Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community
Lifelong Learning Community News - MARCH 2010
The changing of the guard continues in February….
The changing of the guard continues....
At their February 23rd meeting, City Councilmembers appointed and seated Terry O’Day to fill Ken Genser’s seat until the regular November 2010 election. Terry has two young children and I hope he will be a strong supporter for ensuring all children in Santa Monica enjoy the experiences, support, and education they need to flourish. Over the years, Mayor Genser became an effective and reliable champion for our public schools and lifelong learning. Here’s hoping that legacy continues with Terry O’Day. Congratulations, Terry on your appointment.
Congratulations also to Scott Ferguson, our new Fire Chief appointed by our new City Manager Rod Gould. Chief Ferguson comes to us from Manhattan Beach after a nationwide search. For more information on Chief Ferguson, please go to http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2010/February-2010/02_23_2010_New_Fire_Chief_Selected.html
Jennifer Ferro succeeds Ruth Seymour as General Manager at KCRW. To read more about Jennifer, please go to http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2010/February-2010/02_22_2010_College_Board or, you can listen to an interview with her at http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/pc/pc100223meet_jennifer_ferro_
You can also hear a one hour biography about Ruth Seymour, featuring people who have worked with her over the years at http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/nx/nx100226the_truth_about_ruth
Congratulations are also due to Santa Monica College Trustee Nancy Greenstein who has received not one but two big honors! Nancy is the 2009 recipient of the national Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award for her work as the director of police community services at UCLA, and she has been named Woman of the Year by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley. Congratulations, Nancy!
Congratulations also go to SMC Associate Professor Martin Goldstein, recently named Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year by the statewide Faculty Association of Community Colleges.
And congratulations to Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center - #1 Hospital in the West and #1 in Geriatrics.
Good things are coming....
A new branch library in Virginia Avenue Park took another step forward when the City Council awarded the design contract for the library to Koning Eizenberg Architecture. This is the same firm that designed the park and they have a long and strong history in Santa Monica.
A library in the Pico neighborhood has been a key goal since we first started talking about Santa Monica as a lifelong learning community in 1998. This library brings new opportunities and access to this neighborhood. Many thanks to the City Council, including our late mayors Genser and Katz, for making this significant new lifelong learning community facility a reality.
The Council also awarded a contract to Field Operations to design the new Civic Center Park. This firm has been hailed for their work in New York creating the High Line. See http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/23/entertainment/la-et-santa-monica-broad23-2010feb23 Very exciting!
Now on to some news about our schools...
Kindergarten Round-up, an opportunity for parents with preschoolers to come inside our elementary schools and hear from principals, teachers, and parents about the school programs, are happening this week. (Sorry for the late notice!). For the complete schedule of events, please go to http://smmusd.org/pupil_services/pdf/KRoundUp0910.pdf
Will Rogers wins Academic Achievement Award
Will Rogers Learning Community received a 2010 Title 1 Academic Achievement Award for meeting and surpassing 2008 and 2009 national and state academic standards. Rogers is also becoming a STEM Academy, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Congratulations to everyone at Rogers for their continuing progress. Rogers’ has a couple of great mottos that speak to their mission: “We never met a kid we didn’t like,” and “Joy and Rigor.” Keep up the good work!
Samohi teams have a great season
Many Samohi sports teams have had successful seasons this year. Both the boys and girls basketball teams are heading into the CIF finals! Watch the local press for details on the play-off games (not yet released). For regularly scheduled Samohi games, please go to http://www.samohi.smmusd.org/ and click on Athletics.
Samohi musicians play in national orchestra
Santa Monica High School seniors Emily Wong, a violinist, and Matthew Van Pelt who plays viola were both selected as members of the highly competitive 2010 American String Teachers Association National High School Honor Orchestra. To read more, please go to http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-02-26-69154.113116_Samohi_musicians_make_national_orchestra.htm
Matthew and Emily will be playing their instruments along with many other student musicians at Stairway of the Stars, the school district’s annual concert that showcases the most advanced student bands, choirs, and orchestras. Stairway is always an extraordinary event and a testament to the extraordinary high quality and broad reach of our music programs, once again in jeopardy with the need for the school district to make deep cuts due to reductions in state funding. For information on attending Stairway of the Stars, please see below (March 25 and 26) or go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/97806tickets
SMMUSD alum astronaut Randy Bresnick returns home from space walk
Astronaut Randy Bresnick is a Samohi and JAMS alumnus and proud of it. He’ll be sharing his story with current Samohi students this Friday, March 5. School Board members Ben Allen and Oscar de la Torre, themselves district alumni, presented a slide show highlighting Randy and other SMMUSD alumni; you can see it online at http://www.smmusd.org/SOOS/SOOS09_Alumni.htm
Volunteer to help the Save Santa Monica Malibu Schools campaign
Our local public school students engage in and excel in academics, arts, sports, and life, yet once again we are faced with making deeps cuts to school programs that work. Facing the harsh reality of insufficient state funding, our schools will probably close five days early this school year and begin five days late next school year to save money. The school board is looking at having to lay off as many as 92 staff positions, including teachers, counselors, nurses, and support staff. (See http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2010/February-2010/02_19_2010_School_Board_oks_92_layoffs.html)
In hopes of reducing the extent and depth of cuts, a campaign committee has formed to work on passing a local school funding measure. If you are interested in helping with the campaign – lots of help is needed! – please visit www.SaveSantaMonicaMalibuSchools.org or call Devin Osiri at 310-654-4933 Volunteers will be phone banking starting this month so please get involved now!
