SPRING 2016

HSDB Newsletter
HSDB, a community where all are empowered to succeed!
Aloha Parents and Guardians,

I want to inform you personally that I will be leaving Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind
(HSDB) at the end of this school year, 2015 16. As an educator, I understand the need to
continue the pursuit of academic achievement in the classroom, as well as with our childrens
overall well-being. I am committed to continuing to support HSDB in this
goal. With that said, we are currently in the process of searching for a new
principal for HSDB who is dedicated to serving our students, family, and
community as the new school year opens this fall.

MAYDAY

I look forward to this new phase in my life, but am most grateful for the
many friends and families I have met during the last five years as principal
at HSDB. I thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your child,
knowing that the foundation that is laid will help your son or daughter to
grow into successful, productive and contributing adults in our everchanging society.

I have several months left in my tenure as HSDB principal and will continue
to do all that I can to assist your child in his or her education while I am still
here. Here are some highlights at HSDB:

May 6, 2016

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

GRADUATION
May 25, 2016

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

May Day Program, Friday, May 6th, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon - May Day
program in center lawn. Pre-order for lunch required. Contact school
oce at 733-4999 for details

Standards Based Assessment, Week of May 9 - 13th - All students in

grades 3 through 8th and 11th will take the State of Hawaii Standards
Based Assessment or SBA in reading and math.

Senior Activity, Thursday, May 12th - HSDB senior students to visit

Kualoa Ranch

Graduation, Wednesday, May 25th, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Graduation will

commence promptly at 5:30 pm in the center lawn; Last ocial day for
graduating students.

Last Day for Students, Thursday, May 26th - Last ocial day for all
students

Last Day for Teachers, Friday, May 27th - Last ocial day for Teachers and other 10 month sta
members.

Please feel free to contact me at 733-4999 if you have questions or concerns.

Mahalo, Christina Juan

1

LAST DAY OF
SCHOOL
May 26, 2016

HSDB NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2016

The importance of GRIT

Living life like it is a marathon,
not a sprint.
By Julie Ledgerwood, HSDB (CISL)Vice Principal

Angela Duckworth, author of several books on

Grit, defines grit as, Having the passion for a
goal that you can stick with for a long time. So
what does this really mean? Having grit means
you do not give up even when others quit long ago. It means not letting anything get in
the way of achieving your goals. People with grit are survivors, problem solvers, leaders, and often, highly successful in life.
According to Duckworth, Grit, is even more important than IQ ,in a students ability to succeed with challenging tasks and in long-term, goals. Grit also contributes to
student academic achievement. Research actually shows the students who are considered smarter often have less grit than students who struggle in school because those
who struggle often work harder and show more persistencethey have more grit. It is
not always the most intelligent students who get the best grades or go to the best colleges or universities, often it is the students who work the hardest and do whatever it
takes to achieve their goals.
Children are not born with grit, they acquire grit through practice and adult modeling. By providing our students with opportunities to explore goals important to them, we
are igniting a sense of passion for things of interest. Passion is crucial in creating the
internal motivation students will need to persevere to achieve their goals. Perseverance
is also an essential life skill which will help student to overcome hardships or struggles
in life.
One of the best ways to develop grit in individuals is in developing what, Carol
Dweck, of Stanford University calls Having a Growth Mindset. Having a growth mindset, according to Dweck is, The belief that the ability to learn is not fixed and that it can
change with your effort. If we have a growth mindset we do not believe failure is inherently bad or the end rather we see failure as an indicator we need to start over and try
again differentlyleading us one step closer to achieving success which supports our
school vision HSDB, a community where all are empowered to succeed.
In the coming school year, HSDB students will learn about having a growth mindset and grit. We invite you to click on the following links to watch the Ted Talk by Angela
Duckworth to learn more about Grit and Carol Dwecks Ted Talk to learn more about
Growth Mindset. Grit Link: The key to success? Grit. Growth Mindset Link: The power
of believing that you can improve.

HSDB NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2016

A Message from our School Counselor-

Taryn Napoleon
Here at Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind (HSDB) we find importance in taking care of
our students mental health. Its not easy being a teen and it makes things a little tougher with
our students who are Deaf and trying to find their self-identity. Youth Mental Health First Aid is a
technique recently integrated as a tool here at HSDB to help our students who are experiencing
a mental health issue, addictions challenge, or are in a crisis.

Youth Mental Health First Aid might make you think, is this just like, CPR/First Aid? The
concept is similar and the goal is to resuscitate our students mental health and keep them safe.
HSDBs counseling team is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and is able to eectively
help our students who may need this intervention. The Youth Mental Health First Aid course
hones in on common mental health challenges for youth, highlighting typical adolescent
development, and gives a 5-step plan of action to help our students or any youth in both crisis
and non-crisis situations. Areas covered consist of depression, anxiety, substance use, eating
disorders, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and more. Youth
Mental Health First Aid is a tool, fascinatingly designed for any adult who
regularly interacts with young people.

Our plan at HSDB is to bring awareness to the families of our students in

letting you know this tool exists and even you can be certified. Our
common goal as a school and community is to ensure the best quality of life
for our students and this means taking care of each crisis/non-crisis as it
arises with the tools we have. To learn more about Youth Mental Health
First Aid you can go to www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind

May Day

When:
Where:
Who:
Why:

May 6, 2016
9 am to 12 noon
HSDB Lawn
Everyone
Celebrate the many
Cultures of Hawaii!

Lunch Menu:
Kalua Pig with Cabbage
Steamed Rice
Lomi Tomato and Onion
Pineapple
Portuguese Sweet Roll
Poi (via donations)

$5.50 per person - contact Billy at kekua@hsdb.k12.hi.us

Orders must be made & send to me by April 18, Monday
Bring lawn chairs, hats, & sunscreen as it will be held on the lawn