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Starfall Parent-Teacher Center - About Us
Starfall Education Foundation is a publicly supported nonprofit organization, 501(c)(3). We create free and low-cost experiences whereby children can successfully learn through exploration. On the Starfall website and in Starfall classrooms, children have fun while learning in an environment of collaboration, wonderment, and play. We teach through positive reinforcement to ensure children become confident, intrinsically motivated, and successful.
Starfall's founder Stephen Schutz never forgot his childhood struggle to read. As an adult he was naturally motivated to create a resource to help children like himself. The Starfall website opened on August 27, 2002 after two years of development. The concept was to create an environment "Where Children Have Fun Learning to Read™. " The website was offered to the public completely free. Starfall expanded to become a fully developed kindergarten English and Language Arts curriculum and a comprehensive pre-K curriculum. Over the years the Starfall website's offerings have grown in the number of songs, books, and mathematics activities extending to second grade. In 2012 Starfall began providing its activities as apps for mobile devices. It is now a place where any child can learn reading and mathematics through exploration.
On July 1, 2015, the Polis-Schutz family donated their full interest in Starfall to the Starfall Education Foundation after supporting the project as a social enterprise for 15 years. The Polis-Schutz family shares a passion for education. Stephen's wife, Susan Polis Schutz, was a teacher in New Jersey and New York City in the 1960s. Their oldest son, Jared Polis, served on the Colorado State Board of Education (2000-2006) and started two other educational non-profits.
As a publicly supported non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Starfall continues this tradition of public service.
See Full Timeline
NO REMUNERATION IS PAID TO THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXCEPT AS NOTED BY AN ASTERISK APPEARING AFTER A PERSON'S NAME.
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Stephen Schutz Ph.D., Chairman and Founder
The inspiration for Starfall originated in Stephen’s childhood. At age 9, Stephen was still struggling to read. What came easily for his peers required many more hours of his work. Although he possessed mathematics skills, as a reader, he was consistently toward the bottom of his class. He did not learn to read until 5th grade. After attending the High School of Music and Art he pursued his interest in mathematics and science at MIT and Princeton University, earning a PhD in Physics. After a two-year fellowship in solar physics, he traveled around the country with his wife, Susan Polis Schutz, selling handmade posters out of their pickup truck.
This enterprise evolved into Blue Mountain Arts publishing company and eventually into the well known e-card website bluemountain.com. Stephen’s vision to help today’s children learn to read through audiovisual interactivity and positive reinforcement led to the creation of Starfall.
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Joel Citron, Board Member
Joel is currently Co-CEO of Tenth Avenue Holdings and Chairman of the Board of Tenth Avenue Commerce LLC, Avenue Income Credit Strategies Fund (NYSE: ACP), Avenue Mutual Fund Trust (Avenue Credit Strategies Investors ACSAX and ACSBX) and Evolution Gaming Group AB (SS: EVO). Most recently, Joel served as President and CEO of Jovian Holdings, a private investment and operating company (2002 to 2008), and he was also Chairman of Provide Commerce Inc. from 2001 to 2006. Previously, he held executive and operating positions in various companies.
He has and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of several public and private companies in Europe and the U.S. He is also actively involved in philanthropy and is currently on the Executive Committee and a past President of the Board of Trustees at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York (Nursery through 12th Grade). Joel is a board member of the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation Institute. Mr. Citron holds an MA in Economics and a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
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Myrna Estes, Board Member
Myrna has been involved in children’s education for over 45 years. Following graduation from Rider University, she began her teaching career in New York’s Spanish Harlem teaching first grade. She soon moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts where she taught for 35 years. An early innovator in exploring better ways of teaching, she incorporated music in her curriculum to facilitate active learning in her class.
Myrna was part of Starfall's early development, drawing upon her years of teaching young children and testing the Starfall methods with her students. Now retired from active teaching, she serves as a volunteer at an elementary school where she continues to test many of Starfall’s programs.
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Greg Harfst, Board Member
Greg is a computer scientist who develops software for companies in the financial industry. He received an M.S. in computer science, and a B.S. in math and computer science, from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. Greg also studied computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Greg currently works for a private company in Irvine, CA.
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Gina Nocera, Board Member
Gina Nocera is the Executive Director of the Jared Polis Foundation in Boulder, Colorado. Since 2004, she has managed programs focused on education and technology within the private operating foundation.
