Parker Elementary students are building on their social emotional skills through circus arts. Now in our second year, the SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Circus Program at Parker is engaging three classrooms in clowning, juggling, and theater making to build self awareness and self regulation skills to support school and life success. The SEL Circus is supported by an Arts Incentive Grant through the Oakland Unified School District and is building on our 16 year partnership with the Parker school community.

Circus at Parker School started in 2004, at the request of Principal Deborah Davis. Today, along with the school-day SEL Circus, we also offer a weekly afterschool program in partnership with Higher Ground NDC. We continue to be inspired by our students’ creativity and commitment to skill building. Shout Outs to our partnering teachers and teaching artist, Josh Matthews, for their care and innovations to make circus education possible online.