By Children Rising
April 4, 2016 | Read More
by Randy Roth, president of Children Rising For the third year in a row, PwC consultants are engaging third- thru fifth-graders in dollars-and-cents matters. This year, three elementary schools in West Oakland– Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), Hoover, and Prescott– have welcomed PwC’s Earn Your Future financial literacy curriculum. Lessons include identity theft, creditworthiness, saving & […]
By Children Rising
March 1, 2016 | Read More
St. Mary’s College in Moraga requires their students to be engaged in the community. One of the available classes is entitled “The Least of These: Marginalized Children in the Bay Area”. Under the leadership of instructor Mitali Perkins, students read, discuss, and write papers about the impact of hunger, violence, and under-resourced schools on children. […]
By Children Rising
March 1, 2016 | Read More
Lackana Sot, senior at Oakland HS At the close of a recent community gathering at Oakland High School, I was approached by a student, a young man I did not recognize. He politely introduced himself. “Mr. Roth, my name is Lackana Sot and I want to thank you for making it possible for me to […]
By Children Rising
March 1, 2016 | Read More
By Children Rising
February 3, 2016 | Read More
by Leila Gough, volunteer literacy tutor for Succeeding by Reading Leila Gough An absolutely wonderful thing happened today… I tutor at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary in West Oakland. My usual student was out sick so I worked with another student who had come from Yemen. He told me that he could recognize an Arab […]
By Children Rising
February 3, 2016 | Read More
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the season of hope. It was the season of despair.” That’s how Charles Dickens began his book, A Tale of Two Cities. These contrasting, contradictory views could describe our present era. Most of us are living far better than we ever imagined. […]
By Children Rising
February 3, 2016 | Read More
Save the DateChildren Rising’s annual Hope for Children Now Gala will take place on June 4, 2016 at the Scottish Rite Center at Lake Merritt, Oakland. Please mark this on your calendar! More details to follow. Hour of CodeOne of the schools that Children Rising serves, Roosevelt Middle School, received a visit from three White […]
By Children Rising
February 3, 2016 | Read More
by Charlotte Martinez, director of Health4Kids Motown music fills the bustling warehouse. At his end of the assembly line, Wayne keeps all the volunteers laughing. At the other end, Mary swings to the Assembly line vibrant music while double-knotting a thousand-plus bags so that Duane and Paul, or Nikki and Bill, can load them into […]
By Children Rising
December 22, 2015 | Read More
Wishing you a new year full of hope, joy, and abundant blessings! Children Rising staff from left to right: Chelsea Boniak, Rebecca Buckley, Michelle Hutcherson, Margena Wade-Green, Madalyn Wang, Carolyn Piraino, Gwen Stephens, Kim Farnham-Flom, Deborah Davis, Ashley Verinsky, Charlotte Martinez, Jan Zovickian, Pearl Wang, Randy Roth
By Children Rising
December 22, 2015 | Read More
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Every bit of your monetary support, no matter how large or small, enables us to tutor and attend to more children in Oakland. Donate here. We will continue to accept online year-end gifts until December 31, 2015.
By Children Rising
November 21, 2015 | Read More
It’s Never Too Soon to Think about College College graduates are 2 times more likely to be employed and to be productive participating members of society. And yet today, 80.5% of children from low-income families do not graduate from college. For the last few years, Children Rising, in partnership with the First Presbyterian Church of […]
By Children Rising
October 27, 2015 | Read More
In the July edition of our newsletter, we spotlighted Oakland students who won third place in a robotics competition at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). Now it’s their mentors’ turn. Mark and Joanne Perra, retired scientists and Children Rising volunteers, were recently presented with the Jefferson Award* for Public Service by KPIX, the […]
By Children Rising
October 27, 2015 | Read More
Don’t forget that every dollar you give in the month of November will be matched to double its impact! Help us reach our goal to match $35,000 pledged by generous donors. All funds raised will go toward invigorating Children Rising’s academic and enrichment programs: Succeeding by Reading, Health4Kids, Science Horizons and CareerBridge. Give to […]
By Children Rising
October 27, 2015 | Read More
Way too many Oakland kids from low-income families are slipping through the cracks because they lack reading skills. When Children Rising first launched in 2001, 70% of Oakland’s third-graders were reading below grade level. Now in 2015, 60% are reading below grade level. Oakland has made progress, but the percentage is still intolerable. Basic literacy […]
