High School of the Pacific

The Ohana House

Old News from the Dean of students

This is to brief you on the students’ activities during the Thanksgiving holidays (2007):

Thursday:

Students were taking care of their own personal responsibilities at the dorm from morning till about 2:00 pm. At that time all students and staff got together at the Mylar home for the Thanksgiving Dinner prepared by Mr. Andy and Ms. Anne-Marie. Our President and our Principal were there, adding to the joy of the occasion. The students, besides having dinner celebrations with turkey and a lot of goodies including ice cream, pie and what not, also enjoyed indoor games and outside sports, especially basketball. The excitement of the games was brought to its peak by the interesting participation of the young Manny Breslin with our boys and girls. We went back home with the students very very happy. It was a terrific start for the holidays.

Friday:

All students, except those who had gone to spend the holidays with families in Honolulu, Maui, and Hilo, went for a long joyful ride to Hilo. The students reached Coconut Island and split up into three smaller groups, with one girls’ group led by Ms. Tanya and Mr. Francis; another group led by Ms. Yaeko and Ms. Danna; and the boys’ group led by Mr. Erick and Mr. Julio. Each group went on its own activities and tours from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. At 3:00 pm all groups gathered at the Hilo Mall and made their last look and touch of Hilo before heading back home. On the way home the students stopped at the home of former student Charly Sardis, who provided some light dinner with turkey, chicken, hot dogs, and many other foods. Everyone had a good meal. Students got back late in the evening and found yet another table full of Thanksgiving foods prepared by Ms. Marianne. Everyone just had too much this day!

Saturday:

It was a supposedly “quiet day” but it was impossible to be quiet. Everyone was still so full of Thanksgiving energy that the day hardly went by without clamorous and thunderous games and plays by the students and staff. They had hardly settled down after a heavy dinner when it was time again to hit the road. This time at 6:30 pm the destination was Ms. Wanda's house. Activity? Ice Cream. It was really an ice cream overload. The students and staff could not finish the ice cream prepared by Ms. Wanda and Mr. Brian. Everyone enjoyed not only the ice cream but the whole atmosphere and environment they were in, including looking at the full moon in Mr. Brian's telescope. The kids enjoyed it so much that I had to remind them that it was really time for us to head back home. Everyone went home in very high spirits.

Sunday:

Sunday was designated as the active rest day to prepare for the next day-back to school. The kids had had a very loaded three days of activities, so this Sunday was really spent well with resting and watching movies and just chatting among themselves.

My evaluation of the holidays was that each and every one of the holidays was well spent for the enjoyment of the students. It was very good that they were able to do what they did, for they did deserve it after the long work of the first quarter. I hope that more opportunities to enjoy spending their energy and refreshing themselves will be available to the students at appropriate times. This may help them to focus on studies when returning to class. At least this is what I believe. I thank the office, especially you, Mr. Mike, and Ms. Anne-Marie, for making this opportunity possible.

Respectfully,

Julio