Hoʻohaʻaheo Newsletter, Jan. 24

Hawai'i State Department of Education sent this bulletin at 01/24/2024 05:06 PM HST

Jan. 24

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.

In the Loop with SuperIntendant Keith T. Hayashi

Aloha, HIDOE Community –

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.

Governor Green’s State of the State Address
Gov. Josh Green saluted our hard-working teachers in his State of the State address on Monday and renewed his commitment to education, citing his legislative request for more than $125 million in operating funding for early learning, K-12 education and charter schools. We are also continuing our efforts with the Governor and our legislators to fulfill budgetary needs for our schools, teachers and students.

Congratulations to Dr. Ed Noh
Congratulations to newly appointed Charter School Commission Executive Director Ed Noh, who’s served as complex area superintendent overseeing schools in Castle-Kahuku since July 2021 and previously led Kāne‘ohe Elementary and Ka‘ōhao Public Charter School. I wish him great success in his new role with the commission, which has oversight of 37 public charter schools statewide. He will continue as CAS through mid-February, when Matt Ho will resume his prior position and serve as interim CAS. Please join me in sending our aloha to Ed for his commitment to Hawaiʻi’s students.

#HIPublicSchoolsProud

Social media highlights of the most engaging posts of the week.
Use the #HIPublicSchoolsProud hashtag for a chance to be featured!

Highlands Intermediate StuCo

» We hosted 6 Pearl City elementary schools for Highlands Leadership Conference 2023! Our mission was to 1) Learn what is student council and your role in it! 2) Learn and practice essential leadership skills! and 3) Be a hero... Get out of your comfort zone!

James B. Campbell High

» Campbell High students had the opportunity to visit the Hawai‘i State Capitol as part of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i’s Elevating Voices from the Classroom event. Awesome job Sabers on engaging with our state leaders and voicing your opinions! Your words matter and WILL make a difference in our community.

Waipahu High

» Seniors from the Academy of Health & Sciences visited @waianaecomp (WCCHC). Students heard from a variety of health care professionals to learn more about careers in health care as well as educational opportunities offered through WCCHC.

Family Focus

Family Focus is a monthly column by Parents for Public Schools Hawai‘i.

Making 2024 Great!

Here are some ideas to make 2024 a great year for our families

Share readings together that we all enjoy
Explore our beautiful outdoors together
Start a family gratitude journal in which we write one thing we appreciate each day.
Cook with keiki for learning and enjoyment
Enjoy family dinners together
Set up a good study/homework space and time
Communicate with teachers and share with keiki
Find a physical activity that we enjoy and do it often
Volunteer for a cause that has a personal meaning or connection
Share family learning needs in this survey so PPS-Hawai‘i can work to meet your needs

We won’t always keep all our resolutions each week, but thinking of these actions increases our health and success!

For more tips and ideas, check out the following links from the American Academy of Pediatrics and The University of Chicago Medicine.

Parents for Public Schools Hawai‘i is a nonprofit organization contributing to keiki and public school success through family and community engagement. Visit www.ppshi.org.

National Mentoring Month

Friday is Thank Your Mentor Day and we wanted to present beginning teachers an opportunity to give a shout out to their mentor. See a few selected responses below and more to be featured on our social media platforms on Friday. Mahalo to all our teacher mentors and the Hawai‘i Teacher Induction Center (HTIC) for their mentorship of 1,300 first- and second-year educators each year. Learn more about HTIC and their vital work in creating a system of support for beginning teachers to reach their full potential.

Christopher Serrano, first-year teacher at Ala Wai Elementary

Mahalo to Sara King for her wonderful mentorship! Through challenges and triumphs, her guidance has greatly impacted my growth as an educator and is a deeply valued part of my career. Her exemplary qualities inspire me daily to emulate her excellence in teaching and conduct.

Pictured from left to right: Christopher and his mentor, Sara King.

Diana Beach, first-year teacher at Mokulele Elementary

From the first time that I was introduced to Ruby, she made me feel that I was supported in my new role. She went above and beyond her job description when I would ask her for help. Ruby has always reached out to help me whenever I needed support. I feel truly blessed to have her as a mentor!

Pictured from left to right: Diana and her mentor, Ruhiyyih “Ruby” Smits.

Tatiana Guzman, second-year teacher at August Ahrens Elementary

Jessica, I am so grateful for the guidance you have given me throughout my journey as a beginning teacher. Your unwavering support has made a huge impact on my self-confidence as an educator. Thank you for your mentorship. I'll definitely hold this time of my career very close to my heart.

Pictured from left to right: Jessica Peterson, Tatiana's mentor and Tatiana.

West Maui Updates

We will be providing relevant information on Lāhainā schools in this space, including updates on health and safety, construction and more.

Wipe tests

The Department continues to conduct bi-weekly wipe sampling in Lāhainā classrooms to test for any particles settling on surfaces. The last wipe test on Jan. 8 found no actionable levels of lead or arsenic, similar to previous samplings. Stay tuned for results from the next round of samples.

Increasing air monitoring

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health is increasing air monitoring and sampling in Lāhainā and Olowalu as Phase II debris removal commences. The increased air monitoring and sampling are being conducted to ensure that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal activities do not significantly impact air quality. The sampling and monitoring will continue throughout the debris removal work. Data from the real-time air monitors is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Air-quality data is also available on third-party mobile applications such as the iQAir AirVisual app.

Important Dates

Jan. 24 - National Compliment Day
Jan. 25 - Board of Education: General Business Meeting
Jan. 26 - Thank Your Mentor Day

Community Query

We asked school leaders to complete the prompt below and will be featuring more in the coming weeks.

“What is your professional New Year’s resolution?”

Relying on my value of pili – the connection we share – to ensure we support one another in school and in life.

Erika Blanco,
Principal,
Honoka‘a High & Intermediate

Build clarity in the purpose of goals for our school. Create a collective efficacy and common understanding in what we’re trying to achieve.

Timothy Shim,
Principal,
Pōmaika‘i Elementary

HIDOE Headlines

A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts

» Ryan Berney, a proud Kalani High School graduate, serves in the White House as the Director of Human Rights for the National Security Council. “He was a local kid from Kaimukī, but he had a sense he could make a difference — this guy, it’s an attitude. It’s a sense that we can, we can do it in Hawai‘i and we can do it for the world.” state Sen. Les Ihara Jr. says of Berney, who interned in his office in 2009.

» Congratulations to the Waimea High School Color Guard for earning first place at the West Point Society Drill Competition this past Saturday, January 20, 2024. Sixteen teams competed and Waimea emerged triumphant, showcasing precision, discipline and excellence in their performance.