Come join us to work up a sweat!On Wednesday, April 29th, two senior trainers from Barry's Bootcamp, and co-founders of their own fitness company, Brave Body Project, will be leading a LIVE Zoom workout. Additionally, this workout will be supported by our Recreational Therapist, Andrea Hammel, Jen Dinney, and other Cooke staff. The trainers, Amber and Lindsey, have worked out with SKILLs students for several years and we are excited to have them back with us virtually! Yankees, Knicks and Liberty will have their session at 1 pm. Jets, Mets and Giants will have their session at 2pm. We will send you the Zoom Link 10 minutes before the class beings. Please RSVP and provide a song request for the workout using this form. What you will need:
Be Inspired!What time is it? Time to be inspired! This week, I’ve picked Jumaane Williams! Williams is a democratic politician who has been the New York City Public Advocate since 2019. Williams, who lives with Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD, has become a beacon in his community. His work focuses on many issues such as women’s rights, housing and immigration. Williams has influenced my personal and professional journey as an advocate and educator! Learn more about Williams here. What are YOU Doing to Keep Busy?During this time of social distancing, Maria (Assistant Teacher) acknowledges that we should try our best to take part in activities that keep us productive, healthy and active at home. Maria has lots of solutions for the different emotions she’s been experiencing. She has been pushing away her fears by listening to relaxing videos on You Tube. According to Maria, “There are thousands and thousands of relaxing songs to choose from!” She uses movement and deep breathing to help her relax as she listens. In addition, Maria cooks delicious meals with her family. She is also using phone calls, text messages and video chats to stay connected to her family—this is important for a “healthy state of mind.” Finally, Maria is not only helping SKILLs Practical Math students, but also her son who is required to complete his assignments on Google Classroom on a daily basis. Wow Maria! It sounds like you’ve been busy—thank you for all that you do! What Are You Reading & Cooking?!
Cooke's Virtual Learning Resource Hub is filled with valuable information for families. The document is "live" and constantly being updated with new resources. Many parents and families are struggling to navigate their new circumstances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents may be experiencing the pressure of trying to work from home, homeschool their children, and cope with their own anxiety around the virus. To help families navigate this difficult time, the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the WonderLab have launched a dedicated website to deliver useful information to families on child and family mental health and wellbeing. Explore the site here. Contact Choice Music Studio to schedule your online music lessons:
https://www.choicemusicstudio.com/contact/
Be Inspired! Social distancing isn't easy, and we should turn to those who inspire us to get us through this time. This week I've picked Haben Girma, a Harvard Law School graduate and disability rights activist who is deafblind. Haben has travelled the country talking to audiences about her experiences and inclusion. Haben is pictured below with her guide dog, Maxine at the University of Kansas--she is an inspiration to us all! Read more about Haben here. How Are YOU Keeping Busy?Gaetie (Community Inclusion Assistant) has been keeping busy at home! She's been caring for her plants, including a plant from Africa, which only needs to be watered every 2-3 weeks. Gaetie is also caring for a plant from the tropical Americas. At times she struggles when giving the plant water. She says "I either forget to give it water, or I give it water that's too warm." Gaetie also has a fish nicknamed "Survivor.” Gaetie's been feeding her fish and keeping his tank clean. See a video of Gaetie’s fish here! Lastly, Gaetie has been caring for her nails--see below for pictures of Gaetie’s plants and manicured nails. Moses (Community Inclusion Assistant) has been keeping busy at home by reading, exercising and watching interesting shows! Click here to see Moses' video! Be well everyone and see you (virtually) soon! Jacqueline Bediako, Assistant Division Head Tips from the Child Mind Institute: PARENTING TEENAGERS IN ISOLATION While young kids may love 24/7 parental attention, adolescents might not be so thrilled. To support teens:
The Hebrew Free Loan Society, recently launched a Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan Program that provides interest-free loans of $2,000-$5,000 to residents of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island who are facing financial challenges caused by the Coronavirus outbreak. These loans are intended to address: · Lost wages due to being unable to go to work · Extra child care costs due to school closures · Small business losses · Medical costs HFLS is a non-sectarian lender. All low- or moderate-income New Yorkers are eligible, regardless of credit history. Loans require one guarantor. There is a three month grace period before payments begin. For more information and for an application, visit https://hfls.org/loan-programs/coronavirusfinancialimpactloan/ Hi Families, We are excited to share that this past week two cohorts piloted Social Connections, using the platform Zoom. Next week we plan to expand this pilot to all cohorts! This entails a teacher, an RSP and small group of students participating in a 15 minute discussion. It will provide an opportunity for much needed (virtual) face to face interaction with peers and staff. This afternoon parents will receive an email with detailed information to get your child set to participate. The first steps are for parents to complete this form and for families to review the Zoom meeting rules here. Don't forget that you have access to our Resource Hub, with new information continuously added. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to reach out to Jackie or Katie, we are here for you. We miss seeing you so much! Katie Riordan Be Inspired! Once again, it's time to be inspired! This week, I've picked a quote from RJ Mitte, a 27-year-old actor who has sought acting roles to educate people about his disability. Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age is well known for his role in the AMC series Breaking Bad. In addition to acting, Mitte is a fabulous public speaker--Mitte is an inspiration to us all! Jacqueline Bediako, Assistant Division Head What Are YOU Watching?With social distancing in full effect, we need to find ways to relax at home! Watching our favorite shows or films is a great past time and a way to relax indoors. Click here to see what Patrick (Community Inclusion Assistant), is watching! Please note the video above contains flash photography. What's on Your Playlist?Listening to music is another great way to relax. Yilkari (Assistant Teacher, Tech and Art) made a poster sharing about what's on her playlist! Check it out below: Calling all music lovers! Click here for a list of independent children’s musicians around the globe who are transitioning live shows to live streams. Audible provides spoken-word entertainment and is currently free! Check for your favorite titles and authors here. NYC Resources For current information about medical, financial and food resources, check out these sites. www1.nyc.gov New York State Leadership Council Virtual Library Offerings through New York Public Library (NYPL), Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library! NYPL, which has libraries in Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island are offering free one-on-one tutoring to school-aged students. If you want more information, press this link to know more details: One-on-One Tutoring. To get access to tutoring and videos, use your library card. If you don't have one, you can apply for one remotely, by clicking this link: Apply for a Library Card Brooklyn Public Library are hosting virtual events on their website and their social media pages. You may need to navigate through the events list to find an appropriate one for yourself. Look through their website to find one that interests you: Virtual Learning at BPL Queens Public Library has audio and video recording on the history of hip-hop. If you want other resources you can access, their Virtual Library Catalog. All you need is your Queens library card to access their digital e-catalogs! Need support? Our counseling team is available to families via email Monday-Friday during regular school hours (8:15-4pm). Should you or your child need immediate assistance please contact your individual mental health provider or NYC Well. **If this is an emergency, call 911** |
Cooke
|