Homework

Maya Kukes MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Children at the Boys & Girls Club were in for a shock Monday afternoon when they came to the club to do their homework. Gone were the mismatched bookshelves, frayed posters and cramped desks in the club's homework room. Over the weekend, volunteers from IKEA worked to give the room a snazzy makeover, complete with fresh light-blue paint, new bookshelves, chairs and desks, framed posters and magazine organizers.

Maya Kukes HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- Homework help is just a computer away for local students. Children in fifth through 12th grade can get homework assistance via the Internet at a computer at Burbank Central Library. The program connects students to a tutor for up to 20 minutes of homework help in math, science, social studies or English. Students sign up for an allotted time. The free service is offered to students from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Burbank Library now offers online help for students from its website from 1 to 10 p.m. six days a week.In Burbank, going to the library has taken on a new meaning. Students participating in the library's homework help program no longer have to leave their houses to get tutored -- a new online program brings the help to them. "It's like a chat," explained Burbank's Senior Librarian for Young Adult Services Melissa Gwynne. "They're hooking up with a live teacher or tutor, who's at the other end."

Irma Lemus MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- With the assignments posted each day on the Internet, Kathy Weiser said students in her Burbank High School computer science class can no longer claim they didn't do their homework because they left the work at school. Weiser, who has been posting her class assignments on the educational site yourhomework.com for about a year, was recently named a winner in the company's Participation Point contest. She won $500 for her class and $250 for the school.

BURBANK — Staff members at two Burbank elementary schools are gearing up for a new after-school program this semester courtesy of state grants. George Washington and Walt Disney elementary schools each received $112,500 to install and maintain the program on campus in the new year. Two other schools in the Burbank district also received the grant for a total of more than $510,000, but Washington and Disney elementary schools are first-time recipients. “This is going to be fabulous,” said Jane Clausen, principal of Washington Elementary School.

Yesi Esparza prefers doing her homework when her younger brother is not around. Every day after school, the 10-year-old student from Jordan Middle School goes to Burbank Adult School to do her homework, where she can concentrate. . "I come here so I won't get distracted, because my brother turns on the TV and I get tempted," Yesi said. Yesi is one of about 16 students who take part in the Burbank Boys and Girls Club's middle school enrichment program at the school. Students meet every day after school to play sports, do homework and make oral presentations, among other activities.

Jenna Bordelon MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Seven hundred kids need a little help with their reading, homework and athletic skills. They are looking to the community to provide that help. The Boys and Girls Club of Burbank is hoping to find dedicated volunteers who are willing to donate at least one hour per week to helping an at-risk child. Mentors are needed to improve the reading skills of kids from 7 to 18. Tutors are wanted to assist kids with homework after school.

Dear Mr. Weepul: Will Rogers is not alone in his criticism of the QSP/Readers Digest fund-raiser assemblies you conduct at our elementary school. A year ago, I addressed the school board with concerns about the range of commercialism in public schools, and how frequently at odds it can be with educational goals. As an example, I told them how my tearful and indignant kindergartner insisted it was his homework to supply QSP/Readers Digest with the names and addresses of his out-of-state grandmas, grandpas, uncles and aunts.

Laura Sturza Some Burbank students are learning that doing their homework pays off -- literally. Through a new after-school program run by the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank, Children are learning about earning and spending money at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. "We earn points [that are rewarded with club bucks] for doing our homework," said Stacey Deitch, 9, who is enjoying the "101 Dalmatians" DVD she bought. The first- through fifth-graders cash in their bucks for snacks, toys and books donated by local businesses.

Two dozen Burbank Unified teachers — many toting laptops and stacks of papers — crowded the food court at the Burbank Town Center on Wednesday for a “grade-in,” meant to draw attention to ongoing budget cuts to public education. “Even though we are a wealthier district than some other areas, we are still up against really deep cuts,” said Lori Adams, president of the Burbank Teachers Assn. “This year is going to be bad, and if it continues down this road, nobody is going to be solvent anymore.” The event coincided with the Day of the Teacher, an annual recognition of educators.

MEMORIAL FIELD ? It was obvious in the early going of their Pacific League game that the Burroughs High football coaches had done a fine job scouting Pasadena. From the opening of the first quarter, Indians? defensive coordinator Ken Knoop was relaying to his players what play the Bulldogs were about to run, even before the ball was snapped. It was that preparation that helped Burroughs jump to an early lead and ride that momentum to a 35-12 league victory Thursday at Memorial Field.

BURBANK — Robert Beher hasn’t had a power bill that topped $5 for the past five years. Every month, while most meters charge forward, his meter ticks in the opposite direction thanks to a 2.09-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system atop his 1,300-square-foot home. “I was satisfied with the decision I made,” said Beher, whose home includes a personal computer and plasma television. “And I am still very happy with it.” As part of a program that began 10 years ago, Beher was the fifth Burbank Water and Power customer to add solar panels to his property, a number that grew to 15 by 2007.

BURBANK — Staff members at two Burbank elementary schools are gearing up for a new after-school program this semester courtesy of state grants. George Washington and Walt Disney elementary schools each received $112,500 to install and maintain the program on campus in the new year. Two other schools in the Burbank district also received the grant for a total of more than $510,000, but Washington and Disney elementary schools are first-time recipients. “This is going to be fabulous,” said Jane Clausen, principal of Washington Elementary School.

Once upon a time, I used the word "wrong" as an adverb in a column. I wrote something like, "Be careful not to use 'whom' wrong." The next day, I received two e-mails, both scolding me for the exact same reason. I should have used "wrongly," the two readers said. "Wrong," they told me — kid gloves off — is an adjective. I needed an adverb, "wrongly," to modify the verb "use," they wrote. My readers didn't get an apology, but they did get a particularly amusing column in which I printed both the readers' letters and followed them with my reply.

Yesi Esparza prefers doing her homework when her younger brother is not around. Every day after school, the 10-year-old student from Jordan Middle School goes to Burbank Adult School to do her homework, where she can concentrate. . "I come here so I won't get distracted, because my brother turns on the TV and I get tempted," Yesi said. Yesi is one of about 16 students who take part in the Burbank Boys and Girls Club's middle school enrichment program at the school. Students meet every day after school to play sports, do homework and make oral presentations, among other activities.

BURBANK ? Meghan Richmond would have been in her social studies class learning about Greece. Instead, she had a date to represent France. Richmond and nearly 330 students from St. Robert Bellarmine Elementary School competed in the 10th annual St. Robert Bellarmine Olympics on Thursday at the school. The program is designed to teach and promote teamwork, fairness, competitiveness and responsibility. Richmond, a sixth-grader, competed in several events. She first participated in a free-throw shooting contest before partaking in a water relay and capture-the-flag competition.

Burbank Library now offers online help for students from its website from 1 to 10 p.m. six days a week.FOR THE RECORD The article "Tapping into tutors across the state" in the Jan. 11 edition of the Burbank Leader gave incorrect hours of operation for the online tutoring program. The program runs seven days a week. . . . . . . . . . . In Burbank, going to the library has taken on a new meaning. Students participating in the library's homework help program no longer have to leave their houses to get tutored -- a new online program brings the help to them.

Rosette Gonzales Justin Grafman's light-brown locks fell over his bright blue eyes as he played with other children at the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank Wednesday. His brother Jake's dark curly hair draped his brow the same way, but these siblings have more in common than their darling curls. Justin, 6, is hard of hearing and Jake, 9, is deaf. The two attend the deaf and hard-of-hearing program at the Burbank Boys and Girls Club, a daily after-school program designed to help children with hearing disabilities function more easily in society.