HCAP WEEKLY September 16, 2024

Head Start Building Confidence Through Fine Motor Development
Leahi ECS Client Gains Tuition Assistance for Dental Assisting Academy
Kalihi Hā Initiative’s Tower Engineering Challenge
Give Aloha to HCAP at Foodland this September

Head Start Building Confidence Through Fine Motor Development

HCAP Head Start children across the island are developing their fine motor skills through various educationally and developmentally appropriate activities.Children at Kahuku are preparing and enjoying pretend meals in the home center. At Laie, children are stacking Legos, blocks and other manipulatives to build towers.

At Kunia, children are connecting and interlocking manipulative toys to create various objects. Fine motor skills involve small muscle movements that support children’s cognitive development through activities such as toothbrushing, self-feeding, manipulation of objects and toys, using writing utensils, and getting dressed. Additionally, fine motor skills increase children’s confidence through the development of coordination, confidence and independence of engaging in daily self-care tasks.

Click here to learn more about HCAP Head Start and Early Head Start.


Leahi ECS Client Gains Tuition Assistance for Dental Assisting Academy

Kody visited the HCAP Leahi District Service Center this past August and inquired with the Leahi staff about the eligibility requirements needed to apply for tuition assistance under the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program (ECS). Referred to HCAP through American Job Center, she admitted that she didn’t have much experience in the process of obtaining employment or higher education, but she was determined to seek out HCAP’s assistance in navigating her possible career paths.

After completing her intake forms and discussing her Individual Service Plan, she explained that she was interested in dental assisting and was pleased to find out that HCAP holds a partnership with Hawaii Dental Assisting Academy. Upon receiving her acceptance letter to the vocational training program, she was able to request tuition assistance from HCAP’s ECS.

Currently, Kody is actively taking her courses and expresses her gratitude to the HCAP Nā Lima Hana ECS program in helping her take her first step towards her career goals. HCAP Leahi Staff wishes Kody all the best in her current and future endeavors!

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.


Kalihi Hā Initiative’s Tower Engineering Challenge

At Kalihi Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, students were thrilled to be presented with a new tower engineering challenge. STEM teacher, Ms. Gina divided the students into assigned color groups, which allowed them to interact with new peers. The class began a discussion about prominent existing structures, the need for a sturdy foundation, and the importance of balance and counterbalancing.

In this challenge, students were equipped with plastic cups and popsicle sticks. Their task was to build the tallest tower possible in 30 minutes. What made this mission extra challenging for the students were the constraints of the task: the lateral surface area of the cups could not touch each other and each stackable row of cups could not have the same dimensions. Students completed the initial step of the challenge by designing their ideas in their notebooks. As the activity progressed, it was wonderful to see that students naturally began to revise their thought process and tower design as they discovered that some features of their tower did not function properly. When the students’ towers would fall over, they would rebuild, giving them an opportunity to innovate and try something new.

Throughout the lesson, students demonstrated sportsmanship and team building skills to complete their tower. To conclude the activity, each group presented their tower and its features. They shared what did or did not work, some of the obstacles and conflicts they faced during the project, and how team members were able to resolve their issues, as well as the hardest and easiest parts of the challenge. After recording their tower heights on data sheets, the class determined that the tallest tower was created by the blue team, standing at a height of 131 centimeters or 4 feet and 3.6 inches! The students absolutely loved this activity and asked to repeat it with different upcycled materials.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.


Give Aloha to HCAP at Foodland this September

Support HCAP while you shop at Foodland! Now through September 30, Maikaʻi Card members are invited to make donations up to $249 at checkout to participating nonprofit organizations through Give Aloha, Foodland’s Annual Community Matching Gifts program.

To donate to HCAP at checkout, show your Maikaʻi Card and give your cashier our code: 77207. Foodland will match a portion of your gift, and every donation will help HCAP continue to assist low-income Oʻahu families in achieving self-sufficiency.

Mahalo for your ongoing support of HCAP! To help us spread the word about Give Aloha, share our posts on Facebook and Instagram.