Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, December 8, 2018

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SOUTH PASADENA - SAN MARINO

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 8, 2018 


Congresswoman Chu 
Introduces DIPLOMA Act

Elf Jr. - The Musical at The 
Fremont Centre Theatre

Crowell Library Programs for 
Kids and Crain Art Gallery

 

 Rep. Judy Chu recently 
introduced H.R. 7204, the 
Developing Innovative 
Partnerships and Learning 
Opportunities that Motivate 
Achievement (DIPLOMA) 
Act. The DIPLOMA Act would 
provide federal grants to states 
to support community schools 
and develop a comprehensive 
child and youth strategy. 
States would award subgrants 
to local consortia, in which 
a school works with at least 
one community partner. 
Community partners can be 
public or private organizations 
like local governments or 
institutions of higher education, 
local nonprofits or child and 
youth-serving organizations, 
or even local businesses or 
foundations. A community 
School Consortium receiving 
grant funds could use them 
to increase support for early 
childhood education, early 
reading programs, child care, 
home visiting, and parental 
education, develop programs 
for students and parents to 
learn together, offer multiple 
routes to a high school diploma, 
support mentoring, and more. 
Rep. Chu released the following 
statement:

 “As a former teacher, I know 
that a good education is the 
best path to future success. 
But too many students are 
too distracted by hunger or 
a difficult home life. Other 
parents who do want to take 
an active role in their child’s 
schooling need education 
themselves. That is what this 
bill is meant to address. We 
trust our public schools to 
educate and prepare our future 
leaders, but they do not exist on 
an island, they are a part of our 
community, and therefore, both 
community and school stand to 
gain from working together. 
That is why I introduced this 
bill, to promote community 
investment in our students. 
Professionals, universities, 
non-profits and more have 
so much to offer students 
and parents alike, but often 
the resources are not there to 
bring them together. This bill 
not only encourages those 
partnerships, but provides the 
grant funding necessary to 
make them successful.”

 The DIPLOMA Act is 
cosponsored by Reps. Lucille 
Roybal-Allard (CA-40), 
Grace Meng (NY-06), Eleanor 
Holmes-Norton (DC), Barbara 
Lee (CA-13), and Mark 
DeSaulnier (CA-11). Leaders 
of endorsing groups issued the 
following statements:

 “At its core, this legislation 
creates unity for every child’s 
opportunity,” said Jose 
Munoz, Director, Coalition 
for Community Schools, 
Institute for Educational 
Leadership. “Unity in purpose, 
in results, in alignment of 
programs and funding, and 
in belief in the dignity and 
potential of every child. We 
applaud the DIPLOMA Act 
for recognizing the equity 
role the federal government 
has to help states and districts 
invest in the infrastructure 
necessary to catalyze dynamic 
collaboration between schools 
and communities; and among 
grassroots and grasstops leaders 
to pursue boldly a set of results 
we seek for all of our children. 
We look forward to standing as 
a Coalition of many partners 
to advocate for this important 
legislation in the coming weeks 
and months.”

 “Children are our country’s 
future economic, political, 
and social leaders, and each 
child deserves an equal 
opportunity to maximize 
their potential through 
access to quality education,” 
said Bruce Lesley, President, 
First Focus Campaign for 
Children. “We applaud the 
DIPLOMA Act for utilizing 
the evidence-based strategy of 
partnerships between schools 
and communities to ensure 
that students from low-income 
families or underperforming 
schools have the support system 
they need to succeed. Forming 
these connections have proven 
to decrease suspension and 
absentee rates, increase 
graduation rates, improve 
emotional health, strengthen 
access to pre-school, and lower 
dropout rates, among other 
important benefits. A child’s 
education is one of the most 
important investments we can 
make as a country, and the 
DIPLOMA Act would be an 
important contribution to that 
investment.”

 “The DIPLOMA Act is a 
critical step in providing whole 
child services and expanding 
opportunities for students 
community wide,” said Arnold 
F. Fege, President, Public 
Advocacy for Kids, Washington, 
DC. “While DIPLOMA 
promotes the public school as 
the center of the community, 
by integrating services 
and coordinating essential 
supports, the community 
becomes an equal partner in 
assuring that everyone ‘owns’ 
the responsibility for student 
success. As student and family 
demographics change, so must 
the school in organizing ways 
for education, nutrition, health, 
juvenile justice, counseling, 
social services, homelessness, 
adoption assistance and 
summer programs to work in 
coordination and on behalf 
of the whole child. Public 
Advocacy for Kids thanks Rep. 
Judy Chu for introducing this 
act, and providing incentives 
for local school districts and 
communities to create more 
seamless opportunities for 
every child based on need and 
accountability.” 

