We would like to welcome you to our monthly Red Apple Newsletter. Our mission is to help parents help their children.
Our goal with this publication is to bring parents academic and educational resources and also family oriented things to do in the Pittsburgh area. If you have an article you would like to submit, or an event that is great for families, please contact us.
News from the Library of Congress
The Librarian of Congress and Mrs. Laura Bush Invite Book Lovers of All Ages to Celebrate Reading on the National Mall on Sept. 27
The 2008 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted
by Mrs. Laura Bush, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, rain or shine,
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets. The festival is FREE and open to the public.
"I invite you, your friends and your family to join us on Sept. 27 as we all celebrate our shared love of reading," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "Come and be a part of this wonderful national experience."
"There are activities for all ages at the National Book Festival," said Mrs. Bush. "Readers can explore genres from history and mystery to romance and cookbooks. Children can meet their favorite storybook characters. And visitors can learn about the extensive resources offered by the Library of Congress."
Visit the Library of Congress Bookfest website to see the authors that will be there as well as the activities planned for the day.
Parents Should Consider
Safety for Back to School
by Robert Thomas, Information Specialist,
Cooperative Media Group, University of Missouri
as seen at MissouriFamilies.org
Parents should do their own safety homework, be wary of heat stress as they send kids back to school
Before the kids head back to school after their summer breaks, parents should do some homework of their own to make sure the new school year is safe on several fronts, including safeguards against the scorching heat.
"School buses and many school rooms are not air-conditioned. Young children should wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing that breathes," said Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri safety specialist. "They should carry school-approved water bottles and wear comfortable shoes where they may have to walk over hot surfaces."
In addition to safeguards from the heat, younger children should be taught the importance of safety rules concerning travel on school buses . . . Click HERE to read the complete article.
Sit Stay Read - Literacy Programs for kids and dogs. Because dogs make reading fun!
SIT STAY READ helps inner-city children in Chicago learn to read.
While our mission isn´t unique, our methods are! Dogs enable us to tackle the serious issue of childhood literacy in a fun way. We have a blueprint for reading success that includes a comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum as well as an evaluation plan to ensure we´re having impact.
SIT STAY READ programs improve reading fluency skills and inspire 2nd and 3rd graders from low-income families to become lifelong readers. Reading aloud is a critical component of early childhood literacy. At each program, every child has the opportunity to read aloud to a specially trained therapy dog. . . . Click HERE to read more about this great literacy program.
Kindergarten Here I Come!
AUGUST 9- Join the Children´s Museum of Pittsburgh Saturday, August 9, from 9am-1pm for the fourth annual celebration of your child&s entrance to kindergarten!
Children entering Kindergarten:
- Receive free museum admission for themselves and for one accompanying adult. (additional guests pay regular admission price)
- Receive a free Kindergarten Here I Come! T-Shirt*
- Receive a free book*
- Meet Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Explore a real school bus
- Particpate in a live radio broadcast
- Meet a crossing guard and other community helpers
- Create art projects and enjoy performances and storytelling
- Receive free vision, speech and hearing screenings
Parents and caregivers can ask health and immunization questions, meet local child development experts and receive valuable information on easing your child´s transition to kindergarten. This event is free to all children entering kindergarten and one accompanying adult per child. No registration required. *While supplies last.
Sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, nowU offers a range of resources specifically designed to help families save for college.
Visit the website for more details and admission fees.
PPG Festival of Water
AUGUST 7-10 - A tidal wave of fun is rushing over Pittsburgh as
we celebrate all things wet and wild at PPG Festival of Water! Scuba dive in the
25,000 gallon pool that will roll into town with the traveling DEMA Scuba Tour.
Local scuba shop Splash Water Sports will be on hand to give scuba diving lessons
and other local organizations will demonstrate a few of the many activities
available in the water, such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, water aerobics,
and more. You can also learn about animals that make their home in the water
and see demonstrations on how you can help to keep our water safe for humans
and animals.
Please remember that all events are subject to change in dates, prices, and
times. Call the special
events department before any event for verification and visit their website.
Chocolate! at the Phipps Conservatory
MAY 3 - NOV 9 - Phipps transforms into a chocolate paradise with chocolate-themed plants, activities, and interactive displays, including a children´s chocolate factory and the Chocolate Express! miniature railroad. Visitors can learn how chocolate is made, explore discovery learning carts, play games, and take part in free chocolate-related public programs. All visitors receive a complimentary chocolate samples.
Visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens website for more information!
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Carnegie Science Center
MAY 24 - SEPT 1 -
An exhibition of the largest collection of restored Titanic artifacts recovered from the ship´s wreckage, including a 30,000-ton portion of the hull. The exhibition also features re-creations of the Grand Staircase and a First Class Stateroom, as well as a simulated iceberg wall to feel how cold the water was when the ship sank. Admission is by timed ticket only; advance ticket purchase is available online.
Visit the Carnegie Science Center website for more information!
