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Aloha HE'E Members and Participants,
We would like to update you about recent Coalition and member news as well as upcoming events!
Upcoming Meetings
Please SAVE THE DATE for HE'E's Large Group Meeting on Wednesday May 2, 2012 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Japanese Cultural Center in Mo'ili'ili (2454 South Beretania Street). Validated parking is available. We will have a number of members presenting at this meeting so we would like a great turnout! We would like RSVPs by April 25, 2012. We will not be having a Planning Meeting in April but will resume our schedule and have one after the Large Group Meeting on May 8th, Tuesday, from 9-11am at The Learning Coalition Office. Please put these dates in your calendar!
Upcoming Events
The Institute for Habits of Mind in associate with Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, It's All About Kids, University of Hawaii, Manoa, The Learning Coalition, Hui for Excellence in Education, Hawaii ASCD and Hawaii Education Matters invites you to attend Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind, A conference especially for educators, social workers and parents will be held on May 31 and June 1, 2012 from 8:00am to 4:00pm at Kailua High School. Please see flyer for details. Please spread the word!
Legislative Update
HE'E Coalition supported bills, resolutions, and Governor's messages have passed up to this point in this year's legislative session. They are HB2007/SB2535 on Bell Schedules, HB2527/SB2789 on Performance Management System, SB2545 on Early Learning, SCR79 on Family Engagement, GM817, GM818 and GM819, which are reappointments for Board of Education Members Keith Amemiya, Nancy Budd and Cheryl Lupenui, respectively. Please see HE'E testimony for all items by clicking on associated links. Mahalo for the Policy Team and members who attended and gave testimony at hearings. We appreciate your hard work and support!
Communications
HE'E staff recently met with Department of Education Communications team to discuss ways in which HE'E might help Department with external communications. We offered organizing meetings or forums to have DOE present important topics to Coalition members. Also, we discussed the possibility of organizing focus groups for the Department if they should need help with message testing. We look forward to your participation as we engage with the Department in this capacity.
Member News
Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) (http://www.facehawaii.org/)
FACE Hawaii held an Accountability Assembly on March 12, 2012 from 6:30-8:00pm at St. Elizabeth's Church. The topics of the evening were Affordable Housing Preservation and Public Education Reform. Mayor Peter Carlisle and City Council Chair Ernie Martin were in attendance to answer questions about affordable housing and Senator Jill Tokuda, Representative Roy Takumi and Governor Abercrombie's Early Childhood Coordinator Terry Lock were in attendance to answer questions about public education reform, in particular, the current Early Childhood Education legislation in this year's current legislative session. FACE asked for the education policymakers' commitment to devising a sound transition plan for the late born four year old children who will no longer be able to attend public Kindergarten from the 2014-2015 year. The meeting was extremely well attended, standing room only at St. Elizabeth's Church, demonstrating the community's interest and concern about these topics.
Hawaii Education Matters (HEM) (http://hawaiieducationmatters.org/)
HEM will pilot five workshops in May 2012 as part of its Kailua/Kalaheo Parent Academy. HEM is collaborating with the Kailua/Kalaheo Complex Area Superintendent, principals, teachers, and families to develop a sustainable way to engage parents and families in the education process, so that families deepen their understanding of education issues and become effective partners in improving their local schools. The following workshops will be held in May:
- Smooth Transitions from Elementary to Middle School (May 3, 2012, 5:30-6:30pm Kailua Intermediate School Library)
- Beyond Bullying: Growing Safe Schools (May 7, 2012, 5:30-6:30pm Kailua Intermediate School Library)
- Hawaii 5210 Let's Go! Power Up with Sleep and Breakfast (May 9, 2012, 8:15-9:15am Ka'elepulu Elementary School Multi-Purpose-Room)
- Creative Summer Reading Solutions (May 22, 2012, 4:00-5:30pm, Kailua Elementary School Library)
- Effective Parent Teacher Communication (Date and Location To Be Determined)
Please go to website for further information!
Castle Complex Community Council (C4)
Castle Complex held its second Town Hall Meeting on February 29, 2012 from 5:30-8:30pm at Windward Community College's Akoakoa Building. The meeting was entitled Great Teachers, Strong Schools, A Thriving 96744 Community. The evening's conversation touched upon questions as why should good teaching matter to everyone in our community? What is a good teacher and what is effective teaching? How do we nurture good teachers and ensure effective teaching? Panelists included Castle High School Senior Charity Adaro, parent Stephen Terstegge, Complex Area Superintendent Lea Albert, King Intermediate Principal Sheena Alaiasa, and HSTA Executive Director Al Nagasako. For Castle Senior Charity Adaro's interview on Civil Beat on what makes a good teacher, click here.
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