January 2022 Newsletter
Welcoming the New Year
For some of us, the transition to a new year began with Ke alanui polohiwa a Kanaloa, the Winter Solstice. For some, with the ending of the Gregorian calendar month of December and the ringing in of January 1. For others still, we may have celebrated our new beginning with Mahina rising Muku on January 3. And still to come, the transition from Metal Ox to Water Tiger at the beginning of February, which many of us have begun to experience with the turbulent waters above and below.
During this movement from winter solstice to summer solstice, we can imagine shifting from the time of most darkness and least light, to the time of most light and least darkness. We might think about what we hope to incubate and nurture under the surface of things, to grow and manifest into the light of a new year.
Foundations of ALOHA
We began the new year with Cohort 13 of our Foundations of ALOHA (FOA) program. Even though we just finished up Week 1 of this cohort, you can still join us by registering here (bit.ly/foa13reg).
In this cohort we are experimenting with the team from UNRULR, a learning and collaboration platform, to collect our cohort’s responses and reflections throughout the five weeks. We are grateful for our friends at UNRULR for supporting us in creating an asynchronous sharing and learning opportunity, helping us to stretch and grow our ALOHA practice into a new space!
Another new component of FOA that we are just beginning to ideate is a FOA specifically designed for integrating into the classroom. FOA family member Christina (Ms. Conrad) asked us to consider hosting an FOA option at 8am for teachers and students to join in together as we start our school day, which could help lay the foundation for class discussions and building ALOHA throughout each day in the classroom and school community. For any kumu who would like to join us as we begin to think about what that experience might look and feel like, please email [email protected] to let us know of your interest, and plan to join us on January 18th at 12pm via Zoom (link will be provided via email to interested educators).
Program Updates
Compassionate Koʻolaupoko Design Sessions
In the second year of the Compassionate Koʻolaupoko initiative’s SEL-focused school communities of practice, we have onboarded six new schools to join the effort to use a design-thinking approach based on ALOHA to design for school health and well-being, and continue to work with the 7 schools from last year. We are grateful to learn more about the various school communities in Koʻolaupoko, and to meet and share space with so many passionate and creative educators.
Liliʻuokalani Trust Makery Pathway
Our time with kamaliʻi at Liliʻuokalani Trust’s Fall 2021 virtual program ended a few weeks ago, celebrated with a hōʻike showcasing all their amazing creations. We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside such inspiring, creative youth, and mahalo each of the kamaliʻi for your dedication in showing up for our 9 weeks together! Thank you again, LT, for inviting us on another leg of your journey!
EI Book Nook
This year, we start our Book Nook with Julian Aguon’s The Properties of Perpetual Light. This book was recommended to us by our thoughtful team member Logan and we are excited to dive in. Join us in reading and contributing to our asynchronous discussion doc to share. Our synchronous debrief session will take place on Tuesday, January 25 at 12pm.
HOPE Updates
We are gearing up for several new components in 2022, including a fully-stipended Spring Intensive for a select 30 teachers, and a Summer Institute series for up to 200 teachers to collaborate and grow our shared curriculum resources and community of practice. Our Content Institutes with subject-matter and industry experts continues through the Spring of 2022 as well — please continue to check hawaiieducationonline.org and the HOPE Hyperdoc for updates!
Community Events
Hawaiʻi Association of Middle Level Education (HAMLE) is hosting their annual conference on February 22 at Ewa Makai Middle School from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Registration is still open! Mahalo HAMLE for having us as presenters – we are excited to contribute to and learn from the sessions at your conference.
Sharing Our Gratitude
Mahalo nui to our Kailua Intermediate School community for inviting our team into your space to share the teachings of Auntie Pilahi Paki and ʻAnakala Pono Shim. We enjoyed connecting with you all virtually, and look forward to when we can safely see you all in person!