About Us
Child Safety
We have taken comprehensive steps to continually ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our student members. Keeping our student learning center safe allows children to look forward to being in an encouraging environment that promotes academic, social and creative learning.
Program
Student Acceptance
Akamai Kids Club shall not discriminate in the delivery of student services on the basis of race, religion, and gender or national/ethnic origin. Families must remain current with all financial obligations in order to continue to receive education services at Akamai Kids Club, Inc.
Our Philosophy
Our Program
At Akamai Kids Club Preschool we believe that children are explorers who try to understand the world by making their own theories to explain how it functions. Teachers will also co-construct, stimulate thinking and provoke children’s collaboration with their peers
Student Expectations
Nurturing Environment
We provide children with a nurturing environment in which they are consistently trusted and allowed to develop to their highest potential in their own time.
Empowerment
We prioritize teaching children to be Self-motivated learners, Passionate lifelong learners, and Creative and critical thinkers.
Responsibility
We empower children to become a people of peace and a responsible members of the community in which they lives, respectful to others and themselves.
Holistic Growth
Covid-19 Policies and Procedures
Cleaning and Sanitizing
- AKC has completed a thorough and detailed cleaning of our entire facility, with focus on high-contact areas that would be touched by both employees and children (e.g., desks, equipment, toys, and outdoor play structures).
- Frequent hand washing is preferred over hand sanitizers for our students and we will encourage hand washing throughout the day, not limited to, but at least: upon entry into the Center, prior to any meals or snacks, after use of the restrooms, prior to and following any outdoor activity. We will use hand sanitizers in the event there is no immediate access to running water or in between hand washing times as needed.
- AKCI requires staff to frequently sanitize high-touch surfaces and shared resources (e.g., door handles, light switches, etc.) and extra deep cleaning of tables, chairs, etc. daily after hours with EPA-registered disinfectant products. Restroom areas are regularly sanitized based on frequency of use (e.g., throughout day).
- Families must take home their children’s belongings each day to be cleaned. There is no storage of backpacks or other personal items overnight.
Physical Distancing
- Our mixed aged, 20 student cohort is in accordance with the child care rules based on children’s ages 3 through under 6, and we encourage the groups to be physically distanced by using separate classroom areas, indoors/outdoors, playground, etc.
- AKCI is designed with staggered arrival and pick up times in mind. Child care staff will meet families/children at the playground at the start and end of each day. We ask that only one parent or guardian bring the student to the entrance of the playground, and waiting families are asked to separate by six-foot distances on the sidewalk path leading up to the entrance of the playground.
- Our 840 square foot center, with vaulted ceilings and plenty of open air ventilation is aptly suited for groups (cohorts) of 20 students. Our outdoor covered patio/lanai has ample room for minimum 6′ social distancing and plenty of fresh air.
Health and Safety
- Any student with a fever at or above 100.4* will not be allowed entry into the preschool. *CDC considers a person to have a fever when measured temperature is at least 100.4°F.
- If you know that you or another family member has been exposed to Covid-19, you are required not to enter the facility and quarantine per Hawai’i public health guidelines.
- All AKCI employees must wear face masks as much as possible throughout the day.
- Our response procedure for students with any flu-like symptoms or high temperatures is to send them home and keep them separate from other children until they can be picked up. Parents/guardians will be called for immediate pick-up. If it is an emergency, we will call 911 for immediate treatment.
- Anyone who exhibits flu-like symptoms during the hours of preschool operation will be separated from the others while waiting to be picked up.
- In accordance with DHS licensing requirements, we will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any possible child, visitor or staff case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
Child and Parent Expectations
- The decision to mandate that your child wear a face mask inside the preschool during the day is a personal decision for your family. We respect each family’s ability to decide what is best for itself. Please be respectful of others who may or may not share your personal belief. Bullying, intimidation and offensive language will not be tolerated. Please refer to the Student Parent Handbook for further clarification of parent/student behavior expectations.
- All students are required to have a completed and updated Emergency Contact Form on file. Any changes to the information therein must be made in writing.
- If you or any family members have been in direct or indirect contact with any COVID-19 patients, please inform the Program Director immediately at 808-893-0303, or email: akamaikidsclub@gmail.com. Employees, parents and children may not enter the facility and are required to quarantine per Hawai’i public health guidelines if exposed to COVID-19.
- If a student tests positive for Covid-19, s/he will not return to the Center until 24 hours after the quarantine/isolation period has ended and/or with evidence of a follow up negative COVID-19 test results and/or note from a physician.
- Please note that we REQUIRE that all children or staff who has any signs of illness stay at home. Any child who exhibits a fever of over 100.4 degrees or other symptoms of illness will be sent home from the preschool. Sick children will be isolated from other children while waiting to go home.
Our Location
Our Staff
All of our teachers/staff are fully licensed by the Department of Health and are in compliance with all DHS requirements, including the successful passing of criminal background tests. Further, all of our staff has extensive experience in the classroom. Our AKCI Teachers are guides who help direct the children’s activities academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically in a prepared AKCI environment that challenges each child to reach his/her fullest potential in these developmental areas, in accordance with AKCI Philosophy.
Auntie Krystle
Krystle was born and raised on Maui. She graduated from University of Hawaii, Manoa in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and earned her Certificate of Completion in Early Childhood Education shortly thereafter. Krystle has spent the past seven years teaching preschool, and especially enjoys working with three to five year old keiki! She recently got engaged and in her free time enjoys relaxing with her fiancé, friends, family and her dogs! She also loves Target and coffee!
Auntie Tana
“Children are my favorite people.” Born and raised in Montana, as the oldest of 3 children, I helped take care of both my brothers and emulated my mother in everything she did. When I was in my 20’s I married and had children of my own. Best experience ever (but also the hardest!). I continued my education after my children were born, and have worked on Maui as a part time teacher and substitute teacher with the HI Dept of Education. This summer I took a position with Akamai Kids Club, thinking it would only be for the summer. Over the past few months I realized how much I loved being with the younger kids. I love to watch their eyes and faces as they learn new things and discover what they are capable of. They return the love and guidance we give them with their own trust and love, and I believe that trust and love to be a treasure greater than gold. I am thrilled that I will be able to stay with Akamai Kids now that summer is over, and I can continue to work with the preschool children, to help shape their world and encourage them. In my free time I love to exercise, mostly spin and lagree method. I also attend Calvary Chapel South Maui. I am looking forward to getting to know all of our Akamai Kids Club parents and children this year!
Auntie Tana
“Children are my favorite people.” Born and raised in Montana, as the oldest of 3 children, I helped take care of both my brothers and emulated my mother in everything she did. When I was in my 20’s I married and had children of my own. Best experience ever (but also the hardest!). I continued my education after my children were born, and have worked on Maui as a part time teacher and substitute teacher with the HI Dept of Education. This summer I took a position with Akamai Kids Club, thinking it would only be for the summer. Over the past few months I realized how much I loved being with the younger kids. I love to watch their eyes and faces as they learn new things and discover what they are capable of. They return the love and guidance we give them with their own trust and love, and I believe that trust and love to be a treasure greater than gold. I am thrilled that I will be able to stay with Akamai Kids now that summer is over, and I can continue to work with the preschool children, to help shape their world and encourage them. In my free time I love to exercise, mostly spin and lagree method. I also attend Calvary Chapel South Maui. I am looking forward to getting to know all of our Akamai Kids Club parents and children this year!
Auntie Sade
Sade was born and raised on the island of Molokai. While on Maui, She has been an Early Literacy Program Specialist and has taught Early Head Start at a non-profit organization for the past 3 years. Now she is very excited to start working with the wonderful children at Akamai Kids Club Preschool. She’s currently enrolled at University of Hawaii Maui College to obtain a degree in both Hawaiian Studies and Early Childhood Education, as well as completing classes for her CDA. She loves spending time with her husband, two young children, and all of their animals doing anything and everything outdoors!
