Ho'olaulima i MoanaluaWORKING TOGETHER FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS

Vol. XXIV, No. 1 August - September 2017

E komo mai! A warm "aloha" and "welcome" to new Moanalua Elementary students, families, faculty and staff members! We have quite a few new students joining us this school year. We want you to know how happy we are that you're here! I know our returning students have been doing their best to be "aloha ambassadors" and make sure their new classmates transition smoothly into our school and routines.

We are happy to introduce our new faces on campus this year: Mrs. Norma Gonzalez,Tech IRA; Mr. Jason-Brian Ogawa, Instructional Specialist; Ms. Courtney Uyeda, Gr. K; Ms. Jeanette Hazekamp, Gr. 1; Ms. Raejean Gamiao, Gr. 4: Ms. Irene Bayudan, Gr. 5; Mrs. Amber Salerno and Ms. Christie Ferrucci, SpEd; Mrs. Mary Cheung, TA SASA and Mrs. Christine Wagner, Office Assistant. When you see them on campus, please say, "hello," and welcome them to our MES ohana!

Updates among our returning staff... Mrs. Vera Alvarez and Ms. Charlette Encomienda have joined Grades 2 and 5 teams, respectively. Name changes & congratulations to our newlyweds... Mrs. Jihan (Ahmed) Briggs, Mrs. Brittney (Kanetake) Fujiwara, and Mrs. Carly (Hayashikawa) Akau.

Principal Galera, Vice-Principal Enos and all of us here at Moanalua Elementary are preparing for an exciting year of connecting, learning and growth for ourselves and our students and families. Research studies continue to validate that family involvement is vital to the success of students; parents are the first and primary teachers of our children who count on their families to provide love and caring as well as the physical and emotional support so necessary for children to grow and learn.

There are so many ways MES families can be involved in supporting their child's academic success. A good place to start is by reading your Parent Handbook and the flyers and bulletins that your child brings home; you'll learn what's happening at Moanalua Elementary and we heartily encourage you to participate in parent workshops and events at school, be an occasional or regular volunteer for your child's teacher

or classroom, tutor or mentor other children and, by all means, join and support our school's awesome PTO who do so much for the students and teachers here at Moanalua Elementary.

Dedicated and hard-working volunteers on our PTO's committees have also been hard at work preparing for this school year. Our PTO provided the teachers with lunch prior to our students' first day, had T-shirts printed, ordered the portfolios & coordinated manpower to fill each portfolio with important information that each student at MES received on their first day of school and have already started planning and preparations for an array of events to support our students and teachers. I hope you'll take advantage of the many opportunities -- volunteering and connecting with other parents via our PTO this year.

Ho`olaulima i Moanalua is a bimonthly newsletter distributed to MES families through their youngest (or only) child. This publication is created in-house with our school's families in mind; issues include a variety articles such as discipline, homework, character education, academic issues pertinent to MES, a general events calendar, workshop announcements, and an "RSVP" to sign up for advertised activities or services. Please let me know if there's a parenting issue you'd like to discuss or see addressed in print or in a workshop.

I'm Susie Okumura, PCNC Facilitator for Moanalua Elementary School. PCNC is an acronym for Parent-Community Networking Center, a program unique to

Hawaii's Dept. of Education. PCNCs are staffed by part-time Facilitators who coordinate assistance to the school and teachers and help support students' and their families' success.

You can also find an electronic copy of this publication on our schoolʻs website, www.moanaluaelementary.org, click on the "PCNC" link of the "Parents" tab.

We welcome and encourage our families' participation and involvement at Moanalua Elementary School. Please feel free to contact me if you need more information or have questions about ways you can support your child's school success.

You can use the RSVP reply form in this newsletter, leave a note for me at the school's office, phone me at (808) 305-1210 or e-mail me at <mes_pcnc@yahoo.com>. I hope to talk with you soon!

Meditationsfor

Parents WhoDo Too Much

by Jonathan and Wendy Lazear ©1993 Fireside/Parside Books

(simon & schuster)

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots. The other, wings. -- Hodding Carter

We often tell ourselves that what we do -- our busy schedules, our full calendars, our extra

work loads -- we do for our children. But all we can really hope to give our children

is the freedom to live their own lives.

Yes, we can provide for them. We can put food on the table and books on the shelves. We can even lend them our wisdom and tell them of our past. But we cannot design their

future, and they would not want us to.

