Take four youth interns, four HSH parents, one AIA executive director, one HSH program director and three HSH teachers (and one sending love in absentia) and mix with 26 new parents for an afternoon of chat that was informative and inspiring. It was a fabulous turn-out in a room that quickly grew steamy with the positive energy of our enrolling families engaging with our veteran parents! We hope all our new parents gained the information they need to feel successful in this transition with their children.
A few shout-outs:
Sharisse Huie - threw herself headlong into our New Parent Handbook!
Michelle Rosas, Melanie Limbo, Daryna Loch, and Edgar Alvarado - HSH teachers cannot imagine a greater team of summer interns. They love the work, they love each other, they love HSH. We thank them for crafting the evite, designing the event, managing the forms, and making over 40 finger sandwiches (served with pink lemonade).
Christa Brandt for supporting the Laptop Lunch fundraiser. (forms available through August 15th!)
Kimberly Anakata for speaking to tech/google group and how to join PAC without fear, intimidation or over-commitment!
Kris Palmer for representing the PAC groups (since she's on three of them)!
Patricia Murillo for finding time in a crazy schedule to support our event and provide a strong frame for the vision of Alternatives in Action.
Hurray for the Home Sweet Home learning community!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Recycle for Art Processes
Home Sweet Home kindly requests families to bring in the following recyclables to support our Atelier:
cardboard tubes
bottle caps (milk, juice, etc. - please run through dishwasher first)
corks
buttons
We appreciate that there is treasure in trash!
cardboard tubes
bottle caps (milk, juice, etc. - please run through dishwasher first)
corks
buttons
We appreciate that there is treasure in trash!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Beets
"I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?"
Edward Giobbi
Many thanks to Kris Palmer and Co. (Katy's mom) for masterminding and facilitating our beet harvest this week. She took our tasty roots home and roasted them, returning to school to provide a delicious afternoon snack.
Kris's thoughts on the activity: "I felt pure and supreme joy as Mazen, Leah, Carla, Katy, Ava, and Vinnie pulled up beets and carrots. Leah yelled "look!" excitely and held each vegetable up high for viewing, each met with equal wonder. Carla's look of suprise and awe as she finally got the hang of using her strength and coordination to yank up a fistful of carrots out of the ground all by herself was so sweet, then with eyes wide open, "Can I eat these?" Vinnie had the energy and initiative to harvest many gardens full of beets and I wished we had planted enough to satisfy his intensity. Though probably the youngest of the group, Ava made sure she got in for her shot at beet pull. Mazen watched with intent interest, eagerly took his turn to pull, participating shyly but fully, figuring it all out. We washed the beets and carrots in the water play tub and all got the hang of twisting off the stems and leaves. Ava, with concentration, watched her hands move in opposing directions to twist off beet from stem. Carrots were devoured on a continual basis throughout the project, dirt and all. Carrot tops deposited in compost with many helping hands. "
Families that can manage it, take a little time and walk through the gorgeous garden - the handiwork of our parents and children from the April BUILD. It's pretty spectacular! Good luck not tromping on the pumpkin vines - they look prehistoric!
Uses for Beets
Appetizer
Layer roasted beet slices with goat cheese, pierce with toothpick and pretend Wolfgang Puck catered your next event.
Roasted Beets with Greens
1 bunch beets with
greens
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add to skillet. Stir until greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.
Shankar's Borsht
3 potatoes, cubed
1 white onion, sliced thin
4 beets, cubed
1 tblsp. fresh dill
salt/pepper/paprika to taste
1 pound stew beef
1 quart beef broth
olive oil
Brown meat and onion in oil, place in crock pot, add all other ingredients. Cook 3 hours, until all is tender.
Edward Giobbi
Many thanks to Kris Palmer and Co. (Katy's mom) for masterminding and facilitating our beet harvest this week. She took our tasty roots home and roasted them, returning to school to provide a delicious afternoon snack.