By Children Rising
October 1, 2015 | Read More
by Kim Farnham-Flom, Director of Library Services Courtesy of Babuljak Photography Years ago, I walked into a school to be a literacy tutor. In Oakland public schools, only one-third of third-grade students were reading at grade level and at this particular school, the percentage was even less. Peering through the window of a locked door, […]
By Children Rising
October 1, 2015 | Read More
Celebrating Children Rising volunteers Elaine Chan and Marian McGaw who are starting their tenth academic year of service. Elaine Chan I started volunteering at Laurel because a message at our Women’s Bible Study challenged me to step outside my comfort zone at about the same time that there was a church announcement about volunteer opportunities […]
By Children Rising
October 1, 2015 | Read More
Jonathan Mayes With enthusiasm I’m happy to announce that long-time friend and supporter Jonathan Mayes has joined Children Rising’s Board of Directors. He will provide wise counsel and help us continue to network community resources, given his extensive corporate-philanthropic background and keen understanding of the challenges that confront our low-income minority youth. Currently Jonathan serves […]
By Children Rising
October 1, 2015 | Read More
Ms. Deborah Davis has joined our staff this school year as an Excel Reading Clinic Coordinator. A native of Ohio, Deborah began her teaching career as an Urban Teacher Corps intern in Washington D.C., simultaneously teaching and earning her credential. Following a move to the Bay Area, Deborah taught at the elementary as well as […]
By Children Rising
October 1, 2015 | Read More
MATH TUTOR TRAINING Monday, October 5 10:30 am – 12:00 pm at Children Rising Office To RSVP, contact Margena Wade-Green, margena@children-rising.org. ____________________________________________________________ LITERACY TUTOR TRAINING Saturday, October 10 9:00-11:30 am at Children Rising Office Wednesday, October 21 3:30-6:00 pm at Children Rising Office Saturday, November 7 9:00-11:30 am at Children Rising Office To RSVP Rebecca Buckley, […]
By Children Rising
September 2, 2015 | Read More
By Margena Wade-Green CareerBridge students, supervisors, mentors, family, and Children Rising staff. CareerBridge has reached an important milestone. We served twenty students this summer, helping each to get an internship. Ten students also signed up to be paired with an adult mentor. All students received stipends through partnering agencies as well as through Children Rising’s […]
By Children Rising
September 2, 2015 | Read More
Abraham was born in 1996 during a series of brutal civil wars in Liberia. His father was killed and his young mother, unable to care for him during the chaos, sent him to live with his aunt, Theresa Lamadine. At age three Abraham and his aunt, along with other family members, made the journey from […]
By Children Rising
September 2, 2015 | Read More
Make a difference in a student’s life, and let that student make a difference in yours!Let us know your area(s) of interest, and we’ll provide more details. Reading Tutor — 1 or more hours per weekLibrary Assistant — 1 or more hours per weekScience Classroom Assistant — 2.5 hours per weekMath Tutor — 1 or […]
By Children Rising
September 2, 2015 | Read More
By Children Rising
August 3, 2015 | Read More
“Do your best work, follow directions, and show respect.” Each Excel Reading Clinic student knows this by heart. These three rules keep them from straying off the train tracks on their way to reading. With one-to-one instruction, it’s truly amazing how far struggling readers travel in just one year. Their train conductors, Excel Reading Clinic […]
By Children Rising
August 3, 2015 | Read More
During the 2014-2015 school year, more than 248 volunteers provided support and practical assistance to the East Bay area and its children through Children Rising. 121 Reading Tutors at 20 Excel Reading Clinics enabled over 260 primary grade students to improve their reading levels. 38 Food Baggers put together nutritious weekend lunch bags for 1550 […]
By Children Rising
August 3, 2015 | Read More
August 22, 2015, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm A Day of Service is a volunteer service opportunity coordinated by Project Peace East Bay to bring together local faith-based groups, non-profit organizations, and East Bay social service providers. It is an opportunity for people from very different backgrounds to come together simply to love and serve […]
By Children Rising
August 3, 2015 | Read More
A thank you letter from Ms. Washington’s second-grade class to FN volunteer Pete Gohler who shared about his experiences as a pilot during a trip to the library.