The real challenge of parenting is to do just enough -- and no more.

I will reflect upon my own roots and think about the first time I left home.

I will remember that my children will, some day, have lives of their own.

"Ho`olaulima i Moanalua"is a bi-monthly publication of

Moanalua Elementary's

P arent

C ommunity

N etworking C enter

1337 Mahiole StreetHonolulu, HI 96819

phone: (808) 305-1210e-mail: mes_pcnc@yahoo.com

FaceBook: Moanalua Elementary School PCNC

Twitter: MoanaluaE

Susie OkumuraParent Facilitator & Editor

How you can create a climate for successKids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework — it shows kids that what they do is important.

Of course, helping with homework shouldn't mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break. And who knows? Parents might even learn a thing or two!

Here are some tips to guide the way: • Know the teachers — and what they're looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher confer-ences, to meet your child's teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved. • Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep sup-plies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach. • Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner. • Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there's an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into

manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.• Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)• Make sure kids do their own work. They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it's a kid's job to do the learning.• Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.• Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents' examples than their advice.• Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives. If there are continuing problems with homework, get help. Talk about it with your child's teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.

Reviewed by: Eric J. Gabor, JD Date reviewed: January 2015http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/homework.html

To: MES PCNC

August 15-16: Student Picture-Taking 18: Statehood Day - state holiday 21: Traffic alerT: UH classes begin!

September 4: Labor Day - federal holiday 13: SBa results Workshop for parents 22: Gr. 1 "Reading n ʻRithmetic" Parent Workshop 27: SciencefeST - Parent/child workshop 29: Moanalua High School Homecoming

October 6: End of 1st Quarter 9-13: Fall Break - no school for students26-Nov. 3: Parent-Teacher Conferences Library Book Fair 26 - 31: Fall Food Drive 30: Family Pumpkin Carving 31: Gr. K & 1 "Books on Parade" Peoples' Choice vote for Faculty pumpkins

M.E.S. News & NotesEarning cash for your school with Box Tops is easy! Each one is worth 10¢ for your school and you can find them on hundreds of products.

BOX TOPS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES:

They don’t need to be clipped perfectly – parents can cut them neatly or just rip ‘em off the packages and send them to school. However, it’s very important that each Box Top clip has a clearly visible product acronym and expiration date. Expired Box Tops don’t count towards your school’s earnings!

Once the Box Tops are sent to school, that’s when you make the magic happen! As a Coordinator, you’re in charge of submitting your school’s Box Tops so your school can receive a check.

THE BEST PART? Your school can use its Box Tops cash to buy whatever it needs.

ALL ABOUT CLIPPING

BTFE.COM/ALLABOUTBOXTOPSFOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO

BOX TOPS

= =

4

BONUS CERTIFICATES Look for Bonus Box Tops certificates when you shop! You can find them:

Remember: When you submit Bonus Box Tops certificates, you must bundle them separately from your school’s Box Tops clips.

BONUSES YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FOR YOUR SCHOOL

In stores during special promotions

On specially-marked packages

At checkout, printed on your receipt

5

OTHER WAYS TO EARNWith Box topS

BONUS BOX TOPS Look for sweepstakes and promotions at BTFE.com/bonus for chances to win Bonus Box Tops. You can earn them through local grocer websites, and with grocer loyalty cards.

eBOXTOPS™ CODES Occasionally, parents may get a printed 16-digit eBoxTops™ code. This code must be redeemed at BTFE.com/bonus for your school to receive credit. Do not include eBoxTops™ codes with your Box Tops submission.

ELECTRONICALLY CREDITED BONUSES

Drop off BoxTops at.... * Office or LIBRARY *

THANK YOU!

R.S.V.P. Complete and return to MES PCNC

Parent's Name: E-mail address:

Phone#(s): Best time to call:

Child's Name(s): Gr. (s): Rm(s):

Please call me, I have Questions Suggestions Concerns regarding:

I can help with teacher support I can help with student support (copying, laminating, etc.) (tutor, mentor, lumch supervision, student safety)

The best day(s) and time(s) for me are:

Parents of currentgrades 4, 5 & 6 students

6 p.m. Wednesday,Sept. 13, 2017MES Library

Join us for this interactive sessionWhy attend? At this session, you'll get...

