Head of School Update – April 26, 2024

Happy Aloha Friday Saint Mark Parents!

I hope and pray that you all are doing well. I am writing to give you the latest Saint Mark updates, reminders and pictures as we head into the final month of the school year. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL WORKS/LEARNS at KUALOA RANCH & HAKIPU`U
The middle school students recently spent an educational and dirty morning at Kualoa Ranch learning about land stewardship and conservation efforts at Kualoa (included connecting the moʻolelo of Hāloa to life experiences) and participating in a number of service projects including loʻi maintenance (clearing the ʻauwai & working with kalo) and stream restoration (removing invasive species & planting natives).

ELC VISITS HOKULANI IMAGINARIUM
The ELC students recently visited the Hokulani Imaginarium at Windward Community College. It was an exciting opportunity for the students to ride a school bus for the first time and to enjoy a special science laboratory. It was the first off campus learning trip for the ELC since prior to Covid. 

VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS 
The Saint Mark Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams had great regular seasons with the boys ending up as the #1 seed with an 11-1 record and the girls tying for the #2 seed with a 9-3 record.  The girls advanced to the semi-finals of the playoffs last night and won convincingly (28 – 16) against Hongwanji. The girls will play for the championship against Trinity Lutheran tomorrow in Waipo. The boys play their semi-final game tonight with the Championships also on Saturday in Waipio.  Go Warriors!!

A big congratulations and mahalo goes to all the players who have worked hard over this long season (Brooke Adams, Kenzie Brayce, Kira Keawe, Kailena Kepaa, Leyla Mafua, Kaiea Maka’ina’i, Kara Makue, Bella Rodrigues, Fynn Blanco, Ke’oli Bowman, Kekoa Hanapi-Awana, Donavon Lacson, Titus Ornellas, Esaiah Rivera and Mana Tamashiro) as well as Coach Erin and Coach Markillie for guiding the teams through two very competitive and successful seasons.

SAINT MARK CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION 
The campus wide Cross Country Competition which took place today Friday, April 26 was a resounding success!  It was an exciting and fun event in which all grades (PK-8) participated. Ribbons were awarded to the top 3 boys and top 3 girls from every grade level starting with kindergarten!  Other runners earned a Participant or Finisher ribbon for their efforts.  The top 3 boys and top 3 girls from grades 5 through 8 advanced to a Grand Finale Race scheduled for next Friday, May 3.

This event is a great opportunity for our students to have a little on-campus fun while promoting physical activity and fostering some healthy competition as we enter into the home stretch of the school year.  A big mahalo goes to Mr. Markillie, Ms. Kaui and Mrs. Manu for their work to make this fun event so successful. 

SAT & OLSAT TESTING  (April 29 to May 3)
Students in grades 1 to 8 will be taking the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) & Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test (OLSAT) next week.  While many believe there to be both pros and cons to standardized testing, we see it as another valuable tool in Saint Mark’s ever important assessment tool box.  Please reach out to your child’s teacher or Mr. Markillie should you have any questions.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK (May 6 – 10)
As I do every year, I humbly invite all of our families to consider sending a quick note to their teacher(s)/aid(s) during this year’s Teacher Appreciation Week.  Our teachers are a talented, loving, dedicated, and courageous group of professionals who would most certainly appreciate hearing from you. Thank You!   Also, it is important that we recognize and mahalo the Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) for their generous support of this special week. The PTC is sponsoring a wonderful lunch, several breakfasts and a special treat for all of the faculty and staff.

HEAD OF SCHOOL HOLIDAY (No School on May 6)
Please be aware that there is no school on Monday, May 6 as it’s our Head of School Holiday. Saint Mark recognizes this holiday as a way to provide students and staff with a needed breather during those longer stretches of time without a break. This idea emerged during the COVID pandemic as a way to help mitigate the effects of student and teacher burnout. 

GRADE 4 BIG ISLAND TRIP
Saint Mark’s grade 4 class is excited to be heading to their Big Island Trip on Wednesday, May 8.  Their busy three days in both Kona and Hilo will include visits to the Kaloko-Honokohau fish pond, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau, Kula Kai Caverns, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Richardson Ocean Center Park, Akaka Falls, the King Kamehameha statue, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Mahalo to Ms. Chang and Mrs. Manu (and all of the parent chaperones Michael Bland, Tanya Borges, Regan Downie, Kawai Elia, Pua Kamaka, Nathan Nakasone and Todd Poliahu) for their work to plan and execute this important and educational trip.

PRESCHOOL END-of-YEAR CELEBRATION & GRADUATION
Mrs. Somera, Mrs. Hutchens and the Early Learning Center (ELC) staff are excited to be having an End-of-Year Celebration & Graduation for all of our ELC Students (PK3, PK3/4 & PK4) on Friday, May 17 at 6:00pm. It’ll be an opportunity to sing together, celebrate the accomplishments of all our preschoolers, and bid a fond farewell to those children moving on to Kindergarten.

Gr K-4 and Gr 5-8 MUSIC CONCERTS
Saint Mark Lutheran School is excited to be hosting two music concerts entitled Home in the Islands in the coming weeks. The Gr K-4 Spring Music Concert is on Tuesday, May 21 at 6:00pm and the Gr 5-8 Spring Music and Band Concert is on Thursday, May 23 at 6:00pm.  Mrs. Hutchens is working hard with her students to prepare for these exciting events.  A BIG MAHALO goes to the Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) for funding all of the floral decorations for this year’s concerts.

K-5 STUDENTS VISITING NEXT YEAR’S CLASS
Students in grades K-5 will get the opportunity to visit their next year’s class on Tuesday, May 28. This is an annual custom that provides a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet the teachers, sit in their future classroom, and learn a bit about what to expect next year.  It’s typically an exciting time for the students, so please be sure to ask your child(ren) about it.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
All Mid-Quarter Reports go home with students – Tuesday, April 30
Saint Mark’s Annual Cross Country Competition (Finals Gr 5-8) – Friday, May 3
  S.A.T Testing – April 29 to May 3
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 6 – 10
No School (Head of School Holiday) – Monday, May 6
Gr 4 Big Island Trip – May 8 to 10
Gr K-4 Spring Music Concert – Tuesday, May 21
Gr 5-8 Spring Music and Band Concert – Thursday, May 23
    No School (Memorial Day) – Monday, May 27
K-5 Student Visiting Next Year’s Class – Tuesday, May 28
Gr 8 Graduation – Thursday, May 30
Last Day of School – Friday, May 31 (Early Dismissal – No Aftercare)

Mahalo and Blessings,

David Gaudi
Head of School