‘Seamless Summer’ and ‘Oceans of Possibilities’
Posted on Jun 27, 2022 in Capitol Connection, Featured, Main
The DOE is offering free meals this summer at 83 schools statewide.
Schools may be on break, but options for families abound — whether it’s access to nutritious meals, storytimes, or tips on activities right in our own backyards. First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige wanted to recognize Gavin Tsue, principal at Palisades Elementary School, for implementing a Jump Start Breakfast option in one of his classrooms. She had introduced the breakfast initiative prior to the pandemic as a way to encourage a nutritious start to a student’s day. “When children are hungry, they can’t learn,” said Mrs. Ige. The state Department of Education has taken that message to heart and is offering free summer meals through its “Seamless Summer Option” to children age 18 and younger at 83 schools statewide. Parents should call their nearest school directly for details.
Mrs. Ige will feature “Snow Angel, Sand Angel” in her July storytime series and talk with well-known author Lois-Ann Yamanaka.
For the summer, Mrs. Ige is also resuming her monthly storytime series. For July, she’ll be featuring acclaimed author Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s recent children’s book, “Snow Angel, Sand Angel.” The story describes a little girl named Claire, growing up on Hawai‘i island, who has never seen snow. “It takes the reader through beautifully illustrated scenes, from Mauna Kea to Hāpuna Beach, where Lois-Ann grew up,” said Mrs. Ige. “Claire learns to appreciate the endangered plants and animals and the importance of taking care of the places where we live.” To see all of Mrs. Ige’s storytime videos, go to the https://governorige.hawaii.gov/meet-the-first-lady.
The First Lady also wanted to remind everyone about this year’s summer reading challenge called “Oceans of Possibilities.” The Hawai‘i State Library system’s challenge, which runs through July 30, includes weekly ocean-themed activity packets for children, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Prizes are available for readers of all ages and there’s a grand prize drawing for four round-trip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. For details, go to https://librarieshawaii.beanstack.org/.