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Winter 2012 Issue

Let’s Get Physical - The Importance of Play at ‘Iolani
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Winter 2012 - Department | School in Focus

School in Focus

Odds & Ends Become Machines

What started as a heap of odds and ends—like egg cartons, pipe cleaners, wood sticks and drinking straws—has been transformed into inventive and creative machines that push, turn and lift.

Grandparent volunteer Andrew Young and Ryan Higa ’21 work on a marble moving machine.

‘Iolani’s third grade Class of 2021, under the leadership of science teacher Kathe Warner ’82, embarked on the multi-week machine making project that incorporated levers, wedges, ramps, screws, wheels and pulleys. Students learned first designed their machines by creating a plan on paper. Then grandparent and parent voluteers assisted them with any task that required the use of heavy machinery.

The machines were displayed in the Lower School library in early December.

Ritsumeikan Super Science Fair

Teacher Dr. Mark Lindsay and five students participated in the Ritsumeikan Super Scince Fair in Kyoto.

‘Iolani students represented Hawai‘i and the United States at the Ritsumeikan Super Science Fair in Kyoto, Japan in mid-November. Rachael Ki ’12, Courtney Kobata ’13, William McQuiston ’13, Michael Mow ’13 and Kevin Suzuki ’13 were selected through a competitive process to conduct original research and present it alongside other student teams from around the world. Led by ‘Iolani physics teacher Dr. Mark Lindsay, the ‘Iolani team investigated metal deposits and bacteria in the Ala Wai Canal.

Students Visit IHS and Makauea Island

Learning in ‘Iolani’s economics and entrepreneurship classes is not limited within classroom walls. In October, students heard from guest speakers Kate Record of the Institute for Human Services and Jenna Ishii ’02 of the Kai Makana organization who each talked about the missions and goals of their non-profit groups.

Students in economics and entrepreneurship classes cleared silt on Mokauea Island.

The classes also visited the IHS Women’s and Children’s Shelter and Mokauea Island. One of Kai Makana’s goals is to culturally and environmentally restore Mokauea Island, O‘ahu’s last Hawaiian fishing village. Students paddled out on canoes to Mokeuea Isalnd where they cleared silt from the island’s fish pond and filled sand bags to prevent erosion. The students worked really hard and gained a lot of insight from both trips. At IHS, students toured the shelter, served lunch to residents, and sorted donations.

“It is amazing what the people at IHS are doing,” Saphyre Rezentes ’12 said. “They take the time to do all they can for those in need and are willing to go the extra mile. Just seeing what they do and what tey ahve to deal with really makes me want to go out and do the same.”

Homecoming Celebrates School Spirit

Homecoming took place during the last week of October with school spirit soaring throughout campus. Students dressed in fun theme-type clothes, participated in pep rallies and Cheerfest, enjoyed lunchtime assemblies, and capped off the week with a football game, Ho‘olaulea, the Burning of the I and a school dance. Go Raiders!

The Burning of the I was celebrated on October 28.

Face painting was a popular choice for self expression at the Homecoming football game.

Homecoming Week was launched with teachers and students welcoming everyone to school with signs and banners.

The Skin Of Our Teeth

Katherine Stewart ’13 plays an announcer while Evan Chinn ’12 and Angie Anderson ’13 act as Mr. and Mrs. Antrobus.

Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “The Skin Of Our Teeth” was performed by the ‘Iolani School Dramatic Players at Diamond Head Theatre from November 2 to 5.

Performed on Broadway in 1942, this groundbreaking satirical allegory follows the story of the 20th century American Antrobus family in three acts which recount such epochal events as the onset of the Ice Age, the start of the Great Flood, and the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

The cast of The Skin of Our Teeth exposes the audience to “epic theater” with major themes like the need for hope and charity even in the face of deprivation.

Directed by theater teacher Rob Duval, “The Skin Of Our Teeth”, featured Victoria Sprowls ’14 as Sabina, Evan Chinn ’12 as George Antrobus, Angie Anderson ’13 as Mrs. Antrobus, Kenton Nakamura ’12 as Henry, and Summer Scott ’14 as Gladys.

In the Role of Sun Yat-Sen

Theater teacher Rob Duval’s play about Sun Yat-Sen premiered at ‘Iolani School on October 14.

Students learned more about one of their ‘Iolani’s most famous alumni while performing a play about a tumultuous time in his life. The original play “Rise and Stand Strong: A Portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen” premiered in two performances in Seto Hall on Friday, October 14.

The play was written by Rob Duval, ‘Iolani’s theater teacher since 2007. Sun Yat-Sen attended ‘Iolani from 1879 to 1882, spent much of his youth in Hawai‘i and went on to become the founder of modern China. Duval received a grant from ‘Iolani School to write the play.

“Rise and Stand Strong: A Portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen” begins in London in 1896 as Sun is being imprisoned for treason. The story also includes scenes from Sun’s youth as he leaves China and later attends ‘Iolani School where he meets his teacher Solomon Meheula and is inspired by western thinking. Through touching dialogue and well-paced scenes, the play reveals Sun and his ordeal with the Manchu Legation, how he envisions a stronger future for his country, and then gains the inspiration to move forward with his revolution.

‘Iolani’s Advanced Theater students performed the parts of Sun at ages 10, 13 and 29. The story also included Sun Mei (brother of Sun Yat-Sen who also journeyed to Hawai‘i), Sun’s mother, Confucius, Sir Halliday Macartney (founder of the Chinese legation in London) and Sir James Cantlie (his tutor who helped free him).