WAIMEA — Waimea Canyon Middle School opened its school year on a high note, celebrating a six-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Glenda Miyazaki, the Waimea Canyon Middle School principal, said when she arrived at Waimea
WAIMEA — Waimea Canyon Middle School opened its school year on a high note, celebrating a six-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Glenda Miyazaki, the Waimea Canyon Middle School principal, said when she arrived at Waimea Canyon six or seven years ago, the school was accredited. But it was awarded a three-year accreditation because of the move by the school to become a middle school.
Miyazaki said the accreditation process is for middle and high schools, and to earn a six-year accreditation is a sign that the transition to become a middle school was successful.
“This action was taken following a careful study of the Visiting Committee Report which noted many laudable aspects of the school,” Harlan Lyso, commission chairperson, wrote in the letter notifying Miyazaki of the accreditation. “The commission is confident that your continuing efforts to focus on school improvement will be reinforced by prompt attention to the critical areas for follow-up integrated into the action plan.”
Waimea Canyon Middle School was awarded a six-year accreditation with a complete progress report on major recommendations for critical areas and a one-day, on-site review by a two-member committee to be completed not later than the third year of the six-year term.
An explanation accompanying the letter states the school’s current situation based on the accreditation term factors provide compelling evidence the school needs additional support and feedback in meeting identified growth targets and areas that will strengthen student achievement and the school’s program.
This includes the engagement of all stakeholders in the implementation and accomplishment of the action plan.
“This was a long process which started about two years ago,” Miyazaki said. “The document process involved the faculty meeting each Friday with data and looking at where we were and progress based on the critical areas of recommendations.”
In addition to Miyazaki, the accreditation effort was spearheaded by Jayne Muranaka, the Title 1 Academic coach, Audrey Franco, the Student Support Services coordinator, and Cinthy Kagawa, the school registrar and an English reading teacher.
Miyazaki said one of the hardest part of the process was the visit led by Dr. Donald Zimmering and three teachers from Neighbor Islands who spent four days visiting the school, talking with students, staff, parents and even members of the community.
“Basically, they were here to verify whatever we had put into the document,” Muranaka said.
Accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges is recognition that a school is providing quality education for its students, that educational standards are being met, that a school is working towards a solid school vision and mission, and that the school continuously looks for ways to improve.
Waimea Canyon Middle School, joining the other state Department of Education schools, opened Monday with an enrollment of more than 390 students, a decline from its 425 student population in 2011. A staff of 30 teachers among its nearly 60 staff positions supports the school.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
