Villa Holding Free Kindergarten Readiness Event Thursday Evening

Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street) is hosting a  free public event with a panel discussing Kindergarten readiness  Thursday night from 7-8:30pm.  

The information says:

Kindergarten: Ready or Not: A Panel Forum on Kindergarten Readiness

 

As you may know, many parents are choosing to extend their child's preschool experience in order to be better prepared socially, emotionally and academically for kindergarten. This panel of local education experts will discuss options including the pros and cons of an additional preschool year.

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten has changed dramatically since we were kids and more than ever parents are wondering”what does it mean to be ready for kindergarten?”

Join us for an evening with experts who can help you understand what a kindergarten-ready child looks like and under what circumstances one should consider extending the time a child spends in pre-K program.
 

Panelists will include Villa Lower School Director, a Parent Educator and Consultant, and the Villa Pre-K Lead Teacher.

The panel will discuss academic, social, emotional, and developmental aspects of kindergarten readiness.  This session is designed for any parent whose child is approaching kindergarten.Panelists include Jody Elsner, Lower School Director at Villa Academy; Alison Bower, Parent Educator and Educational Consultant; and Jennifer Holloway, Preschool Teacher at Villa Academy.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information go here.

 

"How To Keep Your Kids Safe" Topic Of Lecture At Villa Thursday Night

Thursday night from 7-9pm, Villa Academy (5001 50th Street ) is hosting a free lecture called "How to Keep Your Kids Safe" in the Parlour.

The information says:

Kim Estes of Savvy Parents-Safe Kids will be talking to Parents about how to help keep their kids safe and how to talk to kids about safety issues at any age.

For parents with kids between the ages of 8-13, the tween years is a total game changer. Make sure that you are prepared for this normal part of growing up.  Know what to do to get ready for the safety changes coming your way.

The goal of this talk is to help you become a helpful and resourceful parent to your child. There will be tips and tools to help you put solid game plan in place and help you navigate them through this very exciting chapter of their lives and helping to reduce their risk for being a target of crime.

For more information go here.

Villa Offering Basketball Camp On Monday



Watts Basketball is holding a half day camp at Villa on Monday for $55.

There are two camps, Grades K-4: 9:00am to noon, and Grades 5-8: 1-4pm.

The information says:

This camp focuses on growing your individual skills for use in your next game and learn new skills in fun competitive ways.  Some skills covered will be Ball Handling, Shooting, Hand Eye Coordination, Basketball IQ, Team Work, Defensive Movement.  Playes will be divided into age and skill appropriate groups.

Watts Basketball is run by Donald Watts, former UW Basketball player, whose father was Slick Watts, a Seattle Sonics NBA player.  Donald was selected Washington State’s High School Basketball Player of the Year and went on to play with the University of Washington basketball team, which competed in two NCAA tournaments. After leaving the US, he continued to play professional basketball all over the world.

Watts Basketball offers a variety of prrograms including small groups, specialized clinics, Team Training and after school programs.

Internet And Computer Safety Topic Of Villa Lecture Tonight



Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street) is holding a free lecture tonight at 7pm called "Internet and Computer Safety" with Stefanie Thomas, who is a victim advocate for the Seattle Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  

For the past two years, she has been the public face of Internet safety in the Seattle area, as well as a certified forensic child interviewer.  She holds a BA in law, society and justice from the University of Washington.

The information says:

Ms. Thomas will provide parents with important information on Internet and Computer Safety. She will share websites that parents should be concerned about and discuss the importance of talking to kids about cyber bullying, sexting and the legal consequences of these behaviors.

Ms. Thomas will also discuss tools to keep children safe and communicate positively while navigating our 'constantly connected' world.

 

The event will be held in the Parlor room and there is no childcare provided.

 

(photo courtesy here)

Second Screening Of "Finding Kind" Documentary Tomorrow

Katie, from Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street), told us that their recent screening of the documentary "Finding Kind" was so popular that a second screening for tomorow is scheduled at 7pm.

Finding Kind is a documentary about growing up as girls, just how mean they can be to each other and what they can do to be kind instead.

This event is open to the public for all parents and girls who are in 5th grade or older.

The information says:

The documentary explores the universal truths about growing up as girls and the bullying that occurs between girls. Two young female filmmakers set out on a cross-country journey interviewing women and girls about their lives. They find among all of the unique stories, as well as interviews with experts in fields of psychology and education, some universal truths about growing up as girls. This experience has led them to create the Kind Campaign to seek to find a common ground of kindness and mutual respect. Go to http://www.findingkind.com/  to view the trailer and learn more about the movie.

