Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community
Lifelong Learning Community News - what's left of June 2005...
Coming right up, another informative and enlightening community conference focusing on the critical early years of lifelong learning. Evidence continues to mount supporting the lifelong implications of appropriate (or inappropriate) early childhood experiences, and yet....
A RAND community conference: ARE YOUR CHILDREN READY FOR SCHOOL?
Saturday, June 11, Registration and outdoor breakfast buffet: 8:30 am,
Program: 9:00 am to 11:30 am
RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street
Free with Free Parking (enter the RAND underground garage from Main Street).
Seats are still available so please RSVP to Iao@rand.org or call 310-451-6974 today!
(Please provide your name, daytime telephone number, email address and the number of seats you would like to reserve. Also, if you need simultaneous Spanish translation, please indicate that as well.)
The research presentation will be followed by a Practitioners Panel:
Research Presentation: “Are L.A.’s Children Ready for School?”
Dr. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, is a member of the Los Angeles Families and Neighborhood Survey (LA FANS) research team, focusing on children and maternal mental health outcomes. Her recent studies have addressed major depression among mothers in LA and children of immigrants and depressive behaviors. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator at RAND for a longitudinal study that examines links between early childhood learning settings and child cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes.
Practitioner Panel: “Preparing Children for the School Years”
Five early childhood educators and childcare specialists will lead a discussion with the audience about how such issues as the home literacy environment, parenting behavior, home visiting programs, high-quality preschool and childcare programs affect school readiness.
This Community Conference is a RAND public service program, hosted by RAND, the City of Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica Child Care and Early Education Task Force with appreciation to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and our Lifelong Learning Community Partnership.
TORCH TRAINING, a two-day workshop for teens
Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12
John Adams Middle School
Free. Pre-registration required.
Please call the Pico Youth and Family Center IMMEDIATELY for registration packets and more information at 396-7101.
The Pico Youth & Family center is proud to be working with The Torch
Foundation to bring a two-day experiential training for community teenagers. The Torch training is designed to allow teens to see how the choices they make affect their lives and the lives of others. In the two-day workshop, students will participate with others in a structured series of exercises, conversations, and games that are metaphors for life. The youth will cover a host of topics such as: Principles to live by, Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Consequences and ownership of actions, Responsibility, Integrity, Listening, Forgiveness of self and others, Relationships, Limiting Beliefs, and Confidence.
PYFC also needs of community volunteers to help with traffic flow, registration, and assistance with setting up meals. Interested individuals should either call the PYFC at 396-7101 or send an email with their name, and contact number to Leslie Sultan at jellyfish@introuble.org or Marizsa Bravo at mada777@yahoo.com.
To learn more about The Torch Foundation and training, please go to www.thetorchfoundation.org
Also this Saturday, June 11
SATURDAY AFTERNOONS WITH LOS ANGELES OPERA
Starring Robert MacNeil and Julie Makerov, Music Director Daniel Faltus
Senior Recreation Center at 2:00 pm, 1450 Ocean Avenue
All ages welcome. Seating is on a first arrival basis. Free.
SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT BANDS POPS CONCERT
Saturday, June 11, 1-4pm
Santa Monica High School, Barnum Hall
SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR GALA CONCERT
Saturday, June 11, 7pm
Santa Monica High School, Barnum Hall
Ticket prices are $7.00 at the door. Senior citizens and students
(elementary through high school) are $3.00 at door.
Free parking is available on campus in the North Lot.
This Gala Concert, features Santa Monica High School senior musicians performing
solo pieces. You will hear graduating seniors; the Symphony Orchestra, national winners of the Grand Championship in the 2005 National Orchestra Festival in Reno, Nevada; and members of the Chamber Orchestra, who received a Superior rating at the same prestigious music festival. The quality of our student musicians is extraordinary and Barnum Hall is a beautiful venue. These are the last two Samohi concerts for this school year. Treat yourself.
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Commencement Speaker: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Tuesday, June 14th
Santa Monica College, and all of us who as voters have supported SMC, community colleges, and public education over the years, should be proud that the Governor of California is an SMC alumnus. However, the Governor’s proposed budget, his reneging on the deal he made with the Education Coalition, his proposed special election to gut Prop 98, his failure to focus on meaningful and comprehensive education reform and adequate funding for education, his unwillingness to even meet with the State PTA, and his name-calling tactics, have made him a very controversial figure as a commencement speaker here.
A large coalition* is organizing a protest of the Governor’s education policies to coincide with his appearance at SMC. If you would like to participate in this protest, here’s the info!
MARCH AND RALLY TO PROTEST THE GOVERNOR'S CUTS TO EDUCATION
Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 5:00 – 8:30 pm,
Santa Monica College, Pico Boulevard and 20th Street,
The march will begin at 5:00 pm at St. Anne's Church
2017 Colorado Ave. (East of 20th Street)
(Parking is available at St. Anne’s and at Calvary Baptist Church at 20th and Broadway)
Marchers will proceed south on 20th street to Pico Blvd.
The RALLY and PROTEST will be held at the corner of Pico and 20th in the Santa Monica College parking lot. Participants are encouraged to bring signs protesting the Governor's cuts to education.
For more information on the March and Rally, please contact organizer Susie Shannon at susieshannon@comcast.net
*The organizing coalition includes: Alliance for a Better California, California Partnership, local AFL-CIO, California School Employees Association at Santa Monica College, California Partnership, Center for Prophetic Renewal, Democracy for America Los Angeles, Progressive Christians Uniting, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, Progressive Student Alliance, Santa Monica College Faculty Association, Santa Monica Democratic Club, Southern California Grassroots, and West Los Angeles Democratic Club, AFL-CIO.
CARFIT®
(For drivers age 65 +)
Wednesday, June 15, 10:00am-2:00pm
Santa Monica Pier (in Parking Lot #1)
Free but preregistration is required by Monday, June 13.
Participants must come in their cars for this evaluation.
Refreshments and AAA giveaways to all registered participants.
To register, call Debbie : 310/576-2550, ext. 244
CarFit is a new program designed to help check how well your vehicle “fits” you and your driving habits. This program is a national pilot project being offered just one time in our area. This is an opportunity to learn ways to make your driving experience more enjoyable and could make a life-saving difference. Find out about:
Correct adjustments of seats, mirrors, headrests;
Ways to compensate for decreased strength, vision, and mobility;
Information and resources available on adaptive devices to make driving more comfortable
Trained professionals will lead participants through a 15-minute, 12-point checklist in their cars, recommend vehicle adjustments and adaptations, and offer community-specific resources and activities that could make each vehicle “fit” better and enhance safety. Occupational therapists will be on hand to provide information on how to better adapt a vehicle to each participant’s profile.
This event is sponsored by The Center for Healthy Aging, WISE Senior Services, and the Autombile Club of Southern Califronia. The program was developed by the American Society on Aging, AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION FOR NEW SKATE PARK: THE COVE
(for rollerbladers, skateboarders, and bicyclists)
Friday, June 17, 5 to 8pm.
Memorial Park near the corner of 14th Street and Olympic Boulevard.
Opening festivities include a brief dedication ceremony, skate and bike
demos, refreshments, music, and fun!
Regular operating hours and open skating begins Saturday, June 18 at 11 a.m.
To skate on June 17 event, skaters must register by June 13.
First-day participants will be selected via a lottery. All park users will be
required to register before entering the Cove. This includes obtaining an
identification card, signing a waiver, and paying for a membership or day use.
Registration and lottery information is available at www.thecove.smgov.net or
(310) 458-8228.
ADOPTION OF 05-06 CITY BUDGET
Tuesday, June 21, 7pm at City Hall
For more information on the proposed City Budget for 05-06, please go to www.santa-monica.org to read the City Manager’s Message and review the proposed budget. Councilmembers may be emailed at Council@Santa-Monica.org with your comments.
SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Thursday, June 23rd.
