SCV PTA

National Grammar Day!

2009-03-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar and MSN Encarta have designated March 4 as National Grammar Day. Visit www.spogg.org for more info. Parents, this is for you to enjoy so you can be an excellent example for the children in your life.

"How can I participate? Speak well! Write well! And on March 4, march forth and spread the word. We want people to think about language and how it can be used best.Some of our members are planning Good-Grammar Potlucks at their offices.What do you serve at good-grammar potlucks? High-fiber foods, of course. They're good for the colon. Afterward, at happy hour, we recommend the Grammartini. (Recipes are on the site.) We put together a Bad Grammar Hall of Fame Playlist, full of songs we love despite their bad grammar. You'll find it at the bottom of this page. We've also produced a special National Grammar Day T-shirt so you can proclaim your love of language for all to see."At last - a holiday that "speaks to me!"
~See www.spogg.org for more information.

Discovering Careers event for local students

2009-03-01T15:06:00.002-08:00

Join the SCV School & Business Alliance and their Title Sponsor, Boston Scientific Neuromodulation on Saturday, April 25th, 2009, 9:00am to 1:00pm, at College of the Canyons, for Discovering Careers 2009!

For the second year in a row, the SCV School and Business Alliance, the California CommunityColleges Chancellor's Office, College of the Canyons, and the William S. Hart Union High School District will be hosting "Discovering Careers," a free career exploration fair for SCV students ages 5 to 20 and their families.

Discovering Careers is not a job fair. It is a unique career expo that gives SCV kids a chance to "explore" various occupations and industries. Local businesses provide industry-related demonstrations to provide insight into the world of careers. Best of all, the fair is free of charge to participating employers, students, and parents.

Last year over 2,000 students ages 5 to 20 and their parents participated in this great event!

For additional information visit our Discovering Careers website www.hartdistrict.org/discover, or call the SCV School & Business Alliance at (661) 753-5740, Ext. 230 or 776.

New Parent Education Center

2009-03-01T15:06:00.001-08:00

Read more about the new parent education center:

http://valleynews.com/SantaClaritaValley/Stories/Education/General-Education/Story~424574.aspx

National Reading Month

2009-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

March is National Reading Month. To recognize this special month, read a book with your children every evening. Read to your younger children. Encourage older children and teens to read at least one chapter per night. It is important for the adults to read nightly as well. Children appreciate role models and your modeling reinforces the values you teach.

Do you have books that you can share with others? The local YMCA, after school child care centers, shelters, school libraries, and medical clinics may appreciate your donation of gently-used books in good condition.

Challenge your family to read every night in March. At the month’s end plan a special dinner celebration and discuss the wonderful books you read. Did you books take you on an exciting adventure? Did you travel to a far away place? What did you learn? What interesting characters did you meet? This March help your children develop a love for reading.

Feinstein Foundation Challenge Begins in March

2009-02-15T23:23:00.001-08:00

Double the Benefits – Time for the Feinstein Foundation Challenge

Two of our local food banks are participating in the Feinstein Foundation Challenge. They are eligible for significant matching funds for all food donated by our community during March and April. We asked each of our Allied Agency food banks to provide a brief overview of their operations. We encourage you to hold a food drive in March or April to allow these organizations to double the benefits to the hungry in our community! You may be feeling stressed due to the state of our economy. However, we never feel richer than when we are sharing with our neighbors. You too will be richly rewarded by the act of giving.

Help the Children - Santa Clarita (formerly Hunger Defense Fund) is a local non-profit food bank providing groceries to low-income families living in the Santa Clarita Valley since 2002. Our organization does not receive any government funding and relies solely on donations from the community. Over 1,300 local families received food in 2008 and the needs are increasing. Our food bank is set up like a grocery store so that families may shop and choose their own groceries. We are open evening and weekend hours to accommodate working families and we allow families to receive food once a week. We would gratefully accept food drive donations from any of the schools and will provide a Certificate of Appreciation to each participating school. Food drive donations received during March and April are particularly important as they help us qualify for matching funds from the Feinstein Foundation. We have transportation available and are happy to pick up food drive donations from the schools.

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry has provided supplemental food, at no cost, to needy families in our valley since 1986. Our mission is to alleviate hunger throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. We accomplish this with a dynamic group of volunteers who source food and cash donations, package nutritious food to stretch a family's food supply and distribute that food to qualifying residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

The SCV Food Pantry is located at 24133 Railroad Avenue in Newhall (between 4th and 5th Streets) and is open Monday-Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00noon and the first Saturday of each month from 10:00an-12:00noon. We are open the third Friday of each month from 9:00am-12:00noon for our senior citizen clients only. Since many of the senior citizens in our community are on fixed incomes they are forced each month to choose between the food or medications they need. The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry distributes supplemental food to low-income senior citizens through our Senior Outreach Mobile Distribution at six sites in the Santa Clarita Valley each month. We also partner with the Senior Center to supply homebound seniors with food each month.

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, neighbors helping neighbors for the past 23 years. Because "No child in the Santa Clarita Valley should go to bed hungry."

The SCV Food Pantry will again be taking part in the Feinstein Challenge and is asking local schools to compete in the 2009 Students Against Hunger in the SCV by conducting a food drive in their school to help benefit the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry and those less fortunate in the SCV.

City of Santa Clarita's "Meet Mayor Dude"

2009-02-15T23:23:00.000-08:00

Parents, would you like your children to learn more about our city government? If so, check out this new site, www.MayorDude.com.

Homework Strategies for Busy Families

2009-02-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

Homework Strategies for Busy Families
From National PTA’s “Our Children” Magazine, 2008

by: Sharon Marshall Lockett

Today’s families are busier than ever. Meal preparation and clean-up; music lessons; sports practices; and games, chores, and more often squeeze “quality time” for relationship building to a couple of hours or less each evening. Helping your children with their homework may seem like another task that takes up too much time. Fortunately, homework is something that can be managed creatively, reducing the amount of time spent on it while increasing its effectiveness and the sense of connection you have with your children.

Make homework a shared activityPeople often describe the same experience very differently. The same is true of learning. One child will read and remember story details. Another child may not focus on the story’s names, dates, and places, but will see relationships and themes instead. Others will see possibilities, practical applications, or outcomes. When these children study together, they can see their assignments from different viewpoints. It encourages them to seek understanding rather than just get through the assignment. It empowers them to ask questions in class if they know other children are confused, too.

Studying with others sends a message that learning is important—that individually, our children want to succeed and that collectively, we support one another.
Friends as study partners. Invite your child’s friends over so they can do homework together. Don’t be afraid to join in these study sessions from time to time. When you do, ask the students to explain their answers—encouraging them to explore their reasoning helps them learn their assignments more thoroughly. It’s all right to let them digress periodically, as long as they get their work done. It makes learning more enjoyable.

Family members as study partners. Two-parent households can optimize their total “together” time by sharing responsibilities for homework, evening chores, and child care. Older brothers and sisters can tutor younger children. The sooner homework and chores are done, the more time the entire family can spend together in conversation or recreational activities.
Networking with other families. Single-parent households can join forces; while one parent helps the children with homework, another can take care of meals, chores, and child care for younger children. These arrangements can provide all parents with a little more time to spend getting involved in their children’s education, and a lot more moral support.

Use alternative sitesSchool. Some schools have realized they need to provide homework and tutoring centers. If your school does not provide after-school study halls and tutoring, let them know you need help during the gap between the end of school and the end of your work day. Programs exist to help schools provide trained helpers to students on campus.
Day care centers. Day care providers also should be approached about setting aside time for children to do their homework. Request that they have staff available to help.
Tutoring in the community. Community centers, libraries, and places of worship are among the community-based groups that have begun to offer tutoring. Often, college students who are interested in the helping professions volunteer their time at these locations. Contact your town government to find out whether these programs are offered and how to sign up.

Make the most of homework time. The time your children spend on homework can be reduced drastically by applying the following proven principles of learning:
Use senses to increase learning. Research confirms that using all the senses can enhance learning. As psychologist Rosemary Boon puts it, “Sensations may be thought of as ‘food for the brain,’ and when they flow in an integrated manner, the brain can use those sensations to form perceptions, behaviors, and learning.” Reading aloud, drawing pictures, and using mental imagery can help students learn and retain lessons more quickly and thoroughly.

Break lessons into manageable chunks. Children can grow frustrated by studying too much material at one time. Limit new material (spelling words, vocabulary, dates, names) to between 15 and 25 items. Review 20 items and add five new ones during a study session.
Study the unknown. Students often spend hours studying from a textbook, but most of their time is spent reviewing what they already know rather than studying what they don’t know. Divide material to be learned into two stacks: that which they already know, and that which they need to learn. Have them study only what they don’t know for 5–15 minutes. Wait 2–24 hours; mix the material up, and divide it again.