Tickets can be purchased here for  $11.54 each ($10 per ticket plus fee). There will also be a very limited number of tickets available at the door for $15 each.

"Boys And School" Lecture Tomorow At Villa Academyoct 11 - villa lecture

Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street) is holding another free lecture, open to the public, tomorrow night called "Boys and

School: Common Problems and Solutions" from 7-9pm in the Parlor for parents of boys in 5^th through 8^th grade.

The lecture decscription says:

Is your son disorganized? Distracted? Unmotivated? Not completing assignments or turning in sloppy work? These are common parent concerns of both boys and girls, but Ken will focus this talk on some of the reasons why boys struggle with these problems and solutions that work for boys.

Ken Wong, Director of Teen Programs for the City of Redmond, has over 20 years of experience working with youth. He is an expert in parent-teen relationships and communication and how to handle the highs and lows of adolescence.

Special Screening of "Finding Kind" At Villa Academy On Wednesday

Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street) is hosting a screening of the documentary "Finding Kind" on Wednesday evening from 7-9pm in the Rainbow Theater.

The movie is for parents of girls and their daughters in fifth grade or older, or just parents if daughters are younger than 5th grade.

Ticket can be purchased here in advance for $10 ticket or $15 at the door. 

The movie desciption says:

Finding Kind is a documentary that explores the universal truths about growing up as girls and the bullying that occurs between girls. Two young female filmmakers set out on a cross-country journey interviewing women and girls about their lives. They find among all of the unique stories, as well as interviews with experts in fields of psychology and education, some universal truths about growing up as girls. This experience has led them to create the Kind Campaign to seek to find a common ground of kindness and mutual respect.

Already creating buzz at film festivals and schools across the country, Finding Kind documents the 10,000-mile cross-country journey of Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, two first time filmmakers who were both teen victims of “mean girls”.

(picture courtesy of Finding Kind website) 

Food Allergies Is Topic For Last Villa Parent Education Event

The final Parent Education event in Villa Academy's Lecture Series is tomorrow from 7- 8pm and will be about Food Allergies.

Dr. Vinod Doreswamy, Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Specialist, from The Polyclinic will give a short presentation followed by a question and answer period.

The invite says "Come find out everything from how to diagnose a food allergy, to what to do about it, to what is on the horizon for treatment.

The event will be held in The Parlor at Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street).

Villa Academy Recognized For Outstanding Environmental Program

The Villa Academy, located in Laurelhurst, was one of 31 public and private schools from across Washington state that received a cash award for their outstanding environmental program, as recognized by the Terry Husseman Sustainable School Awards, according to the Ecology News Release.

The Villa Academy Green Team won a cash reward of $1,000 for reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

The Green Team website says:

The Green Team is a student-driven, middle school club that meets weekly andexplores issues of environmental stewardship, sustainability, and conservation such as food waste composting, recycling, energy use, and air quality. This student team participates in hands-on environmental science projects that will include conducting research, gathering data, and analyzing and sharing results in order to establish lasting positive changes in our school and community.

This student team will participate in hands-on environmental science projects that will include conducting research, gathering data, and analyzing and sharing results in order to establish lasting positive changes in our school and community.

Roger Crafts, Science, Math and PE teacher at Villa said Green Team members will have a say in what projects this year's award will go toward.
 
Last year, the Team helped choose the native gardening project and the $300.00 award went toward tool, plant, and soil purchase.
 
"Besides doing all the manual labor for the project, they also helped decide location, took part in a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat training, and researched which native plants would be suitable for the particular garden location.," Roger told us.

Roger told us about the team: "Instead of just talking about environmental issues, middle school students develop a much stronger connection to the natural world by taking action and getting dirty. When their efforts actually mean something, they are way more motivated and interested. This project was just one of the many student-driven, hands-on stewardship projects on which Green Team has worked."

Villa, through the efforts of the Green Team, received its first Washington Green Schools Award last Friday.

Currently the Green Team is also working toward National Wildlife Federation's Eco-Schools USA certification this spring.

(Villa Food Waste And Recycling Team in picture courtesy of Green Team website)
 

Parenting Lectures at Villa Academy Monday and Tuesday

Villa Academy's series of Parenting Education Events continues next week with "Mothers of Sons" on Monday and "Dads of Daughters" on Tuesday.

