The Marin County Office of Education and Parents Place of Marin present: "Challenging Cyber-Bullying: What Parents Need to Know" on Wednesday, May 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Parents, guardians and educators welcome. Download the Challenging Cyber-Bullying.pdf for more details.
This Memorial Day weekend will be packed with family fun and plenty of ways to celebrate with our community. Check out this unbelievable calendar of events:
Kiddo! Family Carnival
Beginning Friday, May 25 and running through Monday, May 28, please join us for a real old-fashioned carnival at the Mill Valley Community Center. There will be rides for all ages, plus food and games. The littlest ones in your family will love the Berry-Go-Round and the Tune Train, while your teenagers will be thrilled with the Sizzler, Zipper, Tilt-A-Whirl and the Texas Tornado, among many more. Click www.californiacarnival.com for more information. Advance discounted ticket books will be available in the Kiddo! office Monday through Friday, May 21-24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advance books are $15 and $25 once the Carnival begins. Books may be turned in for a one-day wristband for unlimited rides. Food and games extra.
Memorial Day Parade
This year's parade theme is "Our Kids-Our Schools-Our Future," so join the Kiddo! Float on May 28 and march along to the tunes of the Mill Valley Middle School Jazz Band as we wind through downtown Mill Valley to celebrate Memorial Day.
Kiddo! 30th Anniversary Community Celebration
Immediately after the parade on May 28, Kiddo! is throwing a free party on the fields of the Mill Valley Community Center to celebrate our 30th anniversary. There will be live music presented by the Sweetwater Music Hall and games for the kids. Delicious food and drink from local vendors will also be available for purchase.
So please join us and help celebrate Memorial Day in true, local style! Get more info at www.kiddo.org.
Friday, May 4 is Kiddo! Donation Day, when Kiddo! launches its Annual Giving Campaign for the 2012-13 school year. Why is your contribution so critical on Donation Day?
•Kiddo! provides essential funding for many school programs, including art, music, drama, classroom and library aides, and technology.
• New in September, Kiddo! will also fund the P.E. programs for our kids.
•Your new donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $70,000! Several generous district families are funding a matching program to increase the impact of your contributions. Donate before June 15 and Kiddo! will match new donors' entire donation, and match prior donors' incremental donation over last year's donation.
•We start fundraising now for next year's programs, which will be in jeopardy without your support. All children benefit from Kiddo! programs so we need all families to participate.
Ask questions and donate at school on May 4, or donate online anytime at Kiddo.org.
Reminder: Kiddo! Giants Night is also on Friday, May 4! Join friends and family as the Giants take on the Brewers at AT&T Park. The MVMS Eighth Grade Chorus will sing the national anthem! More info at Kiddo.org.
Parents: Are you registered to vote in Mill Valley? You need to re-register if:
• You moved to a new permanent residence
• You changed your name
• You changed your political party choice
Pick up a VOTER REGISTRATION CARD in the SCHOOL OFFICE if you need to register or re-register to vote.
Mill Valley's kindergarten enrollment is at an all-time high. So why don't we receive extra funds from the State of California? Mill Valley is a Basic Aid School District, which means that our funding from local revenue, including property taxes and parcel taxes, outpaces what we would receive from the State if we were funded on a per-pupil basis.
School districts do not choose their source of funding; they are automatically Basic Aid Districts if local revenues are higher than state funding on a per-pupil basis. In our community, we are also heavily dependent on other sources of local funding, such as Kiddo! and our PTAs. Get educated on our school district's budget situation. Check out Superintendent Paul Johnson's latest podcast.
Join us in Park School's auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. to hear renowned educational consultant and behavioral expert Diane Provo discuss Executive Functioning. Provo has more than 35 years of intensive child development experience. She will provide an overview of executive functions and explain how weak executive functioning skills can compromise a child's learning experiences at school. She also will discuss strategies to help children with planning, organization, working memory, initiating skills, transitions, directions, and self-regulation. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Ross Buffington
The Marin County Office of Education invites parents, teens, school personnel and community members to an important presentation about laws that affect teens. Topics will include laws pertaining to alcohol and drugs, sex, cyber-bullying and Marin County's Social Host Ordinance. This event will take place at the Marin County Office of Education from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. To register, click here or call 499-5816.
Parents Place of Marin and Marin County Office of Education are pleased to announce a presentation for parents on cyber bullying. Parents will learn how bullying has moved from the playground into cyberspace, including how bullying can now occur 24/7 through text messaging, social networking sites, chat rooms, blogs, websites, bash boards, and Internet gaming. The presentation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room of the Marin County Office of Education. Please RSVP to: by calling 499-5816 or e-mailing safeschools@marin.k12.ca.us.
Young people are using the Internet and mobile technologies to explore, connect, create and learn in ways never before imagined. But this 24/7 online culture also presents risks such as cyber bullying and privacy concerns. Join Common Sense Media at the Marin County Office of Education from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to learn how to help your kids stay safe and secure in today's connected culture. Parents, educators and kids are welcome. To register, click here or call 415-499-5870.
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us at our next coffee at 122 Stadium Avenue, from 9 to 11 a.m., on April 20. We look forward to seeing you!
Join a panel of students and local experts discussing sexual assault prevention and awareness at the Marin County Office of Education from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The panel will address increasing cyber hazards related to sexual assault such as sexting and social networking. To register, click here or call 499-5816.
Mill Valley was well represented at the County-Wide Budget Forum on March 27 with representatives from the School District, School Board, and PTA's attending. John Gray, from School Services of California, Inc. and Terena Mares, Assistant Superintendent/CFO, Marin County Office of Education led a presentation and discussion on the impact of the state budget on Marin students.
Did you know that:
• California's schools are among the lowest ranking and lowest funded in the country?
• California has only fully funded education in 5 of the past 20 years?
Mill Valley is a Basic Aid district, which means that our local revenue is above the state guaranteed revenue limit per student. As a result, our District is heavily dependent on local revenues from property and parcel taxes. Our District is constantly refining and prioritizing its budget and is using shared solutions and shared sacrifices to provide budgetary solutions during this economically difficult time.
To learn more about the current MVSD budget and specifics regarding "Fair Share Takebacks" from the State, see Superintendent Paul Johnson's latest podcast.
Come join a discussion on the impact of the State budget on our students, led by John Gray, Executive Vice President, School Services of California, Inc. and Terena Mares, Assistant Superintendent/CFO, Marin County Office of Education. This event will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Marin County Office of Education. It is co-sponsored by the 16th District PTA and the Marin County Office of Education. We encourage you to submit questions and RSVP prior to the event by calling 499-5805.
Check out the art of some very talented students from the Mill Valley School District at the Community Center. This Kiddo-sponsored event will include a reception on Thursday, March 8, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through March 27.
