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It may take a while before life can go back to the normal we were used to, especially for big gatherings, events, sports, and schools. Here is what experts believe schools will look like when students are given the green light to go back to school! Since the kids need to have social distancing even when the schools reopen, schools may convert libraries, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and even open spaces into massive classrooms in order to keep students as spread out as possible. Kids may not be able to go back to school all at once, meaning they may need to alternate between morning and afternoon programs, or go to school every other day. Distance learning may also continue even after schools reopen, meaning they will be given more homework to do outside the classrooms on the days or periods when they are not physically at school. Students, teachers, and school staff will be required to wear masks the entire day when they are at school, even at recess. Schools may check students' temperatures every morning before they enter their classrooms. Parents may also be required to sign a release form every morning indicating that their kids had no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 before entering school. You may not be able to participate or volunteer in your kid's classroom for a while. Since kids would require to practice social distancing, they will not be able to participate in sports that would require touching a shared item like a ball, or play a game of tag. Playgrounds at schools may not be open for kids to use. And you should also expect that schools shut down again if a teacher or a student test positive for COVID-19 after the schools reopen.

Today, July 6, 2020, Superintendent for LAUSD, Austin Buetner, announced that no decision has yet been made for return to school in August 2020, but he assumes that online component will be a part of the education when kids return to school. He added that the new school year will start with clear sets of expectations for classrooms, which will include regular class schedules, attendance taken every day, standards-based instructions, and regular assessment of student progress. He further added that LAUSD is aware of the importance of the daily live instructions and therefore training and support is available to teachers and students to make sure all classes can now participate in online classrooms. Schools will make sure that every student has a device and internet access in the new school year. LAUSD is working to simplify the use of many different technologies that educators were using last year and better integrate the tools in one common learning system. He also said that COVID-19 continues to be a treat to the community and it doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon. LAUSD will do the best they can do to adapt to the challenges COVID-19 presents. The goal is to help students to learn, provide safety to students and their families, and take care of all who work at schools. LAUSD will continue to update parents on a weekly basis. To stay connected, you can follow LAUSD on Facebook at @AustinLASchools and @LosAngeles Schools, or contact LAUSD at (213) 443-1300.

Today, July 13, 2020, LAUSD announced that the schools will not open their doors in August, but when students do return to campus, they will look much different than it did before, according to Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer. Per Dr. Ferrer, distanced learning is likely to continue in some way as schools need to practice social distancing on campuses and classrooms. It is highly likely that the students and faculty both will need to wear face masks/coverings except when they are eating or taking nap (young children), and there will be monitored frequent hand washing and sanitizing on campuses. Team sports that can’t be played with physical distancing won’t resume. After-school programs will be limited, and activities that require students and teachers to be in close contact over extended periods of time won't resume either. Per LAUSD, reopening of the schools will significantly increase the interaction between children and adults from different families, and testing will protect the many, and tracing will be important. It is presumed that weekly testings and some sort of tracing will be in place when kids eventually return to school. You can find these guidelines on Public Health’s website later today.

