ACCREDITATION In order to be licensed or accredited in Hawaii, schools must follow a procedure that involves both self-evaluation, as well as evaluation from an outside party. Because accreditation involves both copious amounts of time and money, newer schools might still be in the process of gaining accreditation. The Hawaii Council of Private Schools (HCPS) was formed in 1995 to develop and regulate specific standards and procedures for operating a private or independent school in Hawaii. HCPS operates under the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS). Parochial and religious schools are regulated by the religious bodies that govern the schools; for example, the Hawaii Catholic Diocese governs all Catholic schools in the state. Many parochial and church schools also work closely with the HAIS. Some common acronyms you may come across in the following editorials include, but are not limited to: National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA), Western Association of Schools and Colleges Is your child prepared? ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Asia Pacific International School (APIS) is a purpose-driven, fully accredited, K-12 school offering cutting-edge international education. The 97-acre Hawai‘i campus is set in the rural setting of the North Shore of O‘ahu. APIS stemmed from the growing and urgent need for a new kind of international education. Being a purpose-driven school from the very start, our mission statement is a call for students to authentically engage in global learning experiences. APIS emphasizes the relationship between East and West and a focus on people and places. We are a small learning community by design - where every student is known, valued, and cared for. We harness the power of place to make learning engaging and authentic; we envision classrooms without walls, where students experience the world around them, travel across the globe and learn meaningful lessons from their communities. Visit APIShawaii.org for more information. CROSS ACADEMY/OSLS Cross Academy, formerly known as Our Savior Lutheran School, builds a solid Christian foundation for learning that encompasses the whole child by promoting virtues and emotional maturity, as well as academic, moral, aesthetic, social, physical and service-leadership dimensions in a well-rounded educational program for preschool through grade 8 students. Cross Academy’s teachers implement STEAM through project-based science, technology, engineering, art and math program to further inspire and prepare students with more real-world work. Promoting active learning, all K-8 classes provide physical education, art, and modern computer practice. Afterschool clubs, summer school and many event projects help to further expand the range and diversity of student’ educational experiences. For more information, please visit OurSaviorLutheranSchool.org. 38 HAWAII PARENT May/June 2024
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