Thursday, October 3, 2013

October Overview



CHAC/FIRST 5 Presents: Your October Overview
Greetings Families, Partners, and LTI Community

It’s October and change is all around. The days are getting shorter, the weather is a little cooler and soon the rains will be back. More and more, families will be seeking indoor fun. We have a lot of great opportunities this month for fun AND learning at all four of our locations. We hope to see you soon!



Here is news from across the region

Make a Difference Community Resource & Volunteer Fair




 Are you familiar with the different services and programs that are available in your community? Have you ever wondered how to get involved in helping others? Have you wanted to make a difference, but do not know where to start?

You are invited to attend the Make a Difference Community Resource & Volunteer Fair to learn about all the different services that are being offered in your community, and learn about the various volunteer opportunities that are waiting for you.

Also, there will be a FREE Zumba Party that will start at 12:45. Bring your Zumba gear and get ready to dance. Please arrive by 12:45 to attend (no registration required). All participants must sign waiver before joining.

This is the time to Make a Difference in your community and in your own personal well-being!





Science Kids Class Receives Funding from Mountain View Kiwanis: 

Science education has been in the news for years, and everyone knows that our children must excel in math and science if we are to remain competitive in the world market. Aliza Savransky created a fun, hands-on class for our families that taught simple concepts like space, friction, and color mixing and provided opportunities for kids to have their own “lab experiments.” The Mountain View Kiwanis took notice and have decided to fund the program for several sessions over the next fiscal year. Congratulations to Aliza for her amazing contribution to our children’s learning.





Fourth Annual Halloween Party!

Saturday, October 26 from 10:30-12:30 PM at New World Child Development Center, 730 East Homestead Road, Sunnyvale. 

One of our families favorite event! Join us for a costume parade, Halloween pictures, arts & crafts, and monster mash (dancing and music). Admission is free. 

We also have balloon animals by Jameszini ($2) and face painting ($1). Raffle tickets will be available to win an iPod Nano for $1/per entry. All proceeds benefit programming in all our centers. This is a sugar-free event. Please register by going to www.bit.ly/1etwreE open to the first 50 families. 






Enter to win an iPod Nano! 

Raffle tickets on sale for $1 per entry. Tickets available in your classes, at the office, or on our blog through Paypal.








Estoy Listo Para Kindergarten / I'm Ready for Kindergarten


It was picture day for our Vargas Elementary FRC. The children are all excited to learn and have fun in the Wednesday's CHAC/FIRST 5 program at Vargas along with their parents. Every week they are learning new skills, to prepare them for success in kindergarten.









 What’s NEW for Fall?


Mountain View

Tuesday Play and Learn Returns to Mercy! Tuesday class resumes on October 1 from 10:30-12:00 with teachers Karen and Rashmi.

Movetrition Class at Mercy – This is a fun filled class that teaches children about healthy nutrition using movement. Led by volunteers from San Jose State. 6 weeks starting October 18 from 2:30-4:00. To help us ensure that we have enough materials for the children, please register at www.bit.ly/1etwreE (if you have questions, or would like to register by phone, please call us at 650-967-4813)

Jardín de Conocimiento – a new name for the Wednesday Spanish class at Escuela. Jardín (Garden of Learning) is a play and learn style format in Spanish only. It is an opportunity for families to get together to reinforce skills from their regular play and learn group. Led by Alma.

SEEDS – Save the Date – Community Worker Jeanette Santana will be leading a SEEDS class for early literacy and language development in Spanish starting November 1. Class is 5 weeks on Fridays from 7:00-9:00pm at Escuela FRC (open to all Mountain View Families). Childcare is provided with advance registration by October 30. Please register by calling 650-967-4813.

Sunnyvale

Did you know about our FIRST 5 partners in Sunnyvale?
Find calendars for the FIRST 5 FRC at Fairwood Elementary here http://www.first5kids.org/frc/fairwood

Cupertino

Mandarin Play and Learn moves to Mondays – Weekly starting October 7 from 10:00am-11:30am with teachers Hui-Wen, Rebecca and Tina. Please remember to arrive early – due to safety, we are limited to the first 13 children / 26 people.


Staff Changes for our CHAC/FIRST 5 Team

Welcome Lin! This month we welcome Lin Xu as our Cupertino Community Worker! Lin is the mother of a 3 ½ year old daughter and a long time participant and volunteer in our Cupertino program. She teaches Academic English at San Jose State and has a passion for education.







Margarita who has been with our program for the past 8 years will leave her position as a volunteer to pursue her career goals. She has made a huge impact in the lives of all the children who have been attending her Play & Learn class. We wish her the best in all her future endeavors. We will miss her dearly.





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Volunteers Needed! Do you have a few hours a week you that you can spare? Do you want to give back to your community? Do you want to make an impact in the lives of young children and their families? Do you want to expand your knowledge of early childhood development? Come join our team. If you are interested and/or want more information on our fabulous volunteer program, please send an email to Nancy Doan at nancydoan5@gmail.comThanks for considering – the success of our program depends on Volunteers!  Together we make the difference.




