Holy Family Catholic Academy early learning center student Christian Lee worked on learning the number 22 and letter W by counting out M&M’s with the help of his brother Greysen. (Photo courtesy Kristina Lee)
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
They’ve been videoconferencing math lessons, doing P.E. in the backyard, weaving palm branches for Holy Week, and thanking essential workers with handmade signs and social media shares.
Hawaii Catholic schools have moved their academic years online while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the islands and the world.
Here’s a glimpse at what the new virtual learning environment looks like for them.
St. Catherine School in Kapaa was featured in The Garden Isle newspaper as it set up distance learning a few weeks ago. Principal DJ Adams says home participation rates have been high since the school began virtual schooling.
“The No. 1 challenge, is working out teaching schedules between our staff to avoid duplication of teaching times,” Adams said. “Hard for a student to do two Zoom lessons at once!”
St. Theresa School, Honolulu, student Matteo Matahum works on his handwriting at his dining table. (Photo courtesy Chris Matahum)
Pre-coronavirus, fellow Kauai Catholic school St. Theresa in Kekaha was using a STREAM project-based curriculum that works well with learning at home, making the post-coronavirus shift easier.
St. Michael School, Waialua, and St. John the Baptist, Kalihi, middle schoolers (and other grades) were already doing some form of blended learning, mixing face-to-face time with teachers and online classes, allowing those grades to have an easier time switching to full-time distance learning,
St. John the Baptist principal Carol Chong said her other grades were also working some with online programs like SeeSaw prior to COVID-19, which helped with the transition.
Perhaps the hardest grades to move online are early learning centers since they rely so heavily on face-to-face interaction with 3-5-year-olds. But Hawaii Catholic Schools assistant superintendent Llewellyn Young, who has been checking in with various island ELCs, says that most are still continuing the school year and making it work.
“Many administrators and teachers have shared successes from their programs and have expressed that parents appreciate the ‘normalized’ learning atmosphere they’ve created for their children,” Young said, mentioning regular video conferencing and structured lesson plans for little ones to do with family at home.
Holy Family Catholic Academy second grade teacher Jennifer Schumacher made up a corner of her home to look like her classroom while holding virtual learning with her students. (Courtesy photo)
Social media has helped keep connections going as well, with many schools using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to share what their students have been up to.
For instance, Holy Family Catholic Academy posts daily social media photos and video sent in by parents showing their kids staying busy at home with science lab experiments, cooking demonstrations, music instruction and interactive art lessons.
Besides that, grades 5-8 are using Google Classroom on their school-issued iPads, and lower grades are using other forms of technology. Teachers were allowed some leeway in choosing the platform and methods that best worked for their grade level, said principal Celeste Akiu.
Holy Family second-grade teacher Jennifer Schumacher even set up a corner of her home to look like her classroom, complete with bulletin boards and charts so her students could see her in a familiar environment when they videoconference with her.
“Although the learning curve is steep, [our teachers] have stepped up to embrace this new method of teaching in such a short time and continue to support each other,” Akiu said. “I’m in awe to witness how our teachers continue to be committed and supportive of our students, parents and each other as they support their own families and loved ones during these times.”
Over at Maryknoll School, student government members recently shared positive messages from home in a video compilation posted to the school’s social media channels.
The Hawaii Catholic Schools department shared an alphabet soup of online learning platforms and tools that their schools are using for distance learning, from GoNoodle and Khan Academy to MobyMax and Jupiter.
Schools have been keeping up with their students’ religious education as well, particularly as Holy Week approached.
St. John Vianney School Early Learning Center teacher Mary D’Avirro checks in with one of her 3-year-old students from home. (Courtesy photo )
St. Anthony School in Kailua posted a social media video of fifth grader Damien Fernandez demonstrating how to weave Palm Sunday branches into palm crosses. Several eighth graders created a video on confirmation using cartoons they drew and a voiceover done by one student’s neighbor. Fifth graders performed the Stations of the Cross on video too. ELC videoconferences include prayers along with an EWTN cartoon character.
On Holy Thursday, Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Pearl City, faith formation director Dominic Olaso recorded himself singing and playing the ukulele to a Eucharistic hymn he wrote several years ago and wanted to share with students.
In general, Young said, “Our schools are doing amazing work with their students through their Distance Learning initiatives, and it’s a true testament of the innovation surrounding many of our Catholic schools.”
