Aloha Lions Ohana,

We are happy to see that over 80% of our students have been able to join us all three days this week and that number is rising every day!  We are stoked to have our keiki learning again.  Although our state is going through some hard times, and our transition to the truly online learning direction has been challenging, this will make all of us better in the long run.  I have just a few announcements today that I wanted to get out to you all.

1. Over the next few days there will be free COVID-19 testing around the island, including near here and we recommend anyone who can, please get tested.  You can go to doineedacovid19test.com for more information. 
2. We would like to remind everyone how important it is to have your children online with their teachers, working on the classwork every day.  Classes start at 8:00 and attendance does count. 
3. We also want to remind everyone that students ARE being graded for their work at this time and will receive a grade at the end of the quarter.  Please attend daily to ensure they don't fall behind. 
4. It is very important that the learning environment for your children is appropriate.  Students should be in a quiet space with little/no distractions.  If you have multiple students in your house, it may be better if they are not in the same room so background noise from one child's learning doesn't impact others.  Also, please remember that we can see everyone in the background, behind the students, so make sure that others in the house act/dress appropriately.
5. We have developed online behavioral expectations which can be seen at http://bit.ly/DLbehavior that we would like you to go over with your children. 
6. As a reminder, if you are having computer problems, please call the Ohana Help Desk at 643-3375 for assistance.  If they cannot help you then they will forward you to the school and we can do so.  Our staff is here to help, but we are a little overwhelmed at this time, so we ask for your patience and understanding while we try to help everyone. 

Thank you all for all of your help, understanding, and most importantly, dedication to your child's education.  We are a team in this crazy time and only together can we get through this and have our keiki thrive. Stay strong Lions.

Remember.  We are the Lions.  We are the Future!

Aloha,

Mr. Larkin

Aloha Lions,

I hope your summer has started well.  We have just a few things for you today.

1. Our summer school will start next Monday.  If you have not already done so, please sign up immediately.  We are nearly out of spaces and want to make sure that those who need it most get it.  Please sign up at ttps://bit.ly/KWESummer2020 or go to our school website to see the link there.  You can also apply in person at the office. 
2. As guidance comes out we like to share it with you.  Hawaii Dental Service has put out a video about COVID-19 and sharing that is worth having your children watch.  Please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXy_IoeX8Xo&feature=youtu.be to watch their video HDS "Share Aloha, Not Germs" Public Service Announcement 2020
   
3. Report cards are being mailed out tomorrow.  Please be on the lookout. 

I hope to see many of you this summer, and all of you in August.  Be safe out there lions.

We are the Lions.  We are the Future!

Aloha,

Mr. Larkin 

Aloha Lions,

Just a couple of quick updates and reminders this morning as today is our last day of school. 

1. If you have not picked up your personal items from the cafeteria today is your last opportunity to do so.  We will be tossing any remaining items in the rubbish today at 1:00 PM.  

2. The summer school application link at https://bit.ly/KWESummer2020 has been fixed.  There was a setting error.  Please submit your application as soon as possible. 

3. Our awards assembly video is ready and can be found at https://bit.ly/KWEQ3AwardsV2 In addition, we have many, but not all, of our awards certificates available in the cafeteria for pickup today before 1:00 PM. 

4. The school office will be closed tomorrow but will reopen for regular work hours starting next week Monday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM daily.

I look forward to seeing many of you today.  Have a wonderful day. 

Remember.  We are the Lions.  We are the FUTURE!

Aloha,

Mr. Larkin

Aloha Lions!

Can you believe it!  We are on the last school day of the year. Wow, has this year been a crazy one.  I cannot express the sadness we will feel tomorrow to close up the year without students on campus.  For our 5th grade students, I say to you, you will be forever in my heart as the first class I met when I first got here on campus and you have made a spot in my heart forever.  If ever any of you need assistance or help in any way, I will be here for you. 

We have a lot of announcements for everyone and all of them are important. 

