Parent Newsletter: August 9, 2021
ALOHA
We have completed our first week of school and included in this newsletter are the observations that we have made since the start and reminders and improvements that we know will make things work more effectively.
Additionally, my thought is to provide a monthly update via this newsletter. COVID-19 unfortunately still dominates the current scene but we are determined to remain on campus and get back to normal as much as possible. Should more frequent communication be necessary because of the pandemic situation, I will send that out as necessary via email. We are grateful for your cooperation and patience in this new school year – closer to normal, yet still full of challenges. One of those challenges is the ongoing roadwork on Houghtailing Street. Please know that Damien is not responsible for that work and had no say in this city project. Should you have any questions or complaints, you can contact the city directly at 808-219-7009 (www.awasewer.org).
Dr. Kyle J. Atabay
‘84 Head of School
LUNCH
If your child has not yet received his/her ID, lunch can still be purchased without a one. Lunch will be charged to their account by providing their first/last name at the cash register. Payschool allows you the capability to load money into your child’s account and make crediting their account automatic. Although the use of cash is acceptable during lunch, it will slow down the process of the lunch line. Please contact our business office if you have questions on Payschool (payschools.com). To remedy the large numbers of students in one lunch period as well as ease the transition foot traffic of students between lunch periods, we have restructured the lunch periods to three (versus two) periods. We will begin the new lunch schedule this week. Outside space is also used for the lunch periods so as not to crowd the cafeteria.
UNIFORMS
As Dennis Uniform is currently backed up on orders, temporary dress code for new students is solid color polo and solid color shorts (appropriate length). Our expectation is that the appropriate uniform pieces will be obtained as soon as Dennis’ merchandise is in. Returning/continuing students can wear the previous Damien uniform (black/purple polos with D/Lion logo, khaki shorts/skorts) for the duration of this school year – these are only items that were purchased through Dennis previously. Since last school year, Dennis has sold only the new uniform articles which will be required for all students next school year.
ATHLETICS
Aloha Damien Parents,
There will be a mandatory Code of Conduct meeting this Wednesday, August 11 at 6:30pm in the Damien gym for all parents of any student-athlete who is participating in a Fall sports program. This includes girls’ volleyball, football, cross country, bowling, and cheer for all levels. We are asking that only one parent attend the meeting to help keep the numbers down.
As a reminder, please make sure that your sons and daughters continue to always wear their masks while on campus. We have had to remind many of them that even though they are playing outdoor sports, we still require masks to be worn unless they are at practice. Masks are required to be worn in the locker rooms, weight rooms and any other indoor space at all times. The only time masks may be taken off is during outdoor activities and practices.
With the case counts rising each day, we want to ensure that we are keeping all our players, coaches, faculty, and staff safe here at Damien.
An update from the ILH office was released August 4, 2021. Please see the attached letter concerning ILH sports. At this time, all ILH sports will be played as is scheduled besides Varsity football, pending any PARENT NEWSLETTER AUGUST 9, 2021 changes from the HHSAA. The ILH is now requiring studentathletes to be fully vaccinated or tested weekly if participating in a high contact sport. For the fall, this includes football and cheer. They are also strongly recommending all student-athletes get vaccinated. If your son or daughter is not fully vaccinated, they will need to be tested 24 hours prior to the competition. More info about our testing protocols will be given at the mandatory code of conduct meeting on Wednesday.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Coach Eddie. Email:klaneski@damien. edu or call (808) 440-9514. Mahalo for your continued support and keeping our Damien community safe.
- Coach Eddie
STUDENT SCHEDULES
Schedule change requests were due last Friday. No more schedule changes will be made this semester.
BLACKBOARD
Please be on the lookout for information and logins for the Damien Parent App, Parentlink, which will go out by the end of this week
ATTENDANCE
Reminder to parents that Attendance for the day needs to be reported no later 9:00 am via attendance@damien.edu OR (808) 440-9567. Early Dismissal requests should be reported by 9:00 am as well. Please review our Attendance Policy available in the ParentStudent handbook, pages 18-19.
Please review our Travel Policy available in the Return-toSchool Guide, Part. 1, slide 18. One week notification for travel is REQUIRED.
BUSINESS OFFICE
Re-enrollment of returning/continuing students is an annual requirement. Not doing so will result in no access to important school tools like Blackboard. We certainly understand that families may fall into financial hardship but we also need to be informed of such circumstances as soon as possible. When we don’t hear from you, our assumption is that you are choosing to be delinquent in your account and not hearing from you only supports that assumption. Financial hardship circumstances require us to work together.
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
Foodland's Give Aloha Program begins on September 1 and ends on September 30. Help Damien receive donations and matching funds by using your Maikaʻi Card while shopping at Foodland, Sack 'N' Save and Foodland Farms in-store or online and designating Damien as the receiving charitable organization. Mahalo for your kokua!
MAHALO!
New Student Orientation - We would like to express our gratitude to the over 40 student volunteers in grades 7 - 12 who lead the New Student Orientation on August 2. These volunteers gave up a portion of their summer to receive training for the day from the orientation planners - Mr. Jeff McGivern (Campus Ministry), Mr. Baron Kaholokula (History), Mr. Shane Chambers (Theology), and Mr. Phil Balmores (English). We would also like to acknowledge Mrs. Dee Arecchi (6h Grade) and Mr. Sean Tyree (Art/Science) for their time and guidance to the middle school volunteers.
The volunteers demonstrated our school’s values - respect, responsibility, and community mindedness - throughout the day and acted as role models to their peers.
Some student responses to their orientation experience:
"The best part of the orientation was that we got to see the campus so we do not get lost during the school time. We had very good students that led the orientation and they were very nice to all of us."
"Something that I very much enjoyed about the student orientation was being able to meet new people before school actually started. Also just being able to learn more about sports. Then the thing that really stood out was all of the activities and prizes we were able to play for. I'm very thankful that I went to the student orientation. It was very fun and if I didn't go, I know for sure I would have been very nervous and clueless.
"The musical chairs was very fun to watch. Also, the fashion show. I learned about what to wear and not what to wear."
"The best part of the New Student orientation was the school tour and learning a little about some of the places on campus and the tradition and history that comes with it."
Mahalo to our orientation volunteers for their good work in helping to create a positive community. We look forward to a productive school year.
Damien Memorial School guides students from all walks of life in becoming responsible, respectful and community-minded men and women prepared to excel in higher education and ready for the challenges in their future.
As a community of faith missioned by the Roman Catholic Church, we espouse the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as exemplified in the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother Education and through the selfless service of Saint Damien of Moloka`i.