Congratulations to the following Edna Maguire artists who will be featured in the show!
Bryer Chalstrom (kindergarten)
Jonah Butler (first grade)
Lila Ciambriello (first grade)
Sophia Grady (second grade)
Charles Peters (second grade)
Isabel Athanasoulis (third grade)
Naomi Schiller (fourth grade)
Corey Whitehead (fourth grade)
Fatima Bham (fifth grade)
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us at our next coffee this Friday, from 9 to 11 a.m., at 942 Greenhill Road. Contact Edna Maguire paren Dorothy O'Donnell (dorothyodonnell@comcast.net; 888-3207) if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you!
Our schools are facing huge budget deficits. Without new
funding, increased class sizes and loss of special programs are likely. Here's
why:
- District
revenue is NOT linked to enrollment
- Student
enrollment is up and revenue is flat
- There
are no easy budget cuts
- There
is no help from the government
Solving the school budget emergency will take the whole
community coming together to find the right solutions, including:
- New
Local Parcel Tax in 2012
- State
Ballot Measures Like "Our Children, Our Future"
- Kiddo!
and PTA Donations
Mill Valley School Advocates is a group of parents,
educators and neighbors building the needed community support to maintain the
quality of education at our public schools. Take action now in three easy ways:
- Sign Up and tell friends to do the same
- Download the Fact Sheet and give to friends and neighbors
- Attend the Edna Maguire Organizing Meeting on Monday, March
5, 8:45 am or 6:30 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room.
Learn how to prepare for, and navigate, the sometimes challenging adolescent years from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Park School's auditorium. Psychologist Keith Sutton will discuss the process where adolescents begin to seek out more responsibility and freedom and individuate from parents while at the same time needing to remain bonded and guided by their parents. He will discuss areas of possible difficulties during adolescence, such as school, relationships (friends and romantic), and drugs and alcohol. This event is a joint presentation of ITAV and Edna Maguire's PTA. To RSVP or for more information, please e-mail Ross Buffington (ross@itavmv.org).
A Night on the Red Carpet to Benefit Kiddo!
If you like watching the Academy Awards®, then join us on February 26 to watch them in style. Harbor Point is hosting a 2012 Awards Viewing Party at 142 Throckmorton Theatre. Make it a date night, a girls' night out or a group outing!
From 4 to 8:30 p.m., enjoy cabaret seating, champagne, wine, and delicious food from local premier restaurants, while you watch the show on a movie-size screen. General admission tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre Box Office or by calling 415-383-9600.
For information on Celebrity Circle and Dress Circle VIP tickets, which include priority & reserved seating, premium champagne and other amenities, call Harbor Point Charitable Foundation at 415-383-6114. Dress: cocktail or costume.
Please Check for Your Name on our 2011-12 Donor List
Your gifts to Kiddo! help Mill Valley kids reach their full potential. This year's donor list currently appears on our website. Please check the list for your name if you made a contribution this year and confirm that we have your information correct. We will be printing the final list in February and including it in our community-wide newsletter as a thank you to all donors.
SAVE THE DATE for Kiddo! Night at the Giants - May 4
More details and tickets available in March!
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! Keep up with what is going on - sign up for the Kiddo! eNews at www.kiddo.org!
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us at 325 Carrera Drive, from 9 to 11 a.m., for our next coffee. If you have questions, contact Tam Valley School parent Eva Selig (eva.selg@gmail.com - 383-2666). We look forward to seeing you there!
For the past few years, Edna families have enthusiastically participated in Safe Routes to School initiatives like Go Green to School. Last month, the Safe Routes to School program was adopted as a policy by the MVSD. The passing of the SR2S policy ensures that Edna and other Mill Valley schools will continue to participate in-- and benefit from-- programs that help keep our kids safe as they travel to and from school, reduce local traffic congestion and protect our environment.
Please click here to get the latest information on the Our Children, Our Future initiative!
Bain LaPlant, a physical education teacher for 10 years, talks about her love for teaching P.E. to students at Strawberry Point Elementary School. Read on
Join us in Park School's auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to hear Nicholas Carlisle, MFT, discuss the important topic of relational bullying. Mr. Carlisle is a child therapist and executive director of No Bully. Having experienced bullying firsthand in the middle years at school, he is committed to creating school cultures where every child feels included and valued by his peers. He will discuss "relational bullying" which occurs when students disrupt another student's peer relationships through leaving them out, gossiping, whispering and spreading rumors. Mr. Carlisle will talk about some skills parents can develop to help their children through the inevitable social and emotional challenges of friendships and peer relationships. This event is a co-presentation of ITAV, Mill Valley's Special Education PTA, and Edna Maguire's PTA. To RSVP or get more information, please e-mail Ross Buffington (ross@itavmv.org).
Thank you! Thank you! Thanks to everyone's support and contributions, nearly $2.4 million in Kiddo! programs will be fully funded for the school year!* This includes all the art and music teachers, all the drama, dance and poetry specialists plus every classroom and library and the technology support staff! That is more than 60 people dedicated to your children's education that would not be in our schools without your support.
These days it truly takes the entire community to support our schools. Our parents are key as more than 80% of funding comes from our parent community. The other 20% comes from our greater community including local businesses, parent alumni and grandparents.
Click to read more about the Kiddo! Annual Giving Campaign or to see the current donor list.
* This number currently includes $366,000 in outstanding pledges. If you haven't yet fulfilled your pledge, please do so today. Payments can be made on the Kiddo! website CLICK HERE or by mailing a check to Kiddo!, 409 Sycamore Ave.
FAMILY CONCERT AT THE SWEETWATER - YOUTH ROCK THE REBUILD, FEBRUARY 12
It's officical-the Sweetwater is back! Among its first events will be a family concert hosted by Youth Rock the Rebuild, a local organization which facilitates youth service through music. Their music will astound you, their excitement is contagious. In addition, Youth Rock the Rebuild will donate proceeds to Kiddo! in support of music education. This is a great opportunity to brings friends and family to see the new Sweetwater. Click here to purchase tickets.
When: February 12
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
GET SOCIAL WITH KIDDO!
"Like Us" on Facebook! "Follow Us" on Twitter! Find out how your contributions are impacting the 3,000 children in the Mill Valley School District, get up-to-date information on Kiddo! events, benefit from promotions with local Kiddo! Business Partners, learn what's happening with local, state and national education initiatives and much more... Like Us and Follow Us and you will automatically be entered into our monthly Business Partner give-away!
With you, and your friends, and their friends, we can grow our Kiddo! community into a powerful force for public schools. Join us! FACEBOOK & TWITTER LINKS
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us from 9 to 11 a.m. at 477 Summit Avenue for our first coffee of 2012. For more information, contact Mark McGahan (markmcgahan1@mac.com or 306-3463).
