WELCOME to the

Omidyar K 1 Neighborhood

A Handbook for Parents of

Kindergarten and First Grade Students
at Punahou School
2015 2016

Welcome
to the
Omidyar K 1
Neighborhood
A Handbook for Parents of the Classes of 2027 and 2028
This handbook has been written to help the parents of the youngest
students at Punahou School know what to expect during the school
year. See the next page for the Contents list.
Dr. JoAnn Wong-Kam
K 1 Supervisor

CONTENTS

Copyright 2015 Punahou School

The Omidyar K1 Neighborhood

After School Activities
After School Care
After School Procedures
Attendance & Absences
Before School Procedures
Birthdays
Calendar
Chapel
Class Picnic
Conferences
Counselor
Curriculum
Dress Code
Field Trips
Homework
Julia Ing Learning Center
Lost and Found
Lunch
Medication
Parking
PFA/ Homeroom Parents
Progress Reports
Snack time & Nutrition
Special Events
Technology
Telephone Messages
Faculty and Staff
Map
Parent Talk (PFA)

The Omidyar K1 Neighborhood

We provide a caring environment in which each childs growth, curiosity and
accomplishments are supported. We believe that children:
Learn by exploration, inquiry and discovery
Should be encouraged to be creative
Gain a deeper understanding when experiences and subjects are
integrated and connected
Should be encouraged to be responsible, respectful, resourceful, and
contributing members of a group
Learn through play
Should be encouraged to develop positive social skills and relationships
Learn through real life experiences and hands-on activities
Learn through collaboration and interaction with others
Learn to be self-directed by making choices
Learn best in a safe, supportive, trustworthy environment
Learn when they use and develop their large and small muscles
Should be encouraged to sustain and extend their natural curiosity

Punahou Kindergarten & First Grade teachers

After School Activities

After School Procedures

Extracurricular after school activities, such as dance, music, and tennis, are planned each
semester. For more information, please refer to the 2015 16 After School Programs
Catalog online at www.punahou.edu.

Here are the procedures for after school routines to help you and your child know what to do
on a regular basis. If there is a change of plans about pickup for your child, please call the
K 1 office before 12 noon.

Generally it is the responsibility of the lesson-giver to supervise the safe arrival and
departure of young students taking classes and lessons after school.
Students enrolled in Karate, Elements of Movement, Dance, After School
Immersion Programs (Hawaiian, Japanese, Mandarin) or Tennis are picked up at
the Wilcox CLC Lanai by their instructors after school. For children in grade 1 who
are enrolled in other activities on campus, please make arrangements to have
your child walked to the activity.
If students are not enrolled in After School Care, parents will need to arrange to
pick up their children after their lessons.
Children in grades K 1 should not travel
unescorted from the Omidyar K 1
Neighborhood after school.

AFTER SCHOOL CAR PICKUP

Your cooperation with the following pickup procedures will help to insure the safety of the
children and ease traffic congestion at dismissal times:
At 2:15 p.m. the kindergarten children will be waiting at the pickup bench under
a sign with their teachers name:

Blue lane (inner lane): Nakamatsu, Ditzel, Hayes

Yellow lane (outer lane): Kesler, Winter, Thomas
At 2:25 p.m. the first grade children will be waiting at the pickup bench under a
sign with their teachers name:

Blue lane (inner lane): Fushikoshi, Kimura, Bernstein

Yellow lane (outer lane): Ambrosewicz, Lee, Van Dyke
Place colored placard with your childs name on front dashboard of car.
Please wait in your car and the teacher or assistant will help your child into the car.
In the interest of safety, children must enter the car from the drivers side.
For additional safety, please refrain from cell phone usage while driving through campus.

After School Care

Punahou has an After School Care program available for an additional fee. Kindergarten
and first grade students in this program remain in supervised activities in the K1
Community Room and adjacent areas from 2:25 until 5:30 p.m. each day school is in
session. For more information, please refer to the After School Course Catalog online
at www.punahou.edu. If you are interested in possible openings in this program after the
start of the school year, you can contact Linda Webb, ASC Coordinator, by emailing her
at lwebb@punahou.edu.

