17 minute read
Kids’ Corner
KIDS’ CORNER BACK TO SCHOOL BASICS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN
By Jill “Mamabug” Frier
Back to school already? The summer seemed to fly by and it’s once again time for kids to start back to school. With summer heat and monsoon season in full effect, every bit of advice to make life a little less hectic and eliminate the drama is welcome. We collected some great tips from teachers, parents, doctors, and other education and child experts to find some of the most practical and useful tips for making sure your child is on track and ready to go for the upcoming school year.
GET BACK INTO A ROUTINE
One of the most important things you can do to get your kids on the right track for school is to set a routine and schedule for the school year. This is the time to reset sleeping patterns, establish a wake up time, and set the guidelines for meals, chores, homework and activities. Make sure that you, your significant other, and your kids are on the same page with the schedule to make it easier for the whole family. Some of the items to build into your routine include: • Bed time and sleep schedule • Wake up time • Breakfast and dinner • Homework schedule • Extra activities Getting enough sleep is one of the most critical factors in making sure that a child does well in school. Children who do not get enough sleep have a hard time concentrating and learning to their full potential. Insufficient sleep is also associated with lower academic achievement for older kids, in addition to higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. Experts agree that having a consistent bedtime routine and wake up time for your child is one of the best ways to make sure they get the right amount of sleep. They suggest starting to reset sleeping patterns about seven to 10 days before the first day of school. Make sure your kids get into a routine of going to bed and waking up with plenty of rest every day, so you can avoid this being a factor during the first week of school.
ESTABLISH HEALTHY EATING HABITS
Another critically important factor in ensuring your kids are at their best during school is making sure that they eat right, especially at breakfast. Studies show that kids who eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast have better concentration and more energy for school. Make sure their breakfast contains some protein and enough calories to get them through to lunchtime. Plan ahead to make sure you either sign you child up for the hot lunch program, or have healthy choices available to include when packing lunch, so your kiddo doesn’t get hungry before the end of the day.
And don’t forget the after-school snack! My kid is always so hungry when I pick her up from school that she inhales any snack I give her. Give your kid some healthy, but filling, options to keep them going all day long and give them the energy for homework and any activities they have after school is out.
SET THE STAGE FOR HOMEWORK AND STUDY
So how do you bring it all together to help your student be a better learner? Experts recommend setting academic goals as a first step. Work with your kid to help them think about their goals and grades, and how they plan to reach those goals, before they head into the school year. Help them plan ahead and establish good study habits, and let them know it’s okay to ask for help if they stumble over a subject during the school year. Work with their teacher to help them understand any challenges or problems your child may have, and keep in touch throughout the school year to make sure you keep up with how they are doing in the classroom and whether you have concerns about assignments.
It’s also important to set aside a distraction-free space that can be used for doing homework. Whether it’s in their bedroom or another quiet room in the house, make sure they have room to study with no TV, devices, or other attentiongrabbing distractions. Be sure to schedule time for homework into your child’s daily routine, and make the timeframe consistent.
Going back to school is a hectic time for kids and parents. You can take charge of the school year by planning ahead and setting the stage to make sure your child has the basic essentials available for being a successful student. Set the foundation with a regular routine, enough sleep, healthy food, good prioritization, and a quiet space to study – you kid will handle the rest in the classroom!
Be sure to check www.LadybugsBlog.com for more tips and tricks for managing life’s challenges with kids and family, and for some great ideas for having fun inside and outside all year round in Arizona!
