NYT: Achieving a Healthful Digital Diet

Read the Original New York Times Article Here

NYT: Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction

Students have always faced distractions and time-wasters. But computers and cellphones, and the constant stream of stimuli they offer, pose a profound new challenge to focusing and learning.

Read Original New York Times Article

Supporting Good Schools is Good Business

To All Our Warrior Parent Small Business Owners:
Very good read: Supporting Good Schools is Good Business

Teenagers, on average, are sleep deprieved

An recent article sheds light on the importance of sleep- especially for teenagers.

"...90 percent of teenagers are averaging three hours less sleep than they require..."

Read the whole story here...

Cool, Powerful Grad Gift

It may FEEL a bit early to be thinking about gifts for our Class of 2011 grads, but advice from fellow Warrior Parents who have been through it suggests otherwise. So, following that advice: here is a graduation gift especially useful for our grads who are continuing on with their education.  It's the Pulse Smart Pen.
OK, I know this may sound like an ad for an overpriced pen, but having used this pen myself, I can tell you that knowing that the pen is recording the details can really help one focus on listening to the speaker, and less on taking notes...during a conference or lecture where a lot of information is being conveyed.
For most of our students, college-level lectures will be a new experience and predictably, will contain amounts of information that some may hay have initial trouble absorbing.. This pen can help fill any gap.
Check it out.

-Principal's Forum

Love Sushi? Then Love THIS!

Sustainable sushi. Choices we all need to understand when we have sushi. If you love your island and love the ocean...read this to increase your awareness of how to play a part in protecting Marine Life and help Save Our Seas.
Consumers Sushi Guide from The Monterrey Bay Aquarium.
It's pono.

STEM Education gets Support from Big Biz

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Alcoa and Bayer sign on to support STEM education.

BOE names Kathryn Matayoshi as superintendent of Hawaii public schools

Read the whole story here...

The Latest on Shearwater Protections

Update on Shearwater Protection as Reported in the Star Advertiser September 9th, 2010.

Forget What You Know About Good Study habits

Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
By BENEDICT CAREY
Published: September 6, 2010
New York Times Online

"Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video-bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).

And check out the classroom. Does Junior’s learning style match the new teacher’s approach? Or the school’s philosophy? Maybe the child isn’t “a good fit” for the school.

Such theories have developed in part because of sketchy education research that doesn’t offer clear guidance. Student traits and teaching styles surely interact; so do personalities and at-home rules. The trouble is, no one can predict how.

Yet there are effective approaches to learning, at least for those who are motivated. In recent years, cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve what matters most: how much a student learns from studying.

The findings can help anyone, from a fourth grader doing long division to a retiree taking on a new language. But they directly contradict much of the common wisdom about good study habits, and they have not caught on. "

Read the whole story here...

Forwarded by Kimberlee Stuart, Kapaa High School  Faculty, Science Department

D. Brown: Yes We Need Great Teachers, but...

Food for thought:

Dan Brown, Huffington Post
"I attended two early screenings this summer of Davis Guggenheim's big-ticket education documentary, Waiting for Superman, and it touches the education reform zeitgeist. When the film unspools across America over the next weeks, I predict a massive chorus of voices echoing his entreaties for more great teachers, less union influence, and school choice.
The movie masterfully pushes the audience's emotional buttons by following five vulnerable children and their vulnerable parents who are hoping and praying for admission by lottery to privately-run, publicly-funded charter schools. The families' limited options are undeniably unjust. The post-screening Q&A sessions I attended featured Michelle Rhee, Randi Weingarten, and Geoffrey Canada, and all of them opened their comments by saying they cried through the film's final scenes.
In the closing credits, the movie plays hopeful music, and floating text assembles itself on the screen to read: "Great schools come from... you" and repeatedly encourages viewers to sign up for a text message feed.
The overarching message to movie-watchers is: CARE!!! CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS!!!"

Read the whle story here...

5 Kids' Meals to Avoid at All Cost

If these 5 "Kid's Meals" which are geared for younger children  are to be avoided for health reasons, this information in this article stands as "word to the wise" for our young mend and women of high school age- not mention to parents/guardians.
Health. You can't buy it.
Read the whole story here...

Business Model for School Reform

Educators Push Back Against Obama’s "Business Model" for School Reforms
Democracy Now, National Public Radio
It’s back-to-school season. As millions of children around the country begin a new school year, the Obama administration is aggressively moving forward on a number of education initiatives, from expanding charter schools to implementing new national academic standards. We talk to Karen Lewis, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, and Lois Weiner, a professor of education at New Jersey City University. [includes rush transcript]

Read the whole story...National Public Radio

CPR for Preventing Sucide

THE CPR FOR PREVENTING SUICIDE
Lisa Firestone, Huffinton Post, September 2, 2010 04:40 PM - Huffington Post
Lisa Firestone- Psychology Expert on Relationships, Parenting, Self-Destructive Thoughts and Suicide; Author, "Conquer Your Critical Voice".,