Ask questions. Have your child create a question and/or read the questions at the end of a chapter before he or she begins to read a textbook assignment. Tell your child to say the answer out loud when he or she comes across it while reading. This exercise will help your child understand and retain the information.

Associate. Alphabetizing, sequencing, and categorizing make learning easier. Singing information to the tune of a familiar song can also enhance learning and retention.
Personalize. Substitute your child’s name for characters in a story. Relate a math problem to a child’s allowance. Transfer something learned to an everyday event.

Know your child. How do you help your child tackle the homework in a way that makes sense to him or her? Every child is different, so it’s important to begin by learning what works best for each one. Pay special attention to the following items:

Food. A child experiencing either low or high blood sugar levels will have short-term memory impairment. Never insist that homework be completed before dinner. Provide healthy snacks during study sessions.

Energy level. Is your child a morning person or an evening person? Evening people need to stay up late to finish homework; morning people will be more productive if they get a good night’s sleep and get up early to do homework.

Personality. Is your child quiet and reflective or outgoing and always in motion? A quiet child will sit at a table to read or complete assignments; a child in motion might need to talk through an assignment with you or discuss homework over a game of catch before writing.

Strengths. At what activities does your child excel? Use his or her strengths to help compensate for weaknesses. An artistic child will benefit from drawing a picture about an essay topic before writing. A mathematically inclined child may become more engaged in an art project by drawing and coloring numbers.

Patterns. Observe and record your child’s study patterns. Include times of the day and various reactions to food or stimuli. These observations may help your school and healthcare professionals find solutions to learning difficulties.

Busy families often feel overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. Homework may seem like just another obstacle to quality family time. The best strategy for tackling homework is to use study time efficiently and, most importantly, get help from available resources. There is a whole world out there waiting to support us in educating our children.
Sharon Marshall Lockett is director of Educational Innovations/SCORE, a national cocurricular support program based in Laguna Niguel, California, and author of Home Sweet Homework: A Parent’s Guide to Stress-Free Homework & Studying Strategies that Work. She can be reached at sharon@homesweethomework.com.

Reflections Update

2009-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

The Finalists~Awards of Excellence Recipients were forwarded to the 34th District in December. Additionally we held and selected Merit Winners and Honorable Mentions in each category that will be displayed at our March Association Meeting and Gala. Students whose art is held will receive a letter of invite to the March Gala. A complete list will be sent to all Unit Reflection Chairmen and will appear in the February Council Newsletter. We are also planning a "Wrap-up" meeting with all of the Unit Reflections Chairmen the first week of February. All student participates whose art was forwarded to Council will receive a thank you and certificate of participation with their returned art. Portfolios will be available for pick-up at the February "Wrap-Up" and /or the Association Meeting. Heidi GierardSCV Council PTA Reflections 2008-2009 SCV Council PTA Reflections Finalists (forwarded to the 34th District )

District winners are then forwarded to the State PTA Reflections competition. Council will celebrate it's Finalists/ Award of Excellence, Merit Winners and Honorable Mentions at the March 2009 Annual Reflections Gala and Association meeting.

PTA Legislative Alert!

2009-01-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

Congress to Decide This Week Whether Health and Education Are Among America’s Priorities in an Economic Stimulus Package

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!

Tomorrow, both the United States Senate and House of Representatives will be acting on a wide-ranging economic stimulus package. This legislation will provide much needed investment in the American economy through a variety of avenues. It is essential that the education and health initiatives that are currently major priorities in this legislation remain so. Congress is in the midst of deciding our nation’s future. Tell them that any future must depend on the health and education of our children. Call your Representative and both Senators in Congress and let them know that you believe education and health must remain top priorities in the economic stimulus package.
Since Congress will be acting on this legislation as early as tomorrow, we encourage you to call your members of Congress.
For information to help you make this phone call, Please visit PTA Takes Action Center: Call-in Alert
To email your Members of Congress, please visit PTA Takes Action Center: Email Alert.

News from the City of Santa Clarita about "Hit the Trail" Bike Ride

2009-01-22T08:26:00.001-08:00

"HIT THE TRAIL" COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE AND RALLY KICKS OFF COUNTDOWN TO AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

Mayor Frank Ferry, City officials and Hometown Station KHTS A.M. 1220 invite local residents to Hit the Trail on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free of charge and includes a community bike ride and rally set to kick off the countdown to the Amgen Tour of California which is returning to Santa Clarita in February. Santa Clarita is hosting a stage start and will welcome Lance Armstrong and the world's top cyclists on Saturday, February 21.
Local residents are invited to enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the City's off-street bike trails en route to Bridgeport Park, where participants of all ages will enjoy food, fun and giveaways. Once at the Park, participants will have the opportunity to challenge each other to a stationary bicycle race called "Cycle Showdown." Attendees will also enjoy several community booths, with giveaways including non-profit groups raising awareness for cancer. Santa Clarita's Hometown Station KHTS AM 1220 will be on-hand emceeing all of the activities.

Participants can also sign in at the City booth at the park event for Amgen Tour of California "Spirit Points" for participating schools. In addition to getting residents in the spirit to host the Amgen Tour of California, Hit the Trail also celebrates Santa Clarita's healthy lifestyle and more than 30 miles of off-street bike trails that residents of all ages are free to enjoy.

To participate in this free community event, arrive at one of the designated starting points before 10 a.m. All bicycle routes finish at Bridgeport Park, but residents not planning to ride are encouraged to enjoy the Rally at the Park by other means of transportation. Route 1 starts at Valencia High School, Route 2 begins from Placerita Jr. High School and Route 3 starts in Canyon Country at the corner of Soledad Canyon Road and Camp Plenty Road.

Sponsors for this year's Hit the Trail event include KHTS AM 1220, Jamba Juice, Glen Ivy Day Spa, Spectrum Athletic Club and the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA), which will provide water for thirsty riders.

Read more about Hit the Trail, including a map of the three starting points. For information regarding the Amgen Tour of California, please visit santa-clarita.com/tourofca.

Hart District Shares, "What's Good in Education"

2009-01-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

Recently I learned of a terrific source of news and information about the Hart School District. It is called, "What's Good in Education." It's written by Pat Willet. She does a terrific job of highlighting the good things happening on the various Hart campuses. Please take a moment and check it out. You can find it by clicking on "What's Good in Education" on the Hart home page (www.hartdistrict.org) or click here to read the Dec. 10th issue: http://www.hartdistrict.org/news/WGIE/121008.pdf

Please check in on this wonderful site...it's a good thing.

FREE Admission to Local Museums

2009-01-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Free Admission to Local Museums

Stacy Kupfer uncovered this hot tip. Due to a generous donation by Target, local museums are offering free admission on certain days. Pass along this good news to your school’s parents and teachers. What a great opportunity!

Bowers Museum, Orange County
Free admission the first Sunday of every month, 10am-4pm
Bowers.org

California African American Museum
Free admission the first Sunday of every month, 11am-5pm
Caamuseum.org

Children’s Museum at La Habra
Free admission the first Saturday of the month, 10am-5pm
Lhcm.org

Japanese American National Museum
Free admission and programming the second Saturday of the month, 11am-4pm, beginning February
Janm.org

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Free admission on federal holiday Mondays, 12-8pm
Lacma.org

Museum of Latin American Art
Free admission every Sunday, 11am-6pm
Molaa.org

Orange County Museum of Art
Free admission and family-friendly activities on the second Sunday of each month
Ocma.net

Orange County Pacific Symphony
Free outdoor concerts in Orange County city parks in August
Pso.org

How to Add Your Voice to a Word Document

2009-01-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

WOW!

Here's a really practical tip from the www.schoolcounselor.com newsletter. Try it yourself and show it to your older kids who are beginning to create special reports using MS Word. Or, how fun would it be to email a letter to a relative with your child's voice!

You will need a computer microphone for this.

"1. Open a New Word document

2. Pull down the Insert Menu

3. Click on: Object...

4. From the Object window scroll down to: Wave Sound

5. Highlight: Wave Sound

6. Click on: Okay

7. You will now see the Sound Object window (looks like a tape recorder)

8. Click on the red dot button to record. Default time is set for 60 seconds maximum. You can record longer by stopping and starting at the end of the first 60 seconds recorded.

9. Click on the black square button to stop.

10. A speaker icon will appear in your Word document.

11. To play back the sound file, simply double-click on the speaker icon. You may have to tell the recipient of the document to turn their speakers on and to double click the speaker icon to hear you.

