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Caring for our Keiki: Our keiki are at home while we shelter in place so I thought we could mention today some of the resources for our keiki that you may already know or not. Below are some resources that may help.
The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) continues to provide free breakfast and lunch to children 18 years or younger, regardless of eligibility, for free or reduced price meals, at select schools across the State. For our district they are being offered at McKinley & Kaimuki High Schools. Parents or caregivers who pick up a meal must be accompanied by a child. For more information, click here.
The YMCA also continues to offer free, healthy lunch to children M-F, 11:30-12:30 at grab-and-go sites.
The HIDOE updated the Guidance for Long-Term School Closures document which describes continuity of education, graduation, and school reopening among other things. You should also contact your child’s school for more information. The HIDOE will plan for the reopening of the schools if, among other things, there is no recent evidence of community spread – no new cases for four weeks. For more information and guidance from HIDOE, visit their COVID-19 page.
To search for child care, family centers, food, health, screening, and shelter near you, view the Hawaii Children’s Action Network COVID-19 resources page with map. To address the need that many essential workers have for child care during the coronavirus crisis, Kama’aina Kids 21 Preschool locations across Oahu continue to offer child care for infants through preschool, but also add support services to school-aged children in families providing essential service roles. If you work in essential services, and your regular childcare options are unavailable to you, you are eligible to enroll your child on a space available basis in the Kama’aina Kids location and program that is most convenient for you. Click here for more information.
Schools are also trying to keep in touch with students and are finding innovative remote ways to do this. At one of our schools, Jefferson Elementary Principal Garret Zakahi shared a video of the TEAMwork sent to their students and families to ensure them they will all make it through this crisis. |
