The HCS Scoop
January 2019
WHERE KIDS "END UP"
Last September's article in the Star-Advertiser entitled “Worth the Cost?” caught my eye. In short, the author suggests that, when the variables of family income and background are considered, there is no difference in a private school education and a public school education. The author of the study on which she basis this premise simply states “What the study indicates really clearly is that if kids go to public school or private school, they end up in the same place . . .”
To be fair, research does indicate that those children who are exposed to more educational resources and experiences than their peers have an educational leg up that positively affects their success in school and beyond. Also, there is no disagreement that the first, primary and most important educator in a child’s life are his/her parents. That being said, there are many studies which indicate that, even factoring family income and background, Catholic schools make a measurable educational difference.
However, in my mind, the biggest error in the researcher’s statement and the author’s premise is based on a short-sided and narrow worldview alluded to by the use of the term “end up”. A Catholic school education is based on a worldview that is sensitive to the temporal, but focused on the eternal. Yes, students who attend Catholic schools make great citizens who positively contribute to society. In fact, many are leaders who are noted for being deeply committed to social justice, the care of the poor, concern for our planet and service to their church and in community. But, with a world-view that is focused on the eternal, where our students “end up” for eternity is THE critical concern. The primary goal is that our students “end up” as people of Faith, integrity and scholarship who live holy and joyful lives on earth and “end up” in heaven. Researchers have documented and my own personal and professional experience attests to the fact that attendance in Catholic schools is a positive factor in graduating students who contribute greatly to society, but more importantly, live now and eternally as Children of God
In Christ,
Michael Rockers, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Open House Season Continues at HCS
Families can visit our website www.catholicschoolshawaii.org to view open house information for our 33 Catholic schools across the state. Our open house season kicked off in October with our high schools venturing out of town to visit our 8th graders in Kalihi (St. John the Baptist Catholic School), Pearl City (Our Lady of Good Counsel School), and Waipahu (St. Joseph Parish School). Likewise, our 8th graders have taken field trips to visit our high school campuses to see what they have to offer and to get a feel of what each is like. Best of luck to our high schools on recruitment and thank you to all for inspiring minds and sharing faith!
Hawaii Catholic School Teachers...SAVE THE DATE!
Oahu Annual Conference of Catholic Educators 2019
“IT’S NOT JUST JOKING AROUND…!!!”
Featuring nationally known speaker and anti-bullying expert and advocate
Ms. Jodee Blanco
February 1, 2019
St. Ann Church
46-129 Haiku Rd., Kaneohe
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This year, in partnership with a grant from the Augustine Educational Foundation, we are able to welcome nationally known anti-bullying expert and advocate, Jodee Blanco. Visit her website for more info: JodeeBlanco.com.
As schools that reflect God’s love for us, Jodee’s message is essential in our modern, polarized society. This training will be suitable for all HCS personnel who interact with students grades PreK-12*. Her training will be in three parts:
- Jodee relives painful episodes from her past allowing the audience to experience on a visceral level what she endured at the hands of her peers.
- What you should never say to a bullied child and why; what you should say and do; how the bully and the victim are flip-sides of the same coin and how to identify and assist both;
- Provides specific strategies on how to handle the irate, unreasonable parent who storms into the office, frustrated and unwilling to listen, and begins bullying the school.
Please note the following changes for this year’s event:
- PLACE: St. Ann Church, Kaneohe
- TIME: The day will last until 2:30pm to accommodate the training
- BREAK & REFRESHMENTS: Refreshments will be more “substantive” finger foods to sustain everyone until the later dismissal.
- Because our event is on the First Friday of the month, the chapel will NOT be available for seating as they will have Eucharistic Adoration going concurrently – no one will be allowed in the vestibule as the noise carries right into the chapel.
- Parking is limited and car-pooling or riding a bus is recommended.