Gina also manages the foundation’s donor-advised fund at The Community Foundation of Boulder County, which awards grants to Colorado nonprofits focused on education, environment, health and diverse/healthy communities. Prior to the foundation, Gina worked in education and environmental advocacy nonprofits in Colorado and Washington, DC. She has taught English on the secondary level in Telluride and Boulder, Colorado. Gina has a BA in Political Science from the Ohio State University and an MA in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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Jordanna Polis Schutz, Board Member
Jordanna Polis Schutz is a technologist, education enthusiast, and early stage investor who focuses on impactful solutions to meaningful problems. She has previously worked in public policy and national security, including serving in a presidential administration, and prior to that as an entrepreneur, including managing strategic product development at bluemountain.
com and founding a company that delivered a secure payment platform during the rise of e-commerce. She holds an AB in Physics and Mathematics from Harvard University, an SM from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Her father, Stephen Schutz, taught her how to read (many years ago) using the same methods and stories that he would later make available to all young readers via Starfall.
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Roger Wilson, President*
Roger transitioned from an early interest in music and theater to a career in graphic arts. He was Creative and Public Relations Director at Blue Mountain Arts for 5 years. He later earned a B.A. in Physics from the University of Colorado in 1987. While a student he worked as a research assistant in biopsychology and at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
Roger worked for 12 years as a system-software engineer with Lockheed Space Systems. In 2001 Roger created the computer and network systems for Starfall and served as its CTO until 2016 when he became Starfall's president. He is a former Colorado State Representative. Having attended Colorado Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School in his early years, he is an enthusiastic hiker and skier.
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Jay Grodin J.D., Secretary
Jay graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in business administration and from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law with a J.D. He was a partner with the international law firm of White & Case where he specialized in corporate transactions. For the past 25 years he has been engaged in commercial real estate and also serves as an officer of SPS Studios, Inc.
Over the years Jay has served as a director or trustee on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations including Occidental College, The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Independent Colleges of Southern California, and currently the Autry National Center where he is a member of the Executive Committee.
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Paul Knutson CPA, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Paul is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California with more than 25 years of public and private accounting experience. He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to his current position as Chief Financial Officer of SPS Studios, he was a Vice President-Controller of a Fortune 500 real estate related financial services company.
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Diana Temple, Assistant Treasurer
Diana has more than 20 years accounting experience in various industries within the private sector, including real estate development, property management, construction, and agriculture.
She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from University of California San Diego. Prior to her current position as Director of Finance at SPS Studios, she was the Controller for JMI Realty, a real estate development company.
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Mark Misiano CPA, Assistant Secretary*
Mark is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York with more than 20 years of public and private accounting experience. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Taxation from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the State University of New York, Buffalo. Prior to his current position as Director of Finance and Accounting, he was the Controller and Chief Operating Officer for 18 years at a local business publication.
Led by Stephen Schutz, Roger Wilson, Helen Parker, Deanna Berget, and Mark Misiano, Starfall is produced by a dedicated and talented team of educators, writers, artists, designers, animators, musicians, programmers, quality engineers, and systems specialists.
Children’s Content
Led by Gina Morgan. Supported by Brandon Barnes, Dale Beisel, Craig Deeley, Terrence Keller, Art Morgan, and Julie Quinsay.
Advanced Content
Led by Steve D. Schulz. Supported by Matt Augustin, Nathan Drobnack-Ortiz, and Ashley Rice.
Publications and Outreach
Led by Marc Buchanan. Supported by Angel Frierson.
Customer Service
Led by Karen Sutherland. Supported by Alicia Taylor and Joshua Wood.
Business
Led by Martha Menk. Supported by Shelbi Richman.
Software Engineering
Led by Greg Boubel. Supported by K. Lee and Matt Reese.
Quality Assurance
Led by Jon Leyba. Supported by Bret Riner.
IT Systems
Led by Steve Patschke. Supported by Rick Roberts.
Human Resources
Laura Watkins
Show More Acknowledgments
Starfall would not be possible without the support of the Blue Mountain Arts warehouse team.
