Tag: kids

A Camp A Day – The Countdown Starts TODAY!

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Summer. Is. Coming.

Our staff has been working non-stop to get parents our summer 2014 schedule. We are so very close to releasing it, but in the meantime, we thought we would highlight one of our MANY camps each day until registration begins on March 12!

Today, we thought we would start with a few basic housekeeping items.

      1. rwc_front_cover150xWe will post the Activity Guide online for you to see prior to it actually being mailed. THE FIRST RULE ABOUT THE ONLINE ACTIVITY GUIDE IS, YOU MAY NOT SEND IN A REGISTRATION FORM PRIOR TO IT HITTING THE POST OFFICE.
      2. Did you know we have a Camp Website? We are not up and running yet, but the URL is so easy to remember… ready? It’s RedwoodCityCamps.org. Seriously, don’t go there yet. It’s not up. You will be disappointed.
      3. 10 PERCENTWe have a special early sign-up incentive coming your way this season!  We are rewarding our early registrants with a 10% discount on some of your children’s favorite recreation camps, including: Polliwog, Mountaineers, Explorers, Kaboom, Whatchamacallit, Summer Adventures and High-5! You will automatically receive this deduction when you register in person, by mail or by fax, as well as online by entering the code “SUMMER10” after you place each week of these camps into your shopping cart! We chose an early bird deadline of April 15th. We thought for a variety of reasons, it should be easy to remember. *wink*
      4. BRIDGE CAREWe will be offering something NEW this year, called “Bridge Care.” Bridge Care is a program that helps to link-up morning and afternoon sessions of select camps in order to create a full day opportunity for kids that want to try a couple of different camps each week. Want to take a Sports camp in the morning and a Tech camp in the afternoon? Maybe your child would like to do a Science Camp first and then take a Lego Camp later. Whatever the combination, we have options. Our staff will pick your child up from their morning camp and then walk them to the Community Activities Building for lunch from 12:00-1:00 pm. After lunch, we will escort them to their afternoon camp. We have specifically flagged a handful of camps that are in a reasonable walking distance to our lunchtime destination. We apologize that we could not accommodate all of our camps this year for this pilot program.

That’s it! Please come back and visit our blog daily, or better yet, subscribe! You can also catch us on Facebook and Twitter. We will be leaking a new tidbit every day. I am hoping to get you the coveted “Camp Calendar” tomorrow… stay tuned!

Pinterest Gone Wild!

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Preschool Teacher Edna and Staff are crazy about crafts. Preschool projects have become even more creative and awesome since the introduction of Pinterest, the social online tool for collecting and organizing your items of interest. Staff perused the pages of Pinterest only to find this incredibly innovative use for plastic milk jugs! With the help of a local Peet’s Coffee, they were able to commandeer the 400 or so jugs needed to create this project, while alleviating the coffee shop of some major recycling.

Armed with milk jugs, hot glue guns and plenty of kidpower, our crew went to work on constructing the igloo. The staff handled the hot glue guns and the children helped to wash and deliver jugs, screw on tops and place jugs, all while learning a little bit about construction, physics and math.

Check out their awesome upcycled playhouse!

Click here for instructions to make one of your own.

Follow us on Pinterest

Polliwogers Moving to the Beat!

Polliwog rafts
Polliwog Fun

While many of you have been stuck at the office, our preschool-aged Polliwogers have been hard at work enjoying the sun! Well, except for Monday and Tuesday when we had an abnormal weather pattern which sent our campers to Red Morton Center. But rest assured, our staff made the BEST of it, and on Wednesday, they resumed at Stulsaft Park!

This week, Camp Polliwog‘s  “Moving to the Beat” theme resulted in many COOL musical instruments during craft time. Today they flexed their creative muscles by crafting awesome banjos out of granola bar boxes, paint sticks, rubber bands and decorated them. Here’s a link if you want to make a similar type of banjo with your kids at home. http://craftsforkidsblog.com/2013/04/tutorial-shoe-box-banjo/. They also created tamborines, maracas, rainsticks and domoroo drums!

