Courtney Luciana photo
Riverside Academy Principal Derek Stephenson and special education teacher Steve Mikolike (pictured above) have organized the school’s first annual toy drive to collect gifts for 12 teen students’ children.
“How can we not have a toy drive this year?” Stephenson said. “It allows us to keep going forward and building together. This is a very difficult time. I’ve been in personal contact with students. and they’ve expressed the need for finances, support, and basic needs.”
The drive took place Saturday. Staff plan to deliver the gifts personally this Wednesday to students, to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines. The drive is aimed at relieving financial pressure on families to allow a refocus on academics.
“Today is about giving our students hope,” Stephenson said. “We want to not only offer support to their families during the holidays but also to reengage them to think about school, and to know that we’re here for them.”
Riverside Academy staff and students.
New Haven teachers and residents Saturday dropped off enough gifts to fill three tables of baby wipes, educational games, and books. Over $800 in electronic contributions and and gift cards were donated.
Fair Haven School teacher Denise Mikolike, who teaches first grade, dropped off goody bags donated from Vox Church. The bags included a reindeer antler headband and an arts and craft project. She said that her classroom lessons have collaborated with her husband’s work at Riverside Academy.
“We both want to connect with our students because they need to know that they are seen,” Mikolike said.
“I’ve personally been in situations where I wasn’t able to take care of my kids during Christmas time,” said Tracy Casiero, who worked on Saturday’s drive as well. “At Christmas time, it’s generally hard for some people but especially this year with Covid-19. To see the outpouring of people that want to help and donate is what the holiday season is all about.”
As winter break approaches, Riverside Academy students and staff have been reflecting on the hardships the pandemic has caused, including the struggles of remote learning. Steve Mikolike said that if the students feel like the staff cares about their situations at home, then deeper bonds will be formed.
“We’re finding out that even as adults during this time, we’re struggling,” he said.
“So you think of students who are parents. They’re struggling and also their parents are too. If we could lighten their load just a little bit then it’s a hit. We’re doing anything that we possibly can to stay connected.”
Mikolike noted that before Covid-19, students were already facing challenges in their everyday lives. He has connected with students by being open with his background of recovery while growing up, so that they don’t feel ashamed of their personal struggles.
“We need to remind each other that we’re not alone” Mikolike said. “Not only as our students, but as people going through everyday life, [who] already had barriers to stay focused, do the right thing, and to be productive. Now, you throw in Covid and not being able to come to school. It multiplies the struggles that we’re already there.”
Riverside senior Shevon Patterson said she wanted to volunteer at Saturday’s drive to help her fellow classmates because of her own experience in struggling to get by this academic year.
“It’s really difficult staying focused in my home environment,” Patterson said. “I keep in touch with three of my classmates. I lost contact with a couple. Some have kids or younger children that they have to take care of. Some have newborns and one of them is currently pregnant. I know that it’s really hard for them and they’re just pushing through as best as they can.”
Math teacher Mel Campbell said being a teacher means building relationships. He has been improvising for the loss of a physical classroom experience by offering one on one office hours every Wednesday to his students.
“I do feel like it’s hard for the students that have kids. I respect them,” Campbell said. “Having a screaming baby next to you at home while you’re trying to learn isn’t easy.”
Denise Mikolike and Tracy Casiero.
Teacher Jenifer Blemings said schools Superintendent Iline Tracey has been pushing the schoolwide effort in remaining in contact with students’ by asking about their basic needs at home and to advise them in their academics.
Stephenson has assigned the staff to conduct weekly check-ins for their students.
“Many of these kids live in the trenches. We have staff that climb right into the trenches with them. We ask our students: Is there food in the house? Do you have a laptop and does it work, or do you need one? Are their basic needs being met?” Blemings said
“It’s not just about core academics. This gift drive is very much of who we are at Riverside.”
Riverside is a family, said student liaison Chance Jackson. “Within this family, there’s this judgement free policy that we regulate. Nobody is better than anyone else. We all kind of came from the same areas and it’s easier for students to relate to us in that regard.”
“One student of mine has kids at home, and it’s loud. She sometimes has to log off real fast and take care of her business at home,” said first-year gym teacher Nathan Russell. “We’re on the same page. It’s hard for me to get things done too when my son is jumping on my back and he thinks I’m a playground. It’s not an easy thing to deal with for everybody.”
Russell said that he makes it a priority to talk about real life with his students so that they can feel comfortable opening up to him.
“I’m in health class and talking to students about drug sales and getting arrested, and how horrible it is,” Russell said. “They’re like, ‘Yeah whatever.’ Unless I tell them that I’m from the ‘hood. Once I mention my background is when we connect a lot more.”
Principal Derek Stephenson collects gift donation from Tessa Gumbs-Johnson.
The school district’s supervisor of professional learning, Tessa Gumbs-Johnson, delivered a baby doll toy and LeapFrog Alphabet interactive books Saturday. Gumbs-Johnson said that she wanted to support the drive because she’s committed to the students.
“We don’t even say, ‘Oh, that’s my student’,” Gumbs-Johnson said. “No, we say ‘Our kids!’. That’s a different impact. We never know what others are going through and it’s imperative that we support all of our kids.”