Over the years important contributions have been made by Alicia Ahlstrom, Trish Audet, Fe Baran, Karen Bidgood, Patty Brown, Matt Bunning, Dr. Karen Cole, Dan Chao, Kimberly Cooper, Kerry DeZell, Taylor Diltz, Joan Elliott, Wendy Elterman, Hawk Eppler Zindell, Kathy Faber, Pam Ferguson, Flexis (Vasiliy Chernykh, Pavel Didenko, Ilya Stremovsky, and Alexander Tsyplikhin), Judy Goetze, Faith Gowan, Kira Gowan, Stefan Gruber, Jamison Hill, P. Colin Hill, Ryan Hightower, Raymond Hollowell, John Hesterman, Heather Hogan, Smita Khatri, David Lebow, Debby Lee, Frank Lee, Meagan Little, Tiffanie Mahan, Florence Marino, Darla Marquez, Kevan Mills, Lindsey Ortiz, Zach Palmer, Michael Ramirez, Jared Ramos, Stephanie Riess, Julie Roland, Jason Truxal, Triska Wasser, Hallye Webb, and Loree Wilcox. We give special recognition and thanks to Brandi Chase our founding Executive Director 2002 to 2016. Thank you.
Original music and arrangements by Randin Graves.
Additional arrangements by Marty Brinsko, Keith Heldman, and Mike Thompson. Richard James arranged music for the Silly Turkey, Pick a Pumpkin, and Find a Four Leaf Clover activities.
Starfall is committed to reducing our impact on the environment. For the products we manufacture, we choose non-toxic inks and recycled or sustainably sourced paper whenever possible. We design to minimize our use of plastics. We seek US manufacturers first to minimize transportation impact. Our goal is to create the best possible product for you and the earth.
Find Starfall Education on Facebook or Pinterest for craft ideas, curriculum updates, and notifications about new content for web and mobile devices.
Starfall.com on the App Store
Description
Read, learn, and play with fun activities, games, and songs on Starfall! Covers reading, math, music, and more -- preschool to third grade.
Includes free and subscriber content.
Join Zac the Rat and his friends on an exciting learning journey, starting with the ABCs and 123s and advancing up to grade 3 grammar and mathematics. Starfall's playful open format intuitively guides children through sequential learning objectives for reading, math, art, music, and social subjects like kindness and caring.
*Highlights*
*Reading (phonics, fluency, grammar) -- ABCs, Learn to Read, I’m Reading, Talking Library, Punctuation, Parts of Speech
*Math -- Numbers, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division, Geometry and Measurement, Fractions
*More -- Holiday Activities, Nursery Rhymes, Sing-Alongs, Interactive Calendar
*Why Starfall*
*Research based, teacher tested, child approved. Starfall's systematic approach was created by experienced educators using time-tested instructional methods.
*Try it for free. All of the basics for learning how to read are available to everyone.
*No advertisements.
Whether a free user or subscriber, you won’t see any ads.
*Pass it forward! Subscribers gain access to hundreds of additional activities and support the free sections for others to enjoy.
*What people are saying about Starfall*
“[Starfall] offers a fantastic (and free) learn-to-read method based on numerous studies and educational research. Kids practice letter sounds, word recognition, and reading comprehension through online books, songs, rhymes, and other games... [Users] can access plenty of free materials to make [Starfall.com] worthwhile without a subscription.”
- Common Sense Media
Starfall listed as one of the “70 Best Apps for Families”
- Parents Magazine
“I truly believe that Starfall set the foundation for my future.”
- Sarah, undergraduate at Stanford University
*Subscription information*
If you choose to purchase a Starfall subscription, a $5.99 (USD) payment will be charged to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase and monthly after that.
Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. To cancel your subscription, open the Settings app, tap your name, then tap Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you purchase a subscription.
*Additional Info*
This app requires an internet connection and is intended for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-3. It also supports English language development, special education, and homeschool environments.
Privacy Policy: https://teach.starfall.com/lv/info/privacy
Terms of Service: https://teach.starfall.com/lv/info/terms
About Starfall: https://teach.starfall.com/lv/info/about
Starfall Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Version 3.1.16
Starfall.
com latest app version provides several updates for newer devices, including user navigation adjustments for wide screens. Thanks for your support and Happy New Year! Keep learning and having fun!
Ratings and Reviews
2.9K Ratings
This game has true potential!