For more information, please visit www.SaveSantaMonicaMalibuSchools.org.
In other news….
Now through March 12, the Pier Restoration Corporation invites artists to submit their vision for the 26th Annual Twilight Dance Series Poster Contest. For more information, please go to www.santamonicapier.org or contact Anne Railsback at 310.458.8786.
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley recently posted a link to help families and students seeking financial aid. If you or your student are planning to go to college soon, please check out the financial aid resources posted at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a41/College/default.aspx?utm_source=enewsletter
&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Brownley_FinancialAid
Now on to some special lifelong learning community events....
Sunday, March 7, 1:00pm-5:30
4th Annual Unity Resource Festival
Virginia Avenue Park
2200 Virginia Avenue @ the corner of Pico and Cloverfield
Free
This Festival highlights resources provided by city, business and non-profit agencies that strengthen and support the community. There will be something for everyone: crafts games and prizes for children to enjoy, the Youth Fun Zone, the great Climbing Wall, and Live entertainment: Jazz, gospel, hip hop and more. Delicious food will be provided by Babies Q, India Jones Chow Truck and Gourmet Quickie. Celebrate Santa Monica and have a great time at the 4th Annual Unity Resources Festival.
This year’s event includes the first Youth Zone, a project of the new community Youth Collaborative.
Sponsored by the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College, The Youth Collaborative and the Human Relations Council.
Tuesday, March 9, noon – 1:30pm
Aging, Posture and Balance
Speaker: Edward Yu, Feldenkrais Practitioner
Santa Monica YMCA, DeWind Room
1332 6th Street
FREE
For more information contact Lidia Magarian, Senior Physical Director at the YMCA (310) 393-2721ext. 129 or email lidiam@ymcasm.org. Free underground parking is available. Picture ID is required.
Tuesday, March 9, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. or
Thursday, March 11, 7- 8:30 p.m.
Saint John’s Women Health Lecture Series: Women and Hormones
Santa Monica Public Library, Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium
601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Free but reservations are required. Please call 310-829-8453.
Hormonal changes affect a number of conditions in women including: PMS, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, hyper and hypothyroidism and osteoporosis. This presentation will focus on the role of hormones in women’s health. Speakers include: Ingrid A. Rodi, MD, FACOG, Nancy C. Greep, MD and Frederick Singer MD. “Women and Hormones” is part of The Women’s Health Lecture Series sponsored by Saint John’s Health Center through a generous grant by the Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation. Reservations required. Contact Community Education at 310-829-8453.
Saturday, March 13, 9:30am – 4:45pm
YWCA Girl Central Conference
Santa Monica YWCA
$25
Pre-registration required; registration deadline March 8.
This annual Girl Central conference for middle school girls offers a wide variety of workshops, games and social activities. Breakfast, lunch and a raffle ticket are included! Space is limited, so sign up quickly!!
For more information and to download a registration form, please go to http://www.smywca.org/ and click on Girls Central Conference.
Saturday,March 13, 7:30pm
Santa Monica Symphony
Pre-Concert Talk with Raymond Knapp, 6:30pm
Allen Robert Gross, Music Director and Conductor
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main Street
Free
Tavis Smiley, narrator. This evening’s symphony includes:
Ives-Schuman: Variations on "America"
Still: Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"
Copland: "Billy the Kid" Suite
Copland: Lincoln Portrait
For more information, please call 310/395-6330 or go to www.smsymphony.org
Tuesday, March 16, 7pm
Samohi Masterworks Choral Concert: Mozart’s Requiem Mass
Jeffe Huls, Conductor
Santa Monica High School, Barnum Hall
601 Pico Boulevard
Tickets-$10 Adults, $5 Students
The Santa Monica High School Choirs in conjunction with the instrumental music program will perform Mozart's monumental Requiem Mass. Completed mostly by his pupil, Süssmayr, Mozart died before he could finish the work. Containing eccentric drama, pristine beauty, and rigorous orchestral score it is often revered as Mozart's crowning achievement. As it is frequently featured in movies and commercials, everyone will recognize melodies from the Introit, Kyrie, Dies Irae and the Requiem's most famous work, Lacrymosa. Please make plans to attend this amazing concert of collaboration, great music, and a tribute to one of music history's greatest works.
