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Joyce Yang Receives Kathy Kawaguchi Award

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Each year, the Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership is presented to an exemplary leader in the field of education in Hawai’i. This year’s award went to Joyce Yang, Vice-Principal at Holomua Elementary in ‘Ewa Beach.

Joyce Yang receives Kathy Kawaguchi Award 2020
Dr. Hans Chun (Assistant Professor, Education), Dr. Dale Fryxell (Dean, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences), Joyce Yang (Kathy Kawaguchi Awardee) and Gary Yasui (Principal, Holomua Elementary)

“Ms. Yang is a dedicated leader in Hawai’i’s educational community,” says Dr. Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University. “She leads with intelligence and integrity, and she helps instill these attributes in others. We are honored to be able to present her with this cherished award this year.” 

The Kathy Kawaguchi Award was created in 2016 in honor of the late Katherine Takeko Kawaguchi. Before passing, Kawaguchi held an extensive career in education and served as director of Leadership and Education Projects at Chaminade University for nearly a decade. She launched and led two major programs at Chaminade: the Castle K-16 Engineering Pipeline Project and the Office of Naval Research Project and Educational Leadership Program.

At her celebration of life at Chaminade University in 2016, Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM, then-university president, and Dr. Dale Fryxell honored Kawaguchi with a special plaque that inaugurated the annual award.

The award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in education and has served as an exemplary leader and stellar role model. Ms. Yang joins Derek K. Santos (2017), Thomas J. Cox (2018), Ken Kakesako (2018) and Diann “Dolly” Wong (2019) in receiving this award.

Experiential Learning In the Time of COVID

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At first glance, a field trip described as both “virtual” and “hands-on” seems to be a bit contradictory. But for 13 Chaminade education students, their recent “field trip” with the United States Naval Academy was exactly that—a virtual, hands-on experience made possible by Chaminade’s partnership with the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

Education students participating in a virtual, hands-on workshop

The students participated in a two-day virtual workshop to explore scientific phenomena related to waves, sound, reception, refraction, chemistry, circuits and more. For these aspiring teachers, the experience provided valuable tools for thinking about how to conduct their future classrooms and communicate complex scientific concepts.

“Zoom sessions and virtual fields trips are looking like the new norm for us, and as a future teacher, I need to start thinking of ways to still make school fun and interactive for students,” says Daysha Kau, a fourth-year Elementary Education major who participated in the workshop. “Many of the experiments we were shown and led through required easy-access materials that can be provided to students to continue hands-on learning, even if they aren’t physically in school.”

The workshops were provided by the United States Naval Academy STEM Center and were assisted by Engineers on Deck, a nonprofit that specializes in STEM teacher workshops. The students logged into the digital meeting platform, and followed instructions to conduct their own experiments from home.

“The United States Naval Academy made sure to clearly show us what to do with the experiments,” says Kau. “I was surprised at how simple everything was, and it was great to still be able to do hands-on experiments through virtual learning.”

The virtual field trip was a new type of experience for Kau. She particularly enjoyed playing with the hydrophobic sand, or sand that repels water.

Education students participating in a virtual, hands-on workshop

“This sand, also called magic sand, has hydrophobic properties, so it repels water,” says Kau. “It was so cool to see the sand, when submerged in water, clumped together; however, when lifted out of the water with a spoon, the sand turned back into regular sand grains.”

But perhaps her biggest takeaway was seeing how the United States Naval Academy was able to demonstrate complex scientific concepts into easy-to-understand visualizations that even younger kids could comprehend—and in a virtual environment, no less.

For example, to demonstrate how sound waves travel, they used a metal slinky and shook it up and down at various paces. For younger children, they showed the education students how to demonstrate the concept using construction paper.

“They showed us how to make loops with paper strips, and then tape them onto a bigger piece of paper,” explains Kau. “When we tapped on the paper loops, they bounced. This also exemplified sound waves and the movement of sound.”

Kau sees this as an activity she can implement in her future classroom one day. “It not only gave me a better understanding of the concept, but it can also be used in a future elementary school classroom and help students interact with the concept.”

Kau, who is graduating in Spring of 2021, hopes to become a first- or second-grade teacher. She’s grateful for the opportunity to learn from the United States Naval Academy STEM Center, and she knows the skills she learned will prove valuable to her in the future.

“I believe this experience with the naval academy gave me more ideas on how to conduct hands-on science experiments and break down scientific concepts for students in those grade levels,” says Kau. “It really brought the concepts to life.”

2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year

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Growing up, the library was always a place where Laurel Oshiro felt safe. It was a place where she could just be herself and explore her own interests. So when her friend introduced her to a master’s in library science program, it felt like a natural fit. Oshiro was in her final semester of student teaching at the time, about to graduate with her bachelor’s, and fell in love with the idea of becoming a school librarian.

