Parent+Ombudsmand+Newsletter

** School Advisory Councils (SACs) are forming at EVERY District school:  ** Parents, community members, and school-based staff are welcome to self-nominate. Contact your neighborhood school or Parent and Family Resource Center for more information about joining and to get an application. Call 215-400-4180 for assistance or get applications at [] ** FREE opportunity to hear Les Brown:  ** “Keeping Parents Engaged and Children Motivated” on Saturday, January 8th; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 W. Lehigh Ave. (free breakfast at Dobbins H. S., 2150 W. Lehigh Ave. at 9:30 am). You must register by calling 215 400-4180 or visiting [] ** School District Literacy Initiative: 1,000 Books in Every Classroom:  ** Promotion in classroom libraries at all high schools in collaboration with the administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Children’s reading achievement improves when their classrooms are filled with books. Visit [|http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classroombooks/pdfs/research/Raise_Student_Achievement.pdf or call 215 400-5594] for more information. ** The Give Back Crew presents Spoken Word Contest:  ** Wednesday, December 28th; 5:00 to 7:00 pm at C.B. Moore Recreation Center; 2551 N. 22nd St. Registration deadline is December 24th. Call 215 685-9755 for information. ** Annual Kwanzaa Celebration:  ** Meet, greet & hear Dr. Maulana Karenga, creator of Kwanzaa; Sunday, December 26th; 3:30 - 7:00 pm; First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. (adults $10.00; children under 12 and elders $7.00). Call 856 365-4817 for details. ** Kwanzaa Cultural Celebration:  ** December 27th, 28th, and 29th at Parkway Central Library; 1901 Vine Street; 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Lunch and Kwanzaa gift will be provided to each child who registers. Call 215 683-4076 to register. ** Oak Lane School Offers Holiday Music Camp:  ** The Eva Donalsdson School of Music is offering a Holiday Music Camp from December 27th to December 30th at 7306 Ogontz Ave. in West Oak Lane. For more information visit here. ** Property Tax/Rent Rebate:  ** This program is for eligible seniors, the disabled, and widows or widowers. Application deadline December 31st. For more information call 215-763-2559 or visit [] ** Free Respite Program for the School Winter Break:  ** Available for parents who need respite services. Children must be registered to attend. Call 215 685-5932 or email valarie.oulds@phila.gov     to register.  ** Arts Program Seeks Scripts from Young Playwrights: ** The International Organization on Arts and Disability invite middle and high school students to submit scripts for a playwright discovery program. The winning script will receive $2,000 and a trip to Washington, DC. Visit  here for information   . ** Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this Month!!! ** To prevent this, call 888 382-1222 from your cell phone. Help others by passing this on. Visit @https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx for details. ** Recycle Bank Green Schools Program 2010-2011:  ** Accepting applications for grants between $100.00 and $5,000.00 from schools that work with youth (ages 6-18). For information about how to apply visit [|www.recyclebank.com/about/giveback]. ** Educating Communities for Parenting:  ** New teen parenting classes are now open, 12-week class will begin on Wednesday, January 5th. For more information email Olivia Campbell. ** Parents with Power Workshops:  ** // Youth Programs in Your Community // Workshop on Wednesday, January 5th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm; and // Behavior Styles // Workshop on Wednesday, January 19th; 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Call 215-851-1795 or visit [] for locations. ** Free Tutoring Classes  ** : English, Reading and Math for Elementary, Middle and High School Students at Covenant Church, Founder Hall, Room C-19; 7500 Germantown Ave. Register at     [|erec@newcovenantchurch.org] or call 215-247-7500. ** Free After School Arts Program in Music, Dance & Theatre:  ** Students in grades 6-12, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 3:00 - 6:30 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at Audenried High School; 33rd St. & Tasker Ave. Call 215-400-5950 or [|tward2@philasd.org] ** Family Literacy Program: ** Adult Education, Parenting Group, Early Childhood Education, and Parent & Child Together time. Thursdays 3:00 - 5:00 pm and Fridays 1:00 - 2:00 pm at the Columbia North YMCA. Contact P. Taylor at 215-400-2100; ext. 2205    **  FREE Special Education Training Sessions in English and Spanish:  ** January 4th – February 8th between 9:30 am and 12:00 pm at 2200 N. 2nd St. Snacks and tokens provided. Call 215-425-6203 for more information and to reserve your space. ** 19th Annual Brighter Futures Awards, honoring community members:  ** Nominations accepted for those who are positively impacting the life of an individual(s) with intellectual disabilities. Deadline January 12, 2011. Call 215-685-5923 or email [|Judy.Kresloff@phila.gov] for details. ** The School District of Philadelphia’s Re-Engagement Center:  ** Young people (ages 15-21) and adults who have dropped out of school can access a high school diploma or GED Program. For more information call 215-400-6700 or 267-336-6090. ** Survey targets professional/child/youth workers:  ** The PA Statewide After School/Youth Development Network created a survey. Individuals working with children in grades K-12 can fill out the survey here. (A raffle drawing for an Apple I-Pad will be held amongst those completing the surveys.)   ** Green Jobs Training Program:  ** Get on the job training (paid) in landscaping and landscape design, plus academic support. Youth 20-24 years old. Information sessions will be held at PCAT; 2111 Eastburn Ave. Starting in January 2011; call 215-527-5602 to register. ** The Paradigm Award & Scholarship Committee  ** : Provides scholarships up to $5,000.00 for women who are working full-time while completing their undergraduate degree. For details and to apply, visit @http://www.greaterphilachamber.com/paradigm.aspx?PageContentID=309. ** Why Young People Should Engage in Service & New Resources to Get Them Started ** : Parents can encourage their children to be active participants in their community. To read more visit www.huffingtonpost.com/darell-hammond/why-young-people-should-e_b_781146.html ** Harvard  ** **  University  ** **  Announcement:  ** Honor students from low-income families earning less than $60,000.00 a year qualify for free tuition. For more information go to [] or call 617-495-1581 ** Registration for Philadelphia Reading Olympics is OPEN:  ** The Free Library of Philadelphia and The School District of Philadelphia invites fourth to eighth graders to participate in the competition in May. For more information or to register, visit here  . ** Family Literacy Programs:  ** FREE classes on GED, Adult Basic Education, and Work Readiness Skills at PathwaysPA Wissahickon; 4700 Wissahickon Ave., Bldg. C; Ste. 101 (corner of Wissahickon Ave. and Abbottsford Rd.) Call 215-549-2686 Monday – Friday; 8 am – 4 pm. ** Easter Seals Disability Services: ** Young Adult Social Group with special needs; each club meets the first and third Saturday of each month. Call 215-879-1000; ext. 6088 or email [|recreation@eastersseals-sepa.org] **PHEAA launches new student aid website **: Parents and students will have access to a new and improved [|Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency] student aid and debt management website, [|YouCanDealWithIt.com].  The free site offers students and parents practical and easy-to-understand advice and information. For more information, go to [|www.pheaa.org/] or [|www.youcandealwithit.com/] or you may call 1-800-233-0557. || ** Advice on Participating in Classroom Discussion: ** Many students are afraid to speak in class, but open dialog provides an excellent learning situation. Helping your child, older or younger, learn to participate in class can help ensure his or her success in school. Check out these tips from StudyTips.org to share with your student. **[** **read more** **]** ** New Website for Parenting Education Program Launched:  ** Services for youth, parents, teen parents and families. More information email here. ** Parenting Web Site:  ** There are multiple parenting resources to help families in various aspects of their lives. Visit  www.cap4kids.org/philadelphia ** On-line Community helps parents create a safe environment for children:  ** Includes extensive safety tips section, 1 month old to 14 years, the safety resource are also categorize by risk area, special needs and overall basics. To visit the site, click here  ** Were you affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on September 30th, 2010 in Philadelphia? ** See this resource Disaster Loans ** Reminder: ** PGW’s Customer Service Centers will be closed December 27th and January 3rd 2011. The Customer Service will be open half day 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Christmas Eve. ** Federal Student AID:  ** Provides important information about FAFSA and Funding Education beyond High School includes “Your guide to FSAPubs” that provides information how to order free materials. More information go to [|www.studentaide.ed.gov] ** Vanguard Scholarship Program  ** : Provides merit-based scholarships of up to $10,000 to students of color. For more information about how to apply for the 2012 program, visit http://sms.scholarshipamerica.org/vanguard/ ** 2011 Gates Millennium Scholars Program Scholarships (Deadline, January 10th)  ** Opportunity for outstanding students of color; applications are now available. For more information, visit www.gmsp.org  ** Usa  ****  Funds access to Education Scholarships:  ** For the 2011-2012 academic year, USA Funds will award 1,500 scholarships to students with economic need. Accepting applications between December 15, 2010 and February 15, 2011. For more information, visit [] ** Scholarship Flash:  ** This is a list of opportunities for funding from local scholarship organizations. To get more information go to [] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 90%;"> ** Free or low-cost health insurance for kids up to age 19:  ** Apply over the phone for Medical Assistance and CHIP; call PCCY at 215-563-5848, ext. 19.    **  Earn a College Degree:  ** The Indochinese American Council provides college courses right here in our community. Contact 215-457-6666 or 267-254-6061. ** CADE Helping Children Make Smart Decisions: ** Prevention Specialists provide education and guidance to children who live with the harsh realities of drug abuse and violence in their communities, see the program components [|http://www.cadekids.org] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program website has published a listing of dozens of funding opportunities for bullying programs, which available by visiting here. ||
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 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Funding directory for bullying programs published **