Are you a school leader, parent, student, or simply interested in all things school wellness? Check out our monthly updates for upcoming opportunities and school highlights!
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
HIDOE Art Teacher and Administrator Exhibition This Month
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) inaugural “Artist Teacher” exhibition at Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum) showcases artworks by twenty-seven DOE art teachers/administrators. The exhibition is on view on the ground floor in the cafe area November 1 – 24, 2023.
Artist Teacher is proof of the talent and dedication of visual arts teachers in the HIDOE. Aside from their professional duties, these teachers engage in their own artistic expressions and collaborate to improve themselves as teachers and artists.
HYCC is Hiring High School and College Students
Hawaiʻi Youth Climate Coalition (HYCC), is accepting applications for two part-time, paid positions for high school/college students who can help to lead the Club Network program!
• The Club Network program is focused on bolstering school environmental and civics clubs by providing peer-to-peer learning, customized resources, connections to other local school clubs, and invitations to community climate + civics events.
• Our goal is to create a unified network of school clubs that is empowered to drive the changes they want to see in our community.
Interested high school or college students who reside in Hawaiʻi can fill out this application form. The deadline to submit applications is November 20th, 2023.
Contact Dyson Chee at cheedyson@gmail.com with any questions.
Seeds 4 Tomorrow is an agriculture education program that connects K-12 students, schools, teachers, and community members through hands-on exploration of agriculture disciplines, including art, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and research. Join Seeds of Tomorrow for the following activities. The minimum age to participate in activities is 8 years old. Register below for these great family-friendly activities!There's mango and guava in the freezer, waiting to be cooked into delicious jam that will be sold at fundraising events for Seeds4Tomorrow. Volunteers are needed to assist with jam making while learning about food safety and how to make jam at home. Taste testing of original creations takes place at the end of each event!
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
REGISTER HERE
Holiday Wreath Making
Join us to create a festive holiday wreath using plants and flowers from our community. Participants are asked to bring plant cuttings from their yard to share during the event.
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
12” ring, $20 – Individual or keiki/adult team
Family of 4 discount: $50 (includes 4 rings, 8” size)
RSVP REQUIRED
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, 94-340 Kunia Rd, Waipahu 96797
What's Happening in Schools to Support Wellness?
Leilehua High School's Jackie Freitas Named 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) named Leilehua High School’s natural resources teacher, Jackie Freitas, the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year. Freitas received the state's top teaching award from Gov. Josh Green and Superintendent Keith Hayashi during an awards ceremony. The honor is presented annually to a classroom teacher selected from more than 13,000 HIDOE educators.
Jackie has been a strong Blue Zones Project partner in helping to positively impact schools and communities through her efforts in leading Leilehua High School toward Blue Zones Project School approval, piloting a Mobile Farmer’s Market for staff at neighboring schools, and always supporting food policy and engagement activities by offering produce grown at her school to local events throughout the community.
Ewa Makai Middle School Students Map out their Purpose
Aimee Matsuura, Ewa Makai’s Health teacher organized a goal setting workshop for the school’s approximately 450 6th grade students. Using Blue Zones Project’s Power 9 framework of healthy living, students identified personal well-being goals, and created strategies and timelines to achieve these goals.
We❤️Trees! Keiki Art Contest
Art pieces have been submitted by K-8 students across the state in the We❤️Trees! Keiki Art Contest hosted by Trees for Honolulu’s Future, with support from community partners like Blue Zones Project Hawai'i. Entries were judged on aesthetics, creativity, and how well the art conveys the importance of trees. Entries were displayed and winners were announced at the Kailua Arbor Day celebration which also included a tree give-away, arborists from Aloha Arborist Association demonstrating tree-climbing, and Master Gardeners answered any and all plant questions.
Maui Teacher Finds Renewed Sense of Purpose
Lāhainā Intermediate health teacher, Nate Kahaiali‘i, crossed the finish line at the Chicago marathon two months after he evacuated his Lāhainā home with no more than a pair of running shoes, some clothes and a few personal belongings. For the race, he wore a self-designed shirt with the words “Mālama Maui," and the names of the four public schools affected by the wildfires. Receiving strong interest in the shirt, Mr. Kahaiali`i has created a fundraiser where 100% of proceeds will go to Lāhainā families impacted by the fires through the Lāhainā Strong foundation.
Read more about this inspiring story here.
Ka'ala Elementary to Implement Safe Routes to School Program
Ka’ala Elementary is initiating a Walk-to-School program to improve safety and engagement for its students. The program will be operated daily, and will better support the many students who use active transportation to commute to school.
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