Brilliant Baby February Newsletter
Dear BB Community,
Hello Brilliant Baby family! We are excited to celebrate Black History Month. Starting in 1976, each American president has selected February as Black History Month and supported a theme. This year's theme is "Black Resistance," which explores how Black/African-Americans have persevered despite all odds. Black History Month is also a time to celebrate the legacy of Black/African Americans across U.S. history.
Program Highlights
As of February 1st, 1,400 babies in Oakland (including yours) have opened a Brilliant Baby College Savings Account! We are super excited to have reached this milestone and are happy you are all part of our growing Brilliant Baby family!
Community Connections happen every month on Zoom. You will have the opportunity to learn more about early childhood development while also continuing to get financial tips from BB Coaches and community-based organizations. On February 9th, our partners at Tandem led a workshop called “Word Play All Day” for our English and Cantonese-speaking communities. Thank you to those who attended! On February 16th, Tandem will teach the same workshop in Spanish. On February 17th, join us for a community conversation with a family navigator from Oakland Unified School District’s preschool department. Finally, our Cantonese-speaking families can join Brilliant Baby Financial Coach Rita on February 24th to close out this month’s events. If you have questions about Community Connections, text “Help” to (510) 726-7809, and one of our team members will reach out to you.
OUSD Enrollment Timeline
Even though the first deadline for submitting applications for schools has passed, you can apply for transitional kindergarten or kindergarten at any time with OUSD. They will send you an offer for a specific school according to the calendar you see in this chart. If you do not get your first choice school, do not be discouraged; accept a school and you will be put on the waitlist for your higher level choices. For your convenience, you can click on the button below for a direct link to the OUSD enrollment page. The Brilliant Baby team is always here to support you. If you need support enrolling your child, please text “Help” at (510) 726-7809, and one of our team members will reach out to you.
Are You in Need of Childcare ?
The California Department of Education distributes funding for subsidized child care. If you have received TANF/Cash Aid in the past 24 months, you may be eligible to receive immediate child care assistance. If you are looking for help to pay for child care, we urge you to apply right away. Space in this program is limited, and there is usually a waiting list. Doing this soon will give your family the best chance of receiving a voucher to help pay for child care. There are also other ways to get support with this. Alternative Payment Programs (APP) do not provide childcare. But they reimburse the child care providers families choose. Visiting the Bananas website will provide more information about the various options. To learn more about subsidized child care, click the button below.
Adult School Enrollment
Are you ready to go back to school? Oakland Adult and Education is offering free courses for Oakland residents. Classes are offered in English and Spanish. If you are an English language learner, there are courses specifically for you. Some of the courses include GED/HiSET Preparation, Math for Trades, Computer Literacy and Citizenship. These courses may help you prepare for the next phase in your life. We encourage parents and caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity. If you are considering furthering your education, please click the button below to register for classes.
Have you looked at the balance
of your Brilliant Baby CSA lately
at my529.org?
You should check your account periodically. If you move, you can change your address online to keep receiving the statements at your home. Additionally, getting in the habit of checking your account helps remind you that this account exists. Remember, when your baby graduates from high school, they can use this money for college or trade school! If you have questions about how to log into your account, text “Help” to 510-726-7809, and one of our team members will get back to you very soon.
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