THE COASTLAND TIMES1B WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022
• Read aloud to chil dren. Various studies have found that reading aloud to children signifi cantly benefits literacy development. One study from the National Asso ciation for the Education
Strategies that can help improve reading comprehension
Data from the Nation al Assessment of Educa tional Progress indicates the percentage of public school students who said they read 30 minutes or more a day declined by 4 percent between 2017 and 2019, dipping below 50 percent overall in the lat terThere’syear. likely a multi tude of reasons why stu dents now read less than they used to. Parents con cerned about their chil dren’s reading compre hension can try these strategies to bolster this highly valuable skill.
• Let kids read what they like. The tutoring profes sionals at Oxford Learn ing® report that 73 per cent of students indicate they would read more if they found books they liked. Parents can ad dress this issue by tak ing children to their lo cal libraries and book stores to choose their own books. The more practice kids get with reading, the more their comprehen sion skills develop.
of Young Children found that listening to others read helps children devel op key understanding and skills, including how sto ries are written. In addi tion, the Reading Rockets project, which aspires to bring reading research to life in the hopes of helping young children develop in to strong, confident read ers, notes that children can listen on a higher lan guage level than they can read. That makes complex ideas more accessible.
Strong reading compre hension skills are one of the foundations of a suc cessful academic career. According to the Institute of Reading Development, students with strong read ing comprehension skills get a big boost in all sub jects, including math and science. Though the benefits of reading comprehension are well documented, ma ny students are struggling in this area of their aca demics. Officials with the National Center for Edu cation Statistics note that, over the last decade, stu dents have made no prog ress in reading perfor mance. That likely comes as no surprise to seasoned educators, as data indi cates students are reading less outside of school than they have in years past.
• Ask questions when reading to children. When reading to children, par ents can compound the benefits of this activity by asking youngsters ques tions about the book. Ask ing what, when, where, why and how can encour age children to look for answers to these ques tions while they’re being read to. As students ad vance and then read more on their own, parents can encourage them to ask these questions of them selves (if they’re not al ready doing so on their own). Asking and answer ing these questions is a great way to strengthen reading comprehension skills.Strong reading compre hension skills can help students reach their aca demic potential. Parents can employ various strat egies to help children bol ster those skills.
To our Parents and Fami lies. . . Dare County Schools is committed to providing an education for your child that is second to none. We live in a county that values education both in word and in deed. If you see an area where we are doing exceptionally well, or if we are falling short, reach out to your child’s teacher or school administrator. We can only improve things that we know about.
Dear Currituck County Schools
Steve Blackstock is the In terim Superintendent of Dare County Schools.
By Dr. Matthew Lutz
By2BSteve Blackstock W elcome to Dare Coun ty Schools and to the 2022-2023 school year. We have all struggled these past 28 months or so as we navigated a pandem ic of historical proportions. The impact on our residents – students, parents, staff, and families – has had short term and will continue to have long term impacts. To be honest, I haven’t really been excited to start a school year since 2019. However, I am truly thrilled for our 2022-2023 school year to begin. During my visits to all of our schools I see teachers and staff excited, ready, ener gized, and enthusiastic about a school year that actually feels more normal than we have seen for several years. To our Students . . . Your teachers, administrators, staff, and central office staff have been working hard this summer to make this school year the best it can be. Our schools are deep cleaned, our teachers are excited, and our staff is ready to meet your ed ucational needs. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your teachers and ad ministrators – they are there to help you be successful.
Welcome to the 202223 school year!
To our Community Members . . . Dare County is commit ted to the education of our students. The success of a community depends on the success of our education al system. Even if you do not currently have students in our schools, you share the respon sibility of educating our stu dents. Dare County commits significant financial resourc es (tax dollars) to our schools, and because of that students in Dare have opportunities that they would not have in other places. If you would like to work for our school system, please apply. If you would like to volunteer, reach out to our principals. If you have other questions about DCS, reach out to our school board members or district administration.Wehaveallthe ingredi ents we need to provide an excellent education for our students. We have excellent teachers, we have top notch administrators, we have ded icated and knowledgeable staff, and we have beautiful facilities. It is nice to be ex cited about starting school again, and we are looking for ward to welcoming our stu dents on August 29th.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES
WelcomeCommunity,tothe20222023 school year! We are excit ed to begin a new school year focused on growing our stu dents to become the best possi ble version of themselves. Despite the omnipresent cloud of COVID 19 during the past two school years, Cur rituck County Schools con tinued to work towards great er goals for our organization. A district strategic plan was developed and implementa tion is in full measure. Some highlights for the 2022-2023 school year include:
I hope that the 2022-2023 school year will bring great joy to our community as we learn and grow together.