By Children Rising
July 1, 2015 | Read More
On May 30, Oakland’s Roosevelt Middle School (RMS) sent a team of blossoming robotics experts to the 2015 C-STEM Day RoboPlay Challenge Competition at University of California, Davis (UC Davis). The Roosevelt Bulldog Robotics Team, students from a newly created robotics course at RMS, were mentored by retired scientists and Children Rising volunteers Mark and […]
By Children Rising
July 1, 2015 | Read More
by Merle Miller, Excel Reading Clinic coordinator Every Friday afternoon at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary, seven excited second-graders enlivened Pod B classroom with their eagerness to read. The team of experienced tutors was always up for the challenge, making sure to wrap learning with fun. We progressed through boxes of sight words and learned […]
By Children Rising
July 1, 2015 | Read More
Click here to visit the gala photo gallery. Thank you to all sponsors, guests, program participants, and volunteers! We loved seeing all of you. Your freely-given prayers, participation, and generosity have overwhelmed us. Thank you. Make sure to check out the photo gallery. Platinum Sponsors Branagh Construction Kathy Drake Paul and Courtney Ebner Terry and Mary […]
By Children Rising
May 30, 2015 | Read More
It’s not too late to purchase a gala ticket! Enjoy an evening of flavorful foods, entertainment, and inspiring stories while you learn about how you can invest in our children. Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Antwan Wilson, is our special guest speaker! To purchase tickets or sponsor the event, visit www.children-rising.org/gala or call our office […]
By Children Rising
May 29, 2015 | Read More
by Jocelyne Birren, Interim Director of Volunteers Last month, fifth-graders from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary journeyed to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in conjunction with Berkeley Lab Adventure Zone in Elementary Science (BLAZES). Looking ever so professional in white lab coats, gloves, and safety goggles, they participated in hands-on activities to find out what conducts […]
By Children Rising
May 29, 2015 | Read More
I remember saving for a Schwinn bicycle with silver chrome fenders. When I was a kid, my parents opened up my very own savings account into which I would deposit money I made from odd jobs. Small deposits began to add up. Eventually I put in an order from the Sears catalog. Oh happy day […]
By Children Rising
May 29, 2015 | Read More
CareerBridgeWe’re off to a dynamic start! Mentors and Mentees are working together to unfold mentee hopes and dreams and, meanwhile, having fun at it. To learn more, contact Margena@children-rising.org. Today’s Youth Matter Summer CampsEvery year, Children Rising partners with Today’s Youth Matter to send 8- to 12-year-old girls and boys from low-income areas to a […]
By Children Rising
May 8, 2015 | Read More
Click here to buy tickets!
By Children Rising
May 8, 2015 | Read More
Through their Creek Watering Oaks initiative, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (WCPC) inspires church members to serve vulnerable children in Oakland through partner organizations. On April 19th, the entire Sunday worship service and educational program focused on reaching “at-promise” youth living in Oakland. Children Rising was one of five partner organizations invited to participate, along with […]
By Children Rising
May 8, 2015 | Read More
A Fond Farewell to Jon Blankmeyer With bittersweet feelings, I must announce that one of our founding members is retiring from Children Rising’s Board of Directors. Jon Blankmeyer has served faithfully on the board for fourteen years – twelve years as board chair and two years as treasurer. Jon and his dear wife Elaine came […]
By Children Rising
May 8, 2015 | Read More
By Lisa Oler, fifth-grade teacher at Burckhalter Elementary In thirty-two years of teaching in Oakland, certain experiences with my classes have left me with a feeling of accomplishment and possibility. One of those recurring experiences has been to take my students to the Missions Springs Outdoor Education science camp every year. We visit the beautiful […]
By Children Rising
March 31, 2015 | Read More
Randy Roth, President of Children Rising Math matters because kids count! Students may ask why math is necessary. Why? Because people must have math skills to perform basic activities like following a recipe, managing a budget, deciding whether a sale item is a good deal, and so on. Financial Analyst Mike Walker points out that kids […]
By Children Rising
March 31, 2015 | Read More
Hope for Children Now Benefit Gala Faz Restaurant in Downtown Oakland 1111 Broadway Enjoy an evening of flavorful foods, entertainment, inspiring stories, and opportunities to invest in our children. For questions about tickets, event sponsorship, or volunteering, contact us at 510.836.5100 or chelsea@children-rising.org. More details coming soon!
By Children Rising
March 31, 2015 | Read More
Rebecca J. Buckley, Director of Succeeding by Reading His name is David and he’s in second grade. At the beginning of the year, he was so shy and so scared that he couldn’t answer any of the questions on our student diagnostic assessment. What would be the keys to unlock David’s excitement for learning? On […]
By Children Rising
March 31, 2015 | Read More
Click here to view all of our volunteer opportunities.
