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Family News Family-related news,voices, trends. By OC FamilyPublished: August, 2004

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How was school? Too often, answer is 'boring,' poll shows The Gallup Poll recently asked U.S. teenagers ages 13-17 to select 3 words from a list of adjectives that describe how they usually feel in school, and found that "bored" is the word chosen most often, selected by fully half of teens. That was followed by another negative word, "tired," chosen by 42%. Only as many as 31% selected any one of the positive feelings provided - such as "happy" and "challenged." The data suggest that boredom may be a sign of the times for teenagers. Kids spend so much time with colorful, fast-paced TV shows and other stimulating media that it has become difficult for teachers - who still often have little more than a chalkboard to work with - to keep them focused. Older teens (ages 16 and 17) are more likely than younger teens to express the negative feelings of boredom, tiredness, pressure and confusion at school. Younger teens (ages 13-15) are more likely than older teens to report feeling happy, challenged, supported, and appreciated. The poll also finds that girls are more likely to say they feel happy in school than boys - 37% to 25%, respectively. Thirty-six percent of boys say they feel challenged, compared with 26% of girls. Nineteen percent of girls report feeling lonely, versus just 7% of boys. The genders are equally likely to report being bored at school. Perhaps not surprisingly, teens' self-described academic standing is related to their likelihood to express positive or negative feelings about school. Teens who describe themselves as "near the top" or "above average" in their class are slightly less likely to say they feel bored in school than are those who define themselves as average or below average - 46% compared with 54%. Educators pay attention to their students' feelings and work to address them, particularly the negative emotions. "I'm not so concerned about teens saying they are tired in school - they really are tired," reports one teacher. "Kids lead such busy lives." - By Linda Lyons, education and youth editor The Gallup Youth Survey was completed by 785 respondents, ages 13-17, between Jan. 22 and March 9. Margin of error: ±4 percentage points. For Literacy News from Children and Families Commission It is 8 a.m. in early summer, and inside a Newport Beach hotel Dr. Hallie Yopp is jumping around the stage, eyes wide, reading excitedly from "The Ugly Duckling." "This is rich, it's abstract, it's syntactically complex," she tells the hundred-some government, business and educational leaders seated in the ballroom. "And it's fun." And so Dr. Wopp, a professor at Cal State Fullerton and one of the nation's foremost experts on child literacy development, made the case that learning language can be painless even for preschoolers. Her remarks kicked off the "Birth to Five: Help Literacy Thrive" summit called by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County to address the growing local menace of illiteracy. Orange County is in dire need of help: Santa Ana boasts the highest high school dropout rate in the U.S., with a few other OC cities not far behind. The root of this problem starts early. Children's brains undergo their most rapid verbal development before the age of 5, but a UC Irvine study of Latino children in Santa Ana showed that many were not receiving proper language education during this phase. The average child fell below baseline language development before the age of 4, even in their native language. The result is that many Orange County students arrive at kindergarten already hobbled, and our large, cash-strapped school districts can't pay for enough necessary remedial work. A predictable academic slide follows, with real repercussions. "At best, 12% of the students at UCI are Hispanic or Latino," said Dr. Virginia Mann, a cognitive scientist at UCI. "Orange County (Latino population) is nearly half." Enter the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, which has previously funded successful child literacy initiatives like HABLA and JUMPSTART - both of which successfully stemmed this early downward spiral to illiteracy in participants. Armed with millions of dollars in funds from the Prop. 10 cigarette tax, the commission wants to spur more innovative solutions to this problem. "We are committed to burning the cycle of illiteracy among our low-income and English-learning population," Anaheim City School District Superintendent Sandra Barry promised. But despite overwhelming evidence of their effectiveness, these efforts sometimes struggle for recognition. Some see public funding for preschool literacy programs as frivolous: Mann, founder and director of HABLA, admitted the quest for greater attention to the problem "hasn't always been easy...In many ways we are fighting for legitimacy." Part of this stems from the