For ticket reservation and information call 310 395-3204 x403.
Tickets will also be available at the door.
Thursday, March 18, noon – 1:30pm
Organizing for People With Too Much Stuff!
Santa Monica YMCA, CommunityRoom
1332 6th Street
Free. RSVP to UCLA Healthcare 50 Plus (800) 516-5323
Learn how to deal with the clutter of life - to clear a path from chaos and
confusion to order and calm.
Thursday, March 18, 7pm
Interview with Frank Gehry
Santa Monica High School, Barnum Hall
601 Pico Boulevard
Adults: $20; Students and Seniors: $10
FRANK GEHRY, one of the world’s most influential architects, will be interviewed by Los Angeles journalist BARBARA ISENBERG, author of “Conversations with Frank Gehry,” about his life, his work and his inspiration-- especially from the arts and music.
The evening will also feature performances by LYNN HARRELL, “dean of American cellists,” and ANTONIO LYSY, professor of cello studies at UCLA.. Please join us for an extraordinary evening – “where architecture meets music.”
Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com/events/98713
All proceeds go to supporting the Santa Monica High School Orchestras. For more information, please call 310-395-3204 x 407 or visit our website www.samohiorchestras.org.
Friday, March 19, 10am-noon
Pedagogical Strategies for Urban Schools
Santa Monica College, Main Campus, Main Stage
1900 Pico Boulevard
Free
Saturday, March 20, 8am – 3pm
Latina/o Youth Conference
John Adams Middle School & Santa Monica College
Free
The mission of the Latina/o Youth Conference is to encourage and motivate young Latinos to pursue higher education to become successful women and men. The founders and volunteers believe that a vision of a successful future inspires hard work and dedication. For more information and to register, please go to http://www.smc.edu/LatinaYouthConference/Registration2010.htm
Saturday, March 20, 1-5pm
SM Airport ArtWalk
Airport Avenue between Bundy Drive and 23rd Street
Free
The community is invited to join the fourth annual Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk and meet the resident artists of the airport arts community. More than 60 local artists and performers will have their private studios and work on view including the Santa Monica Art Studios, Santa Monica College Ceramic Studios & Art Mentor Program, and the Ruskin Group Theatre. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media are represented, along with special performing arts events. Galleries participating in the program’s converted airplane hangars are Arena 1 and the Sherry Frumkin Gallery.
The ArtWalk is expanded for 2010: live music, free kids’ activities and special discounts at two airport restaurants have all been added to the program this year to attract more families from the immediate neighborhoods.
Kids’ activities will occur throughout the afternoon.
Parking is free for the day, including the Santa Monica College Bundy campus lot (entered from Bundy).
The City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, the Santa Monica Airport and participating organizations would like more Santa Monicans to discover this cultural resource and unique creative atmosphere. For more information call Cultural Affairs at 310.458.8350.
Saturday, March 20, begins at noon
Tree Hugging Day 2
Children’s Tree of Life
Palisades Park at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Ave
(Just north of the gateway to the Santa Monica Pier)
Free
The public is invited to celebrate the spring equinox with Tree Hugging Day 2. Group tree hug at noon followed by a four block march to an “Extra Big Tree Hug” at the Moreton BayFig Tree at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel.
For more information, please contact Jerry Rubin and Marissa Rubin, Alliance for Survival at 310-399-1000 or email TreeHuggingDay@earthlink.net or visit
www.TreeHuggingDay.com
March 21, begins at 7:20am
2010 LA Marathon: Finish Line Beach Party Ends in Santa Monica
This year’s Marathon begins at Dodger Stadium, winds through LA, enters Santa Monica on San Vicente Boulevard at 26th Street and ends at Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. There will be a big, open to all, Finish Line Beach Party with music, food, and fun next to the Santa Monica Pier.
All participants are welcome to enjoy the festivities planned in the parking lot north of the Santa Monica Pier.
25,000 runners are expected to participate in the 26.2 mile race. They are being told to pre-pay for parking passes for specific parking facilities around Santa Monica and to arrive in Santa Monica between 2 and 6 AM on the 21st. Shuttle buses will take them to the start line at Dodger Stadium, and the race will begin around 7 AM.
Some street closures will be in effect in Santa Monica and throughout Los Angeles along the length of the course.
For more information on the 2010 LA Marathon, visit www.lamarathon.com. To view discounts for marathon participants and fans, go to www.santamonica.com/la-marathon.