You can register your child for kindergarten on Thursday, January 12, Monday, February 6 or Thursday, February 9 at the MVSD Office, 411 Sycamore Ave. Registration hours are from 1 to 7:30 p.m. You'll find registration forms and answers to questions you may have on our website.
2011 Annual Giving Campaign - A great gift for your kids!
Please make your donation today and help Kiddo! reach our $2.4 million fundraising goal with 100% family participation. You can give your child a lasting gift of the arts with your support of Kiddo! Every child benefits, so every family is asked to participate. The requested donation is $950 per student, but donations at all levels are greatly appreciated. With your help, we will continue to fund library and classroom aides as well as technology and the award-winning arts programs that our students enjoy! You can make your donation online at www.kiddo.org or send your check to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Avenue.
Shop, Eat, Live Local... Kiddo! Style
Supporting our schools is serious business but that doesn't mean we can't have fun while doing it! So, get in the spirit...Shop/Eat/Live Local... it's good for our schools, our community, our local economy and for you, because we've made the holidays a penny-pinching cinch! Many of our business partners are offering a flurry of discounts, events and other holiday promotions to benefit you and Kiddo!. Look for the Kiddo! Shop/Eat/Live Local poster in the windows of local businesses and be sure to go in and say hello. Please visit www.kiddo.org for a list of holiday promotions and events.
Shop Kiddo! at Mill Valley Market
Kiddo! is Mill Valley Market's non-profit of the month for December and will receive an additional one percent of sales (for a total of 3%) through the Shop and Give program. So as you shop for holiday gift baskets, wine, and the trimmings for holiday dinners, consider shopping at Mill Valley Market - because every time you say "Kiddo!" at that cash register, you'll not only become part of a legacy of civic support that stretches back eighty years, but you'll help make a very real gift to our schools and students a gift that keeps on giving!
Kiddo! December Newsletter
There are a myriad of Kiddo! music performances in December. Check out the December issue of the Kiddo! newsletter for a full performance schedule.
As you probably know, our school district is in the midst of an unprecedented budget crisis:
• Enrollment has increased by more than 18% over the last three years.
• State and federal funding have been slashed to less than 5% of the total school budget
• Property tax revenues have been stagnant or declined in the past few years
This "perfect storm" has resulted in a multi-million dollar budget deficit for next year. To help overcome the challenges resulting from the budget crisis and to restore school funding, a group of parents, educators and community leaders have formed Mill Valley School Advocates. Please take a minute to visit our recently launched website, www.SchoolAdvocates.org, and show your support for Mill Valley public schools. Sign-up for regular e-mail updates and learn more about how YOU can help support Mill Valley schools. And be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@SchoolsMV)! You'll get constant updates on our efforts.
Thanks again for your support! We're just getting started, but with everyone's help, we CAN create change and make a HUGE difference for years to come.
Justin Gagnon, the CEO of Choicelunch (our lunch provider), recently received the "2011 Most Admired CEO Award" from the San Francisco Business Times. Prior to this, he was invited to Washington D.C. because of the great things he is doing at Choicelunch. While there, he met with congressmen about the epidemic of unhealthy school lunches. Click on this link to hear Justin receive his award and describe his D.C. experience.
As the holidays approach, and you have less time to shop for and prepare healthy school lunches yourself, consider putting lunch in the hands of Choicelunch. Our registration code is MVSD.
Come join us in Park School's auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. as Melanie Johnson, Ph.D., explains when and why you might want your child to have a neuropsychological evaluation. Learn how to develop questions or goals for the evaluation and better understand the key differences between a neuropsychological evaluation and a school-based psychoeducational evaluation. Dr. Johnson will also discuss how neuropsychological reports can help guide the development of an IEP and demystify some of the terminology and concepts involved in the process. This event is a joint presentation of ITAV and the Edna Maguire PTA.
Join us in Old Mill School's auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to see the film Irreversible Damages, which addresses issues arising from kids' use of social media, like texting and Facebook. After the film its creators, Dr. Michael Grogan, LCSW, PhD and Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian, will discuss how to use electronic media safely and responsibly. This event is a joint presentation of Edna's PTA and ITAV. To register or for more information, please contact Ross Buffington (ross@itavmv.org).
Now you can help raise money for Kiddo! every time you shop at Whole Foods! For each $100 scrip card you buy, Whole Foods will make a 4% contribution to support our schools!
Just pick up a Whole Foods scrip card form from the Kiddo! envelope in the office. Fill it out and leave it, along with a check, in the envelope. Checks and forms will be collected daily, and Caitlin Smith or another Edna Kiddo! representative will pass out the cards at pick-up or drop-off. You can also purchase Whole Food scrip cards from Kiddo! by downloading and completing this form. For more information about the cards, click here.
Click here to check out some before and after pictures of Mill Valley schools now that the first round of modernization projects have been completed. The photos feature Mill Valley Middle School, along with Tam Valley and Old Mill Elementary Schools. These improvements wouldn't be possible without funding provided by Measure C!
Parents Place of Marin and the Marin County Office of Education present "Relational Bullying - What It Is and How To Stop It." Join us from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Marin County Office of Education for a presentation that will help you identify and learn how to prevent this common and dangerous form of bullying. Click on the Relational Bullying Workshop.pdf for more details.
Join us in the Park School auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. to hear Dr. Anna Vagin, Ph.D., discuss how to support our children to be more successful at recess and better process the social ins and outs of playground interaction. Dr. Vagin is a licensed speech and language pathologist who has been in private practice for more than 30 years and frequently consults with schools. This event is a joint presentation of Edna's PTA and ITAV. To register or for more information, please contact Ross Buffington (ross@itavmv.org).
If you're a parent of a child with a learning difference, we hope you'll join us for our next parent coffee at 186 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley. Our coffees provide parents a chance share information and support each other. Please join us. If you have questions, please contact Erica Kelly (erica.kelly@gmail.com - 381 8866).
Have You Made Your Kiddo! Donation Yet?
Your contributions to Kiddo! fund art, music, dance, drama, technology, and innovative teaching grants for the nearly 3,000 students in our district. We need every family to participate to keep these programs in place through the school year. Have you made your contribution yet? If not, donate today and save our phonathon volunteers that extra call!
ADD EDUCATION TO YOUR SHOPPING CART
WITH WHOLE FOODS SHOP KIDDO! SCRIP CARDS
Kiddo! is offering $100 Whole Foods scrip cards and will receive a 4% rebate on each card you purchase. Buy your cards at the Kiddo! office or on designated days at the elementary schools. Check with your Kiddo! rep for days and times. You receive the full $100 value AND raise funds for Kiddo! programs. Now that's smart shopping!