• the printout of your child's scores • comparison data for our complex area

and district schools • information about your child's areas of academic strengths and challenges • ways parents can make a difference

Please let us know you will be attendingRSVP by Friday, Sept. 8

your pre-registration assures that we will have your child's test scores ready for you.

Questions? Contact Susie Okumura, MES PCNC FacilitatorCall (808) 305-1210 or email <mes_pcnc@yahoo.com>

I will attend the "Test Results" Parent Workshop on Sept. 13 RSVP by Sept. 8 My child attended MES last year My child attended _____________________ school last year

Smarter Balance Assessments

school year 2016-2017

Results Workshop

o 1. Have your child write her name in a vertical column. She can use each letter to begin a line of a poem.

o 2. This is Library Card Month. Make sure your child has a library card.

o 3. Help your child look for maps in the newspaper. How many can he find?

o 4. Go outside and show your child which way is north, south, east and west.

o 5. Challenge your child to draw a picture of an imaginary garden. How many colors can she use?

o 6. Visit an interesting place in your town. Then have your child create an ad to tell others about it. Why should they go there, too?

o 7. Name different types of punctuation with your child. Look for examples of each.

o 8. It’s International Literacy Day. Plan a regular reading time each day.

o 9. Use time in the car to review homework, such as spelling words.

o 10. Make sure you and your child know school rules. Talk about one school rule tonight.

o 11. Avoid library fines. Have a box or basket to keep library books in.

o 12. Allow your child to stay up late to read tonight.

o 13. Have your child paint to music. Play different types of songs for each painting. Discuss how the music affects the art.

o 14. Take your child out for breakfast, or serve a favorite breakfast at home. Make this a regular habit.

o 15. Ask your child to name his favorite book. Why does he like it?

o 16. Challenge everyone on math facts. Who can recite the multiplication tables with the fewest mistakes?

o 17. Show your child 10 objects. Have her close her eyes while you remove one. Can she guess what's missing?

o 18. Take a fraction walk with your child—1/2 of cars are blue, 4/5 of houses have a gray roof.

o 19. Ask your child to tell you something he learned in school today. Then tell him something you learned today.

o 20. Watch a sports event with your child. Talk about what you see.

o 21. Exercise as a family. Choose an activity everyone will enjoy.

o 22. Make a list with your child of ocean creatures. Have her draw one.

o 23. Watch a funny TV show with your child. Then have him draw a comic strip showing what it was about.

o 24. Give your child a whistle to blow if she is in danger. Warn her that she should only blow it when there is danger.

o 25. Talk about books you loved when you were your child’s age.

o 26. Johnny Appleseed was born in 1744. Cook an apple dish with your child.

o 27. Make up a secret code with your child. Send messages to each other.

o 28. Watch a nature video with your child. Ask him what he learned.

o 29. Choose a place for things that go to school. Help your child get into the habit of putting her things there each day.

o 30. Measure how far your child can jump. How many jumps to go around your house? Down the block?

Copyright © 2014 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. • May be reproduced only as licensed by Helping Children Learn® newsletter • 1-800-756-5525

September 2014 Daily Learning Planner: Ideas Parents Can Use to Help Children Do Well in School—Try a New Idea Every Day!

Moanalua Elementary School PCNC(Parent-Community Networking Center)

o 1. Have your child write her name in a vertical column. She can use each letter to begin a line of a poem.

o 2. This is Library Card Month. Make sure your child has a library card.

o 3. Help your child look for maps in the newspaper. How many can he find?

o 4. Go outside and show your child which way is north, south, east and west.

o 5. Challenge your child to draw a picture of an imaginary garden. How many colors can she use?

o 6. Visit an interesting place in your town. Then have your child create an ad to tell others about it. Why should they go there, too?

o 7. Name different types of punctuation with your child. Look for examples of each.

o 8. It’s International Literacy Day. Plan a regular reading time each day.

o 9. Use time in the car to review homework, such as spelling words.

o 10. Make sure you and your child know school rules. Talk about one school rule tonight.

o 11. Avoid library fines. Have a box or basket to keep library books in.

o 12. Allow your child to stay up late to read tonight.

o 13. Have your child paint to music. Play different types of songs for each painting. Discuss how the music affects the art.

o 14. Take your child out for breakfast, or serve a favorite breakfast at home. Make this a regular habit.

o 15. Ask your child to name his favorite book. Why does he like it?

o 16. Challenge everyone on math facts. Who can recite the multiplication tables with the fewest mistakes?

