A Letter From The Executive Director

Dear Friends of Saint Vincent’s Day Home,

As we celebrate the arrival of spring, we look back on the wonderful moments that March brought to our community. From honoring remarkable women on International Women’s Day to embracing the spirit of gratitude during Ramadan, March was a month full of reflection, growth, and meaningful experiences. Our children have been actively exploring creativity, cultural traditions, and kindness—values that are at the heart of everything we do here at Saint Vincent’s.

We take great pride in fostering an environment where children thrive, supported by a caring and engaged community. Through arts and crafts, exciting field trips, and collaborative events with local organizations that connect families with valuable resources, we saw so many moments of joy and connection this past month.

We are also proud of our commitment to sustainability, exemplified by the recent solar panel installation. This effort strengthens the foundation of our mission and supports the growth of our children and community.

Looking ahead to April, we are thrilled to make significant progress on the renovations of Classrooms 1 & 2 and our gym. These upgrades will transform our learning and play spaces, fostering creativity, engagement, and growth for our children. We can’t wait to share updates with you—stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we’ll highlight the transformation and its impact on our students.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Your continued support and engagement make all of this possible, and we look forward to many more shared experiences in the months ahead.

With deep gratitude,

Alexandra Hilario

Executive Director

March Day Home Highlights

Throughout March, our classrooms were filled with reflection, growth, and celebration. We proudly honored International Women’s Day, recognizing the achievements and contributions of remarkable women throughout history. This inspired our young learners to dream big and embrace leadership, resilience, and courage.

During Ramadan, we focused on gratitude, generosity, and community, teaching our children the importance of kindness and selflessness. The festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day brought joy as we explored Irish culture through stories, crafts, and activities that fostered creativity and a sense of belonging.

March was a meaningful month of learning and appreciation, reinforcing the values of inclusivity, empathy, and cultural understanding in our classrooms.

Library Buzz

I can’t believe April is here! Our Spring book display will be up, and I may add a few new titles to freshen things up. Please remember to place any borrowed books back in the same spot.

This month, we’ll be celebrating Easter with books and activities that focus on the season’s themes of renewal and hope.

April is also Arab American Heritage Month, and I’ll be highlighting books that share stories of families, children, and the beauty of diverse cultures.

From April 14–16, we’ll explore the New Year’s celebrations of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. A display will feature books that introduce the traditions and rich cultural histories of these countries.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, be sure to check out books that highlight and celebrate neurodivergent children.

On April 22, we’ll celebrate Earth Day with a display of books about caring for the environment. These books will offer simple ways young children can help protect and nurture our planet—both at school and at home.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a love of reading!



Enjoy,

Ms. Kristi & Ms. Esther

Jeanette

Finance Associate

Jeanette has been an Office Manager and Accounting professional for many years, combining her love for numbers with her passion for helping people. She enjoys assisting others with payroll and finance-related questions, seeing her role as fitting pieces together to create a clear and complete picture. Her interest in finance began in high school, where she excelled in Algebra and Bookkeeping, sparking a lifelong appreciation for problem-solving with numbers. A proud native San Franciscan, born and raised in the Excelsior District, Jeanette also has a deep love for art, music, and lifelong learning. She believes that while school provides preparation, life experience truly shapes and molds us. Her personal motto reflects this mindset: “Always stay open to learning—this is the greatest gift we can give ourselves."

March in the Classroom: Creativity, Learning, and Play!

Our little artists got into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with festive crafts—adorable green hats, colorful rainbows, and the cutest leprechauns featuring their own smiling faces! But the fun didn’t stop there—March was packed with hands-on learning experiences. The children explored sensory play by splashing and scrubbing toys in bubbly water, turning a simple activity into a fun and engaging way to develop their motor skills. They also practiced their writing and spelling through engaging activities and built their fine motor skills with various creative projects. It was a month of discovery, growth, and lots of smiles in the classroom!

Children's Fairyland Field Trip

The Dolphins and Starfish classes had a magical time at Fairyland! From exploring whimsical storybook sets to embarking on exciting adventures with their friends, our little learners experienced a day filled with wonder, imagination, and laughter. This special outing provided them with opportunities to engage with storytelling in a hands-on way while fostering curiosity and creativity. A heartfelt thank you to all the chaperones who joined us and helped make this trip even more memorable!

The Parent Toolkit

Community Connections: Meet & Mingle Recap

Our recent Meet & Mingle event was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, learn, and engage with our community! Parents enjoyed delicious snacks while exploring valuable resources from Hively and Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby, who shared information on family support services and early childhood savings programs. Hively provides essential resources such as childcare support, parenting workshops, financial assistance, and mental health services to help families thrive—learn more at behively.org.

Brilliant Baby, a program of Oakland Promise, supports low-income families by helping them build early college savings and providing financial coaching to empower parents—learn more at oaklandpromise.org/brilliant-baby. It was a great chance for families to chat with staff, ask questions, and stay informed about important updates. Thank you to everyone who joined us—we look forward to seeing you at the next one on Wednesday, April 30th from 8:30-9:30 AM!

Sustainability at Saint Vincent’s: Solar Panel Installation

We are excited to announce the installation of solar panels at Saint Vincent's! Thanks to Sunistics, this sustainable upgrade is part of our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting eco-friendly practices. The solar panels will help us save energy, lower costs, and create a greener future for our community. This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious environment for the children and families we serve. We're proud to take this step toward sustainability and grateful for the support that made it possible!

Community Partnerships

Samuel Merritt Student Nurses at SVDH

We are proud to partner with the student nurses from Samuel Merritt University, who visit us every week to engage with our children in meaningful ways. These dedicated nursing students not only play with the kids but also teach valuable life skills, such as proper handwashing techniques, which promote health and hygiene. In addition to nurturing their social and emotional development, the students help the children strengthen their motor skills through fun activities. They also conduct basic health assessments, such as checking vision, hearing, and overall well-being, to help identify any potential concerns early. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how we can work together to enrich the lives of the children at SVDH and support the growth of future healthcare professionals.

Thank You, Saint Mary's Volunteers!

A big shoutout to the amazing student volunteers from Saint Mary’s High School for spending time with our little ones! Their energy, kindness, and enthusiasm bring so much joy to our classrooms. From playing games to sharing laughter, the students make a lasting impact on our children’s day. Our kids absolutely adore them, and we are incredibly grateful for this wonderful partnership. Thank you, Saint Mary’s volunteers, for filling our day with fun, care, and positive energy! If you’d like to volunteer and make a difference in the lives of our children, please fill out our volunteer form below.

A Fresh Stop: Eat. Learn. Play. Bus Visits SVDH

The Eat. Learn. Play. bus made a special stop at the Day Home, where volunteers handed out fresh produce boxes from Alameda County Community Food Bank, along with books and snacks for the children! This initiative was a wonderful part of our mission to help kids thrive by providing healthy food, books, and resources that support their growth and development. We’re so grateful to the incredible volunteers who made this possible! Together, we’re building brighter, healthier futures for our community, and we look forward to continuing these efforts with the support of Eat. Learn. Play. Thank you for making this special day a reality!

Raffle Winners Enjoy an Exciting Day with the Oakland Roots

Day Home Events

Community Corner