Don't forget you can also shop and support Kiddo! through eScrip at Safeway and Mill Valley Market's Shop & Give Program..
For more information, and Q&A. click here.
Are You Receiving Your Kiddo! eNews?
Stay current with news, events, business promotions (that can save you money), and performance schedules at your child's school(s) with the Kiddo! monthly eNews.
Highlights for November include:
• Get to know our incredible music teacher, Anna Stearns.
•Parents Night Out at Henry's Toy Shop on November 30
•Check out the new Kiddo! Website and Calendar
Don't miss a single issue! Click here to sign up.
The November 8 election is only a few weeks away, and it's crucial to get the word out about Measure B, the parcel tax renewal for the Tamalpais Union High School District, which includes Tam High.
This parcel tax is vital to the outstanding programs the district offers, as it represents 16% of the total budget, or approx. $8.8 million. A 67% majority is required for Measure B to pass, a high threshold under any circumstances, but especially in the current economic environment. It is more important than ever that we get our "yes" voters out, as this year an argument was filed against our measure.
Here's how you can help:
1. Volunteer to put a Measure B sign in a prominent spot in your yard. We'll bring it to your house-- all you have to do is choose a spot for it!
2. Vote "Yes" on Measure B either by mail or on November 8, to help preserve our great high school programs.
For more information, please e-mail Julie Kertzman at julie@kertzman.com or Laura Anderson at anderson355@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.citizens4tamdistrict.org.
Click Here to get more facts on Measure B.
This month, included in the October Kiddo! E-News, are lots of Kiddo! Business Partner Promotions that can save you money. To see the full article, click here.
Not receiving the Kiddo! eNews? To keep up with the most current news, events, business promotions, and performance schedules at your child's school(s), sign up at www.kiddo.org. Your E-News will arrive at the beginning of each month.
Join us at Park School's auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 6 to learn how to keep kids inspired, engaged and positive in spite of the pressures, stresses and distractions of modern life. Jeff Leiken, MA, will give what promises to be an enlightening talk on this important topic. For more information or to register, please contact Ross Buffington (ross@itav.org).
On Thursday, October 20, licensed psychologist Dr. Dan Peters will discuss "What Does it Mean to be Gifted?" His presentation will take place in the conference room of the Mill Valley District Office from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Eva Selig (evaselig@gmail.com or go to www.itavmv.org)
Note: Both events are open to all parents.
Thank you to all who shopped at the Whole Foods on Miller Avenue on September 14! Whole Foods donated over $3,000 to Kiddo! as a result of your purchases. It just goes to show, when we all pull together, we can make a BIG difference in our children's education. To learn more about how your contributions benefit all children in our K-8 schools, check out our website, www.kiddo.org.
Join us on Monday, September 26 at Strawberry Point School auditorium for a forum featuring three candidates running for Mill Valley School District's Board of Trustees. From 7 to 9 p.m., candidates Robert (Bob) Jacobs, Leslie Wachtel and Clifford Waldeck will introduce themselves and answer questions on various topics related to our school district. The Mill Valley Council of PTAs is hosting this event, with support from the Mill Valley Teachers Association (MVTA) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA).
Another school year has begun! Another year in which your children will experience art, music, dance, drama and poetry programs that are among the best in California--all thanks to our community's contributions to Kiddo!
Our schools are experiencing unprecedented budget cuts from the state, $1.5 million this year alone, along with reductions in property tax revenues, which provide most of the school's operating budget. To date, only 40% of our school families have made their contributions to Kiddo! We need the remaining 60% to contribute so that we can meet our program expenses for this school year. Your generous contributions help us to fund vital programs at Edna Maguire:
· Art with Jackie LaLanne, Amy Faulkner, and Katie Mostert
· K-3rd Grade Music with Nora Thomas
· 4th -5th Grade Music with Anna Stearns
· 3rd & 4th Grade Chorus with Nora Thomas
· 5th Grade Chorus with Jessica Stewart
· 5th Grade Band with Cayce Carnahan
· 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra with Phoebe Dong
· K, 4th & 5th Grade Dance with Alan Scofield
· Poetry Specialists in 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th grades
· Drama in 2nd & 5th grade
· School Technology Specialists
· Art and music supplies
· Teacher Grants
· Other district needs such as Classroom and Library Aides
The recommended contribution is $950 per student. Our schools benefit from contributions at every level--your participation makes a difference at whatever level you choose. Together we can continue to make a difference.
Our sincerest thanks to all of you who have already made your Kiddo! donation. For those of you who haven't, please show your support for our children and their schools by making your contribution to Kiddo! today at www.kiddo.org or mail your contribution to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941. You can also call the Kiddo! office at 389-7789 to arrange an installment plan that meets your family's needs.
Thank you for helping Mill Valley kids to reach their full potential. Kids need Kiddo! Kiddo! Needs YOU!
Shop for Kiddo! at Whole Foods on Miller Avenue
Shop at Whole Foods Miller Avenue on September 14, and 5% of what you spend will be donated to Kiddo! programs. So make a BIG list and stock up. Now THAT' smart shopping!
Register for eScrip
Register or update your Safeway Club, credit and debit cards on eScrip (www.escrip.com). A percentage of your purchases automatically go to Kiddo! when you shop at participating merchants, including Safeway, Mollie Stones, Paradise Foods and many others.
There are many other shopping rebate programs that benefit Kiddo!, such as Mill Valley Market (just say Kiddo! at checkout) and Whole Foods Scrip Cards. Fill out the form in your first day packet or go to the Kiddo! website for more information.
Fall Arts Festival
Come to the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival in Old Mill Park, September 24 and 25 and stop by the Kiddo! Food Booth for fabulous La Coppa coffee, delicious baked goods from Noe Valley Bakery and great Stefano's pizza. If you'd like to volunteer to work at the booth you can sign-up online at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/kiddo, email Kiddo! volunteer coordinator Wendy Johnson wrjohnson67@gmail.com or call her at 531-5311.
Stay Current - Sign up for Kiddo! E-News
Kiddo! E-News connects you with the most current news, events, business promotions, and performance schedules at your child's school. Sign up at www.kiddo.org. Your news will arrive on the first of each month.
If you're a parent of a child with a learning difference, ITAV, the Mill Valley School District's Special Education PTA, is here to provide you with support and resources. Membership is only $10 per year and includes speaker events, access to our online support forum, monthly Parent Coffees and much more. For more information, pick up a brochure at the front office. Or contact Edna's ITAV representative, Dorothy O'Donnell (dorothyodonnell@comcast.net).