Welcome back, Currituck County Schools students
By Dr. Melanie R. Shaver G reetings Hyde County!Itisan honor and a privilege to serve as your superintendent to support the learn ing and growth of Hyde County School students. I cannot adequately ex press how fortunate my family and I are to be a part of the Hyde County community, the kindness and welcom ing spirit of this beauti ful place is astounding. My focus this year is to support a dynamic and engaging learning envi ronment, where strong partnerships between the community and school system can flourish. By working together for the betterment of Hyde County, we can gain the momentum that will launch our students and community into an era of newDuringpossibilities!thesummer we have worked to develop programming and sup port that will enhance instruction and student opportunities. This can be seen in our expan sion of dual enrollment through partnership with Beaufort County Community College, the inclusion of struction.openingwhenderfulers,thatandracokecompletioningfrastructuredidlearning.thelightingyear,ThroughoutathleticteraeducationourfurtherPre-Kindergarten,universalthedevelopmentofcareerandtechnicalprogramming,numberofclubsandafschoolactivities,andopportunities.theschoolwewillbehighandcelebratingjoyofteachingandIwouldberemissifInotmentiontheinworkbedoneaswenearoftheOcSchoolProjecttheperseveranceourstudents,teachandthecommunityhavedemonstratedthroughthelastseveralyears.ItwillbeawondayinlatespringwecelebratetheofthenewconUntilthen,
Back to School
Ocracoke School staff is ready to serve our stu dents as we continue construction. We also had some changes on the mainland, which includ ed a reorganization of the Mattamuskeet campus, once again re-uniting the school in a Pre-K-12 grade span as Matta muskeet School. Hyde Academy was opened and serves our Beaufort du al enrollment students at both Mattamuskeet and Ocracoke Schools in grades 9-13. The staff at Mattamuskeet School and Hyde Academy have done a wonderful job navigating the changes and are ready to serve our students this year! More than anything I want our schools to be a place where our kids, community, and staff want to be, where they learn and grow, feel val ued, and safe. Working together as a community, we can ensure that the students in Hyde County are getting the absolute best education possible. Please join us this year, volunteering, mentor ing, and participating in events to strengthen our partnerships and be part of the exciting things happening at Hyde Coun ty Schools.
• Creating Leadership Oppor tunities for staff • Norming our policy and procedures•Improving our communica tion processes and procedures • Increasing Community Involvement•SeekingAccreditation for CCHSAdistrict curricular strate gic plan was launched during the 2021-2022 school year. We have added curriculum coach es in most buildings, increased reading supports and have add ed curriculum resources for staff and students across the district. We are also seeking alternate avenues for our high school students that stretch be yond the traditional diploma. Our goal is when our students graduate, they are prepared to enroll, enlist or become employed.Wearea rapidly growing county. Classroom and cafe teria additions are being add ed to both Moyock Elementa ry School and Moyock Middle School and will be completed for the 2023-2024 school year. A new elementary school will be built in the near future as well. Fortunately we are large enough to offer robust educa tional opportunities and small enough to remain personalized for our Adjustmentsfamilies.have been made to the start times for both elementary and second ary schools. We recognize that our decisions have ripple ef fects that impact multiple fac ets of our community. We do not take our decisions lightly and try our best to weigh the pros and cons of each and every decision.Webelieve that the deci sion to align our start and end times at the elementary and then at the secondary level will ultimately have more positive impacts to our student ride times, bus ridership, student discipline on buses, and retain ing bus drivers. As with any change, we will closely monitor the implemen tation of our new schedules and collect data along the way to help determine if any changes or modifications are needed.
Dr. Matthew Lutz is Cur rituck County Superintendent.Schools to the new school year at Dare County Schools
Hyde County Schools welcomes students
Dr. Melanie R. Shav er is Superintendent of Hyde County Schools.
Welcome
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES 3B
2. Avoid distractions. Study time is time to take a break from social media, video games and any other distractions that can pull a student away from studying. Constantly checking notifications can interrupt thoughts and make it hard to learn the material.
4. dedicatedEstablishstudyspots.
1. Find value in the lessons. Many students lament that what they learn in school just isn’t relevant in daily life. That can make the subject matter feel less important and uninteresting. Finding val ue in what one is learning and seeing how it can be applied outside of the class room may make a student more inclined to learn and retain information.
5. Use grades as benchmarksmotivators.and Blaming a teacher for a poor grade won’t get a student anywhere. Rath er, grades should indicate how well one is learning the material, and in turn, the effectiveness of stu dents’ studying habits. Students can tweak their habits if they find their grades are not where they want them to be.
6. Rephrase material. Textbook language can be dry and unappealing. Students can try putting the material into their own words or rephrase passag es to make them easier to remember and recall. Sim ilarly, teaching or sharing the material with another person also may improve retention.7.Make a formula sheet. Depending on the sub ject, having a sheet with shortcuts, formulas or di agrams can put the mate rial into smaller bursts of information that are eas ier to digest. Along this same vein, writing infor mation down can help im proveTheserecall.are a few study tips that high schoolers can utilize to improve their grades so they can be more successful in school.
