Attention Parents: Booksale Day (& School Uniform pickup) for grades 7-12 is Aug. 6 - Wednesday !

Where? St. Joseph School Libary. Time: 8 - 12 noon. Reminder: Parents who have not yet come in to schedule classes for their child or teenager, should do so immediately.

 

REMINDER: Annual Retreat set for Fri., Aug. 8

All St. Joseph faculty and staff are requested to participate in the annual all-school retreat scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. which is arranged by School Chaplain Beth Andrade. A program, including details of a small-group sharing activity led by Father Bob Schwarzhaupt and Mass, conducted by Father Scott Bush, will be placed in your mail boxes shortly. A light breakfast and lunch is provided. A hui hou!

 

Parish Picnic Planning Meeting, Sun. July 27, 1 p.m.

St. Joseph Parish Ohana members are reminded of the important planning meeting at the Rectory Meeting Room at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the 27th. Your participation is important to make this traditional Parish event a success. Mahalo in advance for responding to this call.

 

St. Joseph Volleyball Try-Outs set for Aug. 4 - 8

St. Joseph JV/Varsity try-outs will be held during Aug. 4 - 8 (Monday through Friday) at the newly refurbished St. Joseph Gym. Girls' try-outs will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys' try-outs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, feel free to call David Mena or Rachelle Hanono, Co-Athletic Directors at 969-1146.

Volunteer Bowling Coaches Solicited

We are currentlyi looking for volunteer coaches for bowling. Interested applicants are invited to mail or drop off a resume to: Athletic Department, 1000 Ululani St., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720. Questions? Call David Mena or Rachelle Hanono during working hours at 969-1146.

 

Attention Golfers: How you can donate $1 million to St. Joseph !

You are eligible for the "Million Dollar Hole-In-One" sponsored by the Kalihi Education Coalition. Qualifying rounds are set for Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club in Ewa, Oahu. The top ten who come closest to the pin in these rounds will be chosen to compete in the finals. If a St. Joseph entrant makes a hole in one at the finals, St. Joseph School gets the $1 million. For details on how to enter the qualifying rounds as a St. Joseph contender, Click Here.

 

Registrations Up from Last Year

Our latest estimate is that St. Joseph School enrollment is up from last year. In fact, the usual surge in late-enrollments in August has caused us to institute a modified "block" scheduling system in the upcoming school year to enable us to accommodate such increases with minimal disruption (see July 7 posting, below). The call for qualified substitute teachers (see July 8 posting) is also in anticipation of the usual late-registration upsurge at all levels -- todler, elementary, Jr. and Senior High School. We have already modified our staffing patterns to reflect the increased enrollment by putting some teachers who were at half-time back to full-time status. Parents who want a guaranteed slot for their child or teenager should register as soon as possible.

 

Driver Ed Opportunity and Call for Substitute Teachers

The deadline for registrations for the Driver Ed training in Hilo (see July 5 posting, below) is rapidly approaching. St Joseph ohana members (parents, faculty, alumni, retirees) who want to earn a side income, should call my office (935-4936) without delay. Also, as noted in my July 8 posting, below, we are always interested in adding to our qualified substitute teachers files. Kindly "pass the word" on this. Mahalo!

 

Brandon Estrella to lead St. Joseph Drug Awareness program

Brandon Estrella, a St. Joseph High School senior and student council president, will lead a massive drug awareness program to shock and educate Big Island youth with documented facts about tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs. Dubbed "Reality Check," the idea is to get facts about drug use to Hawaii's youth through Hawaii's youth, not via usual adult channels. This is an innovative peer-to-peer program. The initial launch of this project will be during Sept. 18-21 at the Hawaii County Fair which is co-sponsored by the Lehua Jaycees. St. Joseph teacher, Sister Stephen Marie Serrao is the faculty adviser to the "Reality Check" team which includes St. Joseph students John Balberde, Arielle Moire-Selvage, Katie Proctor, Marianna Karewicz, Kelden Waltjen and Ashley Kierkiewicz.

 

Charles Kahawai, Jr. to be Buried at Veterans Cemetary

Over the weekend, Marilyn Kahawai, a St. Joseph elementary school cafeteria worker, lost her husband, Sargeant First Class Charles Lehua Kahawai, Jr who went into the light after a long bout with cancer.

Wake services are scheduled for Thur., July 17 at Ke Kilohana O Ka Malamalama Church (554 Manono St.). Viewing, 5:30-7 p.m. ; Service, 7 p.m.

The burial is scheduled for 10 a.m., Fri., July 18, at the Veterans Cemetary #2, Hilo. The St. Joseph High School chapel will be open for quiet meditation and prayers for the Kahawai family in this hour of sorrow.

 

Phone System Down Yesterday

The entire St. Joseph telephone system went "down" yesterday morning and didn't come back up until mid-afternoon. The phone company has informed us that the phones we use are obsolete and are subject to such breakdowns. The Parish office is aware of the problem and is working to resolve it. Fortunately, key staffers have cell phones for emergencies.

 

Call for Qualified Substitute Teachers

Deacon Andrews and Ms. Austin have always maintained a list of qualified elementary, pre-school and high school teachers to step in as needs arise. The nature of the St. Joseph flexible admissions system is such that we may experience unexpected late applications. For instance, folks on waiting lists for other schools may find that their child was not admitted to their first choice school but would like to come to St. Joseph as a second choice. We also do not have firm figures for our foreign students due to new immigration and other government requirements. This is why a substitute teachers list is maintained. Anyone reading this notice who knows of any experienced teachers who are retired or who may have the time to substitute or fill in for us in case of possible upsurges in admissions here, please pass the word. We are accepting one-page summary resumes. Vetting of those resumes (doing background checks etc.) is done on a continuing basis. Resumes should be mailed to: Principal, St. Joseph School, 1000 Ululani St., Hilo, Hi. 96720.