AFTER SCHOOL BUS PICKUP PROCEDURE

Due to the late arrival of private bus pickups in the afternoon,
all K 1 students who take the bus home will need to enroll
in Punahou Schools After School Care program to ensure
their safety. At dismissal, students will be escorted to the
Community Room where they will be offered a healthy snack
and supervised by the ASC staff until their bus arrives to pick
them up. A special pro-rated tuition will be offered to bus riders.
For more information please contact the Co-Curricular Programs office at 945-2488.
WINNE WALKERS
Students who are meeting older brothers or sisters (in grade 3 or above) or faculty parents will
be walked to the Winne Office lanai, where they will wait for the person who is to meet them.
If your child will be walked to Winne, please note this on the After School pick-up and
activities sheet included in the welcome packet.

Attendance and Absences

Before School Procedures (after the first day)

Absence procedures: These procedures will provide us with information as to where

your child is during school hours.

Supervision by Punahou Academy students begins at

7:00 a.m. on both playgrounds. Please note that there
is no supervision before 7 a.m., therefore, children must
remain in the vehicles until a student supervisor arrives.

If your child is ill or absent for any reason, please call the Wilcox Office
attendance line at 944-5826 or send an e-mail to k1attendance@punahou.edu.
You should also cc your childs classroom teacher. Telephone messages and
e-mails should be sent in before 8:00 a.m. each day your child will be absent.
Voice mail is in operation at all times to receive absence information.
If you dont call and your child is marked absent, the office makes every effort to
reach someone in the family to confirm the childs absence. Please call in each
day that your child is absent, unless you are able to inform us of the duration of
their absence.
When a child does not feel well enough to be in school by 8:00 a.m., he/she
should remain at home for the day.
If you plan to take your child from school, send a note to your childs teacher and
the office ahead of time with the exact dates and times of absence.
If your child will be taken for a part of the day, parents need to come to the Wilcox
office to pick up and sign out their child. When the child returns to school he/she
must check in with the Wilcox Office.
If you plan to take a trip, leaving your child with relatives or friends, please let the
office know your arrangements so that we will have appropriate information in
case of an emergency.
Return from Absence Due to Illness procedures: All
students must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to
school. Students should report to the classroom teacher with
a written excuse from home.
Absence for reasons other than illness: Absences from
school for work or trips are discouraged in the Junior School.
Parents should consult with the teacher and supervisor when
considering an extended absence as it could affect the childs
schoolwork. Notification in writing must be given to the office one week in advance. See
Absence in the Junior School in the Punahou Handbook for additional information.

Students are dropped off at the dropoff/pickup area.

Please have your childs car seat on the drivers side for
ease and safety when loading and unloading students.
Remain in your car and an Academy student or teacher
will help your child out of the vehicle.
Kindergarten students proceed to the lower playground to hang up their backpacks
and enjoy supervised play until 7:45 a.m., when teachers come to pick up children and
walk them to their classrooms.
Grade 1 students proceed up the steps to the upper playground, drop off their
backpacks on their lanais and enjoy supervised play until 8:00 a.m.

Birthdays
Each childs birthday is celebrated in the classroom. Teachers also make special
provisions for those children who have birthdays during the summer
months. Birthday treats may be sent to school to be served
before recess. Please read the nutrition section for
suggestions.
Invitations for birthday parties may be distributed at school
only if all classmates will be included.

Calendar

Conferences

A Punahou calendar is mailed to each family during the summer showing the dates for
the A through F days in each six-day cycle and the dates of many all-school events.
Teachers inform parents of special events through class newsletters and calendars
throughout the school year. The Parent-Faculty Association publishes information about
special dates in its periodic newsletter. Special notices are also sent home from the
supervisors office for such occasions as the K 2 May Day program.

Parents play an important role in their childs school life. To insure that you have the
opportunity to stay informed about your childs learning, there are two formal conferences
scheduled during the year. The first one is in the fall around October, and another in the
spring, around March. We believe communication between home and school is vital, so
other conferences can be requested by you or the teacher if needed.

Chapel
Chapel services for the kindergarten and first grade classes are held once every six days
on F day at 8:15 a.m. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate in worship
when their childs class is leading. Parents are welcome at all chapel services. Chapel
services are held in the Community Room at the Omidyar K 1 Neighborhood. Because
these occasions are services, rather than performances, we ask that you not take
photographs during chapel times. Teachers will gather the children for a photograph
after the service.

