Tri-City 5th Grader Spearheads Volunteer Effort

FREMONT, CA — Students in the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten classes at Community School for Creative Education (CSCE) in Oakland started the school year blanketed in love. Members from the Tri-Cities’ League of Volunteers (LOV) donated time and talent to sew blankets for the youngest children of CSCE.

Brooklyn Sisk, a fifth grade student at Oliveria Elementary School in Fremont, has been leading an on-going service project sewing lap blankets and distributing them to the homeless. She enjoyed her work so much that she decided to expand the giving and an idea was born to make blankets for a school.

On August 22nd, the first day of school for CSCE, 64 blankets were presented to the TK and Kindergarten classes, each with a personalized message from Brooklyn.

When Alameda County Board of Education (ACBE) President Eileen McDonald learned about Brooklyn’s big heart and creative project, she galvanized other volunteers to support the project and coordinated the donation to CSCE. “I think that Brooklyn is just an amazing young girl. She is an inspiration and truly wants to make a difference in the lives of other children,” McDonald said.

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Alongside Brooklyn and ACBE President McDonald at the presentation of blankets were Brooklyn’s parents, Scott and Kylie Sisk, who are both elementary school teachers in Fremont, Brooklyn’s grandmother, Donna Sisk, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe, ACBE Trustees Aisha Knowles and Amber Childress, CSCE Executive Director Dr. Ida Oberman, and California Charter Schools Association Regional Director Patrick Walsh, who also made a personal donation to support the project.

County Superintendent Monroe reflected, “There are many hearts and hands that came together to make today a reality: the generosity of Brooklyn and the Sisk family; the unifying vision of President McDonald to bring everyone together; and the special place for children to learn every day that is the CSCE learning community. I am blessed to support all of their work and witness such warmth and unity.”

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“Often times, teachers find themselves providing the most basic supplies to students, even including nap blankets. The generosity of the community to provide these is amazing, but knowing that this was spearheaded by another child who our students can relate to makes it all the more special,” said Dr. Oberman.
— Photos and Announcement from Alameda County Office of Education