Volume 5, No. 9
Department of Education, State of Hawaii, October 20, 2005
Office of Business Services
- The following CIP project was sent to the Governor for release of funds in September 2005 (Project is for Design and Construction Unless Otherwise Noted):
- The following CIP project was accepted in September 2005:
- The following major R&M projects were completed in September 2005:
| School | Project | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
Roosevelt High |
Auditorium Renovation (Additional Construction Funds) |
$5,000,000 |
| School | Project | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
Roosevelt High |
Trainer's Room Expansion |
$396,180 |
| School | Project | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
Manoa Elementary |
Building E, Replace Grease Trap |
$86,320.00 |
Maemae Elementary |
Building A, Replace Air Conditioning Units |
$253,347.00 |
Kailua Intermediate |
Miscellaneous R & M for FY 2005 |
$187,300.00 |
Mokapu Elementary |
Building J, Replace Air Conditioning Equipment |
$154,130.00 |
Enchanted Lake Elementary |
Building J - Replace Grease Trap |
$75,800.00 |
Kailua High |
Campus, Replace Program Bell |
$97,870.00 |
Kailua Intermediate |
Miscellaneous R & M for FY 2005 |
$187,300.00 |
Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support
- Standards Toolkit Online. The Hawaii Content and Performance Standards are now available online at http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us. This was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Instructional Services Branch and the Advanced Technology Research Branch. Users are able to search by grade level, content area and keyword. Topics and rubrics for each benchmark are a new feature of version III. For questions, please e-mail atr@k12.hi.us.
- Computer Literacy Certification. Tech coordinators and teachers had the opportunity to listen to Joy Burroughs from Holbrook School in Arizona during the Computer Literacy Certification Program on September 12 – 20. Ms. Burroughs teaches computer literacy to predominately Native American students living on reservations. Her stories inspired participants as they began planning for implementation, creating student accounts and accessing on-line curriculum. "Kudos" to participating schools and their teachers for their willingness to jump into technology and learn with their students!
- Hawaii Networked Learning Communities. The Hawaii Networked Learning Communities (HNLC), sponsored by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, is a consortium led by the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii to improve science, mathematics and technology learning in K-12 public rural schools.
- Hawaii Student Digital Showcase. The Hawaii Student Digital initiative is a joint project with the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. The project is funded through Hawaii Educational Network Consortium and seeks to train and develop young filmmakers. The first show features video selections from both the public and private schools. Show times areSaturdays at 9 -10 a.m., Tuesdays at 5 - 6 p.m., and Thursdays at 12 - 1 p.m. on DOE Channel 56. Video selections include:
- Kaiulani Elementary School: "A Million Pennies"
- Sacred Hearts Academy: "Hovercraft"
- Kauai High School: "Bowling"
- Hakipu'u Learning Center: "Camp Na Hoa Aina”
- St. Andrew's Priory: "Priory's History"
- Mauna Loa School: "Handbells"
- Hawaiian Mission Elem. & Inter: "Live @ Peace"
- Teleschool's Tip of the Day: "Structuring Your Script"
- “Viewpoints”. A one hour panel discussion went LIVE via DOE Channel 56 on September 21. Panelists included Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto; Director of Planning and Evaluation, Robert McClelland; and Educational Specialist with the Special Programs Management Section, Sharon Nakagawa. The program was moderated by Lynne Waters. The topic of discussion was the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA). Panelists shared the time-line, supports available to schools and ways the HSA data can be used to improve classroom learning. School level staff members were encouraged to call in their questions during the telecast. The questions and answers discussed during the show can be accessed on the DOE website at http://doe.k12.hi.us/viewpoints.
- Health, Physical Education and Coordinated School Health. Positive steps are evident in the promotion of physical education, nutrition and overall health and well being of students and staff. coordinated school health teams on the neighbor islands have initiated pedometer challenges to increase physical activity among staff, and a new snack policy at King Kaumuali`i Elementary encourages eating fresh fruits and vegetables at recess.