 The San Marino Crowell 
Library offers many 
opportunities for our 
youngest patrons to enjoy 
visiting the library weekly. 
These programs are 
sponsored by the Friends of 
the Crowell Public Library

**New!** Preschool STEM

Storytime (ages 3–5)

December 20,10:30 am

Preschoolers ages 3-5 are 
invited to join us for a 
brand new STEM (science, 
technology, engineering, and 
math) storytime program! 
The stories and fun activities 
we’ll be s haring are designed 
to help preschoolers inspire 
creativity, collaboration, 
communication, and 
encourage critical thinking, 
otherwise known as the 
4 C’s. Registration is not 
required but the program is

limited to ages 3-5.

Barks & Books (Kinder & 
up)

2nd Tuesdays 3:15 pm:

Dec 11

Elementary school children 
are invited to the Crowell 
Public Library to practice 
their reading skills by 
reading to Spencer, a 
gentle Basset Hound. This 
special program is made 
possible by volunteers of the 
Pasadena Humane Society. 
Registration is not required.

DIY Gingerbread House

Decorating (ages 3 & up)

Saturday, December 15, 2 
pm

It’s the most wonderful time 
of the year! Back by popular 
demand, kids ages 3 and up 
are invited to decorate their 
own (faux) gingerbread 
house at the library! All 
materials will be provided, 
the only thing you have 
to bring is your creativity! 
Registration is required; 
space is limited.

Crain Art Gallery

Rayma Gorgans: Recent 
Paintings (all ages)

Through December 29

Rayma Gorgans, a lifelong 
resident of the San Gabriel 
Valley, always had a 
fascination with watercolor 
art, but had no formal art 
training. For the past three 
years, after retiring from 
a career in the nursing 
profession, she has been 
able to devote herself full 
time to her artwork. Most 
of her work is in florals 
and landscapes. Her love 
of watercolor has, of late, 
given way to the addition 
of mixed media, including 
rice paper collage, as her 
work continues to grow and 
develop.

 The Crowell Library is 
located 1890 Huntington 
Drive

 For more information or to 
register for an event please 
visit: cityofsanmarino.org or 
call the Library at (626) 300-
0777. 


Presented by Young Stars Theatre

 Back by popular demand One of the most popular YST shows 
EVER! “Elf Jr.” tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan, who 
mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the 
North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually 
a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities 
cause him to face the truth. 

 With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New 
York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. 
Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list 
and that his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy 
is determined to win over his new family and help New York 
remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

 Tickets on sale NOW! Tickets $25, $30 for Gala shows including:

Tonight at 6pm 

Sunday December 9th at 2pm 

Sunday December 9th at 6pm 

Saturday December 15th at 2pm 

Sunday December 16th at 2pm 

 If you have any questions about this production please call Young 
Stars Theatre at 626-269-3609.

 The Fremont Centre Theatre is located 1000 Fremont Ave. South 
Pasadena.

Bricks LA: LEGO Convention

Bricks LA is an annual family-
friendly convention that will 
take place at the Pasadena 
Convention Center on January 
5, 2019 to January 6, 2019. 
Come share your love of LEGO 
and discover hundreds of fan 
created models in over 19,000 
square feet of display space. 
Shop the vendor area with new, 
used, and vintage LEGO sets, 
minifigures, jewelry, gifts, and 
unique brick accessories. Learn 
about the brick community and 
building techniques in panels 
and discussions. Be inspired to 
build your own creations in the 
play area.

Tickets

Adults | $5.00

Children under 5 | Free

 As a registered attendee, you 
will have exclusive access to 
private events. Several themed 
categories will be available for 
you to show your very own 
LEGO creation. Get in on 
giveaways and participate in 
building competitions. Meet 
and hang out with friends and 
other fellow LEGO enthusiasts 
at the after hours festivities, and 
receive a swag bag. Must be 18 
years old.

 Early Bird VIB Registration | 
$55.00

Hours of Operation

January 5, 2019 at 9:00 AM to 
5:00 PM

January 6, 2019 at 9:00 AM to 
4:00 PM

 Parking at the convention 
center is $15 per day for up 
to 16 hours or $21 per day 
for in and out privileges. The 
subterranean parking structure 
is shared with the Sheraton 
Pasadena. 

 The Metro Gold Line runs 
from Downtown Los Angeles 
or Azusa to Pasadena. There 
are two train station within 
walking distance.


YST Winter 
Camp 2018


Presented by Young Stars 
Theatre

 Tickets $15 for Performance 
dates: Saturday, January 5 at 
2pm and 4pm

Sunday, January 6 at 2pm 
and 4pm.

 YST is doing their first one-
week winter camp in over a 
decade! This one-week fun 
winter camp will culminate 
in 4 performances of 
“Disney’s Cinderella Kids” 
(the shorter version, about 
40 minutes). Open to ages 
5 to 18. Get registered soon, 
because we plan to fill up 
quickly!

 Camp tuition is $195. Full 
camp day is 10am to 3pm, 
December 31 - January 
4th, with 2 performances 
Saturday the 5th and 2 
performances Sunday the 
6th. Aftercare is available 
until 5pm for $20/day or 
$60/week. All camp days 
and performances are at 
YST’s home, the beautiful 
Fremont Centre Theatre.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com