By the way, if you are using an e-mail software program such as Microsoft Outlook (and not a web based e-mail program), you can send the document more quickly by going up to File >>> Send To >>> Mail Recipient (as Attachment). Of course, in the To and Cc boxes, enter recipient names, and add any additional information or select any additional options you want."

Message from Anna Rast, Special Needs Chairperson

2009-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Hello, beloved Special Needs PTA School Representatives!

This is just a quick note to congratulate you all on the amazing activities I keep hearing about you all doing so far in this 2008-9 school year. You guys are amazing! Also, it's beyond time that we all get together and party at my house!

This year, Renee Bowen is helping me on the Council level, and she and I would love to
invite you all to a fun, entertaining, festive meeting/training/breakfast-fest
at my home on Friday, January 30th,
at 9:00am (or after kid drop-off)

Of course, YOUNGER KIDS & SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME!!!

Please take a moment to RSVP (specialneeds@scvpta.org) and I will provide you with the address and directions.

(If you can't make it, we can forward you notes, hand outs, etc.)

I am thrilled at the prospect of us all meeting together on the 30th, and, in the meantime, if you have any question, suggestion, or comment at all, please don't HESITATE to contact me at ANY TIME (specialneeds@scvpta.org ). I always look forward to hearing from you all!

Take care, keep me posted, and come one, come all on Friday the 30th!

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King

2009-01-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

Take time to honor one of the most respected men in the history of our country, Dr. Martin Luther King. Your child may hear about Dr. King at school this week. Brush up on your history so you can answer questions. We found this comprehensive webpage with several ideas to celebrate the man and his vision. Check out this page from familyeducation.com to learn more about this American hero who advocated for civil rights and strove to instill peace during a very turbulent time.

http://fun.familyeducation.com/martin-luther-king-jr/black-history-month/35249.html

Simple Science Activities for Elementary School Children

2009-01-06T22:18:00.000-08:00

Science activities can be fun, easy, and inexpensive. Here are three simple activites that are appropriate for children ages 5-10 with adult assistance. Why take time to conduct science experiments? These activities increase your child's observation, analytical, and creative skills. If you conduct the experiments with a group of children, they also learn to share ideas and cooperate with others. You can find many more experiments through Internet research or a trip to your local library.

Lifting an Ice Cube with a String

1.) Gather a salt shaker, kite string, and ice cubes.

2.) Ask your children if they think an ice cube can be lifted with a string.

3.) Sprinkle salt on one side of the cube and lay the string over the salted area. The salt with “glue” the string to the ice cube.

4.) Pick up the cube using the string.

Making Old-Fashioned Earphones

1.) Gather 2 empty yoghurt cups or plastic cups, 3 yards of string, and 2 paper clips per pair of children

2.) Poke a small hole carefully in the bottom of the cups. (Adults can do this in advance)

3.) Thread one end of the string through the hole of one of the cups from the bottom up so that the string end comes up in the cup. Tie the end of the string to a paper clip to prevent the string slipping through the hole. Repeat with other cup.

4.) Ask the children to hold onto their cup and walk away from each other until the string is taut.

5.) Take it in turns to speak quietly into the cup and listen with the pot/cup held against the ear. What happens if the string is not taut? Explain how the cup vibrates when you speak into it which makes the string vibrate and then the cup next to the ear which all makes the sound travel.

Which Way Does the Wind Blow?

1.) Gather doweling sticks, thin cotton fabric, and fabric (sometimes called tacky glue) glue

2.) Adults, cut the fabric into rectangles and long triangles.

3.) Glue the material onto one end of the stick, rolling it so that there is a complete turn of material, leave until dry.

4.) Take the flags outside to see if there is enough wind to make the flags fly. If the flags fly look at which material flew the easiest. Hold the flags low down to the ground and then up high to see if there is any change. Leave the flags outside in the ground and record each day if the flags are flying and in which direction they are flying. This opens discussions about wind and weather.

Back to School!

2009-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

Winter break is coming to an end. After all the excitement of the holidays it may be difficult for your children to get back into the school routine. No matter the age, returning after a two or three-week break can be a challenge. It’s just as difficult for adults to return to the faster-paced routine of school, homework, and after-school activities. Rather than a stressful return, you can take a few steps to facilitate a smooth transition.

Prepare in advance. Depending on the age of your child, you can determine the tasks your child can complete independently. You know your child’s habits, so you know best if you need to verify that everything is in ship-shape the day before.

1.) Pack the back pack the day before.
2.) Select and lay out her clothes the day before.
3.) Fuel your car the day before. Get into the habit of fueling your car at times other than before school or work to reduce stress.
4.) If your child brings a lunch, make it the night before and put it in the refrigerator. Place a “Post-it” style note on your child’s back pack reminding her to grab the lunch in the morning.
5.) Check your pantry and refrigerator. Make sure you have ingredients for a healthy breakfast.
6.) Before bedtime set the table for breakfast so your family can serve themselves simple things like fruit and cereal.

Organize your home for school morning success.

1.) Place all your non-refrigerated breakfast foods in one area of your pantry. This will make it easier to track inventory of your breakfast foods and easier for your older children to access.
2.) Make a grooming checklist for your younger kids. Attach it to their bathroom mirror or inside of the door. It will help them remember all the grooming tasks they must do each morning.
3.) Establish an area and bin where each child can store her school things. Create a separate place for items needed for sports and special activities. Train your child to always return her items to the proper storage area for easy retrieval later. Label the areas with words for older kids and label with pictures for your very young children.
4.) Create a weekly planning calendar. Note activities as well as what special items are needed for those activities.

Making sure all the work is done. Nothing is worse than hearing at 7:30 am that your child needs to finish her math homework or that a note needs to be signed.

1.) Help avoid that stress by creating a homework station. Make sure that homework is put back into backpacks as soon as it is completed so it is not forgotten.
2.) Sign all school notes and forms immediately. Place it in the proper folder after signing.
3.) Record important reminders on your planner as soon as you receive the notice.
4.) Set the alarm allowing an additional 15 minutes for the unexpected.

You’ll be amazed at how these simple steps can make such a big difference. Careful, you may even find yourself humming a happy tune in the morning rather than scolding your children to “hurry up!” Children and adults will appreciate the peaceful routine.

New Year - New Start

2009-01-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

The new year is an excellent time for a new start for adults and children too. If your child is disappointed in his/her grades from the first half of the year, you can help your child make a fresh start. If your student did not perform well in a class, it can be a great lesson. Talk with your child and the teacher to determine what went wrong. Help your child avoid those mistakes. Create a strategy for the new semester that includes time for family, study, play, sports, and relaxation.

* Schedule meetings with your child’s homeroom teacher or counselor. If you are having communication issues with a teacher (it happens occasionally) talk to a counselor or school administrator. Build a collaborative relationship with teachers and avoid the blame game.

* Encourage your child to ask the teacher questions when he/she does not understand a new lesson. Let your child know that the teachers are there to support students. Don't wait until a grade has slipped to talk to the teacher.

* Consider tutoring for your child. Ask your school counselor or teacher about the options offered by the school district. If the school cannot provide the tutoring, they may have a list of recommended tutors.

* Help your child understand how lifestyle choices affect schoolwork. Things like excessive television/video games, unhealthy food choices, lack of sleep, and skipping breakfast can affect your child’s performance.

* Don’t let your child become overloaded with too many after-school activities or commitments. Remember, your kids need downtime too!

* Lastly, children of all ages need an appropriate place to complete homework assignments. Set up a table or desk with plenty of space. Ensure your child has adequate lighting and necessary school supplies.

Let your child relax during the last days of break so they will return to school rejuvenated and ready for success in the new semester!

Community Advisory Committee 2009 Calendar

2008-12-28T05:58:00.000-08:00

The Community Advisory Committee is comprised of volunteer parents, educators, and other interested community members who want to make a difference in the eduaction of all children. The CAC believes that every child has a right to fulfill their potential with dignity, hope, and opportunity. You can get involved by attending CAC meetings. All meetings are open to the public and child care is available if you call ahead (661-294-5398).

Meetings are located at Bridgeport Elementary School.
All meetings start at 6:00pm and Parent Workshops start at 7:00pm.

Friday, February 2nd, 2009:
Beyond Chicken Nuggets: Better Nutrition and Picky Eaters

Monday, March 23rd, 2009:
Rick Lavoie Presents....(TBA)

Monday, May 18th, 2009:
Parent Workshop TBA

Thank you to Renee Bowen and Anna Rast for pointing us to the webpage with this calendar. :)

Family Movie Night

2008-12-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a family-friendly, relationship-building activity for the long winter break? How about renting a movie? What's more fun than sharing a movie in the comfort of your living room? Make a night of it. Ask each family member to share in the preparation. Here are a few suggestions that we got from one of our friends.

