London-based BBC Network Covers RockSTAR Music Education’s Tribute to Michael Jackson

London-based BBC Networks “Muse Rhymes for Kids” television show covered RockStar summer camp students at Fairburn Elementary School as they gave a musical tribute to the late Michael Jackson. The rockers played his chart topping hit “Beat it” for their STAR summer camp peers. The RockSTAR summer camp students range from grades 1st –8th!

In true concert style, the summer campers crowded the stage, cheering and singing along as the rock band jammed and moon walked to the Michael Jackson tune.

The band was also interviewed by the show, which filmed the event to illustrate how children of all ages have been musically influenced by the icon’s music.

***Check back for live footage of the event***

120 (Greenbottle Blue, Mexican Bloodleg and Chaco Golden Knee) Tarantulas packaged in pill bottles, straws and water bottles were brought into the STAR ECO Station, a Los Angeles area environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue facility, by U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife services who partners with the facility to rescue other exotic wildlife.

The Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services were contacted regarding a breeder who had hidden about 120 spiders. Upon receipt of this special delivery, STAR ECO Station was called to the rescue to house the eight-legged critters.

Four adult Tarantulas and 116 babies were contained in drinking straws and pharmacy pill containers. The Spidy tots were packaged in straws of various sizes and the 4 adults were transported in a half cut water bottles. The Arachna-residents will reside in a special tank especially sized for the new tenants of the rescue facility.

Officials at The Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife are currently investigating the matter.

Come check the little critters out this summer!

Beyonce isn’t the only act that can get people to camp out overnight for an appearance.  STAR Education can now be added to the list of must haves among children and families as hundreds of Brentwood parents camped out overnight and stood in line that wrapped around Kenter Canyon Elementary just to sign their kids up for the STAR program for the fall session.

With lawn chairs and blankets in tow parents were eager to get their little ones signed up for the smorgasbord of college style classes that are offered to STAR students.  “We want our kids in school all day,” said one parent.  “STAR is the program that can provide just that and accommodate my schedule.”

The event was so monumental, that it was given news coverage by Good Day LA (Fox 11 News) and the morning news on KTLA/CW 5!  Now the world finally knows what parents have known for the past 23 years; the STAR program is the cream of the crop

BEACHES IN TROUBLE KIDS THERE ON THE DOUBLE!!!!!!

In perhaps its most ambitious environmental undertaking to date, the STAR ECO Station the Wishtoyo Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) in partnership with the Oxnard School District created a wonderful learning opportunity and invited over 1,600 STAR Oxnard Elementary students to the 8,000-year-old-Native American Chumash Village in Malibu at Nicholas Canyon County Beach.

It was a fun-filled morning of marine education and exploration that took place in celebration of the National Children’s World Ocean Day celebration! Students rotated through a variety of environmental and cultural workshops run by STAR ECO Station Culver City staff; Mati Waiya, Founder and Executive Director of the Wishtoyo Foundation; and environmental agency NOAA.

These students are in love with the sea and the animals that live in it, “ said David Bloom, Conservation Education Corps volunteer with NOAA. “We teach them about ecosystems-how living and nonliving things work together to create a balance in nature.”

It was the first visit to the Malibu Beach for Melissa Rivera, 8, a third-grade student at Lemonwood School in Oxnard. “I’ve been learning about the Indians and got to touch the baby alligators,” she said. I’ve also learned we shouldn’t throw trash in the ocean and that we should recycle.”

For many of these children, it was their first opportunity to explore our beaches, as many come from migrate farming families and communities and do not have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as this.

Katiana Bozzi, co-founder and educational outreach director of the STAR ECO Station, said the organization’s goal is to help young students become more familiar with the “entire environment.”

This was surely a day that these young students will remember forever; the first time they went to the beach!

Move over Blink 182 and Fall Out Boy, because there are some new acts in town and they go by the name of, “Better Than Beethoven” and “Moving Violations”.

RockSTAR Music Education’s very own Cowan Elementary rockers performed at the world famous and celebrity packed Grove for an all-star performance at the premiere of Eddie Murphy’s new film, “Imagine That!”

The two bands were treated like genuine Rock Stars as they were given a pancake breakfast and a sneak screening of the film! The two bands performed for a crowd of over 1,500 people as record, advertising, publicity and marketing executives and their children looked on!