“I prayed and prayed for guidance before I graduated,” recalls Oshiro when asked about her decision to become a librarian. “One day, while I was praying, I went to the library and the librarian was super nice. I’ve always loved the library, and I decided to apply for a school librarian graduate program. As soon as I did, it felt like all these doors opened up. My interest in learning was reawakened.”

Laurel Oshiro, the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year awardee

Fast forward to 2020, and Oshiro has obviously made the right career choice. She was recently named the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year, an annual award that’s presented by Chaminade University, Catholic Schools Hawaii and John C. and Mary Lou Brogan. The recipient receives a golden pine“apple” trophy and $1,000.

Oshiro’s passion and love for her job are evident the moment you start talking with her. She is the school librarian for grades JK-6 at Sacred Hearts Academy and she is known for her creative programming and knack for bringing new ideas and programs to the school.

“One of my administrators joked that I’m a Jill of all trades,” says Oshiro, laughing. “But that’s why I love Sacred Hearts so much…my principals give me so much freedom and so many resources to try to influence and create new programs.”

In 2010, Oshiro started a digital media club on campus for grades 4-6. They produce movies that are shared with the entire school community and host an annual red carpet event that is open to the public. Several students have gone on to careers in broadcast journalism. In 2013, she established the iTeach808: Empowering Hawaii’s Teachers in Technology conference, a free educational technology conference that reaches over 150 teachers from 40 schools across Hawaii each year.

More recently, Oshiro has been spearheading efforts to create a STREAM Innovation Center on campus and is piloting a new program that has already shown to increase student reading achievement and motivation. An avid sports fan and certified yoga instructor, she’s also been known to coach the school soccer and track and field teams and offer free yoga classes for colleagues. In the summer, she teaches yoga classes at the Sacred Hearts high school for students. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the Hawaii Association of School Librarians in her spare time.

Oshiro became a mother this summer and is currently taking some time off to spend with her new baby. But she misses her Sacred Hearts community dearly and she’s treating this time away as a sabbatical, a chance to discover new books and catch up on new trends in the field of library science.

For Oshiro, there’s something very special about being in the Catholic school system that she’s excited to return to after maternity leave. She’s a devout Christian and finds fulfillment in being able to share her faith with her students.

“I look forward to mass every month and being able to talk to the children about God,” says Oshiro. “I love praying with them and helping them. It’s one thing to raise kids to be really smart and have high scores, but it’s another thing to develop their hearts.”

She has a profound respect for the teachers that surround her and attributes much of her success to the incredible work that they do every day. “I look at my neighbors, the teachers on my left and the teachers on my right, and I’m like ‘boy, they are working so hard,’” she describes. “I think managing a classroom of 25 kids is much harder than what I do. I have the one place on campus where students don’t get graded. That’s why I decided to become a librarian.”

As for the teacher-of-the-year award, Oshiro is truly honored. “It was so nice of Chaminade, it felt like the Heisman of teacher’s awards—that trophy was enormous!”

But she views the award as something her whole school earned. She believes it’s the result of the support network that she has found at Sacred Hearts Academy and it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the support of her fellow colleagues and administrators.

“It’s such an honor, I’m very humbled by it,” she says. “I hope to steward it well.”

Faith In Action

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Dr. Brandy Sato ’97 ’02 knows a thing or two about Catholic school. A Kailua native, her family has a legacy of attending either Sacred Hearts Academy or St. Louis School. She followed suit and attended the all-girls school through high school, before making the trek across Waialae Avenue to attend Chaminade University. After graduating, she spent some time teaching in Catholic schools and then returned to Chaminade to get her Master’s in Education.

Brandy Sato '97 '02

So naturally, when Sato assumed the role of secondary school principal at Island Pacific Academy this past June, she was attracted to the school’s focus on values. She saw a strong connection between the values that guide Island Pacific—humility, love, respect, generosity and gratitude—with those that she was taught at Sacred Hearts Academy and Chaminade University. 

“At Island Pacific, we have certain values that we live by and that we teach our children,” says Sato. “Those values are very easy for me to promote because they align with my Catholic faith.”

While she learns to navigate her new institution and lead the school through the novel coronavirus pandemic, she finds herself regularly drawing upon her faith.

“Faith is a benchmark and the foundation upon which we need to stand during this current health pandemic,” says Sato. “The gospels that were instilled in me throughout my education are really a good compass for how to thrive during these challenging times.”

Her time at Chaminade has also helped set a precedent for what she hopes to achieve at Island Pacific. Because Chaminade is a small school, it allowed her to learn in a way that best met her needs. It helped her understand the importance of personalized learning—something she’s really taking to heart as Island Pacific works to refine its distance learning program.

