MARBLEHEAD — The Jewish Community Center (JCC) is very definitely the village that it takes to raise a child, especially in the realm of education in a COVID-19 world.
With its “Remote at the J” program, JCC endeavors to make life easier on parents whose children are home from school, either on 100 percent remote or hybrid learning programs. It gives children a place to go where they can perform their remote-education tasks under staff supervision so that their parents can work.
The program began at the start of the school year, and it “gives parents the ability to still work and have a place where their kids could get their remote learning done, since they couldn’t all be in school,” said Heather Gravelese, JCC adventure supervisor.
While there isn’t any group education taking place at the JCC, children can work in a room, properly-distanced.
“(It’s about) just giving the community the ability to still work and still have a safe place for their kids so parents didn’t have to choose between staying home and going to work,” Gravalese said. “It gives everybody an opportunity to have their work and live how they need to. It’s a safe environment for the kids too.”
Parents call it a godsend.
“’Remote at the ‘J’ has been a lifesaver for our family,” said Deborah Caggiano. “It eliminates the challenge of juggling a full-time job and full-time school. It also eliminated all the tech challenges and the stress that goes along with it.
“Most importantly,” she added, “our child gets the benefit of those face-to-face social interactions with other children in the program that she would be lacking otherwise. Thank you ‘J!”
The program accommodates up to 20 children per day, Gravalese said, “and we still have openings for more. We haven’t maxed out yet which is nice so we’re not turning families away.”
That number could possibly change in the coming weeks. Marblehead has already switched back from full remote to hybrid, and Swampscott is set to convert Monday.
“Right now,” Gravalese said, “the most we have in a day is 16 range — anywhere from 10 to 16.”
The day is structured similar to a school day. Children arrive in the morning, anywhere between 7:45 and 8 a.m., set up their laptops and schoolwork, with tables spread out six feet apart.
Three to four staff members walking around, help them with technical issues, Gravelese said.
“None of us are actual teachers but we just help them facilitate their e-learnings,” she said.
There is a lunch break, and the children eat and side. It is followed by a time for recreation for about an hour, she said. The children are picked up between 2:30 and 2:45 in the afternoon.
The staff is there, Gravelese said, more for the technical aspect, she said, though it will provide help with reading instructions. The age group goes from kindergarten through fifth grade. The staff also tries to keep the children focused so that they can keep up with their work requirements.
“It seems to be going great,” she said. “We haven’t had any complaints from parents. Kids seem to be having fun. They don’t dread coming to do schoolwork.”
The JCC follows all COVID protocols. Children and staff wear masks, and if they need a mask break at their table, they can take their mask off for a few minutes.
“We try and get the kids to wear the masks most of the time they’re in the room,” Gravelese said. “If they get up from the tables, they are required to put the mask on.”
There are also fans to keep the circulation going.
“Heather and her team have done a fabulous job, and now that things are working so smoothly, we are definitely looking to grow the program and help out as many families in the surrounding community as possible,” said Karen Robinson, director of marketing and public relations for the JCC.
