HCAP Weekly October 3, 2016

In this week’s issue:

HCAP Board of Directors’ Program Orientation and Tour
Hā Initiative Holds Family Nights in September
SCSEP Participant Earns Permanent Position
C-Base Student Earns 100% on Government and Law Course
Makalapa Community Comes Together to Clean-up Community Park

HCAP Board of Directors’ Program Orientation and Tour

On Friday, September 30, 2016, HCAP board members attended the HCAP Board of Directors’ Program Orientation and Tour. The board members toured several program sites around the island.

The first stop was a Head Start classroom at the Community Learning Center at Māili, Early Learning Complex. Children engaged with the board members and HCAP staff, demonstrating the skills and knowledge they have acquired at the preschool.

Next, the board members took a tour of the Leeward District Service Center, which houses the Leeward STEM Exploration Center. Board members learned more about the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program and were interested in seeing a student-built robot that can solve a Rubikʻs Cube in under 5 minutes! While at the Leeward District Service center, HCAP staff also gave in-depth presentations about the various programs and services HCAP offers.

Following lunch, the tour headed to the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center, where staff gave board members a tour of the facility and shared information about the program.

Finishing up the day, the board members visited the Salt Lake Pre-Plus Head Start classroom. Students sang several songs for their visitors.

HCAP is fortunate to have a passionate and engaged Board of Directors, and we would like to thank everyone who attended for taking the time out of their busy schedules to experience, in person, a few of the many important programs and services offered by HCAP.

Hā Initiative Holds Family Nights in September

Family Nights for the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program were held in the month of September. Each STEM Exploration Center hosted families who came to hear about the latest projects and work created by the STEM students. The theme for the Family Nights was “Animal Allies Robotics” in preparation for the FIRST LEGO League Competition coming up this fall. Students were broken up into mixed age groups and provided a Bionicle Animal Kit to put together as a team. This was not a “timed” competition, but an opportunity to display their ability to work together as a “team.” Team building is an important component in the LEGO Robotics Competition. Parents were encouraged to participate with the groups as part of the team experience. The most rewarding part of the evening for the teachers was observing the students apply what they learned thus far in robotics: group cohesion, assigning responsibilities, and in the end, becoming closer teammates and friends. The final Bionicle product for each team was exciting to admire for everyone!

After all the hard work and fun, food and refreshments were enjoyed by all. The next Family Night is scheduled for December with holiday festivities and family engagement activities for all.

SCSEP Participant Earns Permanent Position

David enrolled in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in December 2014. He was assigned to Unity House, Inc. dba Pauahi Recreation Center/Nutrition Site as a SCSEP Janitor trainee. As the SCSEP hours were reduced, David told his training supervisor, “I don’t want to leave Pauahi Recreation Center, but I’m thinking of finding another job due to the reduction of SCSEP hours.” The supervisor then told David that they would hire him as a regular employee because they valued his work and didn’t want to lose him.

David is now working at Unity House Inc. dba Pauahi Recreation Center/Nutrition Site as their Maintenance, Janitorial, and Set Up for services. Congratulations David!

C-Base Student Earns 100% on Government and Law Course

Mr. Smith, a C-Base teacher who has been teaching at the Central District Service Center C-Base program for over ten years, is proud to share that Alyssa passed the Government and Law unit with a score of 100%! Alyssa is the first Central District C-Base student in 16 years to pass the 12-week unit with a perfect score, and all while working part-time. The Government and Law course covers the three branches of government at the state and federal level, including the differences between civil and criminal laws, procedures on will and divorce, law vocabulary, and an oral presentation on a chosen newspaper article. We are excited for Alyssa’s future and will continue to support her educational journey.

Makalapa Community Comes Together to Clean-up Community Park

On Saturday October 1, 2016, Central District Service Center staff and family members joined the Parents and Children Together staff, Dennis Arakaki, members of Councilmember Joey Manahan’s office, Pu’u Wai Momi’s Citizen Patrol, Honolulu Police Department, City and County of Honolulu, children from the HCAP Hā Initiative and PACT after-school programs, and community members, to engage in an effort to once again clean up the Makalapa Community Park. This was the group’s second gathering this year to bring together many community groups to accomplish one common goal.

The City and County of Honolulu donated gallons of fresh paint for the volunteers to cover up graffiti on the comfort station and playground equipment at the Makalapa Community Park. The City also donated garbage bags used to collect trash that littered the park.

The Makalapa Community Park is well hidden between residential homes, Pu’u Wai Momi Housing and the Central District Service Center. The park continues to be the center of the community, hosting many youth activities and after-school play for the children in the surrounding community.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell recently met with tenants of Makalapa Manor to discuss their community concerns and the Makalapa Community Park was one topic of concern. Since the meeting, the residents have been notified by their managing company that the City has included the repaving of the basketball court on their capital improvement list. In the past, the Makalapa Community Park has looked run down and neglected. Since cleanup efforts began this year, negative activity in the park has decreased and the neighborhood children have started to use the park once again.