We would also love to meet you at our first Parent Coffee of the year, happening this Friday, September 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. Hosted by Jade Schoenhoeft, this informal gathering will be held at 39 Mountain View Avenue.
Edna's PTA, together with It Takes a Village (ITAV)--Mill Valley School District's special education PTA-- invite you to our first parent education event of the new school year. Marin therapist Anne Asch (MFT and former Edna parent) will discuss ways to strengthen your relationship and improve your co-parenting skills using tools developed by the Gottman Relationship Institute. This event will be held in the Park School Auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Kick off your summer with a fun evening at the ballpark, June 3 at 7:15 p.m., and support our schools at the same time! Cheer on our World Champion San Francisco Giants as they take on the Colorado Rockies. And hear the Mill Valley Middle School eighth grade chorus sing the National Anthem to open the game.
The Giants will donate $8 of each $24 ticket back to Kiddo! This is a wonderful event for our community AND for Kiddo! Click here to purchase tickets or go to www.kiddo.org.
The budget for California schools has been slashed by $20 BILLION in the last three years and now faces cuts of another $4 billion. The state may lose 20,000 teachers this year, in addition to the 30,000 who have already lost their jobs. Across the state, class sizes are growing. Entire music, art and sports programs are being eliminated. Computer labs and libraries are closing. And schools are shutting down because of state budget cuts.
Imagine this happening in Mill Valley!
For several years, Kiddo! and the PTAs have been able to bridge the gap and minimize the impact of budget cuts in our classrooms. This budget year has us entering a State of Emergency! To prevent further cuts we need YOUR help! The Legislature's failure to pass a state budget that protects education and basic essential services threatens the quality of public education throughout California. YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
E-MAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS at www.castateofemergency.com:
Senator Mark Leno and Assembly Member Jared Huffman. Be sure to add in the names of our Republican leaders: Assembly Member Connie Conway and Senator Bob Dutton. Urge your lawmakers to pass a budget that includes tax extensions to protect schools, colleges and essential public services from further cuts.
ATTEND THE RALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO
Friday, May 13, Civic Center Plaza, 4 - 6 p.m.
Go to www.castateofemergency.com for more information. To learn how you can help schools in Marin, visit www.schoolsrule.org.
As adults, we understand that building compassion and kindness is a vital for establishing solid character. Some children seem to intuitively respond to others in a caring and compassioned way. Others seem reluctant to extend themselves. How can we help our kids practice and internalize these important qualities?
As I've talked about in previous articles, the family can provide many opportunities for a child to learn about the value of giving to others. You may know of a child at school or a neighbor that needs support. Several families right now are experiencing a life-threatening illness or are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Include your child in making and delivering food, a card or flowers. If a classmate is ill for an extended period, have your child accompany you to his/her home to for a visit, to deliver homework or drop off a small "get well" gift.
Many of the residents at the Redwoods retirement community don't have local emotional support. Consider contacting the Redwoods and asking if there's someone who would appreciate being read to or taken for a short walk. You and your child could also volunteer to serve the special meal during the Redwoods' monthly birthday celebration honoring residents turning one year "younger," as they like to say. The residents greatly appreciate this gesture, especially the chance to connect with young ones, on their special day.
There are countless other organizations in our county that support the homeless, sick and the poor. Your child could easily accompany you on some kind of trip to help out those people not as lucky as the majority of us in Marin. For older children, committing to some type of support on a regular basis at a school or a hospital is a wonderful way to create an atmosphere in which your child can extend himself and experience the personal rewards of giving to others. If you're not already doing so, take steps today to help your child learn that the act of giving to others is one of your family's core values!
By Claudia Trinklein-Engman, School Counselor
On May 6, Kiddo! launches its annual giving campaign for the upcoming school year. Today, our schools are in an even more difficult situation than last year as the State continues to slash education funding. Our school district expects to see a minimum of $1.5 million in cuts to next year's operating budget.
Although we continue to face financial uncertainty, last year your generous contributions allowed us to maintain core arts programs, as well as provide the Mill Valley School District with vital funding to save technology staff and library and classroom aides. With your support, our children will continue to benefit from the music, arts, technology and other vital programs that make our schools engaging and effective.
As the Mill Valley School District's primary fundraising organization, Kiddo! relies on your unwavering support for our schools. Your contributions translate directly into a high- quality education for 2800 kids in our community. Together, we can make a difference!
The requested annual contribution is again $950 per student, or more if you can manage it, to cover program costs for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. This year's donation day is more crucial than ever, so don't forget to:
Drop, Click, Mail Your Kiddo! Donation on May 6!
Drop - look for donation drop boxes at each school, making it fast and easy to donate
Click - make your donation online at kiddo.org
Mail - send your donation to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941
Parents, this workshop will provide you with "hands-on" training in Facebook. Get guidance in setting rules for postings, understanding privacy settings and sharing appropriate information. The workshop starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Marin County Office of Education. Space is limited, so register quickly to reserve a seat. Please see the FB Boot Camp flyer.pdf for registration information.
Dr. Michael Kirst, President of California's State Board of Education and Governor Brown's most trusted advisor, will be at Bel Aire School in Tiburon at 6:30 p.m. This is your chance to ask those pressing questions and voice your concerns about California's schools! Check the Dr. Kirst flyer.pdf for more details and information on e-mailing your questions/comments prior to the event.
Mike Riera, Ph.D., bestselling author and nationally known expert on parenting and child development, will speak at the Grattan School in San Francisco from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All proceeds from this enlightening event will benefit the Access Institute's programs for children and families. For more information, see the Riera Flyer.doc. To register, go to www.accessinst.org/events_2.html or call 415-861-5449.
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us at 39 Mountain View Avenue for our final coffee of this school year. If you have questions, contact Strawberry Point School parent, Jade Schoenhoeft (jadelwong@yahoo.com or 388-7749).
The Marin County Office of Education and the Marin County Chapter of the ACLU of Northern California are hosting a workshop on bullying prevention for educators, school administrators, school counselors, teachers, campus supervisors, instructional assistants, and parents. The workshop will highlight the serious nature of the widespread problem of bullying and offer strategies for preventing it. A panel of experts, including No Bully Executive Director Nicholas Carlisle will lead a discussion, answer questions and provide resources on effective action steps shown to reduce bullying in schools.
Go to http://signup.marinschools.org/safeschools.asp to register or click here: Bullying Prevention Workshop.pdf, to see the flyer.
Kids today are becoming dependent on cell phones at younger and younger ages. Get the latest information on the risks, including brain tumors, cell phone radiation poses to kids from a panel of experts. The speakers will also share steps you can take to reduce such risks. This event will be held at the Tam Valley Community Center. Please download the DCOflyer.pdf for more information.
