As anticipated, we are sold out. We will not be accepting walk-ins at the door. We look forward to seeing those of you who purchased your tickets in time tomorrow night. We hope to see the rest of you at next year’s Big Night Out!

article and photos by Lillie Pardo

For the second part of the project-based social studies unit on how families show care, the Kindergarteners in Ms. Pardo’s class studied “food.” Throughout the study of food, lesson plans, or “learning events,” incorporated art, drama, reading, writing, math, science, and of course, social studies. Students learned about food in context of my family’s foods, special family foods, the origin of foods, nutrition and traditional Eskimo foods. This article will describe three different learning events that took place during the two months the class studied food.

Pop Art Project: For this visual arts lesson, which was co-taught with parent Emily Green, who is an artist, students were exposed to the work of Pop Artist Andy Warhol. They learned about sketching and the process an artist goes through to make a final piece of artwork. The first day, students sketched many different types of popular food such as cans of Campbell’s Soup, packages of cereal, Sun Maid raisins, Quaker Oats, Goldfish crackers and candies such as Dots, Junior Mints, M&M’s and Skittles. During this process, students learned that making mistakes is part of making art. Kindergartner Daisy said, “There are no mess-ups in art.” The next day, they chose one item that they wanted to draw for their final picture. So, they sketched that food again and using black marker drew over their sketch. Finally, they colored in their drawing with oil pastels. The students worked carefully throughout this process, as is evident by their attention to details.

Field Trip to Whole Foods: On a slightly wet, drizzly January morning, the students in Ms. Pardo’s class walked to Whole Foods Market. Ten enthusiastic parents accompanied the class on the outing, which was planned so students could learn more about where food comes from and healthy foods. Ms. Caroline Capizzano, the Marketing Supervisor of Whole Foods, guided the students through the store and taught the class more about the origin of the food they sell, what the word “organic” means and about recycling.

Throughout the tour, students sampled many different foods, including carrots, two kinds of cookies, organic chocolate, cheese puffs, cheese, Thai black rice with tofu and also pomegranate juice. The children also got to touch a mussel and clam from the seafood department and smell some delicious-smelling natural hand lotion. Afterwards, the class discussed the experience and what they learned. They drew pictures of their impressions of the field trip and wrote a thank you note to Ms. Capizzano.

Family Food Celebration: As a closure to the study of food and to learn about what makes food special to families, students and their families had a family food celebration on February 1, where each child brought a special dish to share with the class. The classroom was filled with wonderful smells of soups, salads, casseroles and baked goodies that day. A sampling of the foods brought included: Mexican hot chocolate, Indian chana masala, guacamole, Greek lentil soup, enchilada casserole, Greek salad, sushi finger rolls, brownies, cookies, and peach cobbler. Kindergartener Jack reflected, “I tasted some things that were new, and I liked them.” Students were so proud to share their special family foods with each other and everyone else who came to the celebration, including their parents, grandparents, younger siblings, Principal Karin Newlin, Assistant Principal Nancy Martorelli and P.E. teacher Mr. Wenger (who sampled ALL the foods!) Throughout the study of food, students made many connections to learning how food shows care.

Fundraising Update

Over here in the Fundraising Department, the only thing on our minds is the upcoming LFCSA “Big Night Out” Silent and Live Auction. It’s going to be fabulous, and we really need your help in order to make it a success! You should have already received an “Auction Tip Sheet” in your child’s Thursday packet; now’s the time to thumb through your Blackberry and reach out to friends, co-workers and community for any items/donations that we can auction. Have any industry connections? Does anyone you know have season tickets? Will your hair salon donate some services? Do you know a local restaurant that would spring for a free meal? These are just a few of the many ways you can help contribute to a profitable event.

Another way to participate is to start spreading the word and inviting your friends and family to attend. Why? Because it’s a great way to sell some tickets for the school and guarantee them a great night out. And because, who knows—one of your guests could end up purchasing a big ticket item and in that case, everybody wins!

Keep your eyes peeled for more information on “Big Night Out” in Thursday packets and email blasts. With your help, we can make this a night to remember!

Gabrielle Samuels, Fundraising Chair | fundraising@losfelizarts.org
Gina Leiaghat, Auction Donations Coordinator | leiaghatg - at - aol - dot - com

Dear Parents,

As I know you are aware of all the energy that is going into making sure our new site can become a reality, I want to shift the focus for a moment and share with you some exciting curricular things that are happening.

Since January, and continuing through April, the teachers, Nancy, and I are spending time each month at UCLA’s Seeds Elementary School for intensive staff development. These sessions are designed to help us teach children how to manage all of the information that comes their way, especially that found on the computer and though the media. As all of us are bombarded by an ever-increasing amount and variety of information, we as educators recognize the need to teach children how to evaluate and understand the messages they experience. One aspect of our curriculum is to teach our children to become wise consumers of information.

The programs the teachers are experiencing at Seeds deepen our project-based approach to learning by teaching students specific skills they need to create research projects: how to formulate questions, key words used to search for information, evaluating the relevance and validity of information, note taking, and how to compile the information into a report. Many of our teachers have already begun to incorporate what they are learning into their lessons. You may hear your students talking about “one inch, one foot, or one yard questions,” and/or you might see, in your child’s classroom, questions posted and categorized that children have written.

Finally, I want to thank those of you who have been able to attend our Parent Education evenings, organized and hosted by Audrey Fann. Last week, the math presentation lead by Nancy Martorelli was well attended and the parents present felt that they received a lot of information so they can assist their children with math. Please watch for our next Parent Education event so you can learn more specifics about LFCSA’s unique approach to education.

Karin

Progress Being Made At New Hope Chapel Site, But Will Not Be Ready For Our September Start Date

LFCSA Parents:
In an effort to keep everyone in the loop, here is up-to-date information about our next year’s location:

New Hope Chapel Update: We have filed an application for our Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is required to operate as a school at the site. We are on a “fast track” for the permit to be approved, which will hopefully be around late July, and New Hope Chapel has agreed to share the costs with LFCSA. We are currently negotiating a cost-splitting agreement with New Hope Chapel for the soil testing that will be performed at the site, and we are awaiting the government’s input on what requirements they might have on the testing. Although we remain optimistic that this will be our permanent home, it is not going to be up-and-running by September due to time constraints.

I would like to address the anxiety that some of you must be feeling about our school’s likely new temporary site at Selma Elementary. Just as a house is not what defines a home, our temporary location for the Fall is not what defines us as a school. As a couple of our teachers have pointed out to me, a school is not a physical space, but instead a community of people. LFCSA’s students, parents, teachers, and staff make up a talented, diverse, dedicated, innovative, and caring community; our temporary location will not affect our goal to provide our children with a quality education.

There will be more information to report next week about the Selma Elementary location and the Prop. 39 offer from LAUSD.

Thank you for your support as we move through this complicated yet exciting process. Please look for more site updates in the weeks to come.

George Abrams

LFCSA Parents:

Our school’s Prop 39 offer from LAUSD is once again Selma Elementary, located at 6611 Selma Ave. in Hollywood.

For the upcoming 08-09 school year, we will begin school in September on a normal start date.

Our community needs to be prepared to start the school year at the temporary Selma site if the New Hope Chapel site in Los Feliz isn’t ready in time.

Look for new site updates next week.
George Abrams