
The Heart of Haleʻiwa
April 16, 2021
In this Issue...
- Meet our Educational Assistants: Ms. Charisse, Mr. Tony, Mrs. Clark, Ms. Chante, and Ms. Cassidy
- Sixth Grade: Weather and Plants By Jayati Sulastri
- Literacy Corner: Read Aloud: Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
- Third Grade Writing Club: Is plastic helpful or harmful?
- Allergies and Asthma During COVID-19 by Nurse Connie
- Nā Waiwai Hawaiʻi - Hawaiian Values by Kumu Kuʻuipo
- Additional Resources: Counselor's Website and Haleʻiwa Helps
- Thank you for donating to our Spring Fundraiser
Get to Know Our Educational Assistants
Charisse Lunasco
Name: Charisse Lunasco "Ms. Charisse"
Class you help with: 1st grade
What job did you have before/ where have you worked? I have been working at Haleiwa Elementary School for 7 years (6 years in 1st grade). I've worked for A+ for 4 years (I think) as a leader/aide. I am also a server at Haleiwa Beach House. Prior to working at Haleiwa Elem. and Haleiwa Beach House, I worked at Kamehameha Preschool of Haleiwa as an aide for 2 years, while also working as a server at Pizza Bob's in Haleiwa. Before working in Education I worked for a company called "The Radiology Group, Inc." as a Electronic Filing Clerk, and in the payment department. Prior to that I worked at The Public Library of Waialua for 4 years while going to college.
Favorite place to eat: I love Italian food. So anywhere that has pasta.
What superhero do you most identify with? I think the superhero I would most identify with is "Sunshine" from the Care Bears, an oldie but a goodie! Like Sunshine bear I like to bring happiness to those around me. I like to think of myself as a positive, optimistic person, full of energy. I like making others feel good about themselves, and seeing smiles upon their faces. I do miss seeing and greeting each student as they arrive at school.
Side note: As a child, going to school was my safe haven, and I like to extend and share that with each one that comes onto our campus.
Tony Agsalda
Name: Mr. Tony
Class you help with: Mr. Baker's 3rd graders
What job did you have before/ where have you worked?
Before getting back to working with the DOE, I was a Case Manager / Lead Youth Counselor for Hale Kipa . I worked with At risk teenagers in an Independent Living Program teaching them life skills. I left the non profit organization and started working as a skills trainer working with Autism for 4 years. Later, I got hired with the DOE as an Autism Educational Assistant with the Central District autism program and was placed at Haleʻiwa Elementary School. I worked in the FSC classroom for 6 years and later transferred to a regular Educational Assistant position with Haleʻiwa. I have been at Haleʻiwa Elementary for 9 years now. I love working here at Haleʻiwa Elementary School.
Favorite place to eat: I am pretty open to all food establishments, but I love my spicy food.
What superhero do you most identify with? The superhero that best describe me is The Black Panther: I am a leader, humble, thoughtful, responsible, and loyal. I don’t make excuses, and I am never selfish. I don’t push too hard, but in the end it’s because I want the best for the people around me who rely on me .
I’ve got a quiet sense of humor and have close relationships with the people around me ... making me the person I am.
Michelle Clark
Name: Michelle Clark
Class you help with: 2nd Grade
What job did you have before/ where have you worked? First Hawaiian Bank as a Bank Teller
Favorite place to eat: Chili's
What superhero do you most identify with? She-Ra: The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe. Great leader, very athletic, the ability to heal, and very understanding and empathetic to others.
Chante Galton
Name: Ms. Chante
Class you help with: 3rd Grade (G1 & G2)
What job did you have before/ where have you worked? Office Manager at Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao, PCS
Favorite place to eat: Anywhere, I LOVE FOOD!
What superhero do you most identify with? Xena: Warrior Princess
She uses her skills to help those who are unable to defend themselves.
Cassidy Devey
I have been working with kids for 6 years. Before that, I worked at Starbucks!
My favorite place to eat is Doraku sushi in town.
The superhero I most identify with is Wonder Woman.
Weather and Plants By: Jayati Sulastri
Lately, we have been learning about the weather and plants in class. Our science question is, “How does weather affect plant growth?” We have been planting quite a bit of plants and learning about the weather. Recently we drew the water cycle to show how the rain works and becomes of itself. In front of the classroom we have our garden bed filled with tomatoes, spinach, squash, and much more.
The weather has been a very important part of our science because we want to see how it affects plant growth. I have noticed that the plants grow a little bit faster because of the moisture in the air. I have also noticed that the temperature is always around 70-80 degrees fahrenheit. So far, the weather affects plant growth by the moisture of the air and the temperature.
Plants in our garden bed were planted at different times and are taken care of by different people. There are many different plants in the garden bed and as a class we all have to take care of them. As a class we have learned to not damage the leaves or the stems of the plants, or else they will die. We have also learned to not over water it or give it too much sunlight because that will also result in them dying. Everyone in the class has their own plant to take care of and look forward to.
In all, we have learned a lot so far and we are still trying to learn more.
