Safer School Reopening: COVID-19 Strategies for Educators
Dates: Wednesday, August 25 AND Thursday August 26, 2021
Time: 3:00-4:30 PM - Hawaii Standard Time
(Beginning at 6:00 PM Pacific / 8:00 PM Central / 9:00 PM Eastern)
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free!
The Hanahau'oli Professional Development Center is teaming up with the Pacific Alliance against COVID-19 (PAAC), under an award from the National Institutes of Health, Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADxUP) to offer this free, two-day workshop. The two-day program is structured as a Panel-Town Hall, and focuses on providing strategies for safer school reopening and addressing your questions.
On Wednesday, panelists Dr, Sarah Kemble, MD, Hawaii Department of Health State Epidemiologist and Kara Gormont, RN School Testing Program address COVID-19 testing in schools and other COVID-19 school issues. Dr. Alika Maunakea, John A Burns School of Medicine, examines the roles of variants, vaccinations, and human behavior on case rates. Paul Kepka, Principal, Kamaile Academy shares his school-based testing program, and Gail Vannatta, Assistant Principal for Academics, Damien Memorial School shares the school’s comprehensive strategies for safer school opening, including grade level development of COVID-19 curriculum.
On Thursday, panelists Ruben Juarez, Professor of Economics, presents research on attitudes to vaccinations and Kaleolani Hanohano, Hawaiian language/Modern Hawaiian History, Kahuku High School and Jamie Psak, Health, Kaiser High School share their school’s COVID-19 in-servicing followed by sharing of student outcomes from teaching the PAAC modules. Kaleolani is joined by fellow curriculum writer Ka‘olinokaimana Yasuoka, Voyager PCS. A town hall format encourages asking questions, sharing concerns and successes as COVID-19 educators.
Educators in Hawaiʻi who work with Pacific Islander, Filipino, and Native Hawaiian students will find this workshop especially relevant as these communities suffer higher cases than Asian and White communities. Each of the Hawaii/Pacific-focused curricular modules is accompanied by a 15 minute video and teacher developed lessons. Module 4 Tests, Vaccines, and Variants was updated August 23. The interdisciplinary, place-based modules and videos are relevant to teachers across the content areas. Lessons engage students in public health inquiries with peers and ‘ohana in ways that are personally meaningful, engaging, and empowering.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES:
Learn and teach about infectious diseases in Hawaii and Pacific from western contact to COVID-19.
Learn and teach about COVID-19: cause, detection, prevention.
Learn and teach about coronavirus, variants, vaccines, herd immunity.
Learn and teach about health disparities and how lessons can help close the gap.
Learn and teach ways to prepare staff and students for a safe 2021-22 school year.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
The detailed agenda with presenters and panelists for both days may be viewed HERE.