Hi Everyone,
This is Jen Flores from the Gibbs program.Just like you, we teachers all are out of school but really "in school", busy taking crash course in video/ editing lessons! I hope you all have visited the site where all our programs have posted their teacher's video work, it is impressive. Also, new videos are posted weekly.  Well, making a video is very new to me, but, sewing isn't. During this time I know many have been trying to find various ways to help programs communities even our neighbors. Since the shut down of program I have been putting my wealth of fabrics (I love patterns and bright colors) to good use and have been sewing masks. The hospital up the street from me, Lawrence Memorial Urgent Care Facility, has gladly taken them.  So far I have made about 20 masks for the hospital staff and a few for friends who needed a mask. I have a photo of the new masks and my ever faithful "Jerry" trying to get into the picture, because it is all about him! Stay well everyone! 

Hello Peirce After-School families,

Welcome to our official Arlington After-School Programs blog! This is where you will be able to see updates from us from time to time where we will share what we've got going on in our program, as well as in the other AASP programs. As stated in the previous blog post submitted by Ms. Rachel, Assistant Site Coordinator of the Thompson After-School Program, we are so excited to continue to foster our after-school community here with you on this platform. This week, we have released videos submitted by our teachers at PASP that can be accessed on Google Classroom with tons of fun activities for your children to engage with at this time. Additionally, we have made all of the videos accessible for all families across our various programs, so your children can feel free to engage with all of the wonderful offerings we have at each site - Peirce, Thompson, Hardy, Gibbs, and Brackett Spanish Immersion. Instructions for accessing these videos can be found in a recent email sent to parents!

In other news, our staff has been missing all of our students dearly and wanted to share updates of what we have been up to in the past month...

Ms. Amanda has been going for nature walks, gardening, reading, and doing yoga.
Ms. Gia has been drawing, hiking, practicing jazz standards on piano, studying Russian (я скучаю по всем вам - I miss you all!), making herbal teas, meditating, doing yoga, and connecting with family and friends.
Ms. Rachel has been organizing her house, watching Netflix, eating lots of yummy home-made food, running, biking, rollerblading, playing lacrosse with her family, exploring outside, and most of all, missing all her after-school students!
Mr. William has been leveling up his Dragon Cleric in the game Dragon Nest and rewatching "Xena: Warrior Princess".
Mrs. Kent is reading all about different Irish poets, watching "Father Brown", having great conversations with her family, and walking about two miles every day.
Mr. Jimi is listening to the Lord of the Rings trilogy on audiobook, meditating, biking around Boston, catching up with friends on video-calls, and writing songs.
Ms. Becca has been baking, reading, drawing, dancing in her pajamas, making charms out of clay, and of course, collaging.
Ms. Renee has been cooking, studying languages, playing video games, calling family while on walks, playing Pokemon Go, taking breaks with yoga and pilates, and trying to learn bass - she also misses everyone and encourages all to learn something new or reconnect with something fun!
Ms. Mary has been making things, doing yoga, meditating, and hanging out with family and her dog, Mr. Scooby Doo.
Mr. Alex has been making music, listening to records, running, watching Netflix shows and movies, and cooking up many, many tacos for dinner.
Ms. Elena is reading science fiction books, trying out new recipes to use overripe bananas, meditating, going for walks in nature, making art and music, and doing Zoom dance parties with friends.
Mr. Kris has been spending time with his parents, doing puzzles, playing video games, making music videos, and hanging out with his cat. 
Ms. Taylor has been reading, playing Mario Kart against herself, and studying for her pilot license exam!

What have you been doing? Feel free to email us at [email protected] to send us any updates, photos, projects, or even questions from your kids for our teachers to answer! We look forward to hearing from everyone and keeping our community as strong as ever.

Stay safe,
Gia

​Hola Familias!

I know this is a stressful time, but the Brackett Immersion Program wants you to know how much we miss interacting with you and the kids. We look forward to the day that we can return to after school and our normal schedules!

We wanted to share our personal updates with you:

Maestra Erin: I have been reading a lot and helping my kids with their school work. We have also been playing lots of games as a family. The picture of me shows a map that I drew for our upcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign!

Maestra Ana: Hello everyone! This time has allowed me to read and learn new and interesting things. I have spent time drawing and painting (which are some of my passions), watching movies, and playing with new technology to create new ways of learning and teaching. I miss you all!

Maestra Eileen: I have been cooking, reading, and watching a lot of movies on Netflix!

Maestra Indira: Hola Kids! I have been organizing my apartment, and spending time with my daughter, teaching her how to cook rice and other easy foods. Also, we are enjoying watching movies like Ratatouille (we love that movie!)

Maestra Raquel: Over the last few weeks I have enjoyed watching the peas and flower seeds I planted grow!

Maestro Miguel: I've been able to drive around Boston and enjoy so many beautiful places from the comfort and safety of our car. I've been able to park at impossible places like the North End, Copley Square, Fenway Park, and the toughest of all, Bracket Elementary at 2:30 as you can see in my picture!

Maestro Vicente: Hi kids, how are you? I have been reading interesting books and attending my English class via Zoom. I have been playing with my two cats, Leo & Luz (in my picture is Leo - named for Leonardo da Vinci). I have also been practicing yoga at home. I have been thinking of you!

What have you been up to? If you’d like to share an update and/or a picture, please send it to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hello again!

Feeling creative? If you follow Los Angeles' Getty Museum (instagram.com/gettymuseum), you've likely seen their challenge to recreate a work of art in your home using common household items. It's an easy, accessible, and fun way to take in some fine art while you're stuck at home. People all across the world are submitting their interpretations of fine works of art. Check it out: 
​

Ready, set, recreate! 
​Ms. Rachel

Hello Arlington After School Families,

Welcome to the AASP blog! I hope this post finds your families safe and healthy. If you don't know me, I'm Ms. Rachel, the Assistant Site Coordinator of the Arlington After-School Program at Thompson (or Thompson After-School, or even TASP, as we like to call it). 

As I write this, our AASP teachers at Hardy, Thompson, Gibbs, Peirce and Brackett Immersion are hard at work developing new ways to offer enrichment programming to our students. One of the things I have always loved about AASP is the diversity among our teachers. Each teacher is unique; all possessing their own background, knowledge base, talents, and areas of interest. Soon, your families will be able to access video content from each of our teachers. We'll be offering video cooking classes, gardening tips, scavenger hunts, pathfinder games, variety shows, art projects, music lessons, and so much more. We're even looking into the ability to host live, interactive classes for our students! It's truly remarkable stuff.

Though I absolutely miss physically being at school and seeing everyone each day, I must say I am so proud of how tenacious, flexible and forward thinking our teachers have been during this time. Our entire staff has risen to the occasion and then some. I hope that offering this content to your children will help teach and inspire everyone to stay involved with us as we navigate these uncharted waters together. On behalf of all AASP administrators and staff, I want to thank each of you for your continued patience and support as we figure this new version of AASP out. Our Arlington community is so special, and your faith in us proves that. 

Our connection with you begins with this blog. Community is super important to our team, and we know that spending this lengthy time apart could leave everyone feeling a bit disconnected. We hope this blog will offer a familiar space to stay updated, interact with us, and ultimately continue to feel connected during these socially isolating times. It will be updated by different AASP administrators throughout our time apart, so check back frequently if you're looking for specific updates from different programs.

Thank you, and I can't wait to see everyone again soon.

Take care,
Rachel