Prior to their appearance and performance at “The Grove”, the little super stars won 2 of six spots at the battle of the bands round I competition at the House of Blues! The last leg of their Los Angeles tour will be a performance at the Hard Rock Café at Universal City Walk, June 14th.

Congrats Cowan Elementary, we already knew you were STARS but now the world knows it too. Keep on rockin’ kiddies!

“The Survival of Arts in the Schools.” This was the theme at our 9th annual Children’s Art Festival that took place May 17th at the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Convention Center.  STAR Education invited everyone to come and check out some of the awesome works of hundreds of talented local young artists! This exhilarating affair was not only an art festival, but it was also a student art contest!  Family and friends were able to vote for their little Picassos’ and Picassas’ art to win some cool cash and prizes and the prestige of being named the Children’s Art Festival artistic extraordinaire!

By the time the art festival commenced there were hundreds of people lined up outside to catch a glimpse of the masterpiece artistry that filled the walls of the GATE Convention Center. ALL participants received an official artist I.D. card from STAR Education, which certified them as official artists.  So there are no losers in this contest!  The winners were:

Individual

1st Place- $100 Prize
Jonathan Cortez (1st grade) of Nora Sterry for  “Giraffe collages”

2nd Place-$50 Prize
Shauna Rahbarpour (1st grade) for “Self-portrait” (Paint and Mixed Media)

3rd Place- Art Supplies (Prize)
Lily Campos Willis (5th grade) of Eshelman for “Birds” (Mixed Media Pastel and Tempera)

Group
Westwood Elementary won best Group project for “White Mosaic Tree Sculpture and Children’s Portraits”

There was also a chance for all of the visitors to get in on all of the action and create a masterpiece of their very own at our amazingly innovative, “Creation Stations”. Visitors made Picasso cookies had their faces painted and made a beautiful landscape button Mosaic wall. Also available were naturalist guided tours of the STAR ECO Station-an Environmental Science Museum and Exotic Wildlife Rescue Facility-where visitors met and greeted REAL animals, and learned how to do their part to save our beautiful planet! It was truly a day of art and adventure:  Picasso would’ve been proud of these budding young artists!!!!

Come on out and check out awesome art from hundreds of local artists, then roll up your sleeves and create your own masterpiece at our Creation Stations!!!!!  Everyone will have a chance to make things like: Picasso Cookies, Art Button Wall, Face Painting and much much more!!!!

Additionally, there will also be a student art contest!!!  First prize will win $100, Second Prize will win $50 and third prize will win art supplies.  There will also be a special award for the best group project!  Winners will be determined by a public vote!  So artists be sure to bring your friends and family to vote for you!!!  Voting begins May 17th at 11am and ends at 2:30 pm.  Winners will be announced at 3:15 pm!!!

Every artist receives a free gift so, there are certainly no losers in this contest!!!!  Everyone wins!!!

STAR ECO Station’s Children’s Earth Day event proved to be the crème of the crop as the event bought in over 20,000 visitors.  With appearances by Nickelodeon’s Keke Palmer (True Jackson VP), Simon Curtis (Spectacular), Ariel Winter (Warner Bros. Speed Racer) and former NBA star Cuttino Mobley; performances by local school children and professional performances brought by partner 102.3 radio-free KJLH, this was a day full of environmental lessons, adventure, food, entertainment and community fun!

Environmentalists from all over the state of California and environmental partners; Heal the Bay, The Surfrider Foundation, Santa Monica Baykeeper Waterkeeper Alliance and 1-800-JUNK were all on hand to give families and children advice regarding keeping our planet clean.

Over 30 schools performed in front of a sea of people that lined the blocked off street of Pearson.  There was so much excitement going on that it was tough for one to take it all in.  It was a fun-filled day that included dancing, singing, rapping and poetry reciting.  Perhaps the most exciting piece of the event was the awards ceremony where actress/singer Keke Palmer accepted the STAR ECO Station environmental hero award.  After which she led the crowd of thousands into reciting the eco pledge, which vowed to take care of the earth and preserve its vitality for future generations to enjoy.

Following the awards ceremony everyone enjoyed an exhilarating performance by Grammy-Award winning producer Rodney Jerkin’s teen singing group sensations “Main St.” Children had a chance to play as cool activities kept kids of ALL ages “edu-tained” all day long, with face painting, story telling, crafts, and hands-on encounters with the rescued exotic animals at STAR ECO Station! At this year’s Earth Day celebration we included “Sports Alley”, which included a basketball area where former NBA Star Cuttino Mobley performed demos, signed autographs, took photos and read a copy of his new book entitled “Cool Cats”.  Sports alley also included a Soccer area and a Skateboarding area where professional Master Skater Patrick Nogho performed skate demos, took photos and signed autographs.

