Education

Preparing for a Successful School Year: 5 Essential Tips for Parents

By Michael Garcia

Michael GarciaAs the summer break draws to a close, it’s time for parents to gear up and ensure a smooth transition for their children into the new school year. By taking proactive steps and instilling positive habits early on, parents can set the stage for their child’s academic success. Here are five practical tips to help parents prepare their children for a productive and enjoyable school year. (more…)

Kids’ Gardening Workshops

tessagrows Join us for an exciting, intimate and educational urban gardening workshop this summer! This 1hr15 workshop is perfect for kids ages 4-9 who want to partake in the wonders of gardening.

Participants will get hands-on experience planting their own growbag with seeds and seedlings to take home and harvest later this summer. Students will also learn essential tips for successful gardening including watering and how to feed their plants and will leave with an organic and nourishing seaweed treatment for weekly home-feeding. (more…)

Ideas for Nurturing Curiosity and Learning this Summer

By Shirin Yadegar

By Shirin YadegarSummer break is an important time to allow our children to relax and take time away from stressful assignments and homework, while still cultivating their curiosity and preventing the summer slide. Here are some ideas that have worked in my household over the years that I want to share with you.

Start a Summer Reading Challenge: Create a reading list with age-appropriate books and set a goal for your child to read a certain number of books during the summer. Discuss the books together and encourage them to express their thoughts and opinions. (more…)

Happy Mother’s Day

By Shirin Yadegar

Shirin YadegarMotherhood is a never-ending cycle of wiping noses, cleaning up messes, and trying to remember where you left your sanity. As a mother, you’re constantly tired, constantly busy, and constantly surrounded by a never-ending stream of chaos. It’s like being stuck in a game of “Whack-a-Mole,” where every time you think you’ve got one problem solved, another one pops up. (more…)

The Power of the Determined Client

By Carolyn Mahboubi

Carolyn MahboubiTransformational Coaching takes skill, creativity and commitment. But more than anything else, it takes time.

Can one conversation be full of insights and deeply valuable? Can it be unforgettable and impactful?

Absolutely.
But, when done right, this is life-changing work. And anything worthy takes time. That’s just a fact of life.

Philip is a smart, thoughtful and handsome young man. When we began working together, Philip was receiving his Master’s degree from one of the top universities in the world. But he wasn’t happy. (more…)

Summer Plans: Use your time wisely to support your college application plans

By Sonali Bridges

Every year, students look forward to summer break – a chance to unwind, have fun, enjoy time with family, and maybe make new friends at summer camp. In high school; however, the plan for summer starts to feel like it might carry a bit more weight than just having a good time. But how do colleges really view those few months between school years and how can students endeavor to use that time fruitfully?

In talking to students and parents each year, we often hear the same myths continually passed around. Things like students must have a certain number of service hours, or have to try a sport, or even that students should do a summer program at the college they wish to get into. Avoid the rumor mill; instead, students should view the summer as an opportunity to try on something they may not have the time or ability to do during the school year. What colleges really want to see from a student’s summer is that they’ve been productive, but that productivity is not narrowly defined. The activity or activities should be meaningful to the student and align well with their interests or needs. If it seems too early in this brand new year to be thinking about the summer, you’ve been fairly warned – many summer programs that require applications begin taking them (and may even have deadlines) in January! Below, we’ve shared our top recommendations for using summer like a pro (and why) – many students may do more than one in a single summer: (more…)

Israel’s Magen David Adom: Saving Lives and Nourishing Babies

By Dorin Esfahani

Dorin EsfahaniMagen David Adom (literally Red Shield of David) is Israel’s national emergency medical service. It is also the country’s sole blood-services provider for Israel’s hospitals and defense forces. And, as a Red Cross affiliate, Magen David Adom responds to disasters around the world, including most recently in Ukraine.

But few people may know that Magen David Adom (MDA) operates and is home to Israel’s national and only human milk bank. Many premature infants can’t tolerate any other food source because of their underdeveloped digestive and immune systems. But for many reasons, mothers of preemies are not always able to provide their own milk. (more…)

Practicing Gratitude

Shirin Yadegar shares her father’s morning gratitude practice that you might want to adopt.

Thanksgiving is the time of year we gather with family and friends to be grateful for one another and the abundance of food and freedom. My dad used to always baste the turkey. He would marinate the turkey with the same attention and love he led his life with.

My father sadly won’t be basting a turkey or sharing in our thanksgiving meal this year. I’m sure he has other plans as an angel in heaven; but the lessons of gratitude he taught my brother and I will always be present not just on thanksgiving but every morning. (more…)

Take Back Our Kids Public School Education

Why Judith Manouchehri is running for BHUSD Governing Board

By Judith ManouchehriBy Judith Manouchehri
I’m thrilled to be running for Beverly Hills Unified School District Governing Board because Beverly Hills is not just my home, it’s shaped me. My commitment to BHUSD is demonstrated through my volunteer work on both the Beverly Vista Middle School PTA Executive Board and as an elected member of the Hawthorne School Site Council. Further, my involvement in our City extends to my roles as a member of the Beverly Hills Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. I have a deep understanding of not only a collaborative professional setting, but of a public service mindset.

I’m the only candidate that’s a true product of our entire Beverly Hills school system. I’m proud of my BHUSD education that allowed me to go on to study Political Science and Public Policy at UCLA, where I then earned my JD on the other side of the tracks, at USC’s Gould School of Law. (more…)

Healer’s Advice on Finding Peace

Sivaphone Sarinas is a mother and healer

Q:As a healer, how do you help others process their own feelings and find their peace?
A: As a healer it’s important for me to be aware and respect that every person I connect with is going through their own unique journey and everybody processes emotions differently. Empathy is also key in how I help others process their feelings and holding a safe space for my clients to feel their emotions. Guiding others to find their light and release any energy that does not serve their highest good is important for me as a healer. Uplifting clients to empower themselves and find gratitude in their journey/experiences is a beautiful purpose in life and as a healer. Finding peace is also part of the process. Helping others find their peace is about reconnecting with themselves, going within and honoring yourself. I also like to focus on the daily little things that makes us happy and brings us peace. I believe we can find peace in many things such as self-care, reading an inspiring book, listening to music/podcasts that uplifts your energy, going into nature to ground yourself, meditate, and being around people who supports and love you. (more…)