Monday, August 18, 2014

August Overview

CHAC/FIRST 5 Presents: Your August Overview

Greetings Families, Partners, and LTI Community


August is here. The days are getting a little shorter and in spite of the heat, signs of the end of summer are in the air. Have you noticed plants and trees are starting to form pods and seeds?

Hope you are enjoying your summer activities. We have plenty of fun scheduled at our FRCs, and a lot of new offerings coming in Fall. Enjoy!


Here’s this month’s news

Cupertino Volunteers Find Innovative Way to Raise Funds and Teach Kids About the Earth

Volunteer teachers across all our classes were challenged to come up with a way to teach kids about the importance of taking care of the environment. In Cupertino, volunteers and families from the Canon Music Play and Learn classes took it one step further. Teachers Urmi and Priti invited families to help their little ones collect bottles and cans to bring in to be recycled. Then, they took the items to a recycling center and raised money for classroom supplies.

We applaud Urmi and Priti for their innovation in teaching children an important value, while helping us find funds for needed supplies. Thanks to all the families who brought in bottles and cans!
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Let’s Get Moooving is coming to Mountain View

Parents and Children play & learn together in our outdoor class designed to help children develop skills ready for school and to encourage families to be more physically active.





Class Activities include:
  • Outdoor playground exploration
  • Music, movement & story time
  • Movement activity for children AND parents (parents, remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing!)
  • A fun art project to take home!
Remember to put on sun screen.
Sun protection is highly recommended.
Remember to bring water to keep hydrated

Skill Development: gross motor, communication, social, fine motor, problem solving.

** Cost is $3 per child / per class
** OR purchase a $10 fun pass for the entire 4 week series.
No refunds and fun pass cannot be transferred to another series.

Please arrive by 10am – No registration required.

Help your local Family Resource Center raise funds to develop more programs and continue existing programs that benefits families in the community. ALL proceeds go to strengthening our program. Contribution collected upon arrival.

Questions? Please contact 650-967-4813.


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I’m Ready for Kindergarten 2014-2015

We currently have two “I’m Ready for Kindergarten” classes on the schedule for fall, both in Spanish. An English language class will be announced soon (2015 start date).

I’m Ready classes are for children ages 3-5 and their parents. Children must be three by the first class, and sorry, we cannot allow siblings to attend.

The class is designed to help prepare your child for school. It consists of a mixture of parents/children together classes, and then children will attend classes on their own while parents receive supplemental instruction on how to enhance their child’s learning outside the classroom.

These series are funded by FIRST 5 at no cost to you!

Sunnyvale – year long program:
Wednesdays 9:00am – 11:00am. (Spanish)
Orientation is August 27, class runs from 9/3 until graduation on 5/27
Parents must commit to nine month program
Location: Vargas Elementary, Room 15, Sunnyvale
Contact: Ana Moreno 650-967-4813

Mountain View – 16 week program
Mondays 10:00AM – 12:00PM (Spanish)
Orientation is August 25, and class runs from 9/8 until graduation on 12/15
Parents must commit to full 16 weeks
Location: Mercy Street FRC
Contact: Jeanette Santana 650-967-4813


Looking for something for younger children? We have two groups just for kids 3 and under.

These classes are funded by FIRST 5 at no cost to you. No registration required.

Mountain View
Tuesdays 10-11:30: Play and Learn at Mercy Street FRC in English. Free, no registration required.

Sunnyvale
Tuesdays 9-11am: Explorando Juntos (Exploring Together), a group for moms with children 3 and under who will explore ways to increase learning, literacy and social/emotional connections to help children be ready for school. Parents and children learn together.


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Literacy Themed Classes Bring a Twist to Play and Learn
A child who enters kindergarten with a strong vocabulary, a love of books, and a familiarity with playing with words, has a definite advantage. You can help these skills develop by talking, singing, reading, writing and playing with your child.

Our play and learn classes naturally contain all of these elements, but this year, we will be adding special literacy themes to some of our play and learn classes for five weeks at a time, and the class format will be slightly different.

During these classes, parents will learn ways to enhance literacy skills and practice some of them in the classroom. Our first literacy themed class has been a big success.

Here’s where to find a class near you:

Cupertino:
Monday August 18 – September 15 (no class Sept 1 for Labor Day)
10:00am-11:30am, in Mandarin

Tuesday August 19 – September 16
10:00-11:30am, in English

Funded by FIRST 5 at no cost to you.

Contact:
Lin Xu at 650-967-4813


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Children's Art Studio Still Open for Fall!

Every child is an artist!

Children will....
Paint and have fun making sculptures!
Make a collage using your favorite things.
Sing & dance with your favorite poems and rhymes.
Learn how to express your feelings and emotions through art.
Learn about famous artists and see how they made their masterpieces.

We will visit our Art Gallery each class and learn how to appreciate art. 

Most important is that we will learn that through art we can express our feelings and our emotions. 

Let's speak through art.

Cost:
Fall session - 13 weeks: Sept 5 – Dec 5 $130, or $95 if paid by July 11
*Class is valued at $170.

Cost is per child and fees are non-refundable and not transferrable to another series.
Cash or checks only. Checks should be made out to CHAC.

Registration is required. You can pre-register by going to http://bit.ly/1iYalYQ

If you have any questions, you can contact us at 650-967-4813 or send an email to: mercystreetfrc@gmail.com

Class is designed for children ages 3-5 years old, sorry we cannot have younger siblings in class.


