You want the best for your kids - and for yourself! Be proactive on the education front and choose a school or program that inspires a passion for learning and a real opportunity for future success in a career - and in life.

Creative Years Preschool Offers Benefits of Small Class Sizes
Shares Katri Tyni, co-owner of Creative Years, "Studies show that when class size is smaller, and staff-child ratio is lower, the teacher can provide more stimulating, responsive, warm and supportive interactions in the classroom. While designing lesson plans the teacher can make sure to meet each child's needs and keep challenging them on an individual level while learning essential skills for life.

Class size has a great effect on preschool children's experiences with conflict resolution skills. The teacher has the opportunity to resolve issues immediately. In a small class, the teacher can better assist and work with children who might not have good verbal skills and show their emotions physically, rather than verbally. As children learn through play and experiences, it is essential to give them guidance and support at a young age. When your child learns in a small classroom environment with professional teachers, they build a strong foundation, they become more confident and they develop a life long love for learning."

Creative Years Preschool provides the benefits of small classes and creative curriculum that challenges your child to reach his/her full potential. Personal tours are available; 254-0718
www.creativeyears.com

Legacy Academy Provides Exceptional K-8 Education in a Distinctly Christian Environment
Legacy Christian Academy prepares your child for the future by teaching 21st-century learning skills in a culture that encourages a relationship with Jesus Christ. Cutting-edge technology pairs with an emphasis on preparing students for the vocational markets of the future; students are immersed in foreign language classes (including Mandarin Chinese), sciences labs, public speaking courses, and classes emphasizing computer skills. Additionally, Legacy provides an extensive enrichment program including art, Spanish, P.E. and music. After-school programs are also a vital part of the school culture with offerings in Lego building, marine biology, chess, self-defense, and more. Special programs fuel progress for academically-accelerated, athletic, and theatrically oriented students. With an enrollment of almost 400 students, Legacy has become a sports powerhouse, offering flag football, soccer and basketball - plus the thrill of competition against other local schools. Parents of children ages 3 and older may want to consider Legacy's "sister" preschool, Sunshine. Nearly 99 percent of Legacy's kindergarten class had their love of learning nurtured at the award-winning preschool. Enrollment opportunities in both Legacy and Sunshine are still available for some grades. A waiting list is always open and parents are encouraged to sign up at their first convenience; 257-7377 www.legacy-christian.com

Tuition-free SCVi K-12 Students Prepare for College and Career
For many traditional schools, the end goal is for students to graduate and continue on to the college of their choice. At Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi), that's just the beginning. This K-12 tuition-free public charter school looks well beyond college to develop its students into compassionate world citizens equipped with 21st-century skills to succeed in the world and in the workplace.

SCVi High School, which added 10th grade for the 2011-2012 academic year and will add 11th and 12th in subsequent years, offers a unique value proposition. Students enjoy project-based curriculum that engages and inspires them to become creative thinkers and leaders while meeting A-G subject area requirements. They learn by exploring, collaborating, doing and using meaningful assessment, and, as a result, grow into confident, motivated self-learners.

SCVi High School is also part of the world-renowned International Baccalaureate® (IB) Program - a first for a school in Santa Clarita Valley - that develops students' intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly-globalizing world. SCVi has also been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is taking the next steps toward accreditation.

A public lottery is held each spring for new students and tours are available; 705-4820 www.scvcharterschool.org

Hart School District Offers Options for your Student
Parents have many choices in selecting a school that is best for their children, from traditional public schools and charter schools, to private schools and home schooling, the choices can be overwhelming. Parents are determined to ensure their children get a high-quality education in a safe environment, enjoy a good social and emotional school experience, explore career and co-curricular pathways, and be provided the foundation to develop into successful, well-adjusted young adults.

The William S. Hart Union High School District currently serves nearly 23,000 students in junior high and high school, grades 7-12, at six junior highs, six comprehensive high schools and four additional specialty schools: Bowman High School, their model continuation high school; the Learning Post, their independent study program; Sequoia Charter School, an alternative school; Academy of the Canyons, for students that would like to take college courses concurrently, and the new Hart at Home homeschool program.

The Hart School District has been celebrated for its academic excellence, superior co-curricular opportunities, safety and diversity. Parents are invited to tour a campus, meet with an administrator and learn about all the District has to offer; 259-0033
www.hartdistrict.org

Expanded Community Education Opportunities at COC
Zumba madness has reached fever pitch, and now you can join in one of the hottest alternative fitness routines that has swept the nation! With its mix of red-hot international music and "fitness-party" atmosphere, the College of the Canyons Community Education Zumba Fitness experience is sure to get your heart racing.
Along with Zumba, Community Education will offer other experiences including traffic school, driver's education, photography, computer skills and a few culinary arts workshops.

For job seekers, they offer job training for CA Certified Food Handler, Administrative Medical Assistant and Electronic Health Records System Technician (EHRST). The EHRST is new this fall. It is an 18-week, entirely-online course that offers certification in this fast-growing career field.

"Community Education classes can meet community needs quickly and effectively," said Gina Bogna, director of job development. "The programs are structured to help people gain employable skills or update their skills set without having to spend a great deal of time or money in school."

Community Education also offers many courses of interest through Ed2Go, an online provider of professional development and job training programs. Take advantage of these opportunities to self-actualize and check the website for dates, times and registration information; www.canyons.edu/communityed

Expand your Career Options with Applied Technology & Solar Certification
Are you ready to be a part of a field with a bright future? Then find your day in the sun with the new Solar Technology program being offered by College of the Canyons during the Fall 2011 semester.

Prepare yourself, your business or your employees for two North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Exams: the NABCEP Entry Level SolarThermal Exam and the NABCEP Entry Level Photovoltaics Exam.
With a certificate of specialization and a national certification, you can increase the range of services that you offer and join the growing, nation-wide movement towards solar energy.
This program will be held at College of the Canyons Canyon Country location in a new, state-of-the-art Applied Technology building. Additional classes and programs in alternative energy are in the plans for 2012 and beyond.

Go to the Solar Technology information meeting and learn about this quickly-growing field. The information session takes place July 21 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the College of the Canyons Canyon Country Campus, Room 300. RSVP to Nancy Duffy; 362-3131 nancy.duffy@canyons.edu

Become a QuickBooks Boot Camp Star
Crystalynn Shelton, a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and expert in the QuickBooks product line, will be teaching this one-day workshop at Santa Clarita Technology & Career Development Center.

Students will learn how to set up their company file from scratch; create quality chart of accounts; create new vendors and customers; and learn how to create items and accounts.

Students will also learn how to pay bills, invoice customers, receive payments, make deposits and reconcile bank accounts. The report center will be covered, which includes the two most important reports: Profit and Loss Statements and a Balance Sheet. This course is great for business owners, office managers and bookkeepers who use or want to use QuickBooks; 287-3599 www.sc-tech-center.net