HCAP Weekly July 27, 2015

In this week’s issue:

HCAP Head Start Hosts Island-wide Parent Orientations for New School Year
Hā Initiative Students Practice the Meaning of Aloha
Na Lima Hana Participant Finds Success in Program Training
Home Depot Donates Craft Kits to HCAP Head Start
Windward District Service Center Forges New Partnership with Keola Hale

HCAP Head Start Hosts Island-wide Parent Orientations for New School Year

In preparation for the 2015-2016 school year, which is set to begin on August 3rd, HCAP Head Start hosted an island-wide Head Start Parent Orientation. These orientations provided families with orientation schedules, start times for their child’s center, and further information on the program. Staff also informed parents about various volunteer opportunities in the classroom and how they can participate in Head Startʻs Policy Council for the new school year.

HCAP Head Start is still accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year. Please call 847-2400 for more information.

Hā Initiative Students Practice the Meaning of Aloha

As summer comes to a close and students prepare to return to school, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s Kalihi STEM Exploration Center participants are celebrating the meaning of “aloha.” In preparation of their FIRST LEGO League Competition (which will have a “Trash Trek” theme), participants showed their “Aloha Āina” and picked up trash in the garden outside the classroom. They used their knowledge of recycling to sort the rubbish and practice earth-friendly habits. Participants then took a moment to share some aloha with contributors to the Hā Initiative and wrote thank you notes to be sent to various grant providers that help make activities at the Hā Initiative possible.

Na Lima Hana Participant Finds Success in Program Training

Allonalynn came to HCAPʻs Leahi District Service Center seeking information on the Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services (ECS) after learning about it from a friend. After staff helped her enroll in ECS, she began to receive one-on-one employment training that assisted her with resume building and preparing for job interviews. Allonalynn soon gained employment as a full-time cashier at Lahaina Chicken at the Honolulu International Airport. She is very grateful for the help that Community Worker Reiko Titong provided and for HCAPʻs services that helped her become more self-sufficient.

Home Depot Donates Craft Kits to HCAP Head Start

On Monday, July 27, 2015, Natasha Upshur and Kisha Kaya, staff from Home Depot- Pearl City, shared three different sets of craft kits with HCAP Head Start from Home Depotʻs Kid’s Workshop. This generous gift was donated after Head Start shared the importance of family engagement and community partnerships with Natasha and her staff. The kits will be used throughout Head Startʻs family engagement activities for the new school year, and are designed to promote and encourage parent-child cooperation and togetherness. HCAP would like to say mahalo to Home Depot for the donation to its Head Start program.

Windward District Service Center Forges New Partnership with Keola Hale

HCAP’s Windward District Service Center has begun to work with Keola Hale, a new clean and sober living house in the Windward community. Keola Hale recently opened their doors to men looking for a safe environment and to encourage their commitment towards sobriety, growth, and learning. Once participants complete Kaola Hale’s in-house program content, HCAP staff works to enroll them in HCAP’s Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Program, which offers training on building pre-employment skills that include how to apply for jobs, interview techniques and resume building. By also creating individual development plans for each client, HCAP staff is able to provide support services, as needed, to help build as many successful futures as possible!