By Children Rising
February 9, 2015 | Read More
Children Rising wishes you a new year full of hope, joy, and abundant blessings!
By Chelsea Boniak
March 10, 2014 | Read More
What a joy to see a dozen PwC US (PricewaterhouseCoopers) consultants show up at Prescott Elementary ready to engage 3rd – 5thgraders on dollars and cents matters with lessons on “Credit & Debt”, “Saving & Investing” and “Income & Careers.” Instead of lecturing, the PwC team invites students to role play, with lessons aimed at using […]
By Children Rising
September 10, 2013 | Read More
Are you ready for Children Rising’s 3rd Annual Champions for Children 5K Walk/Run? Mark your calendars and tell your friends to join you for the Champions for Children on October 26 at Lake Merritt in Oakland! Register Now: Click here to register online Call our office at 510-836-5100 What to Expect: Prizes […]
By Children Rising
August 22, 2013 | Read More
It has been an eventful summer for Children Rising. Just as the school year was winding down, we launched the Carolyn Yee Future Scientist Fund (CYFSF), which will serve to enrich students in science, technology, engineering, and math through experiences, classroom supplies, internship stipends, and teacher support. Things quickly fell into place, and we were […]
By Children Rising
June 20, 2013 | Read More
Lately, I’ve been reading about the positive changes that Oakland’s Operation Ceasefire program has been bringing to our community. At first, people were doubtful that this initiative would be effective–after all, the same program had been invoked in 2009 with little results. This time around, the public is seeing results in the arrests of gang […]
By Children Rising
June 5, 2013 | Read More
We had our last day of tutoring two weeks ago, and our celebration day was last week. Erick was able to get a prize from the prize box for reading another twenty books. He seemed a little discouraged by the choices that were left in the box (many kids have been earning prizes!). I held […]
By Children Rising
May 16, 2013 | Read More
This week, Erick read a book about various semi-scary animals, including the great white shark, desert scorpion, grizzly bear, king cobra, crocodile and hippopotamus.I thought the inclusion of the hippopotamus was a little strange since they are vegetarians, but as Erick turned to the hippo page, he was somewhat horrified. Staring back at us was […]
By Children Rising
May 2, 2013 | Read More
Erick surprised me this week by picking out another Spider-Man book. He was curious to know more about this superhero. We reviewed a little about what we learned about Spider-Man the previous week, including why spiders are important and the web aspect. Erick was concerned that Spider-Man does not have flying capabilities.“Spider-Man doesn’t fly, but […]
By Children Rising
April 18, 2013 | Read More
Erick picked out a superhero book this week: The Amazing Spider-Man. Unfortunately, the book had quite a few words that Erick has not encountered before such as “radioactive,” “goblin,” “wrestler,” and “skyscraper.” Even understanding the purpose of an enemy was a little daunting. As he read and asked questions, I realized that Erick didn’t know […]
By Children Rising
April 11, 2013 | Read More
Right now, the biggest news in OUSD is the sudden resignation of superintendent Tony Smith. He and his family are moving to Chicago to be closer to his father-in-law whose health has been in decline. You can read his resignation letter here. Now board members and officials are faced with the task of finding a […]
By Children Rising
April 4, 2013 | Read More
This week, I picked two nonfiction books for Erick to read. One was titled Mighty Spiders! and the other, simply, Frogs! The books did not need their exclamation points to draw Erick’s attention.“I love spiders!” he said, grabbing the spider book. Inside its pages we learned about different kinds of spiders. Some spiders are large […]
By Children Rising
March 22, 2013 | Read More
With his new workbook, Erick gets to write more, and this week, he made two short ‘i’ sentences. First he wrote, “The fish looks like a rainbow.” Before beginning his second sentence, he asked if he could use “fish” again. I told him he had to pick something else, so he picked “wish” and quickly […]
By Children Rising
February 28, 2013 | Read More
How did they get 30 stickers in here? After reading, working on his second phonics book, and finishing his last box of sight words, Erick got his prizes this week: a Cat-in-the-Hat bookmark and superstar sticker for finishing his first phonics workbook, and then a very special Super Mario surprise box for finishing the last […]
By Children Rising
February 21, 2013 | Read More
Erick is always very excited during our tutoring time. Before I have a chance to say, “Hi, Erick!” he greets me with, “Hi, Miss Madalyn!” which is usually quickly followed by a question such as, “Is that your car?” or “Why do you wear a name tag?” or “Do you speak Chinese or Spanish?” or […]
By Children Rising
February 12, 2013 | Read More
During our last tutoring session, we had a special treat: all the students got to pick a book to take home. Erick mulled over his choice for a long time–so long, in fact, that most of the students picked the books that interested them and he was left looking at what they had already glanced […]
