While COVID–19 continues to disrupt life here in Los Angeles, the REALM is committed to keeping our kids, families, and community safe. Now more than ever, helping with your child’s education during this extraordinarily challenging time is our number one priority.
AS OF AUGUST 25TH, FOLLOWING BOTH STATE AND LOCAL MANDATES, THE REALM MOVED ALL CLASSES ONLINE. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A WAIVER TO PROVIDE IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AND COMPLETED ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS AND PROTOCOLS. WE ARE SO READY, ITS SILLY! WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME IN PERSON CLASSES BY NOVEMBER.
We still offer ALL classes on the Hybrid Schedule but for now, all online.
- NEW! Fall 2020 HYBRID Schedule! Online and In Person options available!
- Private tutoring with one on one video instruction!
Current Update from Vic, Jessie and The REALM Team:
Hello amazing families!! The crisp Fall air is blowing all around because it knows something SPOOKY is in the works at The REALM! It’s time to reconnect! We’ve got updates and shout outs for you. Woohoo!
On an exciting note, Jess and I have been bubbling up a lot of ideas about how to shape this future world of education. We have met some incredible people and are inviting insightful future thinkers to share their wisdom with our students and community. Click here to check out the Peace Literacy organization, their ideas are full of hope and action! We are also working hard to build more and more ways for kids to connect in small groups outdoors.
The Spring schedule is being developed, Winter Camp is ready for action, and Parent Conferences are just around the corner! Winter Camp will be IN PERSON Dec 21 – Jan 8!! Join us for a Creative Art Camp at The REALM or an Outdoor Adventure Camp in the beautiful California sun! Find out more here!
In regards to an In Person instruction update, a speck of hope has presented itself to us. Los Angeles is now accepting waivers for K-2nd grade instruction providing it meets all of the COVID safety requirements. The GOOD news is that something is shifting. The less delightful news is that we need to get signatures from every K – 2nd grade family and teacher to make sure this is what they want, and the state is starting to look at the waivers that include kids on free lunch programs first. That is not a bad thing, it just means that we might be waiting for a while. But…progress is progress!
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held virtually on November 23rd & 24th. This semester families can book 15 minute zoom meetings with the teachers. Cyndy will be the point person who will book your meeting for you! More news to come giving specific instructions on how this will work.
On HALLOWEEN, Sat. Oct 31, from 3-5pm The REALM will be hosting a Drive-through Halloween Delight!! Come see your teachers (is that Linda or a squid? Wait, Jessie is a vampire? I knew it!!) and have treats thrown into your gullets (or just into your car 🙂 Opposite to our typical flow, Enter on 4th street and Exit onto Pico!!
On Día de la Muertos, Sun. Nov 1, the incredible Ms. Kimber will be hosting an online Skull Painting Family Event! Register here to join in the celebration of love, loss and sweet remembrances.
This week I would like to give a shout out to so many of our kids! They have been working hard and sharing rich, meaty thoughts and ideas in their classes! Here are a few kids that I heard specific stories about in our staff meeting: Cara, Ben C., Hayden, Max P., Alexander, Matisse, Leon, Jude, Karina, Eden, Lishan, Sebastian, Ellie, Lily, Hayden and AJ. Keep it up everyone! If anyone needs some sunshine in their lives, reach out to these brilliant beams of love and light.
As always, we are committed to serving you all from the bright side. So I will end with a joke – “A man told his wife she was drawing her eyebrows on too high…….She looked surprised.” (No offense to anyone who likes high brows)
On that note, ’til next time.
Shine Bright,
Vic and Jess
Gratefully Accepting Donations
If you are able, we ask that you donate to the REALM during these uncertain times. Our teachers are working tirelessly to bring joy, fun and learning to the community while they, themselves are struggling to adjust to the “new normal.”
Your donations go directly towards continuing to cover payroll for our teachers as we push forward through these challenging times. Any donation is greatly appreciated and WILL make a difference!
HOW TO DONATE
- Donate by check: made out to “The REALM Creative Academy” and sent to The REALM, 400 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Click the button below to go to our Givebutter donations page.
Covid-19 Safety Protocols at The REALM
The REALM has decided to hold a small amount of in person classes to support families and kids who are struggling from the massive ripple effects of COVID-19. Our teachers have our full support in choosing to teach online and/or in person and our number one goal is their safety, health and security. If at any point The REALM believes that the dangers outweigh the benefits of hosting classes in person, we will convert all classes to online experiences. Following best practices as outlined by:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/
OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/
CA STATE: https://covid19.ca.gov/
LA County Health and Human Services: http://publichealth.
Santa Monica Cuty Resources: https://www.santamonica.gov/
EPA: https://www.epa.gov/sites/
Check out The REALM COVID-19 Safety Protocols here! (It’s a very exciting read 🙂
Building Character During COVID – 19
Right now, our kids are learning amazing lessons in resilience, fortitude, flexibility and humanity. If they pick up a little math along the way, that is great. 🙂 Stay connected, be calm, embrace the moment.
Check out our Parent Workshop on Building Character During Covid-19
Flatten the Curve
Flattening the curve is a phrase you’ve been hearing a lot for a while now. But what exactly does it mean? It’s pretty simple, really.
If we do nothing, more people will get Covid-19 sooner, making the curve a steep mountain on a graph. [See graph above.] That’s when health care facilities will get overwhelmed with overworked staff and not enough equipment and supplies.
If we follow recommendations like social distancing, the curve becomes flatter on that graph, closer to a molehill.
It may not mean fewer people get sick in the long run. But there will be fewer people getting sick at one time. So, there won’t be such a strain put on equipment, supplies and staff members
So, how do we flatten the curve?
By all the measures that have been taken so far… Isolate people who are sick… Try to find out who those sick people may have had contact with… Quarantine people who may have been exposed to the virus… Close schools and businesses… Avoid crowds and live with social distance.
Source. Read even more about flattening the curve on Health.com!