Our camp activities revolve around a theme each week. This week’s activities included storytimes, games, musical obstacle courses, exploring hands-on musical instruments, freeze dance, and a lot of camp-song-singing!  Also, on Fridays we play in the creek – which is a highlight of the week.

Next week’s theme is All Stars (7/1-7/5, no 7/4)  There are still a few open spots for this popular camp (that is primarily full). Register your child here online, today!

Happy Summer!

Meet Mr. “Cesar” Salad

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When we needed a new Director for Camp Whatchamacallit, the choice was clear. Camp Whatchamacallit is our Full Day Camp in Redwood Shores that it is chock-full of activities, field trips, swimming, sports, crafts and plenty of fun! The Commander-in-Chief of this Shores Crew needed to be someone who had a ton of experience, could manage kids of all ages, motivate staff, and well…just keep up with the get-up-and-go that a Full Day Camp requires. This particular Camp Director gives 100% all day long and maintains an amazingly consistent equilibrium of enthusiasm from 8:30am-5pm. ALL. SUMMER. LONG. Meet Cesar Zuniga!

Meet Cesar Zuniga! Q & A

cesarCamp Nick Name: Caesar Salad
Director of Camp Whatchamacallit at Sandpiper Community Center

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    Wow, it’s been almost 14  great years now. I started in high school as a program leader and they’ve been stuck with me ever since. I am currently the After School Program Coordinator at John Gill Elementary School
  2. How many years have you worked Camp Whatchamacalit?
    I have been fortunate enough to have been part of many camps and they have all been great. This is my 4th year with Camp Whatchamcallit.
  3. What do you love best about working at Camp Whatchamacallit?
    That’s simple, it’s the kids! There is wonderful community that surrounds and participates in our camp and it shows with every fun summer that I am there.
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Camp Whatchamacallit?
    Unfortunately, I was never able to participate in Redwood City camps as a child, so it’s like being a  kid and doing it for the first time. There are so many great memories… how to pick… A couple of years ago a child was very nervous to go on their first “big” ride at Great America.  After a few minutes of getting pumped up, he went on it. Tears and screams!!!! Made for GREAT in-the-air action pictures. He’s 14 or 15 years old now and still comes back every Summer to see us and reminisce about that “life changing” experience.

    I also still have a stuffed otter a camper gave me one summer after I said it was my favorite animal. His name is “Odie.”
  5. Camp Nick Name
    “Caesar Salad” is not the most imaginative name, but it started 10 years ago at Day Camp and has kept on going and going and going…
  6. Favorite Camp Song
    “Wrist a Shaw” by far!!!! But I am also really into, “I’m a Musician”  lately. HA!
  7.  Fun Fact
    I’m 6’1 HA! Just kidding.  I’m proud to say I’m good at old Disney cartoon movie trivia and Disney music trivia!
  8. College degree: San Diego State (beach in December!!!) majored in Sociology.
  9. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    Born, raised and proud! Roosevelt Raccoon, Kennedy Cougar and Sequoia Cherokee.

For more information about our Summer Camps in Redwood City, Visit us at RedwoodCityCamps.org!  There is still space! 

You May Know Them as “T-Bird” & “Butterfly”

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If your child has come home from the woods speaking of the elusive Blue Monkeys and singing “YOU CAN’T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON” in the back of your car at level 10,  then we are certain you know these two lively Camp Directors. They have both been a part of our Redwood City Team for over a decade and probably love their jobs even more today than they did the day they started.  Every year, they DEMAND that they return to “Day Camp” at Stulsaft, as they feel like it is their OWN chance to go to camp every summer – not to mention, they LOVE seeing the campers who return year after year.

The relationships they have cultivated with the kids and the parents are a huge draw to why they return each Summer. The camaraderie and consistency of our staff, is what we believe, to be one the major perks of our program. The kids look forward to coming back to camp each summer not only because it’s FUN, but they are also eager to see our staff. There is a comfort in knowing the routine and seeing familiar faces- for parents and children alike! So who are T-Bird and Butterfly? Why of course, they are Telisha and Jake!

