Growing up Greenwood
Growing up Greenwood
This week we have a couple of submissions pertaining to our Elk youngsters thanks to Jane Corey, grandmother and former Greenwood School teacher, and Elise Ferrarese, parent of a current preschooler. Thank you both for your contributions!
On raising children and grandchildren in Elk
From Jane: Years ago, I would work in my garden on Greenwood Road while my kids played. I would plant a tree and wonder who would sit under or climb it when it matured. I would occasionally envision grandkids playing here in the future but didn’t really expect that to happen. I grew up in a lovely neighborhood in Hollywood but was very eager to leave that place and head to UC Berkeley as soon as I could after high school. My family did not have a long history in any one place in the US and I was an eager explorer.
As my sons grew older, they would spend hours playing tennis and basketball community center court. I could call them home from across the field (no cellphone) — just mama hollering. What an amazing thing it is forme now to bring two small basketballs and bikes to that same court and watch
my grandsons play. They live on a small lane in Boonville, so it’s big excitement when the firehouse door is open and we can see inside. Sometimes we can watch Jay washing a fire truck or see thewater tender getting filled up after a call! Wemight then move on to Elk Garage and say hi to Bob, Mario, Ruben, and Andy. And it’s a big thrill when we wave or gesture to the big trucks on Highway 1 and get a honk.
“I have boundless gratitude to the kind folks of Greenwood/Elk. The small business and the many many volunteers keeping our town alive. My particular thanks to whoever it was who said: “We need a basketball court at the Greenwood Community Center.”
Greenwood Preschool update
From Elise: Jessica Ballard is off to a great start
in her new role as Site Supervisor at the Greenwood School. While preschool does not lend itself easily to distance learning, Teacher Jessica has been working directly with families to provide students with resources to create enrichment programs within everyone’s home. Each student has been provided with a box of art supplies, and Jessica sends out creative activity plans via the class Seesaw website. Parents can then upload pictures of their child’s work to the website, and the kids can see what work their friends have produced.
Jessica has also created a lending library for books and toys: students can check out materials from the preschool, and once returned they are sanitized.
There is a Zoom meeting once a week for the kids, and they have enjoyed sharing about their favorite toys, listening to stories, and dressing up in costumes remotely with their friends. Parents also have an opportunity to chat with each other and Teacher Jessica after the children’s attention spans whisk them off to other activities.
Jessica provides parents with resources available to families, interesting reflection questions, and child social and emotional development information. Everyone wishes the children could be playing together on the school grounds but in the meantime, Jessica has created a valuable community resource for families with young children.
P. S.: Great Day In Elk T- Shirts have arrived and are now on sale at Queenie’s and Matson Mercantile. Get your commemorative 2020 shirt today! All proceeds go to the Greenwood Community Center.