Hear the Cheer: Tiger Chorus Sings Us Into the Holidays

Hear the Cheer!  Click the song title below to go to the video.

• Peace Round – 1:14
• Reindeer Twist – 3:24
• Sing & Dance It’s Hanukkah – 2:34
• Let a Little Christmas Fill You Heart – 1:51
• Winter Fantasy – 2:10

La Mariposa was treated to a Winter Concert this morning.  The La Mariposa chorus is a product of teacher and parent support for music education at La Mariposa. 

Local Holiday Cheer for Your Family

There is nothing like the holiday season to bring your family together.  Here are some great ways to celebrate the Season of Giving with your growing family:

Local Stuff to See & Do:

• Santa In Lights In Flight Over Ventura County

  • Ventura County Star Article

  • Flight Schedule
• Norad Flight Tracker
• Local Christmas Light Viewing via Macaroni Kid
• Free Personalized Video Message From Santa

Get Into the Giving Spirit with these Community Service Ideas:

• 276 Random Acts of Kindness
• Adopt-A-Family – Rain Project
• Camarillo Hospice Tree of Life
• Give Hope and Wishes to Kids at Casa Pacifica
• Giving Trees Need Volunteers The Oaks Mall 
• Giving Trees Need Volunteers Pacific View Mall 

• Serve Meals at the Ventura County Rescue Mission

• Volunteer at Food Share

Holiday Art & Science to Keep Hands Busy During the Break

• Holiday Science Projects – About.com
• How to Turn Science Projects into Holiday Gifts – MonkeySee
• Christmas: Kids’ Christmas Crafts – Martha Stewart
• 12 Easy Holiday Crafts for Kids

 

Parade to Parties: Halloween Slideshow ’12

Alright, we know it’s almost Thanksgiving, but we wanted to give ya’ll a chance to get those pictures submitted.  Without further ado…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thanks to Kim Woolley, Nicolette Marselian, Melissa Craig, Cindy Laudato-Wong, & Susan Weerakkody for sharing their photos with us.

Make Veteran’s Day Meaningful In Your Family

“Those who have the freedom to live their dreams, have an obligation to those who dream of living free.”–George Bush

We observe Veterans Day to honor those people, past and present, who serve in our armed forces. Veteran’s Day coincides

How to Get a Pot of Gold from a Leprechaun

From eHow.com

According to the Irish legends, a leprechaun keeps his fortune in a pot of gold and will give it anyone who follows the correct procedure. If you are feeling lucky, here’s how to get it.

Instructions

1. Listen for the sound of his hammer. Leprechauns are often busy making a shoe (and only one shoe) for an elf.
2. Sneak up on the leprechaun. Hopefully, he will be absorbed in his work and will not hear you.
3. Hold on to the leprechaun and don’t let go. Expect him to put up a pretty good fight, even if he is only about 2 feet tall.
4. Keep your eyes on the leprechaun. He will do anything to get you to look away for a second. If you do, he will disappear into the mist, and his pot of gold is safe.
5. Threaten him if he is especially resistant to telling you where the pot of gold is hiding.
6. Make the leprechaun take you to his pot of gold. You should find it at the end of the rainbow.

Tips & Warnings

• Leprechauns are always male. No one has ever given a credible report of a female leprechaun.
• Although leprechauns are now usually depicted wearing nothing but green, at the turn of the twentieth century they were renowned for wearing red coats.

Resources

• Find out about magical Irish folk, and watch a leprechaun webcam at this site.

A note from the editor:

As I was fishing around looking for a fun St. Patty’s Day article, I also came across this great little story:

The Legend of The Leprechaun: Pots of Gold, Magic and Rainbows?

Where did Valentine’s Day Come From?

Warning:  This story is not for the faint of heart…

February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Although it is celebrated with the giving of candy, Valentine flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop, who, in AD 270 had been persecuted by Emperor Claudius.  At least that’s my favorite version…

As legend has it, Emperor Claudius had determined that married men made poor soldiers. So he banned marriage from his empire. But Valentine would secretly marry young men that came to him. When Valentine was found out, he was imprisoned in the emperor’s attempt to convert him from Christianity. During the days that Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her, and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell message to her, “From your Valentine.” The phrase has been used on his day ever since.

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. in January

The Meaning of The King Holiday
by Coretta Scott King

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit…Read Full Article.

Bringing the Message Home:  Here are some great links to help your family honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s spirit of peace, courage, and freedom.

• Biography
• Crafts & Activities
• Books To Check Out

Halloween Parade ‘A Hoot’

It wouldn’t be Halloween without the annual La Mariposa Halloween Parade.  Our kindergarteners and first graders marched first thing in the morning as their “Big Buddies” and some of the the fourth and fifth grade classes watched.  The second and third grade classes followed in the afternoon!  What a great way to start their ‘Spooktacular Day’!