Keeping the subject of suicide in the dark can lead to lives lost that could have been saved, and to survivors ignored and left to deal with their complex emotions in isolation. So what actions can each of us take to help save a life? This month on PsychologyToday.com, I have outlined a list of directives for preventing suicide that include:

- Help identify people at risk early
- Recognize the warning signs
- Learn the Helper Tasks
- Don't let it be a taboo topic
- Don't glorify or glamorize suicide
- Support a comprehensive community response
- Restrict the means for suicide
- Reach out to survivors of loved ones lost to suicide

You can learn more about each of these preventative measures by watching "Understanding and Preventing Suicide" this September 9 at 11 a.m. PDT. I will be hosting this free one-hour webinar designed to help the public and professionals learn the warning signs of suicide as well as the helper tasks that can save a life. You can also read "Let's Put a Stop to Suicide" on PsychologyToday.com. 
For a comprehensive guide to preventing suicide visit PsychAlive's Suicide Prevention Advice page

Remember, if you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate help call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a free hotline available 24 hours a day to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis or who is worried about someone they love.

Read the whole story ... Huffington Post

Internet Safety, Cyberbullying and Texting Update from C. Duque

'Sextortion,' Cyberbullying, Texting -- The Challenge for Parents As Kids Head Back to School

4 ways to get Google out of your life

Cyberbullying, 'Sexting' Major Problems for Schoolkids

Facebook Privacy & Security Guide Updated to v2.3

Sexting could criminalise youngsters

Internet Safet & Social Media

-Detective Chris Duque (HPD-retired)

Requirements for Yearbook Submissions SY2010-11

Kapaa High School Yearbook SY2010-11
The Yearbook showcases the graduating class by using extra pages to have larger
photos and additional items such as a baby photo, message, etc. Because it is a
senior showcase, we want you to look your best and require the following:

Photo size: 2 inches wide by 3 inches tall (wallet size)
***Head size: 3 cm diameter (approximately the size of a quarter)***
***Note: improper head size makes it difficult to properly crop your photo***

ATTIRE REQUIREMENTS: GENTLEMEN
Collared shirt or t-shirt
• NO visible logos
• NO hats

ATTIRE REQUIREMENTS: LADIES
Blouse or top: minimum of 2 inch wide straps
• NO spaghetti straps
• NO strapless
• NO visible bra straps or see through material
• NO cleavage

Failure to adhere to these requirements will result in the rejection of your photo for the yearbook!
If you are unsure of your clothing/pose, then it is probably unacceptable.

TIMELINE
June – August 2010 Get your senior portraits taken
September 13 - 30, 2010 Turn in money & photos to yearbook staff (lunch recess, room d-103)
September 30, 2010 Last day to turn in money & photos
Parents – please make your photo appointments early!
Last minute decisions are costly.
Check with photographers on their turn around time.

Absolutely no exceptions to these deadlines!!
All requirements are subject to administrative changes.

NEW! Parent Teacher Conference Hours-1st Wednesday Afternoon Every Month!

Monthly opportunity for parents to meet with their teen's teachers. 1:45 pm- 2:45 pm, the first Wednesday of every Month. Appointment required. Call, email or leave a note in teachers' mailboxes to arrange. See KHS 2010-11 Directory for contact info, classrooms, and when they have their prep period if you'd like to talk to them ahead of time. Directory also available at the front office or see links to printable or ADA/ESLL version of directory here..
PLEASE NOTE: SEPTEMBER SLOTS HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM THE 1ST TO THE 8TH.
Featured in Principal's Forum August 20, 2010.

Parent Guides, as Featured in TGI

Excellent Reference From The Garden Island News

Wednesday August 18, 2010

Carolyn Larson – Special to The Garden Island | Posted: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 11:45 pm

Training seems to be available for every vocation, task and practice these days from teacher to technician and from safety to sensitivity. But what about the ubiquitous job of parenting — perhaps the most important task we ever face?

For this we rely chiefly on memories of being parented ourselves. While there’s nothing like experience, parents who want to learn from the best, problem-solve or improve their approach, can find helpful instruction, idea and support books at their public library.

This week’s Book Buzz list features a variety of new parenting titles available with your Hawai‘i State Public Library card from your neighborhood library."

Read the Whole Story Here

BOE asks you about the position of Superintendent

The Hawaii Board of Education is asking the public for input on what qualities a schools superintendent should have.

The superintendent position leads all the public schools in Hawaii...as Hawaii is the only state in the nation that has one, state-wide school district.

The survey asks just a few questions including whether it's important that a superintendent have:

• previous experience managing large budgets 
• working with the legislature.

Survey responses will be accepted through July 31. Check it out! Superintendant Survey

~Mahalo for participating in your public schools.

About Face Fall Session Registration

The About Face Program is accepting applications for the fall session.
About Face is a resume building opportunity that teaches life lessons to High School students while they earn.
After school two days a week for 16 weeks, on the Kapaa High School Campus.
15 slots for the fall session. First come first serve basis. Spring and summer sessions will also be offered.
Informational flyer and registration form available in the Front Office ( office hours 7am-4pm, M-F, 821-4400)