On Friday, Feb. 27, 15 students from The Willows Community School in Culver City came to Culver City Middle School to help their CCUSD counterparts participate in the District’s Backpacks for Kids program.
The fifth-grade class at The Willows adopted the program as one of their projects. They held a food drive and delivered the food to the District’s CCMS Food Pantry.
“We plan on a few visits this year to allow all of their fifth-graders a chance to come and help out with the backpacks program,” said Jaime Wallace, the program’s community outreach coordinator.
Since 2013, the CCUSD Backpacks for Kids Program has collected food donated by the community and sent it home in backpacks with CCUSD students who may not have access to healthy food during the weekend. Donations of canned/non-perishable foodstuffs can be dropped off at the CCUSD District Office (4034 Irving Place) or at the main office of any CCUSD school site. For a complete list of specific food items being sought, please visit www.ccusd.org.
Tax deductible donations (payable to Culver City Council PTA, Tax ID # 23-7014093) are also being accepted to keep the program going and fill the gaps not covered by food donations. Checks can be sent to: Culver City Council PTA, CCUSD District Office, 4034 Irving Place, Culver City, CA 90232.
If you would like to volunteer and/or make a direct donation, please email CCBackpacksforKids@gmail.com
Farragut Celebrates Art with Artworks
On Saturday April 11, families from throughout Culver City are invited to bring their children to Artworks! at Farragut Elementary School to celebrate the visual and performing arts through workshops, performances, art happenings and more.
Throughout the course of the day, the school will hold both silent and live auctions. Last year’s event was attended by more than 700 people with more than 400 items and services offered through its BiddingForGood.com” site. This year the number of participants is expected to grow as a result of the increased awareness of this great-free- family day.
This year, the auction will run from April 13-23 to local bidders and others across the country. Check out the auction, which includes great vacations, gift cards, art and more. This is now a core part of the school’s fundraising program for Farragut’s arts and technology enhancements, the auction attracted more than 1,000 e-shoppers last year.
Of course, the main event is the Artworks! Gala, which will be held Saturday evening, April 18 at Fresh Paint Gallery in Culver City. This sophisticated evening for adults will include silent and live auctions, food, fun and entertainment. For more information, please go to www.farragutfanclub.org.
Founder to Speak at Kids at Hope Special Event
Kids at Hope inspires, empowers, and transforms families, schools, youth-serving organizations and entire communities to create an environment where all children experience success – NO EXCEPTIONS!
CCUSD and its parents organizations invite you to a special event featuring Rick Miller, founder, president and chief treasure hunter for Kids at Hope, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 7 at Robert Frost Auditorium at 4401 Elenda Street in Culver City.
Kids at Hope is an evidence-based, strategic-cultural model, which reverses the “youth at risk” paradigm by establishing a holistic methodology that engages entire schools. Central to the model is the Kids at Hope Pledge:
I am a Kid at Hope?I am talented, smart and capable of success?I have dreams for the future and I will climb to reach those goals and dreams every day.?All children are capable of success.?No exceptions!
This event is free. Childcare, crafts and pizza for children will be provided. For more information about Kids at Hope, please visit www.kidsathope.org.
CCUSD Supports Family Art Museum Visits
While there are many art programs available to students throughout the District, there is, perhaps, no better endorsement of the importance of art to our children than a family visit to a local art museum. The Los Angeles area is filled with exciting art museums the entire family can enjoy.
In this edition of Culver Currents, the Museum of Latin American Art is featured. MOLAA (Museum of Latin American Art) is located at 628 Alamitos Ave. in?Long Beach?(562) 437-1689.
Target sponsors free admission at the museum admission from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Enjoy docent-led tours of the galleries or discover the museum on your own. (FreeSundays@MOLAA)
Target Free Family Festivals highlight cultural traditions from Latin America through art workshops, live performances and interactive presentations.
The July Music Festival in MOLAA’s sculpture garden hosts Los Angeles based bands performing traditional and contemporary Latin infused music.
The Latino/a Heritage Festival takes place in September where we can discover the diversity of Latin culture. The festival provides representation of the cultures of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Dia de los Muertos Festival or Day of the Dead celebrates life and honors the dearly departed. To learn how to participate in MOLAA’s annual Altar Contest, please write to education@molaa.org.