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Million Word Challenge UPDATE

Raise Your Child — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:46:34 +0000

Help students read to succeed!

Join the Million Word Challenge.

Over the last week, 134 schools across Los Angeles County have taken on the challenge of encouraging their students to read millions of words outside of school.

These Literacy Champions are joining us in increasing literacy rates among our students. Together, we are creating a legacy of avid readers and critical thinkers amidst a changing global economy and society.

Today, February 1, 2012, the Million Word Challenge officially kicked off at Leo Politi Elementary School in Los Angeles. The campaign led by Families In Schools, is a partnership between education, business, and community leaders. Brad Rumble, Principal at Leo Politi Elementary School, shares the importance of literacy and the Million Word Challenge:

Principal of LAUSD Elementary School Challenges You

The 2012 Million Word Challenge is a literacy campaign that encourages preschool – 12th grade students to read millions of words outside of school time. Each year, 200,000 students in over 300 schools participate in the Million Word Challenge and explore the joy of reading. At the annual campaign’s culmination in April, each participating school will select one student winner to receive a $50 gift certificate to purchase books of their very own.

Million Word Challenge participant challenges you to read outside of school!

How Can a School/Agency Participate?

Register your school/agency online at www.millionwordchallenge.org today. The Campaign launches on February 1, 2012. There are limited spaces available so schools/agencies will be registered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Implement the challenge in your school/agency following the guidelines. Schools/Agencies will have access to an online handbook to help with implementation.
Submit the name of your school/agency’s Million Word Challenge Winner by logging back onto www.millionwordchallenge.org in April 2012.
Each student winner receives a $50 gift certificate to purchase books at the Target Book Store at Festival of Books, which will take place at USC April 21 – 22, 2012. Students unable to attend Festival of Books will be able to use their gift card to purchase books at any Target store.

For additional information, please contact

Colin Meng at (213) 201-3907 or at

ctmeng@familiesinschools.org

The Million Word Challenge: Register today

Raise Your Child — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:41:18 +0000

Challenge your students to read millions of words!

Register today for the Million Word Challenge:
www.millionwordchallenge.org

The 2012 Million Word Challenge is a literacy campaign that encourages preschool – 12th grade students to read millions of words outside of school time. Each year, hundreds of schools participate in the challenge. Join them to promote a home culture of literacy by registering today for the Million Word Challenge and launch your school’s campaign on February 1, 2012.

How Can a School/Agency Participate?

Register your school/agency online at www.millionwordchallenge.org today. The Campaign launches on February 1, 2012. There are limited spaces available so schools/agencies will be registered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Implement the challenge in your school/agency following the guidelines. Schools/Agencies will have access to an online handbook to help with implementation.

Submit the name of your school/agency’s Million Word Challenge Winner by logging back onto www.millionwordchallenge.org in April 2012.
Each student winner receives a $50 gift certificate to purchase books at the Target Book Store at Festival of Books, which will take place at USC April 21 – 22, 2012. Students unable to attend Festival of Books will be able to use their gift card to purchase books at any Target store.

For additional information, please contact

Colin Meng at (213) 201-3907 or

at ctmeng@familiesinschools.org.

Million Word Challenge participant challenges you to read outside of school!

Expand Your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo Family Literacy Program!

Raise Your Child — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:59:09 +0000

Thank you for supporting literacy through Read with Me/Lea Conmigo, a family engagement program designed to improve the early literacy skills of infants and toddlers, preschool children, and students in kindergarten through 1^st grade. Expand your Read with Me program today for the low, one-time cost of $100 per student. Also, please feel free to contact us for other support services including:

Getting Ready for Read with Me: A 2-hour Read with Me training for new staff.
Read with Me Again: A 2-hour Read with Me refresher training for staff already trained in the Read with Me program
Read with Me Literacy Backpack: Replace your Read with Me backpack with or without books.
Read with Me Backpack Tags: Replace you lost tags for your backpacks.
Storysharing Tips: Replace lost Storysharing tips for your Read with Me backpacks.