More than 800 students will be graduating from Samohi this year. Although the Greek Theatre is filled with family members for graduation, our entire community should take pride in the accomplishments of our students. Local support and our local commitment to high quality public education and educational opportunity for all students makes a huge difference to each of our students. The Class of 2005 has been accepted at our nation’s most prestigious schools. For a listing of college acceptances, please go to http://www.samohi.smmusd.org/Students/seniors/colleges.htm and be proud!
SOUND AND STORYTELLING WITH FOUND MATERIALS
(for educators and parents of young children)
Saturday, June 25, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
McKinley Elementary, 2401 Santa Monica Blvd.
$25. Call (310) 393-3636 to Register Now!
Join Tony Palermo, a sonic storyteller, will bring the magic of old time radio drama to conjure up imaginative worlds and encourage others to express themselves through the world's oldest art form--story. Tony has taught from colleges to pre-schools, libraries, museums and for the U.N. in the Third World. He's appeared on radio, stage, TV and in audiobooks. Educators and parents of young children will gain valuable information on using recycled materials in schools and at home. This workshop is made possible by the Professional Development Institute of Santa Monica College with additional support from First 5 LA and the Long Family Foundation. For more information, please go to www.rediscovercenter.org or email mail@rediscovercenter.org.
There were also many extremely worthwhile and interesting events at the beginning of the month. My apologies for failing to get this newsletter out in a timely fashion. In the future, we will TRY to post CALENDAR EVENTS on our Santa Monica Lifelong Learning Community website, www.smllc.org as events become available.
There are a few acknowledgements I’d like to make, even though they are not chronological.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EDDIE GUERBOIAN, newly installed (6/2) President of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. Our Chamber has been a steadfast friend of public education, our local schools, and local youth and we look forward to that proud tradition continuing under Eddie’s leadership. Most recently, the Chamber co-hosted a Youth Job Fair at Santa Monica High School to help students find summer jobs in our community. This first-time event was well-attended, much appreciated, and very successful.
FAREWELLS:
DAVID BLAKE who has served Saint John’s and our entire community as Vice President of Mission and Ethics at Saint John's Health Center has taken a new position at Cedars-Sinai.
CHRIS RHODES, Choral Director extraordinare at Santa Monica High School for the past seven (or eight?) years, is moving to Texas. Loved by many students and respected by all, Chris has done an amazing job in his years at Samo, culminating in an emotional and profoundly beautiful and professional Spring Choral Festival on June 3rd.
ANN McKECHNIE, longtime Librarian at Santa Monica High School is retiring. Hopefully Ann will remain involved in our community. She has been a dedicated and stalwart champion of school libraries and students throughout years of inadequate funding. The Mortenson Library at Samohi has remained accessible and superior largely through her efforts.
SANDIE RICHARDS, Reverend at Church in Ocean Park is moving to First United Methodist Church in Downtown L.A. Sandie has been the minister at Church in Ocean Park and a respected leader and inspiring community activist here in Santa Monica for a decade.
All of these amazing people will be sorely missed. Each has contributed enormously to our lifelong learning community and life here in Santa Monica. Good luck to them in their new endeavors.
Lastly, on June 2nd, a funeral mass was held for Santa Monica Police Officer and Marine Corps Reserve Office RICARDO CROCKER who was killed in Iraq. Crocker’s last assignment in Santa Monica was with the Police Activities League and his family has asked that donations be made to the Santa Monica Police Activities League.
Please make your checks payable to:
Santa Monica PAL
C/O Santa Monica Police Department
333 W. Olympic Drive
Santa Monica, CA 90401
That’s all for June for now.
Please note that WISE AMERICA READS is looking for tutors to help struggling students make accelerated progress this summer. SMMUSD’s Intensive Intervention Summer School will take place July 11th- August 12th, 8:30-12:30 at Will Rogers Elementary. Intensive Intervention is for the children most in need of help. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer tutor during this summer session, please call 394-9871 x 452 for more information.
For more information about the Lifelong Learning Community, contact
Louise Jaffe
lcjaffe@aol.com
310-450-2487
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January 2005 Newsletter
February 2005 Newsletter
March 2005 Newsletter