Our Upcoming Events Calendar
Staff Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week is NEXT WEEK! From February 9th to 12th, families are invited to participate in the celebration of CEC staff members. This week is a great opportunity for you to give thanks to the wonderful staff for all their skilled and tender care that children receive. The CEC encourages non-monetary personal ways to thank the staff, such as a personal note, a child’s artwork, or flowers.
This year a treat sign-up schedule has been organized to avoid sugar overload and food waste.
Please drop off treats by 9:30 am at your site.
Tuesday is 'Sweet Treats', Wednesday is 'Salty & Savory', and Thursday is 'Fruit & Veggie'.
Board of Trustees Meeting - In Person & Virtual
This month’s meeting will be held in person in the Whale room (at our Oak Grove site) and online. See below for the Zoom information.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88178115245
Meeting ID: 881 7811 5245
Passcode: 301730
Benefit Kickoff Meeting
On Saturday, February 7, at 10:00 am in the Whale Room the CEC Advancement Committee will be hosting a Benefit Kick-Off Meeting!
If you are interested in helping make the CEC's Annual Benefit FUN and profitable, we'd love your participation. We are looking for your volunteer time, talent, and ideas! Come join us for the following:
Choosing the THEME for the benefit
Volunteering for benefit set-up or decorations
Helping to brainstorm and solicit items for the auction
We'll have coffee, pastries, and will spend about 45 minutes to an hour brainstorming and locking in volunteer duties. We would love to see you!
Do you have a connection at a local business? Do you have season tickets to entertainment or sporting events? Do you have some artistic flair when it comes to event decor? Do you have helping hands and want to meet other CEC parents? Then we'd love your participation!
Please RSVP to Chuck at chuck@ceconline.org by February 4, so we have enough food and chairs.
We're excited to see you! This is a great opportunity to give your time, talent, and treasure to the CEC and meet and network with other CEC parents.
Community Potluck
We are hosting our next Community Potluck on Wednesday, February 4, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at our Oak Grove site.
This event will be structured differently from the last potluck in that the potluck will start without children, and we will view and discuss a topical film as a community. Then once 6:00 pm arrives, parents can collect their children, and we can have a shared meal together!
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Parents are invited to join us in the Whale room to watch and discuss the film, Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values.
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Parents pick up your children from their classrooms and join in the potluck portion of the night.
About the Film: Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values is a 50-minute documentary about families who intentionally parent with an anti-bias lens, exploring their hopes, fears, strengths, challenges, and the pivotal question: What kind of world do we want to create with our children? The film depicts these families in their everyday experiences at home, in their communities, and in schools. Each family has their own vision for social justice based on their unique identities, histories, experiences and context. They help their children develop positive social identities, express comfort and joy with human differences, and form deep, caring connections.
In the current political context, under the guise of “parental rights”, there is pushback across this country against diversity and equity, which prohibits discussing identity and bias issues in schools. This film provides a counter-narrative, showing families who advocate for their children and all children in the quest to build fair and just communities.
Coffee & Convo at Oak Grove site
Join us for Coffee and Convo at our Oak Grove site!
On Friday, January 16, from 8:30 am to 10:00 am we will have a Coffee and Convo at our Oak Grove Site.
Ellen and Allegra will be available to chat during drop-off time and there will be beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
For those of you at the Oak Grove site who purchased sweatshirts in our recent merch sale, they will be available for pickup starting at this event.
Caltech site and School-Age site families will have theirs brought to their site.
Board of Trustees Meeting - Virtual
This month’s meeting will be held exclusively online. See below for the Zoom information!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84077990937
Meeting ID: 840 7799 0937
Passcode: 759235
Open House at Caltech Site
Looking for Preschool or School-Age Care in Pasadena? Join the Child Educational Center for our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 18th, from 9 am to 11 am. Tour our site, meet staff & parent council members, and explore our indoor and outdoor classrooms! We are located at three separate historical bungalows at 240, 250, and 256 S. Michigan Ave. – within the Caltech campus. Our programs provide year-round care and education with an emphasis on play-based learning, child-led curriculum and lots of time in the nature filled yards. We hope you’ll join us!
Coffee & Convo at Oak Grove site
Join us for Coffee and Convo at our Oak Grove site!
On Friday, October 3, from 8:30 am to 9:30am we will have a Coffee and Convo at our Oak Grove Site.
Ellen and Allegra will be available to chat during drop-off time and there will be beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
Coffee & Convo at Caltech site
Join us for Coffee and Convo at our Caltech site!
Our next coffee and convo is on Wednesday, October 1, from 8:30 am to 9:30am. Stop by our Caltech site at 250 S. Michigan Ave in Pasadena.
Ellen and Allegra will be available to chat during drop-off time and there will be beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
Pancake Breakfast
Our Annual Pancake Breakfast at our Oak Grove Site is on Saturday, September 13 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. We welcome all CEC families and staff, from all sites, to join us for a wonderful morning of good food, community, and fun! This is also an excellent volunteer opportunity for parents, so check out the volunteer form below. We hope to see you there!
Coffee & Convo at Oak Grove site
Join us for Coffee and Convo at our Caltech site!
Our next coffee and convo is this Friday, August 22, from 8:30 am to 9:45 am. Stop by our Oak Grove site at 140 Foothill Blvd.
This will be situated at the front office entrance, where Ellen and Allegra will be available to chat during drop-off time and there will be beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
First Day of Program Year for Children*
*Children new to the CEC in the Infant-Toddler and Twos groups may have a delayed start date to allow teachers to form relationships with new children and help them adjust from being away from family. These dates will be shared in early summer with families as needed.
Welcome Friday
Welcome Friday for all enrolled children in the Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Programs at both Oak Grove and Caltech sites.
The School-Age Program will also be offering an opportunity for families to stop by at the Whale and LCUSD locations.
Coffee & Convo at Caltech site
Join us for Coffee and Convo at our Caltech site!
Our next coffee and convo is Thursday, June 26, at 9:00 am. Stop by our Caltech site at 250 S. Michigan Ave in Pasadena.
Ellen and Allegra will be available to chat during drop-off time and there will be beverages and treats for you to enjoy!
CEC Preschool Campout at Oak Grove
The Oak Grove Preschool Campout
(for Sea Lions, Dolphins, Eagles, and Flying Squirrels) is returning on Friday, June 20!
La Cañada Fiesta Days Memorial Day Parade
We hope you can join us!
Click here to check out the many LCF Fiesta Days events taking place all Memorial Day weekend.
Volunteer Opportunity - LA Regional Food Bank
Volunteer with us at the LA Regional Food Bank!
Our continued efforts at the La Foodbank are a great way to give back to the community and make a difference during these times. We will have several more Saturday volunteer sessions in the new year and we hope you will consider volunteering with us! For more information or to sign up, please click here to visit the CEC/LARFB volunteer page.
A few guidelines to remember:
Minimum age requirement is 18; NO exceptions
All volunteers must wear closed-toe/closed-heel shoes
Volunteers must be able to lift between 10-25 lbs.
Masks are not required to volunteer, but are strongly recommended
Parking is available on site