If you missed the SFUSD school fair, don't despair.  The SFUSD website has all the updated information, application forms, and more.

Other Resources:

--See GreatSchools.net's  Guide to Choosing the Right School as well as many other valuable articles on the site.

--Parents for Public Schools SF also has a great school checklist, see their School Tours Page and their Calendar for listings of enrollment events.

--Also check the SFkids.org Education Pages  for important dates, reminders, and information.

 

Preschool For All is a City-funded initiative providing a free or discounted tuition at over 100 participating preschools. Eligible children are city residents who turn four-years-old by December 2nd.

It's not too late to enroll at some PFA sites. If you or someone you know is seeking a preschool for your four-year-old, PFA can help. Contact the PFA Parent Info Line for more information: (415) 354-3873.  See this weblink for the preschools listed that have reported available space for enrollment. Contact sites directly for program and application information.

Also check our Preschool Page for more links and information.

 

Well, at least pictures of them.

 

Upload your favorite photos of your family to the SFkids.org Flickr Page. The only requirements are that you own the picture and it's either a photo of your kids or kids you have parent permission to post. Pictures at SF spots are a plus. We may post your picture on SFkids! Everyone who posts pictures to the Flickr page will be entered in our monthly drawing for a $25 gift card.

 

Thanks to Sutro 2009 for the picture here!

Laure Latham has given us a great guide to finding places that bring out our wild side.  From Marin to the South Bay you'll be amazed at how many magical places there are around here.

 

"Walking through the themed sections of There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak, the art exhibition at the San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum, I stopped at the section on landscapes in Sendak's work. The author is quoted is saying: "A haunting certainly has penetrated all my work and if there are things..." (read more)

The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is something all parents should educate themselves about and know how to help their family avoid. 

 

 

Winter Break is just around the corner. If you haven't made plans for winter break camp yet, check out our listing on the Camps Page (Winter Camps).

 

Sfkids.org's own Jan Goben tells the story of breaking the news of her pregnancy to her young stepsons.

 

"I moved in with Tom and his two sons the week after Christmas in 1996. I left behind my view of downtown San Francisco and the bay beyond, my long, leisurely mornings of sleeping in and..." (read more)

A Bay Area tradition for 30 holiday seasons, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair returns to the San Francisco Cow Palace Exhibition Halls for four weekends, from Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 20. Come celebrate the holiday season in Victorian London! 

 

The Dickens Fair has generously offered to give SFkids.org subscribers five free family passes!  Email us for a chance to win!

 

Valerie Ziegler, who teaches U.S. History, Economics, and Advanced Placement U.S. Government at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco, has been named as one of five 2010 California Teachers of the Year.

See the KTVU story here.

Founded in 1994, The Parents Coalition of Bay Area High Schools' mission is to educate and inspire parents of adolescents as well as to advance communication and understanding with their teens.  The organization is made up of volunteer parents from independent and public schools within the Bay Area. Other Bay Area schools are welcome to become a member.

The Parents' Coalition hosts monthly speakers and forums and a quarterly newsletter.

 

The Service Directory For Girls is a guide to a host of services for young women in San Francisco, ranging from academic and recreational opportunities to legal and health services. The Commission on the Status of Women's Girls Committee has been working on this directory for over a year and is excited that the material is now available to the public. 

 

Get your green on at the 8th Annual Green Festival this weekend, November 13, 14 & 15, 2009, at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center. At this time of unprecedented focus on the economy, the Green Festival is offering a wide array of speakers, ideas, workshops, and exhibits to show ways that everyone from corporations to individuals can go green on a tight budget.

Organic Valley Kids' Zone features interactive activities all weekend that explore the world around us. Enjoy samples and a bean bag toss provided by Organic Valley. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

 

Youth 18 and under are free; adults $10-$15 per day.

Dentist  Dr. Clayton Zeidler gives us some great information about how to teach our kids good dental hygiene and what to look for when choosing a pediatric dentist.

 

"Children have different oral health needs than adults do, so it is important to find your child a quality pediatric..."  (read more)

Three Ways to Teach Your Children Proper Dental Hygiene Habits

"Teaching your children proper dental hygiene habits from an early age is essential for lifelong beautiful smiles and healthy mouths. " (read more)

 

First 5 San Francisco and Parents for Public Schools has just published A Parent's Guide to Starting Kindergarten in 2010 Tips on Enrolling and Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten in San Francisco. 

In the Bay Area, you can find a performance of the Nutcracker everywhere you turn. The editors at SFkids have compiled this list to help you sort through the holiday offerings. Take your pick, or catch more than one performance. Make reservations now and don't miss at least one of these holiday treats. 

 

Leeann Slaton from Parents' Place answers a question about raising girls.

 

"Q. I have heard horror stories and read articles about all the ills that befall girls as they get older (loss of self esteem, eating issues, math and science phobias).  I have a 2 ½ year-old daughter.  I want to do whatever I can to counter-act the pressure she may get from our culture.  What can I do?" (read more)

Ice skating spells winter fun for the whole family. Here is a list of staff favorites for holiday season skating!

 

Union Square Holiday Ice Rink
Skate at Union Square from November 11 through January 18. Open daily 10am-10pm, with weekend closings at 11:30pm. 
Tickets are $9 per adult and $4.50 per child. (415) 781-7880. www.unionsquaresf.net
Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center
Celebrate the holiday season at the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center. Delighting families, couples (read more)