Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter, March 29

29-Mar-2023

Our monthly online publication to highlight bright spots from across the public school system. This week features the upcoming graduation ceremony dates and venues and a summer student internship program with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

March 29

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.


Graduation season is quickly approaching and I'm looking forward to celebrating our Class of 2023 graduates and their many accomplishments. Our high schools have set graduation ceremony dates and venues, which are posted on our website. I’m tremendously proud of our graduates and excited to see the positive impact they’ll make for Hawai‘i as they continue on their next journey.

This important milestone is a tradition celebrated with family and friends and while there currently are no planned health restrictions, attendees are asked to continue to be mindful of COVID-19 precautions and stay home if they feel sick, have symptoms of illness, or recently tested positive for COVID-19.

This summer we're excited to partner with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on a paid summer student internship program. Students who are at least 16 years of age and enrolled in a HIDOE high school or adult secondary education program at the Community School for Adults will have the opportunity to intern with different HIDOE state offices, complex area offices and schools from June 1 to July 31. Interested students can start applying April 10. Instructions and forms can be found here.

#PublicSchoolProud

 

We asked some special guests from Parents for Public Schools Hawai‘i to complete the prompt below.

"Something that I appreciate that my child's school does is _____."

" …promote an inclusive environment. Parents and families feel welcomed and are a part of the learning process. My child goes to school excited knowing that there are other children and adults who support her social, emotional, and intellectual growth. She loves school and has fun, which are both important for laying the foundation for her learning experience."
»Kathleen Gauci is a parent of a kindergartener at Waialae Elementary Public Charter School and currently serves as a Parents for Public Schools Hawai‘i board member.
" …engage all stakeholders (students, school staff and faculty, community members and organizations, families) to build meaningful, relevant and authentic relationships and work together to enhance the educational experiences for all students. I'm proud to say that my child's school welcomes partnerships and I am grateful that they do!"
»Wendy Nakasone-Kalani is an Army School Liaison Officer and serves as president of Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i. She and her husband have three children who attend Hawai‘i's public schools.

National Reading Month

Readers at HIDOE schools logged over 3.2 million minutes of reading duringThird Quarter and have surpassed our 2022-23 school year goal of 8 million minutes! Here are some highlights from the leaderboard at bit.ly/2223Q3:

  • McKinley High took the lead with a whopping 658,112 minutes of reading logged.
  • Keaukaha Elementary tops the leaderboard at 93% of students logging their reading minutes.
  • ‘Ewa Beach Elementary students and teachers logged 3,511 books, more than any other school in the state.
  • Thirty-seven percent of readers at Keolu Elementary logged 900 minutes or more to complete the Wildlife Around the World challenge.
  • Kaimukī Middle had the most readers logging minutes (782).
  • Readers at Mililani Uka Elementary completed the most activities and wrote the most reviews.

The fourth quarter reading challenge, Journey Through Space is currently underway. You and your students can join at any time by logging your reading at 808reads.hidoe.us.

We celebrate reading in March, but we keep reading all year long! This year we have a fantastic virtual summer reading program with book talks, visiting authors, and other great opportunities to read, learn and play. You can sign up today to receive personalized notifications about upcoming events at bit.ly/808srp23. Please share this link with your students and their families.

Implementation Plan Feedback

The Department invites review and feedback on the first draft of the strategies and measures for its implementation plan for the Board of Education’s State of Hawai‘i Public Education 2023-2029 Strategic Plan. The deadline for feedback via online form (scan the QR code) is March 31, 2023.

 

Community Query

We asked on Twitter and Instagram...

Favorite reading environment?

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.

» Hawai‘i’s academic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has been “exceptional,” according to an analysis by the Center for Assessment.

 

» Over 200 teen drivers and their parents took part at HIDOE's Traffic Safety Fair to experience the dangers of impaired driving and learn responsible road safety behaviors and attitudes.

 

» NFL star Marcus Mariota partnered with First Hawaiian Bank to donate $50,000 to Campbell High for its girls' athletics programs.

HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Keith Hayashi

Superintendent

Heidi Armstrong

Deputy Superintendent

 

Curt Otaguro

Deputy Superintendent

 
Tammi Oyadomari-Chun
Deputy Superintendent

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS

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

Christine Shaw

Interim
Information Technology Services
 

Cara Tanimura

Interim
Strategy, Innovation and Performance
 

Teri Ushijima

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

 


Contact Information

Communications Branch

Phone: (808) 784-6200

Email: doeinfo@k12.hi.us

Ho‘oha‘aheo

Ho‘oha‘aheo newsletter cover

The Department's primary publication featuring successes across our public schools.

View all Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletters