Hōkūpaʻa Updates
Resources, community news, and bright spots.
BRIGHT SPOT #2: KEALAKEHE HIGH'S KOKUA CLOSET
While you can’t walk in for now, the Kōkua Closet is open for giving and taking. It was launched earlier this year to provide clothing, school supplies, food, toiletries, and more for Kealakehe High School students and families – no questions asked.
Call to action for nonprofits: Fill out the Sector Pulse survey!
Important survey for social enterprises and nonprofits to get a “pulse” on what’s happening in the social service sector.
Community Bright Spot #1: Partners in Development Foundation, Kohala
A basic need important to Hawaii’s culture is feeding one another. In March, April, and May, Partners in Development Foundation helped to distribute a portion of ~9,000 “Keiki Care Packs” of snacks, masks, and activities for students in all grade levels with the intention to feed and uplift.
Vocational Resource: Hawaiʻi is Hiring
Find information on many aspects of planning for a first or new career, including information on different fields, job outlook, necessary education, where to get training, and where to get hired. The site also compiles economic relief resources as well as upcoming opportunities like virtual job fairs.
Pursuing Parent and Community Voice
In education, parent voice refers to the values, opinions, beliefs, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds of the parents, guardians, and families of students enrolled in a school, which extends to parent groups, cultural organizations, and other entities related to a school through familial connections.
STEMS² ONLINE SYMPOSIUM. FREE JUNE 26-27
STEMS² integrates science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with the social sciences and sense of place (S²). At the heart of STEMS² is a network of individuals and community partners who seek to foster student engagement and achievement via real-world application of interdisciplinary content knowledge that supports the social emotional development required for community and civic engagement in addition to promoting skills related to college and career readiness.
College-Career Transition Resources
Sharing some resources from organizations and schools offering accessible help for students and 2020 graduates. Some deadlines are very soon (the career exploration class deadline is THIS FRIDAY), so check things out today!
Vocational Training Feature: Hawaii School of Dental Arts - Kona Classes Start June 20th
Hawai`i School of Dental Arts (HSDA) is offering programs in Clinical Chairside Dental Assisting beginning this week! Anyone 17+ can apply, so this is a great option for 2020 graduates looking for affordable job training in Kona.
Hawaii Business Interview with West Hawaiʻi CAS Janette Snelling
Janette Snelling, Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area Superintendent, sat down for an interview with Steve Petranik of Hawaii Business Magazine to talk about public education in the era of COVID-19, as well as where we’re going next.
Building and Maintaining Successful Partnerships
We believe that through strong partnerships with shared vision we can more effectively promote the kind of changes we wish to see in West Hawai‘i. There are many approaches to partnerships, and the process of finding, attaining, maintaining, and growing partnerships should look different for each relationship and each project.
Post-High School Transformations
Choosing what to do after graduation is difficult enough, but this year the graduating class must also make guesses about what the world will look like as they finalize their post-high school path.
Time for Self-Care
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. It sounds simple to do but it’s something we often overlook. More than ever, now is the time to intentionally plan for good self-care.
Post High School Options
Although these are uncertain times, and we don’t know when education facilities will reopen, for many students college has been an ongoing question. Is college for every student? Do all students benefit from a four-year degree?
Does It Fit?
There’s always the temptation to achieve too much, do too much, eat too much. Wait, that last one was for another conversation. Putting too much on our plates, no pun intended, can mean that the work isn’t carried out efficiently nor is it properly resourced.
The Hōkūpa`a SEL team wanted to be sure that this isn’t the case at our project school, Konawaena Middle School.
Teacher Feature #4: Student Voice in Action
Students have thoughts, opinions, dreams and aspirations. We need to give students opportunity to share their thoughts in a meaningful way. Doug McDowell, Honokaa High School teacher, gives students voice through visual language as they communicate issues that matter to them and their community.
Mahalo Complex Area Superintendent Arthur Souza
We are pleased to share this article that highlights one of Hōkūpaa Navigation Council members, Complex Area Superintendent Art Souza. Mr. Souza has served as the West Hawaii CAS for 15 years and we appreciate his dedication to improving systems for our youth.
Teacher Feature #2: Joy Personius, District Resource Teacher
Joy Personius, SEL Resource Teacher is our October Teacher Feature
Teacher Feature #1: Geri Ann Davidson of Kahakai
There are many good things happening in our West Hawaiʻi schools and we appreciate the opportunity to share what our teachers and schools are doing. Geri Ann Davidson is our first teacher to be featured. Enjoy!