Curious Minds Newsletter

April 2026

PACCC’s Whole-Child Approach

Health (HLTH)

In partnership with the California Department of Education, PACCC is continuing its work as an early adopter of the revised Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) program and Learning Foundations (LFs), which closely aligns with our vision and mission statement. Designed by the State of California and funded by the California Department of Social Services, DRDP is a “developmental continuum from infancy through grade three that is designed to assess the progression of skills across multiple domains of learning.” The DRDP directly aligns with California’s Learning Foundations. Together, they are used to plan curriculum, inform instruction, and document developmental milestones.

Please join us in welcoming our Ambassador of Health and storytelling avatar, Tano Chu, here to share more about Health and Wellness and PACCC’s Whole-Child Approach! Let’s do this, Tano!

Meet Tano Chu,

Ambassador for Health!

Tano Chu was about to walk onstage when he noticed that one of his shoes felt a bit loose. He looked down to see that his shoelace had come untied. Oops! Tripping on the way to the podium would not be the best entrance for the Health Ambassador! Tano let go of a giggle, and before he could even ask for help, his teacher was lacing up his shoe. Tano smiled, thanked his teacher, grabbed his PACCC water bottle, and headed to the podium. [Read More...]

Read the Full Story.. 👀

Calling All 5^th Graders – Pathwise Afterschool Program!

Pathwise is “Palo Alto’s only free, non-profit, after-school enrichment program, preparing middle-schoolers to thrive in high school and beyond.” For ELOP students in the 5^th grade and rising to 6^th grade, Pathwise “provides a 2-day afterschool enrichment program that includes social-emotional learning curriculum, targeted academic support, and mentorship by PAUSD high school students. Their program is free for qualified students (if you qualify for ELOP now, you will qualify for Pathwise) and is offered on all three PAUSD middle school campuses.” To learn more, attend the information session on Tuesday 4/21 from 6-7pm on Zoom. Register here.

Family Resources: How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen!

Led by Julie King, JD, Parent Educator at JFCS' Center for Children and Youth, and co-author of her latest book, How To Talk When Kids Won't Listen, this online workshop helps parents and caretakers “learn concrete tools [to] improve cooperation and goodwill at home…If you want to avoid threats, bribes, or punishments with your kids—but still find yourself relying on them just to get through the day, this is the workshop for you!”

This 4-session Zoom workshop meets online on Wednesdays: April 15, 22, 29, and May 6 from 11:00am to 1:00pm (PDT). Register here. $209/Single $309/Couple

May Fete Parade “Not All Heroes Wear Capes”

Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Join PACCC, friends, and family as we “recognize and celebrate the folks in our community, who use their talents each day to improve our quality of life.” Help honor the heroes in your community!

“Walk in the parade along University Ave or watch it go by, then head over to Heritage Park for the fair.” See you there!

PACCC in the Community

As a community leader in Palo Alto, and in keeping with our Strategic Plan and commitment to build and foster community, PACCC partners with families and regional agencies to provide and advocate for exceptional and accessible childhood care and education. You will find PACCC engaged in the following advocacy efforts and events this month:

You will find PACCC engaged in the following advocacy efforts and events this month:

Bay Area Advisory Committee for Affordable Childcare
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy – Childcare Affordability
Tall Tree Awards
Kids in Common Annual Children’s Summit
SVCN Nonprofit Convergence
Stanford Children’s Community Benefits Advisory Council

Family Fun in Palo Alto!

Spring Family Fun Day!

Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Join your community for “a day of fun celebrating sustainability and learning about what you can do now to help save the planet…Fun offerings include special library storytimes for kids and youth, Zero Waste trivia games, seed bomb and packet-making crafts, local youth sustainability networking, and hang out with Sequoia the Bald Eagle and Animal Control’s gopher snake. Come together with the community, connect with others, and take action.”

Earth Day Sensory Scavenger Hunt,

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Celebrate Earth Day at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo for a “curiositydriven adventure with our Sensory Scavenger Hunt, an activity that will activate your senses and deepen your connection with the Earth. Participants will explore through touch, smell, and handson discovery, engaging directly with the textures and scents our earth has to offer.” Free with general admission to the zoo.

Get Your Read On at Children’s Library

Did you know that the Children's Library was the “first freestanding library in the United States intended solely for children? Built in 1940, the Children's Library serves children from birth through 5th grade in a fun and inviting garden setting.” Open Monday-Saturday from 10AM to 6PM.

Palo Alto Children’s Theatre Presents The Princess and the Pea!

Based on the story by Joseph Jacobs, The Princess and the Pea runs April 25-26. “With very simple sets and costumes, and lots of opportunities to get up and wiggle, this story-teller style theatre is perfect for young audience members, suggested ages two to six years old. Performances are approximately 55 minutes in length, at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.” Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road.