I have attached a Read with Me brochure for your information. Please feel free to contact me at (213) 201-3905 or at lmiranda@familiesinschools.org to expand your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo program today. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Best Wishes,

Lupe Miranda

Lupe Miranda

Program Assistant, Early Education and Family Literacy

Families In Schools

Web: www.familiesinschools.org

Direct Number: (213) 201-3905

Main Office Number: (213) 201-3900

Email: lmiranda@familiesinschools.org

LéaLA Book Fair With a Mission to Make History in Los Angeles

Raise Your Child — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:59:37 +0000

LéaLA Book Fair With a Mission to Make History in Los Angeles

Isabel Allende, Elena Poniatowska, Laura Restrepo, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Carmen Boullosa, Francisco Martin Moreno, José José and Kate Del Castillo, are Among Presenters

One of the most ambitious efforts to celebrate the world of Spanish language books will make its debut when LéaLA, the Spanish book fair in Los Angeles, premieres April 29, 30 and May 1, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “This book fair is the first of its kind in the U.S.,” says Marisol Schulz, Director of LéaLA. “LéaLA was conceived as a cultural festival where the spinal cord is the literary program, a space where authors from Latin American countries and U.S. Latino writers can find a home that reflects the U.S. Latino reality. A place where Hispanics from all walks of life can rediscover their roots, reading, culture and understand the new society they are building in the U.S.,”

LéaLA will feature an impressive gathering of highly acclaimed authors from the literary, cultural and entertainment worlds. More than 100 publishers and 80 authors will showcase their works from fiction to non-fiction, with topics ranging from history to empowerment, for everyone from book aficionados to children just learning to read, in Spanish and English. The jam-packed literary and cultural program will complement the sale of books and give the public a close-up look at the wonders of the written page in an entertaining way.

Confirmed authors include: Isabel Allende, Laura Restrepo, Francisco Martin Moreno, Xavier Velasco, Sealtiel Alatriste, Carmen Boullosa, Sanjuana Martinez, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, and Sandra Lorenzano. Also participating will be the Director of the Royal Spanish Academy, Jose Manuel Blecua; former Miss Universe, Dayanara Torres; legendary singing superstar, Jose Jose; actress Kate del Castillo, and more celebrities who will read to children in the kids’ zone.

The Mexican state of Jalisco is the honored special guest and as a tribute LéaLA will present a homage to three Mexican literary greats: Juan Rulfo, Agustín Yáñez and Juan José Arreola, as well as the theatre performances by one of Mexico’s greatest artists, actor-writer-director, Ofelia Medina, presenting "El Placer de Nuestra Lengua," "The Pleasures of Our Tongue,” with the Rubén Albarrán (lead singer of Café Tacvba). The play’s name is a double entendre referring to the Spanish language as well as our physical tongue. It is a dramatic staging where delicate, romantic lyricism is intertwined with potent eroticism through the Spanish Language. The Ballet Folclórico of the University of Guadalajara, considered one of the best folk dance troupes in Mexico with international acclaim, will also offer a command performance, with concert caliber mariachi on Sunday, May 1 at the Wiltern Theatre.

Plenary sessions, book signings, talks, panel sessions and talks will fill each day’s program revealing insights into a plethora of topics including: popular trends, current events, immigration, the vitality of Latino culture in the U.S. and Latin America, the history and roots of Latin American countries, mysteries of love and sex, personal finance, mental and physical health for women, gay history, the drug trade, Mexican cinema in L.A., the art of Mexican cuisine, and the education crisis, among others.

Topping each day will be evening concerts at the Nokia Theatre with top recording artists including, Lupillo Rivera and Banda El Limon, Pedro Fernandez, and Molotov and Kinky.

The event is open to the public and expects to draw over 30,000 people. Admission is free to the book fair. Event hours are: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Concourse Hall, 1201 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90015. Tickets for the concerts and theatre performances are available through Ticketmaster. For more information visit the LéaLA website at www.lea-la.com

LéaLA is an initiative organized by the University of Guadalajara USA Foundation and supported by the Guadalajara International Book Fair, Feria Internacional del Libro, known worldwide as FIL; and the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

For interviews, photos and more information, contact:

USA: Oralia Michel
626-705-1942
oralia@ommpr.com
México: Yadira Cota
33-31342222 ext.12641
Yadira.cota@redudg.udg.mx

Expand Your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo Family Literacy Program!

Raise Your Child — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:41:56 +0000

Expand Your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo Family Literacy Program!

Getting Ready for Read with Me: A 2-hour Read with Me training for new staff.
Read with Me Again: A 2-hour Read with Me refresher training for staff already trained in the Read with Me program
Read with Me Literacy Backpack: Replace your Read with Me backpack with or without books.
Read with Me Backpack Tags: Replace you lost tags for your backpacks.
Storysharing Tips: Replace lost Storysharing tips for your Read with Me backpacks.

CLICK HERE to Read with Me brochure for your information.

Please feel free to contact me at (213) 201-3905 or at lmiranda@familiesinschools.org to expand your Read with Me/Lea Conmigo program today. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Best Wishes,

Lupe Miranda

Lupe Miranda

Program Assistant, Early Education and Family Literacy

Families In Schools

Web: www.familiesinschools.org

Direct Number: (213) 201-3905

Main Office Number: (213) 201-3900

Email: lmiranda@familiesinschools.org

Our mission is to involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success.