“During this pandemic, as we look to different ways of instruction, I think a lot about my personalized experience at Chaminade,” says Sato. “It has helped me make sure that we are really connecting with our students, that we know them well enough to continue to educate them in a way that helps them explore their passions.”

Chaminade also offered Sato an example of what it means to provide a well-rounded education. “Academics were very important at Chaminade, but so were social opportunities, particularly those that helped me explore my faith,” says Sato. “The experience I had at Chaminade is one I want to duplicate for my students here at Island Pacific, to make sure we continue to educate the whole child.”

Ultimately, for Sato, that’s her life’s mission—to build a new generation of well-rounded individuals who strive to serve their communities. Being an educator is the most powerful way for Sato to give back and put her own faith into action. By inspiring and motivating children, and helping them to reach their dreams and explore their passions, Sato believes she can change the world.

“I really want to leave the world in a better place when I’m gone,” says Sato. She pauses for a while, while reflecting on her legacy and the meaning behind decades of hard work. “I see that my vocation in life is to inspire and motivate. To provide multiple opportunities for children to reach their dreams and explore their passions, and to help them to have lifelong careers and interests that will make the world a better place.”

Chaminade University Receives Grant from Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation

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Chaminade University has received a $50,000 grant from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation to fund its Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher scholarship program. The grant will be used to award over 20 scholarships this school year to students from Chaminade’s School of Education who are majoring in Early Childhood Education (ECE).

“The ECE Castle Scholarship funding will play an instrumental role in supporting quality early childhood educators qualified to teach in the public sector throughout the state of Hawai’i,” said Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington. “With the generous support from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, Chaminade University will continue to provide quality education to those who have a passion for educating our young children.”   

Early childhood education teachers continue to be in high demand across the state and the nation. Chaminade provides Early Childhood Education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These programs provide not only degrees but also state teaching licensure and internationally accepted Montessori credentials. The university’s ECE major is offered through online courses with opportunities for hands-on learning experiences. For more information regarding undergraduate programs, click here and for graduate programs, click here.

The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation is a proud supporter of improving the lives of Hawai’i’s children and families through the improvement of early childhood education and development.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

Education in the Time of COVID

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When Shana Tong, MEd ‘08 was offered the position of interim president at Maryknoll School, a private Catholic school in Honolulu, the situation couldn’t have been more urgent. It was July of 2020, and the education system around the world had just been rocked by one of the biggest challenges of the century: the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shana Tong, MEd '08

Schools across the globe had spent the last part of the 2019-20 school year scrambling to finish out the year remotely. No one really knew what fall of 2020 would bring—would schools be able to reopen? Teachers and administrators were working double-time to prepare for all possible scenarios.

In Hawaii, things were looking stable in early July. But now, a little over one month later, everything has changed. Numbers are rising, and quickly. The situation is becoming much more dire, and public schools have now been mandated to begin their school year online.

If there is anyone that can lead Maryknoll through these difficult times, it’s Tong. Tong knows Maryknoll like the back of her hand. She has had every possible relationship with the school—she has been a Maryknoll student, parent, teacher and administrator. And her endless optimism and easy manner will serve the school well during these unpredictable times.

It isn’t easy assuming a new leadership role in the middle of a pandemic with so many unknowns ahead. Tong knows her biggest challenge will be making sure the parents, students and teachers all feel comfortable and confident in the new learning plan.

“Everyday it could change,” acknowledges Tong. “Being flexible, adaptable, resilient—those are the skills we are going to need in order to really thrive and make sure our children are feeling confident and cared for, and to give them a sense of normalcy, even when the world is crazy out there.”

Tong credits the knowledge she gained in Chaminade’s Master of Education program with helping her navigate the complexity of the situation today. She had already had an extensive teaching career when she enrolled in the program in 2006, but Chaminade taught her about the business of running a school—the finance, law and human resources side of things. It gave her the solid foundation she needed to become a confident leader.

But even more so, her professors at Chaminade modeled what it meant to be a Catholic educator, something Tong is holding very near and dear today. Regardless of a child’s faith, Tong believes the Catholic education that Maryknoll helps shape children to become more responsible and caring citizens.

“When children see themselves and their role in the world as bigger than themselves, it’s always enlightening,” says Tong. “It sets the path for how they take care of other people, making difficult decisions when times are tough.”

That’s especially true in today’s world, as people struggle to navigate so much uncertainty. “Right now we’re in a pandemic,” says Tong. “I think more than ever, people need something to look forward to. As times change, faith gives you something to rely on, it gives you a sense of responsibility.”

Tong doesn’t know what this upcoming school year holds, but with her faith and a dedicated team of fellow leaders and mentors to help guide her, she feels confident in the journey ahead.