Parent Education Opportunities

Last updated May 29, 2010

 
WELCOME TO THE PARENT ED PAGE!
PTA Council's index to parent education opportunities throughout the Palo Alto area. Please explore -- and if you know of interesting events we've missed, please let us know -- write to us at eNews@paloaltopta.org.
 

To submit an item, please click here. Items that are partisan, sectarian, discriminatory, commercial, or otherwise inappropriate will not be accepted. PTA Council retains sole editorial discretion. PTA strives for accuracy, but cannot be responsible for errors.
 
HOT TOPICS

 
24/7 CRISIS PHONE NUMBERS
See below, under "Resources" -- click here.
 

 
ADVOCACY
Election Info, debates and forums --
   Watch debates online!  [details]
 
RECENT TALKS & ONLINE INFO
•  NEW Ken Ginsburg DVD. [details]
•  EdSource Forum 2010. [videos]
•  Ken Ginsburg on Resilience [videos]
 
         
 
LEARNING & COMMUNITY
Youth Art Show & Cultural Kaleidoscope. Now to May 30 [details]
 
SPECIAL EDUCATION
ADHD Support Group.
   Thu May 20. [details]
Sibling Support Group for Teens.
   Sun Jun 6. [details]
 




QUICK CALENDAR

 
 
 
  PTA Units  
 
  PTA -- Council,  
 
  PAUSD & City  
 
 
 
 
    
 
  District, & State  
 
   
 
         
 
Order by Tue Jun 1 NEW  Ken Ginsburg DVD from PTA Council, only $2 !!
 
       
  "Building Resilience" Videos now online -- [part 1] [part 2]  
  EdSource Conference Videos now online -- [click here]  
  BookLetters and Learning Express, new services from Palo Alto City Library!  
       
  Now thru Sun May 30 Youth Art Show & Cultural Kaleidoscope  
       
  Tue Jun 1 School Board Meeting  
  Fri Jun 4 PTA Council: Honorary Service Awards Luncheon  
  Sun Jun 6 Sibling Support Group for Teens (Mountain View)  
  Sun Jun 20 Palo Alto World Music Day  
  Tue Jun 22 School Board Meeting  
       
  Mon Jul 5 - Fri Jul 30 Classic Math School Summer Math Camp  
       
     


ADVOCACY

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   NONPARTISAN ELECTION INFO.
The June 8 Primary Election ballot is lengthy, so please inform yourself in advance. Two excellent resources:
•
 [Easy Voter Guide]
•
 [SmartVoter]
State PTA has not taken a position on any Propositions on the June 8 ballot.
Please inform yourself, and don't forget to vote!
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION -- CANDIDATES DEBATE.
•
 Larry Aceves
•
 Diane Lenning
•
 Gloria Romero
•
 and Tom Torlakson
are candidates in the June 8 Primary Election race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (a nonpartisan office), to replace Jack O'Connell, who will be termed out at the end of 2010. On Fri Apr 30, At the State PTA Convention, they debated the issues. Watch the debate online, [here].
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   CANDIDATES' FORUM: "THE FUTURE
OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA"
•
 Josh Becker (Founder, Full Circle Fund),
•
 Rich Gordon (Supervisor in San Mateo County),
•
 and Yoriko Kishimoto (former Mayor of Palo Alto)
are candidates in the June 8 Democratic Primary race for the 21st Assembly District, to replace Ira Ruskin, who will be termed out at the end of 2010.
At a Candidates' Forum on Sat May 8, they responded to questions on education issues. The video of this Forum is now [online], in an indexed format.
The entire forum will also be replayed on Comcast Cable (in PA, Menlo Park, & nearby cities) and simultaneously streamed online [here]. Schedule:
•
 Sat May 29 2 p.m. Channel 27
•
 Sat May 29 4:30 p.m. Channel 28
•
 Sat May 29 7 p.m. Channel 27
•
 Sun May 30 6:30 a.m. Channel 27
•
 Tue Jun 1 12 a.m. Channel 27
•
 Tue Jun 1 5 a.m. Channel 28
•
 Tue Jun 1 1:30 p.m. Channel 30
•
 Tue Jun 1 9:30 p.m. Channel 30
•
 Wed Jun 2 1 p.m. Channel 27
•
 Thu Jun 3 5:30 p.m. Channel 30
•
 Thu Jun 3 9 p.m. Channel 27
•
 Fri Jun 4 9 p.m. Channel 30
•
 Sat Jun 5 10 a .m. Channel 28
•
 Sat Jun 5 2 p.m. Channel 27
•
 Sat Jun 5 7 p.m. Channel 27
For this and other local candidate forum videos, see http://www.midpenmedia.org/elections_pri_2010.html
 