Meet Telisha and Jake! Q & A

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T-Bird getting pumped for Summer!

Telisha Brent
Camp Nick Name: T-bird/Grandmother Stulsaft
Co-Director of Tiny Timbers, Explorers, and Mountaineers @ Stulsaft Park

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    I’ve been working for the City since 1999, yes 1999! I am currently the Director of the Sandpiper Youth Club after school program in Redwood Shores!
  2. How many years have you worked at Day Camp?
    I’ve worked at Day Camp since the summer of 2000. I’ve been the Director since 2006. It’s pretty awesome because I actually went to the camp when I was a kid. Looks like I’m never leaving Stulsaft Park!
  3. What do you love best about working at Day Camp?
    There are a ton of things I love about day camp, but if I had to pick just one, it would have to be being outside all the time hiking and literally having fun in the sun!
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Day Camp?
    I probably have a million “favorite camp memories” but if I had to narrow it down, one that always makes me laugh was during one of our overnighters. During one of our nighttime leader scavenger hunts (where the leaders hide and the children find them for points) I decided to make it my mission NOT to be found. I found the perfect hiding spot HIGH in a tree over the camp site. Not only was I the first leader to be found, after my disappointment, I wasn’t able to get out of the tree. About 45 minutes later and a truck and assistance from several staff members, I made it down safely. Needless to say, that was the last time I hid in a tree.
  5. Favorite Camp Song? Little Red Wagon
  6. Fun Fact: I am a member of the Justin Bieber fan club. Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m a BELIEBER.
  7. College degree: B.A. in English
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    My dad was in the Coast Guard when I was younger so we traveled a lot, but Redwood City was always home base. I went to Roy Cloud and Kennedy for a couple years, great memories at both schools 🙂
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Jake, testing the creek water temperature for the kids.

Jacob Hodgdon
Camp Nick Name: Butterfly (it’s a long story, but let’s just say that I did not come up with it)
Co-Director of Tiny Timbers, Explorers, and Mountaineers @ Stulsaft Park

  1. How long have you been working for the City? Current Job?
    I have been working for the City for 12 years.  I am currently an Administrative Specialist working on various special projects (read Jack-of-all-Trades)
  2. How many years have you worked at Day Camp?
    This will be my 8th summer co-running the Day Camp up at Stulsaft Park.
  3. What do you love best about working at Day Camp?
    What don’t I love best about working at Day Camp? (The best summer camp ever, by the way.)  It’s the camp I went to in the summer when I was a kid and it’s the camp I always wanted to work at.  It’s outdoors, in nature, we make crafts, go for hikes, sing songs, put on skits, play in the creek, get dirty – What could be better?
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory from Day Camp?
    It is honestly very hard for me to pick out one memory as my favorite. One that definitely stands out though, was my first Challenge Day as a leader, when I was more excited for all of the competitions than any of the campers in my group (spoiler alert: we lost).  In fact, my biggest regret about Day Camp is that I still have never won the Challenge Day Cup.
  5. Favorite Camp Song?
    Easy – An Austrian went Yodeling – Best camp song ever! (Your Mama Don’t Wear No Socks is a close 2nd though.)
  6. Fun Fact:
    I taught myself how to play the guitar and the drums, and I am currently learning the mandolin.
  7. College degree:
    Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from San Jose State University *cough – Magna Cum Laude – cough* 
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    Born and raised in RWC.  I have been a proud Henry Ford Mustang, Kennedy Cougar, and Woodside Wildcat.  I even went to preschool at Red Morton.  I can’t think of a better place to grow up.

For more information about our Nature Camps at Stulsaft Park, Visit us at RedwoodCityCamps.org! There is still space! 

Meet Hector & Sandy from Camp KABOOM!

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What is Camp Kaboom?

