Hoʻohaʻaheo Newsletter, Aug. 3

03-Aug-2022

Our monthly online publication to highlight bright spots from across the public school system. This week's issue features special guests from the Board of Education.

Aug. 3

Editorial Mission: As the Department’s primary publication, we aim to live up to the meaning of ha‘aheo — to cherish with pride — by bolstering and sustaining pride in public education and touting the successes happening across our system.

Editor's note: Since January 2022 we've increased the publication frequency of our Ho‘oha‘aheo newsletter from monthly to weekly as part of our commitment to provide timely updates and highlight bright spots. We are continuing the weekly format for the 2022-23 school year, with added features to keep content relevant and engaging.


Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! As I shared in my welcome back messages to our families and staff, we're looking forward to an exciting year ahead, focused on re-engaging students and accelerating learning. While safety remains a priority, we're cautiously optimistic that we can resume a sense of normalcy following two full academic years of COVID-imposed restrictions.


To help ground our efforts, we are rallying behind the concept of ne‘epapa, which in Hawaiian conveys moving and working together as one and being united. Coming out of the pandemic, it’s all the more urgent that we come together with a shared purpose and mission in support of public education and our students.

#PublicSchoolProud

 
We asked some special guests to complete the sentence below.
“Great things are happening in Hawai‘i public schools. My top priority this school year is to ______.”
" ...effectively advocate for widespread accessible, equitable, and beneficial educational opportunities for all students across Hawai‘i, so that we can collectively work to make our home and the world a better place.”
Maverick Yasuda is a senior at Waipahu High and serves as the student representative on the Board of Education. With an interest in environmental science, Maverick admires the ‘ōhi‘a lehua for its resilience in the face of adversity — a trait he works to personify.


" ...use our federal ESSER funds on innovative new programs to help our struggling students and to get all students re-engaged in fun and rigorous learning.”
Bruce Voss is chairman of the Board of Education and a partner with the law firm of Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild. The Kalaheo High alumni previously worked as a news reporter for Pacific Business News and KHON2. A rabid baseball fan, he recalls calculating batting averages to help learn his fractions at Aikahi Elementary.

Family Focus

We asked on Twitter and Instagram…

» Back to school means transitioning back to normal and more structured schedules for both students and parents. Check out CDC’s tips for sleep for children/teens and adults.

» We encourage parents, caregivers, students and staff to focus on prioritizing their emotional well-being. Get self-care tips and mindfulness exercises from Smiling Mind's self-care pack.

Community Query

We asked on Twitter and Instagram...

Q: Do you plan to mask indoors when school starts?

CDC COVID-19 Community Levels

CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels is a tool to help guide decision making on mitigation strategies based on community classification levels of low, medium or high. When the level is at medium or high, additional layered strategies such as masking are recommended.
 

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.

» Hilo-Waiākea CAS Esther Kanehailua was featured in this helpful back-to-school health and safety video.

 

» We’re excited to see this awesome banner and Ne‘epapa already incorporated at Kea‘au Middle!

 

» Congratulations to the 15 educators selected for the 2022-24 Hawai‘i State Teacher Fellows cohort!

HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Keith Hayashi

Superintendent

 
Heidi Armstrong
Deputy Superintendent

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS

Sean Bacon
Interim
Talent Management
 
Brian Hallett
Fiscal Services
 
Annie Kalama
Interim
Student Support Services
 
Randall Tanaka
Facilities and Operations
 

Christine Shaw

Interim
Information Technology Services
 

Cara Tanimura

Interim
Strategy, Innovation and Performance
 

Teri Ushijima

Interim
Curriculum and Instructional Design
 

Ho‘oha‘aheo

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD

Nanea Kalani

Executive Editor

 

Chanel Honda

Managing Editor

 

Sara Miyazono
Creative Director

 

Derek Inoshita

Contributing Writer

 

Krislyn Yano

Contributing Writer

 

 
 

CONNECT WITH US » HawaiiPublicSchools.org

1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813 | Phone: (808) 784-6200 | Fax: (808) 586-3234
Email: newsletter@k12.hi.us

 


Contact Information

Communications Branch

Phone: (808) 784-6200

Email: newsletter@k12.hi.us

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