Leaving our mark on the world

Hongwanji Mission
School
dolphin nEWS
Leaving our mark on the world
December 2014
Happy Holidays!
A
loha HMS Ohana,
Another busy holiday season is upon us and your HMS faculty and staff would like to
wish everyone “Happy Holidays”. December is a short month at HMS, yet it is packed
with activities. I would suggest “liking” our HMS Facebook page so you can keep up with the
latest information. Facebook topics cover events, class activities, student programs and other
relevant information about what is happening at HMS.
In this time of giving, we also want to remind everyone that HMS is looking for hosts for
students from our sister school in Japan (Chinzei Keiai Gakuen). The students will be coming
to visit our school from Thursday, March 5, 2015 until Saturday, March 7, 2015. As in the past
years, students will have two nights of home stay experience with our students and their families.
If you would like more information about hosting a student (or students), please contact Muraki
Sensei at 532-0522 or via email at [email protected].
Friday, December 19th is a half day for students. School will end at 11:30 am. Our annual
Winter Program will also be held that morning. Please plan accordingly for the parking crunch! The preschool, pre-K
and kindergarten students will perform first, starting at 8:30 am and the 1st through 8th grade students will begin their
program at 9:30 am.
One last reminder as we enjoy the holiday season: Please drive slowly and patiently in our parking lot. Students
do not always look before crossing to the tunnel. Please be cautious when backing out of your parking space, as well as
when looking for one.
Have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!
Mahalo, In Gassho,
David Randall, Head of School
HMS PTO Newsletter
Celeste Yagi and Jennifer Yamauchi
Dear HMS Ohana:
With the successful annual PTO fundraiser behind
us, the PTO is in the midst of planning many more
exciting activities for the rest of the school year.
The “Buddy Program” successfully kicked off in
November with the 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents
speaking to 4th and 5th grade parents. This program is
designed to have the parents of the upper grade levels
speak to the lower grade levels to share information
on what to expect in the coming years at HMS.
Questions for the upper grade parents are welcomed
and encouraged. In our first meeting, there was a lot of
information shared and many of the parents learned new
things about HMS! There will be more “Buddy Program”
sessions to come for different grade levels so look out
for the announcements.
The next big event is coming soon! On Saturday,
February 21st, a school-wide Fun Fair will be held on
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Dolphin News: December 2014
our very own campus. This will be a fun-filled day for the
kids, put on by the parents. There will be a lot of good
food, fun games and activities. All monies raised will go
to the teachers to be used for their classroom. The Fun
Fair will be open to the public so invite all of your friends
and family!
There will be a lot more activities throughout the
year such as Campus Beautification & BBQ and the 65th
Anniversary Gala. We will keep everyone updated with
all of the upcoming events. We would like to thank you
all for your continued support!
In Gassho,
Celeste Yagi and
Jennifer Yamauchi
PTO Room Parent
Coodinators
We Are Thankful
Evelyn Heckman, First Grade
For Social Studies, the first graders
have been focusing on ways of expressing
gratitude through letters. Guided by a
Brainpop, Jr. lesson on letter writing,
the students composed their own
Thanksgiving letters to their parents or
grandparents expressing the things for
which they are thankful. A working draft
was first completed, and the writing piece
was finalized after completing an editing
session. Each letter was then transformed into a beautiful Thanksgiving placemat;
one side consisted of the letter, and the other side included a colorful turkey
handprint.
As an extension to lessons on communities, table manners, and how to set a
table, the students also enjoyed a family style Thanksgiving lunch. Students were
responsible for bringing in their own reusable dinnerware from home, setting the
table with their placemats, bringing foods and drinks to the table, and cleaning up.
We had a wonderful time sharing our letters, enjoying the delicious foods, and
discussing the meaning of Thanksgiving. For this, we are truly grateful.
Important Dates
• Please CLICK HERE for the
HMS Calendar Dates
Menus
The HMS Menu will be
located on the HMS webpage.
Please CLICK HERE to
download the breakfast and
lunch menus. Mahalo.
Accepting
Applications for
the 2015-2016
School Year
For information go to
www.HongwanjiMissionSchool.org
or contact the HMS office at
532-0522. Mahalo
Social Studies in Room 10
Amy Shiraishi and the Children of 1-10
This month during social studies, we learned about the Pilgrims and
Wampanoag. In July 1620, the Pilgrims left England for the new world,
so they could make their own rules. While on the Mayflower, many people
died or got sick, there were storms, and a lot of the food got rotten or eaten
by bugs. After 66 days on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims saw Plymouth Rock.
They had a hard winter. The Pilgrims saw many Wampanoag people. At
first, the Wampanoag were scared of the Pilgrims because they thought the
Pilgrims were going to hurt them. But two Wampanoag, named Squanto and Samoset, decided to help the Pilgrims by
teaching them to grow crops, catch fish, and hunt. The Pilgrims felt thankful for their new life in Plymouth. They decided
to celebrate with a great feast that lasted three days. This feast was probably the inspiration for today’s Thanksgiving
celebration. We learned many things about the Pilgrims and Wampanoag. Life for the Pilgrims was not easy in the 1620’s.
