| PBA Celebrates a Student Author
Dear readers of the What's New,
Not sure if you’ve had the chance to skim through this week’s Midweek. PBA sophomore Ellen Ruckmänn-Bruch published an article titled “Every Day Is the Best Day” as part of the weekly’s “Chasing the Light” column where she discusses unfortunate assumptions people make about individuals with Down syndrome like her and debunks those assumptions with a stirring list of assertions about her accomplishments, interests, full, rich personhood, and future hopes. “I’ve grown used to people telling me what I will never be able to do,” she writes. “Actually, I know who I am and what I can do.”
| At PBA, Ellen is a strong student (three-peat Dean’s list), loves music and yoga, and participates as a member of Dragons Speech and Debate. She is enthusiastic about nearly everything. She is also, I am happy to say, realistic about her character. “Some people are too ready for me to be an eternal, childlike angel. I am not. I have my ups and downs. Nor am I a saint who is always sweet and smiling.” I applaud Ellen’s publication and urge you all to find the edition on your coffee tables and give the piece a read. It’s a lot of fun! | | I recall once some years ago the visit of a Bhutanese monk to PBA brought over by Pam Omidyar. The monk had just finished a presentation to the PBA student body. During the Q&A concluding, I raised my hand and asked whether any of the monks were the same age as the students at PBA. Yes, he indicated. “Do any of the monks ever misbehave?” I wondered. Yes, of course, he indicated. The monks are teens in training. For me, it was an important exchange. Making assumptions has a useful role for humans discerning things and moving through the world, but quite often assumptions hold us back. In more than 20 years of working at PBA, there is still an almost slapstick routine I go through explaining to newcomers that I work for Pacific Buddhist Academy. “Hawaii Baptist Academy?” you mean. “No, Pacific Buddhist Academy.” “Pacific Baptist Academy, perhaps?” “No, I work for Pacific Buddhist Academy. It’s a small Buddhist high school, the first accredited Buddhist high school in the nation, and it’s on the temple campus of the Hongwanji in Nuʻuanu, you know, where they have the bon dance right there off the Pali?”
“Oh, Pacific Buddhist Academy,” they say. “Do you all shave your heads there?” “Well, my hair is thinning, but you can see I still have some left. Come check us out sometime, we are an excellent school.” Those that know us know, and those that don’t we hope to reach. On this point, I urge you to assist PBA as we move closer to our Autumn Admissions Open House on Wednesday, October 22. Do you have family or friends with young people in the family who would thrive in the close, intentional learning community we foster at PBA? Send them my contact information, or our Admissions Director – [email protected], [email protected] – brag about us some, or encourage them to check out our website. We’ve got a lot happening at the school to celebrate, and our school continues turning corners as we rise to the challenge of awakening all our learners to their potentials in our environment of enlightened learning. We really appreciate your continuing support of PBA! | Warmly,
Josh Hernandez Morse
Head of School | Lighting Our Way Honoree Women Speaking Out Engages Students | During the third Lighting Our Way student interview, a group of senior students had the privilege of meeting Dr. Amy Agbayani in Senator Henry Aquino’s office at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. The office provided a meaningful setting for students to engage with Dr. Agbayani, who is one of Hawaiʻi’s most influential civil rights advocates.
Students explored Dr. Agbayani’s lifelong dedication to the Filipino community, learning firsthand about the initiatives she led such as establishing the Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity (SEED) office at UH Mānoa and chairing the Filipino Community Center. | | Reflecting on their interview, senior Liam Antipala said, “It was an enlightening experience to learn more about Filipino heritage and culture. I was especially interested to learn how Dr. Agbayani’s efforts had such a profound impact on Hawaiʻi’s education system.” Group member Jace Batara shared a personal connection, saying “Growing | 
| up, my grandma taught me the values and traditions that shape our family’s Filipino culture. Interviewing Dr. Agbayani helped me see how those same values of hard work and dedication can preserve our culture and uplift the Filipino community.”
After meeting Senator Aquino and completing the honoree interview, students were led by Dr. Agbayani to Vice Governor Sylvia Luke’s office on the top floor of the State Capitol. Although Vice Governor Luke was out of town, her staff greeted the group warmly, encouraged them to take photos, and provided stickers of the state seal.
Through their time with Dr. Agbayani, the students gained a deeper understanding of how dedication to equity can influence schools, support diverse communities, and enrich Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape.
Dr. Amy Agbayani is one of six honorees who will be recognized at PBA’s Lighting Our Way banquet on Friday, November 14, at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. Tickets are available online at pacificbuddhistacademy.org. | | 
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| | OFFICE HOURS
7:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
OFFICE CLOSED
Monday, October 13 - Indigenous People's Day
Friday, October 24 - Teacher In-service Day
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