In order to cope with the new school year, Lycée parents have provided some recommendations aimed at orienting newly arrived families to the Bay Area, and more specifically suggestions regarding the areas surrounding each campus. The emphasis is on free or low cost services.

Practical Information
Life in the Bay Area, general information websites:
http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/ Official site of the City of San Francisco
http://www.marin.org/ All groups and organizations based in Marin County
http://www.visitmarin.org/ Marin County Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.sfbacc.org/San Francisco Bay Accueil
http://www.craigslist.org/ Classified advertising, for used car sales, homes for rent, used furniture, etc.
http://www.parentspress.com/ Helpful addresses where children are welcome, children's activities, etc.
http://www.parents.berkeley.edu/ Ideas and advice from members of the Berkeley Parents Network
http://www.gocitykids.com/?area=199 This site is very clear and concise. It covers practically everything on life in San Francisco with children. The information is organized by theme and neighborhood. Each Thursday, the site issues an e-mail newsletter listing all family-oriented activities for the upcoming weekend.

Newspapers and magazines
The Chronicle, Bay Guardian, San Francisco, Pacific Sun and Marin Independent Journal all issue "Best of" publications on an annual basis. Also take a look to Lycee's publications.

Learning English
It's easy to find classes in ESL (English as a Second Language) at low or no cost in San Francisco or in the many private schools. The Visitors Information Center on Hallidie Plaza (Powell and Market St.) provides brochures. (A list will be available under the "Resources" section on the new website).

City College of San Francisco, Converse International School of Languages, Intrax Institute, American Academy of English, Transworld Schools, Proactive English.

Earthquake preparation
Free classes organized by the Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NERT) are available in many San Francisco neighborhoods415.558.3456 http://www.nertnews.com

Health Care
Finding a pediatrician often presents a challenge. As soon as possible (and preferably prior to your arrival), find out what medical coverage you will have based on your national coverage. The mandatory physical for the lower schools must be performed by an American physician (get the forms from the Lycée), which can be costly without health insurance. For upper school students, contact a pediatrician in advance in case you have an emergency during the year. Many pediatricians limit their practices or don't provide appointments if you do not have a previously established relationship with their office or appropriate referral. Check under the health section in the Guide Pratique de San Francisco, published by San Francisco Bay Accueil for recommended physicians.

Weather
San Francisco 's microclimate(s) and specifically the Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley climate differs from the rest of the Bay Area. Be sure to dress the children in easy to remove layers in order to provide for chilly foggy mornings and windy afternoons. Mark your child's first and last name in all articles of clothing since they can easily get lost.

Transportation

Orientation
http://www.mapquest.com will help you plan a printer-friendly, door-to-door itinerary. For easy address access, look for Rand McNally's Cross Street Directory or Thomas' Guides of each Bay Area county. Maps and guides are available at the Rand McNally bookstore, corner of Second and Market Streets in San Francisco.

Parking at the SF Lycée Campus
Because of parking congestion in the neighborhood, provide yourself with enough time to park. Do not park/idle in the Lycée's white zones during pickup and drop-off hours. Do not park in neighboring driveways or bus stops. Do not park on the west side of Ashbury or the east side of Downey Street on Fridays from 8 AM-10 AM. Friday is street-cleaning day and the authorities aggressively issue citations. As soon as your children are used to school, drop them off with the staff members on duty who will in turn make sure they get to class and avoid any delay. For more information on the drop-off and pick-up procedures on the San Francisco campus, please click here.

Parking at the Corte Madera Lycée Campus
There is a small lot in front of the school on Golden Hind Passage. There is a quick drop-off area for children in 1st - 5th grades (CP-CM2). Please leave the larger parking lot behind the school exclusively for Maternelles (K1, K2, K3) parents.

Lycée School Bus Services
The Lycée organizes a transportation service for students living North or South of San Francisco. For further information, please click here or call the Admission's Office at (415) 661-5401 x300.

Public Transportation
http://www.transitinfo.org has MUNI, BART, Caltrain and Golden Gate Transit ( Marin County) information on one site. MUNI maps can be purchased in bookstores. The following lines serve the Lycée SF campus: 33, 6 (within 1 block). Nearby lines: 43,37, 7, 71 and 66. MUNI light rail line " N Judah" stops at Carl and Cole Streets. MUNI information (415) 673-6864 will help you plan your route from home. Monthly MUNI FAST passes for adults and children are available at Safeway supermarkets. BART riders should get off at the Civic Center Stop and take the 7 or 71 bus line on Market St. and get off at Haight St. For older students, ask the College Counselor Kay Ritter at 661-5401 Ext. 123 about student or teen discounts.