LAUSD announced today that due to the health and safety of community, they have made the decision to continue to close schools in August 2020. While the new school year will begin on August 18th as scheduled, it will not begin with students at school facilities. LAUSD Superintendent, Austin Beutner, said today that the health and safety of the all in the school community is not something to compromise because Covid-19 continues to spread in the Los Angeles area and the virus is going to impact the new school year. When the school year starts in August, the students have been absent from school for about 6 months, the longest stretch in the recent history. He acknowledged that for some students, there maybe a life long impact if they are not back in school soon. But since school facilities closed, health officials have learned that the virus is more contagious than they first thought and that a-symptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals can transmit the virus to others. A recent study by scientists shows a considerable portion of the spread of the virus was attributable to individuals who showed no symptoms. There has been a great deal written about the need for health practices in schools to prevent the spread of the virus: wash hands, sanitize surfaces, and wear masks to avoid spreading germs, and reconfigure school schedules and facilities to keep students a safe distance apart. These have become a familiar list and schools can and will find a way to handle these parts of a strategy, but these will not be enough when a meaningful number of silent spread of the virus might be on a campus. Families and staff share this concern as a significant number of them have reservation about returning to school facilities until more is done to mitigate the risk. The Answer? test students and staff for the virus on a regular basis. Some claim children are less likely to carry the virus or they may suffer less severe medical consequences if they get the disease. But there's little research to back up these reasonings and claims. Reopening of the schools will significantly increase the interaction between children and adults from different families. Testing the few will protect the many and experts have said testing at schools is the right approach. Tracing those who might have come in contact with an individual who has the virus is equally important. However, testing and contact tracing will cost money. It would cost about $300 per students over the course of a year to test the students and the staff every week, as well as family members who test positive for the virus. The federal government could help by providing funding schools need to make it safe and appropriate for students and staff to return. But, the cost for all schools maybe $15 billion dollars across the country. Meanwhile, the students will continue learning online. The team of educators are working very hard to put in place plans for the new school year. Planning will continue for an eventual return to in-person classes, but no timeline was provided. In the meantime, teachers will be given expanded training in online education, and students will receive training to become better online learners. The online education will include a regular schedule, standard-based instruction, including daily live engagement between students and teachers. Regular assessments of student progress will be used by teachers to guide their works with students and keep families informed. Where possible, schools will add instruction and one on one tutoring after school and on Saturday mornings to help students make up for lost time and accelerate their progress. More detailed information about both online and at-school programs will be shared with final plans by the first week of August. For more information, please click here.

Screened Out is a powerful and timely documentary exploring the life changing effects of screen addiction. Especially during this time as both adults and children are relying on devices to receive updated information, work and study remotely, and keep in contact with family and friends — we have become dependent on our devices. I’m sure you’ve been hearing various opinions on the topic during this pandemic. What’s too much? What’s acceptable? How do we find the healthy balance for both ourselves and our children? Directed by Jon Hyatt, a father of three young boys who asked himself "Is my family Screen Addicted?"  The answer was yes.  So he set out to make a film about how we become addicted and what we can do to address the problem. Jon recognized that parents are on the front-lines of this "battle" with our devices. The film's message is NOT that screen time is bad, it's about HOW we spend time on our screens. Screened Out does an excellent job of highlighting and analyzing the problem. The film includes interviews with medical experts, leaders of organizations, educators, parents and students. The film doesn't shame anyone but points out stats and facts that are pretty shocking - and the role the tech industry has played in getting us hooked on our devices/apps. The same industry that is now playing a crucial role during this pandemic. Screened Out interviews medical experts, leaders of non-governmental organizations, educators, parents and students. The film is supporting the bi-partisan legislation, the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA Act), that would authorize the National Institute of Health to lead a research program on technology and media’s effects on infants, children and adolescents.   The team believes that a conversation about how parents, teachers and young people are coping and addressing these issues should be amplified. Invite your friends and contacts the Virtual Premiere Screening on Wednesday, May 20th with the filmmaker. You can follow Screen Out on social media for the latest news, tips on maintaining balance during these trying times, and information about the film.   • Website: www.screenedoutfilm.com • Instagram: @screenedoutfilm • Twitter: @screenedoutfilm • Facebook: @screenedoutfilm Youtube Trailer Screened Out filmmaker Jon Hyatt on CNN International COVID-19 Resources Curated by Screened Out iTunes pre-order link

It is an awesome feeling to go to a book store and find your kid's published book on the shelf! Isn't it? If you have a kid who loves to tell stories, here is a great chance to submit his stories for a chance to become a published author through Barnes & Noble! Barnes & Noble has launched a National Children’s Short Story Contest now through May 27, 2020 to give young writers a chance to become published authors! Children ages 6 through 12 are invited to submit original written or graphic short stories through Barnes & Noble for a chance to be selected and published in a book sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble. HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR KID: Submit an original written or graphic short story on behalf of children ages 6 to 12 from now through May 29th. Entries should include the parent or legal guardian’s name, email and address. Only the child’s first name and age should be provided. The work must be an original written or graphic story. Suggested word count is 300 – 800 words or 4 pages of a graphic story (black & white). Fifteen entrants will be chosen for publication in a book to be sold exclusively at select Barnes & Noble stores while supplies last, during Holiday 2020 with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. The fifteen winners and fifteen runners-up will get a signed book from bestselling author Gail Carson Levine. Winners and runners-up will also have the chance to be featured on Barnes & Noble’s social channels. Submit your child’s story using this link.