* Set the date and time in advance. All work (that means you, Mom and Dad) and chores must be done or stopped before showtime.

* Gather all necessary items: comfy seats, pillows, blankets, and snacks (popcorn, cut veggies, etc).

* Start with an old-fashioned cartoon or short film. (a la Dudley Do Right). Follow with a family-friendly film. (Click here to check out CookieMag.com's Top 25 Family Films for ideas.) Give each child a turn to choose the movie for family movie night.

* Take an intermission for bathroom breaks and other necessities.

* The next morning at breakfast talk to your kids about the movie. "What was your favorite character?" "Would you like to visit a town like that one day?"

You can make your own family tradition or create a holiday memory to keep forever. :)

Protecting Your Child's Hearing

2008-12-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

"Turn it down!" How many times each week do we say that to our children? In our house, we find ourselves saying it often. It's so frustrating to hear music booming from our son's earbuds when we are a few feet away. He does not seem to grasp the long-term impact this can have on his hearing. "Yeah, yeah...I'll turn it down."

Just how harmful is it to crank up the volume on our earbuds? Is it more harmful than loud music from a speaker? Is a traditional headphone set more or less safe for our hearing? Those are questions to which we as parents need answers. Here's an article to give you the answers. Also, you'll get some tips for alternate, more healthy habits to reduce hearing damage.

The article is "Earbud Ear: Fast Track to Hearing Loss" and you can find it on healthyhearing.com. Click here for the article.

It's a serious problem. Many healthcare professionals predict that we will only fully-appreciate the damage in the future years after our children and teens have had extended exposure to these high-decibel sounds. More and more we are seeing parents putting earbuds on their toddlers -- and yes, I have even seen earbuds on a baby!

Free Treats & Discounts on Your Birthday

2008-12-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

Do you like to get treated on your birthday? Here's a website that has compiled a list of places that will treat you on your birthday! There are lots of family friendly places on the list. It's called www.FreeBirthdayTreats.com, of course.

Let me be the first to say...happy birthday!

Homework Help for Teens with ADD

2008-12-22T12:52:00.001-08:00

Parents have asked for resources to help with the challenges of teens and homework. We've also had parents ask about how to help ADHD or special needs teens stay on top of their work without taking away their independence.

After reading several sites, I found this article to be really comprehensive. It presents very practical suggestions. Check out this article from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association website, "Helping Your Adolescent wtih ADHD Get Homework Done." http://www.add.org/articles/teenhomework.html

Chore Time Tips!

2008-12-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

If you are registered to receive the BoxTops for Education e-newsletter or visit the General Mills BoxTops website, you may have read this article on that site. It offers practical tips from parents on how to teach children to complete chores. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.boxtops4education.com/FamilyMatters/ParentToParent.aspx?FamilyMattersContentId=79

Air Travel with Kids

2008-12-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

Winter break is approaching. Here's a link to gather tips for air travel with kids. Let us know what you think of it. http://www.flyingwithkids.com/

Have you read Going on a Plane by Anne Civardi? It's written for kids, age 4-8. There is also the classic, A Day at the Airport by Richard Scarry. Check our local bookstores for several other air travel-related books and coloring/activity books for kids.

Give the Gift of Journaling to Your Child

2008-12-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

We were just directed to this resourceful webpage...use this "journal jar" idea to create a holiday gift or for no occasion at all. :)

Click here to view it on the original site.

Gifts in a Jar: Child's Journal Jar
Posted by Cynthia Townley Ewer on August, 12, 2008

"Spark young writers with a clever non-food gift in a jar: a Child's Journal Jar. Simple, kid-friendly questions turn journaling sessions into fun! This printable gift in a jar makes a great gift for back to school.
We've made it easy to craft your Child's Journal Jar. Free printable journal prompts have colorful legends and graphics to make a pretty gift. Add a free printable gift tag for a professional touch.
To assemble your Child's Journal Jar, print the colorful journal prompt pages linked below. Each page holds six colorful journal prompts.
Child's Journal Jar Prompts
New! Print our journaling prompts in .PDF format.
Cut apart each journal prompt, and fold it so that the colored graphics are folded to the outside, with the journal assignment on the inside.
Fill the jar with journal slips, and attach the free printable gift tag for a great gift for kids!"

Help Stop Bullying

2008-12-12T11:37:00.001-08:00

A parent wrote asking for anti-bullying information. She said parents are looking for practical things to do to resolve bullying issues. We searched a few online resources and the following site seems to be the very comprehensive. It is sponsored by the U.S. Health Resources an Services Administration. It's called, Stop Bullying Now!
Click on this link for resources, advice, and activities: http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp?area=main

We're also going to talk with some local experts to gather more information for you. Down the road, we hope to provide information or possibly a presentation on the topic. However, this is a good start.

Make A Difference Day Results

2008-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This just in from the City of Santa Clarita regarding 2008 Make a Difference Day...Santa Clarita community members really did make a difference...here's the report:

"*Over 1,000 volunteers participated in Make A Difference Day this year.
*37 Service Projects were completed.
*Over 5,500 hours were contributed!
*6,000 items were collected for the Hunger Defense Fund."

Mark your Calendar!

2008-12-05T05:52:00.000-08:00

Arts & Literary Festival
Saturday - Dec 6th
10am to 4pm
Hart Park, 24151 San Fernando Rd, Newhall, CA 91321

It's a great event for kids of all ages! Be sure to stop by the SCV PTA booth.

Click Below For Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?li=d&hl=en&f=d&iwstate1=dir:to&daddr=24151+San+Fernando+Rd,+Newhall,+CA+91321+(Hart+Park)&geocode=CWDw9al0ee3vFUiADAIdBnbv-A&iwloc=1&dq=hart+park+santa+clarita&cid=1418866299381854538&ei=d8YwSfy5B5rGjQOlt-DYCQ

Sunshine!

2008-12-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

A simple thought for the day...

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
James M. Barrie, Scottish dramatist & novelist (1860 - 1937)

Cooking with Your Children

2008-12-03T06:14:00.000-08:00

A parent recommended an online resource all about cooking with kids. The webpage below are part of the California Dept. of Public Health's website. There are multiple PDF documents that you can download. Some are quite basic...but many have valuable suggestions. Also on the page are a few kid-friendly recipes.

Try to involve your children in meal preparation occassionally. There are so many skills they will learn: reading, following instructions, measurement, fractions, physical science, safety, and nutrition. Along the way you might make a huge mess, but you'll have fun.

Check out this site and let us know what you think.

CA Dept of Public Health - Cooking with Kids

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks/Pages/WICNECookingwithChildren.aspx

Need a Map for a Student Project?

2008-12-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here's another time-saving tip from one of our PTA moms. Next time your child is preparing a report on a country and needs to draw a map, check out this site. http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm You simply click on a country name and a blank outline of the country appears. What a nice alternative to shaky hand-drawings or tracing paper.

Keep those suggestions for educational online resources coming!

A Parent's Guide to Social Networking

2008-12-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Check out this Federal Trade Commission website for more information on children and social networking. If your kids are online, the information in this article is valuble. It also contains a comprehensive listing of online resources to help you keep your kids safe online. Click below to read it. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec13.shtm

Spelling and Typing Help for Your Kids

2008-11-29T05:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks for sharing your favorite parenting and education sites. Here's another one, www.math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org.

The site does have google ads, so if you are offended by ads on websites this is not a site for you. Access to the articles and games appears to be 100% free and I encountered no pop-ups or offensive ads during my visit.

Here are two highlights from the site...

Three Spelling Games
http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/articles/Three_Spelling_Games.html

The Typing of the Ghosts
http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/kids_games/the_typing_of_the_ghosts.html

2008-11-27T05:29:00.000-08:00

As the song goes, "It's the most wonderful time of year!" We begin on Thanksgiving (well maybe Halloween), we eat our way through New Year's Day...sometimes stretching it through Super Bowl Sunday. How can we refuse these beautiful meals and treats prepared by our families and friends? We certainly don't want to insult the cook. :) The average American gains 5 lbs. during the holiday season. It's an important health issue for our children too.

Here are two really concise resources to help you avoid unnecessary weight gain. In fact these tips are useful year round.

A colorful kid-friendly document from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - Food and Nutritian Services. Print this for your kids.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/mpk_tips.pdf

Tips from WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-ways-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T11:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy these holiday links:

How to make very cute Indian Corn napkin rings:
http://family.go.com/entertainment/craft-ff-26033-indian-corn-napkin-rings-t/

Need to occupy your kids while you cook? Try this Thanksgiving word scramble:
http://www.schoolfamily.com/print-and-use-tools/document/787-thanksgiving-word-scramble

Start a Thanksgiving Tradition with Your Child: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/tradition.htm

Check back on Friday for some tips on working off those extra holiday pounds. :) For now, enjoy the holiday with your family!