Have you ever searched tirelessly for a Summer Camp solution that would complete some sort of ideal parental wishlist you had for your child? No Camp is perfect, but Camp Kaboom is pretty darn close when it comes to meeting the needs of the child and YOU, the parent!

1. First of all, it runs from 8am-5pm.
This is not only great for working parents, but SAHMs or Dads can also consider this a week of Camp for themselves! We also have after-care from 5-6pm if you need a little more time.

2. Lunch is included!
I don’t think we need to spell this one out for you. See #1 – Parents, you get a break from packing lunch! Plus, we provide not one, but TWO healthy snacks!

3. We go to the Pool!
Swimming. A very important aspect of Summer. Also, it’s very tiring. 

4. Weekly Field Trips!
Did you think the pool was our only outing? We’ll take your child to fun attractions in the Bay Area that they  LOVE, so a) they can have fun, and b) you can avoid a full day at Great America (if that’s not your thing)! It’s also a great way to diversify the week.

5. Lastly, we supply never-ending arts, crafts, sports, movies, attentive and supportive staff, and FUN! 

SIGN UP HERE!

Meet Our Fearless Leaders, Hector & Sandy! Q & A

Fearless Leader of Kaboom!
Fearless Leader, Hector!

Hector Carlos, Co-Director

  1. How long have you been working for the City of Redwood City?
    8 years, primarily in After School Programs.
  2. How many years have you worked at Camp Kaboom?
    It seems wrong to call it work when we get to play around all day, but this summer will be my 6th year at Camp Kaboom and my 5th year as one of the camp directors.
  3. Camp Nick Name
    3 of our campers decided one summer that Hector was too long, so they started calling me “Tor” instead and it stuck. Thanks Allison, Madeline, and Darien!
  4. What do you love best about working at Kaboom?
    Camp Kaboom NEVER GETS BORING. Every week brings forth activities inspired by a different theme, so every week is a different experience. It’s a welcomed challenge to get to plan activities that will be enjoyed by our broad age range of campers.
  5. Your favorite Camp Memory?
    We had this one camper who loved to read. She and her sister would come back every summer. If ever she had a minute of downtime, she would sit against a wall, pull out a monster of a book, and read.  I found out that we were both reading the ‘Inheritance’ series by Christopher Paolini (each book was 500+ pages) and we began talking about the books every summer. Then one summer, she said she had not read the third book – which had been released the previous fall. When I brought her my hardcover copy and said she could keep it, she almost tackled me with the hug she gave me and said “Thank you” about 50 times.  
  6. Favorite Camp Song
    “Bananas Unite” – the extended version
  7. Fun Fact
    It is another nickname story.  As a child, I fell asleep in church often, so much in fact, that people started calling me “Linus” after the character from the “Peanuts” comics who always carried his blanket around.
  8. College Degree or In School Right Now?
    I am currently attending Foothill College. My goal is to become a registered nurse, hopefully working in pediatrics.
  9. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    YES! I went to Hoover from preschool to 6th grade, Mckinley for 7th and 8th, and I graduated from Sequoia High School.
sandy
Sandy, Fearless Leader #2

Sandy Garza, Co-Director

  1. How long have you been working for the City of Redwood City?
    I have been working for the city for 13 years, primarily in After School Programs.
  2. How many years have you worked Camp Kaboom? 
    I’ve been with Camp Kaboom since it started 9 years ago, and have been a Director for 7!
  3. What do you love best about working at Kaboom?
    I love working at Camp Kaboom and seeing the campers come back year after year, as well as meeting new campers every summer.  What I love best, is when our past campers become LITs and we get to watch them go from camper, to role-model. I also LOVE when the kids and parents tell me how much they love the camp!
  4. Your favorite Camp Memory?
    My favorite camp memory is when we went to the Giants and Dodgers game 3 years ago.  We painted all of the children’s faces orange and black, made signs for the kids to hold, and chanted the whole game, then the Giants won!
  5. Favorite Camp Song
    “Pizza Man”
  6. Fun Fact
    I am obsessed with the game show channel, and have been, since I was 5!  All of the pictures of me when I was little that have the T.V. in the background have some sort of game show on it.   I would LOVE to be on Family Feud or The Price is Right someday.  
  7. College Degree or In School Right Now?
    Degree in Psychology & Sociology
  8. Extra Credit: Did you grow up in Redwood City?
    YES! I was born and raised in Redwood City and attended St. Pius and Sequoia High School.