Back to School WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES4B
The number one school bus safety rule for students is to always stay where the driver can see you. When students walk to the bus stop, they should al ways walk on the sidewalk, never run. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left facing traffic. Plan to go to the bus stop about five min utes before the bus is sched uled to Studentsarrive.should not run and play and wait quietly in a safe place well away from the road while waiting at the bus stop. When getting on and off the bus, the stu dent should enter the bus in line with younger students in front. They should hold the handrail while going up and down the stairs and go directly to a seat. Bus riders should remain seated and face forward during the entire ride. Stu dents should always speak quietly on the bus so the driver will not be distract ed. Tell your student to never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Keep the aisles clear at all times. If there is an emer gency, they should listen to the driver and follow the instructions.Astudent should be taught to respect the “Dan ger Zone” which surrounds all sides of the bus. The “Danger Zone” is 10 feet wide on all sides of the bus. They should always remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of the “Danger Zone” and where the driver can see them. Once off the bus, they should always cross the street in front of the bus. They should never go be hind the bus. If the child drops something near the bus, they should tell the bus driver before attempting to pick it up, so the driver will know where they are. Your child should never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Teach your child to go straight home and tell a parent if a stranger tries to talk to them or pick them up.
Student safety tips when riding the school bus
Seven study tips for high school students
The following are seven techniques that may help foster good study skills.
Assessments such as quizzes and exams can help educators recognize areas where students are excelling and where they might need a little ex tra help. In addition to tests in the classroom, high schoolers general ly take standardized test ing for state assessment purposes.Testingmay come easier to some students than oth ers, but having solid study techniques can improve students’ performance on a wide range of exams. In fact, research by Stanford scholars, whose data was published in Psycholog ical Science, found that applying a strategic ap proach to studying helped college students improve their exam scores by an average of one-third of a letter grade. The testing preparation resource PrepScholar says it is important to build and maintain strong study habits to help students avoid undue stress and last-minute cramming.
Students should locate places that work best for them as study and home work stations. Certain in dividuals may need the quiet of a library or a bookstore. Others may do best with the hum of con versation around them or in a group. There’s no right or wrong study spot. Maintaining consistency will help the mind associ ate a place with studying.
3. Establish a schedule.study Develop a system and a schedule for studying. Students should establish a fixed habit of studying each day or week — what ever is best for him or her. Over time, studying will become routine.
• Always respect offi cials. In the era of instant replay in professional sports, criticism of offi cials has become more common. Such criticism can easily move from the professional to the ama teur arena if players are not taught to always re spect the officials. Unfor tunately, many amateur sports officials continue to be the victims of over aggressive behavior on the parts of coaches, par ents and athletes, and many have simply chosen to walk away rather than subject themselves to abuse. Estimates from the National Association of Sports Officials indicates that the group’s member ship has dropped by more than 20 percent since March 2020. Coaches and parents can practice what they preach when teach ing young athletes to re spect officials at all times, regardless of how games unfold on the playing field.
• Respect opponents. Showing respect for op ponents is another prin ciple of good sportsman ship. Social media pro vides a readily available platform for athletes to disparage their opponents before and after games. Such platforms have even proven too tempting to re sist for some profession al athletes. But showing respect for opponents, even in defeat, illustrates to parents and coaches that young athletes are mature and cognizant of the fact that participation in sports requires good sportsmanship.•Respectcoaches. Good sportsmanship also in volves respecting coaches, even when they make de cisions players and their parents do not necessari ly agree with. That respect has been dwindling in re cent years, and it’s con tributing to a coaching shortage in youth sports. One survey of more than 200 coaches in the Syr acuse, N.Y. area found that nearly 60 percent of coaches had consid ered quitting over con flicts with parents. Many coaches volunteer their time to teach young peo ple the game, and players should be taught to re spect coaches at all times. That includes those times when players feel like they aren’t getting enough playing time or when they disagree with coaches’ ingameSportsmanshipdecisions. is a vital component of sports par ticipation. Teaching young athletes the principles of sportsmanship adds one more unique benefit to sports participation.
• Prioritize offseason condi tioning. Rest and recovery is vi tal for any athlete, but especial ly student athletes whose bodies are still growing and changing. Offseasons have largely fallen by the wayside, but parents can protect their student athletes by encouraging them to avoid yearround competition. During pe riods when student athletes ar en’t competing, they can for go in-season workout routines to reduce their risk for over use injuries while also improv ing their conditioning through cardiovascular workouts. Run ning on a treadmill, using an el liptical machine and/or swim ming are great activities that make it easy for student athletes to keep their bodies in shape as their muscles and joints recover from the season.
