What a March we are having so far!  The Math and Science Night was a great kick off to the month as we celebrated critical thinking skills, exploration and inquiry.  Students (and adults!) enjoyed everything from our young scientists' display boards to hands-on activities to stargazing!  Special thanks to Karen Hildebrant for chairing the event and especially all the volunteers that made the night a smashing success.   Mahalo! 

Then Mother Nature had a science experiment of her own with hail, wind gusts and water spouts before Spring Break.  I hope and trust that everyone was safe and received the message about school closure in a timely manner.  In order for us to serve our community better, please give us feedback about our mass messaging system.  I understand that some families either never received a call or received it very late.  This information is very important to us, so please let us know how we can improve to keep our school community safe. 

LASER 

I want to introduce a new program at our school called LASER (Lanikai After School Education Resource).  Each year, schools must show proficiency on our state assessment.  New last year, students are given three opportunities to show proficiency on Reading and Math (Science for 4th grade only).  In between rounds of testing, teachers can target individual students to offer extra help and practice on specific learning targets. 

Currently, we have just finished round two of testing and will be providing extra after school help to work on specific learning targets for students who have not yet met proficiency.  The tutoring time will be provided by the school staff and more information will be forthcoming to individual students.  This is an opportunity that we hope families will take advantage of as we strive to address all of our students' needs. 

For more information, please contact Mr. Noh at ed_noh@notes.k12.hi.us or 266-7844. 

Vision Management 

Refocus?  Buddy Room?  HFBO?  These are the new buzz words from our classroom management program and it is making a positive impact on our school.  This year, our staff adopted the Vision Management classroom discipline program designed by Diana Day.  We have had two full days of training as well as follow up consulting days and we are off and running!  Basically, we wanted to have a school-wide discipline program that all staff would be trained on and one that would be implemented throughout the school in a consistent manner.  For more info, you click here, OR join us at our next PTSA meeting on Thursday, March 22, in the library, 6:30pm.  Hope to see you there! 

Dress Code
The Board of Directors and the Administration are planning on initiating a revised dress code for the 2012-2013 school year. The major change is that all Lanikai students will be required to wear authorized Lanikai School t-shirts on a daily basis.

We have been considering this administrative policy for over a year. It is strongly supported by our teachers and informal responses from a sampling of  parents have been favorable. The student council is also reviewing the proposal.


The primary purposes of the dress code are to encourage students to see themselves as members of a unified learning community and to promote school pride. Secondly, both teachers and students will be able to focus more time and energy on teaching and learning rather than on issues regarding appropriate clothing. Some parents have remarked that the t-shirt requirement may simplify the task of selecting school clothing and ease the morning rush. We believe that Lanikai's contract with the Hilo Hattie Corporation provides a variety of styles and colors adequate to allow for individual choice.

Parents who have a specific reason for objecting to the dress code for their children may  schedule an appointment with me to seek an exemption.

Parents who find that the code creates a financial burden may also consult with me.

Click here to review a draft of the policy. If you have questions or comments please contact Dr. Phil Whitesell, Chair of the Board policy committee, at philizw@hawaii.rr.com or in writing and dropped off at the front office prior to 4/30/12. 

Truly, 

Ed. 

Student Council is sponsoring Pennies for Patients fundraising drive as part of their community service this Spring. Flyers and collection boxes will be distributed to classrooms today to be sent home with students. A spokesperson from the Leukemia Society will be here to kick off the drive at morning assembly tomorrow. Please encourage your students to donate to help kids with this disease. Last year, we raised over $1500.00! 

If you have any questions, please ask me. 

Thank you for your support,