Class Picnics
During the first few months of the school year,
each kindergarten and first grade class has
a class picnic. This event allows parents,
teachers, and children to become better
acquainted on an informal basis. The school
will arrange for a certified lifeguard when
swimming is planned.

Counselor
Counselors are available to students, parents, faculty and supervisors in the Junior
School. The K 5 counselor, Mrs. Eileen McCool, works with children individually and in
small groups. The counselor presents Safety and Guidance classes in addition to
social-emotional learning sessions. Parents may contact Mrs. McCool at 945-1327.

Curriculum
The K 1 curriculum provides a highly integrated educational experience, infused by the
arts and enriched by a collaborative teaching structure and integration of indoor/outdoor
spaces. The curriculum includes:
Art: Our art specialist, Mrs. Arlene Merritt, works to create an
atmosphere that generates enthusiasm and fun for these young
artists who will gain a sense of personal and artistic integrity,
respect their own creative work and those of others, and see
beauty in the world.
Language Arts: Children will be at many different stages along the road
to fluent reading and writing. Listening, speaking, observing, drawing and experiencing
are all important parts of the process. In each classroom there are many reading and
writing opportunities contributing to an enriched environment for language arts keyed to
each childs level of development.

Mathematics: Mathematics is another way of helping children view and understand their
world. They continue to develop many of the fundamental understandings of numbers,
shapes, patterns, and their relationships in the early grades. We provide many handson opportunities for the children to develop and apply these skills. Children deepen their
mathematical thinking by applying problem solving skills to real-life situations.

Dresses, shorts, or skirts must be at least thumb-tip length. (This

is measured by having the child place their arms at their side.
Hemlines should reach the thumb tip or longer.)
Blouses and tops should be modest. (Spaghetti straps and
backless halter styles in tops or dresses are not allowed.
Basketball jerseys with large armholes may be worn over
t-shirts.)
Hats may be worn outdoors for added sun protection.

Music: Our music specialist, Mrs. Amanda Lippert, encourages the children to explore
music through playing many roles, and in doing so become more comfortable music
makers. In music class, they are singers, instrument players, listeners, movers, and
critics. Music classes are a time of participation and active learning.

It is recommended that children wear sunscreen daily.

Physical Education: Our physical education specialist, Mr. Peter Balding, works with the
children to help them develop overall fitness and perceptual-motor skills. The emphasis
is on cooperative, non-competitive activities at this level. You will be informed about the
schedule so that your child can be dressed appropriately on P.E. days.

Field Trips

Inquiry Study: Students are encouraged to examine the complexity of their world,
explore how it works, and their place in it through inquiry. The overarching concepts
of needs and interdependence are investigated through
the context of mauka and makai. Learning is encouraged
through student and teacher directed inquiry, which
includes science, social studies, the arts, math, language
arts, and outdoor experiences.

Dress Code
In the early elementary grades, the childs day includes a range of learning activities
from outdoor play, seatwork, working on the floor or out on lanais and garden projects.
Children should wear neat, clean, comfortable attire that is modest and loose fitting.
On field trips and P.E. days appropriate shoes or slippers are required; footwear
is optional on other days. A pair of shoes may be kept at school. Wheelie shoes
present a safety concern and should not be worn to school. Platform type
footwear should not exceed 1 inch in height.
Clothing should be free of offensive language or imagery, holes, tears, rips, and
not be ragged in appearance.
Undergarments and midriffs should be covered.

Punahou buses are usually taken for field trips. Teachers notify parents when trips are
scheduled, and sometimes the children need to wear covered shoes or long pants. There
are usually several trips during the year when parents are invited to accompany the class.

Homeroom Parents
Homeroom parents help coordinate special parent-school occasions during the school
year and help provide an important link between home and school. The Parent Faculty
Association (PFA) supports homeroom parent activities and facilitates communication
among families about school events.

Homework
Homework in Kindergarten connects a childs school learning experiences to life at home.
Children may share reading experiences, gather materials and information for class
projects, or create family projects to share with classmates.
Sharing learning from school continues to be a focus of homework in first grade. Activities
that provide extra practice or enrichment in certain areas may also be included from time
to time. In first grade an intent of homework is to instill good work and study habits (this
includes listening attentively, being responsible, and organized).