CCUSD ANNOUNCES NEW ADMINISTRATION FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR
Cave Creek Unified School • Ms. Staci Wiese - Desert Willow rience in Transportation and Logis- Dr. Debbi Burdick, Superintendent District is proud to announce Elementary School Principal tics, with the past 14 years in Peoria said, “We welcome these well-qualified their new administrators for Ms. Wiese joins our Elementary Unified School District as Transpor- leaders as they join our CCUSD team.” the 2019-2020 school year. Principal Team from Kent School tation Director. He prides himself District in Kent, Washington. Staci on exercising communication and Cave Creek Unified is the number • Dr. Patty Jensen - Lone Mountain is a graduate of Saint Martin’s Col- leadership skills to surpass goals in one School District in Maricopa Elementary School Principal lege and the American College of safety and cost reduction. Doug is an County for Student Achievement, ofDr. Jensen has served as an elementary Education with highest honors. Staci Arizona native and attended Thun- fering its students World Languages school principal for the past seven has been in education for 16 years, derbird High School and Glendale PreK-12. years. She earned a Ph.D. in Education- including an elementary principal, Community College. He has served al Administration and Foundations in assistant principal, and instructional for 28 years as an AIA and NCAA For more information, visit our 2011 from Illinois State University. Her facilitator/coach. She is very com- game official for football, basketball website at www.ccusd93.org or call research focuses on how to implement fortable leading breakout groups for and volleyball. 480-575-2000. successful two-way dual language programs at the elementary school level. She has received a number of awards throughout her career, including a sixdifferentiated professional development with offerings in educational technology, classroom management, curricular resources and building Get Your Kids star distinction for her school by the teacher leadership. Staci is passionState of Texas in 2017-2018. As flattering as these honors have been, she believes that the purpose of elementary education is to ensure all students have access to an exceptional learning enviate about helping students become the citizens they can be. Staci is known for moving things forward with grace. Outside!! ronment that recognizes their strengths, • Mr. Doug King - Director of builds on them, and, thus, prepares Transportation them for the future. Mr. King has over 30 years of expeWant to reduce OUTSTANDING Tradition of Inspiring Excellence Cactus Shadows High School prepares our students to thrive in today's global society. screen )me for your kids and get some fresh air? Are you looking for fun ac)vi)es to do all Get Your Kids Outside!
Our highly successful graduates impact the year long right here community, state, country and world. The Class of 2019 earned $16,343,078 in scholarships. in our state? Check out Ladybug’s Blog Want to reduce screen ti me for your kids and get some fresh air? Are you looking for fun acti viti es
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Award-Winning Student Newspaperladybugsblog.com Dedicated to getti ng Arizona kids outdoors and excited about nature, science and the world outside.
480.575.2000 www.CCUSD93.org Dedicated to ge+ng Arizona kids outdoors and 12 • August/September 2019 • NORTH TATUM TIMES northtatumtimes.comexcited about nature, science and the world outside.
EDUCATION PVSCHOOLS EXPANDS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING PROGRAMS
PVSchools recently expanded its early child- registered nurse. Parents will have peace of mind hood learning programs with the opening knowing that a trained medical professional is onof the Little Cubs at the James P. Lee Early site should a situation arise. Childhood Learning Center, which is located at 3820 E. Nisbet Rd., Phoenix 85032. A SNAPSHOT OF THE PROGRAM Children attending the Little Cubs program partic“Little Cubs will provide our employees and ipate in art, music, dramatic play, storytime, songs, working families in the community an option for and dance. “Children are naturally curious. We play childcare in the southern area of the district. This is with them, introduce toys or activities that are right the beginning of their experience with PVSchools,” for their age,” said Barbara Bush, a childcare associsaid Jennifer Kelly, childcare coordinator with the ate at Pinnacle High School. Community Education Department. studies and science. Children will also have the INFANTS AND TODDLERS PROGRAM opportunity to choose free choice dramatic play, The center is fully licensed by the Arizona Depart- Our Infants and Toddlers Program incorporates use large muscles on the playground, develop social ment of Health Services. The program is open from individual play using developmentally appropriate skills, and make friends. 6:30 a.m-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and toys good for both large and small muscles, socialfollows the school calendar. Classroom ratios for ization with children in the classroom, storybooks, Daily reports are provided to all parents. These restaff and children are as follows: art activities, music, and movement. Caregivers also ports include when diapers are changed, nap times, work on toilet training in the Toddler 2 classroom. activities completed, food eaten, and eating time. • Infants 1:5 or 2:11 Children are diapered and fed on a fixed schedule. • One-year-old 1:6 or 2:13 SCHEDULE A TOUR • Two-year-old 2:8 3-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM If you are interested in touring Little Cubs at the • Three-year-old 1:13 A typical day will include large and small group James P. Lee Early Childhood Learning Center, activities that are developmentally appropriate for please call the Community Education Department One feature that stands out from other childcare 3-year-olds. These will include activities in liter- at 602-449-2200. To learn more about PVSchools, programs is that the Little Cubs also has an onsite ature, early math, art, and music, as well as social visit www.pvschools.net.
