The Wireless, 2009-2010, Issue 2

Posted by Principal Catherine Payne Tuesday, January 19, 2010  2:28 PM

Photo by Dannica Simon

All of us at Farrington High School wish the best for our families in the Farrington Community this holiday season. As we approach the New Year we know that the challenges we are facing at school are also felt by our students and their families. This is one of the most difficult times our state has ever faced, and while we are doing everything we can to continue all of our programs and services, budget cuts and furloughs will affect our ability to do so.

We are thankful during these times for our partners in the community and among the alumni who have stepped forward to help make up some of the losses. The Farrington Community Alumni Association (FACF) has already given us more than $50,000 this year to support classroom teachers, our Teen Center, and our athletic programs. Individual alumni have also given funds, along with First Hawaiian Bank and New Hope Christian Fellowship Oahu. We consider these gifts to be special blessings during a time of need.

Posted by Principal Catherine Payne Tuesday, January 19, 2010  2:41 PM

Dear Parents, Guardians, businesses, and neighbors,

With the upcoming winter months ahead of us and a potentially wet and rainy season, it is important for all of us to be aware of the potential danger of our island’s water resources because of polluted storm water runoff.

MS-4 a new way of life.

Farrington High School has implemented the Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS-4) program in order to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) effort to save our nation’s water resources (streams, canals, oceans, and wells). Our MS-4 report in the near future will create programs for educating, monitoring, enforcing, and cleaning our campus, storm drains or nearby water ways.

Posted by Marianne Honda Tuesday, January 19, 2010  3:05 PM

Like the administrators and teachers at Farrington High School, the counseling department is working hard to ensure that students are on top of their academics and equipped to pursue their goals after high school.

The counseling department consists of 8 counselors assigned by graduating class (two counselors per grade-level), an outreach counselor, and a post-high school counselor. Also included in the department are two Student Services Coordinators, a School-To-Work Coordinator, and two social workers and a public health nurse housed in the school’s Teen Center.

The class (or grade level) counselors monitor grades and maintain credit checks to ensure that students have the necessary credits to graduate. Besides talking with students about personal and academic concerns, they work with parents, teachers and administrators to help students. The outreach counselor works with a selected group of students, makes home visits when needed and helps coordinate placement in alternative programs. The post-high counselor assists students with planning for college, and guides students through the college application and financial aid process.

Posted by Bebi Davis Tuesday, January 19, 2010  3:23 PM

Bebi Davis
Teacher

On November 11, 2009, under the guidance of Captain Elvis Grande (Junior), Teacher/Advisor Bebi Davis, and Mentors Travis Takashima and Jorge Portillo, Farrington’s Robotics Team 2504 participated in the VEX East Oahu Regional Tournament at Iolani School. Farrington competed against 36 teams in the East Oahu Championship.

In alliance with Team 368E from McKinley High School and Mid Pacific Institute, the three team alliance advanced to the finals undefeated; even defeating the number one seeded team. With this win, Farrington is now able to represent Kalihi and Hawaii at the 2010 VEX World Championships in Dallas, Texas on April 22nd - 24th. Go Govs!

Posted by Demiliza Saramosing Tuesday, January 19, 2010  3:53 PM

Jovelle Lanzaderas sings the handwashing song while teaching a child the proper method of washing their hands.

The members of Farrington High School’s FCCLA have joined the fight against the flu virus with the science based integrated educational and research program, Germ City. Our chapter volunteered at the Germ City booths to teach children and their parents proper hand-washing techniques. In August, we conducted the program at the Honolulu Zoo for Kapiolani Hospital’s Centennial Celebration; in October we set-up a booth at the HMSA’s Island Scene festival; and again in November at the annual Leeward Community College’s Family Fun Fair.

Germ City booths were designed after the success of the People Hand Washing program which helped improve the “effectiveness and frequency of hand-washing behaviors in adults and children.” These stations help create the illusion of an unseen Germ City living on people’s hands. By creating this illusion, these booths help increase awareness and influence people to change their hand washing behaviors.