By Children Rising
January 31, 2013 | Read More
Erick finished his first book worm and is starting to fill in titles on his next book worm. The prize that he picked was a orbit ball which we immediately discovered bounces in unexpected directions when dropped. So far, Erick has read twenty-two books and knows the majority of his sight words. He is working […]
By Children Rising
January 14, 2013 | Read More
Erick is so close to completing his 20-book list that his excitement is off the charts! During our last time together, we read three books, the most memorable of which was Green Eggs and Ham. A little ways through the book, we had this conversation: Erick: (reading) “…I will not eat them here nor there. […]
By Children Rising
December 13, 2012 | Read More
I learn more about Erick every week that we meet together. I also learn more about Mario each week, too. For the last two weeks, Erick has presented me with a tiny stowaway from his pocket. The first week, it was Mario himself, and this week it was a mushroom. I’m not completely sure, but […]
By Children Rising
December 6, 2012 | Read More
One of the libraries Kim has worked with Earlier this year, Kim Flom started working as Children Rising’s Library Coordinator. She had volunteered for years at Maxwell Park, building relationships with OUSD as well as increasing her knowledge of library services. Recently, the Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries (FOPSL) interviewed Kim about her […]
By Children Rising
November 29, 2012 | Read More
“If any of you have finished your bookworm sheet, please come see me; I have a special prize for you!” was the announcement that Merle made during our last tutoring session. Merle is the Reading Clinic Coordinator for La Escuelita, and upon hearing her announcement, Erick pulled out his bookworm. There are twenty spaces on […]
By Children Rising
November 26, 2012 | Read More
My student is so enthusiastic, that meeting him was more like a plunge into his life than the casual greetings that I usually have with my peers.In quick succession, I learned that Erick likes the Mario Brothers, tigers, spiders, animals in general, video games, blue, playing video games with his friends, Super Smash Bothers, Nintendo […]
By Children Rising
November 13, 2012 | Read More
If you have been following our blog, you might know that I (Madalyn) have started tutoring at La Escuelita on Wednesdays. It’s hard to immediately tell about all the joyful, funny, fulfilling, learning moments that happen during tutoring, so for this first post, I will elaborate on two aspects of the process of becoming a […]
By Children Rising
September 27, 2012 | Read More
Our second annual Champions for Children 5K is in three weeks! Have you registered? Registration is $25 (same as last year) and you will get a CfC T-shirt and a goodie bag. Registering ahead of time will ensure that you get the correct-sized shirt and also guarantee you that bag of treats! So sign up […]
By Children Rising
September 20, 2012 | Read More
Perhaps it’s is a bit of old news, but it is exciting to me (Madalyn) because I will be tutoring at La Escuelita this year. I visited La Escuelita last year a handful of time. The first time, I was dismayed–portables everywhere, loud construction happening next door, a cement playground. The Excel Reading Clinic was […]
By Children Rising
August 17, 2012 | Read More
If you loved reading about the Family Science Night in the latest Children Rising newsletter, then here is a lengthier article from the team that brought FSN to Prescott: Sandia National Laboratories! To see the article, scroll down to the second article titled, “Turning teacher in retirement offers a ‘purposeful and enjoyable way’ to help […]
By Children Rising
August 10, 2012 | Read More
Here at Children Rising, we are beaming from ear to ear about the award that Randy received for his work. Not only does the award speak highly of our president, but it also honors Children Rising as an organization. Below are some of the words that are written on the plaque that Randy received. We […]
By Children Rising
August 2, 2012 | Read More
SERVE FREE LUNCH,SUPPORT A TEACHER,ORBE PART OF OUR EVENT! One. We are looking for great people to commit to1.5 hours during lunchtime, to serve lunch to children of Oakland Public Library.Dates: June 18 – August 17, 2012Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Two.Support a teacher and touch a child by preparing bulletin boards for Piedmont Avenue Elementary School. […]
By Children Rising
July 27, 2012 | Read More
This picture will be back in September. We promise! You might think that summer is a relaxed time in the Children Rising office. Considering the fury with which we work during the school year, “relaxed” can be a relative term. So when you get your monthly newsletter for August, please blame a moment of unwinding […]
By Children Rising
July 20, 2012 | Read More
For schoolchildren around the nation, summer means no school, no homework, and in many cases, no learning. All this contributes to the “summer slide” where kids forget what they have learned during the previous school year. The summer slide is especially steep and slippery for vulnerable children–those with low-income families and those who do not […]
