On Tuesday, April 9, students and teachers from the Orinda Unified School District, accompanied by Sylvia Hua, Dick Burkhalter, Lance Cowles, John Donnelly and Rodney Lal from the Rotary Club of Orinda, traveled to Butte County to deliver aid to Paradise schoolchildren displaced by last year’s Camp Fire. The program, conducted by the Orinda School District in collaboration with the nonprofit Mindful Littles, and sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Orinda and Paradise, delivered 300 Peace Kits containing 12 mindfulness and compassion tools to students and staff of the Ponderosa Elementary School in Paradise. Their school was destroyed by the Camp Fire and 250 children are temporarily attending school at Durham Elementary School in Durham. The kits were assembled by children at all of the Orinda Schools as community service project, and are intended to help Paradise children and staff cope with the emotional impact from the fire. OrindaCares will help the students and staff learn how to use the items in the kits. According to Orinda School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction David Schrag, “The Ponderosa Elementary school leaders are ve
ry excited about and supportive of our project as many students and staff are struggling with their emotional well-being as they heal from the devastating fire.” The Paradise Unified School District Superintendent said about the OrindaCares effort, “This is one of the best projects I have seen.” According to Orinda Rotary Club President John Donnelly, “Rotary Clubs all across Northern California contributed generously in the immediate aftermath of the fires, providing the children with school supplies and books to help them resume normal life as quickly as possible. However, the social and emotional impacts of the fires will be around for a long time to come. We are very pleased to be able to join with Paradise Rotary and OUSD to keep the commitment going and help the children heal.”
ry excited about and supportive of our project as many students and staff are struggling with their emotional well-being as they heal from the devastating fire.” The Paradise Unified School District Superintendent said about the OrindaCares effort, “This is one of the best projects I have seen.” According to Orinda Rotary Club President John Donnelly, “Rotary Clubs all across Northern California contributed generously in the immediate aftermath of the fires, providing the children with school supplies and books to help them resume normal life as quickly as possible. However, the social and emotional impacts of the fires will be around for a long time to come. We are very pleased to be able to join with Paradise Rotary and OUSD to keep the commitment going and help the children heal.”