04/20/2020
The Gifts of Quarentina
Dear Grateful Parents,
How are you feeling today? Take a moment to think about it and if the answer is not, grateful, that is OK. We just learned that our Saint Clement Cuties will not return to school this year, and I understand that gratitude may not be top of mind for many of us. I happen to feel thankful today because today is my daughter's birthday! California Clementina is 22! What a birthday to remember!
When the quarentina hit, emotions were stormy. California Clementina was disappointed and angry when live classes on her beautiful campus were cancelled. She was scared when told by a friend that if she stayed, she would get sick and have no one to take care of her. She was confused about what might happen next; what would happen with graduation, her job search, her life? The beach closed. What would she do without beach walks to keep her calm? What could I do as her mother, since I didn't have the answers either? Listen and validate, validate, validate. We talked daily and sorted out the feelings and the decisions together.
She decided to stay in San Diego with her three roommates. The girls planned an elaborate Easter Sunday brunch, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt for the neighbor cuties, a mimosa for their exhausted mother and treats delivered to the patios of the people across the street, all while maintaining social distance, of course.
Today is another celebration of life and the girls continue to deliver! I am in awe! If you have attended a Positive Discipline Workshop, you know that one of our favorite activities is to brainstorm the life skills that we wish for our children. The juice squeezed out of these cuties; resilience, positivity, sense of humor, critical thinking, empathy, generosity, faith, hope, self respect, creativity.......I could go on and on.
Why am I telling you this story? THIS IS A TIME TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OUR CUTIES ARE LEARNING......AND IT IS ALOT!!! Which life skills are being built in your house? What are your cuties leaning? Please email dearclementina@stclementschool.org and SHARE!!
Love,
Clementina



What if???
️
️
️
If they cancel the rest of the school year, students would miss 2.5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education...
But what if...
️
️
️
What if instead of falling "behind", this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this? Hear me out...
️
️
️
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.
️
️
️
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet.
️
️
️
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
️
️
️
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home?
️
️
️
What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less?
️
️
️
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home.
️
️
️
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
️
️
️
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?
️
️
️
What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
️
️
What if they are AHEAD?
️
️
️
️
(Copied and pasted from a friend but too good not to share!
️)
3/24/20
Creating Routines in Quarentina
Dear Productive Parents,
We are more than halfway through Week Two, and I'm guessing that perhaps the shock of Week One has changed to a bit of acceptance? Maybe for some and not for others? This morning I heard a correspondent liken our experience to Elizabeth Kubler Ross's Stages of Change. We all experience the emotions, but not at the same time, or even in the same order. Hopefully, you have settled into some family routines and are making the best of the resources and energy that you have - we can't do it all in one day, as they say. If you haven't had the chance to discuss agreements or routines yet, it will be worth the investment, and you will have buy-in from the kids. During the quarentina, please direct your parenting questions to Dear Clementina or to Lisa Herold We are working to build a blog so that we can share information and support one another more often!
Stay Strong and Proud,
Clementina
How is it going with Family Agreements?
Create Family Agreements
- Teachers begin the year creating agreements with children and ask the question, What can we do to make this the almost perfect school year? Parents can ask the family, What can we do to make this the almost perfect home learning time? The family brainstorms ideas as a child writes the suggestions on the chart or paper, making sure that everyone has the chance to contribute. The family then talks through each agreement until there is consensus. Suggestions are required to be reasonable and respectful to all. (Ex; People should wear headphones while they are listening to loud music unless everyone likes it) You may be wondering why you would go through all of this. Shouldn't the adult just make the rules and the kids follow them? If you have taken a Positive Discipline Class, you already know the answer :) We'll check in next week to see how this is going and would love to hear about your experiences!
3/22/20
Clementina in Quarentina
Dear Saint Clement Parents,
You made it to Friday!! No matter how imperfect or stressful your week has been, it is FRIDAY! Hats off to you for working from home and for learning with your children for one long week! It is ok if your child didn't finish every lesson or if you are not the perfect math teacher, you are still an amazing parent and your children will continue to learn. Hopefully, you are safe and healthy and somewhat sane. If you don't feel sane, you are not alone!
Lisa Herold told me that it might be a good time for me to come back, to help support all of you through the crisis facing our nation. For those of you who haven't met me, my name is Clementina and I live with Clementino. We have three little cuties and our goal is to help you with your parenting questions; notice that I didn't say, "answer" your questions. Mr. Clementino told me years ago that I wouldn't find the answers in a book. However, when he was having a bad day, he would say, "What does the book say?". We try to help and we laugh and cry along the way.
Challenge for the weekend: Take some time off from school work! Continue to learn but try not to be the school work manager. Everyone needs a break!!! Stay healthy!
On Monday, watch your email for a surprise - a new way to connect. We need you so stay tuned!
Love,
Clementina