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Welcome to our new Community Events page! We hope you will find this information useful. We invite you to submit any local events that might be of interest to our Cherry Chase community. Please send your submissions to community@cherrychaseschool.com. 
We all know that great teachers can make a world of difference. They are the single most important factor in the academic success of our children, yet their work is difficult, the pay is low, and appreciation is rarely acknowledged. Through the Hats Off to Teachers program, local retailers can extend their appreciation to dedicated local teachers with exclusive discounted goods and services. The program, which is carried out in partnership with the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, offers K-12 teachers savings on everything from office supplies, books, electronics and gifts to health and beauty products, food and dining, professional services, toys, pet care and automotive needs. All teachers need to do is present valid credentials. Visit the organization's website at http://www.hatsofftoteachers.org/ for more information.
Health, Wellness and Well Being
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County...making a difference for children in the first 5 years of life. Based on sound research in early child development, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County supports the healthy growth and nurturing of children prenatal through age 5. By working with parents, community leaders, social service and healthcare agencies, FIRST 5 funds and sponsors essential services for young children and their families. FIRST 5 is a voice and an advocate for young children and their families, investing more than $30 million of Proposition 10 tobacco tax money each year in Santa Clara County to support critical issues such as: children's health insurance, advanced training for early childhood teachers, parenting skills and domestic violence workshops, mental health services for children, and their caregivers, and arts and early literary programs
FIRST 5 also provides online resources for families, including: 
A calendar of children's health events sponsored by nonprofit organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. For information, please visit http://www.kidscal.org/. Let's Make Kids a Priority - "Friend" kidscal on Facebook
If you use Facebook, kidscal would like to encourage you be among the first to join the foundation's newly created group, Let's Make Kids a Priority. This group is for people who are dedicated to improving the health and well being of children. Members share ideas, stories, news, and data to help ensure that children are a top societal priority and that their needs are met. The group also will highlight events noted in kidscal.org.
To join: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=589361179&k=55A2X6PXPV5M5ACDTJX4QV Healthy Living Guides from Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente has created a number of terrific guidelines for healthy living. The following guides are available in PDF format: Seven Simple Steps to Good Nutrition (PDF) Body Mass Index (BMI) Chart (PDF) Eat from the Rainbow (PDF) Heart Health by the Numbers (PDF) Choose a Healthy Plate Each Day (PDF)
Heart to Heart: A Seminar on Growing Up for Parents and Kids
This informative, humorous and lively discussion of the topics of puberty, the opposite sex and growing up sets parents and their pre-teens on a straight course for talking with one another on these very important issues. Join us at Packard Children's for these very popular classes developed by Julie Metzger, RN, and Rob Lehman, MD, both from Children's Hospital in Seattle, WA. To view the current seminar schedule:
http://www.lpch.org/newsEvents/EventsLectures/YourFamilysHealth/heartToHeart.html Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Auditorium
725 Welch Road, Palo Alto To Register: (650) 724-3783
Fee: $75* "For Girls Only" is for girls, 10-12 years of age, and their moms or other adult female resource person and includes discussions on physical changes and menstruation, what girls should know about boys, social issues and sexuality. "For Boys Only" is for boys, 10-12 years of age, and their dads or other adult male resource and includes discussions on body changes to expect during puberty, myths vs. facts, what boys should know about girls and tips on how to talk about the experiences of adolescence. Girls Leadership Institute
GLI awakens girls to the full potential of their authentic selves. GLI works with girls, their families, and school communities through its camps, after-school programs and in-school resources. GLI programs give girls a personal foundation of assertive self-expression, emotional intelligence and conflict management skills for success in leadership and life. To view current workshops in the Los Altos area, please visit http://www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org/programs/los-altos-workshop Healthy Communities 
For more information on this initiative, please visit www.healthysiliconvalley.org 'Smart Girls at the Party'
Amy Poehler Launches New Show with ON Networks
Amy Poehler has launched a fresh and wholly original digital series that celebrates young girls who are changing the world by being themselves. The show - Smart Girls at the Party - aims to help girls find confidence in their own aspirations and talents, and to prove that you don't have to be famous to be interesting. To watch the trailer, click here. In each episode, Amy Poehler interviews a girl with a unique talent, community interest or point of view. The conversation ranges from the serious to the hilarious. Girls offer witty truths and show that you don’t have to be famous to be interesting or to make a difference in the world. On Networks plans to launch the first season of Smart Girls in October. All episodes will be available to watch or download exclusively through ON’s AllScreen™ syndication partners, including iTunes, Adobe Media Player, and a set of targeted Website, digital TV and mobile partners. For more information, please visit http://www.onnetworks.com/.
