Kids ECC - East County Californian

Slideshow

After school theatrical program swimming with talented youth (1 of 33)

“The Little Mermaid” is swimming its way to Spring Valley’s ENCORE! Theater, still full of the magic, music and fantasy that enchanted both young and old for years. This enchanting musical is full of fan favorites, Ariel the mermaid, Sebastian the crab and the wicked Ursula, all with the help of some of East County’s...

Arms Wide Open cast members extend their reach to the Lyceum Theatre (2 of 33)

Arms Wide Open is a non-profit organization and a labor of love conceived by Yvonne Rubio, owner of Rubio’s Performing Arts in El Cajon. Arms Wide Open is premiering what co-founder, play director, Chris Rubio, described as a “technically advanced” production of “Aladdin” at San Diego’s Lyceum Theatre, May 15-...

City of Santee celebrates Arbor Day and Earth Day at its ninth annual Santree Fest (3 of 33)

A village can raise a forest. “It started out as three Cub Scouts and a shovel “said Jim Henderson, with tongue-in-check panache. Henderson is with the Box Canyon Band, who performed at the 9th Annual Santree Fest on Saturday, part Arbor Day tied in with Earth Day. Local residents and San Diego County Urban Corps planted 35 trees...

El Cajon 2012 Youth of the Year (4 of 33)

Selected by the City of El Cajon Teen Coalition, the 2012 Youth of the Year Award recognized Taisha Silas, an 8th grader at Emerald Middle School for her service, leadership and dedication to the community of El Cajon.

Stick horse racing at the Rodeo (5 of 33)

One of the most popular Lakeside Rodeo events, children take center ring as they barrel race around pageant Queens and Princesses in a competition where every child wins.

Curtains up for ‘Legally Blonde’ the musical at Valhalla High Theatre Arts Program (6 of 33)

If last night’s opening show was as whimsical and funny as Saturday’s dress rehearsal, then Valhalla High School’s performance of “Legally Blonde,” the musical is sure to be an event not to miss. Elle, the sorority blonde gone legally rogue, played by junior Brooke Laver, 17, is perfect for the role and paired...

Lakeside Middle School teaches a new generation of farmers (7 of 33)

Reading, writing and arithmetic used to be what kids learned in school, but times are a changin’. Lakeside Middle School students recently got a good dose of animal science and agriculture. Teacher Trish Dignan watched proudly as students rushed anxiously to see what they would learn from 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Rodeo...

Lakeside’s Riverview Elementary transformed into multi-cultural venue during international fair (8 of 33)

Patrons wanting to visit exotic international venues such as Europe and Egypt got their travel desires met while still staying close to home during Riverview Elementary School’s fifth annual International Fair, which was held on March 16. All ages were represented, with attendance estimated to be in the hundreds. Patrons enjoyed student...

They’re off to see the wizard (9 of 33)

The Young Actors Theatre presents “The Wizard of Oz” through March 17 at the Encore Theatre, 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Pictured left to right are Chris Pleman as the Scarecrow, Dylan Franks as the Tin Man and Bella Snyder as Dorothy.

Gymnastics academy cheers on training new champions (10 of 33)

The gymnastics academy Champion Gymnastics and Cheer (CGC) in Santee has a lot to cheer about these days. For example, it is the training ground of four new champions at the state level, two girls and two boys. This high level of competition is one way that the academy sets itself apart from others like it. Robyn Ross, owner and manager, says...

Children learn Cirque du Soleil-type of aerial dancing (11 of 33)

If one was to hear that El Cajon’s Center Stage School of Dance instructor Dusti Morales is teaching a class of beginning “cat skinners,” they would think that sounds somewhat dangerous. Of course it’s not meant to literally skin a cat. In this case the phrase is actually one of the dance moves Morales teaches her...

Young actors group brings ‘Wizard of Oz’ to East County (12 of 33)

The Young Actors Theatre (YAT) in East County is a positive atmosphere for children between the ages of 8 and 18, encouraging them to be creative by participating in the arts in such areas as dancing, singing, acting, stage management, sound booth, costumes and scenery. YAT received a Gold Award for Best Live Theatre in 2012. These children...

Students get up close and personal lesson on roadway safety issues (13 of 33)

On Feb. 22, a joint adventure between three organizations: The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation (ATSSF), the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) came together at La Mesa’s Helix Charter School. The pilot program Teen Roadway Safety Advocates (Teen RSA) was started last year,...

