One to One iPad Project

Dean of Lower School Gerald Teramae, Debbie Yoshino of the school’s instructional technology department, and other teachers held a meeting for fourth grade parents on January 11 to explain the One to One iPad initiative. Then on January 25, iPads were distributed to students.

Students learned how to use the iPad tutorial, while both students and their parents heard information about keeping safe in cyberspace and signed an Internet Safety Pledge.

How have students reacted to the project?

“They are expanding their learning beyond the classroom in every subject,” says teacher Candace Young. “So far, they have created keynote presentations and iMovie projects, searched the Internet for information, and typed writing assignments. They practiced math concepts and studied science and religion using interactive applications.”

The most commonly used adjective by fourth graders when asked to describe how an iPad enhances learning and studying: “Awesome.”

Tsinghua and ‘Iolani Exchange Program Begins

Through a newly established educational partnership between ‘Iolani and the High School Attached to Tsinghua University, 15 students from China attended ‘Iolani for a week in February while ‘Iolani students traveled to Beijing to study at Tsinghua during spring break. The mission of the program is to help prepare students for global citizenship by enhancing learning about different cultures and international relations.

Last year, Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita established a sister-school relationship with Tsinghua. Among other aspects of the relationship, Tsinghua’s girls and boys basketball teams came to Honolulu this past fall to participate in the ‘Iolani Prep Classic against some of the best teams in the United States.

Mahalo to the 16 ‘Iolani students (from eighth to eleventh grades) and teachers Rebecca Lin, Tracy Feng, Kam Monaco ’87 and Dean of Students Tate Brown ’86, who hosted the visitors.

The Economist as Sleuth and Novelist

2012 ‘Iolani School Economics Chair Professor Ken Elzing visited ‘Iolani on March 12, teaching classes and then holding a free public lecture, “Economist as Sleuth—Economist as Novelist,” in Seto Hall that evening. Elzinga is the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia. He has received numerous teaching awards, and each fall his introductory economics course attracts over one thousand students, making it the largest class offered at the University of Virginia. An expert in antitrust economics, he has testified in several precedent-setting antitrust cases, including three Supreme Court decisions. The ‘Iolani School Economics Chair is supported through donations and supports a visiting teacher each year. By enhancing its core curriculum with guest lecturers who share broad perspectives, ‘Iolani School hopes to provide real world experiences to its students and the community.

Thank You to KA‘I and ‘Ms. Allison’

Fredrick Au, an eighth grader at Jarrett Intermediate who entered ‘Iolani’s summer KA‘I program two years ago, was the March winner of the “Thank You… Very Much” Award.

He wrote a winning letter to ‘Iolani community service coordinator Allison Ishii ’02. Ishii is the director of the KA‘I program (Kukulu Alaka‘i ‘Iolani or the Creation of Leaders) which is a partnership between ‘Iolani and Jarrett Intermediate in which Jarrett students enroll at ‘Iolani during the summer. The award was presented to Au at Jarrett Intermediate in front of his classmates. The “Thank You…Very Much” Award—sponsored by Lex Brodie Tire, Brake & Service Company—invites Hawai‘i students in fourth through twelfth grade to submit a letter describing their appreciation of someone who impacted their life. The “someone” may be a parent, teacher, friend or anyone who has touched their life in a profound way. The program recognizes one winning student writer per month. The letter was published in MidWeek and winners honored on the Perry & Price breakfast show on KSSK radio. The letter recipient also receives a two-night stay at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Students performing in the annual spring musical did it again. They brought audiences to their feet for standing ovations and thunderous applause. This past March 1 to 3, the ‘Iolani Performing Arts Department presented the Broadway musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Hawai‘i Theatre.

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is based on the “coat of many colors” story from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. The performance is told completely through songs and dances, appealing to people of all ages with its universal themes and catchy tunes. The show has been performed around the world by professional and amateur companies.

Directed by theater teacher Rob Duval with musical direction by band director Manny Dayao ’97, vocal direction by choral teacher John Alexander and choreography by dance teacher Katherine Jones ’93, the show featured a talented cast of nearly 60 students including Austyn Lee as Joseph, Scott Tan ’12 as Jacob and Summer Scott ’13 and Brooke Alcuran ’14 as narrators.

Let’s Talk College

‘Iolani’s annual College Panel took place on January 4 in Seto Hall with alumni currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the country addressing the senior Class of 2012 and describing their experiences beyond ‘Iolani. Students at Harvard, Claremont McKenna, Willamette, Yale, Western Oregon shared their insight with the soon-to-graduate ‘Iolani students.

Beijing Educators Visit Mandarin Class

Administrators from Beijing No. 19 High School in China visited ‘Iolani on March 2 and observed teacher Tracy Feng’s Mandarin class. They also enjoyed seeing the statue of a young Sun Yat-Sen and hearing about ‘Iolani’s phenomenal growth over the past 150 years. The educators say they are following ‘Iolani’s lead in international educational cooperation and hope to emulate the types of programs ‘Iolani has established.

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