Talking to Kids About Smoking

2008-11-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Great American Smoke Out is November 20th

In recognition of the 2008 Great American Smoke Out, we found the following article, "Kids and Smoking," on www.KidsHealth.org. We've pasted it here, but if you have time, check out more of the KidsHealth.org website.

"The health risks of tobacco are well known, yet the rates of smoking and the use of chewing tobacco continue to grow. Many people pick up these habits when they're young — in fact, 90% of all adult smokers started when they were kids. And each day, more than 4,400 kids become regular smokers.

So it's important to make sure kids understand the dangers that go along with tobacco use. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. It can cause cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. Chewing tobacco (smokeless or spit tobacco) can lead to nicotine addiction, oral cancer, gum disease, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.

Giving kids information about the risks of smoking and chewing tobacco, and establishing clear rules and your reasons for them, can help protect them from these unhealthy habits.
You should also know the warning signs of tobacco use and constructive ways to help someone kick the habit.

The Facts About Tobacco
* One of the major problems with smoking and chewing tobacco has to do with the chemical nicotine. A person can get addicted to nicotine within days of a first encounter with it. In fact, the nicotine in tobacco can be as addictive as cocaine or heroine. Nicotine affects mood as well as the heart, lungs, stomach, and nervous system.
* And there are other health risks. Short-term effects of smoking include coughing and throat irritation. Over time, more serious conditions may develop, including increases in heart rate and blood pressure, bronchitis, and emphysema.
* Finally, numerous studies indicate that young smokers are more likely to experiment with marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other illicit drugs.

Preventing Kids From Picking Up the Habit
Kids might be drawn to smoking and chewing tobacco for any number of reasons — to look cool, act older, lose weight, win cool merchandise, seem tough, or feel independent. But parents can combat those draws and keep kids from trying — and getting addicted to — tobacco.

Establish a good foundation of communication with your kids early on to make it easier to work through tricky issues like tobacco use.
Some guidelines to keep in mind:
* Discuss sensitive topics in a way that doesn't make kids fear punishment or judgment.
* Emphasize what kids do right rather than wrong. Self-confidence is a child's best protection against peer pressure.
* Encourage kids to get involved in activities that prohibit smoking, such as sports.
* Show that you value your kids' opinions and ideas.
* It's important to keep talking to kids about the dangers of tobacco use over the years. Even the youngest child can understand that smoking is bad for the body.
* Ask what kids find appealing — or unappealing — about smoking. Be a patient listener.
* Read, watch TV, and go to the movies with your kids. Compare media images with what happens in reality.
* Discuss ways to respond to peer pressure to smoke. Your child may feel confident simply saying "no." But also offer alternative responses such as "It will make my clothes and breath smell bad" or "I hate the way it makes me look."
* Encourage kids to walk away from friends who don't respect their reasons for not smoking.
* Explain how much smoking governs the daily life of kids who start doing it. How do they afford the cigarettes? How do they have money to pay for other things they want? How does it affect their friendships?
* Establish firm rules that exclude smoking and chewing tobacco from your house and explain why: Smokers smell bad, look bad, and feel bad, and it's bad for everyone's health.

If Your Child Smokes
If you smell smoke on your child's clothing, try not to overreact. Ask about it first — maybe your child has been hanging around with friends who smoke or just tried one cigarette. Many kids do try a cigarette at one time or another but don't go on to become regular smokers.
Additional signs of tobacco use include:
* coughing
* throat irritation
* hoarseness
* bad breath
* decreased athletic performance
* greater susceptibility to colds
* stained teeth and clothing (also signs of chewing tobacco use)
* shortness of breath

Sometimes even the best foundation isn't enough to stop kids from experimenting with tobacco. It may be tempting to get angry, but it's more productive to focus on communicating with your child.
Here are some tips that may help:
* Resist lecturing or turning your advice into a sermon.
* Uncover what appeals to your child about smoking and talk about it honestly.
* Many times, kids aren't able to appreciate how their current behaviors can affect their future health. So talk about the immediate downsides to smoking: less money to spend on other pursuits, shortness of breath, bad breath, yellow teeth, and smelly clothes.
* Stick to the smoking rules you've set up. And don't let a child smoke at home to keep the peace.
* If you hear, "I can quit any time I want," ask your child to show you by quitting cold turkey for a week.
* Try not to nag. Ultimately, quitting is your child's decision.
* Help your child develop a quitting plan and offer information and resources, and reinforce the decision to quit with praise.
* Stress the natural rewards that come with quitting: freedom from addiction, improved fitness, better athletic performance, and improved appearance.
* Encourage a meeting with your child's doctor, who can be supportive emotionally and may have treatment plans.

If You Smoke
Kids are quick to observe any contradiction between what their parents say and what they do. Despite what you might think, most kids say that the adult whom they most want to be like when they grow up is a parent.
If you're a smoker:
* First, admit to that you made a mistake by starting to smoke and that if you had it to do over again, you'd never start.
* Second, quit. It's not simple and it may take a few attempts and the extra help of a program or support group. But your kids will be encouraged as they see you overcome your addiction to tobacco."
"Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MDDate reviewed: November 2007"

Sock Probability Game - From GreatSchools.net

2008-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of our PTA parents suggested this website, http://www.greatschools.net/. On this site, we found a fun game. Check out this article by Miriam Myers of GreatSchools.net.

"Sock Probability"
How you can help at home: Have your child explore probability with socks.
By Miriam Myers, GreatSchools Staff

"In this math activity your child explores prediction and probability using different colored socks.
What You'll Need
* Paper
* Pen or pencil
* 10 socks in various colors

Here's How to Do It Talk with your child about probability, the chance or likelihood of a certain event occurring. Explain that probability can be expressed as a ratio of the number of specific events or outcomes to the total number of possible events or outcomes. Go over examples of probability with your child, such as the probability of a coin being tossed heads up (1/2 ). What is the probability of rolling an odd number on a die? (3/6) or (1/2).

Have your child grab 10 socks from his sock drawer, making sure they are different colors. Have your child go through each color and write down the probability of picking each sock. For example if there are three white socks the probability is 3/10 for white. Put the socks in a bag and have your child predict which color sock he will pull out. After he has chosen a sock, have him write down the color chosen and put the sock back in the bag. Have him continue this nine more times. When he is done have him compare the probability to the outcomes."

Get Emergency Related Text Alerts...

2008-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Would you like to receive text messages regarding local emergencies?

This info was provided by the City of Santa Clarita:

"All residents are be able to subscribe to automatically receive emergency related text alerts (eAlerts) from the City by simply texting the term "SCEMERGENCY" to 41411 from any mobile phone device and mobile service provider. For added convenience, in lieu of setting this up from your mobile phone residents can also subscribe to this service by visiting the City's website at http://www.santa-clarita.com/emergency. From there you will be able to enter your mobile phone number in the "Text Message Alerts" subscription box located on the right side of the page to set up this important service. As with any type of texting system, residents are reminded that standard texting fees apply (typically 5 to 10 cents per text) and will be charged by your mobile phone provider. Please know that it is the City's sole intent to utilize the eAlert system only in times of emergency and will in no way use this system to forward any non-emergency/unsolicited messages.

For more information regarding the City's new eAlert system please contact the City's Webmaster at webmaster@santa-clarita.com. "

Tips for Parents of Middle School & Jr. High Students

2008-11-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

Making the transition from elementary school to middle school or junior high school can be challenging for students and parents. Your child is excited to be more independent, yet they may be a little apprehensive. Parents are unsure how much and what type of support to give their child. Here's a great article that addresses those concerns, called "Success Tips from a Middle School Principal." http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=2162

P.S. Here is a little book that is a big help for pre-teens and teens. Check it out: Super Study Skills by Laurie Rozakis

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Study-Skills-Scholastic-Guides/dp/0439216079

Best Online Parenting Resources

2008-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'm turning the blog to you today. Please share your favorite online parenting resources. What sites or blogs do you visit when you seek advice on a parenting issue? Where do you turn when you want to enhance your parenting skills? I will gather your feedback and share these tips with our readers in a future posting. You may comment here. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous you may email me directly at TamaraDowling@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from YOU!

Have you heard of 661arts?

2008-11-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

Frequently I hear fellow SCV parents say, we are so fortunate to live in the Santa Clarita Valley area. Here is yet another reason...the access to the arts. Thanks to many loyal supporters of the arts, we will have even more reasons to be thankful as they continue to advocate for more opportunities to experience the arts right here in our valley.