notion of teaching English reading to 2-year-olds, which can sound tedious to the uninformed. But Yopp is quick to dispel these myths: "This is not about going through alphabet flashcards with 3-year-olds." She continues, "Any solutions will have to be realistic, age-appropriate methods which don't resemble work." "Literacy is a learned skill, not a biological inheritance," said Barry, and improving the pipeline is cheaper and more effective than dealing with illiteracy later in life. With renowned academics and community figures attesting to the urgency of the problem we face, this is one call to action not likely to be soon forgotten. n For information: www.occhildrenandfamilies.com/ By Jeremy Beecher Tell Family Stories Your tales may be as thrilling as famous fables 'Once upon a time..." "Those words immediately take us back to our childhood, says Barbara Anderson, vice president of education for KinderCare Learning Centers, which operates more than 1,250 early childhood education and child care centers nationwide. Stories - especially true stories about ourselves - are one of the earliest ways we learn about the world and about our families. Anderson encourages parents to tell their children stories about their own lives. While every child loves to have her favorite bedtime story read to her again and again, real stories about mom or dad's own childhood can be even more special. "Hearing about their parents' and grandparents' lives gives children an understanding of who they are, a context they don't get from fiction," says Anderson. For some parents, storytelling is a natural talent. For others, Anderson offers a few simple suggestions. • Talk about your life when you were the same age your child is now. Where did you live? Where did you go to school? Who were your friends? • When you read to you child, tell her about your favorite books when you were her age. You might want to find a copy and read her one of your favorite childhood stories. • Talk about your child's favorite game and those you played when you were a child. Encourage her to ask her grandparents what games they played, too. (Older children may enjoy take-recording their grandparent's stories.) • What's your child's favorite food? What was yours when you were a child? Prepare those foods together and talk about why they're favorites. Does the smell of freshly baked cookies remind you of the grandmother who used to bake for you? • Every child loves to hear about her own childhood, before her earliest members. "When you were born..." is always the beginning of a fascinating story. • Ask you child to tell you stories, as well. Telling her own story is great fun and will offer insights into the kinds of stories she finds most interesting. Anderson also suggests scheduling a regular family story telling time, perhaps at bedtime or during a weekend dinner together. Saturday night pizza and family stories can become a family tradition. Source: KinderCare Learning Centers Theater for Students SCR opens second season for families Two performances have been added to the 2004-05 "Theatre for Young Audiences...and their Families" by South Coast Repertory. Three productions are planned, including the holiday musical version of "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency," as well as "The Little Prince" and the musical version of "Pinocchio." The first show, "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency," debuts Nov. 5. The next 2 open on Feb. 4 and June 5, respectively. "The response to our first season exceeded all expectations," reports Producing Artistic Director David Emmes. "Subscriptions doubled our projections, and nearly every seat was filled for each of the 3 productions." In addition to public performances, Theatre for Young Audiences works with schools to bring thousands of children to the theater at no cost. Underwriting grants come from The Nicholas Endowment; Altria Group, Inc.; U.S. Trust Foundation; and Taco Bell Corp. For a schedule of the public performances, with single ticket prices from $12-$23, call 714.708.5555. Tickets go on sale in September; subscriptions begin at $30 for the 3-play series. Also, this month, young audiences can watch "theater for kids by kids," when an ensemble group of acting students presents "The Beloved Dearly" at SCR. Show times are 1 and 4 p.m. Aug. 14-15 and 21-22. Tickets: $7. The story is about Ernie, an entrepreneurial boy who comes up with a money-making idea to conduct pet funerals. Information: 714.708.5555. At the Getty Life as a Child in Ancient Greece The Getty Center in Los Angeles will host a new exhibition that examines family life with pets, toys, religious rituals and a very different educational system in "Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood from the Classical Past." It will open Sept. 14 and run through Dec. 5. In addition, The Getty will launch a section on its website, getty.edu, designed for families. It will have interactive presentations, quizzes, and ancient games. Ancient