Pasadena, Calif. – 8/9/2023 – The Institute for Educational Advancement(������Ƶ), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and advanced learners, will transform their outdoor space in Pasadena, CA into an Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation with additional funding from another local foundation. ������Ƶ also recently received a generous grant from the Joseph Drown Foundation for general operating expenses. The support from organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in the greater Pasadena area during the ������Ƶ’s milestone 25^th anniversary is critical as the nonprofit looks to deepen its reach to more underserved communities within Los Angeles County and increase capacity for the next 25 years.

Outdoor spaces for learning opportunities and community gatherings have become increasingly important as ������Ƶ strives to support healthy learning experiences for its students and families. The pandemic reinforced the value of supporting high-quality teaching and learning in outdoor spaces. Access to outdoor learning experiences has been credited with helping to reduce stress and increase concentration as well as an overall sense of emotional well-being for children.

The new outdoor classroom will include a shade pergola, drought-tolerant landscaping, lighting, secure fencing and resurfaced asphalt for improved safety and accessibility for all students, teachers and staff. Students enrolled in ������Ƶ’s dynamic educational programming, which includes enrichment classes on a wide variety of subjects, will benefit from the additional classroom space as they conduct experiments and research, play games, improve creativity, and explore their passions in the fresh air. The outdoor classroom will also provide a venue to host community gatherings and special ������Ƶ events. The new Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space is expected to be completed in early 2024.

“Our Learning Center, housed inside a historic building, has been an inviting and ‘home-like’ place for our students,” said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement. “The funding from local organizations like the Pasadena Community Foundation will help us provide private, safe, and secure outdoor spaces for our students that will open up exciting new learning opportunities to support gifted children, an underserved population in Los Angeles County and beyond.”

For 25 years, ������Ƶ has believed that every child deserves access to the most appropriate educational opportunities and individual support they need to thrive and pursue their full intellectual and personal potential. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, ������Ƶ is one of the only nonprofit organizations providing a robust array of services in Los Angeles County. Since its inception, ������Ƶ has supported over 11,000 students. The nonprofit is focused on transforming the lives of advanced learners by identifying and serving intellectually curious and creative thinkers of all backgrounds in a safe learning environment.

For more information about ������Ƶ’s programs and services, please visit or follow on , , and .

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (������Ƶ) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of ������Ƶ is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. ������Ƶ seeks to connect like-minded individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, ������Ƶ supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

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The nation’s children are headed back into the classroom as the 2019-2020 school year gets underway! New beginnings can be a grab bag of emotions. Excitement, fear, anticipation – going back to school is not for the faint of heart. Here are some ideas to help ease the way into new beginnings.

Setting the Scene

An early visit to a new classroom can help relieve anxiety.  If your child’s school is hosting an Open House or back to school event, attending can create a sense of comfort and familiarity.  If this is not possible, discuss with your child what they can expect. Compare the new experience to something familiar: “Your classroom might be like the one we went to last year at your brother’s report card night.”

Building Confidence

Even if your child is excited about the beginning of school, they may also have concerns.  Speaking positively about the transition can go a long way to reducing fear.  Remind your child of a successful time they were in a new environment: “I remember how you made friends with Amy at the picnic when you did not know her.”

Establishing Routine

In the morning rush of everyone getting ready for school or work, small things may get overlooked. An established morning routine is helpful: backpack, lunch (don’t forget utensils), review of afternoon plans and most importantly, goodbyes. Goodbyes can serve as a punctuation to the morning routine and help transitions.

Transitions Take Time

New activities are stressful. At the beginning of the year, teachers work hard to establish a routine and provide students with guidelines and expectations.  The structure of predictable routines both at home and school reduce anxiety. Just a few minutes with your child at the end of the day to let them tell you how things went will go a long way in back-to-school adjustment. If your child reports “problems,” try to refrain from giving solutions, but let your child tell you what they think and what they would like to see happen before discussing actions. Sometimes, like adults, a child just wants to be heard.

Back to School shopping season is here! When you do your back to school shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/95-4695698, Amazon donates to Institute For Educational Advancement. Thank you for your support!

NOTE: As of February 20, 2023, Amazon has permanently shut down the AmazonSmile customer donation program.