Kris's thoughts on the activity: "I felt pure and supreme joy as Mazen, Leah, Carla, Katy, Ava, and Vinnie pulled up beets and carrots. Leah yelled "look!" excitely and held each vegetable up high for viewing, each met with equal wonder. Carla's look of suprise and awe as she finally got the hang of using her strength and coordination to yank up a fistful of carrots out of the ground all by herself was so sweet, then with eyes wide open, "Can I eat these?" Vinnie had the energy and initiative to harvest many gardens full of beets and I wished we had planted enough to satisfy his intensity. Though probably the youngest of the group, Ava made sure she got in for her shot at beet pull. Mazen watched with intent interest, eagerly took his turn to pull, participating shyly but fully, figuring it all out. We washed the beets and carrots in the water play tub and all got the hang of twisting off the stems and leaves. Ava, with concentration, watched her hands move in opposing directions to twist off beet from stem. Carrots were devoured on a continual basis throughout the project, dirt and all. Carrot tops deposited in compost with many helping hands. "
Families that can manage it, take a little time and walk through the gorgeous garden - the handiwork of our parents and children from the April BUILD. It's pretty spectacular! Good luck not tromping on the pumpkin vines - they look prehistoric!
Uses for Beets
Appetizer
Layer roasted beet slices with goat cheese, pierce with toothpick and pretend Wolfgang Puck catered your next event.
Roasted Beets with Greens
1 bunch beets with
greens
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add to skillet. Stir until greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.
Shankar's Borsht
3 potatoes, cubed
1 white onion, sliced thin
4 beets, cubed
1 tblsp. fresh dill
salt/pepper/paprika to taste
1 pound stew beef
1 quart beef broth
olive oil
Brown meat and onion in oil, place in crock pot, add all other ingredients. Cook 3 hours, until all is tender.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Transitions - Exciting and New
Much gratitude to Kimberly Anakata who logged countless hours ensuring our transition from the parent yahoo group to the parent google group. We are so appreciative of her talent and persistence in getting this tool in place for our incoming families and keeping it viable for our learning community. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Please welcome Danny Burr as a Home Sweet Home substitute teacher. Danny is a photographer who taught preschool many years for Marin Day Schools. Our summer interns noted how quickly he learned children's names! Danny is interested in nature activities and messy Art. He will be supporting staff vacations full time through August 5th.
The Alternatives in Action website makeover is complete and all HSH families are encouraged to check it out at http://www.alternativesinaction.org/! Much hardwork went into this piece and the Home Sweet Home section seeks to represent the quality feedback from our PAC discussions throughout the year. Many thanks to Morgan Cleveland (AIA Fund Development) and Apolonio Valdivinos (AIA Board Member) for making this possible!
Kathleen has been asked to take on the West Alameda Community Programs director position. She will support after school youth development for Alternatives in Action at this location through coordination of services and grants management. She is delighted and thrilled and has agreed to do so with the understanding that she will remain 100% Home Sweet Home Program Director. As we determine needs and capacity, Home Sweet Home teachers will be asked to support key pieces to enable her transition. This is a wonderful opportunity that supports our staff retention - by identifying the talent and capacity of our HSH teachers, we are able to provide some stipend roles! It is very heartening for Home Sweet Home's success to be recognized in this way. More updates at our next PAC meeting!
Please welcome Danny Burr as a Home Sweet Home substitute teacher. Danny is a photographer who taught preschool many years for Marin Day Schools. Our summer interns noted how quickly he learned children's names! Danny is interested in nature activities and messy Art. He will be supporting staff vacations full time through August 5th.
The Alternatives in Action website makeover is complete and all HSH families are encouraged to check it out at http://www.alternativesinaction.org/! Much hardwork went into this piece and the Home Sweet Home section seeks to represent the quality feedback from our PAC discussions throughout the year. Many thanks to Morgan Cleveland (AIA Fund Development) and Apolonio Valdivinos (AIA Board Member) for making this possible!
Kathleen has been asked to take on the West Alameda Community Programs director position. She will support after school youth development for Alternatives in Action at this location through coordination of services and grants management. She is delighted and thrilled and has agreed to do so with the understanding that she will remain 100% Home Sweet Home Program Director. As we determine needs and capacity, Home Sweet Home teachers will be asked to support key pieces to enable her transition. This is a wonderful opportunity that supports our staff retention - by identifying the talent and capacity of our HSH teachers, we are able to provide some stipend roles! It is very heartening for Home Sweet Home's success to be recognized in this way. More updates at our next PAC meeting!
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