Greek artists were the earliest to create images of children that did not portray them as miniature adults. The objects provided narratives of children's lives in ancient times. Some 150 objects have been loaned from American, Canadian and European collections, including works from the museum's holdings. Painted vases, sculptures, grave monuments, and artifacts such as toys and baby feeders help express the children's lives. Sections include "Mythical Children," "Children at Home," "Educating Children," "Children at Play," "Slavery in Ancient Greece," " Children and Religioius Ritual," and "Transition into Adulthood." Also, The Getty will have a hands-on learning area where children can play with reproductions of toys seen in the exhibition, dress up in ancient Greek costumes, make rubbings of the Greek alphabet, and write on a wax tablet. Headphones will provide the sound of musical instruments. Information and reservations to the museum: 310.440.7300. Child Care Local and national issue - huge and growing Looking for child care? This can be as difficult as finding a new job, or an affordable home. For example... Using two resources - the "Conditions of Children in Orange County," published annually by the Board of Supervisors - and the "California Child Care Portfolio," published by the "California Child Care Resource and Referral Network," there are 64,883 licensed child-care spaces in Orange County. The need? Nearly 364,000 county children need some kind of child care. Reports the "Referral Network," "Orange County ranks last among California's 58 counties in its supply of licensed child-care slots." According to the National Child Care Association, nationwide some 60% of working families in which the youngest child is under 5 pay for licensed child care or informal care. Forty-eight percent of children under 5 with working mothers are cared for at licensed child care or family facilities, while 52% are watched after informally by relatives, friends, or unlicensed homes. The population of Americans ages 4 or younger is expected to increase by 1.2 million over the next decade, a 6% increase. FAMILY NEWS BITES VIRTUAL K-8 CHARTER SCHOOL OPENS Capistrano Connections Academy, a virtual K-8 charter school, will open next month in San Juan Capistrano. The school, which offers a supportive and successful environment for children who need an individualized approach to education, will serve students throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. In addition to this site, approximately 2,000 K-8 students are enrolled in Connections Academy schools in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.connectionsacademy.com or call 800.382.6010. MATER DEI STUDENT HONORED Mater Dei High School junior David Quiros was recognized by The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards with a national American Visions Award in a special ceremony held in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Quiros was chosen from more than 250,000 participants for his sculpture entitled "Rounded Numbers." American Visions Award winners receive a medal, a certificate, a place on the national winners list and exhibition opportunities. His sculpture was one of the few winning pieces chosen for display at the Diane von Furstenberg Studio in New York City, and has traveled to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. for exhibition thorugh Aug. 2. Quiros is the only student from California to capture this prestigious honor. BACK-TO-SCHOOL FASHION SHOW Teens in search of the hottest looks for the new school year won't want to miss Irvine Spectrum Center's fashion show at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Giant Wheel Court. The first 300 seated visitors will receive an ELLE Girl gift bag filled with goodies from various Irvine Spectrum Center stores. Visitors can expect to see the latest trends for back to school from the most popular stores for today's youth Information: 949.753.5180 orwww.ShopIrvineSpectrumCenter.com. STUDENTS SAVE FOX THEATER The students of Raymond Elementary School are working to prevent the demolition of Fullerton's historic Fox Theater. The school's sixth-grade student council decided to direct their efforts at the Theater's preservation and raised $2,000. They recently presented the check to the Fullerton Historic Theater Foundation and were thanked by the foundation at another gala fundraiser. The Save the Fox Project was given a challenge grant of $1.65 million by the city of Fullerton that must be matched by November to buy the Fox. http://www.foxfullerton.org/ MISSION SJC LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE Mission San Juan Capistrano recently announced the launch of its new website at www.missionsjc.com. The new, improved site features a more appealing design, making it easier to navigate the calendar of events, news releases, mission history and special programs. It also includes online information about supporting the mission. Soon, visitors will be able to purchase tickets online. Information: 949.234.1300 KING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HONORED Two fifth-grade classes at King Elementary School in Santa Ana received the Research Project of the Year award for their work with the Ocean Institute's "One Tier Back" program. The program encouraged students to document the trash they found within their neighborhood that could eventually end up in the ocean. They then took their findings to various neighborhood association meetings and encouraged residents to be more responsible for their trash disposal. The "One Tier Back" program refers to communities within 5-20 miles from the coast. 