konawaena middle school

[pipermanusa]

I want to go to my son's graduation . BUT .SORRY NOT ALLOWED
My son is graduating from Konawaena middle school. The students teachers principal and staff are going to a local hotel banquet room for a "celebration" .

The teachers I asked said this is the Graduation for Students they will recieve their certificate of Graduation and Special Merit Awards at a presentation There is also a talent show put on by the students however OHANA STAY AWAY...

The school has rightly determined there needs to be a recognition for these Great kids , The Graduation from 8th grade is a milestone in their lives.
What's wrong is ONLY teachers and school staff were worthy to attend .

The vice principal said I cannot take pictures of my childs part
of the talent show or Diploma presentation saying "Sorry, This is for
Teachers and students its a "private Affair, and that is the rule".

The school has an award presentation at this graduation but calls it a celebration not using the "G" word because parents n family cause too many problems ....

The Principal called and offered these additional reasons.

1. Families give their children leis as some cannot afford them this
embarases others and I want to protect them.

2. This is a time for kids to relax and be together 1 final time free from Parental Distractions.

3. The MOST IMPORTANT concerns in life for these kids now are their peers NOT THEIR PARENTS OR OHANA.

My son wanted to share this Graduation with Family, but now is feeling pressured and is worried.

We have invested great amounts of time and energy raising our son and daughter and have the right to witness this proud moment in their life and our life.
Those of you with keiki going into 8th grade at konawaena middle will face this principal with her PARENTS AND FAMILY attitude next year.You have time to change the policy ,I am sorry I did not...
Tell the principal at this school you want a graduation with parents after all its your keiki...If you dont act you will be left with the same sad ending I got...OHANA NOT AT THIS SCHOOL..that is very very sad...

[Guest]

Piperman... that sucks!

At least you will still have the High School and College Graduations.

Schools are allowed to set rules like this.

I don't think it's anything against you or any other parent.

At least the principal had the courtesy to call you and give you the reason behind their rules.

1. I can totally see the Lei problem...(a quick solution to that would be to Ban Lei's all together)

2. For some kids, 8th grade graduations can mean separation from friends they have made all their life. Many kids don't necessarily go on to Konawaena High School, rather they transfer to other high schools so this is the last time that these 8th graders will be together as a whole group.

3. If that is the exact wording the Principal used... then I would have to disagree a bit.

Maybe a possible future solution is to have these ceremonies video taped and then given away at graduation as a graduation present for the families to look back onto?

There will be other memorable events in your kids life that will be just as important if not more than this.

Don't dwell to much on this, otherwise it will continue to eat away at you.

I missed the first 3 years of my son's BIG EVENTS just because I was on a different island.... you know things like.... Seeing him walk, his first words, and many other BIG EVENTS!

Don't kick yourself to much for missing things...just do what you can to make sure the future of your child is as fulfilling as possible.

And remember:

"The best gift a man can ever give to his child, is to respect and love his mother"



-------
Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[pipermanusa]

Mahalo for your thoughts...Am keeping it in perspective ,,but I feel parents shoiuld have no problems like this with schools ..school now saying access only if we give permission means the school can say no parent you cannot see your child ...to me that is scary also not a power I gave the school... I am trying to understand if this is a hawaii issue of need or a change in philosphy toward "graduation" at all lower levels of education..The kids had a great time at the celebration , that is wonderful news...I do wish the kids and parents had been able to have at least an informal graduation at the school perhaps next year......mahalo all

[Carey]

I am surprised Konawaena MS is going with a "graduation". The Middle schools that I have worked in on the East side seem to be all having 8th grade promotions....
That said, esp. with an event that is off campus, I can see that the principle has many worries, inc. how to have an event that is safe and equatable for all/most of the students...

Some students I work with are not allowed contact with parents/family members, for their own protection.... it is hard enough to monitor who comes in contact with these children on campus, off campus it is much trickier... esp. if there is a roomful of parents...

Also the funding of this is most likely internally generated (I doubt they are using DOE funds), most likely the room size is determined by their funds, and most likely they do not have the funds to include all family members that would want to attend...

It would be better if they had had the low key 8th grade promotion on campus like many east side schools, than to have made anything more out of it, but I do hope you can see that inc. parents could have raised the costs & the security issues...

[Guest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by pipermanusa

.....but I feel parents shoiuld have no problems like this with schools ..school now saying access only if we give permission means the school can say no parent you cannot see your child ...to me that is scary also not a power I gave the school... I am trying to understand if this is a hawaii issue of need or a change in philosphy toward "graduation" at all lower levels of education..The kids had a great time at the celebration , that is wonderful news...I do wish the kids and parents had been able to have at least an informal graduation at the school perhaps next year......mahalo all

---

I don't think the schools are saying that you can't have access to your child. I believe you could have simply kept your child home on that day and had your own "private ceremony" for him.

I believe the graduation from Pre-school, 5th Grade, and 8th Grade is a Hawaii based thing.

It's an even bigger thing at the High School level.

The reason being... Many kids don't get past some of those levels and many of their parents didn't also.

It was just reported today that ONLY 2 out of every 3 kids in Hawaii will graduate from High School. That is the lowest rate in the Nation.

I grew up in the mainland and the only "Graduation" ceremony I had was when I graduated from High School.

I also had Graduation Ceremonies for my College Graduations. However, those you could choose whether you even wanted to participate in them and some people elected not to participate in them, believe it or not.

-------
Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.

[chrislo09]

As an educator, I believe that parents should be invited and urged to attend all school functions. However, with that being said, these students should have some sort of celebration with their friends. I agree with Damon, maybe a private ceremony would be appropriate to commend them on their achievement. I remember taking an eighth grade trip like this one, when I was in school. I know I was happy to not have parents there and spend the day with my friends. Believe it or not, children act very differently around parents, than others. Again, I do not agree with this method of going about graduation, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Chris

[David M]

Well, at least you didn't trigger a police escort like the guy on KW

Being as you want to celebrate YOUR child, I'd think a private, but very special family celebration would be appropriate.

David

Ninole Resident

[pipermanusa]

Aloha ....The kids talent show at konawaena middle starts at 830 am

[pipermanusa]

Aloha ....The kids talent show at konawaena middle starts at 830 am

[Guest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by pipermanusa

Aloha ....The kids talent show at konawaena middle starts at 830 am

---

So then I'm guessing you got some resolution and are now able to see it!

That would be good news.... yeah?

-------
Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.