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New Class in Fall: Super Problem Solvers Club for kids ages 4-5 and 5-6 (Full - Join our wait list for Winter)


The “Super Problem Solvers Club” teaches kids about working together, understanding and managing emotions, and gives skills for solving problems and calming down when upset.






Topics include:
  • Being a good team member
  • What are feelings?
  • Calming down when feelings are too big
  • Problem solving
  • The anger dragon
  • Positive self-talk
  • Being kind to others

Class includes cooperative games, movement, art, storytelling and more.

About the teachers:
Melissa Kelley, MA, has taught Social and Emotional Learning to students at the Nueva School for Gifted Children in Hillsborough and the Helios School for Gifted Children in Palo Alto. Ms. Kelley is a former project manager at the Stanford Center for the Study of Families,Children, and Youth. She has facilitated children’s groups for over twenty years.

Wynn Anderson has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and has had specialized training from the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning. She has worked in a variety of educational settings from preschool through high school. Ms. Anderson has over 20 years experience as an advocate for the benefits of SEL both as a parent and a group facilitator

This group is limited to 7 children. Registration is required, must register and pay for full series before the first class. Parents will not be staying in the classroom.

After you register, Melissa or Wynn will speak to each parent individually about the class and goals, and will email parents with concepts and vocabulary to reinforce at home.


When: September 4 – October 23 (8 weeks) (Both classes full - click to be on the wait list for Winter http://bit.ly/1rU8J6f)
 
Time: Ages 4-5        10:00am – 11:30am (must be 4 by the time class starts)
Ages 5-6        3:00pm-4:30pm (one spot left for a girl, for gender diversity)
Fee: Early Bird Discount: $15/Session ($120 for full series) if paid by 8/29
After 8/29: $17/Session ($136 for full series) 
Where: Mercy Street FRC in Mountain View (748 Mercy Street at Hope)

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Science Kids is Back for Another Year of Science Fun!

Aliza and her wonderful teaching assistants will be busy making science fun with children ages 3-5 and their parents at our FRCs this year.

Here is the schedule for the coming year:
  • Sunnyvale (Vargas Elementary):  September 8 – November 13, Mondays 10:00am-11:30am
  • Cupertino (Canon Music):  January 27 – March 31, Tuesdays from 10:00am-11:30am
  • Mountain View (Mercy Street FRC):  April 20 – June 22, Mondays 10:00am-11:30am


Registration will be open 30 days prior to the start date. Priority will be given to new families who have not yet taken this class.  Repeat students may be placed on a waiting list for any slots unfilled by the week prior to class start.

This class is for children ages 3 – 5 only and their parents. Sorry, absolutely NO siblings.

Fee: $40 for 8 weeks if paid by the first class. First class is orientation.

Click here to register for Sunnyvale: http://bit.ly/1hLoh2b

Questions? Call 650-967-4813 or email mercystreetfrc@gmail.com


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Ages and Stages Continue!


This month in all our classes, staff and volunteers will be encouraging you to fill out an Ages and Stages Questionnaire for your child.

Why?

Studies show that parents who understand what their child is working on in their development will be better equipped to support their learning as they continue to grow. You might be amazed and delighted to know some of the things that your child is capable of doing. Also, you will see how activities we provide in class are designed to support all parts of their development – language/communication, fine and gross motor skills, personal care, social emotional regulation, and problem solving skills.

Questionnaires are a great learning tool for you as your child’s first and most important teacher.

FIRST 5 has asked that as many of our parents participate as possible because they are convinced of the usefulness of the tool, so completing the Ages and Stages Questionnaire is also a great way to help your center. If you have already completed one for your child, they can complete a new one every six months, so feel free to complete a new one for your child’s current stage.

Two ways to participate:
  1. Make an appointment and complete the questionnaire with a volunteer or staff person. Parents say they enjoy having someone help them and like being able to ask questions. Appointments last 60-90 minutes.  This particular way has been reported as a time-saver by many parents, because staff/volunteers have been there to clarify the questions.
  2. Ask for a copy to complete on your own - a great option if you are short on time to schedule an appointment, or prefer to do it at home. Return the questionnaire so that Mercy Street can let FIRST 5 know how many we completed.

Your kids might enjoy the chance to show you what they know!


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Monthly Gratitude


Thank you to Guadalupe and José Romo, whose generous contribution helped provide childcare funding for our Cafecito group. The monthly group for Spanish speaking moms has been a tremendous asset for moms to gather and share time together, and we are happy that this amazing group can continue with childcare available.


Donations
We very much appreciate all of you who kindly give us gently used clothing, supplies and toys for our classrooms.  In order to make sure that we have adequate space and good use for your donations, please call us first at (650) 967-4813 before bringing your donations to our centers.  Thank you!


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Save the Dates!

Holidays and Scheduled Closings:
Here is a list of upcoming days we will be closed and class cancellations. Please watch our calendars for unexpected closings, such as teacher illness.

9/1 – All centers closed for Labor Day

Summer Schedule Changes:

If your class is not listed here, it will continue for the summer. Always check Google calendars if you are not sure or for last minute cancellations.

Sunnyvale:
All classes will be on break from August 4 – 22, so that Vargas and School District staff can prepare for the new school year.

Cupertino: The Mandarin and English Play and Learn classes are on break, but will return starting August 18.


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Mountain View


Sunnyvale


All classes at Vargas Elementary will be on break from August 4 – 22, so that Vargas and School District staff can prepare for the new school year
Cupertino



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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? Do you have expert knowledge that you can teach to our families? 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.com. Thanks for considering – the success of our program depends on Volunteers!  Together we make the difference.




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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

 

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