Happy Monday! We have a treat for you! When we talk about the “SLOCA community” we are not just referring to the students, parents, and staff. Our community also encompasses the “grand” people in the lives of our students. Today SLOCA grandparent, Sandee Beckers, shares with us her passion for SLOCA and encourages “grands” to get involved.
As grandmother to Calvin, Heidi, and Bridget Trapp, I have had the pleasure of watching the results of SLOCA’s educational method for nine years. Each one of these kids has developed their own strongest way of seeking creative methods to solve mathematical problems as well as a curiosity for learning, that my own children did not learn in these earlier grades.
I served on the Board of Education of Santa Barbara schools years ago, and have had an interest in learning techniques for years. When we moved to San Luis Obispo to be closer to our grandkids, I was drawn to SLOCA’s classical education curricula. I have had the privilege of serving on SLOCA’s Board of Directors for almost four years now, and have observed it from a grandparent’s perspective.
I introduced the idea of building a Grandparent Auxiliary on Grand Days a few years ago. It was not surprising to find that many grandparents feel the same way I do: anxious to support our children in this unique hybrid process and to support SLOCA in ways that our kids do not have the time or resources to do. We now have an email contact list of over 160 grandparents who are kept abreast of school activities from a grandparent’s point of view.
At the beginning of 2020, we were well on our way to having our first fundraiser in June. We had a group of local grandparents ready to physically help, a beautiful local venue, music, and a source of several wine distributors, to have “An Afternoon of Music and Wine Tasting”. We hoped to broaden the awareness of SLOCA to the Central Coast and introduce the education concept to local parents as well. Well, the plans needed to be put on hold, unfortunately, but we are ready to make this happen as soon as we are able to do so.
This terrible, unfortunate season in our lives has brought new opportunities to SLOCA, however. SLOCA’s concept can spread to interested parents (and grandparents) all over the country via SLOCA’s online assistance through WISDOM WONDER PROJECT. Parents, outside of SLO County and surrounding areas, can implement this teaching technique with online training and support. I have used this information to send to my friends around the country who have kids and grandkids struggling with school closures. Many have responded with great interest.
So, there IS a silver lining to this cloud hanging over our country. Many will learn of this classical education model online, and more children will become creative and curious learners as SLOCA kids have done.
Thank you, Sandee for reminding us that despite the disappointments of this year, there are many silver linings.
Are you a SLOCA “grand” or do you have a “grand” in your life that wants to know more about SLOCA? Sign up for our brand new Grandparent Newsletter! This newsletter is released once per trimester to keep grandparents in the loop about all things SLOCA with specially curated content. Sign up here!