What a day it was.  Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day at STAR ECO Station has forever changed the way children and families view environmentalism.  STAR ECO Station definitely bought “coolness” back to being green.

Star of Nickelodeon’s “True Jackson VP” Keke Palmer

KEKE PALMER & NICKELODEON CO-STARS TO GO GREEN AT STAR ECO EARTH DAY
“Disney and Nickelodeon TWEENS to teach kids about earth preservation”

Earth and educational friendly Nickelodeon and Disney celebrities will be on hand at this years’ Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day Festival. We are very excited to announce this year’s featured celebrity guests and performers.  From Nickelodeon’s “True Jackson VP” Keke Palmer and Robbie Amell, Jason Earles (Jackson Stewart) of Disney’s Hannah Montana, Simon Curtis of Nickelodeon’s TV movie “Spectacular” and Disney’s “Hannah Montana”, Chelsea Makela of upcoming Paramount Pictures film, “Dance Flick”, Ariel Winter of Warner Brothers film, “Speed Race” and introducing Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins new girl group; “Main St”! Other notable performances include: Lummani, Mishon, Pink-e-Swear, O.N.E. and The Allstars; all brought to you by Radio Free 102.3 KJLH! Former NBA star of the Los Angeles Clippers Cuttino Mobley will also be in attendance to give nutritional tips to the kids and to participate in basketball demonstrations!

WHAT? 12th Annual Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day
WHEN? Sunday, April 26, 2009, 10 am – 4pm
WHERE? STAR ECO Station: 10101 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City, CA. 90232
COST? Admission is FREE!

LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S EARTH DAY 2009

A Wild Day of Environmental Education and Celebration at the STAR ECO Station

Join us for the 12th annual Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day at STAR ECO Station on Sunday, April 26th, 10 am – 4pm. Admission is free and ECO tours only cost $5. It is sure to be a day of fun and festivities, as STAR students will perform various dances and songs from around the world!

STAR ECO Station’s Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day 2009 features games, crafts, activities, healthy cuisine and live entertainment designed to inspire children to help protect the planet. Bringing together various eco friendly organizations, designed to show the families of Southern California that they are a vital part of a larger, worldwide environmental effort. Attendance at the Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day is expected to number well over 20,000 participants and attendees.

CELEBRITIES! Earth and educational friendly Nickelodeon and Disney celebrities will be on hand at this years’ Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day Festival. We are very excited to announce that former NBA star of the Los Angeles Clippers and Author Cuttino Mobley will be in attendance to give nutritional tips to the kids and to participate in basketball demonstrations! Also in attendance will be Jason Earles who plays Jackson Stewart; Hannah Montana’s hilarious brother of Disney’s “Hannah Montana”, Chelsea Makela of Paramount Pictures film, “Dance Flick”, Robbie Arnell of Nickelodeon’s “True Jackson VP”, Simon Curtis of Nickelodeon’s TV movie “Spectacular” and Disney’s “Hannah Montana” and Ariel Winter of Warner Brothers film, “Speed Race”! Two surprise celebrity teen singing groups will also be on hand for performances and autographs!!!

LEARN! At the Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day, kids and parents will meet real environmental heroes, talk to conservationists and discover the benefits of sustainable living! STAR ECO Station proudly welcomes our environmental partners such as: Heal the Bay, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Santa Monica Baykeeper, Surfrider Foundation and the Waterkeeper Alliance. Our sponsors will provide fun activities that teach visitors about sustainable natural resources.

PLAY! Cool activities are sure to keep kids of ALL ages “edu-tained” all day long, with face painting, story-telling, crafts, and hands-on encounters with the rescued exotic animals of STAR ECO Station. Enjoy games, giveaways, music and entertainment brought to you by 102.3 KJLH Radio! At this year’s Earth Day celebration we will have a sports section, which will feature live performances and demos from the Basketball department- which will be highlighted with a demo and presentation by former Los Angeles Clipper’s star Cuttino Mobley, - skateboarding, soccer and martial arts departments! A special surprise celebrity skateboarder will also be in attendance!!!!! Don’t miss this educational and environmental star-studded event!!!

Media Contact: Casimir Spencer
Director of Public Relations and Media
Pr@starinc.org 310.842.8040 x121