Planting in the garden bed
The garden bed at the beginning
Shayna and Jayati
Sixth Grade Garden Bed
Literacy Corner
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
Third Grade Writing Club
Is plastic helpful or harmful? by Nicholas Martinez
In my opinion, plastic is harmful. First, plastic is harmful because they are harmful to ocean species. For example, plastic is harmful because one of the ocean species thinks they are food or animals they attack. Furthermore, plastic is harmful because turtles might gobble up a bag thinking it's a jellyfish and a gray whale can suck plastic when the whale is thinking of its plankton, one of its main meals (p4,s4 and 5). Lastly, plastic is harmful because one of the ocean species might get tangled in old fishing lines and nets (p4,s2). That's why plastic is harmful.
Is plastic helpful or harmful? by Lilienne Cablay
There are many reasons why plastic is helpful. Plastic is known as the Material of 1,000 uses (P2,S2). Plastic was made by Leo Baekland and made in 1907 (P3,S1). There are many kinds of plastic in the world like plastic bottles, and other reusable materials (P3,S1).There are more than 1,0000 kinds of plastic (P4,S1). Plastic is mostly made of everything! Here are some examples of things made out of plastic, chairs, jumpers, smart phones, toys, car parts, pens, bike bits, washing machines, bank notes, and even windows (P1,S2)!
Soon there are going to be 12 billion people that are going to need a lot of plastic because it's reusable and it's cheap and affordable. Here are some more fun facts about why we use plastic. In the past, they used to use wood, turtle shells, and animal skin, and if they kept using wood turtle shells, and animal skin we would not have any trees, turtles, and animals (P5,S2). That is why plastic is a good thing.
Nā Waiwai Hawaiʻi - Hawaiian Values by Kumu Kuʻuipo
Values are defined as “A person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.” Values differ from person to person and culture to culture. It’s important to remember that each of us has a backstory of how we were shaped to hold certain values along with cultural influences, so these values that I share are of what the Hawaiian culture deems as important. Although there are many values, I will share three of them.
The first value I’d like to share is the foundation of all values, which is aloha. Aloha is the value of unconditional love, compassion, affection, kindness, and all that feels good in the heart. I was taught by our kupuna that “alo” means face, and “hā” is the breath, as the native Hawaiian people greeted each other with a honi. They bring their foreheads and noses together, then inhale at the same time. This action reaffirms the connection between the two as they share breath, a symbolism of oneness, of love.
The next value is hōʻihi, respect. This value is one that regards the feelings, intentions, rights, or traditions of others, as well as what others deem worthy. Most violent confrontations arise from people disrespecting each other. Having this value can give us the moral compass to regulate our behavior to treat others how we would want to be treated.
The last value I’d like to share is kuleana, which is responsibility. This value reminds us of the privilege we are born with as we have the responsibility to do what is required of us, so our families can function properly. As an example in the home, it is a privilege to wash the dinner dishes to appreciate the fact that there are dirty dishes because a meal was prepared and consumed. Also, it is a privilege to fix your bed in the morning to appreciate the bed you have to sleep in.
When we have values in place, our society can function properly. We are more likely to live lives that are in balance with others in peace and harmony. The teaching of values starts at home and spreads to the community by sharing it with others. I’m sure we all can agree that our society could use a lot more Aloha. If we are to help each other to live these values, then we must be the “Aloha” we wish to see in the world.
Allergies and Asthma During COVID-19 by Nurse Connie
The Story with Symptoms
Children with chronic conditions such as asthma and allergies in general are the ones who are more likely to miss out on instruction time compared to their peers during pre-pandemic times. Being that the symptoms of these very common childhood conditions mimic “COVID-like” symptoms, it is an extra challenge to keep these kids in school and balance the need to keep our campus safe and healthy for everyone during this pandemic. More than any other school year, kids who suffer from asthma and allergies need to have their conditions well-managed with symptoms under control.
Parents and caregivers can enhance their kids’ ability to stay and learn in school by working very closely with their healthcare providers to manage their student’s symptoms. This includes identifying the “triggers” or cause of symptoms and preventing exposure to these triggers. A written plan given to school clearly explains the student’s medical condition, triggers, and list of medications being used to control symptoms. This partnership between home, healthcare provider, and school is key to preventing unnecessary missed school days.
Back to School: Managing Allergies and Asthma during COVID-19 – Cleveland Clinic Newsroom
School Counselors Website
Spring Fundraiser
To add a little "fun" competition, the class that has the most students who gave a donation will win a class prize. There will also be a grand prize winner chosen from that class who will receive an Amazon Fire 7 Tablet that was just donated to us for the fundraiser. Every student is eligible to win the tablet, even if they do not make a donation.
Here are the current standings:
Mrs. Nakagawa = 58%
Mrs. Tauanuu = 55%
Ms. Phelps = 35%
Mr. Baker = 42%
Ms. Yonekura = 36%
Ms. Boudreau = 27%
Mrs. Kauffman = 31%
Mrs. Lee = 26%
Mrs. Villalpando = 37%
Ms. Felz = 50%
Ms. Eriksson = 67%
Mrs. Tuvera = 45%
If you have not had a chance to donate yet, there is still time. Please send in your envelope. If you need a new envelope, just call the office and let us know.
Contact our "THOH" Team
Email: haleiwaschool@haleiwa.k12.hi.us
Website: haleiwaelementary.com
Phone: (808)637-8237
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleiwaelementary
Twitter: @HaleiwaElement1