The Ebb and Flow of the School Year

Aloha Island School ‘Ohana,

Springtime in schools is always such an interesting time. We are deeply immersed in the current school year, focused on our students’ growth and end-of-year learning experiences with them. And at the same time, we have to turn towards the next school year in very concrete ways — everything from admitting new students to course selection, and hiring. This ebb and flow of the school year often carries mixed emotions for adults and students alike, and so I thought I would reflect on that a bit today.

For me, the number one thing that impacts spring is the cycle of hiring. In the education industry, we move through work agreements on an annual, school-year cycle. Every late winter and early spring for the past 30 years that I’ve worked in schools, this time of year means educators are deciding if they stay at their current school or if they are looking towards a new experience for the next school year. And so this week has been filled with many important conversations across the school regarding personal goals and institutional priorities as we reflect on our first year together, share about their past journeys, and look towards next year. 

And of course, when we talk about staying or leaving, we have to talk about work agreements and compensation. What I’d like to say to the full community is how grateful I am that with Board dedication and commitment from our school families, we were able to make significant strides in supporting our faculty and staff in the area of compensation for the 24-25 school year. Your belief in the school and in the educators and support staff who make it all possible has made this week a particularly meaningful one. I feel so grateful to have been in conversations where teachers and staff have been able to express gratitude for the distinct stride forward we were able to make regarding compensation. I was able to receive reflections that people felt seen and valued for their work with our students in a clear way this year. And while there is continued work to do to make the education profession truly one where people can thrive on Kaua‘i, the Board and families have made an important difference as we look towards next year.

At the same time, just like I chose to leave my school community last January, we are and will be learning over these weeks about colleagues choosing a new path for their career. While this is a normal part of school life, it can feel uneasy too. Thank you for understanding that we work hard both to retain our team members, and to support them when it is time for them to move on. You’ll see a link below of position announcements. One of the best forms of support for the school community is to share the job opportunities in your local and personal networks, posting on social media, etc. We thank you in advance for supporting us to add strong new members to our crew here at Island School.

So as we move deeper into April, let’s revel in each moment together. We have just a few more weeks with our seniors, the juniors are getting ready to be leaders in our school, our rising Kindergarteners will get to enjoy a few more Walking Wednesdays, and fifth graders are imagining what it will be like to be a middle schooler. And then there’s those middle schoolers, who literally grow before us each day with some having the choice of Kamehameha School before them (or any student heading off to a new school adventure); they all have the chance to experience one more Ho’okupu Day to connect with the beauty of Kaua’i and take part in making a positive difference for our ‘āina. 

For all of us, let’s take the time to enjoy every opportunity before us this spring that we get to experience together, whether it is your first year here or your last, as the Island School ‘Ohana. As for me, I look forward to many wonderful years ahead as a Voyager.

If you missed my post just before spring break, please check it out here, as there are some important dates to put on your calendar. AND, this month, if you have time to attend the Senior Capstone presentations on April 23, please look for details coming soon and join us!

Together,

 

 

Nancy Nagramada

Head of School