- *We will provide certificates of participation to the Preschools to meet their DSSH licensure requirements
For more information on the day's arrangements, inquire with your school's head administrator and/or visit www.catholicschoolshawaii.org/2019ACCE. Also, share your experience at #2019ACCE and #HawaiiCatholicSchools.
The HCS office would like to thank, in advance, this year's planning committee of Brandy Sato (Sacred Hearts Academy), Michael Pa’ekukui (St. Louis), and Chantelle Luarca (Our Lady of Good Counsel) as well as the St. Ann Parish and School community for their support of this event!!
Day of Giving
Twenty years ago, Saint Pope John Paul II said to an audience of Catholic educators in New Orleans: “Yours is a great gift to the Church, a great gift to your nation.”
Countless people in our country have been blessed by the many gifts of Catholic schools. However, many adults have lost touch with their local Catholic school community. It is time for those people who have been impacted by your school to reconnect with the community that gave them so much, and give back.
With this recognition in mind, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) is pleased to present the online giving campaign: Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving to Catholic Schools.
A Day of Giving begins January 29, 2019 at 12 PM EST (7 AM Hawaii Time). Click here on that day for a searchable directory of all the participating Catholic schools' giving pages.
WHEN: Scheduled for 24 hours starting January 29, 2019, 12:00pm EST (7 AM Hawaii Time) to January 30, 2019, 12:00pm EST (7 AM Hawaii Time).
WHERE: Online! Each Catholic school and arch/diocese will have their own customized giving page that will go live at the start of the day of giving. Donors will also be able to search on this page for the institutions to which they would like to give.
WHY: Because Catholic schools change lives and now is the time to give back!
Let's reach out to alumni who've relocated across the world or tutus near and far to support Hawaii's faith-based education!
Thank you, Cindy Olaso for Your Service in DBOE
The Hawaii Catholic Schools office would like to recognize Cindy Olaso and acknowledge her commitment to Catholic Education! We are thankful for Cindy who has faithfully served our schools as an educator and principal but more recently, as a Diocesan Board of Education member. On the board she represented the East Honolulu Vicariate and served as Secretary. Mahalo for your devoted service and may God continue to bless you on your future endeavors!
St. John the Baptist School Receives "Christmas Gift" from Ascension Parish in San Diego, CA
Ms. Amanda Mosler of San Diego, California is a first year teacher at St. John the Baptist School through the PACE program. She has fallen in love with the students and when a couple of her pupils mentioned they may not be able to return to St. John the Baptist School due to financial reasons, their teacher Ms. Mosler, was moved to give testimony at her home parish over the winter break, hoping the parishioners can help.
What a miracle her testimony has been! Ms. Mosler spoke at all of the masses, gave out copies of Principal Carol Chong’s annual letter, and also put together self-addressed envelopes. As of 1/9/2019 the donations from Ascension Parish in San Diego, CA is over $4,000 with donations still coming in! Principal Chong even received an e-mail on the 8th from one of Ascension's parishioners saying he could help. To show their appreciation the Kalihi school is working on sending them a "lei of aloha and gratitude" along with other goodies and thank-you notes.
Hawaii Catholic Schools Scholarships on Salem Media
Not sure if a Catholic school is for your child or grandchild? For new students to our Catholic schools, we have half off school tuition at our participating schools. These scholarships, we pray, will motivate parents and grandparents to consider one of our 33 schools for your little ones.
Click here to see the participating schools offering a limited number of scholarships. You may have heard their commercials playing on Salem Media’s 95.5 The Fish and 97.5 Country. Visit the website often as more schools are slated to kick off their scholarships in the upcoming months. Also listen to 95.5 The Fish and 97.5 Country where they count down the days before the scholarships are open and available.
For open house information on our schools or to find the one closest to you, visit our website by clicking here.