Join us at Park School from 7 to 8 p.m. for this important panel discussion for parents of children facing one of the key transitions in their education, such as starting elementary or middle school.
Panel Members
Pre-K to Elementary - Peg Katz, Claudia Trinklein-Engman, Lisa Zimmer
Elementary to Middle School - Jennifer Boyd, Matt Huxley
Middle School to High School - Karen Mates
This event is presented by the Edna Maguire PTA and It Takes A Village Special Education PTA. For more information, contact ITAV Education Chairperson, Marianne Shine, marianne@bssp.com.
Join us in Edna's multi-purpose room from 8:35 to 9:45 a.m. for an enlightening presentation by environmental health experts Debbie Friedman (Chair of Mothers Against the Spray) and Stacy Weinberg Dieve (President of Sustainable Fairfax). They'll reveal 10 harmful products you should never buy and other valuable information to help you protect your family and the environment. A light breakfast will be served. See the EnviroTalk.pdf flyer for more information.
This informative one-day conference will focus on promoting social skills, executive functioning and socio-emotional skills in children. It will be held at Berkeley's Clark Kerr Conference Center from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Registration fees go up after April 26. To register online and for more information, go to http://bit.ly/schoolpsyc.
A giant THANK YOU to all who volunteered for and attended the Kiddo! Spring Gala on March 12. The gala's success was truly a community effort--school families contributed their musical, culinary, design, organizational, technical, and sales skills to making this year's gala one of the best ever!
With tremendous gratitude for their outstanding efforts, we thank our gala chairs Kellie Kessel, Sophia Ferro and Michele Brass. It was a pleasure to work with you throughout the process - you were always positive, willing to take risks, and work through problems in a professional manner. We thank you for your leadership and for making the evening so successful!
And to all who volunteered on a committee or worked at the event, your efforts made for a perfect evening. The tent was beautiful, the lighting great, the decorations elegant, the food outstanding, and the drinks perfect. The dance floor was packed, thanks to our very own Mill Valets. The live auction was as entertaining as it was profitable, thanks to our auction chairs, Kathy Piombo and Paige Wright Kintz, and the auction team, who enticed us with irresistible travel and dining opportunities. It was inspiring to see our community pool their considerable talents on behalf of our children!
Thank you for your tremendous outpouring of support for our public schools. You can view photos and read a full report on the evening at www.kiddo.org.
Raising children of character in a culture of affluence, high achievement and rapidly evolving technology can be challenging. This kind of environment can also contribute to pushing family members away from each other. What can you do to bring your family together? Find out at the Biggest Job Workshop, featuring Laura Denton Gauld, parenting expert, author and executive director of the Hyde Schools, a network of college preparatory schools dedicated to the development of character and leadership. The workshop will be held in Hollis Hall at the Marin County of Education. For more information or to register for this event, please contact Wanda Smith at 207-443-7101 or go to http://www.hyde.edu/2011/01/17/events/parenting-workshop-4/.
Awareness of the dangers to student athletes and others who sustain concussions is growing. Educators, school personnel, parents and students are invited to an important forum on concussions at the Marin County Office of Education. Learn what a concussion is, what to do if a child gets hit in the head, current best practices for schools and others treating these injuries, and much more
Dr. Eric Scher, MD, local pediatrician and Pediatric Hospitalist at Marin General, will be the lead presenter. Representatives from Marin County Athletic League, Marin School Nurses Organization and the Marin Brain Injury Network will also speak. Click on Heads Up Forum.pdf to see the flyer.
The Marin County Office of Education and the Marin County Chapter of the ACLU of Northern California are hosting a workshop on bullying prevention for educators, school administrators, school counselors, teachers, campus supervisors, instructional assistants, and parents. The workshop will highlight the serious nature of the widespread problem of bullying and offer strategies for preventing it. A panel of experts, including No Bully Executive Director Nicholas Carlisle will lead a discussion, answer questions and provide resources on effective action steps shown to reduce bullying in schools.
Go to http://signup.marinschools.org/safeschools.asp to register or click on Bullying Prevention Workshop.pdf to see the flyer.
Join us at Park School from 7 to 8 p.m. for this important panel discussion for parents of children facing one of the key transitions in their education, such as starting elementary or middle school.
Panel Members
- Pre-K to Elementary - Peg Katz, Claudia Trinklein-Engman, Lisa Zimmer
- Elementary to Middle School - Jennifer Boyd, Matt Huxley
- Middle School to High School - Karen Mates
This event is presented by the Edna Maguire PTA and It Takes A Village Special Education PTA. For more information, contact ITAV Education Chairperson, Marianne Shine, marianne@bssp.com.
Giving your child responsibilities at home is vitally important to his character development. He needs to understand that he's a working part of the family. And that the family unit--and its individual members--relies on him in order to be productive.
Children need to have chores. They need to see their own personal involvement within the family structure --and also see that their completed chores are appreciated and expected by the family. Chores obviously need to be age-appropriate. And it's up to parents to decide whether or not chores are attached to monetary reward.
But, regardless of a family's position on allowances, I believe strongly that there also ought to be some jobs that are not attached to money. Many of us clean our own toilets. Probably all of us see to it that dishes are cleaned and put away on a routine basis. Parents do not get monetary rewards for a job well done. Children must understand that within any communal system, there are obligations that simply need to be done. They might complain about this being unfair: "How come my sister gets all the easy jobs?" My advice is to avoid getting into a debate over who has the "best deal." You can always rotate chores to solve this problem. But the underlying principle is that everyone in the family needs to understand they are part of a working team.
Taking responsibility is not just about chores. It also carries over to being respectful of each other, being honest and responsible in general. Turning in your homework is being a responsible student. Not littering is being a responsible society member. Doing what you say you will do is being respectful and morally responsible. Expect your child to be responsible. Model the same behavior yourself. Our communities need everyone to do their share in order to thrive.
By Claudia Trinklein-Engman, School Counselor
Parenting children with learning differences is often challenging. ITAV's parent coffees provide a chance for us to share information and support each other. Please join us this Friday at 312 Durant Way for our next coffee. Questions? Contact Tam Valley School parent, Antonette Greene (anto@dormanarchitect.com or 380-8696).
Ralph Cantor, a specialist in violence and drug prevention, will discuss techniques and strategies for helping teens avoid substance abuse and addiction. Parents of middle and high school students, and other community members, are welcome. This event will be held in the Community Room of the Marin County Office of Education, from 7 to 8 p.m. To RSVP, call 415-499-5816. See the Drug Prevention Flyer.pdf for more information.
Kiddo! Funds at Work at Edna Maguire
In the last issue of the Pony, we provided a few highlights of how Kiddo! Mini Grants are enriching our students' education. Below is a more detailed article from Kiddo! explaining how these grants are being used by Edna teachers this year.
