Pay It Forward Tutoring at Leland High in Almaden Valley

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Pay It ForwardWhat does the term ‘pay it forward’ mean? It means if you have benefitted from a philanthropic act, you repay by helping another person in need instead of the one who was originally kind to you. In other words, instead of paying back, you pay it forward. In Almaden, a group of altruistic high schoolers are doing just that with ‘Pay It Forward Tutoring’.

The Pay It Forward team comprises a group of highly motivated students from Leland High who “understand the value and impact of education in their lives and in the community”. And their way of giving back to the community is by tutoring elementary and middle school children throughout the year in various subjects.

The program benefits Reading Partners, a non-profit organization that, in turn, works nationally to offer in-school, one-on-one tutoring to needy students as well as helps them develop literacy skills.

For their tutoring service, the Pay It Forward team accepts donations made out directly to Reading Partners. The team estimates that this year the donations received will help sustain individual tutoring for more than 1,300 students in the Bay Area alone. To this end, they expect to raise $10,000. So, if you have a child at home in need of tutoring, don’t wait. Reach out to http://www.payitforwardtutoringsj.org and help pay it forward!

Back-to-School Tips for Parents

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Back-to-school tipsSummer is over and school is officially in session! Here are some back-to-school tips to ensure that your child’s school year proceeds smoothly.

Plan healthy meals and snacks. Be sure your child gets breakfast before the morning school bell rings, because breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For lunch and snacks, make sure your child has a combination of protein, fruits, and vegetables to give them energy to last throughout the school day.

Meet the teacher(s). Attend open houses and orientations, and make personal contact with each of your child’s teachers sooner rather than later to let them know you are involved in your child’s education and eager to stay connected with them.

Set up a routine. Routines help everyone stay on track, including you as a parent. In addition to night and morning routines, have an after-school routine as well. Consider allowing for a little bit of playtime before getting started on homework or beginning after-school activities. Most importantly, make sure your child gets some rest between activities and plenty of sleep at night.

Bullying. Talk to your child about the right course of action to take when he or she encounters bullying at or outside of school, whether it’s physical, verbal, or cyber-bullying. For more resources about bullying, click here.

Safety. Make sure your child gets to school safely. If they bike, make sure they wear a helmet. If they walk, remind them “Head up, phone down” to keep aware of their surroundings.

Sources:

http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/8-essential-back-to-school-tips-for-parents/

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/back-to-school/back-to-school-tips-for-parents/

Almaden Soccer’s 1st Annual 5K/10K “Kick-off” Run

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Running shoesIs one of your New Year’s resolutions to participate in more fitness activities? If so, here’s an opportunity to start off 2015 with a “bang!” Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League and Almaden FC is holding their first annual “Kick Off” run on January 1st at Leland High School. This fun event is open to runners and walkers of all ages; everyone is welcome. For the competitive set, medals will be awarded to the top finishers, and all participants who finish their race will receive a pin. Although entrants can register the day of the race, they can receive a discount by registering earlier. For more information, visit www.almadensoccer.org

Almaden Community Center’s Fall 2013 Activity Guide

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community-center-activity-guide-fall-2013Almaden Community Center Activity Guide includes all of the programs, classes, and activities planned for the Almaden Community Center in Fall 2013.

Almaden Valley residents have a variety of classes and activities from which to choose. There’s something for everyone – from toddlers to seniors.

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Summer Art Classes at Cindy Art Studio

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cindy-of-cindy-art-studioIn addition to its regular weekly art classes, Cindy Art Studio is offering more than one dozen different special Summer art classes for children ages 5 and above.

Classes in standard media include drawing and painting, oil painting, acrylic painting, and sketching. Classes in mixed media include 3D sculpture, diorama making, rock painting, card making, and character design. Classes in specialized media include 2-toned portrait in oil, abstract painting, animal drawing, and fantasy art.

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Almaden Community Center’s Summer 2013 Activity Guide

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almaden-activity-guide-summer-2013Almaden Community Center Activity Guide includes all of the programs, classes, and activities planned for the Almaden Community Center in Summer 2013.

Almaden Valley residents have a variety of classes and activities from which to choose. There’s something for everyone – from toddlers to seniors.

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Almaden Equestrian Center 2013 Summer Horse Camp

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photo: Almaden Summer Horse CampAlmaden Summer Horse Camp is for kids, ages 6-16, who like horses, crafts, and more! Almaden Summer Horse Camp is hosted at Almaden Equestrian Center in the Almaden Valley. The camp is a fantastic way for children to learn riding or develop higher level riding skills.

The camp offers lots of fun with riding and instruction on caring for some very sweet horses. Lessons include western, english, or bareback, and start at beginning and advance to higher levels. Each child is evaluated for his/her ability and placed in a group that matches the age and skill of the child.

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History of Almaden Air Force Station Atop Mount Umunhum

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Mount-Umunhum-4Learn about the history of the fascinating Almaden Air Force Station Atop Mount Umunhum. See actual key artifacts from the site, and enjoy a slide show of amazing historic photos of the radar station when it was in operation during the Cold War between 1958 and 1980.

Presented by Basim Jaber, Historian & Archivist and founder of the USAF 682nd Radar Squadron Veterans Association.

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Lord of the Light Art Studio & Gallery 2013 Summer Art Camp

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Lord of the Light Art Studio & GalleryLord of the Light Art Studio & Gallery in Almaden Valley is holding its 2013 Summer Art Camp for kids in 1st – 12th grade. The studio has a unique camp curriculum that is designed to bring out and develop a child’s imagination and creativity, while teaching them the fundamentals of fine art.

The Summer Art Camp is a one-week, fun-filled learning experience that includes color theory, animation, and much more! Students will learn pencil drawing skills and how to use medias such as oil pastel, soft pastel, and watercolor. Your child will experience new freedom and a new love for art.

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Holiday Concert Presented by Leland High School’s Music Department

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Holiday ConcertLeland High School’s Music Department will present its holiday concert on December 12 and 13 from 7 to 9pm. Tickets will be $5 at the door.

The concert on December 12 will feature the choir and jazz band, while the following evening’s performance will include pieces performed by the wind ensemble and orchestra.

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