Being with Children

Laura Butera, Promise Fellow at Sheppard Elementary

In my younger days, I harbored a particular dislike for that odd breed of human known as child. I abhorred their grubby fingers, their tempestuous dispositions, their brutally honest observations. Aside from the younger brother I so adored, I wanted minimal contact with what I perceived as bizarre creatures. Over time, my view softened considerably, and by my mid-twenties I was interested in working with children in a professional capacity. Enter my service term with CalSERVES, which would forever squelch any lingering misgivings and cynicism towards children.

Oh, how those who knew me as a teenager would be shocked to see how I now spend my days. In the mornings, I engage in competitive rounds of Sight Word Memory Game with my tutee Jerry, who attends meticulously to our score board. At lunch, fawning second-grade girls seek out my table and begin practicing for careers in cosmetology on my hair. In the afternoon, a theatrical and imaginative third grader named Diego shouts “Princess!” and throws his arms around my waist; we waltz. As the after school program reaches full swing, I laugh as Raul, acknowledging our shared fandom, exuberantly cries, “Michael Jackson is legendary! He’s the best of the best!” As I begin my lesson for art specialty, I present the primary-colored ice cubes I have concocted, then embrace the kids’ enthusiastic delight in witnessing this mundane yet somehow dazzling spectacle. At twilight, when the palm trees bordering the school become silhouettes against the indigo sky, I watch homeward-bound children walking with siblings, parents, aunts, and uncles. I smile and bid them goodnight.

A Magnet for Kids

Kate Briggs, Full-time Mentor/Science Specialist at Sheppard Elementary

When I walk across the playground at recess, bathroom key in hand, I suddenly become like the magnet in my most recent science activity. Small children emerge from the darkest corners of the blacktop, hurtling toward me like so many asteroids from last month’s solar system lesson. They cling to my legs, arms, waist; as high as little fingers can reach. I am caught in an eight-armed hug, snared by a rare breed of first grade arachnid. 

Wishing I could fly away like the paper airplanes we made back in October while experimenting with flight, I plead for momentary release. Two of my captors refuse and latch themselves to my legs, one sitting on each foot, tiny limbs wound around my calves. Finally, I recruit some second graders to tickle the parasites, and I escape to the momentary relative serenity of the teachers’ bathroom.

Finally relieved, but knowing what danger awaits me outside, I crack the door and cautiously peer out. The coast appears clear. Three steps out and from the corner of my eye all I have time to see is a streak of brown hair and there she is, a firecracker of a first grader, adhered to my thigh. 

Amused, I keep walking, unfazed by this new attachment. She stares up at me, contemplates her situation, and delivers the best line of the year. “I’m a magnet! And we are opposite poles! I’m stuck!” Struck, I halt my awkward lope. I taught the magnet lesson to the first graders a good four weeks ago, and here is this six-year-old recalling and correctly applying a detail I’d spent all of five minutes teaching. And she is still stuck to my leg, grinning up at me. I would be jumping for joy if she weren’t enhancing my gravitational pull toward Earth. 

Not entirely sure if this is just a lucky guess, I test her knowledge. “Uh oh, but what if I switch my pole? Then we have the same poles! Will we still stick?” This is the fastest I’ve ever had a child detach herself from me. She leaps back, mouth contorted into an anxious smile, eyes wide, searching. Is she correct? Had jumping away been the right magnetic movement? Beaming, I applaud her, already sprinting back to the safety of the CalSERVES cave.

Fieldtrip to Chops Teen Club

Natashia Suka, AmeriCorps Team Leader at RAMS

Roseland Accelerated Middle School (RAMS) had their first field trip of the year; we walked to the Chops Teen Club in downtown Santa Rosa!! Yay!! Between the "Are we there yet?!”, the "ugh... why didn't we take the bus", and the "Ms. Tashia! I hhaaaatttteee walking," our walks to and from Chops were amusing to say the least.

All the griping slowly came to a stop as we got closer to the building, the kids were getting excited to get in and explore the different rooms and activities that Chops had to offer! As an incentive and encouragement to get into extra curricular activities, we opted to sign the kids up for a Chops membership so they can go back whenever they want as opposed to just going with after school.

Even though we were only there for a short time, the kids still had fun! They got a chance to hang out, surf the web, shoot hoops, learn a little pool, do some art, and listen to music! What a fun experience for our RAMS kids!

To learn more about the Chops Teen Club, visit their website: www.chopsonline.com

Imagine Bus Comes to Sheppard!

Betsy Jones, Supervising Teacher at Sheppard Elementary/RAMS

Sheppard Students, 4-6 grade, create on the Imagine Bus

The Sheppard After School program has a special visitor every week—the Imagine Art Bus. Each week, Jane Lang and her volunteers come to the site to lead exciting and engaging art projects. The bus holds 10 students at a time but we’re able to send 20-25 students each visit. Students work at specially designed workstations, dabbling in a variety of forms, mediums, and styles. From mandalas to wooden sculptures, our students bring home beautiful works of art each Tuesday. We’re looking forward to all the amazing lessons and creations the Imagine Art Bus brings this spring!

Claudia

Rufus

Service Learning at Sheppard Elementary

Amy Porter, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Sheppard Elementary

The AmeriCorps mentors and students at Sheppard Elementary are all engaged in Service Learning, amidst the hustle and bustle of many spring activities.

Our second grade after school class has chosen to do their service learning project on protecting marine wildlife. After studying the amazing creatures of the seas, they decided they wanted to do something to protect and keep these animals safe.

As a Promise Fellow, I was asked to find a presenter or field trip to enrich their learning experience. After doing much research and contacting about 6 different organizations, we were graced with a response from the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco. They were willing to provide our students with a free trip to their Aquarium; we just had to provide the traveling cost.

In order to raise the money to get there, our second grade mentors and students have stepped up and put on a fantastic bake sale for the teachers, a fund raiser at the restaurant Chevy’s, and a car wash. To watch our team come together to serve and enrich our student’s lives has been truly amazing. It is awe inspiring to watch people who are so busy with this life take those little extra steps to support one classroom.

It has also been exciting to see the support we have from the core day teachers at Sheppard. My feelings of gratitude for the school we serve in have grown exponentially in the last few days. I knew we had support, but to watch the love pour in from all directions has only reaffirmed why I love being a part of the AmeriCorps experience. Only when we push ourselves and give of ourselves freely, do we see the simple truth: there is no more beauty in this world than that which we make.