Places to Chill – It’s HOT Outside!

Stafford Park water feature

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It. Is. HOT. It’s not even summer yet and we are scrambling for ways to beat the heat!  Herkner Pool won’t be open until June 17th- when our Summer staff is hired, trained, and of course, out of school, but in the meantime, we have plenty of other places to go and “chill.”

Stafford Park Snail

1. Stafford Park

King St./Hopkins Ave. (map)

Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.

It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.

Amenities: Playground, Tot lot, Picnic Area, Grass Play Area, BBQs and Restrooms

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2. Andrew Spinas Park

2nd Ave./Bay Road (map)

Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.

Amenities: Playground, Picnic Area, Play Area, Basketball Court, Lit Tennis Court and Restrooms

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Fleishman Park Water Feature

3. Fleishman Park

Locust St. / McEvoy St. (map)

Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.

Amenities: Playground, Picnic Area, Play Area, BBQs and Restrooms

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Maddux Park Frogs

4. Maddux Park

Maddux Dr./Kensington Rd. (map)

Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.

Amenities: Playground, Tot Lot, Picnic Area, Restrooms & nice, Grass Play Area.

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Stulsaft Water Play

5. Stulsaft Park

3737 Farm Hill Blvd. (map)

Water feature operates May – October from 11am-7pm.
It turns off from 12-1pm & 3-4pm.

Amenities: Hiking Trails & Creek, Playground, Tot Lot, Picnic Area, BBQ pits, Soccer Field & Restrooms

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Camp FairAlso, don’t miss our Parks Alive! Camp Fair! (click for info) tomorrow (5/4) at Red Morton Community Center from 1:00-4:00pm!

Meet our camp providers, ask as many questions as you desire, and let your kids play in our inflatable play area or get acquainted with the staff by experiencing some of the hands-on activities available for them to try.

Meet Camp Directors from: Camp Kaboom, Camp Whatchamacalit, Camp Polliwog, Junior & Mighty Mountaineers, Explorers, High-5. In addition, these camp vendors will also be available to answer your questions: Mad Science, Skyhawks Sports Camps, Celebrate Art!, Play-well Teknologies, Freshi Media, San Carlos Children’s Theater, Bayshore Elite Gymnastics.

Why did I include this in our cooling off post? Well, we have air-conditioning!

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Visit our website for more information about Summer Swim at  Herkner Pool, located at 1315 Madison Avenue in Red Morton Park,  Click here for information about our 2013 Aquatics program!


I’m Calling It! It’s Spring!

 

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Spring may *officially* be only days away – March 20 to be exact – but since December of last year, we have had Spring & Summer on the brain. So I’m calling it! Spring is here! Countless emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. have been constant, as we have been coordinating the thousands of classes and camps that are coming your way. Then what? Then we take all of this data and enter it one-at-a-time into our registration system, create marketing pieces, update websites, bombard your Facebook and Twitter feeds and write blogs telling you that it’s HERE!

Here are some important things you should know:

  • Resident Online registration begins on Monday, March 18th at 11am. Non-Residents can register on April 1 (no joke!)
  • Our Full Interactive Spring Guide can be viewed here.
  • Need an online account? Get one here.
  • The Summer Camp Guide has been online since March 5th here. How did people know about it? It was on our website, we emailed it to our customers from our electronic mailing list (sign up here), and we posted it on Facebook & Twitter. We really wanted you to see it as soon as we had access to it. We know how important and stressful Summer Planning can be!
  • Both the Spring and Summer Guides have hit the Post Office today! It is now in their hands. Some of you may get lucky and receive your guides today, but our bets are on tomorrow.

