Son Rise Preschool Alameda

Every household can order 4 free rapid tests from the federal government and they will be shipped for free to their home address. Order your tests today so you have them when you need them: www.covidtests.gov

Tomorrow and Saturday (February 19 and 20) the National College Resource Foundation will be holding its annual Black College Expo. This event is usually held in person, but due to the pandemic it will be online this year. The event helps students get access to colleges, highlighting historically black colleges and universities and other educational programs. More information is available at:
https://www.thecollegeexpo.org/events/black-college-expo-california-westcoast.

I’ve lost a year with my kids battling over school and I’m done.

My seven year old and I were in the midst of our usual asynchronous day battle. I had his writing homework in my hand from school. He’d written several full, well-thought-out sentences.

But he won’t do the same for me, at least not without a fight.

I told him he didn’t have to write about his best day like his teacher asked, he could write about his worst. He could write about whatever he wanted as long as he wrote a few sentences.

He said he’d get in trouble. He said he was doing a bad job in first grade. He was on the brink of tears but didn’t know why.

And it hit me.

Instead of getting frustrated and pushing the assignment, I sat down with him at his desk in his superhero bedroom.

I said “you won’t get in trouble and you can’t fail first grade. In fact, you’re kind of a superhero yourself.”

He sat up in his chair just a little and looked at me with disbelief.

I said, “Do you know that no kids in the history of kids have ever had to do what you’re doing right now? No kids in the history of kids have ever had to do school at home, sitting in their bedroom, watching their teacher on a computer. You and your friends are making history.”

A visible weight lifted from his seven year old shoulders, “What does that mean?”

I told him it means I haven’t given him nearly enough credit for rolling with the punches. I told him how proud I am of him and his friends. That kids this year are doing the impossible and they’re doing a really great job.

I apologized for not saying it sooner and more often. A little tear fell down his cheek.

We’ve thanked everyone from healthcare workers to grocery store employees but we haven’t thanked the kids enough for bearing the burden of what we’ve put on their shoulders this year.

We’ve said kids are resilient, and they are. But they are the real superheroes in this whole scenario for having ZERO say in their lives but doing their best to adjust every day.

We closed his school-issued laptop and spent the rest of the day playing. This was supposed to be temporary and here we are a year later still trying to hold our head above water.

This is our home and I won’t turn it into a battle ground anymore over something we can’t control. Something that no longer makes sense.

Hug your little superheroes today and don’t forget to cut them the slack we’ve given everyone else.

Join me in the trenches at Christine Derengowski, Writer !!

COVID Pumpkin Oatch.

As a reminder, AUSD has partnered with Care Solace to provide help to students and families looking for mental health support. You can find information about the program on our COVID-19 Mental Health Resources page.

We'd especially like to thank Alameda Education Foundation for donating the cost of the program for this year. This is both generous and tremendously helpful, and we'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks for this.

https://www.alameda.k12.ca.us/covidmentalhealth

Elmo's Dad Sends a PSA to Overwhelmed Parents at Home: "You Are Doing an Amazing Job" Elmo's dad, Louie, sent out a sweet Sesame Street PSA encouraging parents to take a moment for themselves.

28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids is loaded with hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math projects perfect for the classroom and at home. The kids are gonna love this!

Good Afternoon families, checking on your fun filled days. send me photos and activities you have done during our lockdown.