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 Sweet Realm Families, Fall is in the air. It’s time to start baking pies and biscuits. I’ve been spying heavily in classes this week and have enjoyed the learning vibe and energy beaming out of my screen from all the great discussions, discoveries, and debates!
In our staff meetings, I often let the teachers shout out the names of kids that were knocking their socks off during the week. I was bowled over by how many names were called out. Here are a few: Lily, Lukas, Alexander, Jaxon, Dar, Tate, Knox, Naomi, Nina, Zane, Clark, Helen, Sophie, Leo T., and Valor. There were more but I would need a scroll to continue. Great Job everyone! I love when you guys are caught being awesome!
Now it’s time for the COVID in person classes update. Many of you noticed we were silent last week, with no update. That is simply because were were offered a lot of silence from our point person and no real update. This has caused Jess and I to dig our heels in and cannonball into some research to try to figure out what is going on. I believe we are stumbling upon some answers. We have attached a link to an article that helped us gauge what proceeding will look like. If we were considered a day care or supervised care environment we would proceed through the waiver process with CDSS (which we have done) HOWEVER, because the REALM is considered more to be “school” that offers “classes” with “teachers” then we have been directed to go through the CDPH. Any learning centers, schools or private schools must wait to even submit a waiver until LA county is off the watch – no waivers will be considered until Los Angeles’ infection rate decreases and the county changes out of the purple tier. This causes us to believe that we may be waiting through October to see much change but we will be working everyday to reconnect in person ASAP.
Did anyone feel the earthquake last week? Does anyone else feel like we are on candid camera lately? Sheesh! After this year, we all deserve a decade of good luck to get us back in balance again:)! We hope all of our families are finding the treasure and joy in these times. We are. I can’t think of a better group of humans to be stuck in a pandemic, firestorm, heatwave, earthquake, civil unrest, and a heated election year with. That said, we can also remember this as a year of family time, trying on a new lifestyle, less consumption, less traffic, and…. pie baking.
So if you need anyone to test out your pies, come on into the Realm. We have plenty of taste testers on standby.
Til next week, Vicky & 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 through ACTIVE: when you sign up for a Spring Break Online session
- 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!