Ok so, I am 13. I’m not a nerdy type kid, I’m just a critic. I watch movies and write reviews on common sense media, IMDb, rotten Tomatos, and Letterbox. And I do the same for games in the App Store.
I would like to start off and say that this game has a lot of potential. But, in the state that it is at now, it needs to stay free. For everything in game. Period. That’s how it can find it’s success later down the path.
Second: It’s great for teachers and parents to use for kids kinder-4th grade. It has tons of English, math, science, reading, and history.It’s almost as good as ABC Mouse! It just needs more content, and, like I’ve said, free content (Of course, until the game finds success.)
Last: Is it just me, or is anyone else getting ads? I don’t find ads very safe for kids to be able to see, especially explicit ads. And when they are playing this at school, it is an even bigger issue. And without ads, I think this would be a fun, safe kids game for the whole class, or family, to enjoy!
Amazing 🤩
This app is so amazing. The kids grew up using this app to learn. When they were old enough for school they were acing classes. This app is SO repetitive. And usually apps/games like that are an absolute no go for me. But, this is how you teach kids to learn. Through fun games and songs. The learning to read books are the most repetitive part, they work on the same sounds so that your kid[s] master[s] it before they go on to another activity.
If this was here when I was a kid then this is what I’d be using. I’m currently helping my four year old pronounce words correctly and learn more advanced words so that he can read better. He enjoys dancing to the songs. Once his little friend came over and they danced to the songs together. It was amazing to watch. I would recommend this to anyone who has kids. It says up to third grade but I would recommend it to anyone. I used to have a stutter and that could “cure” that. Though, their is nothing wrong with a stutter. I love this app and this truly helped my kids learn. This is a lifesaver. I’ll start my four year old back onto this once he’s off “winter break” (I figured he would think it was rude if his sisters were on winter break but not him.) Thank you for reading my review. I just want the developers to know about my appreciation to this app and how it helped the kiddos.
Thank you for your review and feedback! We're so glad you and your family enjoy Starfall!
Needs new content
My 6 year old daughter has this app and she loves to use it.
It has a wide variety of fun games and gets her excited about learning. I love that she actually uses it.
My only complaint is that the app content is repetitive. Each time she plays a game, the equations use the same numbers as the last time she played that game. So, all she has to do is memorize what the answer was last time and she gets the answer. I purchased a year’s subscription thinking the content would be new, but it’s still recycling the same equations.
I also wonder why the website has a different organization than the app. It looks like there are more advanced options on the website and more kindergarten options on the app. I’d like to see some more advanced options on the app, as she uses an iPad.
We have great news to share with you! This week, Starfall released a long-awaited update to the iOS version of the Starfall.com App, which now closely aligns to the content available on the website.
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Here's whats new with this release:
The iOS app still includes our our classic Pre-K and Kindergarten content along with many new activities and content for higher grades. The update features a new layout & organization, with split indexes for Kindergarten & Pre-K and Grades 1, 2, and 3.
Other content additions include the Calendar, I'm Reading! books, Motion Songs, Word Machines, plus English, Grammar, and Punctuation for Grades 1-3, and more!
We hope you enjoy the new updates!
The developer, Starfall Education, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Starfall Education, LLC
- Size
- 154 MB
- Category
- Education
- Age Rating
- 4+, Made for Ages 6–8
- Copyright
- © 2023 Starfall Education
- Price
- Free
- Developer Website
- App Support
- Privacy Policy
Supports
More By This Developer
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Autumn Starfall, Cholpon-Ata – Updated 2023 Prices
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Help & Support
- Option and Price Information
- Amenities
- Accommodation
- Guest Reviews (8)
We are working on translating this description into your language. We apologize for the inconvenience.
You can get a Genius discount during the Autumn Starfall! To save on this property, just sign in.
Autumn Starfall is situated in Cholpon-Ata and features a garden. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi and free private parking.
At the guest house, rooms include a wardrobe. Rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower, while certain rooms are equipped with a balcony and others also boast garden views. The rooms will provide guests with a fridge.
The nearest airport is Issyk-Kul International Airport, 31 km from Autumn Starfall.
Autumn Starfall has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Oct 6, 2019 2022.
