PAAC’s network of extracurricular clubs spans 30 public, private, and charter schools across the state and includes over 350 high school student members. Congratulations to PAAC Clubs at Farrington High School, University Laboratory School, and Keaau High School who earned the title of Distinguished Clubs of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year!
Gold Level- Farrington High School
Members of the Farrington High School PAAC Club at the Youth Climate Strike in September 2019.
The Farrington High School PAAC Club has a strong member base with 31 members! This year the club carried out two Global Action Projects. In the fall they participated in the Youth Climate Strike at the Hawaii State Capitol and in spring the club joined a native forest restoration workday with the Sierra Club of Hawaii and Koolau Mountain Watershed Partnership. For several years, the club has been one of the largest and most active in the state. Congratulations for sustaining an impressive level of engagement, organization, and leadership.
Teacher Advisor: Ms. Elizabeth Shiraki
Silver Level – University Laboratory School
Members of the University Laboratory School PAAC Club at Spring Global Vision Summit.
With 22 club members, the University Laboratory School achieved Silver Level status for the first time. In early March, the club held a “Get Out the Vote” informational presentation and early voter registration drive, attracting 28 students (1/8 of the student body), most of whom were juniors and seniors old enough to register.
Teacher Advisor: Mr. Matthew Baylor
Silver Level – Keaau High School
The first non-Oahu club to achieve Distinguished Club status is Keaau High School’s PAAC Club. The club has been engaged in a year-long effort to reduce the school’s plastic waste by working with school administrators to limit the cafeteria’s consumption of single-use plastic utensils. In the fall, the club met ten times to study for the Academic WorldQuest Competition. Their work paid off with one team receiving recognition for their top score in Hawaii County. In the spring, the club fundraised to fly to Oahu for an educational excursion that included participation in PAAC’s Global Vision Summit on International Trade and visits to the Honolulu Museum of Art and Bishop Museum.
Teacher Advisor: Mr. John Bonewitz
Honorable Mention- St. Andrew's Priory
The Eco-PAAC Club at St. Andrew’s Priory receives a well-deserved Honorable Mention. Their club took on ambitious projects, including the creation of a permaculture garden. Several club members had participated in PAAC’s 2018 Summer Study Tour to Bali, which focused on sustainability, food security, and health. Starting a permaculture garden was one way students were inspired to take action following the study tour. Other projects the club participated in included:
-
* Ka La Aloha – A gathering of students, teachers, and parents at St. Andrew’s Priory where the club sold beeswax food wraps they made themselves and herb bouquets taken from their permaculture garden.
-
* Tour de Trash – the club visited H-Power to learn how about Honolulu’s waste-burning power plant.
-
* Preparing a booth at Land and Sea Festival at St. Andrew’s Priory
-
* Making the school-wide event “Deck the Halls” more sustainable
-
* Encouraged people to bring in reusable mugs for Hot Cocoa Day
Teacher Advisor: Ms. Alden Watts
Mahalo Club Advisors
PAAC would like to thank all our dedicated teacher advisors, without whom these clubs would not exist. Teacher advisors offer their classrooms as meeting spaces, work with student officers to coordinate logistics, and give their time on weekends to chaperone students at PAAC events. PAAC is fortunate to be able to work with such generous and supportive teachers.
Note: Distinguished Clubs are selected based on overall membership, participation in PAAC events, community engagement, and reporting. View a list of all requirements by level (gold, silver, and bronze) here.