   
     
 
P-5
6-8
9-14
   CALIFORNIA AT A CROSSROADS:
CRISIS AND OPPORTUNITY.
EdSource 2010   Crisis or Opportunity—which is it? In California, it is often both! With almost 6.3 million K-12 students and 2.9 million community college students, California's K-14 budget, policy, and reform issues are always important—and certainly this year is no different.
This year's EdSource Forum included a state K-14 budget update & projection, the release of a groundbreaking study of middle grades in California, two candidates running for the important office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two high-level community college leaders in their first joint moderated discussion.
The forum was held March 29, 2010, in Santa Clara. If you missed it, here's another opportunity: just [click here] to watch all the presentations!
EdSource is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit whose mission is to clarify complex education issues and to promote thoughtful policy decisions about public school improvement. It was established in 1977 by the California State PTA, the League of Women Voters of California, and the American Association of University Women—California chapter.
 
     
     


COLLEGE & CAREER

 
10-12
   COLLEGE FAIRS.
Is it time to decide which postsecondary option is right for you? Plan to attend a College Fair for info on:
•
 Admission requirements
•
 Testing
•
 Financial aid
•
 College Majors
Before you go -- some brief & useful web pages:
•
 "Making the Most of a College Fair"
•
 "Faring Well at College Fairs"
•
 "Prep for the Fair"
•
 "Tips for Visual & Performing Arts Students"
Upcoming College Fairs include:
•
 Sat Apr 17, NACAC Nat'l College Fair, in SF.
 
   
     
 
10-12
   LEARNING EXPRESS, A NEW RESOURCE.
This new service from your Palo Alto City Library (PACL) gives you online skills improvement, test prep, and practice tests for PSAT, SAT, ACT, & more. It's all FREE, but you must have a City of Palo Alto Library Card (also FREE). [Click here], then scroll down to "Practice Tests" (right-hand column).
 
     
     


COMMUNITY

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PAUSD'S YOUTH ART SHOW
& CULTURAL KALEIDOSCOPE.
Come see art works by students, K through 12, in all our schools! [web site]
Now thru Sun May 30, Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd. [map] Free.
   Daytime hours Tue-Sat 10 to 5, Sun 1 to 5. Evenings Tue-Thu 7 to 10.
Wed May 12, opening reception 4 to 7 p.m.; remarks & awards 6 p.m.
Other venues displaying K-5 artwork:
•
 PAUSD District Office, 25 Churchill Ave. [map]
•
 Stanford School of Education, Cubberley Hall, 485 Lasuen Mall [map]
•
 Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield [map]
•
 Union Bank of California, 400 University Ave. [map]
•
 Kepler's Bookstore, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park [map]
Info: Emily Marshall, emarshall@pausd.org, 329-3939.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
PAUSD logo   Everyone is welcome. [agenda]
(Agenda for each regular meeting is be posted the Friday before the meeting.)
Tue Jun 1, Board Room, 25 Churchill, 6:30 p.m. [map]
Regular meetings are cablecast live on Comcast Ch 28; also [webcast]
Future regular meetings: Tue Jun 22.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   SAVE THE DATE -- PTA COUNCIL
HONORARY SERVICE AWARDS LUNCHEON.
Grass Roots Volunteerism -- growing it from the ground up! Please join us in celebrating this year's honorees.
Fri Jun 4, Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel, 11:30 to 1:00.
Location: 4290 El Camino Real [map]
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PALO ALTO WORLD MUSIC DAY.
A free music festival that takes place each year, around the Summer Solstice, in cities around the world. In Palo Alto, professional & amateur musical groups will perform a wide variety of musical genres -- jazz, classical, pop, rock, world music, choirs, etc. -- on street corners & plazas. All performances are FREE & open to the public. Last year we had 42 musical groups! It's a fun and unique family event not to be missed. Save the date, & and tell your friends! The organizers are now looking for musicians and event volunteers from our community, including students from our schools.
Sun Jun 20, 3-7:30 pm, University Ave., King Plaza (City Hall), & surrounding streets.
Info: www.pamusicday.org or info@pamusicday.org. [flyer] [Facebook]
Sponsors include City of Palo Alto, PA Weekly, Palo Alto Online, PA Recreation Foundation, PA Chamber of Commerce, PA Downtown Business & Professional Association, and News for Chinese.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PTA COUNCIL TOWN HALL.
~ Mandarin Immersion ~ Everyday Math ~ Teacher Raises & Merit Pay ~
~ Academic Challenge & the Strategic Plan Promise ~
~ Start Times: High School Day & School Year ~
~ Flexible Performance Grouping ~ High Speed Rail and Paly ~
~ Writing Program ~  Electronic White Boards ~
At the PTAC Town Hall on Oct 26, 2009, Board Members Barb Mitchell and Dana Tom took questions live & electronically with candor & good humor, providing our community a casual setting & candid insight into district matters that concerned you. The recorded Town Hall session (audio only) is now available:
On the web: [click here], enter your name & e-mail, then click Submit.
By phone: US/Canada, 1-888-899-7904; other countries, 1+706-679-5560.
   When prompted, enter 095918299#. Commands during playback:
3 => Fast forward 30 seconds # Pause / Resume
7 <= Go back 30 seconds * Exit
We are collecting new questions for future Town Hall forums, so if you had questions that were not asked/answered, email them to TownHall@paloaltopta.org.
 
