January 23, 2015

I didn't realize that it's been two weeks since I updated this blog.  I apologize for missing last week.

Next week, we'll be temporarily moving P13 to G1 and P17 to H2 so that the contractors can complete the sidewalk to join the new classroom building and A-building. This should be temporary, and hopefully, the classes will be able to move by spring break.  In the meantime, Mr. Merriam will go to the classes to do drama, and the Instructional Coaches have moved to other classrooms so the students can have a classroom.

More happenings with our project:

The grass is starting to grow! The landscaper said 6-8 weeks; it's been 2 weeks now.  Let's see how long it'll take.

The contractor's office is now right in front of the main office.  They're slowly moving the staging area to the back of the school, but first, they have to build a new gate so the workers can get in and out.

The dining pavilion furniture was installed yesterday and today! 6 round tables, 2 with handicapped accessibility, 7-8 to a table.  Landscapers will be planting grass around the area, probably during spring break.

The whole side area by Waianae Avenue will be blocked off next week to start work on the covered playcourt.  PE will be moved to the back of the school, and recess times will have to be adjusted now that the space is limited.

In a couple of weeks, they'll be pouring more of the SOG. I think that may be the last concrete pour for the slab on grade.

January 12, 2015

Tomorrow, students return from winter break.  Officially, we are halfway through our construction project.  If all goes according to plan, the project will be complete in the summer of 2016.  Time certainly is going quickly! This spring, we hope to move into the new classroom building.  We can't wait!

Last week, work began on the special education classroom next to J4 where Portable 9 previously was located.  The plan is to complete the classroom by next school year.  This room will include appliances so students can learn life skills in addition to academics. 

 

It was pretty amazing to see how workers lifted and placed the material for the roofing.  The front side is complete, and workers are almost done with the back.

The beams are for the walkways behind the library media/student center.  They were just installed last week.

January 7, 2015

This is only Wednesday, but I wanted to update you on some exciting things happening with the project.  Well, it's exciting for me anyway.

The landscapers came to work on the area around the Administration Building.

They planted a fern ground covering and red
hibiscus plants.  Let's hope the plants are healthy
and colorful flowers bloom!  It looks so nice to
have color and plants around the building where there was only dirt earlier.






St. Augustine grass was also planted using stolons and spraying mulch over so it can take root.

Workers softened and smoothed over the soil and brought in topsoil. They also planted a tree in the back. (I forgot to ask what kind of tree it is.)







Today, they laid out the St. Augustine stolons and then sprayed mulch over the top. They will be installing a temporary irrigation system and coming back to check to make sure the plants are taking root and are doing well.  According to the supervisor, it takes about 6-8 weeks before the whole area is covered with grass.  Until then, we'll make sure to cordon off the area.



Yesterday, we had a large concrete pour for our slab/foundation for the library media/student center. Work started when the sun was just coming up, and 12 truckloads of concrete later, the pour was completed.  This is only about half of the area for the new building; I can't wait to see it when it's finished!

Every time I see the concrete pours, I am amazed at how efficiently everything is completed. Every worker knows what they need to do, and the work is finished in a timely manner.

That might have been the biggest concrete pour since the project started - 12 truckloads!  

January 5, 2015

Oops!  I almost typed in 2014, but it's a new year already! Happy New Year to all!  I took a few days off last week and wasn't able to update you on our project.  Thank you to Cathy (our super School Administrative Services Assistant) for sending me photos last week, showing the area where Portable 9 once was located.  You may recall that workers were preparing for the transfer of P9 from Hale Kula to Fort Shafter Elementary. Well, it happened last Sunday evening near midnight.

We had heavy winds this past Friday evening, but thankfully, there seemed to be minimal damage at Hale Kula.  One of our jacaranda trees in the back of the school split, and part of it fell towards the school (but did not fall on any buildings) and the other half fell on the fence towards the gulch. Hopefully, the tree will be removed this week.

An empty space where P9 was once located.

There will be a classroom in this area for students who need more intensive services as part of their educational plan.  There will be a similar room in the new classroom building that hopefully will be ready this spring.  This one will be for younger students.

DPW workers are addressing the problem of the pooling of water in front of the school.  This area is outside the school fence line and is the responsibility of US Army Garrison Hawaii.  We appreciate their support in addressing this issue. 

Workers covered the trench, so we no longer have to walk all the way around to get from the office to buildings A, B, C, D, or E.  

The full moon was gorgeous this morning when I got to school! Let's hope that means the days this week will be beautiful so the contractors can get all their work done before students return.