Julia Ing Learning Center

Medications

The Julia Ing Learning Center houses our K 4 Library. Class visits to the learning center
are part of the regular schedule. Ms. Marci Johnstone helps students learn to use the
library, reads to them at each visit, and assists children in learning to love books and
reading. Parents are also welcome to visit the library and to check out books for their
child or for themselves from the professional collection.

If your child must take medicine during school hours, the following procedure should be
followed:

Library hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lost and Found

Please make sure that all of your childs possessions, from slippers to bookbags, are
labeled before he or she wears or brings them to school. If lost items have names
on them, they are sent to the childs classroom. Items without names are kept in the
Community Room. All unclaimed items left at the end of the school year will be taken to
the Tank.

Lunch
K 1 students will eat lunch in the Community Room. All students will automatically be
billed for hot lunch on the first billing statement in July. Parents will have the option to
cancel lunch by completing the form that is sent with the July statement and returning it
to the Business Office as instructed. School lunches are prepared in the cafeteria and
delivered to the Community Room at lunchtime. Substitutions due to allergies may be
provided for those purchasing school lunches by contacting Marcia Wright at mwright@
punahou.edu.

Medicine must be clearly labeled with the childs name, name of the medicine and
instructions on what to do.
Medicine must be taken to the Wilcox Office by your child between 7:00 and 8:15 a.m.
Please send only the dose that is needed; do not send the whole bottle of
medicine. The school nurse will administer the medicine at the appropriate time.
If a child needs to take medicine more frequently during the day, it may be more
appropriate for them to remain at home until he or she feels better before returning to
school. If you have any questions, please call Kari Wilhite at 944-5732.

Parking
The security guard can direct you to a temporary parking place if you need to be on
campus during the school day. Please do not park in a numbered stall, for these are
designated for faculty and staff members. On special occasions, when there is a chapel
service or program, the security guards will point out temporary parking areas which
will not impede other traffic. Please display car placard on dashboard when visiting for
special events.

PFA (Parent Faculty Association) / Room Parents

The Punahou School Parent Faculty Association (PFA) is a non-profit volunteer
organization made up of Punahou parents, faculty, and staff. We are a diverse organization
dedicated to supporting and enriching Punahou Schools vision, programs, and activities to
benefit all members of the school community.
Starting in the 2015 to 2016 school year, all families of currently enrolled students will be
part of the PFA organizationthere will be no membership dues. However, the PFA will
continue to receive the bulk of its funding from donations from the parent community and
we encourage families to contribute to the organization (a mailing will follow).

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11

Room parents are designated PFA volunteers who support teachers as requested with
class-related activities. They encourage and support the involvement of all parents in the
class, and act as a representative of the PFA.
More information is available by calling the PFA Office at 944-5752.

Progress Reports
Through our progress reports we share a picture of your childs learning. We look closely
at our students to understand their skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Reports
from the special teachersmusic, art, and P.E.are also prepared for each child.
Progress reports are mailed home twice a year. First semester reports are sent at the
end of January. Second semester reports are mailed home after school ends in June.

Snack Time
and Nutrition
In support of our children and Punahous campus-wide sustainability initiative, we serve
healthy snacks like graham crackers, soybeans, raisins, apples, bananas, baby carrots,
cherry tomatoes or oranges each day. We ask each child to bring in their own clearly
labeled water bottle for snack time.
We encourage sensible, healthy, nutritional choices for the children. Please remember
that with birthdays, holidays and other special celebrations there could be as many as
forty days when treats are served at school. Children especially enjoy small individual
portions of popcorn, frozen fruit pops, granola, banana muffins, trail mix, raisins, fruits,
vegetables, or crackers and cheese as treats. We appreciate your cooperation in our
efforts to help the children learn to enjoy the foods that are good for them.

12

Special Events
There are a number of events to which families are invited:
Parent Night in September
Chapel Services
Class Picnic
Kindergarten Na Kupuna Day (grandparents or older relatives) in February
Grade 1 Spring Celebration
May Day program
Additional events will be scheduled by individual teachers. Please display car placard on
dashboard when visiting for special events..

