During this holiday season we hope you have an enjoyable, peaceful, and joyful time with family and friends. We look forward to reconnecting soon, as HAIS continues "to support member schools, and other organizations, in preparing all students for the challenges of life and social responsibility."

The HAIS Office will be closed for the Holidays, beginning December 24 and will reopen on January 4.

HAIS News

HAIS Presents The Teacher Leader Institute: April 29 -30

The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, in collaboration with the Principals' Training Center (PTC), is pleased to present The Teacher Leader Institute (TLI) .TLI is a 2-day institute designed to help Department Heads, Grade Level Leaders and Team Leaders understand both the complexity and importance of their roles and provide them with essential tools for effective leadership, including:

Becoming a 'leader of learning'
Exploring practices that provoke learning and build ownership on teams, departments, and committees
Adapting tools for developing, implementing and monitoring curriculum at the department or grade level
Practicing specific leadership strategies and models for focusing the work of a department or grade level team on student learning

For more information, please view the Institute flyer. Priority registration for HAIS member schools is available until February 3, on the HAIS website. If you have any questions, please contact Deanna D'Olier by email or at 808-973-1533.

2016 SOTF Conference Call for Proposals: Feb. 26

The 8th Annual Schools of the Future Conference, to be held on October 20-21, seeks proposal submissions related to pedagogy and best teaching practices to help educators prepare 21st century student learners. The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, February 26, 2016. To submit a proposal, click here. Stay tuned for Early Bird Registration, which will open in March.

HAIS is Hiring

HAIS is seeking an Assistant to the Director of Programs & Communications. This individual will assist with HAIS professional development programs and coordinate the Leading Schools of the Future Conference. Click here to view the complete job description and requirements. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter, including a description of relevant work experience to Deanna D'Olier.

HAIS Annual Report

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2014-15 Annual Report, which provides key information about the association, its programs and initiatives. The Report delivers an important snapshot of the organization's efforts, which were largely made possible due to the support of our dedicated member community. The Annual Report can also be found on the HAIS website.

Logo Contest: 3rd Place Awarded to La Pietra Student

Robert had the distinct pleasure of presenting the 3rd place certificate and award for the HAIS Logo Contest to a La Pietra student, last week. Tiffany Taketa's logo emerged as a top contender from 110 entries from 10 schools.

Special HAIS Member Rates for Hawaii's 2016-17 Education Directory

Educational Publishing has produced Hawaii's first comprehensive directory of schools and allied services for international students seeking to come to Hawaii for their education. HAIS members are eligible for preferential rates on web advertising and for early commitments to the 2017 printed directory. To receive the discounted rate, advertisements must be reserved by January 22, 2016. The 2016 web and the 2017 printed directory will be published in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. For more information, contact the publisher at (808) 256-4108.

For Students, Parents and Educators

White House Fellows Application: January 12

Over the course of nine presidential administrations the non-partisan White House Fellows program has become the nation's premiere fellowship for public service and leadership. White House Fellows travel to Washington to gain first-hand, high-level experience in the Federal government and develop themselves as leaders. The fellowship year consists of a full-time work placement in the offices of Cabinet Secretaries, senior White House staff, and other high-ranking Administration officials. In addition, Fellows participate in a robust education program designed to provide a behind-the-scenes look at leadership in government, non-profits, business, the media and more. To learn more about the White House Fellows program and to apply online, please click here. For questions, contact Ashley Keenan. The deadline for application submission is January 12, 2016.

Toyota Hawaii's Dream Car Art Contest: January 15

Toyota Hawaii is inviting all students age 15 years and younger to create original, hand-drawn illustrations of "Your Dream Car" for Toyota Hawaii's 2016 Dream Car Art Contest. Entry forms and rules are now available online
and at all Toyota Hawaii dealerships statewide. Submitted artwork will first be judged at the local level (Toyota Hawaii local contest), with the top three artworks being selected from each age category. The first place winners will receive an iPad mini 4. The second and third place winners in each age category will receive $100. The top three winners in each age category will be entered in the Toyota Motor Corporation World Contest, where they could be selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan to attend the final awards ceremony in the summer of 2016. The entry period runs from November 2 - January 15.

Hawaii School Empowerment Conference: Jan. 24

The Education Institute of Hawaii (EIH) presents the 2nd Annual Hawaii School Empowerment Conference to be held on Sunday, January 24,from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, at the Hawaii Convention Center.The conference will feature two prominent keynote speakers on education reform - Diane Ravitch and Pasi Sahlberg.

This event is open to Hawaii principals, teachers, parents, students, education leaders, and community leaders interested in learning about school empowerment. For more information and to register, please click here.

Living History Day: January 30

The Living History Day 2016 will be showcasing Pearl Harbor along with displays and exhibits from other historic sites or organizations and active military commands. This day will also be a celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the launch of America's last and most famous battleship, the USS Missouri. The exhibits and entertainment will include:

Displays of military vehicles, memorabilia and weaponry
Bands playing patriotic music
Oral history presentations
People in period dress from the World War II era
Static displays from active-duty military units
A vintage aircraft flyover
For more details, please view the flyer

The event will run from 9:00 am- 3:00 pm and is open to the public. Admission will be free for Kama'aina, military, and supporting members of the Memorial. For further information, please contact David Suhs at 808-455-1600 (ext. 250) or by email.

Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day: January 30

The Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day will pay tribute to the crew of the space shuttle Challenger and will be held on January 30, at the University of Hawaii - Hilo. This free event is open to students in Grades 4-12, parents and teachers of any grade level. More information can be found on the event flyer. Please email Art Kimura or call 808- 934-7261, with any questions or for enrollment materials. Seating is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis.

Keiki Great Aloha Run: February 13

The Keiki Great Aloha Run will be held on February 13. Children (12 years and under), parents, and supporters will run a 1.5 mile, untimed, course around the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and McKinley High School. Other activities will also take place, all conveying the message that "being healthy can be fun." Participants will receive an event t-shirt, complimentary breakfast and free entry into the Great Aloha Run Sport, Health and Fitness Expo. The theme for next year's Great Aloha Run is "Share the Aloha" and O'ahu schools will benefit from the sharing and receive a donation for every participant who designates their school. In 2015, $30,000 was donated to 100 of Oahu's public and private schools. For more information or to register, visit www.kahoomiki.org.

For Educators

Teacher Travel to Germany: January 25

Social studies and STEM educators from private, public and charter schools are invited to apply for a 2 week, all-expenses-paid study tour of Germany. The Transatlantic Outreach Program offers tours that emphasize contemporary German issues relating especially to the political system, economy, culture, education, and environmental sustainability. For more information, please click here. Applications are currently being accepted online.

HAIS Chaplains and Religious Educators Meeting: January 29

Hawaii Baptist Academy will host the upcoming constituency quarterly meeting, aimed at enhancing understanding, practice, and support of faith development for students, faculty and staff. Some of the discussion will focus on insights from "The Spiritual Child" by Lisa Miller, Ph.D. The meeting will take place from 3-5 pm, at the Arts and Science wing of the Hawaii Baptist High School - D201-202, 2429 Pali Hwy. Parking is available at the Middle School.

iTeach808 Conference on Global Learning: Jan. 30

International educational technology speaker Alan November, who was named as one of the nation's 15 most influential thinkers of the decade by Technology and Learning Magazine, will will be the keynote speaker at the iTeach808 Conference, on January 30, from 7:00 am - 12:00 pm. His talk will be "Empathy: The 21st Century Skill," which will be followed by an opportunity for participants to browse the Global Learners Playground and visit any of the 10 different booths on integrating global technology learning into curriculum. The overall focus of the conference will be exploring how "educators foster empathy, community service, advocacy, and global collaboration through the use of technology."Coffee, breakfast, snack, and lunch will be provided. To register for the free conference, please click here.

Teachers for Global Classrooms Program

The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program provides a fully-funded professional development opportunity in global education to teachers in U.S. classrooms. It is implemented by IREX on behalf of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.The year-long leadership development fellowship consists of a:

2-month online course about global education;
2-day Global Education Symposium in Washington DC;
2-3 week international travel experience where teachers learn about another country's education system and culture, and have the opportunity to teach in a host community; and
a capstone project completed by each teacher to share their new knowledge on Global Education with their schools and community.

This opportunity is open to elementary and secondary school U.S. teachers who have at least 5 years of teaching experience. To learn more about the program, please visit the website.

Kupu Hou Academy Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2016 Kupu Hou Academy, which will run from May 31 - June 3 and is hosted by Mid-Pacific Institute. This professional development opportunity is aimed at helping educators create authentic, project-based learning experiences and curriculum for their students. The workshop will provide one-on-one support, as participants develop classroom-ready projects. For more information and to register, please visit the Kupu Hou Academy Website.

Hanahau'oli School

Workshops for Educators PK-8

Asking Questions to Develop Creativity - Focus on asking open-ended questions that develop and encourage creativity and lead to class discussions where everyone is engaged and challenged.

Instructor: Dr. Jamie Simpson Steele
Thursday, January 19th 3:30-6:30 PM, at the Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center

More Than Just Words: Improving Vocal Expression of Young Learners - Focus on guiding students to creatively investigate the sense, moods, emotions and sounds of a text to better understand the characters, plot and meaning.

Instructor: Daniel A. Kelin, II
Monday, February 1st 3:30-6:30 pm, at the Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center

More Than Just Words: Building Students Creativity with Vocal Expression - Focus on engaging the voice in interpreting the rich texture of the story to help students gain greater comprehension and develop their ability to creatively express themselves.

Instructor: Daniel A. Kelin, II
Thursday, February 11th 3:30-6:30 PM at the Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center

Asking Questions to Develop Creativity- Focus on questioning, prompting, and proving to draw out creativity in young children, supporting them to make meaningful connections as they develop life-long thinking habits.

Instructor: Dr. Jamie Simpson Steele
Tuesday, March 1st 3:30-6:30 pm, at the Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center

The cost for each workshop is $15. For more detailed information on the workshops and to register, please visit Hanahau'oli's Website.

School and Other Upcoming Events

January

9: HPU Preview Day

15: Hawaii Government Employees Association's Charles R. Kendall Scholarship

16- 2/29: Youth Xchange Student Video Competition
19-22: ISEEN Institute

31: National Spanish Examinations Registration

February

5: Creative Writing Contest for 5th Graders

11: Takitani Foundation Scholarships

14: Hawaii Commission on Fatherhood Contests

20: Inventive Engineer Poster Contest