October 25, 2014

We had heavy rains last weekend and I was worried about whether that would delay work on the project.  Fortunately, work proceeded as planned.

I've learned over the course of this project that the initial preparation work takes longer.  A solid foundation is important for a strong building in the same way we try to provide our students with a solid foundation so they can have the skills to be successful learners.

Some photos from this past week:

Digging the footings for the next phase of this project - the library media/student center

Another view of the workers digging up the footings

Installing the steel beams for the roof of the classroom building

October 17, 2014

The week started off with a Blessing and Open House to celebrate the official opening of our Administration Building.  It ended with Hurricane Ana approaching our Hawaiian Islands, the second such threat since school began on August 1.

We are feeling the vibrations of the machines - especially the rollers - as they compacted the dirt for the new library media and student center. After the ground was tested and passed, workers began digging the trenches for the footings.

We also got to take a tour of the classroom building.  Right now, the completion date is in March, and we hope to move in this school year.

Preparing the area for the library/media/student center

There still is quite a bit to do on the second floor.  Some of the work has to wait until after the roof is completed.

There will be a learning hub in the middle; it's bigger than a hallway and is intended to extend the learning space for students to collaborate or to work on projects.

I think this is the future flex classroom.  It's smaller than the classroom but has the ability to open up and be another learning space for students to collaborate, to listen to speakers, or to explore using different resources.

We'll be able to move the tech lab from the Admin Building to this room on the second floor. 

This is the first time I saw the renovated roofs.  What a contrast to the old roof!  This was has 5 layers of insulation which, with the big fans we'll be getting, should cool down the classrooms.

We could see the machines working on the library/media/student center building from our vantage point on the second floor of the classroom building.

Working on the covered walkway to the new classroom building

Working on the outdoor dining pavilion. This should be ready by early November, and we'll receive the furniture by January.  We will make a schedule to determine who will get to use this area. 

October 13, 2014 - Blessing and Open House

We have been looking for a good date since we moved in during the month of July, and today was selected.  Our staff was back at work, and it was a military and construction holiday so everything worked out nicely.  What a beautiful day to celebrate the "official" opening of our Administration Building!  United States Senator Mazie Hirono was at our groundbreaking on July 1, 2013, and she returned to share this special day with us. LTC Kenneth Sanderson represented US Army Garrison Hawaii, and State Representative Lauren Matsumoto also attended. Yuuko Arikawa, our Complex School Renewal Specialist, represented our Complex Area Superintendent who is off-island.

Phase I is now complete, and work continues on Phase II (classroom building) and Phase III (library/
media/student center and covered playcourt).  We appreciate everyone who is making this project possible - the Department of Defense and State of Hawaii for funding this project, our contracted providers S&M Sakamoto, Bowers & Kubota, and Design Partners, US Army Garrison Hawaii, and Department of Education Facilities Department.  We also appreciate our school community for their flexibility and patience throughout this project.

Here are a few photos from today's Blessing and Open House celebration.

Student Council President Micah greets US Senator Mazie Hirono.

Senator Hirono shared her commitment to ensuring that the needs of our military families are a priority for her as a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.   

LTC Kenneth Sanderson addressed the crowd and pledged the support from US Army Garrison Hawaii for this project.

Waiting to bless the building - Kahu Patterson from the US Army Garrison cultural office shared a pule (blessing) prior to the untying of the maile lei.

Untying the maile lei 

We had a nice crowd to participate in the program and celebration.  Micah was an awesome MC! 

Another view of those who attended today's celebration

Of course, any celebration also includes food! Thank you to our cafeteria staff and to S&M Sakamoto for providing delicious refreshments!

October 3, 2014

This week, our project was featured in the Building Industry Association magazine! Here's a link to the article.  We are so fortunate to work with such a great team!

Next week is our Fall Break, and hopefully, there will be lots accomplished since there will be no students or teachers on campus. Workers started removing the structural beams for the walkway in front of the school.  Workers continue to dig the footprint for the library media resource and student support center. The building is going to be very spacious!

I will be on a trip for work next week.  One week away, and I'm sure there will be changes when I return. We are preparing for a Blessing and Open House on October 13. Not too many photos to share this week.