What’s New?

  • We have quite a few new programs – too many to actually list.
  • We have added an After Care Pilot program this Summer to hopefully help parents have more flexibility in their planning. We recognized that many kids wanted to take Science Camp, but couldn’t be picked up at 3pm. Now parents will have more options!

Have Suggestions? We are all ears!

Email us at recreation@redwoodcity.org and tell us!

 

HAPPY SUMMER PLANNING!

 

 

Shoes in the News

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There are plenty of news stories right now that leave our hearts heavy, however, we have one that will make you smile.

Back in March of 2011, our Sandpiper Youth Club kids wanted to do something to help the Tsunami victims of Haiti. Together, armed with the power of baked goods, they raised over $1000! Well, the philanthropy bug has struck again. This time, in the form of footwear!

Last Summer, one of our great Recreation Leaders, Michael Benjamin (he is also our skilled videographer) went on a Summer trip to Rwanda, Africa to volunteer at an Orphanage. His stay lasted only 3 months, but the impact of this vacation will last a lifetime. Upon his return,  he brought details of his experience to  the children of our Sandpiper Youth Club, After School Program. He spoke of the poverty, and how the children there were so impoverished that many didn’t even have shoes!  He also mentioned that despite their situation, many of the children excelled in sports, like soccer. The children were clearly touched by the situation, and their wheels started spinning regarding how they could possibly help these Orphans in Rwanda. Mike and Telisha (our fearleass SYC Director) suggested the idea of a shoe drive.

The SYC kids loved the idea of sending shoes to Africa, and quickly set a collection goal of 100 pairs. In two months time, about 80 pairs of sneakers and cleats were acquired, just shy of their goal. The next task was to raise money to ship the shoes overseas. The Sandpiper Youth Clubbers decided to sell popsicles every Friday until they earned enough money to send their donation to Africa. Michael’s wife was heading back to Rwanda for work and packed two extra suitcases full of shoes to bring to Rwanda. The extra baggage fees were covered by the hard work of our awesome kids!

We are so proud of the children in our Sandpiper Youth Club Program for being so philanthropic. The excitement level for taking donations, bringing in shoes and raising money, never slowed down. Great job, kids & staff!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Physical Education Is Coming to Redwood City Schools!

Ten Redwood City elementary schools will soon offer physical education for students thanks to a local partnership grant. Redwood City and its Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will be helping to provide physical education programs to the local youth, in partnership with Peninsula Community Center which has received a grant of more than $575,000 from the Sequoia Healthcare District’s Healthy Schools Initiative.

Through the grant, 10 Redwood City elementary schools will be able to provide physical education classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. As a result, more students will have access to fitness education. Physical education has been shown to significantly contribute to students’ well-being, and to their academic success. The majority of children in California are not physically fit, and in San Mateo County, only 25 percent of fifth graders passed the State Physical Fitness Assessment Test in 2010. Although the state mandates 50 minutes of PE per five-day school week, 4 Redwood City Schools have been challenged to meet this mandate due to more than $13 million in budget cuts in the last five years.

In response to this need, the Peninsula Community Center began providing coaches and PE classes to five schools in 2009. The need filled by PCC was well-received, and with proven success and increased demand from principals and schools, the program was expanded and currently serves seven schools.

This new strategic partnership between Redwood City and PCC will provide the PE+ program, a comprehensive, sequential K-5 curriculum, to approximately 5,000 children. With this cooperative services model, and the new support, the program will double the current capacity to meet 100 percent of the state’s PE requirement to Fair Oaks, Garfield, Hawes, Hoover, John Gill, Taft, Selby Lane, Henry Ford and Adelante elementary schools.

“We are so grateful to have the PE+ program and coaches at our site. They are positive role models for our youth,” said Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Patricia Girardi.

We are very excited to be a part of this new and important program!