Technology
Beginning in Kindergarten, children have access to
technology tools that are integrated throughout the
curriculum. Students in K-1 have shared iPads as well as
computers available in the classroom. All students have
supervised use of the internet. Technology plays an integral
part in teaching and learning and allows students to effectively communicate, collaborate,
and create while strengthening 21st century skills. A variety of software programs and
apps are available on all devices to support student learning.

Telephone Messages
A message may be left with the Wilcox Office at 944-5826 for teachers in grades K 1
to return your call if you need to discuss issues concerning your child. Phone messages
for students are limited to emergencies and last minute changes. Messages should be
phoned in before 1:00 p.m. Please do not call the classroom directly, as teachers are
often busy working with students.

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10

2
10
5
12
3
8

KINDERGARTEN ROOM

11

n
Kil

Amphitheatre

Wilcox Hall

4
2nd Fl: Classrooms 14
1st Fl: Community Room

Lan

an

Yel
low
L

Thr
Lower Playground

Dillingham
Tennis Courts

Lan
e

ane

From
Manoa
Road

uL

14

Blu
e

Dr. JoAnn Wong-Kam, the kindergarten and grade 1 supervisor, may be reached
through the Wilcox Office at 944-5826.

Outdoor
Creative
Learning
Center

SPECIALISTS
Art: Arlene Merritt
Music: Pam Deboard / Amanda Lippert
Physical Education: Peter Balding
Librarian: Marci Johnstone; Trudie Kiessling (assistant)
Counselor: Eileen McCool
Technology Resource Teacher: Liz Castillo
Coordinator of Learning Services: Susan Taylor-Alonzo
After School Care Coordinator: Linda Webb
Chaplains: Joshua Hayashi and Lauren Medeiros
Secretary: Karen Dote

3rd Fl: Art and Music Rooms

2nd Fl: Creative Learning Center
1st Fl: Supervisor Office and Health Room

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6
9
7
1
4
11

Mrs. Lori Ambrosewicz, Mrs. Shelley Enoka

Ms. Alegre Bernstein, Mrs. Janell Yawata
Mrs. Susan Fushikoshi, Ms. Shannon Knox
Mrs. Alice Kimura, Mrs. Devi Drago
Mr. Jake Lee, Ms. Laura Goemans
Mrs. Kim Van Dyke, Mrs. Kathy Puetz

ROOM

Thr

FIRST GRADE

Exit down Pipers Pali

to Vancouver Drive
or Wilder Avenue

Mrs. Resi Ditzel (Suehiro), Mrs. Myra Faatea

Mrs. Donna Hayes, Mrs. Keli Nakata
Ms. Becca Kesler, Mrs. Belle Murashige
Mrs. Kathleen Thomas, Mrs. Stacey Olson
Mrs. Kim Winter, Ms. Kathi Kobayashi
Ms. Gaylynn Nakamatsu, Mrs. Nancy Tanabe

Omidyar K1 Neighborhood

Upper Playground

P.E. Pavilion

Faculty and Staff

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PARENT TALK from the Punahou PFA (Parent Faculty Association)

Communication between parents and the teacher is important in
your childs education at Punahou School. Here are a few suggestions
in building this communication so that you and the school are working
collaboratively in the education of your child.
Call or contact the school or the teacher any time you have a question
or information that may be helpful to the teacher. Get to know him or
her. Youre working toward the same goals, and getting to know each
other can help the process.
Contact the teacher by phone or email and set up an appointment
if you and the teacher agree that it is needed. Many questions can
be answered with a phone call. See the section in this handbook on
Telephone Messages for exact information concerning where and
when to call.
Take advantage of the conferences that are scheduled at the fall
Parent Night.
As your child moves from the Omidyar K 1 Neighborhood through
the Winne Units, and Castle and Bishop Halls, please encourage his
or her independence in going to the teacher with questions. You can
help by talking with the teacher if the question lingers.
The supervisor is there to help you and your child if a question
persists.
The principal is available, also. You or your child are encouraged to
go to the teacher or supervisor first, since that is what the principal will
usually do.

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1601 Punahou Street

Honolulu, HI 96822
www.punahou.edu