Congratulations to Edna Maguire teachers Nora Thomas, Jenny Leogrande, Lisa Stapp, and Judith Barry for winning Kiddo! Mini-Grants for this school year! Teresa Shern, Aubry O'Connor and Adam Sanchez will also be receiving funds for "America Sings" through Kiddo!'s Drama Block Grants. Thanks to your generous donations, Kiddo! can provide annual grants to our teachers to foster innovative programs in their classrooms. The $17,000 that funded these programs included a generous donation of $5,000 from the Mill Valley Rotary Club. The remaining $12,000 was raised by parents at Kiddo!'s 2009 Spring Gala who lifted their paddles for "Fund-a-Need."
Thanks to Nora Thomas's grant, Edna Maguire students will attend a performance of the String Quartet Eos Ensemble, led by violinist and Edna Maguire parent, Craig Reiss. The interactive performance will demonstrate such elements of music as harmony, melody, rhythm, pitch, and tempo. Students will have an opportunity to conduct, sing, and rearrange a "musical puzzle."
Jenny Leogrande's grant will also benefit the classrooms of Julie Bremer, Nandita Stachon, and Shana Stewart by bringing local dance instructor Annie Leese (Artistic Director, Performing Arts Academy of Marin) to Edna's first graders. Her "American Dance through the Decades" program will begin with a 1910 soft shoe routine and culminate with 1970's disco. These dance classes will provide a physical and creative outlet to the students as well as an education in American culture.
Lisa Stapp is excited to introduce multi-cultural history to Edna Maguire. Her grant, in combination with PTA funding, will bring the Eth-Noh-Tec troupe to the entire school. This innovative performance company will showcase Asian stories and folktales, bringing to life this ancient and influential culture.
Judith Barry submitted an application on behalf of all Edna third grade teachers including: Katie Govi, Kimba Lackey and Carrie Morgan. This award will allow the third grade students to generate and perform a musical "wrap/review" of their academic year of learning. This musical synthesis will present their year of learning, while allowing the children to gain a deeper appreciation for performing/visual arts. The act of creating the musical for the school community will encourage the students to develop oral communication, social, and life skills. The project will culminate in a performance for their parents and the school community.
"We are extremely fortunate to be able to enhance our children's already rich curricula with these creative programs," said Trisha Garlock, Kiddo!'s executive director. "But none of it would be possible without the incredible support of our parents and community at large."
For more information on the Kiddo! Mini-Grant program and this year's recipients, please visit www.Kiddo.org or call the Kiddo! office at 389-7789.
Kiddo! Gala Tickets on Sale NOW
Join us for an evening of great food, wine, and dancing at the Kiddo! Gala on Saturday, March 12. The party goes from 5:30 p.m. until midnight at the Mill Valley Community Center. Don't delay your ticket purchase! This popular event always sells out, and the price goes up on March 1. Get your tickets at www.kiddogala.org. You can buy individual tickets or organize a table of 10.
Our silent and live auction is packed with fabulous gifts, services, art, food, wine, and travel packages. The online auction begins on March 1. The gala website has all the details.
District-wide Art Show at the Mill Valley Community Center
Please stop by the Mill Valley Community Center between February 25 and March 30 to see artwork created by students from all six schools. The exhibition includes work from students in grades K-8, and artwork is beautifully framed and displayed in the Community Center lobby. On Tuesday, March 1, there will be a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. to celebrate our young artists. You can view the exhibit Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parents of a child with a learning difference face many challenges. Our monthly coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us for our next parent coffee, which will be held at 312 Durant Way, Mill Valley, from 9 to 11 a.m. We look forward to seeing you! If you have questions, contact Tam Valley School parent, Antonette Greene (anto@dormanarchitect.com; 380-8696).
Have you noticed? Thank you signs are up on the Kiddo! thermometers: your donations have met the $2.2 million goal for your children's programs! Thank you to all of the wonderful parents, grandparents, local businesses, and community members who helped us reach our $2.2 million* 2010 Annual Campaign fundraising goal! In these difficult economic times, it is heartening to see our community continue to invest in one of our most valuable assets, our children's educations. Working together, we will continue to provide the vital arts and technology programs as well as the classroom and library aides our students need.
*While we are particularly pleased to have met this ambitious fundraising goal, it's important to note that the $2.2 million includes $350,000 pledged by supporters but not yet received. We want to thank all of our supporters who have sent us their contributions and we urge those who have not yet done so to fulfill their pledges so we can, in turn, fulfill our commitment to Mill Valley's school children.
The Kiddo! Supporter List is Coming Soon!
We are working on our donor list for the Kiddo! spring newsletter as a public "thank you" to all of our donors who've joined us to help the children of Mill Valley public schools reach their full potential. Please take a moment to check our online donor list for any omissions or errors in your name. The list includes all donations received by December 31. If you believe you have contributed, but do not appear on the list, please contact the Kiddo! office at 389-7794 so we can include your name in our March newsletter.
Gala News
If you missed our e-mail, check out the Kiddo! Gala and Auction website at www.kiddogala.org. Mark your calendars for March 12 and send in your donations for the auction ASAP. You won't want to miss this fabulous party!
Part-Time Job Opportunity At Kiddo!
Kiddo! is looking for an energetic person who is passionate about providing arts and other important programs in our schools to be our Business Programs Manager. This person will be responsible for overseeing the Annual Business Partnership Campaign. Duties include management and administration of the following areas: Kiddo! Business Committee, Kiddo! Business Partnerships, Kiddo! Business Partner Promotions and Event Sponsorships, and Shop-4-Kids programs, including eScrip development and administration. This part-time position will begin in February and averages 20-25 hours per week with a flexible schedule for summer and school holidays. Candidate must be outgoing and able to interact effectively with businesses and donors. Candidate must also be detail oriented and have good computer skills. Fundraising experience preferred. If you are interested, please email your resume to: tgqarlock@kiddo.org or mail to Kiddo!, 409 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 by February 8.
The Kiddo! Spring Gala is coming! Pease join us for a fun night of dining and dancing at the Mill Valley Community Center. We will also have live, silent auction and online auctions. The Auction Committee is busy gathering wonderful items to bid on, but we need the help of the entire parent community. Can you help with any of the following?
Parties: Gather some friends and host or help underwrite a fabulous party. No party is too big or too small!
Wine collectors: Consider donating a wine vertical, a big bottle or a specially engraved bottle to the Kiddo! auction.
Food lovers: We're looking for families with connections to restaurants or chefs who can help us put together dining gift certificates, a private dining experience for a group of people with a (known) chef, a cooking class for a group, or any other fun food ideas.