'SURF CITY' No. 1 FAMILY SURF BEACH Huntington Beach, known worldwide as "Surf City" by professional surfers, has also earned the distinction of being America's No. 1 family beach. Landing in the top spot on author and coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman's list of the Top 10 Family Beaches, the 8.5 miles of white sandy shore and surf at Huntington was deemed the best place in America for kids and families to learn the sport of surfing. The reason? "Huntington Beach is safer. The waves are not as big. You don't have to be a top professional to surf there. You don't have to be fearless," says Leatherman. ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HONORED Six Orange Coast College architecture students captured 5 awards in a recent competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, Orange County. The students were honored at a ceremony held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove and received a total of $2,650 in prize money. The contestants were challenged to design a hypothetical centerline station, bus stop, art gallery and artists' live-in and work lofts. Ryan Lamb of Lake Forest took first place honors for his design, titled "Synergy," and earned an award of $1,000. Marty Schibler of Downey won second place, receiving $750. The $500 third place spot was shared by San Clemente's Devin Denman and Matt Moran of Westminster. Honorable mentions went to Nathan White of Santa Ana and Randy Machado of San Clemente, each earning $200. AREA GIRLS BENEFIT FROM UPS GRANT Girls Inc., one of the area's oldest programs for girls, received a $25,000 grant from the UPS Foundation which will support its program called "Strong, Smart and Bold - Helping Girls Live by Choice...Not Chance!" The funds have allowed the organization to reach out to teenage girls previously served only by school-based programs and were used to create the UPS Tech Center. New computer hardware and software as well as program supplies were purchased that will assist young women with the process of exploring career opportunities, and applying to colleges for financial aid and scholarships. http://www.girlsinc-oc.org/ HIGHEST GIRL SCOUT HONOR AWARDED TO 88 IN OCC The highest honor that can be achieved by a Girl Scout was recently awarded to 88 Orange County girls ages 14 to 17. The Gold Award is only achieved after a commitment of 2 years and working on a chosen project for a minimum of 50 hours. Even before starting the project, the scout must have completed at least 7 prerequisites. Orange County has an unusually high rate of girls achieving the Gold Award with 12% earning the honor, compared to 6% in other areas. http://www.gscoc.org/index.html TUSTIN STUDENT RECEIVES $15,000 SCHOLARSHIP Mayra Sanchez of Tustin High School recently received a $15,000 scholarship from the Girls Incorporated National Scholar program for her essay on risk taking and success. This is the fifth year in a row that a local girl has won this national honor. Janet Plascencia, also of Tustin High School, received a $2,500 scholarship. Lwyla Szilagyi won the Poetry Contest in her age group (9-11) and was awarded a $100 savings bond. Fallon Quintero received an honorable mention for her efforts in the 6 to 8-year-old category. RETAILER CATERS TO LITTLE DIVAS Diva, Inc., a new retail concept catering to little girls seeking diva apparel and fun, has opened in Yorba Linda. The store, with merchandise ranging from faux furs and feathers to hang-out furniture, targets girls from toddler to teen. In addition to shopping for hard-to-find labels, the store offers imaginative birthday party packages with themes like "The Fashion Show" and "Photo Shoot" that allow little divas to realize their fantasies. Information: 714.693.7114. MARINERS CHRISTIAN NAMED BEST WORKPLACE The Best Christian Workplace Institute recently honored Mariners Christian School in Costa Mesa as the best Christian workplace in the nation. In a poll of more than 10,000 employees from 107 Christian organizations, Mariners claimed first place honors in the category of private school (K-12) with 75 or fewer employees. The school was noted for supporting employees with family emergencies, for a coordinated "prayer team" that prays for staff needs and concerns and cultivating an environment of true trust and respect. DR. ALAN CORTEZ HONORED AS