Willard Elementary School is committed to excellence in and out of the classroom. Our mission is to inspire our students to strive for and meet the highest levels of academic and personal achievement, while nurturing a respectful, supportive, engaged, curious, and passionate learning community.
June 1, 2020
Dear Families:
Tonight, I write with a heavier heart. The pain of long-term racism and inequality was felt today as it touched our school community directly and the city of Boston where families in our community live. We created a plan for staff and student discussions as incident management teams met, staff meetings began, student conversation started and a plan to host community discussions of race drafted.
I see an opportunity here. We know this is not an immediate solution to the racism that exists in our schools. We hope, however, that it is a beginning.
I am grateful for the immediate response of The Center for Parents and Teachers as they offer programming focused on children, race and wellness. That information is found below.
We invite and urge you to join us.
Best,
Laurie
The Center for Parents and Teachers is offering a number of collaborative programs, free to parents and grandparents — (please scroll below) along with a couple of helpful resources on how to speak with your children about racial justice.
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/talking-to-kids-about-racial-violence/
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1598-racism-and-violence-using-your-power-as-a-parent-to-support-children-aged-two-to-five. (this one is written for parents of younger children but actually has quite a lot of helpful information for parents of older children as well).
(1) Ivy Child International will present its final monthly Mindfulness workshop for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers.
June 3, 7 – 8:30 PM EDT
The theme for this session will be a timely and vitally important offering on Mindfulness and Racial Justice led by Craig Martin.
Craig Martin, 2018 National Distinguished Principal and Massachusetts Elementary Principal of the Year and 2009 Boston Public Schools’ Educator of the Year, currently serves as the Executive Director of Bridge Boston Charter School in Roxbury, MA.
In six years as Proud Principal of the Michael J. Perkins School, with strategic professional development, partnerships, and investments in socio-emotional learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, 21st Century technology skills development, blended learning, and social media presence, the Michael J. Perkins’ School student achievement has improved over 320% leading to reversals in achievement gaps among English Language Learners and Latino American Learners, a 50% reduction in suspensions, a 25% decline in chronic absenteeism all while being named a 2019 Semi-Finalist for the Edvestors’ School on the Move Prize.
Craig is the founder of the Brown Boys of Boston Ed-Camp, an educational Think Tank of best practices and approaches to how we educate, elevate, and empower our African American and Latino American male youth to their genius potential. Additionally, he served as Co-President of the Boston K8 Principals Association; Founder of the School Leaders of Color Think Tank; and Founder of the Brown Boys Network.
Craig holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Dillard University and a M. Ed in Educational Leadership from Lesley University.
This tremendously important workshop is FREE but you will need to pre-register ahead in order to receive the log-in information. Please go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindfulness-workshops-for-parents-teachers-and-caregivers-tickets-70932516065
(2) Join Dr. Rachel Kramer for a live webinar on “Promoting Social and Emotional Well-being this Summer for Parents of Preschool to Grade 4”
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 10:30am
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82056947560?pwd=R3QrcWtTVFNiTUkvOFBmWGRINGI5dz09
Password: 759816
(3) Join Dr. Rachel Kramer for a live webinar on “Promoting Social and Emotional Well-being this Summer – for Parents of Tweens and Teens”
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 10:30am
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89606308206?pwd=WENWa2luTzBXdWNCZStnOWZFZ1h0dz09
Password: 432289
These webinars will focus on Q&A from parents about how to promote social and emotional well-being during the coronavirus pandemic. Can’t join live? All webinars are recorded and posted on Dr. Kramer’s website – www.drrachelkramer.com
Learn about these and other workshops — and how you can support this nonprofit local organization that is able to offer its services through grants and donations — by visiting:
www.centerforparentsandteachers.org
