Welina ke aloha e nā ‘ohana o Kamehameha Hawaiʻi,

As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and the shifts evolving locally and globally, we need to inform you about the changes we are making to the school calendar, information needed to assist with planning, along with steps we are taking to ready our kula to best continue to serve your ʻohana in a way that places your child’s health, safety and well-being as our #1 priority.

We continue to follow the latest recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, as well as state and local authorities, and we continue to adhere to and elevate those recommendations that apply to us as a school.

If this situation should turn into a local health emergency that would require us to close school for an extended period of time, I have asked our Associate Head of School, Mr. Scott De Sa and our campus leadership team to design a K-12 Distance Learning Plan in order to provide continuity of instruction for your child(ren). While I truly hope this proves not to be necessary, we are preparing for this possibility and will provide you with as much notice as possible.

To better prepare our kumu to be able to deliver quality instruction through an online platform, we will be extending spring break by one additional day for students and changing April 24 (a calendered teacher in-service day) to a regular school day for students. We apologize for any inconveniences caused by this shift and appreciate your consideration given the evolving situation with COVID-19 and the emphasis we are placing on student health, safety, and well-being.

We are also asking for your kōkua in informing the plans we are making. Please take two minutes to complete this short survey by or before Monday, March 16 to help us better understand your support needs.

With our upcoming high school Hōʻike and other large school events on our horizon, we want to also remind you of several important steps you can take to prevent the spread of germs that cause a variety of illnesses, like colds and flu.The most important step is to stay home if you are ill. We are live broadcasting our signature events, so you can watch from the safety and comfort of your home, while being considerate of others.

The next one may be tough to adjust to, but in these times we need to adjust our social norms in an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our students, ʻohana, faculty, and staff. This means practicing a hug and handshake-free environment and following these other practices to stop the spread of germs:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Mahalo nui loa in advance for your patience, understanding, and partnership as we navigate this situation and keep our community safe.

‘O au iho nō me ke aloha ʻohana ē,

M. Kāhealani Naeʻole-Wong
Poʻo Kula, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi