Page 5 - MidWeek Kauai - March 17, 2021

iraculously, only eight out of the thousands of pre-
“For us, using faith and sci- ence together in a harmonious way has been to our benefit.”
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“We relied on the science — we did,” says Young. “We looked at all of the informa- tion coming from the experts at the CDC (Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention) and the state Department of Health, and followed, navi- gating our way through all the (guideline) changes. And it was changing — from day to day and week to week — and we changed with it.
“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 ex- pression during the pandemic.”
Because of his parents’ background in entertainment, music and hula were part of the foundation of family life.
“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 tightening our approach.”
Young spent many of his formative years living in plac- es such as Michigan, South Carolina and Guam due to his father’s service in the Air Force. Despite missing the islands terribly in his youth, he recognizes the benefits of living elsewhere.
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“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.”
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MARCH 17, 2021 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 5
Superintendent Helps Catholic Schools Thrive In Adversity
FROM PAGE 4
WE
BUY
“They all created COVID re- sponse teams on their cam- Mpuses, and they refined their plans specific to their campus community.”
school through grade 12 stu- dents have contracted the vi- rus since the fall semester, and in each case, the student was found to have come in contact with the contagion off campus. Most importantly, established protocols successfully prevent- ed the infected students from transferring the virus to class- mates and instructors.
“So, it’s been difficult at times, but the Lord has been our guide,” he continues. “We put our faith and trust in him, and we put our faith and trust in the science that follows.
ahead, even though some with- in the school system have sug- gested easing up on protocols.
would tell my brother and I, ‘In the house, you speak pidgin. But outside, you need to speak good English.’”
ing light for today’s youth.
“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 sym- pathy for students growing up in times when customary prac- tices such as attending proms
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Young credits the low num- ber of cases to the schools’ decision to follow evi- dence-based science, govern- ment recommendations and, of course, the tenets of their faith.
“Parents talk to parents, so that was our marketing right there,” Young explains. “Peo- ple would call and say, ‘Oh, we heard that you folks are offer- ing in-person classes and that it’s working. We’d like to bring our kids over.’”
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 cam- pus, including maintenance.
And being flexible remains a valuable skill to have in these times, he adds, particularly when helping thousands of students navigate a pandemic. Fortunately, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be a guid-
a kid today.”
No doubt. But it is much
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 enroll- ment for the spring semester.
Y
and is the eldest of
oung hails from the west side of Kaua‘i,
“It really helped us in a way because we had to be adapt- able,” he notes.
and dances aren’t allowed. “So I’m here to serve with the ultimate goal of empow- ering our principals, and mak- ing a powerful difference in the lives of our kids —‘cause heaven knows it’s tough being
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In his mind, real science and real faith always go hand in hand.
While obviously pleased with this development, Young is hopeful that the pairing of new students to Catholic school campuses is more than just a temporary solution.
That faith also means stay- ing the course in the days
“My mother was a hula dancer and my father a fantas- tic ‘ukulele player who used to perform at the hotels. 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 karaoke in his spare time.
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
“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
“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.
So, too, is speaking the lan- guage of locals.
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