The Sacramento Library provides literary experiences for children ages 0-3 years old. These enriching events are held throughout the Sacramento region at multiple library branches each month. Children, parents or caretakers have the opportunity to interact in a literary rich environment. A language-filled experience consists of more than books and storytelling, but is filled with music, social time, nursery rhymes, and games. For new mothers, there is a bonding time program called “Baby Lapsit Storytime” intended for infants 0-24 months. The importance of creating meaningful learning experiences is often overlooked with the idea that human learning comes natural. However, when children ar

Sacramento, California – March 15, 2012 – Point West Rotary, one of the largest Rotary clubs in Sacramento, will host its 10th Festa di Vino – A Celebration of Food and Wine – on March 31 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Sacramento. When does the opportunity arrive to allow you to dine at 20 restaurants in one night or go on a wine-tasting tour to visit more than 25 of the top local wineries in one day? “Never,” you say. “That’s just not possible.” Well, the time is now. Point West Rotary of Sacramento is providing a special opportunity for you to do just that. On Saturday, March 31 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, you can enjoy great food and wine at this 10th Annual Festa di V

November is National Adoption Month.  As the nation recognizes this important social issue, counties and communities across California will promote adoption and permanency awareness through activities and events that bring attention to the needs of the over 25,000 children and youth living in foster care throughout the state waiting for families to love and adopt them. November 3, 2011 is National Adoption Awareness Day.  On November 3, 2011, the month-long effort will kick off, raising awareness about the thousands of children in California waiting for families, celebrating those special people who have provided a loving home to children in foster care, and inspiring others to come forw

Waste Connections, Inc. sponsored and helped fundraise $145,000 during Sierra Forever Families’ seventh annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament at Serrano Country Club on Sept. 12. The funds raised during this year’s tournament will help more than 20 children living in foster care find permanent placements with loving families. This tremendous success of the 2011 tournament would not be as significant without the gracious support of Ron Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Jerri Hunt, Vice President of Employee Relations, of Waste Connection, Inc. Hunt, who retired from the Board of Directors of Sierra Forever Families in July, served as the four-time Chair of t

Q: I know everyone has this problem, but it doesn't seem like anyone has an answer: in-laws. My wife's parents are terrific people, but they always want to do things with us, invite us places, have dinners, come to our house, have us to their house and on and on and on. Sometimes it just gets to be too much. It is hard to say no because I feel like they are disappointed when we don't do things with them, plus it seems like my wife likes to be with them that often. How do I breech the topic of not seeing her parents so often? A: Mayday, mayday! Abort mission! Just kidding.Seriously though, this is going to be a sensitive topic if you are reading the situation correctly and your wife does

We all have parents. But while many may love and appreciate their mothers and fathers, there are just some things not meant to be shared between parents and children. The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where in Sacramento would you never want to take your parents,” to individuals at Westfield Downtown Plaza. After speaking to some fellow Sacramentans, the most common response was nightlife activities. Kevin Watson, 29, lives downtown and works as a graphic designer. He said he thought taking his dad to a club could get pretty weird. “I wouldn’t want to take my dad to Faces (Nightclub). That place is pretty crazy, and it would just be really awkward if he got hit on while

peace. love. swap. is a one of a kind independent coalition that organizes ongoing kid's swaps. The swaps are for local eco-minded parents to get together and recycle (exchange) their kid’s stuff (ages 0-14 and maternity). After the swaps, I donate the leftovers to local charities and needy families. I'd like to invite you to view more information, read our mission statement, and see what moms are saying about our swaps at: www.peaceloveswap.com. Parents love the swaps, as much as I love coordinating them ! In order to make the swaps a success, we need as many parents as possible to participate. Kids grow up so quickly and always need new stuff just as quickly. In this economic climate,

Theater has always been a form of art native to children. Watching them play and create their own games and stories has been a staple of the family tradition, and more than a few parents have taken the opportunity to canonize these moments on YouTube. Cynthia Speakman, a local actor and teacher with the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission, has been in the game for over a decade, working with children to improve their performing skills and ability to be outgoing and expressive. "I think it's very natural for kids to act because they have an enormous need to communicate to others," says Speakman. "Even the kids who aren't extraverted want to be more confident, and for parents it's a remedy of

In 1969 almost half the children in the U.S. walked or rode a bicycle to school.  Today, fewer than ten percent do.  The consequence for our children has been more obesity and related health problems, poorer social connections to the community and less responsbility for self-management.  The Safe Routes to School movement works to change all that.  enable community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone.