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County including the Natural History Museum, La Brea Tar Pits and William S. Hart Museum are innovating to open new doors to natural history virtually while physical doors are closed. They are launching NHMLAC Connects to continually offer new opportunities for Angelenos and the world to explore natural and cultural wonders: safely, and digitally from home. Think social distancing with dinosaurs and mammoths, and connecting with nature and community science right outside your own door, and begin exploring collections, exhibitions, educational experiences and global science adventures online. The museums want to know what blows YOUR mind? Connect with inspiring educators, scientists and each other for virtual adventures. Access rich school curriculum and activities to do with your family at home. Participate in exciting crowd-sourced science and social media campaigns. Explore the outdoors using our "Wild L.A." as your nature guide. Learn through neighbors' stories, history and culture in "Becoming L.A." Join scientists on international expeditions as they share discoveries, from Antarctica to Tarpits of the World, including La Brea Tar Pits, the one-of-a-kind active urban Ice Age excavation site. You May Also Enjoy: Awesome National Parks You Can Explore From Your Living Room!

Microsoft is offering a variety of workshops for kids and adults that you can access virtually from home for free! The workshops are usually ninety-minute workshops to have fun, learn, and get inspired by computer science and AI. You can access different workshops by choosing your local Microsoft Store, choose from a variety of workshops or trainings on the calendar, and then register for a virtual workshop or training for free. Once you are registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details on how to join. Among interactive workshops are "Minecraft coding", "Smithsonian Hall of Fossil Tour", "Code your own video game with MakeCode Arcade", and more. Different locations offer different workshops, and most workshops are geared toward ages 8 and older. You can also connect live with Microsoft Store associates for online training and solutions for working and learning from home. To find a workshop, and to obtain more information, click here.

Since kids' education was interrupted this year due to COVID-19, LAUSD, in partnership with other programs, is offering summer school and enrichment classes to all students for free. You can keep your child engaged this summer with fun enrichment opportunities and activities with free online videos, classes, book clubs, virtual trips, and apps starting June 24, 2020 which will continue throughout summer. The activities are done on your own schedule and are optional. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Elementary School Programs are open to all students from TK to 5th grade. The classes will focus on Math, English, and English Language Development. Teachers will be available to support students through distance learning. Times may vary but typically there will be morning sessions between 8 am to 10 am, Mondays through Thursdays. The classes will be open to all students but priority is for students that need to mitigate learning loss and maintain grade level performance in reading, math, and language. Student legibility will be determined at a local level by your school district. These classes start on June 24, 2020 and will continue till July 22, 2020. Teachers will also provide enrichment instructions such as Sports Medicine, Environmental Science/STEAM, Music, Animations, Coding, Gaming and more. All students are eligible but space maybe limited. Class times may vary but typically will be in the afternoon on weekdays. Class start dates may vary due to program or based on local options. MIDDLE SCHOOL Middle School Programs are open to all students from 6th to 8th graders. The classes will focus on Math, English, and English Language Development with weekly enrichment. Teachers will be available to support students through distance learning. Times may vary but typically there will be morning sessions between 8 am to 10 am, Mondays through Thursdays. The classes will be open to all students but priority is for students that need to mitigate learning loss and maintain grade level performance in reading, math, and language. Student legibility will be determined at a local level by your school district. These classes start on June 24, 2020 and will continue till July 22, 2020. Teachers will also provide enrichment instructions such as Sports Medicine, Environmental Science/STEAM, Music, Animations, Coding, Gaming and more. All students are eligible but space maybe limited. Class times may vary but typically will be in the afternoon on weekdays. Class start dates may vary due to program or based on local options. For current 8th graders going to high school, students are also eligible to attend an enrichment class that is offered for any grade 9 students. All courses for high school credit will need approval from a high school counselor to enroll. HIGH SCHOOL High School Programs are open to all students from 9th to 12th graders. The courses offer high school students the opportunity to take elective courses or academic courses that they have not previously taken or failed. Times may vary from course to course. These courses are available to all LA Unified high school students, with priority given to students in Options schools, on free and reduced-lunch, English Learners, and Classes of 2020 and 2021. There are courses for credit, which may not satisfy A-G requirements. These classes start on June 24, 2020 and will continue till July 28, 2020. Teachers will also provide enrichment classes (not for credit) aligned to the interdisciplinary activities such as Sports Medicine, Environmental Science/STEAM, Coding, and Gaming. All students are eligible but space maybe limited. Class times may vary but typically will be in the afternoon on weekdays. Registration for all students starts on May 18, 2020 at 12:00 pm. Click here to register your kid(s). For more information, please visit LAUSD's official website.

