Headed back to school

LIHU‘E — David Gomez, a third grade student at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School, thought Monday was “not too shabby.”

Those were the first words he had for his mother who arrived at the school to pick him up following the first day of school at State of Hawai‘i Department of Education schools.

“This is just half of the school,” said Corey Nakamura, the Wilcox Elementary principal who was outside the administration office to welcome back students and their parents. “The other half comes tomorrow.”

Wilcox Elementary School returns more than 700 students in pre-K through Grade 5 with the first two weeks being student and parent orientation before students go online as part of a three-phase school reopening plan.

“David was registered for the hybrid class,” said his mother who tended to a younger sibling not yet in school. “But he gets to come every day this week, and next week because he needs the in-person attention. After that, it’s all up to us.”

The Hawai‘i State Teachers Association led an effort to delay the first day of school for students by at least two weeks, according to an Associated Press article. The Hawai‘i DOE responded by announcing most schools would start the first four weeks online.

Schools on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i and Maui county will follow a three-phase plan for distance learning.

The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association announced Monday, the extension of its no-contact period for workouts and training through Sept. 13.

“This week, and next, is all about learning how to do distance learning,” Nakamura said. “The last quarter, students were mostly doing enrichment programs. Now, they need to learn how to learn using distance learning.”

During this period, or first phase, students will return to campus on a coordinated and scheduled bases to connect with their teacher, receive training on the distance learning platforms, and address issues with connectivity and access to technology. Students and their families are encouraged to utilize the ‘Ohana Help Desk, the nation’s first statewide, comprehensive technology support help desk to assist with distance learning.

Starting Aug. 24, students in grades 2 through 5 start online learning. Students in kindergarten and Grade 1 will be back on campus for an additional week before going online, Nakamura said.

This starts the second phase where school staff will report to their designated work sites for continued distance learning instruction through Sept. 11.

During this period, Hawai‘i DOE officials will monitor the situation and work with the Governor’s Office and the Hawai‘i State Department of Health to determine if students can safely return to in-person blended learning models. An announcement by each complex area superintendent will be made on Sept. 8 if distance learning will continue for the remainder of the first quarter.

When students and parents returned to campus, they were greeted by several new facets of school, including the lack of Junior Police Officer traffic guides, special social distancing markings in hallways, signs, and even social distancing lunch where the different grade schedules were adjusted to allow social distancing while students dined.

“It’s been pretty busy,” Nakamura said as he worked with everyone on new schedules and look on campus. “I thought it went pretty good. Paul Zina, the Kaua‘i Complex Area superintendent, stopped by to see how things were going earlier this morning. I think everything is going alright.”

Caroline Freudig, a first grade teacher at Kalaheo Elementary School, and the HSTA Kaua‘i Chapter head, said the students at Kalaheo School were excited to see their teachers and each other after being away so long.

“My class signed up for entirely distant learning,” Freudig said. “This was our first day of learning, and we did attendance, a welcome activity and orientation on where the calendar is located. I asked the students’ parents to be with the students for the first two weeks, from 8 a.m. to noon. The afternoon was one-to-one with the students for assessment.”

Freudig said students in the distance only class picked up their material last Thursday and Friday when the school scheduled pick up. They had the weekend to study and become familiar with the material. This led to a productive morning where parents learned how to do online learning with their students.

“This is the first time in 27 years of teaching that I did not welcome students in person,” Freudig said. “It’s also the first time in 27 years that I had to work Sunday before class because of all the training and preparation (nonacademic) that needed to be done by the time school started. But, it was a great day!”

The first grade teacher said they were able to bond through distance learning, telling stories, laughing, and even having a bubble break with the surprise package she included in the pickup material. She also noted that for teachers that have the hybrid class, the Monday experience gives her insight into how she can help other teachers get up to speed with online learning.

“We were able to bond as a class,” she said. “In the afternoon, the one-to-one time (with no mask on) was very productive — I could see their face, and they could see mine — in assessing the students’ skills and levels. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s class. Overall, it was a great day.”

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.