Mentorships
The Mentorship program is designed to give students experience working in the real world. At this developmental stage, it is beneficial for the student to explore possible future occupations, as it helps them to begin to form their aspirations, ambitions, and goals for life after academics. Two times a year, over a series of Friday sessions, each student spends around 30 hours off campus working with a local business or organization. Students are encouraged to observe carefully, ask intelligent questions, and participate as much as possible. The mentorships provide our students with an opportunity to exercise responsibility, respect, work ethic, interpersonal communication, confidence and other real world skills that are vital to the development of our youth.
The Mentorship program is designed to give students experience working in the real world. At this developmental stage, it is beneficial for the student to explore possible future occupations, as it helps them to begin to form their aspirations, ambitions, and goals for life after academics. Two times a year, over a series of Friday sessions, each student spends around 30 hours off campus working with a local business or organization. Students are encouraged to observe carefully, ask intelligent questions, and participate as much as possible. The mentorships provide our students with an opportunity to exercise responsibility, respect, work ethic, interpersonal communication, confidence and other real world skills that are vital to the development of our youth.
Wheel Electives
Each trimester students have the opportunity to participate in two elective classes. These classes promote activities and skills that enrich our students' lives. Our Wheel teachers have a strong passion for their craft and are able to inspire the students to develop their talents in exceptional ways. While one group of kids is learning how to read music and play an instrument, others are tending to our school gardens, painting in the impressionistic style, choreographing an interpretive dance, improving their backstroke, or writing code. Elective classes play a large part in a st udents' growth and development here at Innovations, and are places where many happy memories are made.
Each trimester students have the opportunity to participate in two elective classes. These classes promote activities and skills that enrich our students' lives. Our Wheel teachers have a strong passion for their craft and are able to inspire the students to develop their talents in exceptional ways. While one group of kids is learning how to read music and play an instrument, others are tending to our school gardens, painting in the impressionistic style, choreographing an interpretive dance, improving their backstroke, or writing code. Elective classes play a large part in a st udents' growth and development here at Innovations, and are places where many happy memories are made.
Student Council
Many of our events and activities throughout the year are planned and led by Student Council members. Students who volunteer to participate in Student Council meet each week during lunch time to talk about upcoming events. While our teachers oversee these meetings, it is the students who work together to create a successful Student Council experience. At the beginning of the school year, students select a Student Council President, Vice-President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and committee leaders. These students, as well as the members at large, are responsible for events such as: team building, spirit week, dances, adopt-a-family, holiday pot-lucks, service projects, appreciation days, and graduation themes & gifts. Student Council provides our students with growth opportunities, allowing them to exercise a measure of independence, shared responsibility, and positive leadership.
Many of our events and activities throughout the year are planned and led by Student Council members. Students who volunteer to participate in Student Council meet each week during lunch time to talk about upcoming events. While our teachers oversee these meetings, it is the students who work together to create a successful Student Council experience. At the beginning of the school year, students select a Student Council President, Vice-President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and committee leaders. These students, as well as the members at large, are responsible for events such as: team building, spirit week, dances, adopt-a-family, holiday pot-lucks, service projects, appreciation days, and graduation themes & gifts. Student Council provides our students with growth opportunities, allowing them to exercise a measure of independence, shared responsibility, and positive leadership.
F.A.M.E.
Each year our middle school students have the amazing opportunity to participate in the Fine Arts Mentorship Experience Program. Staff, students and volunteers work together after school to put on an outstanding full length "Jr." production of popular musicals and plays. Some productions of the past have included: The Music Man, Honk, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. Interested students try-out for particular roles, join the ensemble cast, or work as back stage hands - Ninjas. Students perform three fabulous shows in the spring, and carry the memories and skills with them for a lifetime.
Each year our middle school students have the amazing opportunity to participate in the Fine Arts Mentorship Experience Program. Staff, students and volunteers work together after school to put on an outstanding full length "Jr." production of popular musicals and plays. Some productions of the past have included: The Music Man, Honk, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. Interested students try-out for particular roles, join the ensemble cast, or work as back stage hands - Ninjas. Students perform three fabulous shows in the spring, and carry the memories and skills with them for a lifetime.
Orientation Slide Show
Our Teachers believe:
Students' Social/Emotional needs:
Students' Learning needs: Creating a Successful Learner
- that all students can learn
- in educating the whole child: body, mind and spirit
- in the inclusion of special education students with staffing support
- in constructivist approaches, including inquiry and project-based, but also including direct teaching
- learning has real-world applications (practice) and connections (thoughts) across the disciplines
- in meeting the academic needs of students through differentiation of curriculum (may look different for every student/teacher)
- that learning-skills and processes drive instruction rather than content standards.
- in the GOAL to develop projects that combine all of the teachers across content (humanities, math, science)
Students' Social/Emotional needs:
- a safe, supportive, personal learning environment where the individual is acknowledged, accepted, and appreciated… a comfortable place to “be yourself”
- instruction, modeling, & guidance in self-knowledge and meta-cognition
- growth of interpersonal skills (listening, reflection, evaluation, communication, body language)
- to learn organizational strategies and study skills to support current and future learning
- a lot of positive social interaction
- to engage in fun, physical activity
- appropriate times to be funny, silly, and odd
- practice being independent, having some freedom
- opportunities to try out different roles (leadership, collaboration, supportive team member, observer)
- to reflect on personal choices and make connections to positive & negative consequences
- to be held accountable for negativity & disrespect
- to be recognized and praised for positive choices
- opportunities to be heard and to give feedback
- opportunities to serve, to give back to the school and community
- off-campus programs and activities that enrich students’ connection to and appreciation of their home environment (Hawai’i island)
- engagement in cultural enrichment activities
- understanding and awareness of their developing bodies and how this affects them physically and emotionally.
- habits and practices that impact overall health (communication, nutrition, drug/alcohol awareness, exercise)
- establishing meaningful relationships with teachers, mentors, students, staff, etc. because it helps motivation, the students feel valued, unlocks learning potential, guides character development, holds students accountable
- using technology/social media appropriately in developing healthy relationships with peers
- be aware of multiple perspectives
Students' Learning needs: Creating a Successful Learner
- teachers who understand that students’ executive functioning skills are still developing
- clear expectations and boundaries
- choices in curriculum
- explicit instruction in the basic concepts of each course
- opportunities for constructive and experiential learning to occur
- to encounter curriculum through multiple modalities
- to be actively engaged participants in their own learning
- chance to speak/share/teach in front of a group, to peer and adult audiences
- rigorous challenges that spur sound reasoning and critical thinking
- to become patient problem solvers
- to accurately reflect on personal reasoning and evaluate their own work
- receive helpful feedback from peers and adults as well as give feedback to others
- practice being independent & self-directed
- to interact with places and people beyond the school grounds
- access to reliable, user friendly technology
- instruction and guidance to be responsible and purposeful users of technology, including how to use the internet for research and refraining from plagiarism
- attitude to accept shortcomings, mistakes, and failures, turning them into assets
- opportunities for some students’ strengths to support other students’ weaknesses - help them to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
- encouraged to succeed, excel, applying strong work ethic and effort
- opportunities to experiment with, and work toward mastery in, non-academic skills (music, art, athletics, dance, drama, etc.)
- opportunity for regular one-on-one interactions with the teacher
- apply content in real-life setting/real world application of content