Aloha Parents and Guardians,
We reflect on our blessings as we move toward the holidays. We are thankful to you, our parents and guardians, for sharing your most valuable assets with us every day – your children. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make a positive impact on your child’s life – every day – through the partnerships we share with all of you.
At Aiea High School, we focus on the three necessary R’s of a balanced education – Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. While “rigor” and “relevance” are key components to the delivery of an effective curriculum, we believe “relationships” are the most important piece of the mix. Our excellent teachers create urgency around learning by tying curriculum to the lives of their students. We do this through effective engagement strategies.
Many of our teachers now have SMART Boards in their classrooms. Check them out here: http://smarttech.com/SmartBoard Our goal is that 100% of our teachers will have a SMART Board in their classroom within the next few years.
As you know, “standards” have been a “buzz-word” in conversations you have had with school personnel for years. You may have heard the phrase “HCPS.” Now, you may hear “CCSS.” Please don’t let that frighten you. As a state, we are moving from state standards (HCPS – Hawaii Content and Performance Standards) to national CCSS (Common Core State Standards). The national Common Core State Standards will enable Hawaii to be one of 48 states that share the same grade-level standards in English Language Arts and Math. Eventually the Common Core State Standards will be expanded to include other content areas. Common assessments are in the development stage and once completed, Hawaii will have the same assessments as many other states in the nation. Thus, testing will change, but it will be phased in, over time. There is a timeline for the transition.
Please look for bulletins and flyers for school-based SCC events (School Community Council) that will provide more information for parents, guardians, and interested community members.
Aloha and Happy Holidays,
Michael Tokioka
Principal
