Hawaii State Assessment 2012 - Round 1 Coming Up in January!

Our King students will soon be taking Round 1 of the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA) in reading (7th & 8th), math (7th & 8th) and science (8th grade). The 2012 HSA is done completely on-line. Students may have up to three attempts to take the HSA in order to improve their scores. Their best score is taken.  The assessments will be done via their English, math and science classes. As an on-line assessment, the testing sessions have the flexibility to adjust to the student's  performance level, thus eliminating frustration and “I give up” situations. Students receive their score results immediately after completion of the session. A score of 300 or better "meets proficiency." Teachers and students see the test results and make the necessary adjustments in curriculum and instruction.

Our teachers have been making sure that their students are involved in optimal learning activities. Teachers have refined their curriculum and assessments, employed student engagement strategies, and collaborated with administration, service providers and resource personnel to improve the rigor and relevance of their courses. We have emphasized to our students the importance of these tests to our school. King achieved Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2010-11, and need one more year of "meet proficiency" in reading and math to be out of  the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) "restructuring" status. HSA Parent Information booklets were sent home with your child in November 2011. Please take the time to read the booklet and familiarize yourself with the HSA.

IMPORTANT: HSA scores are used by King and Castle High School to determine class placement and elective course selection (reading and math support classes).

You can help your child perform at his/her best on the HSA and other tests by doing the following:

         - Have your child get a good night’s sleep

         - Provide a healthy and nourishing breakfast for optimum performance

         - Ensure daily, on-time attendance. 

         -Talk to your child about putting forth his/her best effort and taking the tests                                seriously 

Although make-up testing days will be available, we strongly encourage daily attendance on testing days. Make-up testing will require us to take time from your child’s other classes to administer the missed sessions. Also, please schedule non-emergency appointments before or after testing dates.

        

HSA 2012 Testing Schedule:

Jan. 23-27 - HSA Round 1/Reading/Gr. 7 and 8
Jan. 30-Feb. 3 - HSA Round 1/Math/Gr. 7 and 8
Feb. 6-10- HSA Round 1/Science/Gr. 8

March 19-23 - HSA Round 2/Reading/Gr. 7 and 8
March 27-April 2 - HSA Round 2/Math/Gr. 7 and 8
April 16-20 - HSA Round 2/Science/Gr. 8

April 30 - May 4 - HSA Round 3/Rdg/Gr. 7 and 8
May 7-May 11- HSA Round 3/Math/Gr. 7 and 8

If you have any questions about the HSA, please contact Pamela Kino, Test Coordinator, at pamela_kino@notes.k12.hi.us or call 233-5727, ext. 231.

Registration for 2012-13 is coming up in January!

Planning for the next school year 

is coming up!

All King students will receive their registration packets on January 17, 2012 via their Advisory class. Our current 7th grade students will receive their King course manual and registration card and 8th grade students will receive registration materials from Castle High School. Our 8th grade students will receive instruction and information on Castle courses and registration instructions in their advisory class (via closed-circuit broadcast).

Parents: Please read all registration information thoroughly and help your child decide on his/her electives and their priority. You may not always get your first choice, so please choose wisely. Teacher assignments and class schedules are based on selections made at registration, so class changes after student schedules are made may not always be possible. King and Castle registration cards are due on January 24, 2012 (Tues) to their advisory teacher. Students who do not turn in a registration card will have their classes selected for them.

8th grade parents - please see the King Connections article (below) on the upcoming Castle Informational Meeting on 1/18/12 for incoming 9th grade parents and students.

December "Cobras of the Month"

We are pleased to present our December "Cobras of the Month." They were selected by their team teachers as students who "live the 5Rs" everyday. Our outstanding Cobras were recently recognized and honored at our December 7, 2011 grade level assembly. Congratulations! Cobra Pride lives!

We are pleased to present our December "Cobras of the Month." They were selected by their team teachers as students who "live the 5Rs" everyday. Our outstanding Cobras were recently recognized and honored at our December 7, 2011 grade level assembly. Congratulations! Cobra Pride lives!

