April 1, 2020

Aloha e ka ʻOhana o ka Papa 2020,

Hālau Kū Māna would like to first express our appreciation to you, our students and parents, for your patience and understanding as we work through these uncertain times. Weʻd also like to send our gratitude to the Charter School Commission and the HIDOE for the constant communication and guidance during the past few weeks. We know you have had many questions which we hope to address in this letter. Much consideration and thought has been given to how we can ensure our students graduate and receive the credit they deserve while still fulfilling Hālau Kū Mānaʻs graduation requirements.

What we are sharing below is to assist you in understanding our decision-making as it pertains to how we will deal with the circumstances facing our seniors. We have had many discussions on how best to support our seniors, acknowledging their achievements, and putting the health
and safety of our students, staff and families first.

As it pertains to Graduation Requirements and Grades:

• For SY 2019-2020 in each course, we will average grades for the first, second, and third quarter in order to provide a final grade and award credit for those who achieved proficiency or higher
  (grade of D or above). Students are required to complete their Senior Project in order to graduate and receive their diploma.
  Rationale: Under current closure, the earliest return to school is April 30. On April 30, 2020, there would be 11 instructional days until the start of the period designated for seniors to participate in graduation ceremony activities. There is a possibility that closure will extend beyond current closure proclamations.
• BOE policy 102-15 lays out what is required for a high school graduation. Hālau Kū Māna requires students complete a senior project for 1 additional credit to the BOE high school graduation requirement. Also, based on a memo dated October 27, 2017, Diploma and Honors Recognition Certificate Requirements Guide, Valedictorians will be named after the third quarter.

For those students who were not proficient at the end of the 3rd Quarter:
Hālau Kū Māna will provide remediation and intervention at the earliest date or means possible. We will work with teachers and counselors to find a solution for students who need credit recovery support.

• Rationale: Consistent in our philosophy of student support.
  • One-to-one online options
  • Credit recovery programming
  • Printed materials and instructional packets with teacher check-ins (correspondence
    courses)
  • Project-based learning (Performance-based assessments)
  • Portfolios
  • Tutorials or other intervention strategies using conference calls, email, web
    conferencing

Senior Projec

Hālau Kū Māna requires students to complete an individual senior project as one full credit awarded provided they have fulfilled all of the projectʻs requirements with proficiency. The Class of 2020 will still need to finish their projects to earn credit and graduate

• Rationale: Senior project is a unique opportunity for students to showcase everything they have learned throughout their years at HKM. We want to honor the work students have already done and allow the rest of our ʻohana to view their projects as a final aloha to our seniors.
• Requirements to fulfill this credit will be sent out within the next week.

Grade Point Average and Final Transcripts
Upon completion of all HKMʻs graduation requirements, we will use Q1-3 grades to determine final grades; we will then utilize these final grades under the current policies for calculation of GPA.

• Rationale: No waivers needed or impact to conferring diploma or transcripts
• Any request for final transcripts will have a 5-7 day window to be sent. Requests will
  need to be made virtually to Kumu Kristen   (Please include the address where you would like the transcript mailed.)

Commencement Ceremonies
Virtual alternatives to our traditional commencement ceremony are being planned. We want to continue the traditions and protocols of graduation at Hālau Kū Māna and will work to ensure that we provide this to the extent possible given these uncertain times. More details and information will be provided in the days and weeks to come.

If you have any questions, please email Kristen. We thank you for your continued patience as we work to provide the best for our seniors.

Mahalo!

Mrs. Keolani Noa
Poʻo Kula