Teachers Take on the Challenge of #Code

Students may be on #Summer break, but the Sacred Hearts Academy remains alive and bustling! 

Teachers returned for a special #PDP on #Coding presented by Academy librarian, Kellie Fase. Faculty members from the lower school and high school learned how to in integrate the skills of coding into their classes in a fun and interactive way! In addition to coding activities that integrated the popular Angry Birds and coding with Disney's Frozen's Elsa & Anna, teachers received a hands on demonstration of a MakeyMakey kit! A simple, yet innovative way to bring coding to life in the classroom for all ages!

Want to try your own hand at learning how to #Code? Visit http://code.org/ today! Any one of any age can learn to code; take the challenge and learn about coding today! 

#SacredHeartsAcademy

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Class of 2015 Closes Out High School Era

The final bell on May 20 not only marked the end of the school year for the Academy’s students, but also, the culmination of high school academic experiences for the school’s 119 seniors. This “countdown” actually began on May 15, the final day of formal instruction, which also included the spirited “Senior Farewell.”

Amid graduation practices, the seniors celebrated during a luncheon with the Sisters of the

Sacred Hearts and participated in their Baccalaureate Mass on May 21.

After their Commencement Exercises on May 23, every member of the Class of 2015 will join thousands of others as they pack their bags – ready to face the challenges of college. They have been accepted to schools such as Brown University, West Point, Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State and Boston University. Others will travel to campuses closer to home, including the University of San Diego, Seattle University, Hawai’i Pacific University, Chaminade and the University of Hawai’i.

No matter where they are headed, these students leave the Academy armed with a firm academic foundation and motivated make the world a better place not just for themselves, but for everyone around them.

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Academy Students Soar in Stock Market Simulation

Taryn Wong and Ellie Ramirez are all smiles to their Economics teacher, Lurline Choy, upon being notified that their team placed first in the Growth Division of the Spring Hawaii Stock Market Simulation Competition.  Teams of 2 to 4 students invested a hypothetical $100,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds over a 10 week period. Sacred Hearts Academy​ entered 16 teams with eight teams continually in the top 10 slot.  The Simulation is sponsored by the Hawaii Council on Economic Education​. 

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Academy 6th Grader Dances in Hollywood Movie "Aloha"

Sacred Hearts Academy 6th grader Kauionalani Emond can add a Hollywood major motion picture to her future resume.  Emond was cast as a hula dancer for the movie "Aloha" starring Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone. 

Filming took place in 2013 and the movie is set to be released in theaters on May 29, 2015. Emond and her family attended the Cast & Crew screening at Ward Theaters earlier this month and got to see Kaui and her hula sisters on the big screen. Watch for her in the very last scene of the movie and look for her name as the credits roll!

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Phoebe Kirk Claims 800M State Championship

On May 16th, Academy Junior, Phoebe Kirk, '16 claimed the 800 Meter Hawaii State Championship! 
The road to the championship was not easy for Kirk, she faced many obstacles on her journey. Going into the 2015 State Track & Field State Championship Kirk was not sure if she would physically be able to compete and pursue her goal of breaking the state 800 meter record. 
As a result of severe pain there was strong concern of a stress fracture that would hold her out of the event. After undergoing medical assessment it was determined that she had severe shin splints. Determined to run in the event Phoebe sat out of workouts for 10 days prior to the state trials. Hitting the track for the first time in the 800 qualifying run Phoebe finished 3^rd and came off the track confident that she would be able to give the finals her best effort.
During the finals Kirk's toughness caught the eyes of the whole stadium as she dominated the event. The emotion and pride of her teammates, coaches, family, and friends was palpable as Kirk reached one of her life goals and claimed the 800 Meter Hawaii State  Championship! Phoebe is now setting her sights higher, and aspires to breaking the State Record in 2016. 

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Meet the High School Student Council

Meet the ladies of Sacred Hearts Academy's High School Student Council for  the 2015-2016 school year! The incoming council is ready to lead and is especially looking forward to finding creative ways to serve the community and build school spirit in the coming year. Congratulations ladies! 