Summer Camps  
Camp Galileo, voted "Best Camp for Kids" in Bay Area Parent and the San Francisco Bay Guardian, is a summer day camp serving kids in Pre-K through 5th grades. Kids enjoy art, science and outdoor programming every day, wrapped in fun camp traditions and delivered by energetic and experienced staff. Our hands-on curriculum is developed in partnership with The Tech Museum of Innovation, de Young Museum and Klutz. Campers who attend learn to work with others, become skilled at the creative process and are inspired to become the next generation of innovation leaders. Camp Galileo offers your child: Four exciting weeks of curriculum: Ocean Expeditions, Mission to the Moon & Psychedelic ‘60s, Amusement Park Engineers & Medieval Art and Adventures in Flight & Egyptian Art. Unique games and fun camp traditions like Capture the Chicken, Waterball and more! A camp experience close to home, with 21 convenient campuses across the Bay Area. South Bay sites include Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Cupertino, San Jose/Almaden and San Jose/Evergreen. Extended care from 8-9am and 3-5:30pm at all locations, plus 50% off extended care for 3-week campers
Galileo also operates the following summer programs: Galileo Summer Quest, summer fun designed with older campers in mind, features in-depth courses and leadership development for students entering 5th-8th grades, and is being offered in Saratoga, Palo Alto, San Mateo and Oakland this summer. The Tech Museum Summer Camps is a hands-on science and technology camp for kids entering 4th–8th grades held at The Tech Museum in San Jose. Save up to $180 when you ENROLL in our full 4-week program by March 1st. Space is filling quickly! To learn more or enroll in any of the three programs, visit http://galileo-learning.com/ or call 1-800-854-3684.
Family Fun, Education and the Arts
Hands-On Science at the Intel Museum 
Take advantage of FREE Saturday classes designed especially for children! For more information and class schedules, please visit http://www.intel.com/museum.
Nature and the Environment 
For more information, please visit the Charles Street Gardens website, http://www.charlesstreetgardens.org/. Bountiful Garden - Turning Premium Organic Produce into Humanitarian Relief
For more information, please visit the Bountiful Garden website, http://www.bountiful-garden.org/.
Full Circle Farm (Sustainable | Educational | Non-profit)
Full Circle Farm/Sustainable Community Gardens is a local non-profit dedicated to the renewal of local, sustainable food systems throughout Silicon Valley. It provides affordable access to locally produced food, as well as education in environmental living, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition. Full Circle Farm operates on an 11-acre parcel at Peterson Middle School. For more information, please visit http://www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org/. Full Circle Farm is located at:
1055 Dunford Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 2009 Highlights: - Planted 62 new trees in our historic orchard, now totaling 152 trees
- 4 crop fields now in full production, using seasonal rotation and cover crops
- Full Circle Farmstand opened to the public 3 days per week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
- Year-round CSA program supported by 55 community members quarterly
- Santa Clara Unified School District now receiving deliveries of seasonal, farm-fresh produce
- Education program now serving 380 sixth grade students from Peterson Middle School
- Welcomed 6 fulltime AmeriCorps Members who will be providing valuable service to FCF the coming year
- Installed new packing and tool sheds
- Built (with rave reviews) chicken coop, now housing the “most-loved” flock in all of Santa Clara County!
- Delivered 150 boxes of farm-fresh produce to local shelters and food banks through our 1st annual “Thanksgiving in October” campaign
- Charles Street Gardens (our community garden in downtown Sunnyvale) is now at full capacity with 92 plots and a productive “food forest”
- FCF & CSG donated over 30,000 lbs. of farm-fresh produce to local families in need!