Sunday, March 21, 3pm
Emeritus Concert Band
SMC Performing Arts Center, Broad Stage
Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street
Free
Under the baton of John Lanni, this band from SMC’s acclaimed Emeritus College plays concert favorites.
Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26, 7pm
Stairway of the Stars
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main St.
$12
This is the school district’s annual showcase of the highest level bands, choirs, and orchestras from all the schools across the district. You have to see and hear it to believe the level of musicianship our students demonstrate. Doors will open at 6pm. Tickets can be ordered online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/97806tickets The last day to order online for home delivery for both performances is 3/18/2010. All remaining tickets will be available the night of the performance at the door, starting at 5:30pm on a first come first served basis
Saturday, March 27, 2:00-3:00pm
Living room Series: Managing the Emotional Chaos and Crises of Caregiving
Santa Monica Main Library, MLK, Jr. Auditorium
601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Free
This presentation will address the multitude of emotions and crises faced by caregivers. The importance of caregiver wellness regarding caregiver burnout, available and appropriate community resources and essential tools for coping will be explored.
Speakers: Judith Delaney, MFT, OPICA Adult Day Care and Alzheimer’s Association , and Nicole Feingold, MA, Alzheimer’s Association, California Southland Chapter.
This event is part of The Living Room Series and is sponsored by The Older Adult Task Force (OATF). The OATF, part of the Lifelong Learning Community Project, is a consortium of over 35 organizations. OATF promotes lifelong learning for adults through its various projects and collaboration amongst its member organizations.
Sunday, March 28, 8:00pm – Midnight
Drawing Workshop
Sculpture Studio/Los Angeles Art Academy
1925 Broadway
$10 donation suggested
If you'd like an ongoing opportunity to hone your skills as an artist, mark your calendar for Sculpture Studio's first of a monthly series of uninstructed drawing workshops to be held the last Sunday of every month from 8:00 pm to midnight. Bring your own supplies, and come draw two models; one long pose & short poses all night. Easels and drawing benches are provided. Open to the public.
For more information, please call 310.829.ARTS
Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Through April 25
The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit
Thursdays 4-8pm ; Saturdays 10-4pm ; Sundays 12-4pm
1129 Second Street
Free
From birth, children use many “languages,” such as art, music, play, drama and literacy, to learn about and make meaning of the world. The renowned Reggio Emilia approach to education gives visibility to the values of its experience through this interactive traveling exhibit. helping educators and parents understand the powerful learning that occurs in early childhood.
For more information about the exhibition, presentations, and professional development opportunities, please go to http://www.reggioexhibitla.com/ or email reggioexhibitla@first-pres.net
Census Day – April 1,
I’ve been told it costs $75 for every census form not mailed in. Please complete and return your census form when you receive it in the mail!
I am going to stop here, even though there is still much more to tell…. Please check out what’s happening at the Broad Stage, at Santa Monica College, the Annenberg Beach House, Miles Playhouse, and Santa Monica Libraries. There are lots of great lifelong learning community events to enjoy!
Cheers and Onward,
Louise Jaffe
www.smllc.org
For information on more events, please check out the following websites:
New City Master Calendar: The City of Santa Monica now has a master calendar, sortable by locations, event type, and age group. It includes a LOT of information. Please bookmark it and use it! You can get to it from the City home page, upper right hand corner, or just go to http://calendar.smgov.net/city/eventcalendar.asp
To receive weekly emails from the City of Santa Monica highlighting upcoming arts events, please subscribe to the Santa Monica Arts Palette at http://www.patronmail.com/pmailweb/PatronSetup?oid=902
At this same site, you can also sign up to receive emails about events at the Annenberg Community Beach House, at Miles Play House, at the Civic Auditorium, and Festivals. Please don’t rely on me. Sign up!
To receive emails about upcoming events at the Santa Monica Pier, please subscribe at http://www.santamonicapier.org/subscribe.html
Santa Monica College (www.smc.edu/events,) the Santa Monica Public Library, (www.smpl.org,) and The Broad Stage, (www.thebroadstage.com) are all in full swing now with many, many engaging events scheduled. Please check out their websites for more information.
Lifelong Learning Community Calendars & Events at http://smllc.org/calendar.html and Lifelong Learning Community Links provide additional useful websites including local theatrical companies – listed under “Local Museums and Special Venues.” To stay current on upcoming events and to keep abreast of these wonderful local organizations, please bookmark Links at http://smllc.org/links.html
Thank you for forwarding this email to others who may be interested.
If you would like to receive Lifelong Learning Community eNews, please go to http://smllc.org/subscribe.html
To post an event, please fill out and submit the form at http://smllc.org/inform.html
To be removed from this E-mail list, simply reply to LCJaffe@aol.com and ask to be removed.
For more information about the Lifelong Learning Community, contact
Louise Jaffe
lcjaffe@aol.com
310-450-2487
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