By Children Rising
July 12, 2012 | Read More
Our upcoming newsletter is going to have a large feature on Oakland’s first Family Science Night (FSN) that was put on by Sandia National Laboratories in partnership with Children Rising’s Science Horizons program. Mark and Joanne Perra, lifelong scientists and Children Rising volunteers, authored the article and served a foundational role in making FSN a […]
By Children Rising
July 3, 2012 | Read More
Usually we have a lot to say about our students–we take a lot of joy in celebrating their accomplishments and cheering them on through challenges. Now it is time to recognize the teachers that put so much effort into their classrooms. A couple times a year, Children Rising volunteers put together appreciation luncheons for the […]
By Children Rising
June 22, 2012 | Read More
Maxwell Park Elementary is closing this year, all the grades (from Kindergarten through Fifth) wrote their thanks to Ms. Flom, their beloved librarian. Kim Flom has been a Children Rising volunteer for many years, and we are so thankful for her hard work. If it hadn’t been for her, Maxwell Park’s library would be shuttered […]
By Children Rising
June 14, 2012 | Read More
Newsflash: The school year is ending tomorrow, and students throughout Oakland celebrate their accomplishments with their literacy tutors! Here are some pictures from the joyful closing ceremonies that reading students had before they launch into their summer vacation:
By Children Rising
May 31, 2012 | Read More
Children Rising’s program, Science Horizons, is mentioned in current Covenant Church news.Take a look to see what our students have been learning and exploring!
By Children Rising
May 10, 2012 | Read More
Somehow the end of the year manages to always take us by surprise here at Children Rising. Here are a few indicators that the school year is drawing to a close: Students tackle STAR testing which coincides with Science Horizons kids coming back from camp, ready to apply their knowledge. Our annual fundraiser–which we spend […]
By Children Rising
May 3, 2012 | Read More
There is still time to RSVP for our annual Gala as an individual guest or as an event sponsor! Just click above for more information and to register. We hope to see you there!
By Children Rising
April 24, 2012 | Read More
Good news: Burckhalter Elementary School was one of five to receive the Title I Academic Achievement Award for raising their test scores. Many students even improved by double digits through two years.This news is quickly followed by the news that test scores in Oakland are on the rise.In fact, the standardized score improvement is outpacing […]
By Children Rising
April 12, 2012 | Read More
Oakland Unified School District has released some interesting maps that show where students will go for the 2012-2013 school year when their schools close.The maps show Lakeview, Lazear, Marshall, Maxwell Park, and Santa Fe elementary’s redistribution of students. They also show the difference in API scores between the closing school and the schools that students […]
By Children Rising
April 4, 2012 | Read More
You may be familiar with Children Rising’s food program called Health4Kids (H4K).Twice a month, our H4K volunteers pack over 2,000 bags of food for kids that receive subsidized school lunches during the week and might not have access to nutritious food during the weekend. Kids that show up to school needing basic sustenance are not […]
By Children Rising
March 22, 2012 | Read More
It has been a long school year for Oakland with the Occupiers making the New York Times while the OUSD board members met quietly to draw plans to close and consolidate five public schools.The board stated that additional schools would close, in accordance with their 3-year downsizing plan. Now, this month, the board has stated […]
By Children Rising
March 15, 2012 | Read More
Ipads are still in the news as the enter classrooms. While some Bay Area schools are receiving money from bonds or parent contributions to purchase this hot technology, schools in Oakland are struggling to get textbooks to all their students. Many computers are becoming obsolete as many Oakland schools (especially middle through high school) do […]
By Children Rising
March 9, 2012 | Read More
You may have heard this already: ASCEND and Learning Without Limits–two schools that applied to become charter schools in the fall–had their proposals rejected by the OUSD board. What you might not have heard is that the schools might become a hybrid of a charter district school in what is known as a “partnership” school. […]
By Children Rising
March 1, 2012 | Read More
Ruby Bridges Elementary School is currently in the middle of their Science Camp as I type! The 5th-graders will go to the Mission Springs Conference Center, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they will take nature walks, participate in team-building activities, join the banana slug club, and learn more about the biological sciences.With Science Horizons, […]
By Children Rising
February 23, 2012 | Read More
