GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

CHS has defined four guiding principles that help to inform our decisions as we return to campus. These principles speak to our Mission, Vision and Graduate Profile. They are also aligned with what we have learned from our experience with distance learning this spring and the feedback from our recent parent survey. 

 

Safety 

Castle’s highest priority is the health and well-being of its community. We believe that a healthy environment is ultimately a secure environment, one in which students, teachers and staff are able to thrive. We also believe that we have an obligation to support the health of the broader community. At all times, we will seek to align our measures with guidance from the Hawai’i Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

 

On-Campus Instruction 

CHS recognizes that the optimal learning environment for children is one in which they are learning from their teachers and fellow students in person. We also recognize the value of the unique role our campus plays in the education of our students. To the best of our ability, and in accordance with official health guidelines, we will seek to provide as much on-campus instruction as possible for all students. 

 

Academic Coherence and Excellence

CHS believes in the pursuit of academic excellence in any context and that a continuous educational experience is vitally important to achieve this end. While health circumstances may necessitate certain changes or restrictions to student life, our ultimate goal is to support our students’ learning and development as seamlessly as possible. 

 

Flexibility and Adaptability 

CHS recognizes that any plan that we design to respond to external health conditions must be flexible and able to adapt to circumstances beyond our control. Our overarching goal is to create a continuous learning structure that may adapt to possible future coronavirus infections while still allowing us to maintain as much on-campus instruction as possible. 

 

The Important Role of Families

Families play a vital role in maintaining safety on campus. The number one safety measure is to keep a child home if they are sick. We want to work with families to support their child’s adherence to safety measures while they are on campus as well as at home. To support this effort, during the first two weeks of school, we will provide an orientation with information to help transition students to a COVID-safe campus. We understand that there are families with higher risk members in their households. As a community that prioritizes health and safety, we must all do our part to adhere to state health recommendations and regulations to control transmission and potential future outbreaks. Moreover, there may be times when we ask families to comply with broader safety measures and we greatly appreciate your cooperation in this regard. We also expect you will have questions and welcome your feedback and suggestions. We are eager to listen to and help each family navigate any concerns they may have.