School Supplies

• Buy lunch boxes, micro-wave containers and cold packs at large chain stores such as Target, Costco; Toys R Us, Sanrio, etc.
• Office Max; Office Depot; Staples; supermarkets and drug stores such as Walgreens; Long's Drug Store; and Rite Aid, have "Back-to-School" sections.
• European style book bags are highly recommended for children entering 1st grade. They are available at Karikter at 418 Sutter Street at Stockton, 415-434-1120 ; Golden Star Sports at 1341 Stockton and Broadway Streets in Chinatown, 415-291-8678; or at Patti Collins Canvas Products, 366 Marin Ave, Mill Valley, 415-388-4934.
• For K-1 and K-2 naptime, small pillows, quilts and blankets are available at Citikids or Jean et Marie both on Clement Street.
• To nametag all children's garments, order custom tags at Britex Fabrics (Geary Street near Union Square), or buy a kit at Mendel's (Haight Street) containing permanent marker and iron-on tape.
• For extra-curricular activities, check with your child's teacher.

Meeting Other Families

Volunteers
Since pick-up and drop-off are not the place to meet other parents, volunteering at the Lycée more easily allows for new friendships within the Lycée community. Contact Nathalie Resnick, 415-5401 Ext or take a look at the Volunteer opportunity List. 230. For volunteer opportunities outside the Lycée, check with the Volunteer Center.

San Francisco Bay Accueil
San Francisco Bay Accueil can help French-speaking parents make an easier transition to life in the USA as well as the Bay Area. Open every Monday morning at 210 Post Street, Ste 502 San Francisco (415) 477-3675. Le Petit Débrouillard, The Guide Pratique de San Francisco answers practical and administrative questions. All other franco-american organizations are listed. Download from http://www.sfbacc.org/ or from the French Consulate's website at http://www.accueil-sfo.org.

L'Alliance Francaise
1345 Bush St. (between Polk and Larkin St.) San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 775-7755 http://www.afsf.com offers English language and American culture classes to all new French arrivals of all ages. They also have a film library, a multi-media library, as well as access to the Internet. They offer an extensive choice of French language courses for students of varying ability. Discounts available for parents of Lycée students.

San Francisco Golden Gate Mothers Group
http://www.ggmg.org/index.html provides tips and information on life in San Francisco with young children and organizes social events for parents.

Southern Marin Moms
http://www.SouthernMarinMoms.com is another well-organized group for mothers with young children.

Tutoring Services available during the Academic Year
Kumon Math and reading Centers http://www.kumon.com, Sylvan Learning Centers http://www.educate.com, and Score! http://www.escore.com, all have branches around the Bay. Parents' Place offers a free tutoring program called "On the Mark" for children 8-18 years of age. http://www.jfcs.org/Services/Children,_Youth,_and_Families/Parents_Place/default.asp. Also check your local yellow pages under “tutoring” for more listings.

For children with learning differences, there are other sources available. Click Here

Academic style courses in English
Certain public and private schools and universities offer summer classes. Among the many: SummerGate (415) 753-2966; USF (800) 978-3532; Academic Talent Development Summer Program of UC Berkeley (510) 642-8308; Education Unlimited (800) 548-6612.

Childcare and Babysitters

French-Speaking
Bulletin boards at the Lycée and the Alliance Française always have a lot of babysitter notices posted, by the hour, full-time or au pair. Bay Accueil has a list of sitters for its members.

English-Speaking
Check out local career centers, local universities who will put you in touch with interested students. The following non-profit organizations offer child-care resources for individual sitters, daycare, playgroups and sharecare opportunities:
•Children's Council of San Francisco 445 Church Street (415) 276-2900 http://childrenscouncil.org/index.htm Addresses are provided by phone (415) 343-3300.
•Natural Resources 1307 Castro Street (415) 550-2611 http://www.naturalresourcesonline.com/. This is the education center for new parents living in Noe Valley. They maintain a file of available sitters.
•Parents Place San Francisco 1710 Scott Street (415) 359-2454 http://www.jfcs.org/ppl/sanfrancisco.html has a well organized bulletin board. They also offer workshops and discussion groups on family and education. Their outstanding library is open to all.
•Parents Place in Marin 4040 Civic Center Drive #220, San Rafael (415)491-7959.