For every child at every grade, PVSchools will help unwrap your child’s gifts.
• Award-winning Fine Arts programs • Language Immersion (Spanish and Mandarin) • Preschool to 12th grade gifted services • District-wide STEM/STEAM programs • K-12 International Baccalaureate programmes • Suzuki Strings, a violin program • Career and Technical Education programs
PVSchools
PIONEER TITLE AGENCY OPENS DOORS ON HIGH STREET By Alison Bailin Batz • Judicial guarantee reports an industry veteran who serves as the escrow • Escrow services administrator for the branch and is also an area
After nearly a year of planning and • Developer services manager for the company. development Pioneer Title Agency, a • Land acquisition title research and insurance family-owned business that touches all 15 • Construction loan title services In an effort to be of immediate service, the counties across Arizona, is proud to announce the • Subdivision trusts 3,000-square-foot branch will also function as a opening of its High Street branch, which is located • Foreclosure services training center for area real estate professionals, at 5355 E. High Street, Suite 131, in Phoenix. • Multiple compliance guideline services focused on providing both continuing education • Post-foreclosure title policies courses as well as topical lunch and learn programs The branch’s core services include: • Account servicing touching on regulatory changes, the continued evolution of technology as it relates to real estate • Title insurances, both for owners and lenders “We also want to be a voice for business and matters and much more. • Title insurance background checks economic development in the area, as well as the • Homeowners Title Insurance Policies community. And we want to be a valuable asset for “We also plan to open our space to local businesses • Trustee’s sale guarantees our real estate partners,” said Skyanne J. Dinnigan, and community groups who are in need of meeting space when we can,” says Dinnigan.
Learn more about their story and journey to High Street below:
SEEDS OF DEVELOPMENT
Dinnigan joined Pioneer after more than two decades working in the industry.
“Pioneer’s pristine reputation precedes itself to individuals like me,” says Dinnigan, noting that Pioneer, a recent Arizona Corporate Excellence and Most Admired Company honoree, was founded in Sierra Vista in 1985 and has grown to more than 75 branches in over 45 cities across Arizona by remaining focused on a “Commitment to Service” since its inception. “But, for a long time, the company never intended to become one of the fastest-growing businesses in Maricopa County. Fate, however, had other plans.”
According to Dinnigan, before the now-infamous recent real estate crash, Pioneer was focused on providing exceptional service to the more rural markets in Arizona such as Payson, Flagstaff, Sierra Vista, Prescott and Safford.
“When the market crashed, there were a lot of title and escrow companies closing their doors, effectively costing thousands of professionals their jobs in the Valley and beyond,” says Dinnigan. “That didn’t sit well with Pioneer, who worked around the clock to help keep several of these people employed by expanding all across Arizona.”
By 2018, Pioneer touched all 15 counties across Arizona and had more than 20 branches in Maricopa County alone.
“Beyond doing all of this, they did it while still giving back to the community on a regular basis, including more than $1 million in donations to local charities over the past decade and thousands
of hours spent collectively volunteering to causes and projects close to employees’ hearts,” says Dinnigan.
When she learned the business would be expanding yet again, Dinnigan jumped at the chance to be a part of it.
“We actually chose the High Street space in September 2018, but it took nearly nine month to ensure a perfect build-out as well as the recruitment of an all-star team,” says Dinnigan.
Speaking of all stars, joining Dinnigan at High Street is sales executive Angie Sanich.
“Angie is not only a leader within the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS (SAAR), she is a marketing partner and coordinator for the organization’s massively popular Desert Ridge Home Tour program, which takes place the second Thursday of each month.”
According to Dinnigan, she is also involved with the Pinnacle Peak Home Tour as both a marketing partner and coordinator, helping plan their twicemonthly events, which take place the first and third Friday of each month.