More details
Most popular amenities and services
Free Wi-Fi
Non-smoking rooms
Free parking
Family rooms
Benefits of this option
Great Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.3)
Free private parking on site
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Accommodates
Double room with 2 separate beds
2 single beds
and
1 double
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Triple number
3 single beds
and
1 double. bed
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Quadruple room
4 single beds
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Family room
2 single beds
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1 double bed
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Mindful Travel Level 1
We have been told by staff at this property that they are taking some sustainability steps that can contribute to society and the environment. Together with experts including Travalyst and Sustainalize, we created the Mindful Journey program to help you travel more consciously.
FAQ about property
See what other guests are asking to learn more about this property.
Employees usually answer within minutes
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We wanted to come tonight, 17:00-18:00
Good! Waiting for you! Please write to whatsapp!
Reply November 1, 2022
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Hello, are you working now? Are the rooms warm? We wanted to come for a couple of days to relax, a family with two children.
Hello! The rooms are warm! We are working! What date are you planning to come?
Reply November 1, 2022
Landmarks nearby *
Most Popular Amenities
Free Wi-Fi
Non-Smoking Rooms
Free Parking
Family Rooms
Bathroom
Bedroom
-
Wardrobe or closet
Outdoor
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Terrace
Pets
Pets are allowed. There is no additional charge.
Seating area
-
Dining area
Internet
Wi-Fi is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge.
Parking
Free private parking on site (reservation not needed) .
Staff speaks these languages
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Russian
Accommodation conditions
Fall Starfall takes special requests - add them in the next step
check in
From 10:00
Departure
Until 10:00
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prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary depending on the type of option chosen. Please enter your dates of stay and review the booking conditions for the requested room.
Beds for children
Child Policy
Children of all ages are welcome.
To see exact prices and availability, please enter the number of children in your group and their age when searching.
Crib and Extra Bed Policy
No extra beds or cots available.
No age limit
There are no age restrictions for check-in.
Cash only
This property only accepts cash.
Smoking
No smoking.
parties
No parties/events allowed.
Pets
For free! Pets are allowed. There is no additional charge.
1663890.1664770|5.1664770.1663900|5.1672160.1659950|1.1664870.1639390.1673540|2.1667860|2.1663890|5.1664760|5.1667860.1663900,00,00,1659550,1674130 | 1,1673540 | 4,1669330,1674130 | 5,1653450,1664760,1668350 | 1,1659950 | 5,1673540,16668350,1675380,1674130DATE LETTER: SEA VM Exclusives
Society
Photo: Pixabay / OpenClipart-Vectors
The most striking and spectacular astronomical event is the meteor shower, when several thousand meteoric bodies invade the Earth's atmosphere. This year, the inhabitants of the planet will witness the Leonids meteor shower, whose peak will fall on the week of November 14-20. "Vechernyaya Moskva" found out what kind of phenomenon it is and where it can be observed.
What is the Leonid stream
According to a researcher at the Astronomical Institute. Sternberg Vladimir Surdin, from November 6 to 30, residents of all countries of the world will be able to see the Leonid meteor shower. This phenomenon can be observed with the naked eye in cloudless weather.
The peak of the meteor shower, the expert specified, will fall on November 18-19:
— The Leonid meteor shower is a meteor shower with a radiant in the constellation Leo. A bright and unusual astronomical phenomenon regularly observed above the Earth. It repeats every thirty years. It differs in the intensity of starfalls and their speed.
The expert clarified that the Leonid meteor shower is directly related to the constellation Leo - derived from the Latin "Leo". This phenomenon has an informal name "star rain". The brightest flash of stars occurs when a celestial body is as close as possible to the Sun. The current jet stream of stars can be seen as early as 3am on November 15th.
How to watch the star stream
To see the starfall next night, according to the expert, you need to turn to the southeast and direct your gaze to the sky:
- The zodiac constellation Leo rises in the southeast, so it is in this direction that the flow of stars will occur. At first, the meteors will fly from the east, and then the stream will move to the south. These will be very powerful meteors with a bright flash and a duration of about a second. They fly towards the Earth at a speed of 72 kilometers per second. The number of meteors is variable, in normal times the frequency of falling fragments is 10-15 stars per hour. And there were years when people could observe not just flashes, but continuous meteor showers.
The brightest meteor showers
As Surdin said, perhaps the most grandiose meteor shower was the one that happened in 1966:
— That year, up to 100 thousand stars flared up in the sky per hour.
