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SCHOOL & OFFICE
Office Hours
The office is open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Closed on weekends and on state and federal holidays)
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School Attendance and Absences
Regular and prompt attendance is essential for successful academic achievement and other educational experiences. The Department of Education/Kainalu Elementary School is required by law to enforce compulsory attendance by monitoring all absences and tardies and refer to Family Court all chronic absentees.
A note to the teacher or office for the reason of absence when the student returns to school is acceptable.
Students without a proper note who leave school before 11:00 a.m. or arrive after 11:00 a.m. will be marked absent.
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Off-Campus / Early Release Pass
To obtain an Off-Campus/Early Release Pass, parent(s) should write a note or call the office one day in advance. When giving a note or calling the office, please provide the child's name, date, leaving time, reason and person to whom the child(ren) should be released to for appointments. The teacher will send the student to the office at the requested time of release to wait for the parent or designated person. The office personnel will have the Off-Campus Pass ready for pick up. A parent or designated person must sign the school log before taking the child. Please be prepared to show a picture ID if necessary for verification.
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Transfers and Releases
If your child(ren) will be moving out of the our district, please fill out a Request for Transfer Form (available in the office) four (4) school days prior to leaving so the office can prepare a Release Packet. The office will prepare a release card so that your child(ren) will be able to register at the new school. There is a photcopying charge for student records.
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Geographical Exceptions
All students whose parents live outside the Kainalu Elementary School district must obtain a Geographical Exception (GE) in order to move a child to a different school. Moving during the school year and changing school requires a GE with principal approval. This GE allows a student to legally attend a school outside of his/her school district untill the 6th grade.
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Testing Information
The results of the tests administered during the spring to students in grades 3 - 6 will be sent home during the 1st quarter of the following school year.
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COMMUNICATION & VISITATION
Messages
Only emergency messages will be taken for students. Please remind your child before school for all other matters. (example., appointments, transportation after school, etc.) Messages are delivered after the morning Language Arts or Math block so as not to disrupt student concentration during their studies.
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School/Home Communication
There is one formal parent-teacher conference scheduled during the school year. This conferences is scheduled at the end of the first quarter. The first quarter report card will be presented at that time.
Parents and teachers are encouraged to have conferences throughout the school year, as need arises. Parents can arrange to meet with a teacher by writing him/her a note or by calling the school office.
Deficiency notices that report standards-based proficiency will be sent home by the 5th week of each quarter. Report cards are sent home at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters.
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Teacher Conferences
If you wish to speak to your child's teacher or school administrator via the phone or in person, please call the office and leave your name, contact number, and a brief message regarding your concern(s). Our teachers and administrators will be happy to return your call or, if necessary, schedule an appointment to meet. Teachers will not conduct any conference during the school day in the classroom. Appointments are required.
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Classroom Visits
Parents are required to give prior notification for classroom visitation during regular school hours. This will minimize distractions in the classroom and prevent interruption of teacher instruction.
During school hours, please refrain from going directly to the child's classroom or waiting outside the room if a message or item needs to be delivered. Deliveries are made after the morning Language Arts or Math block.
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SERVICES & OTHER
Student Services (Counselor & Health Aide)
Counselor - Kainalu has two half-time counselors. The counselors work with students, teachers, and parents on a regular basis to help support individual or group needs.
Health Aide - A full-time health aide is assigned to the school to take care of injuries and illnesses that happen during school hours. The health room hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Medication - If your child needs to take daily medication at school over a long period of time, please contact our health aide at 266-7839. A special form is required to be filled out in order for medication to be brought to school and administered to a child. Only medication, which has been previously authorized, can be stored in the health room or administered by the health aide.
If your child is taking short-term medication, such as antibiotics, please call or visit the health aide prior to sending the medication to school with your child. The health aide will be more than willing to discuss alternatives regarding the administration of medication to your child.
Only single dose per day medication is permitted.
If there is an emergency, parent(s) will be contacted to make necessary arrangements to pick up their child(ren). Your cooperation in this matter is important in the interest of good health for all.
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Student Accident Insurance
For many years the Department of Education has provided parents and guardians the opportunity to purchase accident insurance for their child(ren) through Aon Consulting, Inc. The two most popular forms have been (i) the 24-hour plan that covers students while they are at school or traveling between school and home, and (iii) the "tripster" plan that covers students for one day.
Effective for school year 2006-2007, the DOE will no longer serve as a conduit between a single insurance carrier and parents, and it will no longer require students who are not covered by a health care plan to purchase "tripster" insurance before they can participate in school field trips or excursions.
