Ka Malu o Kaimana Hila

“Highly effective people spend an inordinate amount of time and energy listening (Covey, 1989). Some psychologists believe that the ability to listen to another person, to empathize with, and to understand their point of view is one of the highest forms of intelligent behavior.”

- Habits of Mind (Costa and Kallick)- Explore SEL- Harvard University

All of the 16 Habits of Mind identified by Dr. Art Costa are integral parts of the culture and identity of Waikīkī School. They are interrelated and, so, are lived and practiced in concert. It isn't like one Habit is cultivated in isolation one month and the next month is solely dedicated to another Habit. Rather, each day, week, and month the school community regularly practices all 16 Habits of Mind.

This being said, this month we explore and further reflect upon "Listening with Understanding and Empathy." There is more to this Habit than simply hearing sounds or words. To "Listen with Understanding and Empathy" is to go deeper than that. When one Listens with Understanding and Empathy, one is engaging in a multi-faceted cognitive move that requires one to simultaneously (1) keep an open mind, (2) be attentive, and (3) take another's perspective.

(1) Listening with Understanding and Empathy necessarily begins with an open mind and a willingness to listen. Just as a cup that is too full cannot hold anymore liquid, a mind that is too full of preconceptions and dogma is not ready to take in new messages. To have an open mind isn't to be weak or to lack conviction; it is to be willing to listen and to learn from alternative perspectives.

(2) People who are skilled at Listening with Understanding and Empathy are uncommonly attentive. They not only notice the obvious things that are most clearly illuminated by the spotlight of their experience; they also notice the less obvious things that lay along the edges and within the spotlight's fringe. Being especially attentive and putting the whole of their mind and heart into it, they notice what others do not notice. They take in words, sights, and sounds and, more deeply, also that which lies beneath these words, sights, and sounds.

(3) Being both receptive and attentive, people who are skilled at Listening with Understanding and Empathy have the ability to "put themselves in another's shoes." They can empathetically imagine what it might be like to be someone (or even something) else. Their perspective extends beyond themselves; appreciating the points of view of other people, their communities, and even nature.

The children and adults who comprise the Waikīkī School community learn Listening with Understanding and Empathy (and, for that matter, the other 15 Habits as well) by being told about it. More profoundly, however, they learn this Habit by practicing it. Each day, full of both delights and challenges, provides multiple opportunities for Listening with Understanding and Empathy to be lived, practiced, modeled, and internalized.

An important place for this practice of Listening with Understanding and Empathy (and, for that matter, the other 15 Habits as well) is during regular Philosophy for Children (p4c) sessions. Grounded in psychologist Vygotsky's discovery that "thinking is internalized speech," p4c provides the students with an opportunity to create an intellectually safe classroom community where the quality of how they are thinking together and relating with one another is purposefully prioritized over arriving at a particular answer. During p4c children get better at Listening with Understanding and Empathy because, indeed, part of the very doing of p4c is the practice of the sort of open-mindedness, attentive listening, and perspective taking that are essential to this Habit of Mind.

In late February, we will hold registration for a 4th quarter ASE program

Look for Registrations Packets via Email on or around Feb. 16, 2022

Registration via google forms will run from Feb. 22 - Feb. 28, 2022 *Feb. 28, 2022 is the cut off date for registrations

Due to the ongoing pandemic, ASE plans are all subject to change

If you have any ASE questions please refer them to: shellyhecker@waikikischool.org

These classes will be offered:

*Arts & Crafts

*BBB - Beginners Basketball Basics

*Hula Drama/Theater

*EDP - Engineering Design Process Challenges

*Soccer

*Violin

*Volleyball

*Zumba

You will note there are some modifications to the ASE schedule and procedures that are necessary for the health and safety of students and staff. Some of the changes are:

Online registration via Google Forms

Payments may be made by check or cash only; checks may be sent through the students’ classroom, and cash payments must be taken to the office

There will be one class period per day, from 2:30 – 4:00

Classes are offered one day per week on Tuesdays or Thursdays

Classes will begin in April, and run through May 19; the week of May 23 is reserved for make-ups

We anticipate that Waikiki School will remain a closed campus for the rest of the school year, and pick-up of non-A+ students (K-5) will be from the front parking lot, beginning at 4:00. The pick-up procedures will be the same as regular pick-up after school, and you will need to display your student(s) name placard on your dash. Students will be supervised by ASE staff until they are picked up.

All classes will be outside

Masks are required

This list is not all-inclusive, and the details will be included in the registration packet you will receive by email in the coming weeks.

Please Note: If there is not enough interest and enrollment, the ASE program will be cancelled this semester and payments returned. This semester we are not offering sliding scale fees and all classes are offered at full price.

We are all looking forward to beginning ASE again and meeting new students and exploring new things and ways of learning in ASE classes!

With much aloha,

Shelly Hecker

ASE Coordinator

It goes without saying how grateful we are to have Lynn Loveman, Christina Webb, and Garett Chang supporting our keiki here at Waikiki School! This week is National School Counseling Week, and our counseling team has gone above and beyond to meet the outsized needs of the school community during these stressful times. On behalf of the entire school community, mahalo for selflessly advocating for our children no matter how trivial or incredibly challenging!

Celebrate Valentine's weekend with a Waikiki School Zoom Dance Party sponsored by the Waikiki School PTO! See the image below for details.

Link to the event is here.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81269912925?pwd=Z0JBVmxmUUFjY3BvVUNjYy9RaFZzQT09

Digital Donations are Welcome

https://www.mightycause.com/donate/Waikiki-School-Pto

https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE%20Forms/COVID-19%20Health%20and%20Safety%20Guidance.pdf

See Page 33 in the link above. The DOE has now published a list of acceptable COVID tests for clearance to return to school. This applies to individuals with COVID-19-like symptoms who want to return sooner than five days. The list includes most community-based antigen and PCR tests, as well as a few at-home COVID-19 tests conducted under video observation. Unproctored home tests are currently not acceptable for clearance purposes.

If you have gently used slippers, Waikīkī School would gladly take them as a donation for our Health Room. There are times when students require a pair of slippers when the ones they wear to school break. Slippers between sizes 6 and 9 are needed in particular. You can drop them off at the school front office during normal business hours. Thank you!

If you have empty glass baby food jars with the covers intact, Waikīkī School will gladly accept them for use with our art program. You can drop them off at the school front office during normal business hours. Thank you!

Check out a short video of our annual Chinese lion dance celebrating the Year of the Tiger! Mahalo to the Gee Yung Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association for coming.

Email: ryan@waikikischool.org
Website: waikikischool.org
Location: 3710 Leahi Avenue, Honolulu, HI, USA
Phone: (808) 971-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaikikiSchool
Twitter: @WaikikiSchool