HCAP Weekly October 5, 2015

In this week’s issue:

HCAP Receives Honorary Certificate
Head Start Staff Learn About Polynesian Customs & Culture
Hā Initiative Students Experience Sublimation Surprise!
Employment Core Services Sends Another Participant into the Workforce
Head Start Children Develop Appreciation for Art

HCAP Receives Honorary Certificate

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, HCAP attended the City and County of Honolulu’s Presentation of Honorary Certificates at Kapolei Hale. Councilmember Ann H. Kobayashi and Councilmember Carol Fukunaga presented HCAP with a certificate in recognition of HCAP’s 50th Anniversary. Councilmember Kobayashi and Councilmember Fukunaga spoke about the important work HCAP does in the community and the impact the agency has had on Oahu over the past 50 years. Robert N.E. Piper, Executive Director, Lynn Cabato, Head Start Director, and Robert Naniole, Director of Community Services received the certificate on behalf of the agency.

Head Start Staff Learn About Polynesian Customs & Culture

On October 5, 2015, HCAP Head Start staff visited the Polynesian Cultural Center for a staff training day to learn about Polynesian customs and culture. Staff members visited various villages including Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. The entire day was dedicated to learning about the different foods, dance, clothing, songs, activities, and livelihoods of the residents of various islands that make up the Polynesian Islands. The teachers especially enjoyed learning interesting facts, songs and dances that they will take back to their classrooms to share with the Head Start children and their families.

Hā Initiative Students Experience Sublimation Surprise!

Participants at the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s Windward STEM Exploration Center are examining phases of matter in the journey of recycling and waste. Part of the recycling agenda is to preserve environmental factors, which include all states of matter. In this quest of understanding, the participants learned about sublimation. Sublimation is the transition of a substance from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid stage. Sublimation can be observed when working with dry ice. Dry ice offers a substance with a considerably lower temperature than common ice. This allowed the participants to see how materials react to extreme temperatures. Next, participants witnessed the sublimation process when Ms. Sarah, STEM Teacher, placed dry ice into water. Students gasped with “oohs” and “aahs” as gas emitted from the container of water and dry ice. Next, participants watched Ms. Sarah make “smoke” bubbles from the dry ice. Once the materials were at levels that were not dangerous for interaction, participants held cups with dry ice in water. This allowed participants to safely experience the cold temperature.

Employment Core Services Sends Another Participant into the Workforce

The Leahi District Service Center has a partnership with The Salvation Army to provide wrap around services to clients. HCAP Community Worker, Cameo has been working with clients who have a variety of needs, including employment. Cameo met Joseph through this partnership, and helped him enroll in the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services program. Through the program, Joseph learned how to write a resume, how to communicate during an interview with potential employers, and how to correctly fill out job applications. Through his hard work and diligence, Joseph was able to quickly find employment in the food service industry and just reached 60 days of employment. Awesome job Joseph!

Head Start Children Develop Appreciation for Art

Head Start children of Jefferson Pre Plus learned about abstract art using non-conventional materials. In the photo, the children used string dipped in various colors to produce an array of designs. This type of art helps children to use their fine motor skills, learn colors, and develop an appreciation for art.