Therapist offers tips for communicating with teens

Communicating with pre-teens and teens can be tricky, arduous and explosive. There are communication styles that make dialogue so much more successful. Join other parents at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA to hear Pam Erdman, licensed marriage, family and child therapist, as she discusses strategies to use when talking with your teens.

These weekly one-hour confidential support groups are sponsored by Glendale Unified School District and the Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition. They are open to everyone.

For more information on these weekly sessions, additional resources and to see how you can become involved, visit http://www.cvyouthsupport.com.

Valley View Elementary

The sixth-grade class is sponsoring a jewelry and pie sale from 2:15 to 5 p.m. Friday in the auditorium.

Family Game Night begins 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the auditorium. This is a great opportunity for families to spend some time together and win some raffle prizes at the end of the evening.

The winter choral show "I Believe" performed by the Singing Eaglets is on Dec. 7 and includes daytime assemblies for students, as well as a 7 p.m. parent performance in the auditorium.

Mountain Avenue Elementary

The annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday on the upper field. Students have been collecting pledges for two weeks and will run the course alongside their teachers to raise funds to support the library and computer lab.

La Crescenta Elementary

Sixth-graders and parents will have their Camp Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium.

The annual Holiday Boutique is the week of Nov. 29 and gives students an opportunity to buy inexpensive gifts for their families and friends. Lots of great items will be for sale.

Dunsmore Elementary

Sally Foote, philanthropy chairwoman, wishes to thank the community for donating food items during last week's annual food drive.

The winter season brings the annual Hollydays Boutique, which runs from Dec. 10 to14. Handcrafted items from all the classes will be on sale for the holiday shopping season. Thanks to Anne Beglarian, Hollydays chairwoman, for creating another festive and fun-filled event.

Lincoln Elementary

The next PTA meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium.

Foundation meets at 7 p.m. Thursday in the library.

The Spark of Love Toy Drive is from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10. Bring a new or gently used toy, game or book to school to donate.

JO ANN STUPAKIS covers the Crescenta Valley cluster and her column appears every three weeks. If your school is not represented or to submit information, please contact her at (818) 248-8507 or by e-mail at jostupakis@yahoo.com.