December 29, 2013

3 1/2 days of work last week (Christmas week), and a lot was accomplished!  The workers dug two trenches, one at the back of the school and one in the front.  The one in the back is to connect to Oceanic Cable for our Internet.  The trench in the front, which cut through our parking lot, will connect the Hawaiian Electric Company transformer to the new administration building.  The trenches in the area between F-building and the cafeteria was filled in as well.  Right now, it's a big dirt mess, but hopefully, the contractors will spread some grass seed (although it's still not finished yet).

It looks like the parking lot will be covered and ready by the time teachers and students return to school next week.  Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Here are a few photos; we really appreciate the contractors doing this work during the winter break!

This is the trench in the back of the school; it actually runs right through our PE area, but it should be completed before the students return from winter break.

This is the trench that goes from the flagpole area and runs right in front of the office.  They still need to dig a trench through the grassy area, but that may have to wait until the next break.

The square box is where the HECO transformer will be located.

This is the back of the school where the 10-classroom building will be.  Workers poured concrete in the footings.  The schedule calls for this building to be completed one year from now.  

December 20, 2013

School has ended for this calendar year, but construction work continues.  During the break, there are plans to do work that cannot be done while students are in school for safety reasons.  So, after all the students had left, workers began cutting through the parking lot.  The plan is to complete most of the work required to connect the administration building to the HECO transformer which will be located in the front of the school.

I took a photo of the back of the administration building, but it didn't come out very clearly.

Here's a view of one side of the administration building; this is how it looks from across the street.

And finally, this is the administration building from the school side. I believe they're putting the wood where the windows are going to be.

Let's hope the contractors complete everything that is on their list for winter break!  I'll keep you updated :-)

December 15, 2013

Whenever we have heavy rains like today, I worry that our construction project will be delayed though I'm sure the contractors take that into consideration when they submit their proposal.  Nevertheless, I'm sure that there will be minimal work completed tomorrow.  Last week was a busy week, and workers accomplished a lot!  Our administration building is coming up quickly, and work on the electrical system continues.  The electrical work required diverting pedestrian traffic in the front of our school for the Hawaiian Electric Company transformer.  We appreciate everyone's understanding of the need to keep our students and the school community safe. The photos below show the barrier as well as the work that is being done -- removing the concrete as well as drilling through the sidewalk to dig the trench.

                                
These are updated photos of the new administration building. The work is progressing well, and hopefully, everything will be ready by June so we can move in prior to the start of the next school year.

This is the view from the roadside which will house the PCNC/Transition/PTO.  Initially, though, we'll have to house our tech lab in that room until the classroom building is ready.  

This is the view from the opposite side, closest to A-building.  The closest room on this side is the Health Room.  The principal's office and conference room are also on this side of the building.  We cannot see the middle part which will be the front lobby and the office area.  

Important Visitors

We were visited by the grant managers for the project from Washington, D.C. They came to check on the progress of our Facilities Grant as well as to meet with State and Department of Education leaders.  We are so appreciative that we received this grant from the Department of Defense and the State of Hawaii!  Here's a short slide show which shares the progress on this date, December 4, 2013.
http://www.slideshare.net/jiwase/update-on-facilities-grant

Progress!! (November 29, 2013)

On November 22, 2013, the foundation for the administration building was completed.  (It had rained when the photo on the left was taken.) This week, construction workers began putting up the walls.  We're really excited, and things are moving more quickly now.  Maybe we will get to move in next summer (that's the plan right now).  I took the photo on the bottom because that's where the principal's office and conference room will be located.

Update - November 22, 2013

The cement truck was already in place when I arrived for work today.  They got an early start!

It's been awhile since I updated all of you on the progress of our construction project.  The workers have been working diligently, and things are going well.  Today, they finished pouring the foundation for the administration building and for the roof of the custodial room.  Here are some photos which show the progress.            

They are getting ready to excavate the footings for the 10-classroom building.

Do you notice the outline of the building?  It's going to be pretty big!

The roof of the custodial building is now complete. Although we had hoped to have this room completed by next month, we cannot use the room until the electricity to that building is connected.   

The foundation for the administration building is now complete.  I think the next step is to put the walls up.

