We are very happy to be  a participant in the Jumpstart’s Read for the Record.  Our children love the whole Llama Llama Series and we look forward to being together with our children and their parents as the nation reads  in unison. We also plan on asking our children to invite the children they know to participate with us. We will keep track of where those children live so we can mark it on our US map.

The purpose of the nation-wide reading is to highlight and to receive support for the more than six million children who live in poverty and don’t not have access to quality early childhood care . These children are at risk for school failure before they even start kindergarten. Jumpstart’s Read for the Record®, presented in conjunction with the Pearson Foundation, allows Americans to demand that all children receive the quality early education they deserve.

You can be involved  by going to Jumpstarts’ Read for the Record and pledging to read on Oct. 6th. You can also make a donation towards the improvement of early education for children in poverty.

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Dear Parents,

For some of you, Kindergarten is a reality next fall; for others, it is longer away. On Wednesday, Sept. 21st  at 7 pm.,  I will be giving a presentation about the kindergartens in our area, ways to figure out the best schools for your child, timetables for orientation meetings and applications, and some of the tricks of the trade for kindergarten entrance.  I am also asking a few parents with experience in some of these schools to come and speak with us. It should be an informative evening. Families who have children who will be in the preschool for two or more years more may wish to wait until next year, as I will do it every year. Schools change from year to year.

FYI, the public school deadline for your child’s age for kindergarten admission is Oct. 1st for 2012 enrollment. There is a possibility of a public Transitional Kindergarten for children whose birthdays fall between Sept 1 and Dec. 1st but it is still developing. I will tell you the current information at the meeting.

In Sept. 2012, CCP will begin offering an afternoon Pre-K/ Developmental Kindergarten program for children who will be attending kindergarten, or maybe first grade,  in Fall 2013. It is particularly intended for the children with fall and early winter birthdays who will be attending CCP for the third year. The children’s morning classroom placement would remain the same. Details to follow.

I look forward to seeing you at this meeting and to sharing about the variety of schools available. We are fortunate to have an interesting mix of schools from which to choose.

Warm regards, Deborah

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This family-friendly open-air festival at the LA Zoo has been delighting music lovers of all ages for more than a decade.  Thursday night July 28th from 6-9 pm. The zoo is also at its best in the early evening because the animals wake up from the warm summer.

The Gene Autry Museum  has a a summer of Music and Festivals featuring Latin and Country Music and a Cowboy and Cowgirl every few days.

The Descanso Garden Music on the Main Jazz Series  on Thursdays at 5:30 pm until Aug 25th.

For example, Mitchell Long and the Cafe Atlantico will be performing Brazilian Music on July 21st. Bring a picnic and enjoy the music for the price of a garden admission.

Summer Family Series at the Descanso Gardens

5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | Through Aug. 25

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum makes its second Descanso appearance of the summer when it performs “The Merry Wives of Windsor” on Tuesday, July 19. Free with admssion to the gardens.

      On Friday nights, LACMA has Jazz in the Courtyard for the rest         of the summer starting at 6 pm. Food and wine are available for          purchase.

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For the month of March,  our morning meeting every day with the children will  feature  the children sharing with each other the books they love. When the meeting is over, they can join the reading area where teachers and parent volunteers will read the many wonderful selections during choice time.

We have learned about lots of new books, everything from Sharks vs. Trains to Good Boy, Fergus. At the end of the month, I will publish a list of our new finds.

Why celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday? Firstly, it will be great fun witht Cat in the Hat and Greeen Eggs and Ham. On a broader level, Read Across America, an event that brings together Random House, publishers of the Dr. Suess books and the National Education Association  believes that “when we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America’s children that reading is fun and important.”

We send that message to our children every day as we read a wonderful range of children’s literature but this month we will have  another delightful way to bring books alive for our children.

Because, In Seussville,

You are never too old, too wacky, too wild

To pick up a book and read to a child.

I hope you enjoy many great books with your child this month.Tweet

On Wednesday, we will gather together to share the feast at long decorated tables. We will also read a wonderful book, Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette. It gently goes through a Thanksgiving day with a family, noticing all of the simple but important things to be thankful for.  As a group, we will recall some of the things that matter most to us. This is one of my favorite times of year. Tweet

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Halloween is a fun and festive time of year and it is filled with activities for young children. At school, we love  dressing up, doing face painting, making  pumpkin pudding and muffins, and the all important pumpkin carving. We also help children with their feelings of excitement and fear; it is a complex holiday for children. I have written an article to the parents of the school talking about ways of navigating Halloween and have posted it on the website as well.

This article is about the fun and fabulous things to do this month, in chronological order.

Natural History Museum Spider Pavilion,  www.nhm.org/site/explore-exhibits/special-exhibits/spider-pavilion. A great experience with a nighttime flashlight tours on Oct. 23rd

Ivanhoe Public Elementary School- Fall HoeDown- Oct 24th- 2828 Herkimer St Los Angeles, CA 90039-4103 - (323) 664-0051

Larchmont Family Fair- October 24th, 12-5 pm. Larchmont Blvd.  between First and Third.

Los Angeles Zoo- Boo at the Zoo- The zoo is tranformed into theme areas for trick or treaters. Activities include dun performers, pumpkin carving, treats, crafts, music, and creepy crawlers. Friday, October 29th. Free with paid admission or with zoo membership.

The 8th Annual Rose Scharlin Halloween Hullabaloo is October 30, 2010 from 4pm- 8pm. 2414 Lake View Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 90039

Los Angeles Charter School of the Arts- Halloween Event and Fundraiser- Saturday, October 30, 11:00am – 3:00pm, 2709 Media Center Drive, Los Angeles, 90065

Have a Great Holiday!Tweet

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The music scene, easily accessible from the Hollywood, Los Feliz, and Silverlake areas, has much to offer children and grown-ups alike. One of our parents has a great web site to check out for things to do with kids in LA, musical and otherwise.  It is http://lakidstuff.com/. This is a thoughtful and thorough site with great ideas. Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite:

THE LA ZOO- Music in the Zoo

On Friday nights, July 23rd and Aug 6, from 6-9 pm, the zoo has a wonderful music program. You can bring a picnic and drinks. Also, it is a great time to see the animals as they are more active as the day cools. Free for members. One of our families really enojyed this late Friday.

THE GETTY CENTER- Concerts for kids and families

Saturdays and Sundays during most of August, 4-5:30 pm. Free for all.

THE ORIGINAL FARMER’S MARKET

Summer Music Series at the original Farmer’s Market at 3rd and Fairfax on the West Patio. Thursday and Fridays now through September 10th.

Happy listening!Tweet