 

St. Joseph Junior with County Band

St. Joseph Junior, Joshua Pacheco, recently earned a spot on the Hawaii County Band percussion section and was seen performing with them on July 4th. Already in the band are Jeffrey Schulte, a 2003 St. Joseph graduate and the St. Joseph Band Director, Randy Skaggs. These St. Joseph ohana members are on the part-time, paid staff of the County Band. They earned their positions because of their outstanding musicianship qualities.

 

Block Scheduling Reminder

Parents (and students) who did not come in two weeks ago during the 3-day scheduling session with our new student counselor and the scheduling team (see June 18 posting), should contact Marilyn Pakele at my office to set up an appointment with Ferren Thorpe, our volunteer scheduler for the new block system. The courses and teacher-contact time in the tentative schedule sent to you by Susan Wehrsig has not changed, repeat, has NOT changed. Only the length of the class periods has changed -- most are now 75 minutes as opposed to the 45-55 minutes periods under the old system.

 

REMINDER: School Uniforms

Parents are reminded to get their orders in for the required school uniforms or risk delays in getting them. Reason: The vendors of the uniforms need lead time to secure the materials and produce the final product. That's why, last May, Deacon Leroy sent a note out to all parents to order the uniforms early. Please do not wait until the last minute to do it. Do it NOW if you haven't already done so. Mahalo!

 

St. Joseph Family Tragedy, Chapel Open for Condolences

We've just received word from the Carruthers, that the Wissing family home was completely destroyed in a fire this morning resulting in one death. Our hearts go out to St. Joseph fifth grader, Chad Wissing and his family. The St. Joseph High School chapel will be open all day to receive condolence messages from St. Joseph ohana members. Let us all pray for Chad and his family in this hour of deep sorrow. Click Here for the Star Bulletin report or Here for the Honolulu Advertiser report on the tragedy.    Update 9 a.m. 7/07/03: The Hawaii Tribune Herald's front page story today identified the body as Kim Wissing, Chad's father. The story notes that Chad and his mother were on Oahu yesterday when the fire occurred. Update 1 p.m. Father Scott Bush visited the High School Chapel to view the condolence prayer to the Wissing family arranged by school Chaplain, Beth Andrade.

 

Hawaii Girls Volleyball Team top 5 percent in Nation!

Rachelle Hanohano, the St. Joseph Girls Volleyball team coach currently on a mainland tour with the Hawaii all star team, reported last night that our girls placed 10th overall out of 233 teams (top 5 percent) in the largest sporting event for women in the United States. The girls came in second place in the Contender division and won the Spirit Award for the 18's division. Students from St. Joseph include Ashley Hanohano, Jazmin Paakaulua, Lindsey Lee, Duchess Kama and Lisha Natividad. Team manger is Brittnie Quinores.

 

Driver Ed Training Opportunity

We are exploring the possibility of St. Joseph School taking a more proactive role in assisting East Hawaii parents with teenagers under 18 who need a driver's license. As it is now, the waiting list for many parents is over two years just to be able to sign up for the required classroom and behind-the-wheel safety education program as required by state law. Certified Driver Education Instructors must take a rigorous course to qualify as driver education instructors. There appears to be a dearth of such instructors on the Big Island. Anyone in the St. Joseph Ohana (teacher, retiree, alumni etc.) who has the time and commitment to go through the training program in Hilo which runs weekends from Aug. 9 to Sept. 7 (80 hours), are invited to contact my office (935-4936) immediately. This may be an opportunity for qualified candidates to earn some extra income on a part time basis, since regular traffic safety/driver education programs are usually run during the weekends. For more information, Click Here.

 

Time to Review & Reflect

Today, July 4, is a good time to review and reflect on our Declaration of Independence which was signed by 56 courageous Americans in 1776. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in support of the ideals in that document. Even today, those bedrock ideals form the basis of our evolving American civilization. To read it now, Click Here.

 

Principal to Oahu for Memorial Service

Yesterday, I flew to Oahu to participate in a family memorial service for one of my favorite Uncles, Arthur Luke, originally a native of Kauai, who passed away recently. The Quaker service and family luncheon was arranged for non-Oahu family members like me to participate, so I had time in the afternoon to meet with Diocese staffers whom I had intended to meet on Monday, following the July 4th holidays. Because of the productive meetings with the Diocese staffers, outside accounting firm officers, and Dr. Robert Stillwell, the Diocese director of development, my Monday trip is no longer necessary and has accordingly been cancelled. My normal Monday scheduling hours for parents, teachers and alumni is therefore open for that day. Feel free to contact Marilyn Pakele on my staff for the scheduling.

 

Development Director opts for retirement

Senior Advisor, Richard Fisher, reports that following a week of reflection and prayer during his summer vacation break, Development Director Pat Pavao, has decided to go back into retirement. A standard exit interview is tentatively set for Monday, after the July 4th holiday. Pat will have the opportunity to share his insights and recommendations at that time. For the time being, the Parish Office has assigned the Principal to handle matters related to development and fundraising.

 

Parent Teachers Guild Up and Running

Last week, Professor Kevin Hopkins, President of the PTG with Carol Martin, Secretary and Gwen Husted, PTG Vice-President, mailed the first newsletter of this important St. Joseph parent-teachers organization. If you did not get a hardcopy of the newsletter, Click Here for the full text of it. To get on Kevin's mailing list, write your name, mailing address and an e-mail address (if you have one) on a piece of paper and drop it in the PTG suggestion box. The box is located at the main entrance of St. Joseph High School, to the right of the main office door. Kevin and his officers have the key to that box. For background of PTG activity, scroll down to the June 23, 6:34 p.m. posting here.

Click Here for June 2003 postings