“And then there is Tami Blackson, who will serve as our Branch Manager, Mark Osborn, our Senior Escrow Officer, Paula Wells, our Senior Escrow Officer, and Lauren Krauss, our director of first impressions and front desk host,” says Dinnigan.
OPEN HOUSE OPEN TO ALL
To celebrate the launch of the branch as well as to introduce the team to the surrounding community and fellow local businesses, Pioneer High Street will host an open house on Thursday, August 8 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event will feature small bites and refreshments from neighborhood businesses La Bocca Wine Bar & Urban Kitchen and Modern Margarita. There will be a ribbon cutting as well as several raffles wherein guests can win one of dozens of prize packages ranging from spa and salon services to foodie and retail gifts.
“The event is open to the public and free to attend, but we do ask you consider bringing a back-toschool item of your choosing when you come,” says Dinnigan, explaining the branch is dedicated to raising awareness as well as funds and critical needs for Homeward Bound. “All donations will go to directly support this Arizona nonprofit that serves the needs of homeless families, providing them with housing, job help, life skills, support services and emergency pantries. Their mission is to provide a hand up, not a hand out and create a real pathway out of poverty for these families.”
Homeward Bound is among the adopted charities of the High Street branch, who just completed a formal tour of the center and are putting pen to paper on ways they can work to help the cause.
“This back-to-school fundraiser is just the beginning, we hope, of a laundry list of things we and the High Street community can do to assist the organization,” says Dinnigan, noting good items to consider bringing include: socks, backpacks, glue, binders, paper, scissors, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters and even children’s clothes.
To RSVP or for more information, email angie. sanich@ptaaz.com or call 480-948-3899.
THE PIONEER TITLE FAMILY
The goal of the open house and the goal of the branch as a whole is to become a part of the fabric of the greater-North Phoenix community.
“As such, expect all sorts of partnerships between us and local schools, nonprofits, events, real estate professionals and our fellow High Street and Desert Ridge businesses,” says Dinnigan. “In fact, we are already working to develop a ‘move-in kit’ for our customers with information on all of the great things to do and businesses to support right here in the area.”
In addition to being proud to join such a great group of local businesses on High Street, Pioneer is also proud to join its several North Valley branch partners.
“We are joining bustling Pioneer offices in the area including locations in the Scottsdale Airpark, Kierland, Paradise Valley, Sonoran Village, Fountain Hills and Desert Foothills,” says Dinnigan.
Collectively, these branches have positively impacted tens of thousands of individuals and families as well as directly assisted professional associations including the local Chambers of Commerce, Land Title Association of Arizona, Arizona State Escrow Association, Arizona Mortgage Lenders Association and Women’s Counsel of REALTORS, just to name a few.
“As active in our commitment to the community as to our professional services, Pioneer also has a statewide community relations program, Pioneer Title Agency in Action, which focuses on giving back both time and money to hundreds of local causes across our state with a special focus on helping kids and families,” says Dinnigan. Among its biggest Agency in Action successes to date have been its companywide “Old School” program and its “Take a Hike” initiative.
“Pioneer just closed the book on its most recent philanthropic initiative, ‘Old School,’ donating a total of $43,000 and several thousand hours of service to schools across Arizona in the process. Through the program, Pioneer leadership empowered each of its team members in Arizona to donate time and raise funds to schools in their own communities over the past 18 months. To assist in the effort, Pioneer provided eight hours of paid time off as well as $100 to help each employee engage in the program,” says Dinnigan.
This project comes on the heels of Pioneers prior effort, called “Take a Hike,” which took place from 2015 to 2016 and was a partnership to raise funds and awareness of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, which spans 800-plus miles and touches nearly every community – large and small – across Arizona. Through the partnership, the first-ever endeavored by the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), Pioneer gathered each of its branches across Arizona – from Yuma to Page and everywhere in between – and set a goal to raise $30,000 to support the Trail by year’s end.
“They also pledged to gather in teams to collectively hike, bike, run or ride all 800-plus miles of the Arizona Trail during our shared anniversary year. Not only did they succeed – they raised more than $60,000 while completing the trail,” says Dinnigan.
For more information, please visit www.ptaaz.com