Earlier, workers had to excavate this huge concrete block. It was part of a data system that was no longer being used.  We are not sure how old this was, but it was amazing that the workers could dig out that concrete block in one piece!

We are discussing with US Army Garrison and the contractors on how to alleviate these kinds of puddles.  Let's hope we can get this problem resolved before the rainy season begins.

At one time, this area housed our office and the library.  Once the building is completed, we'll have a library that will be significantly larger and can be used more flexibly than the old one.  There will be a media resource center, offices for our Response to Intervention and Instructional Coaches, counselors, Tripler SMHT program, Student Services Coordinator, SBBH therapist, and several meeting rooms.  I'm sure the counselors and SBBH therapist are looking forward to having their own room after having 5 of them in one portable.

Enjoy Fall Break, everyone! I won't be at work next week, so no new photos will be posted.

September 21, 2014

The major project last week was clearing the rubble from the demolition of our office building. Workers crushed, sorted, piled, and hauled away most of the remains of the building.  I continue to marvel at the machines and how well they are able to do their job so efficiently!  Now that the area has been cleared, work will begin on the new library/media/student center which is scheduled to be completed by summer 2016.

Yesterday was a Saturday, but the workers were on-campus to pour cement for our covered walkway. The intention is to have the walkway ready in time for the rainy season.  We are grateful for this accommodation as the original plans called for the walkway to be completed during the summer. Very soon, those who are 6 feet tall won't have to bend down to avoid hitting their head (smile).

Some of you have asked about the puddling and the muddy area at the entrance to the school.  That area is the responsibility of US Army Garrison, and we continue to work with them to seek a workable solution. Please be patient as we work together to address this problem.

Here are some photos from last week:

Bulldozing the interior first before the exterior can be demolished

This is what's left of our original office building.

Starting to sort the rubble before they're hauled away to be recycled.

Another angle of the rubble . . . 

. . . . and another view

Getting the materials ready to be hauled away

A side view of the classroom building.  Next phase -- putting on the roof.

Take a look at this photo of Hale Kula, circa 1959, when the school was first opened.  Look at how small that tree was back then.  We found this photo when we were moving from the old building to the new one.  It was frayed and needed to be restored before we could enlarge it on canvas.  Costco did a great job!  

Now It's Aloha to Our Office Building

Oh, dear! I didn't update this blog last weekend as I had intended to! It was another big weekend, and the old office building is now demolished. I was present on Saturday when the work started, and it was just amazing to see how they proceeded. That machine went right into the front door and started methodically knocking down walls, ceilings, and everything in its way. The work was efficient and there was definitely a plan on what to tackle first.  As the machine worked inside the building and pushed the materials out through the back where the walls were quickly knocked down, another machine picked up the rubble and placed them into piles. It was truly an educational experience for me! By Monday afternoon, much of the material had been hauled away to be recycled and reused.

Workers continue to prepare the covered walkway, and weather permitting, the concrete will be poured on Saturday.  I know many of our taller staff and parents are wondering if they will have to worry about hitting their head when the walkway is completed. Workers showed me that the height of the walkway will be 7'1" so unless we have someone taller than that, everyone should be okay.

I took videos of the demolition, but for some reason, they aren't loading on this blog.  I wish you could see those videos; it is amazing to see how quickly and skillfully the demolition is completed.

The office was where new families registered to attend Hale Kula and where every staff member signed in each morning.  Now it is gone for good.

All that remains of our office building 

From a different location on Monday morning . . . 

. . . and by Monday afternoon, most of the rubble had been hauled away.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Yesterday, workers demolished the library side of the building.  Today, they worked on the side that housed our technology center.

When I became principal of Hale Kula, that tech center had 12 student computers. Through grants and school funds, we were able to begin upgrading our technology resources at Hale Kula, and today, we have about 2 devices for every 3 students. When the new classroom building is completed in March (hopefully), there will be a tech lab, and the library/media/student center which will be built on the area where buildings are being demolished will also have a media center.

Thank you to kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Schaefer, for taking this photo today of the tech center being demolished.