Even though most 4th of July Celebrations have been canceled this year due to COVID-19, you can still enjoy 4th of July celebrations virtually from the safety and comfort of your home. Here is a list virtual 4th of July Celebrations that are kid-friendly. Grand Park The popular Fourth of July Block Party at Grand Park will be virtual this year. There will be a three-hour livestream from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at KABC Channel 7 and from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. on Park’s YouTube Channel. There will be performance and family fun that you can enjoy safely at the comfort of your home. Rose Bowl The Rose Bowl will be hosting a virtual celebration on 4th of July at 2 pm. The one-hour virtual AmericaFest will "feature celebrations of United States Veterans and military personnel, messages from community thanking first responders, frontline workers and their personal heroes for their work during COVID-19, as well as a salute to America with a message for why we celebrate the 4th of July." The event will also feature a flyover of Pasadena and its landmarks. You need to RSVP online for this program. Pacific Palisades The Pacific Palisades will be hosting a virtual concert starting at 8 p.m on Saturday July 4th. The virtual concert will feature a host of outstanding musicians and celebrities. Join your neighbors outside your home with social distancing for a Community-Wide Sing-Along of "This Land is Your Land" at 9:00 p.m. Frederick Douglas: What is the Fourth Of July The 4th of July needs Frederick Douglass now more than ever. The Museum of African American History, Beacon Hill, and Nantucket present a public reading of Frederick Douglas' Fourth of July address on July 2nd at 12pm Eastern. National Archives The National Archives hosts its first-ever virtual celebration of July 4th. With a host of online programming, educational opportunities, and a special presentation of the traditional reading ceremony, this Independence Day will be as patriotic as ever. Reagan Library Virtual 4th of July Celebration The Reagan Library will proceed with a virtual program for families on 4th of July at 10am - 12noon Pacific, 12noon - 2pm Central, 1pm - 3pm Eastern. Our "National Anthem" and "God Bless America" will be performed by the Museum Store's Ms. Katherine Reaves. Listen to some of our wonderful presidents from the past give a monologue of life during their presidential terms, and listen to Betsy Ross provide some lessons about our American flag! Join in on a first-ever 4th of July costume contest! Winners will receive a fun prize from Museum Store. Please Report a Correction or Typo under Comment

How To Enjoy World Series From The Comfort Of Your Own Home! The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to the 2020 World series, and this year rooting for the home team means bringing the spirit of America’s favorite pastime into our homes. Which has us visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers official grocer, our local Smart and Final for the fan favorites we’d enjoy at the ballpark. Here are some fun ideas for the 2020 World Series, which start on October 20, 2020! 1. Peanuts and Cracker Jacks: a baseball staple going back almost a century. They’re in the song, go get them. 2. Hot Dogs: hot dogs at a ballgames used to have people arguing over which ballparks had the best mustard, lol. Easy and kids love ‘em. 3. Nachos: Every stadium has nachos, and everyone can share. Best of all they can be topped with anything you can dream up. Fun and crunchy. 4. Ice Cream Sundae: Cool and sweet, we don’t usually think of sundaes as ballpark food, but we’ve all seen those upside down helmet sundaes at the ballpark, usually when we’re walking back to our seats thinking,”I should have got one of those”. 5. Pop Corn: popcorn is just a great crunchy treat. Another snack everyone enjoys that can be as healthy or decadent as you wish. Popcorn is best when the tension is high and you can crunch away. From hot dogs and buns, to the ketchup, mustard, and relish to top them with, Smart and Final’s First Street brand of products will have your family telling you,”You’ve hit a home run!” To find a Smart & Final near you, click here.

