Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update & Reminders – February 4, 2021

Aloha Saint Mark Parents!

I hope and pray you all are doing well. I am writing with the latest updates & reminders. 

COMMUNITY CONDITIONS 
The current numbers (which are available on the Hawaii Data Collaborative) have decreased in the past couple of weeks. Let’s all please do our part to keep ourselves safe and continue these positive trends. 

Current Numbers
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 85 (60 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 2.0% (2.4% on O`ahu). 

January 15 Numbers
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 154 (111 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 2.8% (3.4% on O`ahu). 

December 17 Numbers
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 117 (89 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 2.4% (3.1% on O`ahu). 

IMPACT/ALERT LEVELS
The state of Hawai`i is at impact level YELLOW (Act with Care – Minor Disruption) of its Reopening Navigator; the City and County of Honolulu is in TIER 2 (ORANGE) of its Honolulu Reopening Strategy; and Saint Mark is at level GREEN in its Reopening Campus Plan.

VACCINATE! VACCINATE! VACCINATE!
I feel blessed and very fortunate to have now received both doses of the COVID -19 vaccine (with no issues) and am excited to report that our faculty and staff are now in the process of getting vaccinated themselves.  As you may have seen, my recent COVID-19 vaccination was filmed and featured on Hawaii News Now. We did this in an effort to encourage everyone who may be on the fence regarding vaccinations to please consider getting the vaccine. We understand that our best chance of getting Hawai`i’s kids and teachers fully back-to-school and completely ending this nearly year long student sequestration is to get vaccinated!

For those who missed it in my last update email, here’s a great four minute animated overview of the science of the vaccine entitled mRNA Vaccines – Simply Explained.  If you haven’t already watched it, I strongly encourage you to do so.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY (No School)
Please remember that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Friday, February 5 as it’s a Professional Development Day for the faculty and staff. Classes will resume on Monday, February 8.

GET ACTIVE for SAINT MARK
All monies collected for Get Active along with the sponsor pledge form are due next Wednesday, February 10 to be eligible for the t-shirt and prizes.  $25 Amazon Gift Cards will be awarded to the top 3 money collectors, and all students who collect $50 or more will get a newly designed Saint Mark Athletics T-shirt. Monies collected will go towards the purchase of new P.E. equipment, recess balls, athletic equipment and travel, etc.  The all school “Get Active” for Saint Mark day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.

RE-ENROLLMENT (for PK3 and K-7 Students)
Re-enrollment packets (letter, enrollment contract, tuition & fee schedule, tuition insurance brochure) for the 2021-2022 school year were mailed home last month for students in grades PK3 and K-7. The enrollment contracts and enrollment fee for all RETURNING students (in grades PK3 and K-7) are due back to the school office no later than Friday, February 19 to guarantee a spot for the 2021-22 school year.  We are forecasted to be at or near capacity in all classes, so please be sure to meet this deadline.  Please call our Business Manager, Melelani Lawrence or Admission’s Coordinator, Robin Kaha`ulelio at 247-5589 should you have any questions.

READY TO PIVOT BACK to DISTANCE LEARNING
Saint Mark Lutheran School remains very attentive to the fluidity of this pandemic and will continue to carefully monitor the daily data.  While we will not be overly reactive to expected variance in community conditions, we need to be ready to quickly pivot back (cohorts or larger groups) to distance learning should a student or staff member test positive or community conditions dramatically worsen again.  

Mahalo for your continued patience and commitment in these challenging times and please do not hesitate to let us know should you have any questions.

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe this Weekend,

David Gaudi
Head of School