HCAP Weekly June 1, 2015

In this week’s issue:

Every Word Counts: Head Start and Legislators Read Together
Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services Participant Surpasses 90 Days of Employment
Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Hosts Family Nights
Stepping Stones To Offer Summer Programming in Waianae
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Begins Accepting Applications

Every Word Counts: Head Start and Legislators Read Together

During the months of April and May 2015, HCAP Head Start invited Oahu’s Legislators to visit Head Start classrooms and participate in a National Head Start Association (NHSA) event called, “Every Word Counts: Head Start and Legislators Read Together.” Legislators were invited to read a book to a Head Start classroom in their district. The Every Word Counts: Head Start and Legislators Read Together is about closing the word gap and teaching children that reading can be fun. Head Start encourages reading not only at school, but also at home. The NHSA invited congress or legislators to go to Head Start classrooms and read a story to the children as part of the Head Start 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Senator Michelle Kidani read to the Waikele Head Start children on May 12, 2015. She enjoys reading to her grandchildren and chose to read books that her grandchildren enjoy. Senator Kidani read “Click, Clack, Moo” and “Cat in the Hat.” The children enjoyed listening to the stories and sang click, clack, moo along with her. Senator Kidani represents District 18, which includeds Mililani Town, a portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, and Royal Kunia.

Senator Gil Riviere read to the Kunia Head Start children, along with two parents. The teaching staff picked three of the children’s favorite books, “Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss, “The Hungry Caterpillar” and “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you Hear?” by Eric Carle. Senator Riviere represents District 23, which includes Kunia, Schofield Barracks, Mokulē‘ia, Waialua, Hale‘iwa, Kawailoa, Waimea, Pūpūkea, Kawela, Kahuku, La‘ie, Hau‘ula, Punalu‘u, Ka‘a‘awa, Kualoa, Waikane, Waiahole, and Kāne‘ohe.

Senator Laura Thielen read to the Maunawili Head Start children. Senator Thielen had the children choose their favorite books from the classroom. The children chose “Pete the Cat & the New Guy,” “The Napping House,” and “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub.” Senator Thielen represents District 25, which includes Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lake, Keolu Hills, Maunawili, Waimanalo, Hawai‘i Kai, and Portlock.

Senator Jill Tokuda read to the children at Kaneohe Head Start. She read her children’s favorite book, “The Day Crayon Quit.” She and her children enjoy reading that book together. Senator Tokuda also read “Five Little Monkeys” to the class. Senator Tokuda represents District 24, which includes Kane‘ohe, Kane‘ohe MCAB, Kailua, He‘eia, and ‘Ahuimanu.

Kaala Head Start children had the pleasure of having Representative Marcus R. Oshiro read to them on May 15, 2015. He brought three books of his own, “The Crayon Box that Talked” and “The Big Orange Splot.’ The children enjoyed their story time with Representative Oshiro. They sang the Aloha song and he joined in with them. Representative Marcus R. Oshiro represents District 46, which includes Wahiawa and Whitmore Village.

Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services Participant Surpasses 90 Days of Employment

Flo first came to HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center through the Toys for Tots program with our partnership with the Salvation Army, and the Ready to Learn “School Supplies” program with our partnership with Helping Hands Hawaii. While registering for those seasonal programs, she was introduced to other HCAP services. Flo started volunteering as a receptionist at the Kalihi-Palama District Service Center. In the beginning of December of 2014, Flo and her husband signed up for the Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services program, after her husband was laid off from his job. They received help with transportation throughout their job search process. At the end of December, Flo secured a job with Roberts Hawaii, Inc. as a hostess on the Alii Kai Catamaran. Mahalo to Roberts Hawaii, Inc., for their continued support of HCAP and congratulations to Flo for surpassing Milestone 5, which is 90 days of employment.

Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Hosts Family Nights

At the end of May each of the four Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program STEM Exploration Centers hosted family nights. The family nights gave families a fantastic opportunity to meet with the STEM teachers, to see the classrooms in action, and to see what the students have been up to for the past few months. The family nights offered snacks, engaging activities, and an inviting environment for families to enjoy a night together.

At the Kalihi STEM Exploration Center, children showed their parents their new anatomy skills by playing doctor with their brand new “X-ray machine.” In this roleplaying activity, one child would be the injured patient, while the other children would diagnose their problem, and explain which bone the “patient” had broken. Under the instruction of teacher Mr. Chris and volunteer (and future medical student) Arlene, this activity was fun and engaging.

The Leeward STEM Exploration Center had a full house of parents and volunteers at their family night. Teacher, Mr. Charles and the STEM students showed off their presentation of the solar system. The students were able to explain and demonstrate their eight solar experiments that ranged from the fabrication of an actual copper solar cell to construction of a simple paper sundial.

At Windward STEM Exploration Center, students geared up for an after-school science fair. With their traditional three board projects set up around the classroom, the children gave their parents a tour of their projects, including a floating paperclip, sugar crystals, and a tiny air powered hovercraft made from an old CD. This was also a great opportunity for everybody to get to know Mr. Jeremy, the newest STEM teacher to join the Hā Initiative Ohana.

At the Central STEM Exploration Center, teacher Mr. Mark led the evening’s festivities. The theme for this night was recyclable art; the children were each given an empty water bottle, and with colored paint created their own pencil holders. After the activity, the class was shown the movie Wall-E, which was met with applause.

Stepping Stones To Offer Summer Programming in Waianae

The Leeward District Service Center will continue to offer Stepping Stones: The Homeless Health Project, during the summer months. This is possible thanks to support from Ke Ola Mamo, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Helping Hands Hawaii. Erik Gray, a graduate social work student from Hawaii Pacific University, spearheaded the effort because he saw a need to continue service to the homeless during a time when students were not in school.

Community partners participate in educational, social, and health activities throughout the summer months, bringing with them hygiene supplies, clothes, or food. Ke Ola Mamo, a Native Hawaiian health organization, participates on the first and third Fridays of the month. Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, a community health center, comes every second Friday of the month and, Helping Hands Hawaii, a social service agency, brings information on housing and food stamps.

Recently, Stepping Stones was fortunate to receive a donation of $500 from the Alex Morris Memorial Fund of Horizons Foundations in San Francisco.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Begins Accepting Applications

On June 1st, HCAPʻs five District Service Centers started taking applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications are taken at the district service centers from 9:00 AM until noon each weekday until June 30. The District Service Centers strive to service as many applicants as possible, interviewing anywhere from 20 to 70 applicants each morning. In the afternoons, staff go to various housing complexes that serve the elderly, disabled persons, and low-income individuals and families. Because of barriers such as mobility and transportation, staff try to make access to the LIHEAP application process as easy as possible.

If you have questions, contact any of the District Service Centers (Leeward, Central, Windward, Leahi, Kalihi-Palama) or the HCAP Main Office at 521-4531. For a shorter wait time, apply as soon as possible!