The Mar Vista Elementary Running Club is off and … Running! This Saturday, December 3rd is their first 5K Fun Run of the year and the kids will run all around the school’s perimeter, so keep an eye out and drive safely in the neighborhood!

Here’s a picture of the hearty souls when they ran a race last Spring:

Let’s hope it’s not too windy when they run this time!

Check out all the comedy coming up at the Fanatic Salon in the month of December:

Parents, this Saturday at 11 am, stop by Whole Foods Market West Los Angeles for a complimentary lecture withPediatrician Dr. Katiraei. 

Tanya Anton, the founder of the Go Mama Guide, will conduct a seminar entitled Navigating The School System: Know Your Public Options this Sunday, October 16th at 5pm at reDiscover Center.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Click here for early registration and more information about the Go Mama Guide.

reDiscover Center, 12958 W. Washington Blvd., Mar Vista 90066

What school couldn’t use more help with Easy Fundraising? Real California Milk is supporting California schools by launching the Real Seal Appeal! Sweepstakes.

From October 1, 2011-December 31, 2011, the California Milk Advisory Board will be challenging Southern California elementary classrooms, schools and students to collect Real California Milk seals from milk and dairy products for a chance to win up to $2 million in cash, Scholastic books and other prizes.

This is a great, easy fund-raising opportunity for schools and the prizes are Not Too Shabby!

• Grand Prize: 3 winning schools will receive $20,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in classroom (up to 50)

• 2nd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $10,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in classroom (up to 50)

• 3rd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $5,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in classroom (up to 50)

• Runner Ups: 2,595 winning schools will receive $500 prizes

I don’t know about your elementary school, but ours could sure use $20,000. Due to budget cuts, we don’t have a Librarian anymore, and $20,000 would actually pay for a part-time position to keep our library open.

The library is pretty important to our school, so I know that’s what we would spend the money on if we win, but it could easily be spent on so many other things schools need these days, like field trips, computer supplies, software, teaching assistants in the classrooms, and I could go on and on. You get the picture.

So I salute the California Milk Advisory Board for giving back to California Schools when they really need it. And I advise you all to get started collecting Seals!

Please click through for more information and all the details about the Real Seal Appeal Sweepstakes. You can also follow them on Twitter (@RealCalifMilk) or find them on Facebook (Facebook.com/RealCaliforniaMilk).

{This is a sponsored post.}

I am reprinting this notice from the MVCCEducation Committee about the upcoming special meeting regarding the Walgrove Charter Lease issue.

We’d like to cordially invite you and your neighbors to:

MVCC Education, Arts and Culture Committee Special Meeting
Topic of Discussion: Walgrove Elementary School Charter Lease
Sunday, October 2, 2011
12:30-2:00 p.m.
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
3590 Grand View Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066 (map)

The meeting will be open to all local stakeholders (including Venice Neighborhood Council stakeholders) and will be dedicated almost entirely to the discussion of the Charter Lease RFP at Walgrove Elementary (attached).

The meeting is in response to significant stakeholder concerns and questions about this issue. The latest LAUSD Walgrove Charter Lease documents can be found at http://mo.laschools.org/fis/fcs/rfpqm-psc/

Chaired by Amy Lawrence and Babak Nahid, this specific meeting is intended for information-sharing and public comment and will have no motions or actionable items on the Walgrove RFP. Instead we are inviting Steve Zimmer, LAUSD Facilities Services, Green Dot Public Schools, Ocean Charter School, and Walgrove Elementary and a local neighborhood group to make 10-15 min. presentations. Please note that given the legal process, Mr. Zimmer and/or LAUSD representatives may not be able to directly respond to specific RFP questions. We’ll then open to public comments from both Mar Vista and Venice stakeholders. For a 1.5 hour meeting, we hope to accommodate 4-5 brief presentations plus significant public comment.

We understand that beyond the groups identified, there may be others, as yet unknown to us (e.g. other charters, neighborhood groups) who may wish to speak to the RFP. Given the Nov. 9 deadline, we believe there is still time to include other interested groups in future meetings, if necessary. VNC committee/board may also decide to hold a meeting as may the MVCC board, if/when appropriate. If you know of any other interested groups, please let us and them know about these potential opportunities.

If you wish to make a brief presentation on behalf of group or organization, please confirm your attendance by emailingeduarts@marvista.org. We will try to accommodate as many as feasible in one hour of presentations. If you do not wish to present as a group, you should be able to make brief public comment within the available time.

Lastly, please register at Marvista.org and subscribe to notifications from the MVCC Education, Arts and Culture committee to receive automatic updates on this and future meetings.

Regards,

Babak Nahid and Amy Lawrence, Co-chairs
MVCC Education, Arts and Culture Committee
eduarts@marvista.org

Calling all Mar Vista schools: Apply for these school garden grants! Deadline December 31st, 2011 – all details at GardenGrants.com.

And for those not in school, please consider supporting this wonderful program with a donation! Thanks!

You can earn money for your school while shopping for Back-To-School clothes and supplies at Westfield Culver City. Program details can be found online, but the basics are: when you shop at the Mall, bring your receipts to the Concierge desk where you’ll get credit for money spent – which acts as a “vote” for the school of your choice. The winning school will receive $2500!

Westfield Culver City is also partnering with the Venice Boys & Girls Club and collecting school supplies that will be donated to kids who need them. Please help them make a difference for kids in need this Back-To-School season! Donate!

PS – Extra votes if you Like them on Facebook & register your school!

Westfield Culver City, 6000 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230

The monthly meeting of the Mar Vista Community Council Education, Culture & Arts Committee will take place Sunday, July 3rd at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market at 10:30am.

The agenda is posted online and we hope to see you there!