Lincoln Program Spotlight: Excellence through Counseling, Education and Learning (EXCEL)

Kristin Wong, MA , Excel Alameda Program Manager

March 13th, 2020...A date most school-based providers have etched in their memory. March 13th, 2020, was the last day students roamed the halls of their campuses. It was the last day the school bell rang. On the last day cars and busses lined the streets creating traffic jams, and on the last day, students congregated in large groups without masks.

For approximately 218 school days, the EXCEL SDC and Mobile teams have gone above and beyond for their students and their families to maintain a sense of structure and stability. Although we no longer greet our students at the front of the campus waiting for the morning bell to ring or supervise the chaos that defines recess while dodging balls flying left and right, we came together and joined forces with our schools to create a new a normal.

The EXCEL staff have ignited their sense of creativity by making their home workspaces into mini classrooms or developing science experiments that our clients can implement principles learned in their textbooks while sharing a hands-on and interactive experience with their siblings and caregivers. Counseling sessions via Telehealth have provided insight into home environments that we normally would not have access to. Play therapy has become innovative and creative with virtual picnics and adventures that span across the globe!

If we fast forward to April 19th, 2021, over a year since our schools closed their doors, we are taking the first step towards a new normal together as a team. Our school gates are now unlocked and open, the busses are lining the streets, and the school bells are ringing. Slowly but surely, students are walking through the halls and the energy, excitement, and laughter are starting to re-emerge.

It has been a challenging year full of ups and downs but what inspired us to keep going? The answer is simple. Our students inspire us each and every day with their resilience, courage, and determination. During the past year, we were reminded to acknowledge and celebrate the small things, no matter how minute or simple they were. On some days when our students logged into their ZOOM classroom on time or had their cameras on so we could see their faces, we acknowledged their efforts. Milestones such as graduation will look a bit different this year but we are so proud of our graduating students! We are inspired by a senior graduating from Skyline High School who was accepted into multiple colleges and will attend a seminary college with the goal of becoming a youth pastor at her church. We are so proud of a student graduating from East Avenue Elementary School who started receiving services when he was in kindergarten and now he is earning academic achievement medals.

As the world around us slowly opens up and we take baby steps towards a new normal the opportunity for learning continues.

We are in this together!