Travelers: Have some miles to use up, or maybe an available vacation home or timeshare, or a hotel contact?
Sports fans: Do you or your friends have access to sporting event tickets, luxury boxes, or sports memorabilia?
Connections: Do you know someone in the movie industry, TV or radio? People love to bid on behind the scenes tours or autographed items.
If you or anyone you know can help us with these items, please submit an auction donor form (available on www.kiddo.org) or contact one of our Silent Auction chairs: Paige Wright Kintz (845-3702) d_paige_wright@yahoo.com and Kathy Piombo (336-4569) kathypiombo@comcast.net.
Kiddo! Gala Sponsorship: Our gala publications offer sponsors high visibility with our Mill Valley School District families as well as with the local community. Sponsor donation levels and associated benefits are available at www.kiddogala.org.
Kids of all ages tell lies. Older kids don't go where they say they're going or don't arrive home when they're supposed to. Parents are usually angry or terribly worried. It's natural for youngsters to test the family system and the consistency of the rules. And as parents, we obviously need to enforce family rules, logically and quickly.
This topic also ties in with the concept of community I've discussed in previous articles. When a parent says that lying and deceitful behavior won't be tolerated, in part, it is because the family community is based on honesty and integrity. In order for any community to exist in a positive way, its members must trust and rely on one another. It's the responsible thing to do. And frankly, it ought to be the expected thing to do.
Here is where moral character by example is of paramount importance. We, as the adults in the family, need to be truthful as well. Not just with our children so that they experience how a truthful environment operates, but also with others.
If we demand that our children let us know where they are going to be and to come home when asked, then we need to follow the same rules. In my household--even long after my children left--there's a notepad by the back door. It is expected and non-negotiable that if no one is home when a person leaves, then each of our whereabouts (either specifically or generally) and the time of our return need to be documented. In certain cases, a contact number is also appropriate.
Family members may object. But when a family values honesty and accountability, everyone needs to support these values continuously. And when what we teach at home is the same as what's taught in our schools, children understand that honesty and integrity are universal moral qualities.
By Claudia Trinklein-Engman, School Counselor
Shop Locally this Holiday Season
We appreciate our Kiddo! Business Partners for helping us all year long. Now we can support them by shopping locally during the holiday season. Click here for a wonderful list of holiday shopping ideas from our Kiddo! Business Partners.
Kiddo! December Newsletter
There are a myriad of Kiddo! music performances in December. Check out the December issue of our newsletter for the complete schedule. You'll also find information on the 2010-11 Teacher Mini-grant Awards and much, much more.
Wanted: Auction Items for Kiddo! Spring Gala!
Mark your calendars for the Kiddo! Spring Gala, March 12, 2011. This first-class party will be held at the Mill Valley Community Center. Enjoy a fun night of superb food, excellent live music, dancing, and socializing with friends from all over town.
You can also purchase extraordinary products and services through our silent, live and on-line auctions. All proceeds benefit Kiddo! The auction committee is seeking YOUR best ideas for our live and silent auctions. Dinner parties, hotels and restaurants, weekend getaways, and wine are all popular items. More specific auction item information will be included in the January newsletter. If you would like to make an auction item contribution, you can download the auction donation form at www.kiddo.org. Thank you, and see you at the Spring Gala!
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By: Claudia Trinklein-Engman, School Counselor
A young adolescent came to see me the other day and announced that she and her family had just returned from a trip to the South to visit some relatives. In the past, these people had always visited Mill Valley. This was the girl's family's first visit to their small town in Alabama. With a half-smile, she said: "You know, no one looked like me. I don't mean white. I just mean, you know, like me. They didn't talk like me, they didn't dress like me and they certainly didn't believe the same stuff as me."
This middle school female experienced deep culture shock. She said that most of the time she was there, all she wanted to do was come home to where she felt she belonged. In this case, perhaps more exposure to different life styles and culture would be in order. But from a more global perspective, we all need to appreciate that people elsewhere are not necessarily like people in Mill Valley.
You don't need to go to the South to discover this and, hopefully, build more tolerance for different people. Visit Chinatown or other ethnic communities in San Francisco. Or explore San Rafael's Canal District. Have the whole family observe the differences and similarities between these communities and Mill Valley. Shop in their markets and notice the different product labels and foods. Mi Casa and the oriental market behind Whole Foods, both in San Rafael, are incredible. Cook new foods, learn a word in a different language and perhaps use it in one of these groceries. Experience dance from other cultures. Watch movies about other areas--the Mill Valley Film Festival usually has many to offer.
You can build tolerance and empathy in your own neighborhoods as well. Branch out a bit and see if there might be a needy child or family in your community. Perhaps a child needs a ride to and from school. (A child who probably wouldn't be an automatic choice as a friend for your kids.) Youngsters often experience differences as threatening. As parents, we need to expose our kids to different people, environments and belief systems. We need to teach them that differences can be enriching and healthy. Differences help us learn about others--and about ourselves.
School Counselor Claudia Trinklein-Engman discusses how parents can help kids practice the character building skills they're learning in class at home and in the community. Click here to read the complete article.
I recently came across what I think is a great article about how to raise children with healthy character. I felt this information was simply too good not to pass on. Dr. Kevin Ryan--who is affiliated with the Boston University School of Education--wrote the article, and I took the liberty of augmenting it with some of my own thoughts.-- Claudia Trinklein-Engman, School Counselor
How Specifically Do Parents Raise Children of Healthy Character?
1. Put parenting first on your agenda. Our world is filled with a multitude of personal demands. But by far the most important one--and the one that will reap the most rewards-- is good, solid parenting. Absolutely nothing can substitute for positive concern and guidance from a child's parent. As parents, we do not have a huge amount of time each day-- or week, for that matter-- to spend with our children. Make that time count! Include your children in your lives. And include yourself in theirs.
2. Be a positive and good example. And if you "blow it" (and we all do at some point) admit your mistake and try to correct it.
3. Watch carefully what your child is exposed to. A child of any age is like a sponge. The books they read, the songs they sing, and the videos they watch are continuously delivering and exposing our youngsters to moral and immoral messages. We, as parents, need to control what our children see and hear.
4. Always use language of character yourself.
5. When you need to punish your children, do it from a reasonable perspective. Children need boundaries, limits, and an understanding of right and wrong. Punishment needs to teach our children how to make better decisions. It should be a way that children learn how to be productive members of society.
6. Listen to your children. Take them seriously and set aside specific time for only them.
7. Get involved with your child's school.
8. Make a big, consistent deal about the daily family meal. It is where so much teaching and values are passed on to our children.
9. Don't just preach good moral character - model it for your child. We need to have good work habits, strong self-discipline and kind behavior to others.
