On August 4, 2021, the Hawaii State Department of Education (Department) issued a memorandum outlining “new safety guidelines with vaccination requirements for athletes, adults to participate in sports” (Memorandum). In relevant part, the Memorandum states that all student-athletes, athletic staff, and volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 24, 2021, to participate in school- sanctioned athletic activities for the 2021-2022 school year. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single- dose vaccine.
 
The Department’s Civil Rights Compliance Branch (CRCB) will be responsible for fielding requests for Religious Accommodations regarding the new vaccination requirement from student-athletes, athletic staff, and athletic volunteers.
 
Please find attached a form entitled, Request for Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement (for Student Participation in Athletics) on Religious Grounds, specifically for student-athletes seeking religious accommodations related to the vaccination requirement under the Memorandum.
 
Students may submit a completed request form to the applicable CRCB Equity Specialist for their Complex Area.
 
The CRCB Equity Specialist will review the request, and shall contact the student’s parent to ask follow-up questions regarding the student’s religious beliefs/practices/observances.
 
The CRCB Equity Specialist will issue a written determination to the student’s parent.
 
Should you have any questions, please contact Title VII Specialist Toby Yamashiro via phone at (808) 586-3322 or email at toby.yamashiro@k12.hi.us.
 
  Phyllis Unebasami,
​Deputy Superintendent

Aloha PHIS Parents and Families,

We hope that your family is in good health and your child(ren) are adjusting to school.

Our school is part of a new program called Operation Expanded Testing which will help us get a more accurate understanding of the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We will have free, weekly COVID-19 testing available on our campus for students. If your child is showing symptoms of covid-like illness, or have been identified as a close contact of a covid-positive individual, do not come to school. Seek testing at an alternative location.

Who can participate: Participation is open to all school staff, students, contracted workers,
and volunteers. Participation is completely voluntary and students may test every week for as long as the program runs if they choose, but they are not required to test every week.

Registration: Families can register their students to participate in advance at
https://home.color.com/covid/sign-up/start?partner=hhs-787-300-Students. By registering online, parents/guardians will be providing consent for their child to participate. We will also provide the same link at pahoahis.org. If you do not register in advance at the link, your student will have to come with the attached forms signed.

Testing: The test is simple and painless, and is conducted with a nasal self-swab. Samples are then collected for processing without any physical interaction between students and staff.

Results: After the testing is complete, all samples are shipped to a lab for processing. Parents will be able to find their child’s test results in about 48 hours by visiting the Color COVID Testing link on our homepage at pahoahis.org. Test results are also shared with the school administrator and the Department of Health, for the purposes of contact tracing. These agencies are expected to adhere to all HIPAA confidentiality (privacy) requirements.

Scheduling: Student testing will happen 7:30-7:55 AM, 10:00-10:20 AM, and 12:30-1:00 PM on Wednesdays in front of the health room at our school. No appointment is necessary.

Kim Williamson
Principal, Pahoa High and Intermediate School