- Kicked off many exciting annual events, hosting 1,000s of community members: Earth Day Celebration, Halloween Hoedown, Harvest Gala, Thanksgiving in October
“Grand Plans” for 2010: - Plant the second and final phase of our fruit orchard, bringing the total to over 300 trees on 3 acres (info on our “Adopt A Tree” program will be coming soon)
- Expand our crop fields from 3½ to 6 acres
- Double our education garden from ½ to 1 full acre
- Build an educational kitchen in garden
- Increase our CSA membership from 55 to 100
- Install a Cultural Diversity Education Garden
- Provide local shelters with 300 boxes of produce through our “Thanksgiving in October” campaign
- Most importantly, see ALL of you here at the farm!!!
To make a donation to help Full Circle Farm achieve these amazing goals, please go to: http://www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org/?page_id=21 The Children in Nature Collaborative 
Visit the Children in Nature Collaborative at http://www.cincbayarea.org.
The Growing Connection
(Cultivating Food, Connecting Minds, Harvesting Hope)
The Growing Connection is a people-driven pilot project developed by the Food & Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (http://www.fao.org/) to realize innovative, sustainable solutions to hunger, malnutrition and poverty worldwide. Using the Internet, TGC participants capture relevant information, contact expert sources and communicate with each other, fostering innovation and cultural exchange. For more information about The Growing Connection, please visit http://www.thegrowingconnection.org/.
Healthy Trails 
Healthy Trails is a FREE fitness challenge providing a fun and adventurous way to exercise, get fit and connect with nature as you explore miles and miles of spectacular Santa Clara County park trails. Take the Healthy Trails Challenge! For more information, please visit http://www.parkhere.org/ (click on Healthy Trails).
Parent Education
SELPA 2 CAC
"SELPA" stands for Special Education Local Plan Area, as defined by the state Office of Education. SELPA 2 includes all the public schools in the Fremont Union High School District, Cupertino Union School District, Sunnyvale School District, and Montebello School District. "CAC" stands for Community Advisory Committee. Re-formed in 2007, the SELPA 2 CAC is a group of people — mostly parents of children with special needs along with district administrators and special education staff — who work on a wide range of issues related to special education. SELPA 2 CAC offers a variety of parent education events. For more information, please visit http://www.fuhsd.org/cac/. Practical Approaches That Work with Challenging Behavior
Parents Helping Parents
Friday, March 5, in San Jose
http://www.kidscal.org/event206144 Blended Families & Step Parenting
Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Sunnyvale City Hall, West Conference Room, 456 W. Olive Ave. Teacher, step parent, and Marriage, Family Therapist Trainee Janice Shapiro will educate the group about step family developmental stages and how to normalize the step family as a family unit. This workshop will also explore issues that are characteristic of the “blended family” experience including establishing parental roles, coping with step parenting challenges, and steps to building a strong, cohesive family unit amid change. Child care is not available for this workshop, but children may attend with a parent, if needed. To register, call (408) 523-8150 or email childcareresources@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us For additional information, please contact Alicia Gonzales, (408) 523-8150. Workshop for Stressed Out Families
Pacifica Sharp Park Library
Tuesday, March 16, in Pacifica
http://www.kidscal.org/event/205990 Raising a Bi-Cultural/Bi-Lingual Child (Spanish)
Wednesday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Columbia Middle School, 739 Morse Ave., Sunnyvale Licensed Clinical Social Worker Alicia Becerra Mendoza will conduct this workshop in Spanish and will discuss the unique experience of growing up in a bi-cultural environment and strategies for enhancing children’s developmental process and language acquisition. Criando a su Hijo/a Bicultural y Bilingüe
Miércoles, 14 de Abril del 2010, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Lugar: Columbia Middle School, 739 Morse Ave., Sunnyvale, Clase por confirmar Este taller será conducido en Español por Alicia Becerra Mendoza, Trabajadora Social con Licencia y acreditada como terapeuta. Se hablará de las experiencias de crecer en un ambiente bicultural y de estrategias para mejorar el proceso de crecimiento y lenguaje de su hijo/a. ► No se ofrece cuidado de niños pero pueden asistir al taller acompañados por un padre. Para registrarse, llame al numero indicado abajo y deje su nombre, número de teléfono y cuántos participantes. Child care is not available for this workshop, but children may attend with a parent, if needed. To register, call (408) 523-8150 or email childcareresources@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us For additional information, please contact Alicia Gonzales, (408) 523-8150. Looking Towards Adolescence: Staying Close and Staying Hopeful
Hand in Hand
Monday, April 26, in Santa Clara
http://www.kidscal.org/event/206072
Kidsdata.org: See a summary of data about adolescents in California. Sibling Rivalry
Wednesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Ave., Program Room Licensed Clinical Social Worker Alicia Becerra Mendoza will speak on the issues and challenges that surround sibling rivalry as well as offer tips for coping with and handling sibling tension in the home. Steps for addressing and resolving sibling conflicts will be discussed as well as ways parents can foster strong and positive sibling relationships throughout various developmental stages. Child care is not available for this workshop, but children may attend with a parent, if needed. To register, call (408) 523-8150 or email childcareresources@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us For additional information, please contact Alicia Gonzales, (408) 523-8150.