While some organizations are trying to get books into kids’ hands, some schools are improving test scores by introducing iPads to kindergarteners. It’s always great to see other organizations promoting literacy, and this article explains how Reach Out and Read works in tandem with hospitals in low-income areas. This organization addresses one of the three […]
By Children Rising
February 15, 2012 | Read More
With the release of the latest census, we are learning that the number of school-aged children in West Oakland has declined drastically over the years.Instead, Katy Murphy reports on what seems to be an increase in the hipster population as single people and young couples move to the city while families with children move out. […]
By Children Rising
February 9, 2012 | Read More
In a somewhat controversial article, Stephen Krashen weighs in on what he considers the most detrimental factor in the US public school system: child poverty.He emphasizes that schools need to focus on providing food, healthcare and books to underprivileged children. He also slips in advocacy for a more holistic method of learning: where children can […]
By Children Rising
February 6, 2012 | Read More
Interested in spreading literacy and boosting a child’s confidence in reading? Need a refresher as a tutor? If so, come to our tutor training this Saturday! Who: You! Your investment of an hour or two per week can open the world of learning to a second grader. Reading is the key! What: Literacy Specialist Carolyn […]
By Children Rising
February 2, 2012 | Read More
Children Rising is excited to announce the date and location of our annual Hope for Children NOW banquet fundraiser: On Sunday, May 20th, there will be dinner, live music, and speakers from the community at the Claremont Hotel. If you are interested in being a part of the Gala, please call or email the office. […]
By Children Rising
January 3, 2012 | Read More
As students go back to school for the new year, a group named Concerned Parents and Community Coalition is gathering signatures to recall the five board members that were in support of the closure of five schools. As Katy Murphy details in her blog, the recall process unfolds like this: “First, a small amount of […]
By Children Rising
December 15, 2011 | Read More
This holiday season, families are more in need of food than previous years. One of our star partners, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, has a holiday help line that assists families in need. The number to call is 1.800.870.FOOD to initiate the process detailed below: When a person calls the helpline they will be […]
By Children Rising
December 8, 2011 | Read More
Have you ordered your gift of hope yet? Each card that you order will give a student’s family a bag of food for the weekend OR provide a book bag (with age-appropriate stories) to a child OR send a 5th-grader to science camp. Each card will come with the gift that you specify and fall […]
By Children Rising
November 17, 2011 | Read More
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Children Rising’s Champions for Children Walk/Run!The event was a huge success with costumes, prizes and lots of friends and family. The weather was perfect for snocones after the race, and the youth marimba band made the day even sunnier with their peppy music. Overall, there were […]
By Children Rising
October 27, 2011 | Read More
Occupy Oakland has taken much of the spotlight off the vote that was cast yesterday concerning our public school system. With five board members approving and two against the proposal, five schools on the closure list will close at the end of this school year. These Oakland public schools are Lakeview, Lazear, Marshall, Maxwell Park […]
By Children Rising
October 20, 2011 | Read More
Champions for Children is in just nine days away.Have you signed up yet? Here is some inside information:The top fundraiser will get an ipad 2.There will be a local marimba band to play fun music at the event.Some students will be diligently walking to raise money so they can go to science camp this year!There […]
By Children Rising
October 13, 2011 | Read More
The New York Times recently published an article about the growing demand for food in Alameda County. The article mentioned the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB), one of Children Rising’s direct partners: “In September, the Alameda County Community Food Bank received 3,770 calls to its emergency food helpline — the highest volume of calls […]
By Children Rising
October 6, 2011 | Read More
With all the commotion about school closures and consolidations, the introduction of “The Office of School Transformation” for the 2011-12012 school year has slipped under my radar. All public K-8 schools are grouped into three regions. Each region is headed by an executive officer and all the public high schools in Oakland are in a […]
By Children Rising
September 29, 2011 | Read More
The Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) is featuring Children Rising’s Health4Kids food-bagging program! Our faithful Health4Kids volunteers have packed over 100,000 weekend bags of food that go to children that receive reduced-price school lunches in Oakland’s public schools. These children might not receive adequate nutrition during weekends because their families are relying on the […]