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Jaycee Yoo (Grade 2) with mom and preschool siblings Zachariah and Essie receive school work and garden produce from Keith Hatcher.

Distance Learning at Kahili Adventist School

As I entered the school office where Keith Hatcher sat at a table, intent on the activity on his laptop in front of him, I heard the excited chatter of a student telling Mr. Hatcher something about a bird, birdseed, and nuts. This was nothing like the classroom I had come to know at Kahili Adventist School. Where once there were students either at tables working or standing around in a group activity and Mr. Hatcher writing on the white board, now he sat at a table talking to his students via a Zoom classroom. While he excused himself to the students to talk with me, they took advantage of the opportunity to chat with each other.

I asked Keith how distance learning had affected Kahili and how the students had adapted to the new normal. He responded first of all with what I would expect from a teacher, indicating that the classroom was lonely now. This was not the teaching experience he signed up for! But he brightened up while sharing how quickly his students in grades 2-8 had adapted to the technical world of distance learning. They had no difficulty learning to log into their Zoom classroom each morning.

Ipushed open the door of my 5th grader’s bedroom to see him sitting in front of his laptop, headphones on and still in his pajamas. It was Spirit Week at Kahili Adventist School and this was Pajama Day, something the students look forward to each year. I am amazed at how easily he adapted to this new way of doing school. As a parent, I want to make sure that the need for social distancing doesn’t have a negative impact on my son. And as a school board member, I want to be confident that there won’t be lapses in the educational process and that our staff and families are not overwhelmed.

By Debbie Nakamura

They started their day with worship, just as they did in their physical classroom, and Keith noted that often several parents joined for morning worship. The class schedule followed much the same as always and, even in a Zoom classroom, students could work together in small groups.

Keith noticed that some students were taking advantage of the opportunity to complete work early and move ahead at a faster pace. None seemed to be lagging behind. I asked where this motivation came from. Mr. Hatcher replied, “I think it comes from their work ethic, and maybe it’s because they have been well trained to know what is expected of them.” He added that they have parents who want education, not busy work, for their children. I think that maybe it is also because teachers like Mr. Hatcher and Auntie Vergie are incredibly good at their jobs.

Other aspects of school, beyond the academic work, were not being neglected. Time was taken during each day to do calisthenics, just as they would on the physical school campus. The garden project was not being neglected either. Every Friday, teaching assistant Vergie Same, volunteers Paul and Sandy Rivera, or Miss Mel, the preschool teacher, took time to harvest

produce from each student’s row in the garden and see that each family got whatever produce they would like.

Friday was also the day of the week that Mr. Hatcher said was the best, with warm fuzzies. Each Friday he delivered to the students their work sheets and supplies for the next week, along with their produce order. Even though he had to keep his distance, it was great to see the students, and, in some cases, he had more interaction with parents than before.

It seemed to be working pretty well for grades 2-8 and for students who could work independently, but there were different challenges for the kindergarten and 1st grade students. Kim Acierto and her husband have a 4th grader and a kindergartner. She is also a mom who works from home 30 hours a week, which meant she had to adjust her schedule to accommodate her paying job with her mom job and her teacher mom job. She told me that “having a child who can’t independently read yet means mom has to do the instruction. There are many days that we’re doing some form of work (whether it’s school or professional) from morning until evening. That can be draining.” Kim was frank about the stress that trying to fulfill all these roles had on her, yet she expressed gratitude to Mr. Hatcher and Auntie Vergie for keeping her children on track.

(Far left) Teaching Assistant Vergie Same prepares student work packets for Kindergarten/ Grade 1. (Left) Preschool Director/Teacher, Melba Gapuz takes advantage of a closed classroom to do spring cleaning.

Distance learning has challenged the staff, students, and parents to learn new ways to teach, learn, and communicate. They continue to look for ways to improve how school happens. Kahili has often expressed its education model as the best of homeschooling with the best of traditional school. That model is being put to the test. Technology has certainly made it possible for distance learning to happen, but human communication is crucial to make the transition smoother and adjust to each home’s specific needs. 2 Kings 4 tells the story of a woman facing a crisis and not knowing what to do. She discovered her needs were met when Elisha asked her “What do you have in your house?” All she had was a small jar of olive oil, but that was enough.

God has already provided the resources we need to overcome our current crisis. As we have followed the guidelines to shelter at home, this question, “What do you have in your house?” is more relevant than ever before. Kahili Adventist School is God’s house, and we gratefully acknowledge

Principal/Head Teacher Keith Hatcher conducting Zoom classroom.

that He is the Giver of all good things, the Comforter in troubled times, and the Source of our salvation, knowledge, and wisdom.

The words of Jesus to His disciples just prior to His death and resurrection are as true for us today as they were then: “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:32-33. NIV).

Kahili has been blessed in many ways. Mr. Hatcher summed up his experience, “I feel honored to work with these students.”