Universal CityWalk Hollywood has reopened for take out, delivery, and shopping on a limited basis. Even though the park remains temporarily closed, fans can enjoy select restaurants for take, and retails safely from 12pm to 8pm daily. Among restaurants that are open for take out at Universal CityWalk are: Blaze Pizza Buca di Beppo Crepe Café Johnny Rockets Pizza Hut/KFC Starbucks Taco Bell Voodoo Doughnuts Guess, Shoe Palace and Skechers are open for shopping. Self parking is complimentary at this time, but no valet parking is available. CityWalk has added new guidelines throughout the Universal CityWalk to get the good times going again. They have enhanced sanitization procedures and implemented additional measures for social distancing and screening. For more information regarding the safety guidelines and reopenings of stores and restaurants, please visit their official website.

Today, Hollywood's famous Museum of Illusions announced that they will be reopening on June 12, 2020! As promised, they will still offer 20% off all their tickets until June 15, 2020! The Museum of Illusions comes Instagram ready with completely 3D Illusions and Upside Down House exhibit that will take your breath away, transporting you to a world of fantasy and imagination! The 30+ 3D illusions produce eye popping pics, inspired by cartoon, art, current events, movies and more! Not just that, the Upside down house features 7 unique rooms all flipping the world as you know it, upside down! For more information about the museum, click here.

Select California Public Libraries offer kids ages 18 and younger free nutritious meal this summer. Lunch is available for no-contact pickup starting June 16, 2020 through August 7, 2020. You can pick up your free meal from 12pm to 1pm Tuesdays through Fridays. There are no restrictions on family income. Note that lunch will not be available on July 3rd. LA County Library has been offering free nutritious lunches to kids for more than 6 years. It keeps children and teens nourished during the summer months, helping to ensure that kids return to school in the fall ready to learn. Lunch at the Library is a partnership between LA County Library and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and is supported by the California Summer Meal Coalition and California Library Association. Click here to see the list of participating libraries.

LA Restaurants have got the green light to reopen for in-restaurant dining, and we have gathered a list of the kid-friendly restaurants that are now open and safe to welcome you and your family for dining in. List of Kid-Friendly Restaurants that are open in and near LA for in-restaurant dining: Back on the Beach Cafe Back on the Beach Cafe is now open for dine in from 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm on Saturday and Sundays. The parking is also open. No reservation is needed. Gladstones Restaurant Gladstones is the perfect beachside restaurant for a weekend family hangout, and they have reopened as of June 13th! Paradise Cove Restaurant Get the full Malibu experience at Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. Watch the Whales and dolphins while you enjoy having lunch. California Pizza Kitchen Most California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants are now open for dine-in, or you can make dinner a family fun event with their "Kids-Build-Your-Own-Pizza Kit". Buca di Beppo Dining rooms are now open at select locations. Available for limited time are fresh picked garden bundle starting at $9 per person. Panini Kabob Grill Century City Panini Kabob Grill in Century City is open for dine-in, take out, and contactless delivery and curbside pick up. The Counter Burger The Counter Burger in downtown LA has reopened with the best custom made burgers in town. Tender Greens All Tender Greens locations are open now for dine-in. Patio dinning is available at all locations. For a limited time, for $9, you can enjoy their new plant-based Mediterranean Burger. The Cheesecake Factory Many of The Cheesecake Factory restaurants are now open for dine-in service. Check to see if reservations are available near you. Olive Garden Restaurants Some of the dining rooms have re-opened. They will continue to offer Carside Pickup and next-day delivery in all locations. IHOP Restaurants IHOP Restaurants have reopened as of June 23, 2020 for dine in with restrictions. Denny's Restaurants All Denny's Restaurants are now open for dine in with restrictions. They have a new limited time value menu with meals starting at $2. You can find nearest location here. Norms Restaurants Norms Restaurants have opened all their locations for dine-in. Kids eat free Monday through Friday at Norms with purchase of an adult meal. Find a Norm near you here. Maggiano's Little Italy The Dining room at Maggino's Little Italy is open again, and they are taking reservations for your family lunch or dinner. Inn of the Seventh Ray The beautiful Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga is open again for dine in.