Vision

Community Centric School

SFA aligns with the Aloha Challenge to provide ʻāina-based education and stewardship opportunities that foster a connection to land, ʻohana, and communities and create pathways for local-global servant leadership by 2030. Through their community school programs, educators and community partners come together to create a high-quality education to strengthen keiki's relationship with Hawaiʻi through an integrated approach to academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community involvement. Each community school is tailored to address local needs, resources, and priorities, so no two schools are exactly the same. Refer to the OHE community school reference list for potential community school partners. 

The full list of these core community programs may include:

1. Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including providing additional assistance to students to allow the students to improve their academic achievement

2. Mathematics and science education activities

3. Arts and music education activities

4. Entrepreneurial education programs

5. Tutoring services (including those provided by senior citizen volunteers) and mentoring programs

6. Programs that provide after-school activities that emphasize language skills and academic achievement

7. Recreational activities

8. Telecommunications and technology education programs

9. Expanded library service hours

10. Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy

11. Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement

12. Drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and character education programs

Additionaly, the school may host other vital community programs depending on the need, age cohorts, site capacity, budget and resources.

1. School-based health clinics

2. Flex space for religious services and other club or organization meetings

3. Adult education centers

4. Early childhood development centers

Reference

1. Emeryville Center for Community Life 

2. Essential Community School Transformation 

3. Community Schools in Hawaii 

Disaster-ready Resilient Shelter

A disaster-resilient school can be a safe place for students and the community during a disaster. Schools can serve as evacuation points and be built to withstand disasters by investing in disaster-resistant infrastructure.

Large Cafeteria

In the event of a disaster, the school cafeteria-auditorium is designed to serve as a safe, fully functional emergency shelter with the capacity to accommodate over 300 occupants. This multi-purpose space will be equipped with high-efficiency, all-electric kitchen appliances, enabling school staff and volunteers to prepare meals even when the main power grid is down. By leveraging power from our solar PV and battery storage system, we can maintain essential kitchen operations, ensuring that occupants have access to nutritious, warm meals during extended periods of power outages.

Additionally, the cafeteria-auditorium will include ample seating, restroom facilities, and access to critical infrastructure like communications, cooling, and lighting, which will be powered independently of the grid. This setup provides immediate shelter during an emergency and ensures a comfortable, safe environment where our community can gather, receive support, and access essential services until normal conditions are restored. Through these preparations, we are committed to strengthening our school’s role as a reliable resource and a safe haven for our students, families, and neighbors when they need it most.

PV Solar & Battery Energy Storage System

The school will have a sustainable energy solution with solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems. This system will generate enough clean, renewable energy to fully power our school’s electricity needs. Additionally, a small grid-scale battery energy storage system will allow us to store the energy generated by our solar panels when it’s most needed.

Under normal operations, this battery system will enable us to manage our energy use efficiently, helping to reduce peak electricity demand and providing power for nighttime activities. In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, the combined solar and battery system will ensure the continuous operation of essential infrastructure. This includes maintaining power for critical areas such as communications, food preparation, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).

By adopting this sustainable approach, this school is not only reducing its environmental impact but also enhancing our resilience, ensuring that we can continue serving our students, staff, and community in any circumstance. 

Reference

1. Hawaiʻi Hazards Awareness and Resilience Program (HHARP) 

2. Lakeridge Middle School  Second link