Assets School's Transforming Lives Center Helps Students & Families

Assets School's Transforming Lives Center Helps Students & Families

This article appeared in the Hawaii Parent Magazine's January/February 2023 issue.

If you notice your child is having some difficulty with school, you may want to have them
assessed to see if there is anything you can do to improve their journey in school and in life.

The Transforming Lives Center is the first private school-based full resource center on
Oahu to provide comprehensive assessments of students who may be struggling in a
traditional school setting or facing academic challenges. Students from kindergarten
through 12th grade can be evaluated whether they are from a public, private or charter
school. “At TLC, we determine the appropriate testing based on the child’s presenting
problems, as described by their parents and teachers, along with what the clinician
observes during the evaluation,” explained Elsa Lee, Clinical Director at Assets School’s
Transforming Lives Center.

 

 Some of the early signs of learning differences include having a tough time remembering
the alphabet or trouble with reading. Can your child rhyme? Perhaps they struggle with
telling the time on analog clocks. Maybe your child finds math extremely difficult.
“Sometimes when a child is a struggling learner, it can manifest as adverse behaviors or
emotional responses,” said Sandi Tadaki, Assets School’s Assistant Head of School and
Admissions Director. “Keep your radar up and be on the lookout. Being able to recognize
the signs in children, especially when they are really young, is so important because the
earlier you can intervene, the earlier you can address it. The student can develop the
appropriate skills they need to succeed. For those who are struggling readers, if that goes
unnoticed, can take a toll on both the student and parents. When kids hurt, parents hurt.”
The Izuka family had their son assessed at the Transforming Lives Center. “It answers a lot
of questions for us,” said father Kent Izuka. “We feel fortunate to have him evaluated to
better understand his strengths and challenges appropriately.”


After the test results are analyzed and explained to the parents, we can begin discussing
options available to improve the child’s learning experience. “Another important goal of
testing is to provide treatment recommendations and academic accommodations for the
child who may need these elements to thrive,” said Lee. There are varying options that can
help the student depending on the results of the assessment. Some of these solutions
include tutoring, psychologists, medication, and finding the right school.


Assets School may be able to assist if your child has learning differences such as dyslexia -
trouble with reading - or dyscalculia - trouble with math.


Assets School celebrates where the student is at in their educational journey and nurtures
them where they need help by creating an individualized learning plan. With a typical 8-to-
1 student-to-teacher ratio, students receive the help they need to succeed in school. Assets
is the only private Kindergarten through 12th-grade school in Hawaii specializing in educating children with dyslexia, language-based learning differences, and those who are
gifted.


Throughout Assets’ campuses, hands-on and multi-sensory teaching is emphasized and
welcomed by students, teachers and parents. One popular example is at our K-8 campus,
where students can learn math in a way that they will remember! Teachers take students to
one of our full kitchen classrooms and use a pie pan or measuring cup to show fractions, in
order to visually explain the use of numbers in the real-world. There are several similar
classes in robotics, sports, still life drawings, sketchbook designs, cooking/baking, piano,
and even a robotics class where students use Legos!


A unique initiative at the Assets High School level is the Mentorship Program, which lets
students explore career options, build their resume, and learn business etiquette. Our 9th-
grade students remain on campus during their Mentorship Wednesday. This year, they can
choose between rocketry, robotics, blacksmithing, visual arts, East Asian art and crafts,
journalism, or photography. Our 10th through 12th graders are either on or off-campus at
places such as Mercedes-Benz, where students learn how to repair cars and get a peek at
what it takes to run a service center at a high-end car dealership. Assets High School
partners with over 400 off-campus Mentorship sites, with 70 active sites this year.
On average, 95% of our students are college-bound after graduation while about 5% are
career bound. Assets School students go on to work as architects, attorneys, chefs, first
responders, entertainers, health care workers, business owners, and many other successful
and fulfilling careers.


