Whether you're getting together with friends, trick or treating at one of the daytime events or braving the evening in your neighborhood, we wish a safe and fun Halloween for all of you. Some of our sponsors have put together some excellent gatherings and are hoping for a visit from you! You'll find their events when you click on the "lion boy"!

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES are coming in the next few weeks for parents with school-age children. This is a great time for parents to connect with their child's teacher,  ask questions and learn how they are progressing. You see the papers come home and you hear your children complain about tasks or teachers but it is hard to gauge what all that means. Go in prepared. You are your child's advocate and a voice for your child so use this time to listen and check-in with their teacher. Talk to your child before and find out what they may be concerned about. If you have a child with special needs, make sure they have access to all the available resources in your district.

But don't wait for the conferences if your child is falling behind... Use the resources available in your school and check our list of Tutors for a list of local programs >>

Parmalee

by Elizabeth Borelli, Nubius Organics co-founder and mom of 2 sweet little greenies

Another summer has come and gone, the kids are back at school, the smell of autumn is in the air. As another crisp October beckons, kids everywhere are repeating the age-old question "What are you going to be for Halloween?" The answer wavers often, sometimes even after the costume is planned, made or purchased, but it's Halloween after all and that's just part of the fun.

Fortunately for us eco-moms, Halloween is one of those celebrations that works well in green. It's easy to switch from drugstore candy containing more wrapping than edible contents to eco-friendly (Holidays) Halloween_Samurai.jpgtreats. Do-it-yourself costumes can be a simple and inexpensive alternative to their made-in-China counterparts. Of course even with our best intentions, the double-espresso-speed schedule that so many of us run on can render any new direction daunting. It's tempting to get sucked in by all the crazy promotions and point-of-purchase displays encouraging us to grab & go in order to save some time. But with a few simple changes to hearken a more wholesome holiday, you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you'll find.

read more on Eco-Treats and Eco-Friendly Costumes >>>>>>>

Is your school going completely nuts about the H1N1 (swine) flu yet? No? Just wait...

OK, it's true that my son's school has not yet broke out in swine-flu hives, but my daughter's homeschool program does seem to have the rumblings of a controversy, so I thought I'd write about it and hopefully point a few people in the direction of trustworthy information before the rumor mill gets crazy.

Here's the scoop: we thought we had a family with H1N1. That family went into isolation, and kids who had been with the family the day before the virus broke out skipped a gathering just to be sure, and all seemed to be taken care of with great seriousness and proper precautions, but then...

Fact #1: You can't actually find out within any reasonable time if you have H1N1. The notoriously faulty test the family had been given at......... >>>>>>

Beth Kanne-Casselman, MEd, MFT

Here are a few tips to optimize this special one-on-one time you will soon have with your child's teacher!

What to expect:

The parent-teacher conferences are usually a packed 20-30 minutes intended to review how school has been for your child thus far this year. The teacher will be prepared to go over formal information, such as report cards, work samples, and assessments as well anecdotal information, all of which will be of great interest to you. This is your chance to get detailed feedback on your child, so grab it while you can.

Like homework, it is another opportunity to strengthen the home-school connection. The teacher will provide you with insight into your child's strengths and stretches and some suggestions for what you can do to further support your child at home, while also explaining what he/she will be doing at school to meet your child's needs. It is a chance to really deepen the collaborative potential that the adults in your child's life have to support him/her in becoming the best the that he/she can be!

Some things to consider as the conference approaches..... read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

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Every Saturday 10-12

The Steinbeck Center launched its new Kid's Club on Saturday, October 24th. This new National Steinbeck Center membership program is exclusively for youth 12 years old and younger.

Starting October 24, each Saturday will feature a class from 10am to noon.

The Kids Club Membership ($75) includes:

• Unlimited admission for children 12 and under living in household
• Kids Club membership card per child, 12 and under, in household
• Unlimited admission for parents
• 2 one-time guest passes
• Discounts and priority registration to Kids Club classes (up to 20 classes)
• 25% off Vista Room rental for children's birthday parties (3 hour limit, based on availability)
• Individual classes are $5 per child and adults are free to also attend with their kids. Children who belong to the Kid's Club only pay $2.50 per class and also get special mailings and early registration for other youth-based activities.
  
  Learn more!