July 20, 2022
Aloha Parents/Guardians and Students,
Aloha Parents/Guardians and Students,
Welcome Back!
On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to welcome you back to what we anticipate will be an exciting and awesome 2022-23 school year! We are in an accreditation year and will be soliciting feedback from all stakeholders throughout the year.
I am excited to enter my third year as Principal of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School (CKMS) along with my superb returning Vice Principals, Mr. Ray Carvalho and Ms. Taharaa Stein. Although Mrs. Jill Chow has chosen not to return to an administrative role this year; we were very thankful for her willingness to step in last year and are especially glad for her return to being an 8th grade English and Language Arts teacher.
We never anticipated the many pivots and challenges of COVID to last as long as it has nor could we perceive the far reaching effect of the stressors on our staff, students and community. Please be assured that we will continue to focus on providing a safe campus by adjusting health and safety mitigating measures when necessary as well as by providing an emotionally and physically safe campus for all.
Our mission at CKMS continues to be to provide a positive and accepting environment, which empowers all students in their academic, social and physical pursuits as well-rounded lifelong learners and productive citizens.
Our campus hosted a 2 week Intervention Learning Hub for current students, as well as a 3 week Transition Hub for incoming 6th graders this summer. The renovation construction of the school’s library started immediately after school finished and appears to be on schedule to be completed before the first day of school for our students. Kudos to Pacific Blue and all the contractors involved in this renovation! All of this could not have been possible without our hard working custodians and cafeteria staff, who continue to prepare and clean rooms while our fabulous office team has been busy registering new families, ordering and inventorying new equipment and supplies, updating student files and doing their best to answer any questions parents have about the upcoming school year. As your Principal, it is important to me that everyone who steps through our doors feels the same excitement that we feel in being part of the CKMS ‘Ohana. This attitude is what enables us to meet the challenges of academic excellence in a positive, and accepting learning environment. My door is always open and I welcome your input. Please feel free to call me to discuss any concerns you might have throughout the school year. Below you will find some important information pertaining to the start of the school year.
Student Start Dates:
Students will report to their Advisory Class on their first day of school. Their class schedule will be given
to them in Advisory. Advisory class assignments will be posted outside the registrar's office daily until
the start of school.
●Monday, August 1, 2022 - Teacher Waiver Day (no school for students)
● Tuesday, August 2, 2022 - 8th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Wednesday, August 3, 2022 - 7th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Thursday, August 4, 2022 - 6th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Friday, August 5, 2022 - ALL Students - Grades 6 - 8 (7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.)
Parents/guardians will be allowed to accompany their child on their first day, but will need to remain
with their child at all times. Face masks will not be required but are highly encouraged especially in
crowded areas. If you are interested in purchasing a school lunch please make a payment at the office
to obtain your lunch ticket prior to July 27, 2022. Adult meals are $5.50. Check or Cash (For Cash -
ONLY EXACT CHANGE will be accepted)
Students will report to their Advisory Class on their first day of school. Their class schedule will be given
to them in Advisory. Advisory class assignments will be posted outside the registrar's office daily until
the start of school.
●Monday, August 1, 2022 - Teacher Waiver Day (no school for students)
● Tuesday, August 2, 2022 - 8th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Wednesday, August 3, 2022 - 7th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Thursday, August 4, 2022 - 6th grade students only (7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
● Friday, August 5, 2022 - ALL Students - Grades 6 - 8 (7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.)
Parents/guardians will be allowed to accompany their child on their first day, but will need to remain
with their child at all times. Face masks will not be required but are highly encouraged especially in
crowded areas. If you are interested in purchasing a school lunch please make a payment at the office
to obtain your lunch ticket prior to July 27, 2022. Adult meals are $5.50. Check or Cash (For Cash -
ONLY EXACT CHANGE will be accepted)
Changes:
We will be returning to a bell schedule similar to that of our pre-pandemic schedule for all students.
● Welcome bell: 7:50 a.m. with a 3 minute passing to Period 1 Advisory on Monday through Friday.
● School will end at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at 1:15 on Wednesday unless notified otherwise.
● There will no longer be a staggered release for students. Please look for more information on student pickup locations once we have worked out the final details.
● Our school’s web page will be changing soon! We hope to have more timely updates, notices
and announcements in an easy to find format. Thank you to Mr. Matsunaga for working on this for our school.
Please see the following schedules: Grades 8 and 6 will be utilizing one schedule while grade 7 will be utilizing a slightly different schedule. If parents would like to attend on their child's first day, we kindly ask that you limit attendance to only one parent and no siblings. Parking will be open on the field.
Masking or face coverings are no longer required but highly recommended.
Finally, school attendance is imperative to your child’s success. Every absence from school interferes with your child’s opportunity to learn. Chronic absenteeism, usually defined by researchers as missing 10% or more of the school year (including excused absences and unexcused absences), has a significant negative effect on student achievement and may put a student at academic risk. Obviously we don’t want students sent to school when they are sick but please don’t forget to notify the school of your child’s absence. Upon returning to school from an absence, students are required to submit to the attendance clerk a doctor’s excuse note or a note signed by their parent or guardian indicating the date(s) of and the reason for absence.
Sincerely,
Jean Morris
Principal