Head of School Update & Reminders – March 11, 2022

Happy Aloha Friday Saint Mark Parents,

I hope and pray you all are doing well.  I am writing with a few updates and reminders (COVID and other) as we head into spring break.

MORE GOOD NEWS – COMMUNITY CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
Hawai’i’s current COVID-19 numbers have continued to drop this past week.  In fact, the news is so promising that the state has decreased its reporting frequency and will now be giving weekly COVID counts reports rather than daily reports.
Current Numbers –        The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is     142 (99 on O`ahu)
March 3 Numbers –       The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is     186 (119 on O`ahu)
February 11 Numbers – The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases was 796 (510 on O`ahu)
January 28 Numbers –  The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases was 2,241 (1,584 on O`ahu)

COVID-19 TESTING CONTINUES at SAINT MARK
In the past week, Saint Mark administered 18 COVID-19 tests with 0 positive results for a positivity rate of 0.0%. This brings our nine week total to 470 tests administered with 8 positive results for a positivity rate of  1.7%.
We have detected 0 positive cases since the end of January.

Following Spring Break, Saint Mark will continue to test students/cohorts, athletes, etc. When positive cases are detected on campus, the COVID-19 protocols as detailed in the recently revised COVID-19 Campus Plan will be followed.

INDOOR MASKING POLICY
It was wonderful to watch the students this week as they began removing their masks while outdoors.  Seeing their smiles and other facial expressions after two long years of outdoor masking has been a true joy.

As I’m sure you are aware, earlier this week Governor Ige announced that he will let the latest emergency order expire on March 25 which means that Hawai’i’s indoor mask mandate and the Hawai`i safe travels program will end beginning on March 26.   At the same news conference, State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble from the Hawaii Department of Health recommended that masks continue to be worn in classrooms despite the elimination of the mask mandate.

While Saint Mark currently does not have immediate plans to change its indoor masking requirements, we will be closely monitoring the situation in the coming weeks and will be increasing the random pool testing of our students when the students return from spring break.  If we continue to show favorable school and community transmission rates in the weeks following spring break, it is possible that the indoor masking requirements will be revised to reflect the safer conditions.

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK
While we eased our outdoor masking requirements, we will continue to emphasize the personal responsibility of not coming to school if you have symptoms of an illness. Symptoms of illness include but are not limited to Cough, Runny or Stuffy Nose, Fatigue, Sore Throat, Body Aches, Headache, Shortness of Breath/Difficulty Breathing, Decreased Sense of Smell and/or Taste, Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting, and Chills/Sweats or Fever of 100.4° F (or higher) in the past 24 hours.  Any student arriving to school with COVID-like symptoms (or developing symptoms while at school) will be removed from the classroom and parents will be called.

PRINCIPAL LIST and WARRIORS OF THE QUARTER
Congratulations to the middle school students who received the Principal’s List and Principal’s Award certificates for the first and second quarters and for the three Warriors of the Quarter – Ryan Thompson (gr 6), Karsyn Dulay-Gorai (gr 7) & Imai Goodhue (gr 8). Keep up the great work!!

JV BASKETBALL SEASON CONCLUDES
The Saint Mark JV basketball season ended this week with a dominating win by the girls and a hard fought, close lose by the boys.   A BIG congratulations goes to all the players (Brooke Adams, Manaha Ho, CC Inouye, Iliwai Maka’ina’i, Kayla Reis, Casey Sunaoka, Yula Atisano’e, Kimo Fontanilla, Kawena Wilson, Ke’oli Bowman, Royce Van Ness, Jonah Ordenstein, Brock Faufata, Maverick Montgomery, Jacob Jesse, Titus Ornellas, Ethan Elia, and Braxton Hardy) along with Athletics Director/Coach, Mr. Markillie and Assistant Coach, Ms. Shiroma for a fun and successful season.

SAFE and FUN SPRING BREAK
Saint Mark Lutheran School is on spring break from March 14 to March 25 with classes resuming for all students on Monday, March 28, 2022. Please enjoy a fun, safe, and relaxing break, and be sure to call the school office at 247-5589 should you have any questions.  Office hours during the break are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

MAHALO
Mahalo for your continued patience, commitment and compliance and please do not hesitate to let us know should you have any questions.

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe & Have a Fun Spring Break,

David Gaudi
Head of School