The Transforming Lives Center opened in June 2022 at One Ohana Nui Way on the Assets
School K-8 campus. For more information about this incredible program, please visit
www.assets-school.org/about/transforming-lives-center. For more information about
Assets School, come to an Open House! Visit www.assets-school.org/admissions/open-
house for details.

KEEP READING...

A poster for Stem Round Table at Sunset for all high school students to attend October 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Assets High School

Team Waffles, the Assets Robotics team, invites students from all high schools to the STEM Round Table at Sunset, sponsored by AFCEA Hawaii on Friday, October 18 from 5 -7 p.m. to connect with professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields

RSVP via the QR code or by clicking here.  

A photo from when team from the Dyslexia Association of Singapore visits Assets School in 2012.

The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) and Assets School formed a powerful partnership over 25 years ago because of a shared commitment to supporting students with dyslexia.

Siang Lee, CEO of the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, reflected on the collaboration, noting that several DAS team members visited Assets School, where they learned about our Teachers Teaching Teachers program. Inspired by what was known as TTT, they returned to Singapore and launched their version of the program, renamed "Teams Teaching Teams." DAS continues to host Teams Teaching Teams to this day.

Assets High School teacher Len Black at the playground.

It is with deep sadness that we share that longtime Assets High School teacher, Len Black, passed away on August 15. Lennie joined our Assets ‘ohana in June 1992 and retired in May 2016 after 14 years of selfless service. His retirement came one year after his dream of us occupying the former AOP campus became a reality. 

Assets students do presentations to share about their experience at the Mentorship Expo.

This week, our high school kicked off the mentorship program with a record 22 new partners, thanks to connections made by our staff, students, and their families. Among the new partners are Kapena School of Music, Bowers and Kubota, Balanced Obedience, Golden Dermatology, and Hawaii Marine Solutions. 

Assets School Receives The Largest Donation In Its History To Support Tuition Assistance

Assets School has received a $1,250,000 donation to support tuition assistance. This marks the largest single donation in the school’s history since opening in 1955. The $1.25M donation creates The Anne Kirkwood Dick Campbell and H. Benjamin Campbell Scholarship Fund at Assets to annually support financial aid scholarships to students in kindergarten to eighth grade.

Victories in Chess and Sports

Assets School secures back-to-back wins in chess. We have good news in esports, judo, golf, and CSAL Girls Basketball.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz poster

The Assets School Dramatic Arts Program presents "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" for our Spring Play on Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College.

The Spirit Of Giving For Our Keiki

Your gratitude for Assets and desire to help others greatly appreciated and impressive, especially on our campaign finale, Giving Tuesday.

College Visits Help Navigate Transitions

Our dedicated College and Career Counselor, Farris James, is pivotal in preparing our students to address the ever-important question, "What lies beyond high school?"

Adventures In Geometry In Fifth And Sixth Grade

Students investigated areas around campus to identify and take pictures of parallel, intersecting, and perpendicular lines. They also learned about different angles, their classification, and how to measure and draw them using a protractor.

Embarking on a Journey of Learning

We're reminded that the learning journey is remarkable as we gather our backpacks, sharpen our pencils, and open our minds to new possibilities.

Mentorships Launch at High School

Mentorships at the High School start this month. Every Wednesday, for the entire day, students participate in a mentorship of their choosing.

US Patent Director Kathi Vidal Tours Assets School

Kathi Vidal, who serves the Nation as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property (IP) and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), toured Assets School on Friday, June 16.

Valedictorian Noa '23 on KHON2's Way 2 Go! segment May 23, 2023

Our Valedictorian Noa '23 was on the KHON2 Way 2 Go segment on the 4 p.m. newscast that aired on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Senior presents at Senior Showcase Friday, May 12

At Senior Showcase on Friday,  graduating seniors shared a little bit about themselves, their favorite memories of Assets, their educational journey, and their plans with family, and friends.

