School News
December 01, 2009 | Mr. Justin Mew | General
Assistant Secretary of Education and Congressman Listens and Learns at Niu Valley Middle School
The United States Education Department sent its second ranking official to Hawaii and the Pacific to “listen and learn” about public education. Assistant Secretary Peter Cunningham was escorted by Congressman Neil Abercrombie and an entourage visited our school and was briefed by Principal Justin Mew on our school’s pursuit to become an authorized world school by the International Baccalaureate Office. Principal Mew stressed the need to meet student and community expectations to offer a rigorous and relevant curriculum for our students, and to set the same rigorous expectations for our faculty and staff. The highest level, having instant recognition and acceptance world-wide is the International Baccalaureate. The congressional delegation then engaged in a round table discussion with invited parents, students, community members and Complex Area Superintendent Ronn Nozoe, and extended the discourse over our delicious school lunch. Finally, classroom visits ensued for the officials to experience “IB Classrooms.” Niu Valley Music Department welcomed our VIPs with pieces played by our orchestra, and numbers by our Polynesian Music students. The heart-warming moment came when our hula dancers presented the leis used in the dance to Assistant Secretary Cunningham and Congressman Abercrombie.