Early childhood reading grants from Target: Apply by April 30, 2011

Raise Your Child — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:59:33 +0000

Target awards grants to schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations to support programs that promote reading in early childhood programs. The grants are intended to foster a love of reading and encourage children, preschool through third grade, to read together with their families.

Target Early Childhood Reading Grants are for $2000 and are submitted through an online application process. Application instructions will be posted on the Target web site on March 1, 2011. (Look for the button "Apply for a Reading Grant.") Grants can be submitted until April 30, 2011. Recipients will be notified in September.

For more information, Click here.

Lupe Miranda

Program Assistant, Early Education and Family Literacy

Families In Schools

Web: www.familiesinschools.org

Direct Number: (213) 201-3905

Main Office Number: (213) 201-3900

Email: lmiranda@familiesinschools.org

Swine Flu – Facts

Raise Your Child — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:31:41 +0000

Swine Flu – Facts
By Eric K Kampel

Swine influenza – Swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by the type A H1N1 swine influenza virus (SIV). Humans in close proximity to swine could contract swine influenza if the swine are carrying the rare strain of the SIV that is capable of affecting humans.

Symptoms – Swine flu symptoms in humans are generally similar to regular flu (influenza) symptoms and include muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, lack of appetite, fever, chills, and general weakness and discomfort. Other reported symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Transmission – H1N1 flu spreads from pigs to humans when humans are close to infected pigs. People working in barns or visiting livestock exhibits housing infected pigs are likely to get affected. Transmission from humans to humans can occur when the infected individual coughs or sneezes when others are close by. Putting one’s hands to the nose or mouth after touching anything with the flu viruses on it could also spread the infection. Consuming well-cooked pork and pork products won’t cause infection as cooking to an internal temperature of 160°F kills bacteria and viruses, including the swine flu virus.

Treatment and medication – While swine flu can generally be cured by the four antiviral drugs approved for curing flu in the US, amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir, the recent 2009 swine flu outbreak viruses have been found to be resistant to the first two drugs. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are now recommended for treatment and prevention of swine influenza.

Prevention – Swine flu can be prevented by taking certain precautionary measures, such as washing hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based hand wash. Staying away from infected individuals is important as their coughing or sneezing could spread the infection. If instances of infection are reported in your locality, stay indoors as far as possible. Swine flue vaccine could be out by June 2009.

Reliable Paper offers an extensive line of disinfectants, spray and wipes that will help alleviate the spread of swine flu!

Latest News in Swine Flu and School Closures – May 6, 2009

Raise Your Child — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:05:04 +0000

Mexicans arrive home to country emerging from flu – Sioux City Journal

6 May 2009 at 12:36pm
Women wearing masks to protect against the transmission of swine flu ride a bus in downtown Mexico City, Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Mexico’s Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens said the swine flu outbreak has cost the Mexican economy at least $2.2 billion …

6 New Cases Of Swine Flu Confirmed In NYC – CBS 2

6 May 2009 at 1:41pm
New York state Health Commissioner Richard Daines says New York City has six newly confirmed cases of swine flu, bringing the total there to 80. Statewide, New York has 97 confirmed cases of swine flu, with the majority traced to St. Francis …

NYC has 6 more cases of swine flu; total is 80 – Newsday

6 May 2009 at 1:34pm
of NYC outbreaks; INCORPORATES material in BC-NY–Swine Flu-NY Schools Reopen; CHANGES dateline. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ New York state Health Commissioner Richard Daines says New York City has six newly confirmed cases of swine flu, bringing the total …

Mexicans return to country emerging from flu – MSNBC

6 May 2009 at 9:37am
May 5: With two Americans being held in China due to swine flu fears, the CDC considers changing its recommendations on when and if U.S. schools should close to deal with the outbreak. NBC?s Tom Costello reports. Dozens of Mexican nationals …

Hillsborough to reopen schools after CDC backs off need for drastic … – St…

6 May 2009 at 11:10am
Story Tools TAMPA ? In an abrupt turnaround, Hillsborough County school officials decided Tuesday night to reopen three schools shut down due to swine flu exposure, hours after the federal government said the virus was less threatening than …

Update: No school closures from new swine flu cases – WBIR

6 May 2009 at 1:34pm
The Tennessee Department of Health now has six probable cases of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, listed for Knox County. The four additional probable cases since the second case was announced Tuesday are all connected to schools in which …