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Like us on Facebook! Did you know we have a Facebook page? We post interesting tips, videos, information on local events, and more. Please “like” us and help our online community grow. Find us by typing “Mercy Street Family Resource Center” in the search bar or (click)


Volunteer Network! CHAC/FIRST 5 Volunteers, stay connected on all our volunteer news, updates, training opportunities, and more! You can take part in our Facebook Volunteer Group. Find us by typing "nancydoan5@gmail.com" in the search bar or click

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Feedback: Do you have comments that you would like to send the staff?   Please send us a note to:mercystreetfrc@gmail.com


Mountain View





 Are you familiar with the different services and programs that are available in your community? Have you ever wondered how to get involved in helping others? Have you wanted to make a difference, but do not know where to start?

You are invited to attend the Make a Difference Community Resource & Volunteer Fair to learn about all the different services that are being offered in your community, and learn about the various volunteer opportunities that are waiting for you.

Also, there will be a FREE Zumba Party that will start at 12:45. Bring your Zumba gear and get ready to dance. Please arrive by 12:45 to attend (no registration required). All participants must sign waiver before joining.

This is the time to Make a Difference in your community and in your own personal well-being!

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See below for classes at our TWO Mountain View Centers. Note: the Escuela FRC is partially funded by the City of Mountain View and is for Mountain View Residents only.




Mercy Street FRC Classes:
For a complete description of our classes, go here
Please register with The Mercy St FRC, at mercystreetfrc@gmail.com, or by calling 650-967-4813

New/Limited Time Classes & Events



Cafecito Mother’s Group (Spanish)
Date: Friday October 4, 2013
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Address: 748 Mercy Street, Mountain View
Notes: First Friday of the month. Childcare included with registration. Next month’s group is November 1.

Ongoing Classes at Mercy Street FRC

Play & Learn (English)
Led by Volunteers Wynn, Tomoko, & Allison
Date: Mondays
Time: 10:15am - 11:45pm
Address: 748 Mercy St, Mountain View
Notes: This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children/30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:30am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:30am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).


Play & Learn (English) for children 3 and under.
Led by Volunteers Karen & Rashmi
Date: Tuesdays
Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Address: 748 Mercy St, Mountain View
Notes: No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children / 30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:30am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:30am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).

Play & Learn (Spanish)
Led by Jeanette & Volunteer Liliana
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am - 12:00 pm
Address: 748 Mercy St, Mountain View
Notes: Class will end as of October 30. In Spanish only. No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children / 30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:00am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:00am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).

Play & Learn (Japanese)
Led by Volunteers Tomoko, Leslie, Noriyo, & Thao
Date: Fridays
Time: 10:15am - 11:45 am
Address: 748 Mercy St, Mountain View
Notes: In Japanese with English available, for native Japanese speakers or Japanese Language Learners. No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children / 30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:15am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:15am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).
 
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ESCUELA FRC Classes:


All Play & Learn classes below are currently ongoing and no registration is required. Questions? Call 650-967-4813. This FRC is partially funded by the City of Mountain View. Classes at Escuela FRC are for Mountain View residents only.


Play & Learn (English)
Led by Volunteer Iris
Date: Mondays
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Address: 260 Escuela Ave, Mountain View (behind Senior Center)
Notes: No registration required, but class will be limited to the first 13 families / 26 people who enter per class. Please plan to arrive on time and stay until the end. No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 13 children / 26 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:00am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:00am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).

Mi Jardín de Conocimiento (My Garden of Learning)
Led by Volunteer Alma
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Address: 260 Escuela Ave, Mountain View (behind Senior Center)
Notes:  In Spanish only. No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 13 children / 26 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:00am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:00am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).

Play & Learn (Spanish)
Led by Jeanette & Volunteer Alma
Date: Thursdays
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Address: 260 Escuela Ave, Mountain View (behind Senior Center)
Notes: In Spanish only. No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 13 children / 26 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 10:00am and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 10:00am the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).

Sunnyvale





 Are you familiar with the different services and programs that are available in your community? Have you ever wondered how to get involved in helping others? Have you wanted to make a difference, but do not know where to start?

You are invited to attend the Make a Difference Community Resource & Volunteer Fair to learn about all the different services that are being offered in your community, and learn about the various volunteer opportunities that are waiting for you.

Also, there will be a FREE Zumba Party that will start at 12:45. Bring your Zumba gear and get ready to dance. Please arrive by 12:45 to attend (no registration required). All participants must sign waiver before joining.

This is the time to Make a Difference in your community and in your own personal well-being!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Links to printable monthly calenders
Vargas& Canon October Calender (English & Spanish)



Classes & Events:
Families may attend only ONE class at any of our centers.

Play & Learn (English)
Led by volunteers Wynn, Iris and Leslie
Date: Tuesdays starting September 3
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Address: Vargas Elementary, 1054 Carson Drive, Sunnyvale, CA
Notes: No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children / 30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 4:00pm and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 4:00pm the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).
 

Bilingual Storytime (Spanish/English)
Led by volunteer Marti
Date: Tuesdays starting September 3
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Address: Vargas Elementary, 1054 Carson Drive, Sunnyvale, CA
Notes: No registration required. This class is first come, first served for the first 15 children / 30 people (due to the classroom size, for safety reasons). Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or 30 to secure a spot) – it will most likely fill each week. If you arrive before 4:00pm and do not get a spot, you will receive priority entrance for the next week if you arrive before 4:00pm the following week. (Limit 5 for priority entrance).





Did you know about our FIRST 5 partners in Sunnyvale?
Find calendars for the FIRST 5 FRC at Fairwood Elementary here
http://www.first5kids.org/frc/fairwood