Do you want to know what's happening in the Santa Clarita visual and performing arts scene? Just take a moment to visit http://www.661arts.com/. There you will find a terrific resource, including a calendar of events.

What is 661Arts? Here it is in their words, "661Arts is an alliance of artists and arts organizations working together to create and to promote an awareness of culture in Santa Clarita. This site serves as a point of access for the community to discover visual and performing arts, and arts events in the Santa Clarita Valley."

Building Vocab & Feeding Hungry Children!

2008-11-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Often we hear reports on the news about how challenging our mind strenthens our mental agility. Many experts recommend crossword puzzles, knowledge quizzes, and math games. Well, have I got a website for you! You spend as much or little time as you want answering a multiple choice vocabulary questions. For each question you answer correctly, 20 grains of rice are donated to help end hunger. Check it out: http://www.freerice.com/

Try it today...bet you'll be hooked. As you are increasing your brainpower, you are fighting hunger! Another example of how we can take small steps to make a difference in our world.

It's a Give-Apalooza at the Hunger Defense Fund

2008-11-10T23:27:00.000-08:00

Wendi at the Hunger Defense Fund invites our local families to check out the Give-Apalooza charity concert.

* December 13th - 7pm - La Mesa Junior High School - 26623 May Way Drive, Santa Clarita

* Aiding the Hunger Defense Fund and the community toy drive sponsored by the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station.

* Admission per person: A bag of groceries or unwrapped toys valued @ $15 or $15 donation at the door.

* Featuring: Godspeed, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, and The Truth --- Please check out the myspace page below for more information on the performers and show.

For more info:

Jim Gustin (661) 221-0448 / jimigust@ca.rr.com

Jeri Goldenhar (661) 644-2028 / jerig@chei.net

www.myspace.com/giveapalooza

From Your Council Fundraising Advisor

2008-11-10T23:12:00.001-08:00

Brenda is always finding new resources for fundraising chairpersons. She wrote us today with some terrific new online resources. Check it out and let us know what you think.

"I found this great little web site for fundraising ideas. Very different." ~ Brenda

Here are the pages with the specific fundraising ideas. Many are do-it-yourself so your unit can maximize profits.

http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/CoachingResources/StockInTalk.doc

http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/CoachingResources/fundraiser.doc

http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/CoachingResources/FundraisingIdeas.doc

http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html

Cool Recycling Event

2008-11-10T22:56:00.001-08:00

A parent from North Park PTA sent us this announcement:

RECYCLE FEST

November 15th 9am until 3pm

North Park Elementary School

23335 Sunset Hills Drive (off McBean between DeCoro and CopperHill)

Bring your old cell phones, batteries, TVs, computers, cameras, video game consoles, etc.

What a great idea!

College Planning Workshops

2008-11-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

Kris Floyd of College Planning Experts, Inc. asked me to share this information on the blog. Her company is offering these college planning workshops without charge.

November 20th
SC Activities Center
7:00-8:30 PM

November 22nd
Golden Valley High School Library
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

College Planning Experts would like to help you and your child
* find the “best match” college
* learn how to double or triple your eligibility for free grant money, and
* discover how to reduce your out of pocket costs for that college.

At this class you can learn which assets are taken into consideration by the U.S. Department of Education when calculating your Estimated Family Contribution. This class will be taught by Brian Safdari, a financial educator and nationally Certified College Planner. Brian is the host of a weekly radio show on KHTS 1220 AM, “Your College Planning Power Hour.” You can hear Brian on KHTS every Tuesday from 2:00PM to 3:00PM.

Contact Kris at 661-295-9946 ext. 203 for more information. Or visit her website: www.collegeplanningexperts.com

Opportunities to Help This Fall

2008-10-31T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some ways you can reach out and help our SCV neighbors this fall. If you lead a scout troop, church group, PTA, or other youth group...consider contacting these organizations to offer your help. These are just a sampling...there are many other opportunities in our valley.

HUNGER DEFENSE FUND

November 2008 - Thanksgiving Turkeys for Needy Families Their goal is to provide a turkey for every family they serve.
November 10 through December 12, 2008 - Adopt a FamilyProvide holiday gifts for the children of a local needy family.

December 2008 – Holiday Hams for Needy FamiliesTheir goal is to provide a ham for every family we serve.
Ongoing – Food Distribution Center:Volunteer opportunities are available at our food distribution center.

To help with any of the above, call 661-299-9273 for details.

SANTA CLARITA FOOD PANTRY

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, please call (661) 255-9078. They also have an Adopt-a-Family program that kicks off each year after Thanksgiving. Each year, they team with the Rotary club to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to families around Santa Clarita.

SINGLE MOTHER'S OUTREACH

If you would like to volunteer at Single Mothers Outreach, please call their office at (661) 288.0117. They are also sponsoring an adopt-a-family for the holidays program. Additionally, they often need staple items such as diapers. Please call for details.

Last Minute Halloween Food Ideas

2008-10-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Looks like we will have a cool Halloween in Santa Clarita...perfect conditions for an extra-spooktacular evening! Arrgh...what's for dinner? We just got a tip for a fun and informative webpage: http://recp.mkt32.net/servlet/MailView?m=2769725&r=MjA5OTgzMzIxNQS2&j=MTAxNzYzNDUzIAS2&mt=1

Maybe you'll find a new idea for a dreadful Halloween feast...bra-ha-ha-ha

Do you take scary pictures?

2008-10-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

If you've got young trick-or-treaters at home, get your camera ready. It's time to snap shots of those spooky costumes. Are you ready to take your photography and presentation skills to the next level? Check out these fun pages on the Kodak website: http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=13723&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=10897

Do you have some great ideas to share with other SCV families? Feel free to write us.

Happy Halloween! Stay Safe!

Have You Heard of "No Child Left Inside?"

2008-10-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Green Nursery offers a free newsletter and it has a nice variety of articles related to gardening and plants. This month the newsletter referenced a book, "Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder." After a bit of surfing online, I decided maybe there is something to this theory. Didn't our parents always say, "Go get some fresh air. It's good for you!" Without zero experience in this field, I can hardly speak to the validity of this theory. However, it's an interesting topic and one worth exploring. Here's a blurb from the author's website:http://richardlouv.com/

"Last Child in the Woods
The recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, Richard Louv identified a phenomenon we all knew existed but couldn't quite articulate: nature-deficit disorder. Since its initial publication, his book Last Child in the Woods has created a national conversation about the disconnection between children and nature, and his message has galvanized an international movement. Now, three years later, we have reached a tipping point, with the book inspiring Leave No Child Inside initiatives throughout the country.
Hailed as "an absolute must-read" by the Boston Globe and "too tantalizing to ignore" by Audubon magazine, Last Child in the Woods is the inspiring work that proves children need nature as much as nature needs children."

Halloween Tips from the Autism Society of America

2008-10-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Anna Rast is the Special Needs Chairperson for the SCV Council PTA. She and her team are a wealth of knowledge. If you have children with special needs, talk to your PTA's Special Needs Coordinator.

Here's what Anna has to report today about a great webpage on the Autism Society's site:
"It has "Halloween Tips" for going out trick or treating for kids with all sorts of issues. It is put together by the Autism Society of America, but these tips help ALL KIDS!

It can also be especially helpful for kids who may be going out trick-or-treating in a group that may contain an off-beat sort of kid. "
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=halloween_tips

Class Project from Disney...

2008-10-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

A well-informed mom from Helmers Elementary (Carrie Olstad) shared this great tip with us. I copied this blurb from the website. Please visit the site for details. It sounds very interesting! Check it out and share the info with your child's teacher. The deadline is coming soon...

"Disney’s Environmentality Challenge (DEC) provides an opportunity for your class to "think green." DEC is a challenging and fun hands-on experience for the entire class and DEC will help your students learn more about their environment and show them why caring about the earth is cool!The purpose of the DEC program is to encourage students to think and act environmentally at school, at home, and in their communities. The program is available to you as a result of a unique partnership between The Walt Disney Company, CEEIN, US EPA, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service."