The talks are from 7-9pm and take place in the Parlor at Villa Academy (5001 NE50th Street).

Here are descriptions of the talks from the Villa website:

Mothers of Sons
Monday, February 28, 7-9pm

For parents of children age 8 to 16

Known for his humor and familiarity with the adolescent and pre-adolescent mindset, Rob Lehman will provide an entertaining and informative discussion for moms about parenting their sons. Sometimes mothers feel confused on what their role should be in steering their son in his course toward manhood. This talk covers some of the unique issues facing boys as they mature, some of the things on their minds, and strategies in building communication between a teen boy and his mom.

Julie Metzger RN, MN and Rob Lehman MD teach the popular program on puberty and sexuality at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Overlake Hospital, and Children’s Hospital at the Stanford Medical Center. Rob has devoted his professional career to adolescent health care. As a physician, his practice has focused on teenagers in many different clinical situations, including schools, homeless clinics and public health facilities. He is also a passionate advocate for youth on the local and national level and has been on the UW faculty since 1989. He has taught pre-teens and teens for over 20 years and developed the For Boys Only, The Joys and Challenges of Growing Up. Rob and Julie are writing their first book on puberty and sexuality for pre-teens – watch for it in the fall of 2011.


Dads of Daughters
Tuesday, March 1, 7-9pm
For parents of children age 8 to 16


Known for her humor and familiarity with the adolescent and pre-adolescent mindset, Julie will provide an entertaining and informative discussion for dads about parenting their daughters. There is nothing quite like being a dad of a daughter – sometimes as our girls get older, they become more of a mystery. This talk explores how dads can remain close to their daughters while balancing our hopes for their lives with their passions and priorities in mind – also strategies to promote understanding.

Julie Metzger RN, MN and Rob Lehman MD teach the popular program on puberty and sexuality at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Overlake Hospital, and Children’s Hospital at the Stanford Medical Center. Julie is a pediatric nurse, writer and educator. She developed her popular Heart to Heart, For Girls Only program in 1989, and has taught the class to tens of thousands of mother-daughter teams. She is a co-designer and instructor of several other classes aimed at fostering child-parent communication. Rob and Julie are writing their first book on puberty and sexuality for pre-teens – watch for it in the fall of 2011.

Learn About Popular Summer Camp "Villa Ventures" This Saturday

Katie, from Villa Academy, sent us email to remind the neighborhood that Villa Academy will have a booth at the 2011 Parent Map Summer Camp Fair this Saturday from 10-2pm at St. Thomas School (8300 N.E. 12th Street in Medina). Representatives from about 90 other camps for all ages will also be at the Fair.

For the entire monthy of  July, Villa Academy will once again be offering their popular "Villa Ventures," a variety of week-long morning and afternoon summer courses for childrens from age 4- 14 years old. Classes "include everything from visual and performing arts, sports, science and technology, academic enrichment, as well as special interest topics such as chess and cooking," the Villa website says.


Admission is free to the Fair. For more information about Villa Ventures go here and for the summer Camp Fair go here.

Bully-proofing Lecture Tonight At Villa Academy

Tonight from 7-9pm, Villa Academy is hosting another parenting lecture called "Bully-proofing Your Child Ages 5-12 years."

The information says:

Discover the skills to help your child make friends and handle bullying when the teacher isn't looking during recess or transitions.

Susan Fox is a pediatric neurodevelopmental therapist, author and director of The Pediatric Therapy Clinic with twenty years of experience helping parents. She has written several books as well as taught numerous workshops on child development and is currently holding classes at the Microsoft campus. She also lectures regularly and provides consultation and training to early childhood educators and therapists.

Katie, with Villa Academy told us that the talk Monday night will focus on parenting skills designed to help children make
friends and handle bullying when a teacher isn’t around.

This event coincides with the eighth annual “No Name-Calling Week” this week, full of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.


Villa Middle School teacher Amy Calomeni plans to use resources from the No Name-Calling Week website to address the issue of bullying with her 7th grade Advisory class. This includes involving students in the development of an anti-slur policy for the classroom.

For more information contact Katie McPhail at (425) 301-2313 or by email at kmcphail@thevilla.org.

Villa Academy Hosting Parenting Workshop Tomorrow

The parenting lecture originally scheduled to take place last Tuesday at Villa Academy, was cancelled and now is tomorrow morning from 9-11am in the Villa Parlor.