  

       
 

November 4, 2013 - Putting on the Roof

It was a beautiful day to set the concrete blocks for the custodial building roof.  The crane kept growing taller and taller, and the process to move thirteen 2,500 pound concrete pads was impressive!  (How many pounds altogether? How many tons?)  Students and staff stopped to watch in awe as the workers secured and guided the pad, and the crane slowly lifted and placed them, one by one, on the top of the building.  Luckily, there was very little wind; can you imagine a block like that swaying in the breeze? Scary, I'm sure!

The crane sets up in our parking lot.  The trailers with the concrete pads arrived before 9:00 a.m.

The crane kept getting taller and taller!  It's a good thing they stabilized it so it wouldn't topple over!

It really takes teamwork to complete every part of the project!  

I tried to get the whole machine in, but it was too tall!

Lowering a concrete pad for the roof of the custodial building

The work is done, and they lower the extension.

. . . and at 12:30, the crane is ready to leave our campus.  

October 24, 2013

It's been awhile since I posted an update on our construction project.  Today, after our weekly meeting, we put on our hard hats, our safety glasses, and our shoes and went into the construction area to see the progress, up-close.  The project is progressing at a nice, steady pace!

Workers are building the beams for the roof of the custodial building.  

Construction on the new classroom building will be starting soon.  Workers are still grading the area; extra dirt had to be brought in, and soon, they will excavate footings.

This is the back of the administration building where the mechanical room will be located.

The PCNC/Transition Center/PTO room will eventually be housed here by the front of the administration building.  There will be two restrooms adjoining their room; those are the sunken square areas in the photo above.

Just beyond the avocado tree in the photo will be the site of our new media resource/student support center.  Unfortunately, the avocado tree will probably have to be removed.


I thought I took a photo of the principal's office and adjoining conference room, but it didn't come out very well.

October 15, 2013

             
Fall Break is over, and students return to school tomorrow.  A lot was accomplished in six days!  Here are some photos to show what was done.

What a pile of dirt after digging a trench for the water line
last week

The contractor promised to have the area
covered by today.  It is!

     

With rainy season coming up, we were concerned that
students could slip on the wooden sidewalk and
stairs.  

The contractors painted the stairs and porch and added
sand to prevent slipping.  It looks much nicer, too!

  Tomorrow, workers will be pouring cement for the administration building pad.  I won't be in school, so I'll share photos on Thursday when I return.          
   

October 9, 2013

The workers are busy!  They're trying to get as much done as possible since we're on fall break.  Here are some photos taken today.

Digging a trench between B and C building for the water pipes

Between A1 and Portable 17 -- they cut the cement for the lines and the workers will be painting the stairs/platform for P12 and P13.

This is the Administration building; getting ready for the concrete pour next Wednesday.

Making lots of progress on the custodian building!  

Tree trimmers are cutting the trees by the new fire lane. We've been waiting for approval to remove these trees. 

This tree was removed by the end of the day (I forgot to take a photo).

The walls are almost done!

Seeing how much is being accomplished this week makes me realize how challenging it's been for the contractors to work within our school schedule!

October 7, 2013

Look!  The walls of the custodian room/restrooms/JPO room are going up!

And the Administration Office is moving along nicely, too!

Updating - September 28, 2013

Our construction project is moving along although there was a disturbing occurrence this week. When they arrived for work on Thursday morning, the construction managers discovered that there had been a break-in, and thousands of dollars worth of tools were taken.  The Honolulu Police Department as well as the military police are investigating, and it is our hope that they will be able to recover these tools.

Meanwhile, work continues on the project.  Workers poured concrete again this week, and there is a pad for the custodians' room, and all of the stem walls for the administration building appear to be done.  If you've never seen this huge machine pouring concrete, it is amazing!  I cannot imagine how that thick concrete can go from the truck, and up that distance, until it comes down to be poured into the foundations.

These photos show the custodians' room prior to and after the cement pour.

                   

Here's how the administration building is progressing.  I wonder why they smooth out part of the cement but not most of it.  (Look closely at the photo on the right.)

              

Finally, work resumes on digging trenches for the underground wires including new electrical lines for our new buildings.  This is the area in front of F-building.