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Aloha HE'E Members and Participants,
HE'E would like to congratulate the Department of Education's effort to curb chronic absenteeism as reflected in the 2013-2014 Strive HI Performance System results. Please see link to Strive HI Performance System results here. The percentage of students absent 15 days or more in the 2013-2014 year dropped to 11% from 18% a year ago. We commend the Department's effort to make chronic absenteeism a priority and indicator in the Department's Strategic Plan and in the Strive HI Performance System. Research shows that attendance is linked to academic achievement. In Hawaii, chronically absent students have lower GPAs and lower Hawaii State Assessment scores than their peers. As a Coalition of parent groups and community organizations that deal with families, we know that attendance is critical and that it takes a concerted effort by all stakeholders to understand the importance of attendance. Chronic absenteeism as an indicator has sent a strong message to schools and families and the results have been impressive.
HE'E Meetings
HE'E Planning Meeting: Tuesday September 9, 2014, 9:00-11:00am at The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street, Suite 301. (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place, 1099 Alakea Street)
At the next Planning Meeting, HE'E is pleased to have Randall Roth, Joan Husted and John Sosa introduce an emerging organization called the Hawaii Education Institute. The Institute will function as an education think tank with an overarching goal of improving the quality of public education in Hawaii so that more children thrive and more professionals reach their full potential as educators. The Institute will conduct studies that are independent, objective and nonpartisan, focusing on principles and practices of effectiveness. It will also gather the perspectives and insights of principals and other administrators, teachers, parent groups and community leaders through surveys and focus groups; organize and promote public forums; and work directly with media to help ensure news coverage of public education issues that is predictably accurate, comprehensive and timely.
Along with the presentation about the Hawaii Education Institute, the Planning Team will also continue discussion on YRBS strategy as well as start ideas about 2015 Legislative Session. Please join us for an engaging discussion! Space is limited so please RSVP to cheri@heecoalition.org if you have not already done so.
HE'E Planning Meeting: Tuesday October 21, 2014, 4:00-6:00pm at The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street, Suite 301. (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place, 1099 Alakea Street) Please save the date for the October Planning Meeting which will be on Tuesday October 21, 2014 from 4:00-6:00pm. (Please note that it is not the 2nd Tuesday morning as normally scheduled) HE'E welcomes a presentation by The Hope Street Group on their Hawaii Teacher Fellowship program. For a description of the program, please see the link here. We will update members on the details as we get closer to the meeting.
HE'E News
Common Core Implementation in the Department of Education
Last school year HE'E staff worked with the Department of Education's Office of Strategic Reform to help give guidance and support to certain Complex Areas on Common Core outreach to parents, families and communities. We explored what parents and families were concerned about on Common Core and how Complex Areas could communicated effectively to community members about the shift to Common Core. One of the Complex Areas that we worked with was the Kailua/Kalaheo Complex, who chose to create a video to highlight the work of their schools on Common Core. Please take a look at the video here. The response to the video has been very positive. According to Complex Area Superintendent Suzanne Mulcahy, principals have shown it at opening of school year meetings, at PTSA meetings, at Back to School Nights, and other opportunities. It is a great way to share the work of the schools with the community.
Civil Beat Education Series
HE'E Coalition will be one of the sponsors of Honolulu Civil Beat Education Series. There will be four forums in the series. The first will take place on October 1 on the University of Hawaii campus and will be about the quality of public, private and charter schools and the difficulties parents face in choosing which type to send their children to. The second will be on October 8 and will take place at the Ewa Beach Public & School Library. The topic will be whether local communities should have more control over their schools. As we receive more information on the forums, we will update everyone on the details. Please save the dates for the first two forums. We encourage attendance and also the opportunity to ask questions at these forums.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Input
We would like your input on YRBS brochures for the 2013 results. The University of Hawaii College of Education Curriculum and Research Division (CRDG) has created brochures for the 2013 YRBS results. Please see high school brochure here and middle school brochure here. The brochures are comprehensive, providing results for all statements on the survey. CRDG would like our help in creating brochures for parents and families. Therefore, we would like input from members on how the brochures can be edited to focus on items or areas that families are concerned about. We will review at next planning meeting. Please send any comments to cheri@heecoalition.org. We would like all comments by Friday September 19, 2014.
2014 Children and Youth Summit: Friday October 10, 2014
HE'E has started to participate in Keiki Caucus and 2014 Children and Youth Summit planning meetings this year. Keiki Caucus members include state senators and representatives and a community resource group of children and youth advocates and providers, who assist the caucus with identifying priority areas for children and youth in Hawaii. Please see the schedule of Keiki Caucus meetings here.
The 2014 Children and Youth Summit, which will take place this year on Friday October 10, 2014 is an opportunity for youth to identify their priority areas and assist the Legislature in identifying key children and youth issues that need to be addressed in the 2015 Legislative session. We invite adults and students to attend. Please see invitation here. Please join us for this exciting event!
HE'E Member News
Ceeds of Peace Workshop Series
The overarching goal of Ceeds of Peace is to build strategic and thoughtful leadership skills, or "ceeds," such as conflict resolution, critical thinking, compassion and collaboration in adults who impact children-and in children themselves-to create safe and thriving homes and schools. Please find attached a flyer and video review of our Ceeds of Peace workshop series. We encourage students, families, community members, teachers, after-school care staff and counselors to attend both workshops on their island, either on O`ahu at Pearl City High School or on Hawai`i Island at Kealakehe High School. Workshops are free but space is limited! Participants will hear and engage with local peacebuilding leaders in the morning and then in the afternoon will design action plans for their families, schools and/or communities. Please contact Lisa Taylor at lisaiwalani@gmail.com to register. Deadline for first workshop is September 10.
Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)
We are pleased to announce Hawaii's first Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) civics and democracy training course for up to 25 caring individuals (does not need to be a parent).
Location: Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, 46-316 Haiku Road, Kaneohe
Monday evening classes from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Each class begins with a family style dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Classes will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.
Childcare will be provided for ages 5 and up
PLTI offers a stimulating curriculum that will boost leadership skills to address areas of concern such as, accessible child health, the achievement gap, neighborhood safety, and the significance of parental involvement. Together participants will emerge as strong leaders and advocates for all children. The institute is offered free of charge. Your time, commitment, and a community project that reflects your passion is what we ask for in return. Please see brochure and application to register. Return the completed application form by September 12, 2014 to: PACT-Kaneohe Community Family Center 46-155 Kamehameha Hwy. Kaneohe, HI 96744 Or email application to: kcfccokazaki@pacthawaii.org. For more information, contact Cynthia Okazaki at 235-7747 or 225-9377
Hawaii International Dyslexia Association (HIDA) is offering a series of three of its most popular workshops, to be held in the Fall in collaboration with Wayland Baptist University Hawai'i Campus in Mililani Mauka.
The workshops will be held on Saturday mornings at WBU's campus in Central Oahu. A certificate of attendance will be issued upon request.
- September 6: When Children Struggle to Read
- September 20: Dyslexia Simulations (interactive workshop)
- October 4: Help/Support for Struggling Readers (an overview)
HE'E meeting notes posted on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-meeting-notes/
HE'E email archives on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-email-newsletter-archive
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