The lecture titled “Building your Parenting Tool Kit” is part of Villa Academy's Parenting Lecture Series. 

It is geared towards parents or caregivers who have children Preschool, Kindergarten or 1st Grade and will provide "four specific discipline strategies to manage power struggles, foster good relationships and teach self-discipline," the website says.

Villa Academy Hosting Parenting Workshop Tomorrow Morning

Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street) is hosting a Parent Education Event tomorrow morning from 9– 11:00am.

The talk is called "Building Your Parenting Tool Kit" and is for parents of Preschool through 1st Grade children.

The invite says "Melissa Benaroya and Robin Dowdy from the Mommy Matters program will share four specific discipline strategies that will help take the power struggles out of day-to-day interactions with your children, foster respectful loving family relationships and teach self-discipline."

Melissa Benaroya is a clinical social worker and co-founder of Mommy Matters, She is trained in Positive Discipline and is a Certified Gottman Educator.  Robin Dowdy is a Life Coach, Certified Teacher, Love and Logic Facilitator and co-founder of Mommy Matters Seattle.
Go here for more information.

Villa Academy Open House Tomorrow Morning

Katie, with the Villa Academy (5001 NE 50th Street), sent us some information about the Open House tomorrow from 9 – 11:30am.

The open house begins with a brief presentation then a tour and informal classroom visits.

Call 206-527-9388 or go to the website if you would like to attend or have questions.

The information says:

Open House is a great time to tour Villa Academy’s campus, meet our faculty and administration, and learn more about our programs. Because it is held during the school day, the January Open House also affords visitors the opportunity to drop in on classrooms in session.
 
If you are interested in a unique Catholic Independent preschool through 8th grade program, please join us on Friday January 7 at 9:00am. We look forward to sharing our community with you.
 
(photo courtesy of 2nd grade student)

"Race to Nowhere" Documentary Showing at Villa Tonight

Katie, from Villa Academy in Laurelhurst, is inviting the community to a special screening of the documentary, Race to Nowhere, showing at the school tonight at 7pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

The documentary focuses on a "concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children’s lives," the website says.

Jennifer Roberts, who lives in Laurelhurst with her husband and four children, told us she was the parent that first brought "Race To Nowhere" to the attention of parents and faculty at Villa Academy.

She says "the documentary specifically deals with the challenges that we as parents, teachers and students face in this fast-paced world of overachieving that we live in today. We all want what is best for our children, but unfortunately that too often leads to over-programming and lack of balance within a family. The increase of child-onset depression and other stress-induced illnesses have continued to climb, especially in communities like our own. The Laurelhurst community is blessed and cursed with the ability to make many extra curricular activities available to our children, all while wanting them to continue to 'do their best' academically.


Jennifer said that the the movie was originally brought to her attention by a former high school peer where she grew up in Palo Alto, California.

She told us that the two public high schools there "have dealt with suicides, due to stress, on and off throughout the years (even back in the 80's and early 90's) but tragically those incidences jumped to epidemic numbers about a year and a half ago. My high school alone lost 4 kids that year, in separate instances, when they each chose to take their life by throwing themselves in front of a moving commuter train. They all chose death over continuing on what they considered to be a Race To Nowhere."

She goes on to day in her email "I unfortunately have lost several friends throughout the years on this 'race' and am determined to educate as many people in our community as possible, so that we can prevent this sort of tragedy from occurring here."

You can find more information on the documentary here.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Villa Academy Open House this Sunday

Villa Academy is holding an Open House this Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m.

"Open Houses are a great time to tour the campus, meet our faculty and administration, and learn more about our programs.

The school is the Northwest’s only preschool-8th grade Catholic independent school. We challenge the intellect while enriching character. Rigorous academics, small classes, a supportive community and a culture of community service characterize the school’s whole-child educational approach. Before and after-school programs (K-8); financial aid," Says their website.

Villa Academy is located at 5001 NE 50th St.

Villa Event Tomorrow Night: Let's Raise the Roof!

Tomorrow night from 6:30-9:30 All Villa Academy community members and neighbors are invited to join the school as they unveil their new covered play area and thank everyone who helped raise the roof by supporting the 2004-2006 capital campaign.

"Enjoy a few cold ones on us, some Dick’s burgers, and dancing to live music by Big Dog Revue. Don’t miss the fun!" the invite says.

RSVP to development@thevilla.org or 206-729-0219 x 268.