1. 5th-grade students, please stop by the school Thursday to check for any last items put out by teachers, staff, and the office as well as see the sendoff posters made for you by the staff.
2. The 5th-grade promotion video is available to watch https://bit.ly/AlohaLions and on our school website tomorrow. 
3. The awards assembly video will be available to watch on our school website later tonight. 
4. Summer school applications are being accepted.  Please go to https://bit.ly/KWESummer2020 to apply.  Summer school begins on June 8^th.  Applications will also be mailed home and are available in the office.  Space is limited so apply soon. 
5. The office will be open for normal business hours (7:30-4:00 pm) starting June 1^st.  Please remember to wear a mask when conducting business.
6. A+ applications for the next school year are available in the office.
7. Kindergarten registration is ongoing and will move into the office on June 1^st.
8. Kalihi Waena will be opening for summer feeding as of June 8^th.  We will be having free breakfast and lunch for all children 18 and under all weekdays except holidays.  This is for drive-up or walk-up, grab-and-go only.  No dine-in service.
1. Breakfast 7:30 AM- 8:00 AM
2. Lunch 11:30 AM- 12:00 PM
9. Report cards will be mailed out next week.  Please expect them to be delivered by June 12^th

^{Every year I have a chance to reflect on my fondest and most challenging moments of the year.  I have to say this year has been unique as both events are equally to the extremes.  My most challenging moment was the realization that my Keiki, my ohana, my LIONS were not coming home to campus to finish their learning this year. I know we got work to you all and that many of you learned a lot via the internet, but not nearly enough.  My fondest memory was on the first day of school when I realized that this truly is my school, my home, my ohana, my LIONS, and I had the privilege of loving and caring for all of you while you joined us in learning.  To you all, I say aloha until we meet again, hopefully, sooner rather than later.}  

^{Remember.  We are the Lions.  We are the FUTURE!}

With Aloha,

Mr. Larkin

Aloha Lions,

Wow, time flies!  It seems like only last week we were trying to figure out how to start this distance learning "thing" and now we are almost done!  I have a few updates for everyone in our ohana.  

1.   We have only two weeks left for packet pickup.  We are distributing packets all the way to the end of the school year, so our last distribution day is May 28th. There will be no distribution on May 25th, so PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade can pick up their work on Tuesday, May 26th.  Please note that the work picked up for this week and next will be "summer" work intended on giving them projects and activities to do throughout the summer and will likely look much different than previous weeks.  

2.   If you have not picked up your student's personal items please do so immediately.  We will throw all items away as of May 28th. No exceptions.

3.   We are creating short videos to celebrate our students.  Our 3rd and 4th quarter assemblies were not able to be held, therefore we will be doing them via video.  In addition, our 5th-grade aloha assembly cannot be held as usual.  We will be making a video for our students to celebrate their accomplishments.  Neither of these videos will be able to express what we want, but it is, unfortunately, the best we can do at this time.  We hope to distribute the videos next week on the 28th. 

4.   Last week I let you all know that the normal yearbook is not going to happen.  This week we have started the process to make our own and have it printed at the reprographics department of the Department of Education.  It will take a few months, and won't be as good as the pro's, but it will also be cheaper.  We hope to have a limited run of 150 printed for sale at the start of the school year.  The approximate price will be $8.00  

5.   We are working on some expanded summer school programs for our students who struggled this school year.  Please be on the lookout in your mail for an invitation.  We are VERY limited in the number of students we can invite.  If you receive an invitation for the program, please respond immediately or your slot WILL be filled by another student. 

6.   We have been lucky to have a group of helpful community members cut down the trees and underbrush by the bridge to Richard Lane.  If you see them, please thank them.  We want to thank them for their hard work.  

Lastly, I wanted to thank all of you.  As the parents of our Keiki, you have shouldered the burden of educating them while this event shut down our schools.  As a parent myself, I know how difficult that is.  We have asked you to retrain yourselves as teachers, without any support, and you have done well.  I know you cannot wait to turn over the education back to us, and we cannot wait for the students to be back.  But know, we are and will always be here to support you.  Stay strong lions.

Remember, We are the Lions.  We are the Future!

Aloha,

Mr. Larkin