Mexican health officials say swine flu death toll rises to 42 – Orlando Sentinel

6 May 2009 at 7:21am
MEXICO CITY (AP) ? Mexican health officials say that testing of backlogged cases has increased the confirmed swine flu death toll from 31 to 42. That includes three new deaths in the past two days. Officials also have confirmed 1,070 other cases of …

School opens week after swine flu – WTHI

6 May 2009 at 12:29pm
CHICAGO (AP) – Classes are back in session at a school on Chicago’s North Side that was the first in Illinois to close because of swine flu. Kilmer Elementary reopened Wednesday morning. It was closed for a week after a 12-year-old student fell ill …

Mexico swine flu death toll rises to 42 – Times Union

6 May 2009 at 7:14am
MEXICO CITY — Mexican health officials say that testing of backlogged cases has increased the confirmed swine flu death toll from 31 to 42. That includes three new deaths in the past two days. Officials also have confirmed 1,070 other cases of …

Two cases of swine flu suspected in Champaign County – Daily Illini

6 May 2009 at 1:41pm
Two cases of suspected swine flu are under investigation in Champaign County, an official of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed today. Both people have been hospitalized in Urbana after testing positive for influenza A, said public …

Latest News in Swine Flu and Children – April 29, 2009

Raise Your Child — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:36:11 +0000

China Launches Swine Flu Education Drive In Schools – Turkish Weekly

29 Apr 2009 at 9:49pm
China has launched a campaign to educate all schoolchildren in the symptoms and prevention of swine flu, the government said on Thursday, dpa reported. �� Schools nationwide should educate children about swine flu as soon as possible to raise …

Police seek airline passengers over swine flu fear – News.com.au

29 Apr 2009 at 9:56pm
QUEENSLAND police are seeking two people and thermal imaging scanners have been installed in key state airports as swine flu escalates towards being a pandemic. Police have been called in to help locate two of seven passengers who were on a Los …

State responds to flu – Worthington Daily Globe

29 Apr 2009 at 7:47pm
ST. PAUL ? Minnesota is prepared to respond to a swine flu outbreak, state health leaders say, but the first probable case was a ?wake-up call.? Public health leaders attempted to reassure Minnesotans Wednesday that a well-rehearsed pandemic …

Swine flu has parents second-guessing children’s symptoms – 22 WSBT

29 Apr 2009 at 3:58pm
Story Created: Apr 29, 2009 at 5:42 PM EDT Story Updated: Apr 29, 2009 at 6:40 PM EDT SOUTH BEND ? Children, especially those under 2, are at risk for swine flu. But across the nation, officials are not taking any chances with school-age children …

Queenslanders await swine flu results – ninemsn

29 Apr 2009 at 10:10pm
Twenty-one Queenslanders await results for swine flu tests, as police search for two passengers who shared a flight with New Zealand school children carrying the deadly virus. Five passengers from the Air New Zealand flight, which was later found to …

2 Probable Cases of Swine Flu in Alabama – NBC 15

29 Apr 2009 at 6:57pm

(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) April 29 – The Alabama Department of Health announced Wednesday evening that there are two probable cases of swine flu in the state. The probable cases were detected in two children in Madison, Alabama. Health officials have …

Little boy, far from home, 1st US swine flu death – Philippine Star Online

29 Apr 2009 at 9:27pm
HOUSTON ( AP ) ? He was not yet 2, far from home and dying. The first victim of swine flu in the US was a Mexican toddler who struggled to survive for weeks in Texas hospitals ? long before it was known doctors were dealing with an international …

Closing schools may not halt flu spread – Detroit News

29 Apr 2009 at 10:03pm
Washington — Closing schools won’t necessarily stop the spread of swine flu. What about the younger sister in a private day care center? And how to keep teens who are sent home from getting together at the mall or at each other’s houses? Only about …

Panic at school as girl of 12 becomes the latest swine flu victim – Daily Mail

29 Apr 2009 at 7:04pm
A girl of 12 has become the latest – and youngest – Briton to be diagnosed with deadly swine flu. Hundreds of her frightened school friends were hurriedly innoculated with anti-viral drugs yesterday after confirmation that she had tested positive …

Updated: Two Madison cases probably swine flu, Alabama officials say – Everyt…

29 Apr 2009 at 4:48pm
AP Alabama State Health Officer Don Williams said final confirmation of swine flu in the state will come from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Alabama health officials have identified two cases of probable swine flu from specimens taken …

Latest News in Child Care Tax Credit

Raise Your Child — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:26:11 +0000

IMPORTANT: Bing News RSS feed has moved!

Child Care Tax Credit in the News

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