St. John Vianney School in Kailua was one of the first Hawaii Catholic schools to open this school year with on campus classes starting in July. (HCH Photo: Anna Weaver)
With only two days between the announcement and start of a new stay-at-home order on Oahu plus confusion over the order’s directives for public versus private schools, Hawaii Catholic schools and their families had little time to figure out if they were switching to distance learning on Aug. 27.
Mayor Caldwell announced the City and County of Honolulu’s 14-day “stay-at-home, work-at-home” order at a morning press conference on Aug. 25. He also stated that private schools would have to switch to distance learning during the two-week shutdown, which was to begin at midnight on Aug. 27.
However, at the end of the school day on Aug. 26, Gov. David Ige hadn’t signed the emergency order. That meant that at school pickup that afternoon, Oahu Catholic school parents had no word on what the plan was for the next day’s schooling.
The governor’s office clarified on Aug. 26 that under the latest City and County of Honolulu order, all schools, including private schools, could continue operating as “essential” if they maintained social distancing measures, used face coverings, and implemented “distance learning to the greatest extent possible.”
Preschools and DHS-licensed early childhood learning facilities are also exempt under the childcare “essential services” category and can stay open. They can serve children whether or not their parents are essential workers.
The Hawaii Catholic Schools Office’s acting superintendent, Llewellyn Young, said he appreciated the support of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools’ executive director Phil Bossert and other private school leaders “who championed with us to allow private schools the option of continuing with in-person classes for the next two weeks as essential services.”
Young announced the decision to local Catholic school administrators in an email Aug. 26.
“With this choice comes great responsibility amidst the increasing rates of positive COVID cases on Oahu,” he wrote. “Please take a long, hard look at your school communities and make sure you are serving your constituents to the best of your ability with your current instructional format(s).”
Young encouraged administrators to offer parents the choice between in-person or distance learning if the schools had the resources to do so. He also told them that the mayor’s order was a good reminder to double up on following safety rules and protocols in schools.
Prior to Mayor Caldwell’s Aug. 27 shutdown announcement, Bishop Larry Silva had asked Young if local Catholic schools were ready to switch to distance learning. Young confidently responded yes.
“I am so proud of our schools and what they’ve been able to accomplish during this difficult time. They really took to heart the notion of not simply surviving, but thriving through the pandemic,” he told the Hawaii Catholic Herald in an Aug. 27 email.
“In addition, many families in our communities appreciate the safe environment of our schools and recognize all the measures schools are taking to significantly minimize the spread of the virus,” Young added. “Our Catholic schools are in an excellent position to serve their communities appropriately and safely according to their educational needs.
As one example, Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Pearl City, new initiatives include equipping every class with Google Nest hubs so that each class can be pinged for sanitizing reminders and better communicate and be monitored by the front office. The school also hired a health monitor/temperature checker/recess teacher to monitor social distancing while kids are at play.
Catholic schools locally are often smaller, making it is easier to keep classrooms socially distanced with fewer students.
“We know that the virus will be around for a while, but our schools have plans and protocols in place to respond appropriately when it impacts our campuses either directly or indirectly,” Young said.
Young said he knows that the virus will eventually directly impact local Catholic schools as it already has a few. But he said, “We can rely on the most important aspects of Catholic schools; our Faith, our love for the Lord, and our belief that He will see us through.”
There are 23 parish-based Catholic schools and early learning centers, including Maryknoll School, and three independent Catholic high schools.
Most Hawaii Catholic schools opened to in-person learning in July and August. Some offered hybrid or distance learning options if parents didn’t want to choose the in-person class option.
Maryknoll School is currently using all distance learning with the high COVID-19 case number in the state. The Honolulu K-12 school developed a school year plan that switches between all distance, hybrid, and in-person learning depending on the health situation in the state.
Sacred Hearts Academy started the school year off with almost the entire campus online only except the junior and senior kindergarten. During the shutdown, only the junior kindergarten will have an on-campus option depending on parents’ choices.
Holy Family Catholic Academy in Honolulu delayed its in-person start date from Aug. 5 to Aug. 17 due to rising case numbers in Hawaii. It also continues to offer a virtual option.
St. Michael School in Waialua is moving to distance learning. St. Joseph School in Waipahu is offering hybrid online learning for parents who chose that option for their children. St. John Vianney School and St. Anthony School in Kailua and St. Ann School in Kaneohe currently have a small number of students doing distance learning while most students are on campus.
Hawaii public schools have delayed in-person learning until Oct. 2.
