NORTH HAWAII — In light of February’s Parkland, Florida shooting, North Hawaii public schools have taken additional measures to prevent such occurrences at their schools in addition to training and programs already in place.
Following the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting in 2012, “Growing Happy Kids” author Maureen Healy stated in a Psychology Today article, “Having worked in mental health for years, I know that shooters always ‘show signs’ before they enact their horrific actions … stay alert for them, nurture in your children the exact opposite and, if possible, get anyone with this profile to seek professional help immediately.”
She went on to highlight key signs often associated with shooters: no remorse; violent actions; a history of social, emotional and mental disturbances; an obsession with weapons; a lack of ethics; no meaningful friends; or high family dysfunction. Traits such as these can apply to both adult and teen shooters.
“When I heard about what happened in Florida I was extremely concerned, upset and sick to my stomach,” Honokaa High School (HHS) Principal Rachelle Matsumura said Wednesday. “It really saddens me that things like this can happen,”
Following a recent bully incident at her school, she hosted a meeting to address the issues.
“Having the community meeting was helpful in getting some parental input regarding student behavior and school safety,” she said.
Programs already in place at HHS cover the gamut.
“We have many programs on board to help students be positive community contributors, as last school year we struggled with student behavior,” Matsumura said. “This year we’ve implemented an advisory program that meets twice a week for 30 minutes each time. The students are grouped by grade level for the most part and get lessons weekly on topics everywhere from building community to college and career awareness.”
Honokaa High also has Twilight, an after-school program for students who have behavior or medical concerns and cannot be on the campus during the school day. In addition, Matsumura ensures that motivational messages are shared via the phone system weekly and through quarterly assemblies. Award recognition, in parent/teacher conferencing and counseling are also provided.
For safety measures, HHS staffs four security personnel and four administrators that are rotated around campus during recess and lunch to help address issues head on.
Public schools also follow the Hawaii Department of Education’s (DOE) Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 19, which outlines disciplinary guidelines for student behavior — a guide used regularly by Kohala High School’s (KHS) Principal Janette Snelling.
“Hawaii public schools are guided by this when addressing violations such as school fights and bullying. Still in the spirit of applying Chapter 19 to violations under this state law, it is understood that consequences are individualized to the situation and the needs of each child,” she said. “At Kohala High School we address negative behaviors with this and also are trying to accompany consequences with mediation and counseling as means of support to address the underlying issues that may have prompted the infraction.”
She went on to explain that more recently KHS has also been investigating strategies of restorative justice.
“(This is) not a canned program but a mindset of how we can involve parents, students and other significant adults to help students embrace empathy to address challenges they face,” Snelling added.
At Waimea Middle School (WMS), Principal Amy Kendziorski admits she’s a stickler about doing school-wide safety training and fire, shelter-in-place, lockdown and off-campus evacuation drills.
“I lived in Colorado before returning to Hawaii five years ago and watched what happened at the Columbine and Bailey, Colorado shootings. We do the drills with the kids every month, which isn’t required by the DOE.”
Immediately following January’s false missile alert, a joint Waimea Elementary School/WMS family gathering was held to discuss campus safety, procedures and expectations for students, teachers, staff and families. Assisting with this was Hawaii’s former statewide Civil Defense Director Ed Teixeira.
WMS recently applied for a Hawaii County nonprofit grant for urgently needed preparedness supplies and training.
“Physically our school layout is challenging because it’s so spread out. Our new building is our safest place but most open,” Kendziorski said. “The grant would be used for safety materials, walkie-talkies, a PA system and additional training for staff on communication and responses in emergencies. We are also interested in adding a social worker position eventually.”
WMS currently has one full time counselor who provides academic and social/emotional support to students and assists with guidance curriculum on topics ranging from diversity and multi-cultural awareness to bullying, coping skills and conflict resolution. The school also has a school based behavior specialist (SBBH), Kiaka Gaughen.
“In addition, we’ve started doing training in mental health first aid for all of our staff as well to teach them how to look for signs or how to help students in trauma,” Kendziorski said.
An on-campus school resource officer (SRO), funded by a federal Juvenile Justice grant secured by the Hawaii County Police Department, helps build positive relationships with students to support good behaviors and choices.
A national program implemented at WMS in February is called Start With Hello. Originally inspired by the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012, it teaches students skills to reach out and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation, and creates a culture of inclusion and connectedness.
WMS Business Practical Arts Teacher Kara Onaka-Winters first learned about the program last fall and launched it to coincide with a national celebration Feb. 5-9.
“Kara suggested activities and strategies to add to it that would work well to help our school be more inclusive, let every student know they have a place and that others care about them,” Patti Cook said, WMS’ director of community development.
Start With Hello activities at WMS have included videos, discussions about inclusion and what it’s like to be lonely or feel like an outsider.
“The students wrote about these topics and shared their thoughts in group discussions. The program was very well received by teachers and students and there are plans to continue it during the 2018-19 school year,” she added.