Teaching and Learning Priority School Professional Development: Staffs of the six Superintendent’s Priority Schools gathered at the Serna Center this week for training with Rochelle Herring-Peniston, president of Transformation By Design. Faculty learned the use of Data Wise inquiry protocols, which assist in analyzing student work, and learned how to identify learning goals and teacher learning needs. The sessions used the teachings of Harvard researchers such as Kathryn Boudette, Richard Elmore and Brent Stephens as well as the work of Nancy Love, Linda Darling-Hammond and Walter Doyle. Every Day Counts: Charlotte Chadwick, principal at John Bidwell School, is throwing down the gauntl

Teaching and Learning New families welcomed: John Cabrillo Elementary School’s Back to School Night on September 29 was well attended and included an announcement of new Student Leadership Representatives for the year. Families new to the school were welcomed with a rose presented by the student leaders. Additionally, each classroom teacher gave a presentation to parents establishing the learning goals, student expectations and ways parents may help support student success at school this year. Achievement celebrated: More than 95 percent of parents attended Hollywood Park Elementary School’s Back to School Night. During the event principal Hamed Razawi shared the school’s 13 percent incr

     Greetings to all of the candidates:    My name is Lourdes Jimenez-Price, and I am the President of the District Advisory Council (DAC) for the Sacramento City Unified School District.  Please accept this e-mail as an invitation to join us this coming Tuesday, September 14, 2010, for the DAC General Meeting at the Serna Center.  I have attached a copy of our agenda. For those of you unfamiliar with the DAC, the purpose of the DAC is to advise the SCUSD Board of Education, Administration and the School Site Councils (SSC) on issues affecting the education of the students in SCUSD including, but not limited to, all matters pertaining to parental involvement in the review, planning a

No one aspires to be a foster child. No child wants to live in a stranger’s home. No brother or sister likes having their family torn apart; losing contact with siblings. No teen chooses an unknown future. Yet, every month, over 2,000 children statewide are placed into protective custody through the foster care system. Over 150 of these children are from Sacramento County. Foster care is designed to be a temporary safety net for children who are unable to live safely with their birth families. Children enter foster care because they have been abused or neglected or have experienced other family problems such as substance abuse, mental illness or a parent’s incarceration. A primary goal

 150-Mile Non-Stop Education Run Culminates on State Capitol Steps Students, parents, teachers and supporters who ran a 150-mile non-stop day-and-night relay from San Carlos to Sacramento to invite lawmakers to spend a day in a public school finished their journey yesterday, Monday, May 17, with a rally on the steps of the California State Capitol Building.  Event participants included Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, State Senator Gloria Romero, and Assemblymember Tom Torlakson; the latter two are candidates for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Following the rally, the group fanned out to deliver their invitation letters to the state’s lawmakers.  Participants in the “Spend 1

 150-Mile Citizen Run to Invite Calif. Lawmakers to Schools Culminates in Sacramento May 17   Students, teachers, parents and supporters who are running a 150-mile relay day and night to Sacramento to invite state lawmakers to spend a day in a public school will finish their journey with a rally at 12 p.m., Monday, May 17, at the California State Capitol Building.  The runners are carrying letters written by the youngsters, who are asking that politicians visit a school for a day to see the impact of their spending choices on education.  Speakers at the rally will include Don Shalvey, senior program officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Assemblymember and candidate for State

 Hmong Women’s Heritage Association helps boost participation in district surveys By Maria L. LopezIn an effort to ensure the greatest participation possible in two historic surveys, the Sacramento City Unified School District is teaming up with the Hmong Women’s Heritage Association (HWHA) to assist parents and students in completing questionnaires about the district’s budget and strategic plan from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at the Association’s offices, 2245 Florin Rd. The first-of-its-kind endeavor to involve Sacramento residents in improving their public schools involves a pair of surveys on school improvements and the district’s budget. Every Sacramento community member

 SCUSD superintendent urges community to weigh in before surveys close one week from today The Sacramento school district’s historic public surveys on its budget and strategic planning have drawn more than 11,000 responses so far, and Superintendent Jonathan Raymond Tuesday urged parents, teachers and students to take the surveys before the Feb. 9 deadline in one week.  This first-of-its-kind effort to involve Sacramento residents in the improvement of their public schools involves a pair of surveys on school improvements and the district’s budget. Every Sacramento community member—including parents, teachers and other employees of the district—is being asked to respond to the surveys t

April 2, 2009 – Sacramento, California - Sierra Adoption Services, a leader in providing permanence to children living in foster care, launched a brand new customer-focused, interactive website this week. The site, www.sierraff.org, which can also be accessed through www.sierraadoption.org, is designed in to meet the needs of our stakeholders, resource families and youth living in foster care. “The agency was in desperate need of a new website,” said Bob Herne, Executive Director for Sierra Adoption Services. “Created by a volunteer over 10 years, the site had become antiquated; limiting how we update and maintain important communication to our stakeholders and prospective families.” Sie

Announcing the opening of  Le Soleil. Le Soleil is a life, career and spiritual training ground for progressive adults looking to enhance their personal and professional lives, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.    Le Soleil is the brain child of Rebecca Echevarria. Rebecca is an ordained minister in both the Christian and Buddhist traditions and our lead consultant (life coach). She has studied religion, philosphy and leadership extensively. This background enables her to work with Executives, Soccer Moms, and everything in between. She has written books on escaping the cult mentality, parenting and dealing with adversity. Her core beliefs are that each in