WAIMEA – A protocol chant led by more than 250 Waimea Middle School sixth, seventh and eighth graders at 10 a.m. Jan. 8 will signal the start of a formal blessing dedication of the public charter school’s new 9-classroom, $15 million STEAM Learning Center.
The community is invited to join the school’s families, teachers and staff to celebrate the completion of this “gift” to the children of Waimea as the taxpayers of Hawaii – with support from the Hawaii State Legislature and governor. The event will be held under a giant tent on the field south of the new building.
The new STEAM Learning Center – supporting science, technology, engineering, arts/aina and math studies – is a big deal for Waimea and North Hawaii.
“It’s the first major new public school facility in nearly 30 years, and it’s intended to help our teachers better prepare students for the 21st-century world and workplace,” WMS principal Amy Kendziorski said. “This is a long-time dream come true, and we thank everyone who helped make this possible. We are already seeing this new building inspiring relevant, project-, place- and culture-based STEAM teaching and learning.”
According to Kendziorski, the school’s vision for the new learning center is far-reaching. Their goal is for the building to become a hub of STEAM teaching and learning for the entire community, supporting professional development for teachers from across the island and capitalizing on innovative technology and the cultural expertise of the region to inspire students to pursue 21st-century careers.
Gov. Ige and his wife, State Sen. Lorraine Inouye, State Rep. Cindy Evans, Mayor Harry Kim and former State Sen. Malama Solomon will attend the Jan. 8 dedication. Kahu Billy Mitchell will bless the building, and revered navigator Chadd Paishon will be the keynote speaker.
A highlight of the program will be a presentation by students of the cultural lesson of the aha – hand-braided cordage that binds together the strengths of each and every contributor. Every student, teacher, administrator and staff member, many family members, the school’s Local Advisory Panel, Ho’okako’o Corporation and the local school board have helped create the aha to be presented at the dedication.
“The kaona, or deeper meaning, of the aha reminds us that progress requires the commitment of many to ensure success for all,” Kendziorski said.
Students also will introduce the formal name for the new STEAM Learning Center – a name they selected after considerable research and discussion – to inspire current and future generations of learners to make the most of their time at Waimea Middle School.
After the dedication, families and community members can join an ohia tree planting, light lunch and tour the two-story, 24,000-square-foot building at noon. The facility includes a makerspace, demonstration lab, science laboratories and general classrooms. There is also an outdoor mini-amphitheater connected to the building to facilitate integrated learning experiences with the adjacent Malaai School Garden.
For the dedication, Parker Ranch Center has agreed to allow guests to park in its back lot, and Mana Christian Ohana will permit parking on the field east of Kahilu Town Hall. There will be reserved parking in the paved lot and gravel area west of the church hall for kupuna and handicapped guests. Volunteers will be on hand to direct parking. Parking for the dedication will not be permitted on campus and the back entry gate will be closed.
Info: Call WMS Director of Development Patti Cook at 937-2833.