Ka Malu o Kaimana Hila

Under the Protection of Diamond Head

Waikīkī School Parent Bulletin - November 3, 2021

November & December's Habit of Mind - Creativity

“Creative thinkers are helpful and kind. They help people to improve and they always listen. They think before doing something (managing impulsivity) and they don’t give up (persisting).” -- Waikīkī School Second Graders

During the months of November and December, Waikīkī School focuses on the Habit of Mind: Creativity. Creative, Imaginative, and Innovative thinking helps us to see problems and solutions from varied perspectives. It also empowers us to be resourceful and responsible risk-takers. Thinking creatively at Waikīkī School leads students to collaborate, to reflect, to experiment, to infer, and to persist. When we value Creative, Imaginative, and Innovative thinking, we also learn to celebrate our "mistakes." Mistakes are learning experiences that bring new ideas, facilitate novel approaches to problem solving, and help us to grow.

First Grade teacher Michael Ragasa recommends using the book Beautiful Oops (by Barney Saltzberg) to teach students both about the value of mistakes and the importance of Creativity. Another resource for learning more about how to cultivate Creativity in children is the article “7 Ways to Foster Creativity in Your Kids,” by Dr. Christine Carter.

COVID Vaccine Now Approved for Children Ages 5-11

On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unanimously recommend Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old. This follows the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of Pfizer's vaccine for this younger age group on Friday, October 29, 2021. As a result, elementary schools all across the country are mobilizing for the rollout of this two-shot series spaced out over the course of three weeks.

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Waikīkī School will host a COVID vaccination clinic on campus for its students. Trained Safeway Pharmacy staff will administer the shot with personnel from the school providing support. A tentative date for the administration of the second dose will take place on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Parents will not be allowed to be with their child at our school-based vaccination clinic. If you want your child to receive the vaccine with a parent or guardian present, there will be other opportunities on Oahu. You will have to make your own arrangement for shots outside of the school.

Please check your child's backpack today for the COVID vaccine Parental Consent form.

If you would like to have your child receive the COVID vaccination shot, please complete all the highlighted fields and return to your child’s teacher no later than Monday, November 8, 2021. No child will receive the vaccine without this completed form.

Asymptomatic individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine following additional exposure to COVID-19. In other words, if a student is identified as a close contact in school, they do not have to quarantine at home for 10 days.

Students who are fully vaccinated before the start of out-of-state travel just need to show proof of vaccination to the school. No pre-travel, or post-travel test with quarantine is necessary.

In anticipation of the vaccine rollout, Waikīkī School will be hosting a townhall meeting with experts from the Department of Health. Joining us for this event will be:

Katherine Center -- Health Communication Specialist

Kristyn Krolikowski - ELC Arboviral Epidemiologist

Michelle Faller – Epidemiology Specialist

Mary Quinn – Public Health Educator

Christina Simmons – Project Specialist

Date and time:
Thursday, November 4, 2021 5:00 pm
Hawaii Time (Honolulu, GMT-10:00)

Duration:1 hour

Meeting Link is below:

https://hidoe.webex.com/hidoe/onstage/g.php?MTID=e295018515e19b39b15582d39fb960ed3