Grounding Our Students in Place-Based Learning

Grounding Our Students in Place-Based Learning

Kamehameha Schools generously provides tuition assistance to a group of Native Hawaiian haumāna (students) through our Aukahi Ka Muliwai partnership. At Assets, those High School haumāna are: Paige ‘26, Lhaia ‘26, Kelli Ann ‘25, Jayden ‘25, Keaka ‘25, Kahealani ‘25, Kauanoe ‘25, Elon ‘24, Kawika ’24, Cole ‘23, Kaylee ‘23, Zane ‘23, and Mason ’23.

While all students need to be aware of place—the place(s) from whence they come, the place(s) in which they grow, the place in which our school and their learning are based—such grounding is especially vital to those who are Native Hawaiian and/or those who uphold Hawaiian values.

As partners with Kamehameha Schools, we are committed to helping our “Aukahi” haumāna to be culturally grounded and to cultivate a sense of place through kuleana (responsibility) and aloha ʻāina (love of the land/earth and connection to all living things). We are very fortunate that our very own Kumu Nālani Badua has been teaching haumāna about Mokauea ʻAilana. This is a place where we enjoyed our high school faculty retreat in August. Known as Oʻahu's last Hawaiian fishing village, and not far makai from our campus, Mokauea Ailana was once a thriving home to Native Hawaiian people and culture as well as an abundant marine ecosystem. Sadly, the loko iʻa (fish ponds) have been destroyed by dredging and development. Very few people reside in the area. Mokauea today is an example of the destruction and loss that occurs when we fail to demonstrate aloha ʻāina and kuleana.

Our Aukahi Ka Muliwai haumāna, along with students from our Hawaiian class and ecology class, had the opportunity to continue their learning at Mokauea. They were hosted by Mauliola Ke`ehi, which is a Hawaiian culture-focused, placed-based education program steeped in a rich history that provides transformative healing through culture and art. During this special experience, the papa (reef) of Keʻehi formed the foundation of an outdoor classroom that is fun, exciting, and--most importantly--rich with meaningful place- and culture-based learning.

Since Mokauea is only accessible via water, the group worked as a team to paddle canoes to and from Mokauea. As they learned, they also demonstrated their kuleana and aloha ʻāina by cleaning the area of harmful debris and removing invasive plant species.

Mahalo to “Aunty Kehaulani Kupihea” from Mauliola Ke`ehi for welcoming and teaching our haumāna. Mahalo to Nālani and science teacher Karlee Eugenio for their planning and teaching. Mahalo to Nālani, Dean of Student Life Jason Wagner, and History and Philosophy teacher Elan Giddings for chaperoning. Mahalo to our haumāna for embracing this unique learning experience and being responsible stewards who care for our world.

 

 

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Assets School students learned about Diwali.

Zara '31, her mother Monica Nayakwadi-Singer, and her grandmother Susan Nayakwadi dressed in traditional Indian lenghas as they shared about Diwali with fifth and sixth graders in Class 51.

Assets School Provides Personalized Guidance to Support Students' Financial Aid and College Success

Our College and Career Counselor Farris James provides dedicated guidance and valuable resources to support students throughout the college scholarship application process.

“Apply to as many scholarships as possible, even if you feel like you might not be selected,” said Noelani Glorioso ‘24. “I met with her (Mrs. James) more than 10 times during my senior year for guidance on college and scholarship applications."

"Financial aid is not just loans," Mrs. James said. "There are grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and private scholarships. There's lots of money they can apply for. Scholarships are not only for top students.”

 

Through Noelani’s hard work and collaboration with Mrs. James, Noelani is using $28,000 in scholarships for her first semester at Chaminade University. As a result, she only had to pay $47 for her first semester's tuition.

Cole Barrettp '23 did his first solo flight on a Cessna 172 on August 19, 2024 in Arizona.

Congratulations to Assets alumni, including Cole Barretto ‘23, Stephany Kanno ‘24, and Jordan McKenzie ‘24, for their aviation achievements. They all started their journey as students at our K-8 campus.

Cole's goal is to become a commercial pilot. He completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 in August this year, performing take-offs and landings at Prescott Municipal Airport. 

“Recently, I have flown to airports including the Grand Canyon National Park, Wickenburg Municipal, Cottonwood, and Lake Havasu City,” Cole said. “This moment is gratifying for me as I’ve worked long and hard to reach this point.” 

Assets School teacher Edel Yamane headshot.

For 35 years, my journey at Assets School has taken me from humble beginnings at the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard to the modern K-4 Village we know today. Through all the changes, the constant has been the opportunity to grow as an educator and make a meaningful impact on students' lives.

Graphic honoring the 69th anniversary of Assets School

We extend our deepest gratitude to you for being a part of our Assets ‘ohana as we celebrate our 69th anniversary. It all started on November 2, 1955, when Max Templeman and military families laid the foundation for a school that has grown to become a beacon of hope and opportunity for countless students. We stand proud of our legacy. Here’s how you can make a difference.

Celebrating 30 years of the Assets School Playground

With oversight from Head of School Barrett B. McCandless, Assets Parent Faculty Association President Suzy Childs led the planning, design, and construction of the infamous Ala Anuenue (Path to the Rainbow) playground with incredible support from families, faculty, staff, trustees, military members, and the broader community in partnership with Leathers and Associates.

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 free STEM Round Table at Sunset, sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hawaii, on October 18, from 5-7 p.m. at Damon Hall on the Assets High School campus. Students can meet with professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), expand their knowledge, and network with industry experts. There will be pupus and a beautiful sunset. Please share with anyone who may be interested. RSVP 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.