     
     


GATE (GIFTED & TALENTED EDUCATION)

     
     
     


HEALTH

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   24/7 CRISIS PHONE NUMBERS.
See under "Resources", below -- click here.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   NEW  RESILIENCY EXPERT
DR. KEN GINSBURG -- NOW ON DVD!
This PTA Council DVD features two presentations by Dr. Ken Ginsburg:
•
 25 Mar 2010, to parents & educators, "Building Resilience in Children & Teens: Preparing Our Children for Life."
•
 26 Mar 2010, to Gunn students: "Real Success."
A great way to learn & to share, with parents, teachers, & students, info on resiliency from one of our nation's leading health experts.
Only $2 -- order by Tue Jun 1. [details & order form]
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   KEN GINSBURG VIDEO --
"BUILDING RESILIENCE".
On Thu Mar 25, at Gunn, Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg spoke to a capacity crowd about "Building Resilience in Children & Teens: Preparing Our Children for Life." Missed it? See it now, online! [video part 1] [video part 2] [story (Palo Alto Online)]
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH UNIVERSITY.
Health University logo   Families & Caregivers -- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers Your Child's Health University, a series of programs & classes that enhance the lives of parents and children. Get insights from clinical experts and participate in community health events; learn how to keep your children safe and healthy! [details & index]
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   KIDSCAL.
kidscal logo   kidscal.org -- a calendar of children's health events,
from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health.
 
     
     


LEADERSHIP TRANING

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PTA LEADERSHIP TRAINING.
A big "Thank you!" to all who have volunteered to serve on PTA boards, at your child's school or on PTA Council! To help you hit the ground running, PTA provides many opportunities for new officers & chairs to learn about their positions, and for experienced folks to strengthen & deepen their knowledge and skills. Learn more, & network with your colleagues!
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PTA FALL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES .
Sixth District PTA and several of its Councils will hold training events in the fall, to help you prepare for the new school year!
Dates & locations to be determined -- info posted here as it becomes available..
 
     
     


LEARNING

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   BOOKLETTERS, FOR ALL BOOK LOVERS!
This new service from your Palo Alto City Library (PACL) makes it easy to sign up for enewsletters, browse awards lists, & much more, including --
bookletters
•
 genre- & age-related newsletters & awards lists;
•
 PACL's own enewsletters such as PACL Kids & Teen Zone;
•
 What's Going On @ the Library?;
•
 Fiction and non-fiction bestsellers lists from the NY Times;
•
 Kids' picture books and chapter books;
•
 Audio list of new books on CD;
Plus -- heard about an interesting book on the radio or TV, but didn't write it down? At the end of each week, Books on the Air comes out with a list of what was on!
So [take a look] and browse the lists. Sign up for as many as you want; choose email or RSS feed. it's easy to cancel a list at any time.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   EDUCATION INFO ONLINE.
SCHOOLS, TEACHING, & LEARNING
•
 CDE -- California Dept of Education
•
 CFTL - Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning
•
 Ed-Data
•
 EdSource
•
 PTA -- California State PTA
•
 PTA -- National PTA
SCHOOL FUNDING (OR THE LACK OF IT)
•
 CBP -- California Budget Project
•
 LAO -- Legislative Analyst's Office
•
 PPIC -- Public Policy Institute of California
 
