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Hongwanji Mission School Breaking News
Hongwanji Mission School would like to recognize Jacey Moriguchi and Kacie Moku for their excellence at the 2012 Windward District Spelling Bee, hosted by Le Jardin Academy on Feb. 7, 2012. Congratulations on a job well done!
Congratulations to Kacie Moku on placing as the Windward District Spelling Bee Champion! Kacie will be representing Hongwanji Mission School at the Hawaii State Spelling Bee, which will be broadcasted on PBS Hawaii on March 24.
Hongwanji Mission School Drama on KHON2
Buzzing About Words - by Evelyn Heckman
What is the buzz in our HMS community? It is the buzz of the 2011 Spelling Bee! This year’s Spelling Bee, sponsored by Scripps and aio, was held on February 14. The school bee finalists, Susan Hasegawa and Kaycie Matsukado, advanced to the Honolulu District Bee at Sacred Hearts Academy on February 26. Congratulations to all our 2011 contestants!
Mahalo to Dr. Riley, Mrs. Yagi, Mrs. Jacobs, Mr. Maeda, participants, teachers, judges (Mr. Bowling, Mrs. Conley, Mrs. Okamura, Mrs. Wells, and Mrs. Yoshiyama) , and parents for the continued support of the Spelling Bee program. Mahalo to Mr. Bowling, Mrs. Wells, and their students for making the banners for the Spelling Bee.
For those of you interested in following the state bee, more information can be found on the following site:
HMS Spelling Bee 2011 Contestants:
3rd Grade
Kayla Tanaka
Nicole Nakamoto
4th Grade
Haley Nakamura
Noah Tatsuyama
5th Grade
Kaycie Matsukado *Honolulu District Bee Champion
Susan Hasegawa *Honolulu District Bee 2nd Runner-Up
6th Grade
Chika Matsumoto
Nikki Matsuoka
Korey Miyakawa- alternate
Samantha Uyehara- alternate
7th Grade
Justin Sakaguchi
Douglas Yanagihara
Spencer Gee - alternate
8th Grade
Joshua Wong
Bethany Yoshimura
Cori Sutton- alternate
Mika Nakamoto- alternate
Butterflies at the Bee by Kaycie Matsukado and Susan Hasegawa
In the middle of the day on February 26, parent-teacher conferences were held for some fifth graders. Butterflies were already there. But then after that, two simple fifth grade girls’ stomachs were flooded with butterflies, fluttering everywhere. They had a district spelling bee. Their nerves were already up and running, but this was even worse. They studied for only one week, since that was the only time they had. They were jittery, as if bugs were under their skin. Poor them. Since they only had a week, they were nervous that they would get out on the first round.
There were 25 contestants seated at the auditorium. There were only three fifth graders. Those three fifth graders stayed until the end. After many rounds, Kaycie Lyn Matsukado won the championship, which meant 1st place. A seventh grader was the first runner-up. Now it was a battle between the two fifth graders, word after word, correct or wrong. Then finally, the battle was over. “Miss Susan Hasegawa,” said the announcer. “Congratulations, you are the second runner-up.”
“I still feel butterflies, even more turbulent than the beginning. It only felt like a stroke of luck. That’s all,” said Kaycie Matsukado.
“It was amazing that we both stayed until the end; I felt so dramatic, spelling each word, one by one. It felt sort of thrilling. You know?” said Susan Hasegawa.
“I am really proud of both of you girls, you know that?!” said Mrs. Evelyn Heckman.
It was amazing. Even in the first round of the spelling bee, so many people got out, and Susan and Kaycie thought that they would be with them. We feel so thrilled because it was so amazing to win and we both feel so awesome! It was a great experience! We are both very proud of ourselves because we felt so inferior compared to the others. We are amazed that we won. It was glorious; the leis, candy, food, trophies, and the greatest part of it all was getting congratulations wishes from almost everyone there.
Spelling Bee Update - By. Kaycie Matsukado
I was coming back from the Big Island on March 19, and I was worried I would be late for the Hawaii State Spelling Bee. I made it just in time! I sat down in the lounge of the PBS Studio and watched two televisions that were quite big, on the PBS channel of course!
While we were waiting, I met a girl named Regan. She was in the eighth grade.
A nice lady later came by and nicely told us that there was food on the far left of the room where I was sitting. Even though I was not hungry, in my head, I was thinking, “FOOD!” So I walked quickly to the food table and got food for me and my mom. We ate for a little bit.
Then the contestants were called in for make-up. No lip-gloss or lipstick. Just some blush.
Before the live broadcast, we had a practice run of the spelling bee. They did not run the cameras, but it sure looked like they were. When we were done with the practice round of the practice bee, Leslie Wilcox announced that it was the first round of the spelling bee. All of us were worried, but then she said it was only the practice round before the live broadcast. “Thank goodness!” I thought. Phew!
Soon after our practice round, we had dinner for FREE! It was awesome. It tasted so yummy. “Okay, focus,” I thought. But I could not focus when the food was so good.
It was now 6:30 and we were called in to the studio. The Bee. “AAAAHHHH!” I thought. Man I had the jitters. I was up on the practice round of the spelling bee. CRAZY! I was so, so, so, so nervous. Then in the first round I got the word wrong. I was devastated, but I was so proud that I was there.
I also made a friend named Asia. We were writing the words down that everyone was spelling. After many rounds, Christopher Kim won. When we went to the waiting room we got two bags; one swag bag and one Under Armour bag. I was so proud of myself; so were Mrs. Heckman and my mom. I still am proud of myself today. Even though I did not win the state, I did win the district bee to get to the state. I really want to thank Mrs. Heckman and my family and this school (HMS) for supporting me and cheering for me. Thanks to all of you guys, especially 5th grade! You guys really cheered for me!
Our Hawaii Book Written by the HMS 5th Grade
Take a look at the book Our Hawaii written by HMS 5th Graders. Each student added a short story about family and their heritage in Hawaii. It is a very wonderful book and available for purchase through the website. Visit the online book at www.storyjumper.com.
The 4th grade at HMS has been going green. They have an on going worm project that all the students of the 4th grade has been participating in. Currently the students are using organic trash from students' lunches to feed the worms. Take a look for yourself.
Here is the Kindergarten at their best. Video was made by the kindergarten teachers using iVideo on one of the schools Macs. ENJOY!
