Kudos to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for stepping in to coordinate the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s annual Ocean Count, which is slated to start on Jan. 26. The partner for the National Marine Sanctuary System is among the nonprofits now pitching in to keep open Hawaii programs and sites that would otherwise be closed due to the ongoing partial federal shutdown.

Conducted with the help of hundreds on volunteers, Ocean Count’s shoreline surveys serve as a community science project and promote public awareness about our whale visitor, which was removed from the federal endangered species list in 2016.

A difficult time for Saint Francis School

The motto appears on campus and the school website — “Quality Catholic Education in a Spirit of Joy” — but there’s not much joy around Saint Francis School these days.

Leadership announced the closure of grades 7-12 at the end of this academic year, dashing hopes that admitting boys to the longtime all-girls’ school would keep things afloat. The fact that the closure happens so close to the centennial of the 94-year-old school adds poignancy.

Students and faculty met Tuesday with school officials; parents and alumni get their turn at 3:30 p.m. today and Thursday, respectively.