January 2007

One of our kindergarteners at City Arts is homeless and his family has been living in their car (mom, dad, and three children all under the age of 6).  Their car recently broke down and mom lost her job. The family was fortunate to find shelter at the Saint Vincent DePaul’s downtown center.  To our surprise, the center told the family that their son would have to attend their downtown shelter school and could no longer attend City Arts…it was their policy.  This little kindergartener was excelling at City Arts both academically and socially; and the school was the only constant in his young life. 

When mom called the school and told us the situation, and the fact that academically he was so far ahead of the other children at the new shelter school, I made a call to speak with the Director.  I explained to the Director that this young man was in a very stable school situation. He had actually started to read prior to the Christmas break.  She said she would look into it.  The very next day, the mom called crying and said that the shelter was allowing him to return to City Arts.  Through a financial donation from the Fairy Godparents organization, we are going to provide the mom with a monthly bus pass to enable her to bring him to the school until she is able to pay for the repair on her car.  There were hugs and tears from mom, staff and students when he returned to school last week.

The San Diego community continues to support the achievements of the 10 teens that created the art recycling company "Eco-Eventerprise". The business, which makes centerpieces and other event decorations made of recycled materials will compete in Washington D.C. for Junior Achievement's "Company of the Year."  They will be the only team from California and the West Coast at the July event.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videobeta/edc82da3-a8f6-47a4-b932-6eeb41b17234/Community/Kids-Learnt-the-Biz-at-BizTown