February

Happy New Year!

I can’t believe that one full year has actually passed and we are four months away from ending this school year. Tempus Fugit! We have begun our discussions on next year’s tuition, budget, calendar, teaching assignments and Master Schedule. We’ve also looked at financial aid, work assistance and expanded partnerships to benefit our students.

Let me share some of our plans, objectives and thoughts.

• We began the second semester with expected student moves and now have an enrollment of 304 – one less than in August.
  
• Our Registrar, Karen Parish, resigned to accept a full-time position at Maui Memorial Hospital and is returning to college to earn her nursing degree. We are now in the process of redefining the duties and will advertise for her replacement. A retired DOE registrar will substitute until June.
  
• We’ve been extremely fortunate as these DOE retirees step forward to help our students: Mel Mukai will work with AP Calculus students once a week until the end of the year; Ted Manzano continues to surprise us with the wonderful accomplishments of his band students and Richard Ishii has stepped in to help our Science classes.
  
• On Friday, Dr. Linda Wheeler (’58), will be speaking to all staff members working in Maui’s Catholic schools to motivate everyone to refocus on students and contributing more towards their success.
  
• Mayor Alan Arakawa asked Board member JoAnn Ridao and me to attend a meeting where he described his plans for the old turnhaul road adjoining our upper campus. He shared a large map color-coded with development projects all the way out beyond the Waiehu Golf Course and told us of plans to turn that old road into a 4 lane highway. A subsequent meeting between the Public Works Directors, Engineer and a St. Anthony Schools and Parish contingent was held to inform everyone of the current status of these plans. The Mayor and County officials will make a special presentation to our Board at its Feb. 15 th meeting.
  
• We have concluded our discussions with Maui Community College and will make a public announcement soon regarding our partnership in the Kealapi’I Transition Program. This program is a wonderful opportunity to offer college courses to our students which they may take from the summer after their sophomore year. More information is forthcoming and our teachers will be inserviced on Thursday, 01/27/05, at MCC.
  
• We passed our Fire and Board of Health Inspections with the need to care for small repairs. Corrective actions must be completed in two weeks.
  
• Catholic Schools Week will begin on January 31 st with a spelling bee: Grades 5-6 will be in the church center and Grades 7-8 will be in the library. More activities have been planned and you’re invited to be our guests. Please check in with our school office.

As you can see, we're off to an exciting 2005! Please drop in to see how we are doing and share your thoughts on our progress.

Aloha,

Edwina Wilson-Snyder

Principal