KOLOA — A special school assembly recognizing the Koloa Elementary School students of the month set the stage for the announcement of Claire Hirota as the Kaua‘i Complex Area Milken Teacher of Promise. Debbie Lindsey, the school’s principal, said Friday
KOLOA — A special school assembly recognizing the Koloa Elementary School students of the month set the stage for the announcement of Claire Hirota as the Kaua‘i Complex Area Milken Teacher of Promise.
Debbie Lindsey, the school’s principal, said Friday was a most exciting day. Not only was it College Day where students had an opportunity to wear clothes from a college or university, it was a day to honor the school’s student of the month in Complex Thinking, a General Learner Outcome trait.
Students from kindergarten through fifth grade were acknowledged for their achievements in Complex Thinking, and will be honored during a special lunch for themselves and a guest next week.
Caitlin Crawford, Karson Mateo and Molly Wallace were named from the kindergarten class, Lindsey noting that these students are able to differentiate between right and wrong and make good choices throughout the school day.
“Caitlin’s thinking cap is turned on during instructional time and is able to learn new things which contribute to her being selected as our Complex Thinker,” Lindsey said.
Nikki Tapucol and Nkozi Spore were named Complex Thinkers from Grade 1, Lindsey noting that these students are able to solve a problem in new, different, and creative ways by applying prior learning experiences to new situations.
Brock Baldwin and Matea Young were named Complex Thinkers from Grade 2, Young hailing from Milken Teacher of Promise Hirota’s class.
Denali Viluan and Kai Hughes were named from Grade 3, both students being able to make adjustments to work and change things to make ideas work better as well as be able to clearly explain how they solved the problems.
Jacob McCune and Benymar Tapucol are the Complex Thinkers from Grade 4, students becoming more inquisitive, being able to work in groups by articulating ideas accurately.
Mahea Makaneole and Kysen Dikilato round out the Complex Thinkers from Grade 5.
“The dictionary describes ‘complex’ as interconnected, whole,” Lindsey said. “For students to be complex thinkers, they demonstrate connecting their previous learning to new learning. Students also demonstrate interconnection from one subject to another.”
Koloa School students will work on being Quality Producers for the month of February, Lindsey said.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
