Admissions Director Liz Turcik, Head of School Dr. Miguel Solis and Board of Trustees President Jim Bozich greet a new Maui Preparatory Academy student on the first day of school. PHOTO BY SANDRA OFFERGELD.
NAPILI — Maui Preparatory Academy is five weeks into its new “normal.” While the physical structures and program offerings at the Napili school remain the same, the families, faculty, staff and administration are learning to exist in a post-fire world.
The number of students enrolled at the preschool to 12th grade independent school swelled from 275 to 390 in just one week. The Board of Trustees and administration examined the capacity of each classroom and consulted with its educators to determine the maximum number of students they could safely accommodate to keep Lahaina students attending school in their own community.
Over 1,000 students applied to attend Maui Prep, with ability to pay tuition not a factor in admittance. Philanthropists from around the world sponsored students to attend the independent school.
When the students returned on that rainy Aug. 21st morning, the entire faculty and staff waited at the drop-off curb to greet the students, some who had only been admitted the evening before. Volunteer licensed social workers also roamed the campus daily, ready to comfort students or teachers who were still coming to grips with the tragedy in their hometown.
“The well-being of our students has been a top priority,” commented Academic Dean Dr. Lisa Zamora. “In order to provide as much support as possible, we’ve had six counselors, both locally and visiting from Oahu’s ‘Iolani School, making visits to campus and talking with students and teachers in order to best assist them during this time.”
The counselors have provided a safe space for students to express their concerns, anxieties and challenges, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs addressed. These open and honest conversations help alleviate stress and create a supportive atmosphere within the entire school community.
Overall, Maui Prep strives to foster a positive and healthy educational environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally.
Assistance Dogs of Hawaii brought a team of comfort dogs to campus. The response by the students was so great that Principal Ryan Kirkham adopted Hope, an infant black Lab and Lahaina evacuee herself, to enroll in the Assistance Dog training program and serve as a campus comfort dog after proper training and certification.
“As Hope continues her own puppy training, we are thrilled that she will be playing such a positive role in the social and emotional health of our kids,” remarked Kirkham. “Already, we have seen the impact that having a trained therapy dog on campus can have.”
Admissions Director Liz Turcik helped initiate funding to secure a long-term Licensed Clinical Social Worker to serve the Maui Prep campus. Tori Davis, a professional social worker, will be on campus regularly, available to provide counseling services to both students and the faculty and staff.
“Mental well-being of our ‘ohana is paramount to the recovery of our growing community,” said Turcik. “This benefits students, faculty and staff who are desperate for support. We are extremely grateful for this generous philanthropy. We implement a holistic approach to educate the whole child, and their mental health is a huge component that is directly correlated to students’ success in all areas.”
Enrolling so many new students in such a short amount of time has posed its challenges, and each Maui Prep faculty and staff member is determined to do their best for the well-being of all students — a moral imperative to the community.
Funding for Davis’ position came from Brother’s Brother Foundation, a Pittsburgh entity focused on mental health and well-being. The BBF funding given to Maui Prep is an extension of the generous gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for emergency financial aid to support local Lahaina students enrolling at the school.
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