Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community

• Bring It Home
• Make It Work
• Keep It Safe
  

For more information on the planned working groups, go to: www.StopGangViolence.smgov.net and click on “Working Group Areas.”
To register, please fill out the form at:
http://santa-monica.org/communication/cityforms/stop_violence.htm

Registration is not required, but is encouraged. Breakfast, child care (age 5 and up),
Spanish translation, and free parking will be provided.


CELEBRATION FOR THE ARTS!
Saturday & Sunday, April 9th & 10th, 11am-6pm at the Santa Monica Pier
Free
Special Benefit Concert with VENICE
Saturday, April 9th, 7pm
Arcadia Nightclub on the Pier
Ticket $35 to benefit Olympic High School Guitar Program and
For The Arts endowment.
Call 310-450-8338 x 395 for concert tickets & information or email smmef@smmusd.org

This weekend festival of the arts, showcases amazing student artwork and performances, art vendors, local community arts groups, fun arts & crafts activities and delicious food from great local restaurants. On Saturday night, there is a special Community Concert featuring local band VENICE.
Pacific Park Wristbands are available for only $15 by pre-order, $5 off the regular price! Wristbands valid for one-day use through Labor Day. Call 310-396-4557 for purchase information.

FOR THE ARTS is an endowment campaign of the Education Foundation of Santa Monica-Malibu to promote arts education in our public schools. For more information on Celebration For The Arts 2005 and a schedule of weekend performances, please go to http://smmpta.org/events.html


CITY/SCHOOL CONTRACT COMES BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
City Council Meeting, Tuesday, April 12, 7pm at City Hall

City staff’s report and revised draft of the Master Facilities Use Agreement between the City and the School District is now posted as an information item at http://www.santa-monica.org/cityclerk/council/information_items/2005/SMMUSD Agreement.pdf
and is scheduled to come before the Council at their April 12th meeting. This agreement to increase the City’s base payment to the District to $6 million annually has been absolutely essential in maintaining the level of service and quality our schools still manage to provide. For a glimpse of the destruction ripping through schools across the state as a result of inadequate, unpredictable, and unstable funding, please skim the collection of articles posted at http://smmpta.org/press.html


SANTA MONICA CITYWIDE READS FEATURES “THE KITE RUNNER” by Khaled Hosseini
April 12 through May 21
Santa Monica Citywide Reads encourages people who live or work in or visit Santa Monica to read the same book and come together to discuss it in public book clubs and related events held citywide. Book discussions and events are free and open to the public.

April moderator-led public book discussions are scheduled for:
Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade.
Tuesday, April 19 at 1:30 p.m. Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth Street.
Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m. Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave.
Monday, April 25 at 2:15 p.m. Emeritus College, 1227 Second Street, Room 407.
Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. Cafe Bolivar, 1741 Ocean Park Blvd. (Teen book discussion).

Special Citywide Reads programs in April include:
“What is it that Empire Steals?: U.S. Foreign Policy and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner,” a talk by Political Science Professor Larry George of California State University, Long Beach, about the novel in the context of Afghanistan and international politics over several decades.
Saturday, April 16 at 2 p.m., Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd.

“Kandahar”, a screening of the 2001 film, written and directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, that follows an Afghan émigré’s perilous journey back home during the Taliban reign, introduced by Amanda Roraback, author of Afghanistan in a Nutshell.
Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m., Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave.
For more information, call the Santa Monica Public Library (310) 458-8600, or visit www.smpl.org/cwr.


THE FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA's K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Saturday, April 16, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at RAND Corporation
1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, Reservations required. Email iao@Rand.org
Free

In January RAND released a report entitled California’s K-12 Public Schools: How Are They Doing? The report chronicles 30 years of decline and has been cited repeatedly in the current discussions regarding the State Budget and Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposals. RAND has graciously agreed to host a public policy forum for our lifelong learning community with principal investigator Dr. Stephen Carroll presenting Research Findings, a factual introduction as an opener to two panel discussions: Coping at the Front Lines, and Next Steps -- Policymakers’ Perspectives. For program details and panel participants, please go to http://smmpta.org/pdf/April_16_FLYER.pdf. Seating is limited so make your reservation today!


CARAVAN FOR KIDS TO SACRAMENTO!
Wednesday, April 27th & Thursday, April 28th
Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), a local political action committee (I’m co-chair) has worked hard to ensure stable, predictable, and increased local funding for our public schools. CEPS is now partnering with the State PTA to organize and mobilize parents and concerned citizens in communities throughout the state in support of adequate, predictable, and stable state funding for public education. Please get on the bus and join the Caravan for Kids to Sacramento! For more information and to sign up for a free seat on a chartered bus, please go to Caravan for Kids website.

Please take a moment to check out the wonderful new website for the Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs at http://smmpta.org/

Calendar listings on the Lifelong Learning Community website include more special events and activities in April. Take your pick!

Thanks, Cheers and Onward!
Louise

Please forward this email to others who may be interested. Those who wish to join the Lifelong Learning Community News elist should send their email addresses to LCJaffe@aol.com or subscribe online at http://smllc.org/subscribe.html.