ʻĪAO SCHOOL
CONNECTED | CAPABLE | CONTRIBUTING
2/28/2024
Letter from Superintendent Hayashi: Please visit this LINK to read a letter from DOE State Superintendent Hayashi and Complex Area Superintendent Sides regarding the recent threats at ʻĪao School and other Maui schools.
School Safety: ʻĪao School staff and students learn and practice a variety of safety response procedures throughout the year. You may read about some of these procedures in the Student and Family Handbook which can be found in your child’s Student Planner. We depend on all members of the school community to take proactive measures, notify school and the authorities of threats, and offer feedback post-incident. Our School Safety Committee is asking that any parents interested in joining the committee or simply offering feedback or support contact VP Tafao at mosi.tafao@k12.hi.us.
No School Monday: There is no school for students on Monday, March 4, 2024. This is a Professional Collaboration Day for teachers and staff. Our Main Office will be open for business from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Schedule Changes on the Last Week: The last week of Quarter 3 is March 11-15. Students will be dismissed at 2:00 PM on Wednesday March 13. Students will be dismissed at 1:10 PM on Friday March 15. Spring Break is from March 18-22 and Kuhio Day will be observed (no school) on Tuesday, March 26. (There will be no UPLINK during the last week of Quarter 3. The last day for UPLINK is March 8.)
Safety and Smartphones: The excessive or problematic use of smartphones is associated with negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among adolescents. Cyber-bullying, addiction-like behaviors, and exposure to inappropriate content are additional risks our students encounter with smartphone use. ʻĪao School students attend classes on Digital Citizenship, safe online practices are taught in Health and Advisory classes, and we enforce school smartphone rules that prohibit student use during school hours. A collaborative effort between ʻĪao School and families can promote responsible and safe smartphone use among our middle school students. Thank you for your partnership and for considering the following tips to keep your child and others safe.
Monitor the content on your child’s smartphone and social media accounts frequently.
Report any inappropriate accounts or content to the social media platform and to ʻĪao School when relevant to students or campus. Parents and students may continue texting our confidential Text-A-Tip system at (808)793-7947 with any safety concerns.
Communicate with your child about responsible online behavior. Let them know to approach you or ʻĪao School staff with any concerns or questions, or to report anything unsafe being shared between students.
Use parental controls to set limits on screen time, restrict access to certain apps, and monitor use. Be vigilant about age restrictions on social media. Most social media (TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old.
Prevent sharing of inappropriate content by turning off AirDrop and not allowing apps with anonymous or disappearing messaging.
Remind your child that smartphone use is prohibited during the school day without specific permission from a teacher. Smartphones being used will be confiscated and returned to parents only. Students should keep smartphones off and put away. They may call home from the Main Office phones with staff permission.
Parent Feedback Request: Each year we ask for parent feedback via the School Quality Survey (SQS). The SQS measures your perceptions of the safety and well-being of your child and your satisfaction and involvement/engagement with ʻĪao School. Your response is kept confidential and will be used to plan school improvement. As a parent/guardian, this is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. Please read the attached letter from Superintendent Hayashi and visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024SQSParent to participate in the SQS.
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Statement
Click for the notice of non-discrimination and anti-harassment. Click HERE if you need translations.Megan Moniz, Civil Rights Equity Specialist can be reached at (808)600-9417 or megan.moniz@k12.hi.us