     
     


PARENTING

 
4-5
6-7
  HEART TO HEART.
LPCH logo   A seminar on growing up, for parents & kids age 10 to 12. Separate sessions for girls & for boys.
Two sessions (it's important to come to both).
For girls & moms: Wed Jan 6 & 13; Sun Jan 24 & 31; Wed Feb 3 &10; etc.
For boys & dads: Mon Jan 25 & Feb 1; Wed Feb 17 & 24; Sun Mar 7 &14; etc.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Community Education Classroom P140.
Location: 1520 Page Mill Rd. [map & parking info]
$75 for the two sessions. [full details, incl more dates & other locations]
Info & registration, 724-3783.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   CLASSES at CHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL.
CHC logo   A wide variety of classes about children & parenting, birth thru adolescence. Many classes are free. [Info] about all classes. Click for [brochure] with classes for Sep 2009-Jan 2010.
Registration (required): parented@chconline.org or 617-3806.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PARENTS PLACE ON THE PENINSULA.
Parents Place logo   "Everything to do with parenting" for families with children of all ages. Professional advice; workshops; adult, child & family counseling; peer support groups; drop-in play area; child development & parenting resource library;
tutor/mentor program; community service programs for teens.
[Info] Contact, ParentsPlacePeninsula@jfcs.org, 688-3040.
 
     
     


SAFETY

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   COMMON SENSE MEDIA.
Common Sense Media logo   Everything from reviews & ratings of movies & video games to info about videos, music, social networking, & much, much more.
Common Sense Media is an Allied Agency of the California State PTA.
 
     
     


SPECIAL EDUCATION

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   ADHD SUPPORT GROUP
We will discuss a wide range of issues, and information will be provided regarding managing ADHD at home and at school. Behavior management, getting chores and homework done, managing school, organization, time management and study skills, and how to get help at school through 504 Plans and IEPs. Come get your questions answered, and share your experiences with other parents. The meetings sometimes feature guest speakers. FREE; no sign-up necessary.
Dates to be announced, Morrissey-Compton Educational Center, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Location: 2555 Park Ave, Palo Alto [map]
Info: Janet Dafoe, 650-208-1224.
Sponsor: CAC for Special Education.
 
     
     
 
8
9-12
   SIBLING SUPPORT GROUP FOR TEENS.
Teen Sibshop For teens ages 13-17 with siblings with special needs or chronic illness. Brothers & sisters of kids with disabilities now have a chance to meet, have fun, & talk with other teens whose sibs have special needs. They can talk about the good and not-so-good parts of having special siblings, while having a great time playing awesome games such as ping-pong, volleyball, & other indoor & outdoor fun. Brothers & sisters may have feelings that are difficult to express, even to a friend or parent. Teen Sibshops provide peer support & also an opportunity to learn more about a sibling’s disability. Most important, Teen Sibshops are fun!
Sun Jun 6, El Camino YMCA Teen Center, 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: 2400 Grant Rd., Mountain View. [map]
$15 donation to cover materials.
Questions: Leslie Vasquez, 408-727-5775 x144, lesliev@php.com..
Info about Sibshops, [click here].
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PARENTS HELPING PARENTS.
PHP has an excellent index to additional events for parents of children with special needs. [Click here]. See also below, under "Resources".
 
     
     


RESOURCES

 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   NEW  24/7 CRISIS PHONE NUMBERS.
650-424-0852 Adolescent Counseling Services
650-321-5272 Kara Grief Support & Education
650-326-6576 Family & Children's Services
408-980-9801 Centre for Living with Dying
650-494-8420 Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Hotline
408-279-8288 Teenline / Crisis Intervention
650-573-3950 Youth & Family Enrichment Services Alcohol & Drug Hotline
408-279-8228 County Psychological Assn. Parental Stress Hotline
415-865-5555 LGBTQ Youth Support Hotline
408-270-8182 PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays)
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   COMMON SENSE MEDIA.
Common Sense Media logo   Everything from reviews & ratings of movies & video games to info about videos, music, social networking, & much, much more.
Common Sense Media is an Allied Agency of the California State PTA.
 
     
     
 
K-5
6-8
9-12
   PARENTS HELPING PARENTS.
PHP logo   PHP's family resource & service staff helps families who have children of any age (infancy thru adulthood) with special needs. It's never too late to call PHP! Adult siblings with responsibility for the care of their sibling with a disability call PHP too.
 
     
     


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