Helping Millennials Grow in Faith Workshop by Magis Center's Credible Catholic
Last month the HCS office sponsored a free workshop for teachers who teach religion to 5th – 12th graders and those who work as Young Adult Coordinators, to learn more about evangelizing to millennials with the use of The Credible Catholic's curriculum. The speakers provided instruction on the effective use of The Credible Catholic's resources, so they can better provide all students, especially millennials, comprehensive and systematic responses to revitalize their belief in God, the transcendent dignity of every person, the significance of virtue, the higher levels of happiness, love, and freedom, and the real presence of Jesus Christ. A big mahalo goes out to Dr. Scott French and Janell Whaley of Magis Center's Credible Catholic for flying to Hawaii to share about Credible Catholic, it's website, and free resources with us. Not only did they show us the many offerings the Credible Catholic's curriculum but also explained how teachers in schools and parishes can effectively use it. Priests, parents, and educators from Catholic schools and parishes across the state were able to join us physically and virtually via gotomeeting. Visit www.magiscenter.com and www.crediblecatholic.com for those who teach 5th - 12th graders, for the apologetics-based curriculum.
Principal Sandobal Newest Diocesan Board of Education Member
Welcome new DBOE member, Principal Beverly Sandobal of St. Joseph School Waipahu! Principal Sandobal has committed to serving, at minimum, a three year term representing the Leeward Oahu Vicariate. She joins our board with 13 fellow members from across the state who believe and support faith-based education for our 33 schools. Mahalo Principal Sandobal for "stepping up to the plate" by serving our schools in the DBOE!
Click here to see the Hawaii Catholic Herald's coverage of winners and their art pieces
HCS Snapshots
St. Anthony School, Maui
L. Robert Allen Montessori Lab School
Students and faculty from L. Robert Allen Montessori Lab School and Chaminade participated... MORE HERE
St. Louis School
In 2017, Saint Louis School and Kamehameha Schools entered into agreement to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. Our Hui Na Opio stands...READ MORE HERE
Upcoming Dates (January - March)
JANUARY
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 1/21 | Observed at Diocesan Offices
- March for Life | 1/22 | State Capitol | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Feast Day of St. Marianne Cope | 1/23
- Catholic Schools Week | 1/27 - 2/2
- Initial Visit Seeking Candidacy to WCEA Mary, Star of the Sea ELC | 1/30
FEBRUARY
- Annual Conference for Catholic School Educators | 2/1 | St. Ann Church | 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Reaccreditation at St. Michael School | 2/10 - 2/13 | Waialua
- Diocesan Board of Education (DBOE) Meeting | 2/12 | St. Stephen Diocesan Center
- DBOE Marketing Committee Meeting | 2/13 | The Chancery | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
- Presidents' Day | 2/18 | Observed at Diocesan Offices
- Reaccreditation at Holy Family Catholic Academy | 2/24 - 2/27 | Honolulu
MARCH
- Accreditation Visit at St. Louis School | 3/3 - 3/6 | Honolulu
- Reaccreditation at St. Elizabeth School | 3/3 - 3/6 | Aiea
- Ash Wednesday | 3/6
- Choral Festival -- "Attitude of Gratitude" | 3/7 | Maryknoll School | 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
- Mid-term Revisit at St. Theresa School | 3/8 | Honolulu
- Bagels with Bishop: St. Louis School | 3/8 | Honolulu | 7:45 am - 10:30 am
- Reaccreditation at St. John the Baptist School | 3/11 - 3/14 | Honolulu
- DBOE Marketing Committee Meeting | 3/13 | The Chancery | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- Bagels with Bishop: Maryknoll School | 3/15 | Honolulu | 7:30 am - 10:30 am
- Prince Kuhio Day | 3/26 | Observed at Diocesan Offices
- Bagels with Bishop: St. Joseph School | 3/29 | Hilo | 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Hawaii Catholic Schools
Email: mishihara@rcchawaii.org
Website: CatholicSchoolsHawaii.org
Location: 6301 Pali Highway, Kaneohe, HI, United States
Phone: 808-203-6761
Facebook: facebook.com/HawaiiCatholicSchools
Twitter: @hicathschools