Schools
Come down from that tree (it's back to school again)
Parenting with Annie
Recently a media outlet in Dubai asked me to weigh in on back-to-school issues. Just goes to show that a) when you're on a deadline, even Annie Fox is an "expert" and b) like kids everywhere, young 'uns in the world's second largest oil economy have "issues" when it's time to crack the books again.
The interviewer's questions were good. I give my answers a solid B+. Maybe an A- (depending on whether she grades on a curve). 90% of my responses will probably end up on the cutting room floor. (While down from its peak, print real estate is still expensive in Dubai.) The pearls that see the light of day aren't likely to be seen by many of you, so I thought I'd post the whole banana. You may find some valuable tips as you and your kids head back into the fray. If not, you can always use my blog to line your virtual bird cages.
Author, parenting expert and Marin mom Annie Fox lends her advice to perplexed parents everywhere. Click here to get her advice on smoothing over the back to school transition.
| August 17 2009 at 10:03 AM
Another computer heist reported at second Marin school
Eleven computers were nabbed from the Lu Sutton Elementary school in Novato sometime last weekend.
The laptops were not school property; they belonged to another party who was holding camps at the school. The thieves also made off with five video cameras. The total value of equipment taken--twelve thousand dollars and the thief, or thieves, are still at large.
We're wondering--and we're sure police are too--if this theft is related to a similar one that took place a week ago at another Novato elementary school. In that incident, 20 computers--valued at $20,000--were stolen from Lynwood Elementary school. Police have yet to arrest anyone for that crime.
Novato police are urging anyone with any information about either crime, to call their anonymous tip line at 800.222.TIPS.| August 04 2009 at 05:15 AM
Nearly two dozen computers swiped from Novato elementary school
School starts in three weeks at Lynwood Elementary School in Novato and there's a good chance the computer instruction class won't be offered.
That's because thieves made off with 20 iMac computers from the computer lab earlier this week, and police have no idea who took them. Authorities believe someone cut a security lock chain to gain access to the school, drove up to the lab, and just emptied it out. Naturally they left some older computers behind while only scooping up the newer models.
Police are asking the public to call (800) 222-TIPS or Novato police at (800) 848-0101. They are also offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the thieves.
For a video report, click here.
For more Marin stories, check out MoreMarin.com.
| July 31 2009 at 06:47 AM
Creating music where there was none...
Nine year-old Nia Alexander tucks her violin under her chin and begins to play.
At the moment, she is instructor Michi Aceret's only student, so it's pretty much a private lesson. Michi carefully adjusts Nia's wrist as she shows her how to avoid "pirate arm", a tendency to saw the bow all over the place resulting in that familiar violin screech.
Instead, Michi picks up another violin and demonstrates the "square arm" technique where she keeps her elbow bent at 90 degrees and moves only the forearm up and down. Nia copies her and the resulting single note is clear, and steady.
Nia isn't taking lessons in some posh music studio.
She's standing in a stark room just off the kitchen at the Manzanita Recreation Center in Marin City. Nia is the beneficiary of a program that pairs instructors from New Century Chamber Orchestra, with students in under privileged school districts that currently have no music program.
Read about a program that is music to everyone's ears, here.
| July 02 2009 at 07:12 AM
College of Marin breaks ground on $13.4 million dollar fine arts facility
Bulldozers and shovels were standing by for the official groundbreaking of the new multi-million dollar Fine Arts Building at the College of Marin (COM), yesterday.
College of Marin
Rendering of the new Fine Arts Building
It's been thirty-six years since the college's Kentfield campus has constructed a brand new academic building since the library was completed back in 1973. The new arts facility will house all the visual and fine arts classes on campus. Construction will begin in earnest this July.
Marin voters passed Measure C bond in 2004 to provide nearly $250 million dollars for work on both COM's Kentfield and Novato campuses. Part of those funds have already been used for projects including a technology complex and main building at the Novato campus, and an athletic facility refurbishing at Kentfield.
The new fine arts facility will likely earn a LEED "silver" designation with green features including low flow water appliances including toilets and faucets, native and drought resistant landscaping, a planted reflective roof system to decrease the need for temperature regulation and green, non-toxic building materials. The Fine Arts Building is expected to be complete in Spring of 2011.
(photos by Ashley Cosgriff for MoreMarin and building rendering courtesy of COM)
| June 24 2009 at 10:18 AM
How many kids does it take to disco line dance? Answer- about 700!
If you were at the Mill Vally Middle School around lunchtime, you may have seen the entire school body on the outside court performing a disco line dance routine.
All 700 of them.
The performance was the culmination of a five-week dance course taught to the 6th, 7th and 8th-graders by Cynthia Glinka, a choreographer from Larkspur. The program, funded by State Arts Fund and Kiddo! (Mill Valley Community Foundation), included instruction in Swing, Fox, Trot, Rumba, Tango and Disco.
After the massive line dance, students headed indoors for a lunchtime concert and some ballroom dancing moves. We've posted a few photos here taken by MoreMarin photographer-intern, Ashley Cosgriff.
| June 15 2009 at 06:31 PM