Back row: Rache Sapla (Spirit Chair,) Risa Hayashida ( Treasurer,) Angelique Mara (Vice-President,)  Raelynn Chu (Secretary,) Brook Silva (SFA Chair,) Ellie Ramirez (School and Community Service Chair,) Toni Normand (Advisor) Front row: Dana Fuerte (Art Director,) Jewel Taitano (Historian,) Chloe Huang (President,) Ellena Igari (Publicity Chair,) Frances Nicole Tabios (SFA Secretary)

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Athletes Awarded for Efforts

The Academy celebrated the accomplishments of its athletes at an awards convocation on May 12 in the Gymnasium, joined by coaches, family members and friends.

Beth Ann Young, a 1985 Academy graduate, opened the event with her keynote address during which she shared about her experiences as a Lancer athlete. She also encouraged the students to try new things – no matter how daunting – whether in sports or life in general, because the outcome may be surprising positive and impact their lives forever. 

The approximately 275 Lancers were recognized for their participation on all levels, including Lower School competitors in the Catholic School League and Christian School Athletic League and those representing the Academy or Pac-Five in Intermediate, Junior Varsity and Varsity events

In addition, State Championship participants, league All-Star honorees and those earning Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) titles were honored, as well as two league coaches of the year – Allen Wallace in bowling and Guy Chun in riflery.

The celebration of this year’s athletic honors culminated with the presentation of the two overall awards. Senior Kaela Fiesta as named the Most Outstanding Senior Athlete, and her classmate Hailey Ganiron was the recipient of the Youngs’ Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Young’s father, Harlin Young.

              

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Lancer of the Month Kelli Keahiolalo

Academy senior Kelli Keahiolalo was named the Lancer of the Month! Kelli is a two time state qualifier for the Track & Field Team & and an all-ILH Soccer Selection. Throughout her time at the Academy she has shown outstanding improvement as a student and athlete raising her GPA to as high as a 4.05. Her Track & Field Coach says, "Over the last two years I've watched her rid herself of distraction, and tap into her potential. She has become committed to self-improvement and is a fierce competitor." Kelli's teachers can attest to the fact that she is hardworking, dedicated, and maintains a positive attitude both in and out of the classroom. 

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Lower School Speech Club Celebrates Stellar Year

The Academy’s Lower School Speech Club celebrated a year of stellar competitions at their end-of-the-year luncheon on May 6 in the Conference Room.

Each of the Club’s 22 fifth and sixth grade members received a trophy and certificate in recognition of their teamwork and winning attitude throughout the year.

The Club, under the guidance of Susan Phillips and Jill Sprott, participated in three meets during the season at Maryknoll, Iolani and Punahou Schools. With their continued improvement as the season went on, the Punahou meet was, by far, their best showing with the speakers earning 56 out of a possible 64 “Superiors.”

Phillips concluded, “I am very proud of these students. They were always willing to try harder. They took their role in the Club very seriously, and they knew their individual performances not only affected them personally, but the team as a whole.”    

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.

Eighth Graders Move to Next Path in Life

Seventy-seven eighth graders were joined by family, friends and faculty at their Rite of Passage on May 5 in the St. Margaret Mary Chapel. The Rite signifies moving forward and transitioning from one path to the next and was a jubilant celebration of the students’ completion of Junior High. The evenings speeches and finale song all echoed the same themes staying positive and striving to do the best possible in all endeavors.

Eighth graders Chenyi Hu and Mariah Walton reflected on their school path thus far, with Walton urging her classmates to “Trust God, trust family and trust yourself and everything will always work out. This is a very exciting time that could be the doorway to the rest of our lives, so we need to make the most of it.”

Kaycie Baltunado, who experienced her first year as the Junior High advisor, encouraged the students to “emphatically love one another and always move in a positive direction. If you can persevere, grow and always have hope, I am confident you will have success in life.”

The ceremony concluded with the class performing the song “You Gotta Be” in reflection of the everyday challenges in life and how to overcome them.

Follow @SacredHeartsAcademy on Instagram.
Tweet #SacredHeartsAcademy
Contribute to Sacred Hearts Academy.