Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.


– Marian Wright Edelman


A NOTE FROM ROXANA REID

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – the signature phrase that became a beacon of hope for my family when we lived in what was then a Military Dictatorship in Panama. The words resonated so deeply, compelling us to seek those promised freedoms in this country with the unwavering belief that in The United States of America, the most primal human needs would be within our reach.

I have not been to my home country in many years, but the events of the last few months have been steeped in eerie familiarity.  Anxiety, uncertainty, isolation, lack of equity and the inevitable need for humans to break free of oppressive systems that threaten their ability to live with liberty and in pursuit of happiness.

Education is an engine for hope – or the potential for hope. It is the reason why I am optimistic about our future, no matter how bleak these times may seem. Education is the space where everyone can dream of the limitless possibilities to find joy and pursue passions with the freedom that brings life to everything that we do. 

As Founder of Smart City Kids, and mother to two beautiful African American boys, daughter, sister, cousin, friend and woman of Afro Caribbean roots, the events of the last few weeks have been painful. From lack of access to COVID-19 care, the isolation of social distancing, the economic uncertainty impacting the vast majority of Americans and finally, the collective call to action we are witnessing on a global scale reveals a great need to shift the trajectory of our experiences in hopes of a better tomorrow.  

Friends to whom I have never spoken to about my private pain and fears as a mother, now ask me about that pain, seeking to be educated.  It is a sobering reminder that education, listening to one another’s experiences and stories leads to a fuller understanding of the world around us. This learning is foundational to many and is as important as the bricks and mortar that we leverage to educate students in classrooms. Education is access. Education paves the way to equity. Education, ultimately, is power. This is the power that fuels the pursuit of happiness and with as few barriers and restrictions as possible with as little harm to others as humanly possible. 

At Smart City Kids our mission is to direct students to find their place in the world. We take great care to clarify best educational fit so that students will ultimately self-actualize in whatever way joy and happiness manifests itself in their future. We are committed to helping the broadest range of students pursue educational options that are ideally suited to their learning styles and we commit to increasing our number of pro-bono services and offering workshops and guidance to even more communities on the margins of this hope and promise for a better future.

Our newsletter is a tool we designed to offer up information, access and resources. This month, we look at resources for students and families of all ages, from Early Childhood to College that encompass, academic, social, physical and mental wellness tools that may be useful to your family as we stand here, witnesses to history. We stand as parents, educators, siblings, children and allies to those seeking a more perfect union. We start, where all stories of hope begin, with planting the seeds of change.
SCK ANNUAL KINDERGARTEN PANEL

We sincerely thank our participants in our recent admissions panel moderated by founder Roxana Reid addressing the Kindergarten cycle this year.

We heard helpful tips from the panelists: Susan Etess of Allen-Stevenson , Harriet Burnett of Friends Seminary , Jason Caldwell of Horace Mann , Jennifer Brodsky of N ightingale Bamford , Denise Schwed of Packer Collegiate , Tim Sacks of Riverdale Country School , Kate Dworkoski of St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's , Sarah Lafferty of Trevor Day School and Esther Lee of Village Community School .

We look forward to our next panel in mid-July, detailing the specific changes to the process for the coming season. Details to be announced!
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN COMPLEX TIMES

As families grapple with not just the pandemic but with how to discuss the complex topics of systemic racism and social justice with their children, we have culled some of our favorite resources to share with you:

TEACHING TOLERANCE is a site geared to educators featuring
lesson plans and classroom activities, we like their reading lists for K-12 Children.

NYPL offers up a wealth of information that is readily accessible and has a robust set of tools not just tied to literacy but also age specific learning.

The Child Mind Institute remains a go to resource for the emotional well being of children and their families. Their expansive articles and topics give clear and actionable guidance on how to support children who are coping with trauma.

Sesame Street/CNN hosted a family Town Hall Coming Together: Standing up to Racism on June 6th addressing racism and how we talk about it as a community, the program is remains available for viewing.

Haymarket Books is hosting an online teach-in on June 18th entitled Raising AntiRacist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell

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TESTING IN THIS YEAR'S COLLEGE CYCLE -- WHAT TO DO?

Many colleges and universities are waiving the SAT or ACT requirement in light of canceled test dates for this year's rising Seniors. However, test-optional may not be the best option for students who have not exhausted academic opportunities at their school or for students who have struggled academically in a few subjects. Consider your child’s full academic picture before deciding to not take standardized testing.

SUMMERTIME SUGGESTIONS AT EVERY AGE!

At every age level, prioritize outdoor time! Virtual camps and classes may be a terrific fit for some students and not for others. Focus on creating, or guiding your older students to develop a schedule or routines that involve time to investigate something new, create, reflect, find some community with peers -- even digitally and stay on top of summer learning goals. And, importantly, make time for fun -- they need it!







Our Smart City Tutors team is working closely with clients on tailoring academic support, enrichment and test readiness in the remote-learning space.

Relocating to New York? SCK Real Estate Services is at the ready to assist families identify their right fit home matching families to New York City Real Estate experts. Contact us at relocations@smartcitykids.com to learn more!
info@smartcitykids.com | 212-249-4066 | smartcitykids.com