We recently spoke with Impact parent Nadja Michel-Herf who has a Kindergarten scholar, Julian, attending Impact | Salish Sea Elementary! Read about what Julian loves most about school and Nadja鈥檚 own experience with Impact.
Impact: Nadja, what made you choose 乌鸦视频?
Nadja Michel-Herf: I work in the education sector and became familiar with Impact鈥檚 school mission, and it really spoke to me and my husband. After we attended an info session, we saw that Julian was also excited by Impact. They did a great job of explaining what the school model would be, both to us as parents and to Julian as well; and that was important.
Impact: Tell us about Julian!
NMH: School is definitely challenging and maybe even humbling for Julian. But he loves it. The teachers create such a positive culture. Julian was nervous about the transition from preschool to Kindergarten. He was clinging to us on the first day, but within five minutes of our departure, [Impact staff member] Ms. Kiyota, sent us a photo of him at his desk, looking comfortable, safe, and interested.
Now, he鈥檚 always the first kid sitting down to listen to read. He loves reading. He also likes movement/dance breaks and science. Math is challenging, but he鈥檚 taking to it. He鈥檚 constantly counting. For example, he counted the steps between the couch to the front door this morning! And the other day at the dentist, he wouldn鈥檛 open his mouth for examination until he counted to 100 in his head. (He was at 83). He鈥檚 so proud of those little moments of celebration. And he loves coming home and telling us about when something good happened in school.
Impact: What鈥檚 Julian鈥檚 experience been like in class and with his teachers?
NMH: So Julian is very small! However, he feels so comfortable in the classroom environment. In fact, the tallest kid in the class makes a special effort to say hello to him. It鈥檚 clear the kids are learning tolerance and empathy.
My parents read to Julian on Zoom every week and they were reading Frog and Toad and they noticed that Julian was making emotional connections and really demonstrating emotional intelligence. This is definitely thanks to Impact and all the books they鈥檙e reading about the differences in people. There鈥檚 even a unit on bullying. I just feel like Julian鈥檚 brain is exploding with information.
The two teachers, Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Kellog are so attuned to each kid鈥檚 personality and the table dynamics. They just always know what鈥檚 going on and are so poised.
Also, It鈥檚 so clear that Ms. Rodriguez has pedagogical training. She鈥檚 even given us phrases to help us with Julian. Phrases like 鈥減rove it to me鈥� that help with his critical thinking, and other phrases that help with stubbornness or not making him feel bad when he has the wrong answer.
Impact: What鈥檚 been your own experience with Impact?
NMH: The level of communication is really awesome. Ms. Rodriguez tends to respond in minutes. Sometimes I want to tell her that it鈥檚 okay and she doesn鈥檛 have to! Impact in general is super attuned to our needs and being open to parent feedback.
As a parent and someone who works in education, I also want to recognize that the teachers are the experts and that this is a learning experience for everyone. Impact is giving us such good training as Julian gets older – in terms of exploring who he is, his academic successes and challenges. Impact is a great foundation for that.