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Field Trips
Please turn in permission slips and money (exact cash only - no checks) to your child's teacher. Footwear must be worn on all field trips. Non-compliance to this schoolwide policy will result in students being unable to participate in field trips. With your cooperation, your child will continue to safely enjoy these enrichment activities.
If your child is absent on the day of the field trip, admission costs may be refunded. However, transportation costs cannot be refunded. Your child will receive his/her refund approximately two weeks after the field trip.
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Picture Day
Individual and class picture taking is usually scheduled in the early Fall. Details are sent home with your child. Absentees and new students who miss Picture Day will have an opportunity to have their picture taken on a later date.
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Birthday Celebrations
Instead of bringing edible treats to school (eg. cupcakes) we recommend a program where students are given an opportunity to celebrate their birthday by donating a book of their choice to Kainalu.
Suggestion: On or near the date of your child's birthday, take your child to any place that sells books and have them choose a book that they would like to see in the school library. Let them read it thoroughly at home, and when they are ready to "let go", have them bring it to the library. A special bookplate to mark the events will be given to your child to color and sign. This bookplate will be placed in the front of your child's book.
The book will then become part of the library collection. Hopefully, years from now, your child will have a chance to visit the library and find their special gift there, still giving joy and knowledge to others.
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Lost and Found
Students may check with the office for any lost items. Any item(s) not claimed by the end of the school year will be donated to charity.
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Holidays for the Year
The Department of Education and Kainalu Elementary School calendars list the holidays for this year. Visit the Calendar section for more details.
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Dress Code
- All clothing must be clean, modest (not revealing private areas or midriff), in good taste and condition, and worn appropriately. Spaghetti straps on any type of clothing are not permissible. Underwear should not be visible. Tank tops with at lease a one-inch strap are allowed. Caps are not to be worn in class or indoors or with the visor pulled to the side or back at anytime.
- Clothing and accessories must be appropriate for school and learning and must not display any antisocial message nor cause disruptions in the classroom or on campus. Clothing must not make reference to drugs, alcohol, violence, sex or gangs. Oversized clothes, excessively long belts or other extreme styles are inappropriate. Shorts/skirts, dresses should reach at least 2 inches below fingertips while standing.
- Footwear must be worn at all times in school and school-related activities. Students without footwear during recess will be asked to sit out due to safety reasons. Shoes must be worn on basketball court when playing basketball or volleyball.
- Consequences for not following dress code: at the beginning of the year, teachers will warn all students to not dress inappropriately and inform them NOT to wear the item to school. If the student disregards the warning, they will be referred to the school administration for consequences.
Students will be loaned clothing to wear for the remainder of the day OR students may call home with permission form the teacher to have parent bring another set of clothing.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY
Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Reminders
To insure the safety of all children in our parking lots, please follow the procedures for pick-ups, drop-offs, and parking. Please inform your friends, relatives, and other family members of these procedures as well.
Pick-up & Drop-off: Please do not park in the pick-up and drop-off zone located in the front of the office. This will cause unnecessary inconvenience for others as well as an unsafe environment for our students.
Parking Lots: Parking lots located at the cafeteria and near the Kindergarten classroom (right side of entrance) are designated for School Staff Members Only. If you must park your car to conduct school business, please park on Kaiholu St., Kaha St., or Kainalu Dr. Please do not park in the staff parking lots.
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Opening and Closing of School Gates on Kainalu Drive
School gates located on Kainalu Drive are unlocked at 7:15 a.m., Monday through Friday. Due to safety reasons, students should not come to school earlier than 7:50 a.m. (unless eating breakfast between 7:15 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.). Prior to 7:15 a.m. students who attend the morning care program or who are on JPO duty should enter the school grounds using the Kaiholu Street entrance (in front of office).
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Tobacco-Free & Drug-Free School
Kainalu Elementary is a Drug-Free and Tobacco-Free school. Use and sale of drugs are illegal. Smoking and use of other tobacco products are prohibited on school campuses and in-school facilitites during all hours of the day. Smoking is also Not Allowed at school functions on or off campus. We ask for you cooperation and support in following these rules.
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Classroom Cleaners / Lunchroom Supervisors
Prospective applicants for classroom cleaning and lunchroom supervisors should call the office at 266-7835.
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Health Requirements
The Hawaii School Attendance Law requires all students to meet certain requirements before attending school. The health requirements are: physical examination, tuberculosis clearance and immunization. Students may be excluded from school if these health requirements are not met.
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JPO's (Junior Police Officers)
Our JPOs, selected from the 5th and 6th grades, are on duty every morning and afternoon (except in extreme weather conditions) to help our students on and off campus safely. Please help them do their job by following their directions and obeying our traffic rules.
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A+ Program (morning & afternoon care)
If you have any questions or want to enroll your child in A+, please call 266-7890 (school A+ office).
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