KS Kapālama update #4

September 25, 2020

Aloha kākou e ka ʻohana Kamehameha Kapālama,

Earlier, you received an email from Kamehameha Schools' CEO Jack Wong expressing our desire to “make this our best year ever” despite the current environment. With that in mind, we are excited to move forward with Hybrid Learning in the second quarter. In alignment with our KS Kapālama Roadmap to Reopening, our hybrid learning model “enables a combination of face-to-face instruction and distance learning as appropriate at each school level.” Distance learning will serve as the primary learning mode during second quarter, but we will also be welcoming groups of students on to campus for face-to-face instruction and other extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and experiences. As we start, these interactions will be limited in size and scope, and voluntary for kumu, staff, and haumāna. Over time, these face-to-face opportunities will increase, building upon one another.

POSITIVE DISTANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

We appreciate our ‘ohana, haumāna and kumu elevating their voices through participation in our pulse surveys administered since March and most recently in August and September. Survey results suggest that KS Kapālama haumāna and ʻohana are generally satisfied with distance learning as a learning model right now and appreciate a cautious approach to reopening. Kumu have also indicated an overall increase in their confidence to deliver a high-quality distance learning experience over last spring quarter.

• 84% of ʻohana are satisfied with their child's distance learning experience.
• Making distance learning the best it can be is the top priority for many of our ʻohana and kumu.
• 78% of haumāna are finding the challenge of distance level work to be “just right.”

In general, haumāna appreciate the schedules, the support they have from kumu, and the virtual opportunities they have to connect with their classmates.

See more detailed reports on our most recent ʻohana survey and haumāna survey.

We are grateful that the majority of our campus community are having a positive experience with distance learning. With this foundation, we can move forward in the 2nd quarter to our hybrid learning model which will allow us to welcome groups of students back to our beloved campus.

WELCOMING SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS TO CAMPUS

We are excited to begin welcoming our haumāna back to our campus in a slow and methodical way. Our po’o kumu will be working with kumu and staff to identify and invite groups of haumāna and kumu to return to campus, or alternative learning space for neighbor islands, after Fall Break and throughout the 2nd quarter.

Poʻo kumu are working with their faculty to identify the most appropriate groups to invite for face-to-face interaction and will be contacting individuals and groups shortly. Individuals and groups that may be invited to campus and activities that may be hosted include counseling, academic tutoring, social activities, co-curriculars, athletics, and ʻāina and culture-based activities. On-campus instruction will be voluntary, and any haumāna that is invited to return to campus will have the choice to do so or continue in distance learning. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your poʻo kumu office.

PROVIDING STABILITY

Our promise to provide a world-class education for our keiki while prioritizing the health and safety of our entire campus ʻohana is a commitment we hold sacred. This pandemic has challenged our resolve in ways we've never experienced, but we will never falter when it comes to caring for our school ʻohana. Mahalo for the trust you place in us and for your support of our efforts to provide the best education possible for your keiki. We look forward to seeing more of your smiling faces on campus soon!

Me ka haʻahaʻa,

Dr. Taran Chun, Poʻo Kula