air riflery, it must be rainy. That’s the way it’s been for the past two weeks. Yesterday’s match was postponed to today (due to rain). A late afternoon blast of rain made last week’s match a bit challenging, as the Voyager boys beat Kapa‘a, and the girls lost to the Warrior wahine. Results of today’s match will be available later. Looks like a nice day!

ROBOTICS – This Saturday, the Robotics team is having a car wash at Kukui Grove from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday, there is a VEX Robotics seminar at Waimea High School, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All middle and high school team members from the island are invited. Contact James Massaro for more information.

I.S. Chronicles

High School sophomores take a moment for orientation and reflection at the retreat last week.

Middle School Mariners pull hard to win the Tug-o-War at their retreat last Friday.

Congratulations to Eric Wortmann (left) and Ryan Perez, ‘12, for complet-ing the Kaua‘i Half Marathon last week-end. Out of 1,046 half marathon finish-

ers, Ryan placed 25th overall with a time of 1:31:01 and Coach Wortmann finished 58th overall with a time of 1:41:53. Both

won awards in their age divisions.

The Pre-Kindergarten class welcomed Lea Meyer’s grandma and storyteller,

Savta Rena, last week.

KAUA‘I COMMUNITY PLAYERS: Last chance to see Kaua‘i Community Players production of “The Language Archive” by Julia Cho at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse. Don’t miss this very special play with unforgettable perfor-mances and characters that will stay with you long after you leave the theater. Here is a link to The Garden Island’s review: http://thegardenisland.com/lifestyles/ar-ticle_cc75d72e-ca15-11e0-94db-001cc4c002e0.html And read what Joy Jobson wrote on Brown Paper Tickets. Here is the link to read it and to buy your tickets! http://www.brownpa-pertickets.com/event/186531.

FOR SALE: 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, White 4-door, 154K miles - $2200 OBO, please call Kristy @ 651-1120. Mahalo!

ARBONNE PRODUCTS: The Arbonne Holiday Line is out and can be ordered online through one of our Chorus students mother - Carol A. Peacock, Exec.District Mgr. at her website: www.myohana.my-arbonne.com or call her at 214-709-3739 cell / 808-245-7674 home. All profits and proceeds from Sept.-Dec. orders will be included in the Fund

raiser for the Chours trip to O‘ahu in January, 2012.

CAR WASH: Stop by Kukui Grove parking lot this Saturday and support the Robotics team’s car wash. From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

HAY WANTED OR HAY FOR SALE: The Parent Associa-tion is looking for someone to donate three or four bales of hay to use at the Fall Round-Up. Or, they would like to sell the hay they intend to purchase for the event. If you can help with either scenario, please contact Donna King at donna.king@outrigger.com.

To see these and more photos of our middle and high school retreats, visit www.islandschool.shutterfly.com. (password=islandschool)

The Duckies are Leaving Soon!Tomorrow (Friday) is the final day for our Gift

Wrap Sale. Students should turn in their packets to their homeroom teachers tomorrow for the

final tally of winners. Remember - Middle School students will be

invited to their pizza party based on their individual participation. Elementary students will be invited based on the class with the most sales.

Sign Up (or Renew) on eScripwww.escrip.com

Watch This SpaceYour PA is organizing educational meetings just for you. Topics under consideration are safe use

of social networking sites and a visit from the KPD to discuss curfew and other relevant issues.

Classified Ads

♥ ♥ ♥ KIUC for their donation to the 6th grade Milo library.

♥ ♥ ♥ David & Darnney Proudfoot for becoming Gold Booster Club members

♥ ♥ ♥ Adeline Sears, Ross Asuncion, Karen Agudong and Michael Fitzgerald for assisting the middle school teachers at their retreat on Friday.

♥ ♥ ♥ Joan Kealalio, Mike Kano, Ron Blackstad, Brennan Wortmann (‘11), Lee Niedengard, Yumi Yasutake, Robbie Kubota and Jenny Ray (‘05) for volunteering their time at the high school retreat; also to James Massaro, Jim Bray, Kaipo Kealalio, Sean Magoun and Willy Ellenburg, as well as all the I.S. hui advisors & teachers for their extra efforts.

♥ ♥ ♥ Carol Peacock for coordinating a fund raising event through her Arbonne website for the chorus trip to O‘ahu.

♥ ♥ ♥ Peter & Kori King for donating two book activ-ity kits to the PK.

ParentAssociation

Mahalo to ♥ ♥ ♥

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Island School3-1875 Kaumuali`i HwyLihu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i, 96766

September 8, 2011

Aching backs and shoulders? Tingling arms? Weakened muscles? Stooped posture? Does your child have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a pack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and wear backpacks the correct way to avoid health problems.

Loading a Pack• A child’s backpack should weigh no more than about 15% of his or her body weight. This means a student weighing 100 pounds shouldn’t wear a loaded school backpack heavier than about 15 pounds.• Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back (the back of the pack).• Arrange books and materials so they won’t slide around in the backpack.• Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary for the day’s activities.• If the backpack is too heavy or tightly packed, your child can hand carry a book or other item outside the pack.• If the backpack is too heavy on a regular basis, consider using a book bag on wheels.

Wearing a Pack• Distribute weight evenly by using both straps. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing pain or discomfort.• Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Shoulders and necks have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands when too much pressure is applied.• Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly on the child’s back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles.• Wear the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps distribute the pack’s weight more evenly.• The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child’s waistline.• School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Choose the right size pack for your child as well as one with enough room for necessary school items.

Need More Information?For more facts on backpack safety, see “Backpack Facts: What’s All the Flap About?”

Facts About BackpacksNational School Backpack Awareness Day is an annual event held on the third Wednesday of every September. Across the

country, backpack events educate parents, students, educators and school administrators, and communities about the serious health effects that backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly have on children.

Everyone got wet at last week’s middle

and high school retreats!