o 17. Show your child 10 objects. Have her close her eyes while you remove one. Can she guess what's missing?

o 18. Take a fraction walk with your child—1/2 of cars are blue, 4/5 of houses have a gray roof.

o 19. Ask your child to tell you something he learned in school today. Then tell him something you learned today.

o 20. Watch a sports event with your child. Talk about what you see.

o 21. Exercise as a family. Choose an activity everyone will enjoy.

o 22. Make a list with your child of ocean creatures. Have her draw one.

o 23. Watch a funny TV show with your child. Then have him draw a comic strip showing what it was about.

o 24. Give your child a whistle to blow if she is in danger. Warn her that she should only blow it when there is danger.

o 25. Talk about books you loved when you were your child’s age.

o 26. Johnny Appleseed was born in 1744. Cook an apple dish with your child.

o 27. Make up a secret code with your child. Send messages to each other.

o 28. Watch a nature video with your child. Ask him what he learned.

o 29. Choose a place for things that go to school. Help your child get into the habit of putting her things there each day.

o 30. Measure how far your child can jump. How many jumps to go around your house? Down the block?

Copyright © 2014 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. • May be reproduced only as licensed by Helping Children Learn® newsletter • 1-800-756-5525

September 2014 Daily Learning Planner: Ideas Parents Can Use to Help Children Do Well in School—Try a New Idea Every Day!

Moanalua Elementary School PCNC(Parent-Community Networking Center)

September 2017

SpaceFEST (FEST=Families Exploring Science Together)

Children and their parents are partners in a night of discovery and hands on science experiences.

Moanalua Elementary School5:45 p.m. Wed., September 27, 2017

Presented by: Art Kimura, Program Director, and Rene Kimura, Education Specialist Future Flight Hawaii, Hawaii Space Grant Consortium, University of Hawaii at Manoa

How science really works! Curiosity + Joy + Dreams + Thrills + Wonder + Interest + Surprise + Creativity = Discovery....and it’s Fun!!

We are all scientists! Children and scientists have much in common. Naturally inquisitive young children ask endless questions...they may spend half an hour watching a bug crawl on the floor, experiment by pouring water into soil or mixing different colors of paints or add blocks to a tower until it falls. They draw conclusions about the way things work......they learn from and share information with others.

In the spirit of the explorers, past, present and future, and reflecting and paying tribute to the Space Shuttle, Challenger, and its final crew, Future Flight Hawaii is offering an opportunity for your school to host a parent and child, hands on science night. Hands on science activities will be shared in the cafeteria where children and their parent partners can interact with the science activities....in some of the activities, the students will be able to take home their newly acquired science tool (wind tube, UV beads, diffraction lens, Cartesian diver). Several science demonstrations will also be provided along with an overview of opportunities provided by NASA for future scientists and engineers.

* learn about microgravity and how NASA trains astronauts on its Vomit Comet, how they use the bathroom in space, how they sleep in space, see astronaut food...and have fun while learning

* use Bernoulli’s to inflate your wind tube, play with your Cartesian diver, learn about density with a preform bottle, see what happens in low air pressure to saran wrap and marshmallows, receive some cool science tools (preform bottle, wind tube, Cartesian diver, diffraction glasses, ultraviolet detecting beads)

Schedule 5:45 - 6:10 p.m.: registration and begin experiments 6:10 - 7:45 p.m.: group activities, demonstrations 7:45 - 8:00 p.m.: closing demonstrations and hand out diffraction glasses

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and is limited to 80 students/80 parents

* Eligibility: students in grades 2-6, each student accompanied by a adult, parent/guardian * NOTE: we ask that younger siblings not be brought to the program.

Cost: free! (* each child must bring a l- or 2-liter clear plastic soda bottle filled with water to the top/capped)

Yes, please register us for the SpaceFEST(ival) RSVP deadline: Sept. 13, 2017

Student Name:______________________________________________________ Grade: __________ Room: _______

Accompanying parent: _______________________________________ Email: _________________________________

My signature below confirms that I have read and agree to the * eligibility and participation requirements. * Parent signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _____________

An emailed confirmation will be sent to those registered. A wait list will be established once the 80 maximum is exceeded. If you are confirmed and are not able to attend, please contact PCNC Susie Okumura at mes_pcnc@yahoo.com so someone from the wait list can be registered/confirmed.