Page 20 - MidWeek - March 10, 2021

20 MIDWEEK MARCH 10, 2021
Superintendent Helps Catholic Schools Thrive In Adversity
FROM PAGE 13
missal times, and enhanced classroom ventilation. Many have even chosen to close their campuses to parents, visitors and guests to limit the threat of exposure.
infected students from trans- ferring the virus to class- mates and instructors.
our guide,” he continues. “We put our faith and trust in him, and we put our faith and trust in the science that follows.
pairing of new students to Catholic school campuses is more than just a temporary solution.
“When I look at what our schools have been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time, and what they’ ve been able to do, it’s remarkable,” ob- serves Young. “They all cre- ated COVID response teams Mon their campuses, and they refined their plans specific to their campus community.”
Young credits the low number of cases to the schools’ decision to follow evidence-based science, gov- ernment recommendations and, of course, the tenets of their faith.
“For us, using faith and science together in a harmo- nious way has been to our benefit.”
“We do want them to come in and see everything else we do ... see what’s special about our schools,” he says. “A big part of what we do is faith-based, and our faith has been a very integral part of our expression during the pandemic.”
iraculously, only eight out of the thousands of
“We relied on the science — we did,” explains Young. “We looked at all of the in- formation coming from the experts at the CDC (Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention) and the state Department of Health, and followed, navigating our way through all the (guide- line) changes. And it was changing — from day to day and week to week — and we changed with it.
That faith also means stay- ing the course in the days ahead, even though some within the school system have suggested easing up on protocols.
Young, the former principal of St. Joseph School in Hilo, listens intently as student Cesar Rivera explains the nuances of his science fair project. PHOTO COURTESY DR. LLEWELLYN YOUNG
preschool through grade 12 students have contracted the virus since the fall semester, and in each case, the student was found to have come in contact with the contagion off campus. Most impor- tantly, established protocols successfully prevented the
“Parents talk to parents, so that was our marketing right there,” Young explains. “People would call and say, ‘Oh, we heard that you folks are offering in-person classes and that it’s working. We’d like to bring our kids over.’”
“We don’t want our schools to let up,” Young states. “In fact, we want them to be even more diligent because as peo- ple, we see these rays of hope coming with the vaccines. So, we’re going to keep tighten- Ying our approach. After all, we want our communities and kids to be safe.”
“My mother was a hula dancer and my father a fan- tastic ‘ukulele player who used to perform at the ho- tels. In fact, that’s how they met,” explains Young, who, despite his busy schedule as superintendent, still plays the organ and other instruments, dances hula and sings kara- oke whenever time permits.
“It really helped us in a way because we had to be adaptable,” he notes.
In his mind, real science and real faith always go hand in hand.
One of the unexpected re- sults of the Catholic schools’ success has been a heav- en-sent bump in admission numbers. Young estimates that more than 60% of the schools have seen an increase in enrollment for the spring semester.
“So, it’s been difficult at times, but the Lord has been
While obviously pleased with this development, Young is hopeful that the
oung hails from the west side of Kaua‘i, and is the eldest of
“Even though we don’t use music as much in our faith, it’s still a big part of me and my family,” he adds.
And being flexible remains a valuable skill to have in these times, he adds, partic- ularly when helping thou- sands of students navigate a pandemic. Fortunately, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be a guiding light for today’s youth.
Dr. Llewellyn Young (left) spends quality family time with mother Dianna, father Llewellyn Sr. and younger brother Robin during a visit to his hometown of Kekaha, Kaua‘i. PHOTO COURTESY DR. LLEWELLYN YOUNG
Because of his parents’ background in entertain- ment, music and hula were part of the foundation of family life.
Because his father was in the Air Force, Young spent many of his formative years living in places such as Mich- igan, South Carolina and Guam. Despite missing the islands terribly in his youth, he recognizes the benefits of living elsewhere.
No doubt. But it is much easier for the flock when a good shepherd is leading the way.
two boys raised in a very de- vout Catholic home. Even to this day, his mother, Dianna, remains the parish secretary at St. Theresa Catholic School in Kekaha, while his father, Llewellyn Sr., continues to do anything that’s needed on campus, including mainte- nance.
So, too, is speaking the lan- guage of locals.
“A lot of times, I don’t deal directly with them. I deal with their principals, their admin- istrators, their teachers, their pastors. But at the end of the day, it’s all about them,” says Young, adding that he has sympathy for students grow- ing up in times when custom- ary practices such as attend- ing proms and dances aren’t allowed.
“In his retirement, my dad still helps out at St. Theresa,” Young says. “They just built a brand-new church there and my father was in the middle of it all.”
“I come from Kekaha, and there we speak the harshest pidgin you can imagine!” he says with a chuckle. “Whenev- er we were away, my parents would tell my brother and I, ‘In the house, you speak pid- gin. But outside, you need to speak good English.’”
“So I’m here to serve with the ultimate goal of empow- ering our principals, and making a powerful differ- ence in the lives of our kids —‘cause heaven knows it’s tough being a kid today.”