Besides being a great program, there are awards and prizes! (that usually gets everyone's attention)

Think Pink! It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

SCV Community Events and Info for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

* The ZONTA Club of SCV in conjunction with Samuel Dixon Family Health Center is sponsoring Healthy Women’s Day on Saturday, October 25 at the Boys and Girls club in Canyon Country. The screenings will include a breast examination and a free mammogram is available if warranted. Women who need follow-up care will be directed to services that are affordable. Call 661-252-9351

* October 19, 12-1 p.m. - Wine Walk. Soroptimist International of Greater SCV walk, shop and drink wine at participating businesses along Town Center Drive. Call Sheryl Geraci 661-877-5544

* October 23, 6 – 8 p.m. - Breast Cancer Awareness Wine Tasting at Salt Creek Grille. Call Salt Creek Grille 661-222-9999

* During the month of October, Vino 100 Valencia will partner with Hope Wines to benefit the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center. The Center will receive 10% of Vino 100 Valencia’s sales of Hope Wine’s award-winning California Chardonnay throughout the month. Call 661-294-6886

* Are you or someone you know challenged by breast cancer? Circle of Hope is a non-profit charity whose mission is to financially and emotionally assist uninsured and underinsured individuals with breast cancer who live in, work in, or receive treatment in the Santa Clarita Valley. For more info: http://www.circleofhopeinc.org/

School Watch

2008-10-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Department's School Watch program? It's a program designed to help keep our local schools safe and free of vandalism. Click on this link to learn more and possibly get involved.

http://www.scvsheriff.com/pdfs/2008_School_Watch.pdf

and

http://www.scvsheriff.com/comm_schoolwatch.asp

Managing Media in Your Home

2008-10-09T16:11:00.001-07:00

Check out this new parent education opportunity from the City of Santa Clarita. This workshop is presented by one of our PTA Partners, Dave LaBat of Dynamic Interventions.

Technology: It can be your best friend or your worst enemy!
Technology touches every aspect of our children’s lives. Whether on the computer, watching television, or even sending a text message, your children are constantly receiving messages about how to act, how to look, and who to be. This workshop will explore the impact of media technology on our families, and give you tools to empower your child to use technology responsibly and informatively.

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: City Hall
Century Room
23920 Valencia Boulevard
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Instructor: David LaBat, MSEd, Dynamic Interventions

For more information or to register, call (661) 250-3708 or visit www.scyouthandfamily.com/ParentClass.asp

Get Ready to Make a Difference!

2008-10-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Would you like to make a big difference in our community? Do you have 4 to 8 hours to share on October 25th? That's all it takes. Make a Difference Day is a national initiative started in conjunction with the Points of Light Foundation. We can do good anyday, but this day is special because we come together as a community to do good.

Want to get involved? Check out the website and volunteer to work on one of the 40+ projects happening right here in Santa Clarita. http://www.volunteerinscv.org/MakeADifference.htm

So, will YOU make a difference?

Museum Weekend!

2008-10-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Stacy Kupfer (SCV Council Board, Rio Norte PTSA, and North Park PTA member) just emailed us this great tip! We are fortunate to have so many wonderful museums in our proximity. Here's a chance to enjoy them at no cost.

Museums F*ree-for-All Day

Saturday, October 4, 2008 AND Sunday, October 5, 2008

10:00AM to 5:00PM

In a joint effort to welcome diverse communities across Southern California, the Museum Marketing Roundtable announces the fourth annual "Museums F*ree-For-All" during the weekend of Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 2008. The 24 institutions listed below— exploring art, cultural heritage, natural history and science; will offer f*ree admission to all visitors on one or both dates.

Armory Center for the Arts BOTH DATESwww.armoryarts.org/

Autry National Center Sunday, October 5, onlywww.autrynationalcenter.org/

Bowers Museum Sunday, October 5, onlywww.bowers.org/

California African American Museum BOTH DATESwww.caamuseum.org/

California Heritage Museum Saturday, October 4, onlywww.californiaheritagemuseum.org/

California Science Center BOTH DATESwww.californiasciencecenter.org/

Craft and Folk Art Museum BOTH DATESwww.cafam.org/

Fowler Museum at UCLA BOTH DATESwww.fowler.ucla.edu/

The Getty Center BOTH DATESwww.getty.edu/

The Getty Villa (advance ticket required) BOTH DATEShttp://www.getty.edu/

Hammer Museum at UCLA BOTH DATESwww.hammer.ucla.edu/

Japanese National American Museum Sunday, October 5, onlywww.janm.org/

Los Angeles Fire Harbor Museum Saturday, October 4, onlywww.lafdmuseum.org/

Los Angeles Fire Museum & Memorial BOTH DATESwww.lafdmuseum.org/

The Museum of Contemporary Art,Los Angeles (MOCA) BOTH DATESwww.moca.org/

Museum of Latin American Art BOTH DATESwww.molaa.org/

Museum of Tolerance Sunday, October 5, onlywww.museumoftolerance.com/

Natural History Museum BOTH DATEShttp://www.nhm.org/

Norton Simon Museum Sunday, October 5, onlywww.nortonsimon.org/

The Paley Center for Media BOTH DATESwww.paleycenter.org/

Petersen Automotive Museum BOTH DATEShttp://www.petersen.org/

Santa Monica Museum of Art Saturday, October 4, onlyhttp://www.smmoa.org/

Skirball Cultural Center Sunday, October 5, onlyhttp://www.skirball.org/

Southwest Museum of the American Indian BOTH DATEShttp://www.autrynationalcenter.org/

Green and Easy Tips

2008-10-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Every month we look for easy ways to "go green." So many times we think of "going green" as an arduous job involving significant sacrifice. We want to share some easy ways you can make a difference. Sometimes they are surprisingly easier than traditional ways of keeping house. We'll share just two today:

1.) Shop from local farmers

We are lucky to have access to local produce sellers as well as local grocers who value local growers. Why is this important? When you buy food grown locally it costs less to get that food to your table and it uses less fuel needed to transport the food. Find locally-grown foods by visiting: http://www.localharvest.org

2.) This one we found on the Johnson www.RightatHome.com website. Check out the site for other ideas for environmentally-friendly home organization and cleaning.

"Swags are in the bag.
Ziploc® Brand Big Bags, that is. “When my artificial floral swags get dusty, I put them in a [Ziploc® Brand] Big Bag with a few tablespoonfuls of salt. Shake! The salt takes the dust off and your flowers are ready to be rehung,” says Kelly, Washington, MO. This tip is great for refreshing all your silk and artificial flowers so you don’t have to buy new. Best of all, you can save the salt and reuse it the next time your flowers get dusty.We’re glad to see that taking care of our planet and its environment is such a big part of our members’ lives! Please continue to show your children and grandchildren that they can play a part in protecting the earth too. And thanks again for sharing your inspirational ideas with all of us. "

What a great idea! If you have great ideas to share, please use the comment function below.

Dine Out to End Childhood Hunger!

2008-09-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

There are 12 million hungry children in America! Many right here in Santa Clarita. Here's an easy way to help...and an opportunity to talk with your kids about helping the hungry.

Dine out at participating SCV-area restaurants between now and Sept. 28th...the restaurants will make a donation to Share Our Strength. Check this link for details:http://join.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GADO_homepage

I did a quick search by zip code and found 4 restaurants in SCV participating: Elephant Bar on McBean, Corner Bakery, Buca di Beppi, and Claim Jumper. Please check the website to verify which restaurants are participating near your home.

If you see an event or program supporting children, use the comment function below and let us know about it.

Food and Nutrition Site for Your Family

2008-09-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

How many of you struggle to get your children to get five servings of fruits and vegetables each day? It's a struggle in our house. Here's an interesting and informative site from the Department of Health and Human Services, BAM (Body and Mind). The website was created for kids, primarily kids ages 9 through 13. If you want to help your child to make healthy fitness and nutrition choices, preview this site for your child. It's easy to remember: http://www.bam.gov/

Do you know a great website that promotes the health and education of children? Use the comment tool below and let us know about it.

SCV PTA Council Meeting

2008-09-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

Reminder: Santa Clarita Valley PTA Council Meeting - Thurs., Sept. 18th - 7:00 pm

This month only, we are meeting at Northlake Hills Elem. 32545 Ridge Route Dr.Castaic, CA 91384

What happens at a council meeting? We discuss issues, events, and opportunities for the PTA units in the Santa Clarita Valley.

What is SCV PTA Council? We are the organization to which all Santa Clarita Valley PTA units belong.

What is a PTA unit? The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) at the local schools are called PTA units because they are units of the larger PTA organization.

If you are a PTA member or considering membership, you are invited to attend the council meeting.

Street Art Festival

2008-09-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

The street art festival is an event Santa Clarita area families look forward to each year. It's just around the corner, so mark your calendars.

Old Town Newhall

September 27-28th

10:00 am until 6:00 pm

Watch local artists create art right there on Main Street in downtown Newhall. Enjoy live music, arts and crafts, and participatory craft opportunities. Visit http://www.streetartfest.com/ for more info.

