School News Blog
April 09, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
NVMS Summer School and Hawaii Opera Theater to Produce Carmen
This year, the Hawaii Opera Theater will work with our summer school students on Carmen. This represents a change in opera from the registration information. If you register for our summer school's opera offering, you will be performing Carmen!April 08, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Welcome to the Lancer Ohana, Lilly!
Teacher Randi (Sagawa) Passantino gave birth this morning to Lillian Passantino, a healthy 8 pound cutie. Both Randi and Joe are reportedly exhausted, having been sent home from the hospital on Good Friday. Randi worked in school on Thursday! As Easter Sunrise neared, Lillian was born!April 06, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Niu Valley Middle School Honored as Runner-Up at STEM Week Award Luncheon
The Hawaiian Academy of Science culminated the Inaugural STEM Week with an Awards Luncheon. Niu Valley Middle School was given an Honorable Mention award, behind winner Waipahu Intermediate School. The Academy based their award on student participation in STEM activities. Many thanks to our teacher advisors who coached our teams, as well as mentors who provided valuable consulting time with our teachers and students: VEX Robotics (Teacher Mrs. Gwen Lee). First Lego League Robotics (Teachers Mrs. Janet Itano, and Mr. Scott Brown; Mr. Paul Bernstein parent-mentor). Math Counts Team (Teachers Mr. Jonathan Oshiro, Mr. Michael Young, and Mr. Garrett Hatakenaka). School, District and State Science Fair (Entire Science Department, led by teacher Mr. Clyde Kobashigawa, School Science Fair Coordinator; Mrs. Janet Itano, Mr. Scott Brown, Mr. Jason Yoshimoto, VP, Mrs. Alva Lai,Mrs. Darrah Brown, Mr. Garrett Hatakenaka and VP Mr. Andrew Szkotak.) In this picture, VP Yoshimoto is shown with our school's STEM Representatives, students Sophia Bender, Zoey Fox and Katelyn Kobuke.April 06, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Rock Posse Rocks
An alert person followed the thief who took from our campus stones and mulch. Once he brought along an elementary school-aged girl. The person entered the property of an address in the 5000 block of Haleola Street, where landscaping work is being completed. We reported the incident to HPD. Mahalo, posse, and HPD for protecting our campus. Today, a 40 pound stone appeared in our overflow parking lot.April 05, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
NVMS Science Teacher Mr. Clyde Kobashigawa Given Teacher Award by the Hawaii Academy of Science
Based on record of qualifying his students for the state science fair, and on the strength of student Sophia Bender winning the Chamberlain Trophy, teacher Clyde Kobashigawa was named as the Hawaii Academy of Science's top science teacher. Congratulations, Mr. Kobashigawa! We appreciate your dedication to students, as our school's Science Fair Coordinator and consultant to the Honolulu District Science Fair. In his own eyes, the ultimate honor was a request from the Academy for him to conduct teacher workshops for science fair coordinators. Of the huge contingent of 17 students, 100% had their paperwork in order, without issues, attributed to Mr. Kobashigawa's relentless pursuit for perfection.April 05, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Sophie Bender Wins Chamberlain Trophy for Hawaii’s Top Public School Junior Research Project
I couldn't help but let out a scream when our very own Sophie Bender was named a Grand Winner! State Science Specialist Derrick Tsuruda represented the DOE and handed over the perpetual trophy to Sophia. Using her analytical skills in mathematics (she was on our MathCounts team) and scientific inquiry, Sophia reviewed astronomical data on main belt comets, and drew conclusions that were deemed scientifically sound. In this picture, Sophia stands with the Chamberlain Trophy and the Hawaii Academy of Science CEO&President Dr. Kerry Kakazu and Director Dr. Ken MIller. We are proud of you, Sophie, and all Niu Valley Middle student-scientists who represented our school with pride and honor.April 05, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Niu Valley Student Maya Tigley Earns Best Engineering Project at State Science Fair
Maya's research project, "The Engineering of Pool Lane Lines" was judged as the best Junior Research project in the Engineering Category by the Hawaii Academy of Science. Her methodology was eloquent. Her wonderings were inspired by her interests in competitive swimming, and by the 2011 Japan earthquake/tsunami. Congratulations, Maya! You did us proud. Here, she poses with the CEO of the Academy, Dr. Kerry Kakazu.April 05, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Grade 6 Students Tagawa, Miyashiro, and Dequina Take Home Agency Awards at the State Science Fair
Sitting together as a team of Lancers, cheering each other on, student scientists from Niu Valley Middle were called up to the stage often for recognition at the 55th Annual Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, held at the Hawaii Convention Center last night. Our students were competing in the Junior Research Division (Grades 6-8). This and the next few blog entries will highlight top awards. However, we took home many agency awards as well.April 05, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |
Niu Valley Middle School Principal Named Finalist in 2012 Tokioka School Leadership Award
Last weekend, Principal Mew was interviewed by a panel of judges due to his nomination as one of the Honolulu District's two top principals. The results were made public--he rose to the level of finalist and will be considered with ten other finalists statewide. The Island Insurance Foundation, who sponsors the award, will identify the winning principal at the Public Schools Foundation Dinner on Friday, April 13. The news article can be found here.: http://eastoahu.hawaiinewsnow.com/news/news/89465-niu-valley-middle-school-principal-named-finalist-25000-school-leadership-awardApril 04, 2012 | Mr. Justin Mew |