Thank You for Supporting Illumination 2023

Under twinkling lights, the music of alumnus Kapono Wong ’20 with a special appearance by former student Imani Colon, more than 200 guests including our Trustees, corporate sponsors, families, alumni, faculty and friends celebrated Illumination 2023 at The Pacific Club on April 15.

Arts Night Showcased Amazing Talent at Assets

Our student artists shined as they shared their masterpieces at Arts Night with their 'ohana. The halls of the K-8 campus turned into an art gallery showcasing sculptures, drawings, paintings, and more art all made by our students.

MidWeek Hot Shots 5-3-2023

MidWeek newspaper featured Central Pacific Bank and Assets School in the Hot Shots section on May 3.

Illumination Gala is April 15

We look forward to Illumination, our Gala Tuition Assistance Fundraiser. It will be on April 15, at The Pacific Club at 5 p.m. We are planning a special evening. We hope you can come. Board Chair Kitty Yannone shares what she loves about Illumination.

Love is in the Air

In honor of Valentine's Day, we share these Assets School love stories.

Summer School Registration Begins

Summer School classes will be from June to July at both K-8 and High School campuses, with distinctly different programs offered at each site. 

Thank You to the Robotics Sponsors

We extend a hearty mahalo to all the sponsors and supporters who believed in our robotics teams, Team Waffles, and Team MEAF.  Thank you for encouraging them on their journey from the start.

Assets School logo

On behalf of our Head of School Ryan Masa, Assistant Head of School and Admissions Director Sandi Tadaki, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Linda Jameson Myers, we thank you for supporting our Annual Fund which supports Tuition Assistance, the Brace Library, Robotics, Athletics, and the School's Greatest Needs

This Family Appreciates Your Support

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, consider donating to our Annual Fund and help a family feel the magic of Assets School. Donations support much-needed scholarships to help transform the life of a student! 

A Giving Heart Educates A Grateful Heart

Mahalo to Assets parents Byron and Yumi Petrossian and their company Bright International Group, LLC for supporting Assets School's Annual Fund and our Robotics Program. 

High School Mentorship and Rocketry Programs Excell

Our High School is lively with excitement growing over the start of the Mentorship Program for this school year which includes new sites such as Foodland Farms at Ala Moana, Nimitz Elementary, and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Sea Urchin Hatchery Program.

Assets Launches its First Middle School Robotics Team

This robotics program is geared towards students nine to sixteen years old and teaches them to program, build, and work with a team while having fun and exploring the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 

Happy Anniversary Sandi and Darlene

Congratulations to Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions Sandi Tadaki and Director of Professional Development and Outreach Darlene Robertson on their 40th Anniversaries with Assets School.

Ryan and Kanoe Gibson

Ryan Masa is interviewed by Kanoe Gibson on HINOWDaily and shares about our Illumination auction and "Celebrating 65 Years of Transforming Lives" television show. 

Announcing Assets' TV Show

Assets is producing a one-hour television show: “Assets School-Celebrating 65 Years of Transforming Lives.” 

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 14th at 8 p.m. on K5, Saturday, April 17th at 6 p.m. on KGMB-TV (CBS) and Sunday, April 18th at 4 p.m. on KHNL-TV (NBC).

Assets School Donates 1,254 Pounds of Food

Assets School's community of #GreatMinds collected 1,254 pounds of food and $300, which was donated to the Hawaii Foodbank for Assets School's first Giving Back Tuesday.

Message from Hawaiian Studies Teacher Mele-Aina Wood

Hawaiian Studies teacher Mele-Aina Wood shares how important it is to pay it forward because someday those children, who have benefitted from your generosity, will be the ones giving back: https://youtu.be/d42FgQzmjws

Robot-assisted Graduation 2020

Special times called for special measures. Thanks to Assets' Robotics Coach, Peter Han, our #greatminds had one of the most unique graduation ceremonies that included a Diploma Robot!

Highway Overhead Shot at Night

Research suggests that because of the freedom we had growing up, which included the freedom to do some foolish things that necessitated taking responsibility for our actions, we became capable problem solvers and resilient individuals.