Ho`ala High School senior Jordan Bayang, has been recognized as a Hawaii Champion in a National Trigonometry Competition. The TrigStar Program Contest is an annual high school mathematics competition sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors based on the practical application of Trigonometry. The program recognizes the best students from high schools throughout the nation.

The Hawaii contest this year included 30 schools (both public and private) with 6 schools having students declared CHAMPIONS. Jordan was the Ho`ala School champion receiving 100% on the content (missing first place by 42 seconds!) and a $100 cash award. Ho`ala School high school math teacher Maggie Pulver, also was acknowledged
with a cash award.

Jordan Bayang has been a Ho`ala student since Kindergarten and will graduate in June.
Jordan plans to attend the University of Hawaii School of Engineering in the fall.

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve honored Ho’ala School in Wahiawa with their Patriot Award recently during a school wide assembly.

Tech. Sgt. Betty J. Squatrito-Martin of the Hawaii Air National Guard and a high school teacher at the school, nominated her employer for the Patriot Award.

“From the moment I joined the Guard, Ho’ala has supported every move I have had to make as an Airman,” said Tech. Sgt. Squatrito-Martin. “I can’t thank them enough,” she added.

Linda Turnbull, head of school, accepted the award on behalf of the school. In addition, Turnbull has signed the ESGR Statement of Support publicly acknowledging support for all their National Guard and Reserve employees.

Sam Wong, ESGR representative, thanked the students and Ho’ala employees and families for continuing to support the Guard and Reserve as he presented the award to the school.

ESGR, a principal advocate within the Department of Defense, develops and promotes a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees.

Tech. Sgt. Squatrito-Martin began her military career with the Air Force in 1983 and spent eight years on Active Duty, five of which were spent stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, now Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In response to Sept. 11, she returned to service by joining the Hawaii Air National Guard in 2003. She joined Ho’ala School in January of 2003. Tech. Sgt. Squatrito-Martin will be leaving for a year long assignment to the National Guard Bureau Headquarters in Washington D.C. where she will work in the Public Affairs department with the National Guard Counterdrug program.

“It is really hard to walk away from Ho’ala, even if for just a short time Ho’ala is a special place that allows we teachers to develop endearing relationships with our students,” said Tech. Sgt. Squatrito-Martin. “The students have become like my own children, I am really vested in their future success,” she added.

Ho`ala School’s two-week Service Learning Program, Camp Kokua began in the summer of 2002 and started its 10th year this summer. This community service program for children 8-18, provides students with opportunities to serve in various service projects throughout the islands. 3 students have been with the program for ALL 10 years. Several students who moved to the mainland, return each summer to attend Camp Kokua. The two-week summer day camp with 19 students enrolled, runs from June 27 – July 8 led by Ho`ala School teacher Lori Fukuoka and Atina Pascua, Executive Director of the University of Hawaii’s Service Learning Program.

In 2010 Camp Kokua received the Promising Practices Award by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) in Washington, D.C. The CEP gives this annual award for unique and specific exemplary practices that encourage the ethical, social, and academic growth of K–12 students through character education.

On Monday, students began their service with a trip to the University of Hawaii’s Ka Papa Lo`i o Kanewa`i, part of the University’s Hawai`inuiaka School of Hawaiian Knowledge. Students prepared the lo`i for planting and helped to maintain existing taro plants.

Students continue their service on Tuesday in collaboration with Surfing the Nations, an organization committed to helping the needy with headquarters now in Wahiawa.

On Wednesday students will travel to Moloka`i to volunteer until Friday at the Moloka`i Youth Center, the Keawa Nui Fishpond and the elderly home, Hale Naha`olu.

Back on Oahu the week of July 5th, students will continue their volunteer work with the Equine 808 Horse Rescue in Ewa, work with the Army Natural Resources Program at Mt. Kahanahaiki on an overnight camping trip, and wrap up the program on Friday with reflections and presentations of their two week service to their parents.