July 2008

For Teachers and Parents
Starting School

Teachers and parents know that new experiences, like starting school, can bring mixed feelings. Along with the excitement of joining the world of the bigger kids, there are lots of questions about what it will be like there -- what their teacher and new classmates will be like, how much they will have to know before they get to school, and who will take care of them there. Helping children understand some of the ways that school is a lot like home or about their previous child care environment can help make the transition easier -– for children and their parents.>>>more

Help your child practice some skills they’ll need in school, like recognizing likenesses and differences.

Explore articles, activities, and book suggestions all organized by theme or by broadcast schedule on our PBS website.

Free Booklet
We’d like to offer you a free booklet by Fred Rogers about starting school. Included are helpful hints for parents as well as some pages for children. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pgh. PA 15213 for individual copies. Multiple copies are also available.

Broadcast Schedules
Year-at-a-Glance
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Mister Rogers Fall Schedule
The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood broadcast schedule will change beginning in September. Rather than being part of PBS national schedule, each local PBS station will choose when to air the Neighborhood series. They might choose to make room in their schedule to air the program daily as they have in the past -- or they may choose a weekend broadcast of one specially selected episode.  more>>
Fred Rogers Legacy Lives on in Scholarships
To honor Fred Rogers’ lifework in children’s television, the TV Academy of Arts and Sciences recently made its fourth annual award of $10,000 scholarships to three graduate students pursuing careers in children’s media. The scholarship fund was established by the Academy and Ernst & Young as a tribute to Fred Rogers to further the values and principles of his work.  more>>
Continuing Fred Rogers’ Work in Supporting Children’s Growth
Family Communications continues to create professional development materials for the early childhood community and presented four sessions at the prestigious NAEYC Professional Development Institute in New Orleans. This summer’s conference brought together a record number of leaders in early childhood including directors, trainers, agencies and higher education faculty.  more>>
Speedy Delivery Documentary
We’re excited that our own David Newell is the subject of a feature-length documentary exploring his life and his experience as the much-loved character of “Mr. McFeely” known also as “Speedy Delivery.” This endearing tribute explores David’s working relationship with Fred Rogers on-camera as “Mr. McFeely” over four decades and off-camera as Director of Public Relations for Family Communications, Inc.  more>>
Neighborhood Highlights
July 28 - 1
MAKING AN OPERA

There's lots of excitement in this story for children told in song -- a fantasy land filled with bubbles, threatened by a windstorm and saved by a heroic hummingbird.
August 4 - 8
STARTING SCHOOL

In this special week of programs that’s been highly praised by educators, Mister Rogers helps prepare young children for the beginning of school when he visits a classroom and rides on a school bus.
August 18 - 22
LEARNING

Millions of children have learned from Mister Rogers – about themselves and about the world around them. This week explores some of the ways that learning and caring go hand in hand.
August 25 - 29
READY TO READ?

There are so many ways to get ready to read and ready to learn! Mister Rogers helps children look and listen carefully, sing songs, and of course play which gives them a hands-on way to learn about all sorts of things in this world.

©2008 Family Communications, Inc.