Links/Notes/Podcasts from Parent Ed/PTA Events Jim Wiltens - Secrets of a Super Memory (and more!) Jim presented the highlights of his seminar "Secrets of a Super Memory" at the Cherry Chase PTA's January meeting. The information was informative, eye opening and entertaining! Jim's seminars and workshops are interactive, practical, and fun for kids and adults alike. Jim has been working with upper grade Cherry Chase students through special short-form leadership classes. Jim also offers programs for Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) curriculums, PTA meetings, teacher in-services, coaches, and student assemblies. To learn more about the workshops and presentations available, please visit Jim's website at http://www.jimwiltens.com/. Podcasts/Presentations from the 2008 Preteen Summit
If you weren't able to attend the December 2008 Preteen Summit, you can find speaker materials and podcasts from the event on http://www.preteenalliance.org/. Highlights of the day, which focused on the emotional health needs of preteens, included: A keynote presentation from former Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD | Listen to Dr. Satcher's talk (download mp3 file) A discussion on student stress with Stanford School of Education lecturer Denise Pope, PhD | Listen to Denise Pope's talk (download mp3 file) A presentation of a study about programs that promote social and emotional skills among K-8 students, with Roger Weissberg, PhD, from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Joseph Durlak, PhD, from Loyola University Chicago | Hear Dr. Durlak and Dr. Weissberg's presentation, and their discussion with a panel of experts (download mp3 file)
Do you have colleagues or friends who should know about the Preteen Alliance? Encourage them to sign up at http://www.preteenalliance.org/ for advance notice of all the Alliance's events. New Study: The Positive Impact of Social and Emotional Learning for K-8 Students
Released at the Preteen Summit, this study offers research on the impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs -- that is, programs that seek to promote various social and emotional skills -- among K-8 students. Results showed that SEL programs yielded multiple benefits in both school and after-school settings for many different types of students. SEL programs improved students’ social-emotional skills, attitudes about themselves and others, connection to school, positive social behavior, and academic performance; they also reduced students’ conduct problems and emotional distress. The positive impact of SEL programming on academic test scores indicates that these programs offer a practical educational benefit. The report was commissioned by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health and produced by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For more information and to download the report, visit http://cl.exct.net/?qs=48a934dacdbbf7d637b30c562e265abb5a6732c3d7e3c4cbe088dbc07bcb0324. Leonard Sax - Boy's Adrift
Date: November 2008 Many thanks to Wilma Chu for passing along these great notes taken by a friend of hers. They are well worth the read! You may download the notes by clicking here. "The Price of Privilege"
Date: April 9, 2008
Notes by: Kathy Besser Dear Parents,
I attended a talk at Gunn High School on April 9, 2008 entitled 'The Price of Privilege' by Dr. Madeline Levine (a Bay Area psychologist for over 25 years and author of a book by the same name). The subject matter was fascinating and relevant to Sunnyvale parents so I wanted to share my notes with you (warning: it's about 7 pages!). If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by email (my address can be found on the first page of the notes). Click on the link below to access a PDF version of my notes: The Price of Privilege
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