It was very different; from the way they dressed to the things they had to do every day. Here are some of our thoughts
about our unit and the activities:
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I liked when we used a quill to write. (MK)
I like making butter. (LM, JY, MM, AT)
I learned the pilgrims (that were men) used muskets. (DH)
I liked when we pretended to plant crops like the Pilgrims. (MH, DI)
I learned the Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower. (KJ)
I learned the Pilgrims left England because they didn’t like the king’s rules. (BT)
The Pilgrims left England in 1620. (MH)
I liked the butter activity because the Pilgrims had to make their own butter. (LS)
I liked how they grew crops. – (NN)
Sadako’s Story
Kennedy Choo, Leadership Historian
Last month, I was in Ohana Arts’ Peace on Your Wings, an original musical by Jenny Taira and Laurie Rubin and
directed by Cari Lee. Peace on Your Wings is about Sadako Sasaki, a girl who was two when the US dropped an atomic
bomb on Hiroshima. Ten years later, she was diagnosed with leukemia due to overexposure to radiation. Then, she found
out about the the legend of the 1,000 cranes. According to the legend, if you fold 1,000 cranes, you are granted one wish.
Sadako folded, and folded, and folded. Although she folded more than 1,000 cranes, she died. Her friends were devastated.
But instead of wallowing in their sorrows, they decided to build a monument for Sadako and all of the other children who
died because of the bomb. Her friends raised enough money to build the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, which is located in
the Hiroshima Peace Park.
What I learned from Sadako’s story is “Ichigo Ichie.” It means that you must cherish every moment in your life and
your time with others. For example, when my friend Bryce Nishi left Hawaii to live in Virginia, I wasn’t devastated. I spent
a last day with him before he left, and I had no regrets. That was Sadako’s message -- to live life to its fullest and cherish
your time with others. If we treat each other like it would be the last time we see each other, the world would be a better
place.
HMS Spelling Bee
Evelyn Heckman
The Hongwanji Mission School Spelling Bee was hosted in November 2014 with our finalists (grades 4-8) competing
for placement in the District Spelling Bee. This year, the HMS School Bee progressed to 20 rounds! Kacie Moku (winner)
and Kaitlyn Hasegawa (Runner-Up) placed as our finalists and will be representing HMS at the District Spelling Bee in
January 2015. Congratulations to all our contestants! Mahalo to the administration, teachers, parents, and grandparents for
all their support!
HMS Spelling Bee Finalists:
*Contestants who participated in the HMS School Bee on November 20, 2014
3rd Grade:
4th Grade:
5th Grade:
Sarah Miyamoto – winner (3-8)
Taylor Inouye – winner (4-12)
*Marcus Siarot – winner (5-14)
Kylen Lindo – runner-up (3-8)
*Sarah Toma – runner-up (4-12)
Katelyn Okabe – runner-up (5-14)
Drew Bjornson – winner (3-11)
*Jennifer Murakami – winner (4-13)
*Kaitlyn Hasegawa – winner (5-15)
Leila Usami – runner-up (3-11)
Reyn Yamauchi – runner-up (4-13)
Carlie Siu – runner-up (5-15)
6th Grade: Mele Bjornson *Alyson Hew *Jase Kobayakawa
7th Grade: *Zach Hoashi *Otomi Tochika
8th Grade: * Kacie Moku *Kaci Yamato
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Dolphin News: December 2014
Buddhist Education Newsletter
Rev. Toyokazu Hagio, HMS Buddhist Ed. Liaison
life.
Last month, we observed the Peace Day Service. This month, I’d like to talk about basic attitudes of Buddhists in daily
We are trying our best to live each day doing right things and living in the right way. In reality, we all make mistakes.
We have to consider what is right. We can determine what is right when we go back to the original point of our “Life”.
We cannot live alone whenever, or wherever we are. We are being sustained by many other lives, and are able to live,
only through this interdependence. This body of mine was born in this world, through the condition of my parents and is
sustained by the food I eat. My mind and heart are nurtured by my experiences and knowledge. This is the meaning of the
original point of life: we must be aware of human behavior in its relationship to self and others.
Therefore, instead of existing without regard for others, we should respect our interdependence, and cultivate a mind
of compassion, reverence, and gratitude.
In Gassho,
Rev. Toyokazu Hagio
Drama Newsletter
Cari Lee, Drama
Drama class at Hongwanji Mission School has been filled with movement, acting, dancing, and fun! Students in
Kindergarten through 8th grade engage in drama classes once a week for 30-45 minutes. Middle school students are
currently preparing for their winter program performance. They can be seen learning swing dance, pop, or singing and
dancing to musical theater tunes. Elementary school students are learning about storytelling with their bodies and
expression. Second grade students recently performed the song, “One Short Day,” from the musical, Wicked, to their
peers and teachers. Fourth grade students are embarking on storytelling with music from the popular Disney movie,
Frozen.
Through this musical process, students are learning teamwork, discipline, and focus while also learning to keep
rhythm, act, and dance!
Happy Holidays!
Mrs. Cari Lee
Peace On Your Wings Pictures
Hongwanji Helps Pohnpei
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