- Constitution Day is Observed in Schools Across the State. Hawaii’s schools celebrated the first Constitution Day! Sen. Robert Byrd, Democrat from West Virginia, sponsored an amendment to the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, (Public Law 108-447), which states that “Each educational institution that receives federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17.” That date was chosen because it commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
- A Final, Fabulous Year for Teaching American History Grant (TAHG). The Teaching American History Grant (TAHG), awarded to Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support (OCISS), and the Instructional Services Branch (ISB), is in its final year of implementation. The goal of the three-year $996,000 grant is to support programs that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. Originally scheduled to close-out by October 1, 2005, TAHG has been granted a one-year no-cost extension to complete grant objectives.
An exciting and meaningful year is planned with a series of professional development seminars. The highlight will be the Summer Colloquium, tentatively scheduled for June 26 - 30, 2006 at Chaminade University. Organizers plan to invite nationally renowned historian Alan Brinkley to be keynote speaker. Brinkley is currently the Provost of Columbia University and is an award winning author.
On September 9th the HNLC welcomed Cohort 4 schools representing the islands of Molokai, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. HNLC also traveled to the Big Island, and to the east side of Oahu for their first professional development session entitled, “Standards Based Curriculum Planning.”
Six thousand participants in NikeTown 5 (a fun run), held Sunday, October 2, 2005, helped generate approximately $90,000 to benefit schools. Jamba Juice assisted with approximately $5,000 in entry fee scholarships for participating students from Title I schools. In addition, NikeTown will donate one hundred pairs of athletic shoes to Hawaii’s students this fall.
Schools acknowledged this event through videos, web quests, speakers, library presentations and assemblies. Students were reminded of the importance of this living document and how it touches their daily lives. Teachers and students across the state tackled the controversial topics our executive, legislative, and judicial branches deal with every day. Civic responsibility, as it is outlined in our Constitution is a student priority in the 2005-2008 Strategic Plan, and the vision of the high school graduate foresees those who will exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship through adulthood.
Office of Human Resources
- Employee & Team of the Year – 2005. Roy Tsumoto, employee of the year from the Office of Business Services, and Team of the Year recipients Louise Funasaki, Judy Halverson and Debra Kumai from Central District were recognized at the Governor’s Awards for Distinguished State Service at the State Capitol Auditorium. Immediately following the ceremony, the Governor hosted the honorees at a reception at Washington Place.
- Paraprofessional Training Program. The Department of Education launched the 2nd and 3rd cohort Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education Program in partnership with Chaminade University of Honolulu and City University of Bellevue, Washington. Eighty educational assistants are enrolled in this two year program. The educational assistants receive stipends to offset the cost of the tuition. This initiative focuses on the need to recruit future teachers to fill vacant positions in special education classrooms.
- Literacy Tutor Training Program. Offered through the Adult Community Schools, this program is designed for paraprofessionals to gain a better understanding of the reading process. The course was developed to assist schools in implementing a tutoring program in line with NCLB. Since August, the Paraprofessional Training Program has offered the course five times and is the most requested course from principals for their paraprofessionals. The focus is on working with special needs students and students who have difficulty reading. Topics include:
- How Children Learn to Read;
- Read Aloud;
- Phonemic Awareness;
- Phonics;
- Strategies for Meaning and Comprehension;
- Shared and Guided Oral Reading;
- Supporting Reading through Spelling and Writing;
- Partnering with Families; and
- Lesson Planning.
- Maui District Induction and Mentoring Project. The Maui District Induction and Mentoring Project began on August 1, 2005. The project focus is on providing direct support to beginning teachers, reducing the rate of teacher turnover and providing training and assistance to administrators. Training for beginning teachers began in September with focus on school community relationships, classroom management and development of teaching skills. All beginning teachers have been assigned mentors.