Sisters honored for raising money to help shelter animals (14 of 33)

Sisters Lialla and Audrey Sass, front right to left, received commendations at the Feb. 12 meeting of the El Cajon City Council. Through a bake sale they organized and held on Oct. 22, 2012, at Barona Charter Indian School, they raised $500 for the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services (ACES) Foundation. Barona Resort & Casino...

Food Truck Festival benefits Santee students (15 of 33)

Rio Seco School eighth grader Wyatt Garza promotes the Santee Food Truck Festival to benefit students from three Santee elementary schools: Rio Seco, Hill Creek and Cajon Park. The event will be held again on Feb. 27, March 13 and 27 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Rio Seco School, 9545 Cuyamaca St.

Santee school board member dons film-lover hat to attend pre-Oscar movie marathon (16 of 33)

Santee resident and school board member (seat 4) Elana Levens-Craig is looking forward to attending this weekend’s culmination of AMC’s Best Picture Showcase of the 2013 Oscar nominees. Tickets in hand, the “jefe de jefes,” or “boss of the bosses” of movie viewing, explained that the pre-Oscar film marathon...

Children’s Art Show gives kids the opportunity to show off artistic sides (17 of 33)

Banners — so beloved in East County to advertise events, once again were used effectively in front of the Lakeside VFW post to announce the Women’s Club of Lakeside’s 20th annual Children’s Art Show. Six-year-old first-grader Adah Griseshaber from Barona Indian Charter School used paint, foam forms and markers to create...

Elementary school’s Mandarin immersion students celebrate Chinese New Year (18 of 33)

“This is my fourth year as principal of Lakeside’s Riverview Elementary School, East County’s only tri-lingual program. Our school is home to the Riverview International Academy which offers both Spanish and Mandarin immersion programs. This is one of only two such programs in the nation,” explained Principal...

Mother Goose parade attracts all ages (19 of 33)

A young “paparazzi” member got her shot (and candy) at the 66th Annual Mother Goose Parade on November 18th in El Cajon.

Getting their ducks in order (20 of 33)

Two children chase after ducks during an outing at Santee Lakes. The forecast calls for temperatures this weekend to be in the mid to high 90s.

Walk for a cause (21 of 33)

Grossmont High School student Stephanie White recently participated in the Sixth Annual Charley McLaughlin Walk N’ Roll For Ataxia event in San Diego. Ataxia is associated with a loss of muscle coordination in people.

Plastic transformation (22 of 33)

La Mesa Girl Scouts Marissa Olson and Paige Telliard took a bunch of plastic and turned it into help for the homeless.

La Mesa Girl Scouts find way to make plastic pay (23 of 33)

La Mesa Girl Scouts, Marissa Olson, 12, and Paige Telliard, 12, recently earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for their donation to the San Diego Rescue Mission. The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout cadet can receive while in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. It requires girl scouts to spend at least 50 hours on a project, done in a...

Kid, you’re all wet (24 of 33)

With the high temperatures and humidity lingering throughout the county, the “showers” at the Sprayground at Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes make the perfect place to beat the heat with a good soaking.

Connecting with young children is reward enough (25 of 33)

When little girls like 4-year-old Dayna Ryken run up to Stephanie Schauer, the 2012 title holder of Miss El Cajon, Ryken reaches down to hug and talk to them. She dances with them, too, at the Concerts on the Promenade. For Schauer, being Miss El Cajon is more important than having won the crown, cash and clout. She is the very picture of...

Escaping the heat (26 of 33)

Kids escape the heat by playing in the Sprayground at Santee Lakes on Monday.

Joy of riding (27 of 33)

La Mesa residents Brayden, 3, and Addison Stansfield, 2, test drive a 1912 Buick at the Cajon Classic Cruise in El Cajon last Wednesday. Horseless carriages was the theme of the event, which will be held weekly through Sept 26.

Frightfully entertaining (28 of 33)

Make-up artist Christine Friel-Cordova gives Jonathan Salazar, 12, a deathly appearance during a zombie-themed Teen Library Lock-In at the El Cajon Library last Friday evening. The event was part of a nationwide teen lock-in, with after-hours events taking place at more than 80 libraries (including Santee) across the country.

Winter Gardens elementary students at Lakeside History Alive Days (29 of 33)

Winter Gardens elementary students at Lakeside History Alive Days (30 of 33)

Miss El Cajon Queens (31 of 33)

CIF Baseball Championship - Vaquero Fan (32 of 33)

Scrambler Ride - Santee Street Fair (33 of 33)

Previous Pause Next