HONOLULU—Waimea Canyon Middle School leadership students made an impact through their participation in the State Middle-Level Student Leadership Summit, which was recently held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu.
The WCMS students joined 700 middle school students from across the state at the Summit, which celebrated leadership and learning experiences for grades 6 through 8 inspired by the enduring legacy of Hawaii’s great Duke Kahanamoku.
Four WCMS leadership students — Kayla Koshi, Kaizey Castillo, Zylee Morita, and Kathleen-Joy Pascua — were selected to lead one of the 30 breakout sessions designated as “Leading Spaces.”
“Being selected to lead the PBIS Reward Center session was a tremendous honor,” said Koshi. “It has empowered me to embrace new challenges and motivated me to encourage my peers to explore leadership opportunities with confidence.”
The four presented their experiences managing the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, or PBIS, Reward Center in a dynamic 40-minute presentation detailing its structure, the various roles within its departments, and the successes and challenges encountered throughout the year. The breakout session provided valuable insights and actionable steps for other students to implement similar student-led programs in their schools.
“Seeing our students step up and lead on such a significant platform is truly inspiring,” said Leadership teacher Penny Shimomura. “Their passion, innovation, and commitment to excellence reflect the core values we nurture here at WCMS. We are immensely proud of their achievements at the Summit and confident that their leadership will continue to inspire positive change in our community.”
Waimea Canyon Middle School extends its sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of this experience.
Special appreciation is extended to Principal Ray Carvalho for his steadfast support and encouragement of our student leaders, Mrs. Penny Shimomura for her meticulous planning and coordination, and Social Science teacher Mr. Luke Ferda, for his dedication in chaperoning and ensuring the safety of our 12 middle school students throughout their overnight trip.
Their unwavering commitment reflects the collaborative spirit and dedication to student growth that WCMS values.
The faculty, staff, and broader WCMS community proudly commend these exceptional students for their leadership and dedication. Their participation in the Summit underscores the strength of WCMS’s student programs and serves as a model for student-led initiatives across the state.