FATHER OF YEAR Kaiser Permanente's Dr. Alan Cortez is known as "father" to hundreds of OC children with diabetes. The chief of pediatrics was recently honored along with 5 other dads, as "Father of the Year" by the Father's Day Council Orange County at their annual awards dinner, which benefited the American Diabetes Association. Cortez, who lives in Tustin with his wife Ellen and their 3 children, was recognized for balancing his work and personal life as well as his efforts to inform and educate young students about fitness and nutrition and how they impact diabetes. ART SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED Twenty-one of Orange County's most talented art students were lauded recently at the OC Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana as California Arts Scholars. The statewide program encourages young artists to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential by participating in InnerSpark, the California State Summer School for the Arts. Students from all over OC were presented medallions embossed with the state seal. - Reported and compiled by OC Family Magazine staff Helping Hand By Sandy Bennett Brain Injuries One-of-a-kind center aids youth and their families Each year, 1 million children in the United States sustain a brain injury, according to statistics supplied by the Brain Injury Foundation in Tustin. Many of these injuries result in permanent disabilities. Yet, less than 2% of these children will receive the proper rehabilitative and educational services they need to realize their fullest potential. The Brain Injury Foundation, which raises funds for and serves as the governing body for The Tustin Center, aims to improve those statistics. Originally called The Alex Foundation for Brain Injury, the nonprofit organization was founded in 1999 by Orange County residents Scott and Cheryl Tempel, whose son Alex was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 3. Two years later, a school specially designed for children and adolescents with brain injuries was opened. Today, The Tustin Center offers a 12-month comprehensive brain injury-specific education and therapeutic program to youth ages 5-22. Students' injuries are the result of both acquired and traumatic brain conditions. The school's oldest student, a 20-year-old male, for example, was enrolled in the program after being impaired from a brutal assault. Other impairments stem from a seizure disorder, brain tumor, meningitis and a host of other acquired conditions. Some of school's students attend the program for a relatively short time. Others will attend for their entire school years. "Our main purpose is to create value in the lives of our students by increasing their level of independence and allowing them to led fuller and more productive lives," says Mark Huber, director of marketing and admissions at The Tustin Center. In addition to restorative services and an array of other programs for its students, the center serves as a community resource for families seeking information and referrals. Free monthly workshops are offered as well. This month's program, presented July 21 at 6:30 p.m., centers on "IEP rights and responsibilities." The foundation's next fundraising event will be presented Oct. 30 at the Balboa Bay Club. Community members can also assist through in-kind and cash donations, as well as through a number of volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit tbif.org or call 714.508.4360. Sandy Bennett is associate editor at OC Family Magazine. Family finance By Tucker Watkins Retirement Plan today for health care tomorrow Some $175,000 out-of-pocket health-care expenses mean that the 65-year-old couple retiring today with no access to an employer-sponsored health-care plan must do some careful planning today, while raising children, to make ends meet when everyone is out on their own. An option is the many options now available to employers to consider for those workers who will soon retire. A report by Fidelity Investments, "Retiree Health Care Accounts: The Next Step Toward a Workable Solution," is one look into the future. As many of the more than 76 million Baby Boomers - the oldest of whom turn 58 this year - approach retirement, Fidelity both points to "major threats" and suggestions for employers to consider for a retiree health-care account. The threats to retirement income security are longevity; inflation; asset allocation; excess withdrawal; and health-care expenses. Today, workers must deal with the reality that fewer and fewer companies are providing retiree coverage at a time when health-care costs are soaring. Fidelity has compiled 10 features that may fit some employers and their retirees: 1. Funding of accounts, 2. Tax treatment. 3. Lifetime approach. 4. Contribution amounts. 5. Investment direction. 6. Covered expenses. 7. Access to health plan. 8. Targeted populations. 9. Vesting. 10. Survivor benefits. Information: www.Fidelity.com.

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