Hurricanes: How to Cope and How to Help

2008-09-11T17:06:00.001-07:00

We are watching yet another major storm approach the United States. This one is heading toward Texas. Often it is our children who ask about how those families will be affected. Will the kids miss school? What if their homes flood? What happens to the pets? Can birds fly in that strong wind? Those are the things on our young children's minds. Their concern may be heightened if you have relatives in affected areas. If you are looking for tips on how to talk with your child about the hurricanes, follow this link: http://texashelp.tamu.edu/001a-hot-topics/web-2005-sept/children-as-victims-of-hurricanes.php#5

There is a book that you may want to recommend to families in the hurricane-affected areas. It is titled, Yesterday We Had a Hurricane, and was written by Deirdre Mercier.

Most experts say the best way to help is to send a donation. Here is a list of charities to whom you may want to make a donation. The relief funds for charities that are active in disaster work allow them to mobilize immediate assistance to people in need.

American Red Cross (comprehensive emergency aid)

Best Friends Animal Society (aid to displaced pets)

Feed the Children (nutrition for affected families)

Operation USA (networks of community health clinics supporting victims of catastrophes)

There are many, many more. If you search google, you will find them. **Please note that SCV PTA does not endorse or sponsor these organizations. ** We merely provide these links in response to families looking for ways to support families affected by the recent and upcoming hurricanes. If you are interested in helping, we encourage you to research your options and make a choice based on your research.

Food Services Vendor Faire

2008-09-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a message from our local food services agency:

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES AGENCY
5th ANNUAL VENDOR FAIRE
DATE: Wed., Sept. 24, 2008
TIME: 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Central Kitchen
25210 Anza Dr.
Valencia, CA 91355

Principals, PTA, ALL School Staff, Parents, Family members and Especially STUDENTS
Come to the Central Kitchen to an “Open House” and sample new products and discover what’s
“cool to eat @ MY school”
Want some input in school lunch & snack foods offered at your school? Visit with manufacturers, sample their wares and evaluate their products.
Chance to win Fun Door Prizes
We hope you’ll join us!
Please call to let us know approximately how many from your school or family will attend no later than September 19 by calling (661) 295-1574 Jane Crawford x113 or Laurie Kudroff or x103.
Parking in the Industrial Center is limited – carpooling is an option you might consider.

Historical Exhibit

2008-09-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this piece of American history...

Forever Free - Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation
The Reagan Library
Phone: 1-800-410-8354
Admission: $12 general admission; $9 seniors 62 and over, $3 children 11-17, free for children 10 years of age and under Visit Web Site

Exhibit designed and staged by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, follows the story of slavery and Abraham Lincoln's role in ending it.

As part of the Forever Free exhibit, the Reagan Library is proud to announce that from September 19th through September 23rd, the Reagan Library will place the original Lincoln hand-signed Emancipation Proclamation, on loan from the National Archives and Records Administration, on display.

Showing days:
Friday, September 19 from 9:30am - 6pm;
Saturday, September 20 from 9am - 7pm;
Sunday, September 21 from 9am - 6pm;
Monday, September 22 from 9:30am - 6pm; and
Tuesday, September 23 from 9:30am - 6pm.
** Please check with the library to confirm dates and times! **

September is SCV Parenting & Teen Awareness Month

2008-09-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

At the Sept. 9th City of Santa Clarita City Council meeting, the public safety issue will be Parenting and Teen Awareness Month.
Follow this link for the entire council meeting agenda: http://www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/agendas/council/web_agenda_face.asp?Meeting_ID=4591

September is Parenting and Teen Awareness month in Santa Clarita. This will coincide with the City’s popular Teen Scene Unplugged program for teens and their parents. Also included this month are parenting classes and “do’s and don’ts” for those with teens. Messages will also include: “how to get help,” “how and where to obtain resources,” and “how to parent.” The City is also planning a public safety workers appreciation day on Thursday, September 11, in conjunction with the Red Cross “Heroes” program.

Remember to check this link for more info on parenting classes offered by the city this month.

http://www.scyouthandfamily.com/pdf/2008_2877%20Family%20Education%20brochure.pdf

2008-09-03T18:35:00.001-07:00

Reflections 2008-09

2008-09-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Below is an overview of the Reflections program from the capta.org website. Ask your local PTA for more information about the Reflections program at your child's school.

"The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education."

"Participation and appreciation for the arts is the Reflections Program's goal. Although the Reflections Program follows a "contest" format, winning should not be the emphasis.
Participation in the Reflections Program is a great way for students to explore and learn about various art forms. Creating art is a valuable learning process that challenges students to use their critical thinking skills as well as their creative talents to create art that supports a specific theme.

Students may submit an entry in any of the six arts areas listed below. Only original works of art are accepted. Depending on local PTA guidelines, students may enter more than one work of art. The six arts areas are as follows:
Literature
Musical composition
Photography
Visual arts
Dance Choreography
Film/Video Production

Participation in the Reflections Program is organized by school grade. Student works are critiqued against others in the same grade division. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. The four grade divisions are as follows:
Primary Preschool Grade 2 or up to age 7
Intermediate Grades 3-5 or ages 8-10
Middle/Junior Grades 6-8 or ages 11-13
Senior Grades 9-12 or ages 14+

The Reflections Program is structured for PTAs to recognize students at the local unit, council, PTA district, state and national levels. Entries are first judged at the local unit level, where selected works are chosen to represent the PTA at each subsequent level. Once entries reach the level of the California State PTA, entries may be selected for submission to the National PTA. Award of Excellence and Awards of Merit are recognized at the annual National PTA convention and are displayed as part of the program's traveling exhibit.

Participation in the California Reflections program is open to all students in attendance at PTA/PTSA schools where the program is sponsored. Entries are forwarded through channels. Each unit, council and PTA district establishes their own deadline dates, allowing adequate time for displaying and judging of entries. PTA units should acquire deadline dates from their council and PTA district. Only PTA districts may submit entries to the California State PTA."

Parenting Classes -- City of Santa Clarita

2008-08-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Parent Education Alert!

If you are looking for parenting advice, the City of Santa Clarita's line up of fall classes may be for you. Check out the details at www.scyouthandfamily.com/parentclass.asp Registration for these classes is just a click away...so please check out their latest offerings.

SCV PTA Going Green

2008-08-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

Last year the SCV PTA Council took a step to reduce printing of newsletters by sending the majority of their newsletters electronically. This year we've decided to share "green and healthy" tips with our PTA members. Why is it important for the PTA to share these tips? Simply because we want to teach our members how to stretch financial resources...we want to preserve the environment for future generations...we want to create a healthy environment for our children. All of these things are consistent with our mission of promoting the health and welfare of children.

Here are a few "green and healthy" tips for September:

1.) Walk or bike to work/school. You'll reduce gas consumption while improving your family's cardiovascular health and reducing your family's risk of obesity.

2.) Bring a reusable water bottle with you when running errands, exercising, attending school, or at work. Parents check with your child's school regarding particular rules about water bottles and containers at school. Drinking water is a healthy habit, so encourage your family to drink an appropriate amount of water each day. How much is an appropriate amount? Information varies, so you may want to ask your family physician what is right for you and your children.

3.) Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Wow!

We'll post a few more "green and healthy" tips next month.

The Fight Back Bus is Coming to Santa Clarita!

2008-08-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

From time to time we get news that may be of interest to families in our SCV PTA community.

This just in from Theresa Kerr, a Relay For Life volunteer,
"We have some exciting news to share with you. The Fight Back Express is coming to Santa Clarita! This bus is a big rolling billboard to make cancer a priority to our lawmakers. Please join us for an exciting afternoon. You will hear from survivor speakers and have the opportunity to sign the shrink-wrapped bus with a message to lawmakers about cancer and access to health care. The Fight Back Express is only stopping in select cities across the country, so be sure to catch it while it's here!"

Friday, September 5, 2008
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Town Center Drive at McBean Parkway(adjacent to the Hyatt, Valencia)
Click on the FBE bus on http://www.scvrelay.org/ for more information, or contact the ACS Office at 661.298.0886, Option 3.

Welcome to our blog!

2008-08-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

We've launched the SCV PTA Family Involvement blog as a mechanism to share:
* info about upcoming community events,
* parent education opportunities,
* helpful tips for students and parents,
* and the latest Santa Clarita Valley PTA news.

To view the full SCV PTA Council calendar and learn more about the SCV PTA Council, visit our webpage: http://www.scvpta.org/.

Here are some important dates to add to your calendar:

Children’s Safety Fair
September 13th 11am to 2pm
Newhall Community Center

Hunger Defense Fund Walk-a-Thon
September 20th 8:00 am
KMart Shopping Center (Bouquet Canyon & Soledad Canyon)

Kid’s Expo
October 19th 11am to 4pm
Golden Valley High School

Make a Difference Day
October 25th
To get involved, visit: http://www.scvrc.org/

Come back and visit us again soon!