November "Cobras of the Month"

We are pleased to present our November "Cobras of the Month." They were selected by their team teachers as students who "live the 5Rs" everyday. Our outstanding Cobras were recently recognized and honored at our December 7, 2011 grade level assembly. Congratulations! Cobra Pride lives!

King Connections Winner!

Thank you to all who read our online newsletter, answered the 5 questions correctly and entered our King Connections holiday prize drawing. Congratulations to Christine Pabillano, mom of Raevyn, gr. 7th. She won a $25 Longs gift card.

King Connections is updated frequently so stop by often. More news coming out during the winter break.

Happy Holidays to all our King ohana. Wishing you a safe and restful season with family and friends.

The Faculty and Staff of King Intermediate School

Guess Who Came for Lunch? Hint: Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa greeted students as they came for lunch in the cafeteria

Elf Yamada helped pass out treats to K-I-N-G-O winners.
Holiday centerpieces and table covers made it a festive lunch for all!

Wrapping up the 1st Semester with Holiday Fun!

Our students are in the holiday spirit (restless!) as we head into the last week of the 1st semester. We have an activity filled week for them before we let them loose. Here's the line up for the week:

Monday: Lunch with Santa - A jolly fellow will be visiting our students during lunch time in the cafeteria. They will be surrounded by the wonderful Christmas decor created by our 8th grade Set and Design students. A beautiful living room will be set up to greet Santa. A fast and fun game of K-I-N-G-O will also be played by the students.

Tuesday: Holiday Ninja Christmas - This is our monthly Tuesday Team Showdown with a holiday twist. Students can sign-up in the cafeteria at lunch to represent their team in this game of skill and dexterity. They will race against time to decorate a Christmas tree....with chopsticks! Team points will be awarded!

Wednesday: Holiday Hats Day - Here's a chance for our students to show their holiday spirit....just decorate your head. Santa hats, reindeer antlers, elf ears, garland in their hair or any other holiday accessory can be worn on their head only. King uniform shirt is still required. Regular caps or hats are not allowed, must have a holiday theme. Team points will be awarded!

Thursday: Team Competition - Polar Express - It will be a loud and high-energy crowd in our gym as teams compete in a game of strategy and teamwork. With parachutes and boxes, it's will be unpredictable fun. It's the last chance to earn team points for the quarter!

School ends at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday! Have a safe and relaxing holiday season!

The Holidays are in our King Hallways!

Thirty four doorways of our school have been festively decked-out for the holidays. A door decorating contest was held this past week to kick-off next week's holiday activities. The theme was "A Cobra Christmas," and students in their Advisory class creatively interpreted this theme with colorful scenes. Judging was a tough job. The winning advisories will get a "cool" treat next week. Team points were also given for team participation. It was a great showing of Cobra pride and holiday spirit!

1st place - Advisory C5, Ms.

                                                                                                                                      

2nd Place - Advisory C6, Ms. Schmeding

3rd Place - Advisory A2, Ms. Mumaw/Mr. Yamada

King Builders "Litter Patrol" on the Go!

The King Builders is a community service group sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Kaneohe.

 The King Builders hit the streets again in the Kaneohe Christmas Parade on December 3, 2011. The Builders have a unique role. We don't march as a unit in the parade, instead we are the "Litter Patrol," collecting trash from parade spectators. The Builders have been doing this community service activity for the past 4 years and each year we get a lot of "thank yous" and appreciation from the crowd. The Builders like it too because they get to be "in the parade" and also lend a helping hand to our community.

Megan, Chloe, Hannah and Lorilynn are ready!

A truckload of rubbish is the goal!

A Holiday Tip for Parents...

Attendance Matters! Weekly Attendance Data Now Posted

Student Achievement Matters!
And to make that happen...Attendance Matters! Our students' daily, on-time attendance is crucial to their learning and overall success in school. Thank you to all parents who make sure their child get's a good night's sleep, wakes up on-time and leaves home prepared for the day. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us at King. A new sidebar has been added to our King Connections site. Look to the right hand side for the weekly percentages of 7th and 8th grade students. It will be updated weekly. The Hawaii Board of Education has set a goal of 95% or better daily attendance for all schools. Let's keep up the good work at King!

Coming Up...A Holiday Event for our Families in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program!