• Respect the rules. Re spect for officials should coexist with respect for the game itself. Every game has rules, and knowing and adhering to those rules is a vital compo nent of good sportsman ship. Coaches and par ents can set the tone for this by encouraging kids to play by the rules during the games, but also by ad hering to rules governing practice times and offsea son workouts when no one is watching too closely.
Competitive sports have a lot to offer young peo ple. In addition to expos ing children to the thrill of competition, competi tive sports can set a foun dation for a lifetime of healthy living. One study published in the Ameri can Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2014 found that afterschool physical activity programs were the most effective strat egy to reduce childhood obesity among children between the ages of six andCompetitive12. sports al so teach valuable lessons about humility and re spect. Sportsmanship is a vital and valuable compo nent of competitive sports, and that’s a lesson no ath lete is too young to learn. Coaches and parents can work together to empha size these principles of sportsmanship to young athletes.
• Emphasize the rules of the game. The rules of the game ar en’t in place solely to encour age fair play. Rules also are de signed to keep athletes safe. For example, student athletes who play contact sports, including football and soccer, should be taught proper ways to tackle so they can avoid injuring them selves and others. Coaches can reinforce these lessons during practices and even games if the need arises.
Sportsmanship principles all young athletes should know
Professional sports teams of ten note that injuries are part of the game. That notion is never too far from professional ath letes’ minds, but it can be a harsh reality for student ath letes to confront, especially if they have never before been sidelined by injury. Though there’s no foolproof way for ath letes to totally avoid injury, stu dent athletes and their families can consider these preventive measures to reduce their risk of being sidelined.
• Use diet to athletes’ advan tage. A healthy diet benefits people from all walks of life, and it can be especially beneficial for student athletes. Precisely what defines a healthy diet depends on variables specific to the ath letes, such as age and gender, but Nemours Childrens Health notes that balance is vital for teenage athletes. Avoid cutting back on carbohydrates, which provide fuel for young athletes. When choosing carbs, opt for fruits, vegetables and whole grains instead of sugar-laden options like candy bars. The lat ter can provide a quick energy burst but then cause an energy crash that makes athletes feel fatigued. In-game fatigue can increase risk of injury. In addi tion, calcium and iron can be vital to young athletes looking to avoid injury. Calcium helps strengthen bones while iron carries much-needed oxygen to athletes’ muscles. Protein is important for athletes, but Ne mours notes that most teenage athletes who eat healthy diets already get ample protein. As a result, protein powders and shakes are not necessary for teenage muscle growth.
• Make a good night’s rest part of athletes’ routine. A good night’s rest is vital for student athletes, as it ensures they ar en’t playing tired. Tired athletes have slower reaction times and that can increase injury risk. Adequate sleep also benefits athletes’ performance. A 2015 study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that athletes who increased their nightly sleep from seven to nine hours experienced signifi cantly improved performance after doing so.
Performance pointers that can help student athletes avoid injury
Back to School WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES 5B
Governor’s School Supply Drive supports students, teachers and public schools across state
Red Cross issues steps to help keep students safe
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports dis tracted walking can be dangerous, even dead ly. Teach your students the following:•Don’t text or talk on your phone while walking. If you must text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
• Parents, walk with young children and those taking new routes or at tending new schools, for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate. Going by car
• Students should get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive. Young children should be supervised.
• Drivers can be distract ed too. Never use a phone while driving. Help keep children safe by eliminat ing all distractions.
School bells will be call ing students back to the classroom soon and the American Red Cross has steps everyone can take to help kids remain safe as they head back to school. As parents get ready for the start of a new school year, it’s a good time to think about emer gencies, such as weath er-related disasters, and draw up an emergen cy plan for their house hold. Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school and develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens during the school day. Details are available at redcross.org/ prepare.“There are a lot of things to think about for the start of a busy new school year, but don’t forget to include safety,” said Barry Porter, regional CEO of American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. “We ask parents and guardians to consider familiarizing their children with these measures to help keep them safe as they head back to school.” Cell phones distractiona
Walking to school
• Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits prop erly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”) and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
• Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’tFinally,know.download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. You can find it by searching for “American Red Cross” in your app store or at red cross.org/apps. Learn and practice First Aid and CPR/AED skills by tak ing a course (redcross.org/ takeaclass) so you can help save a life.
Taking the bus
Governor Roy Coo per announced earlier this month the Gover nor’s School Supply Drive and encouraged people to donate school supplies for public school students and teachers across the state. On average, teach ers in North Carolina spend over $500 of their own money on supplies for their classrooms each year, according to a press release from the gover nor’s office. “While you’re out shop ping, consider buying some extra school sup plies to donate,”
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Back to School WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES6B Flashing YELLOW lights: SLOW DOWN Flashing RED lights: STOP Children crossing: WAIT Bus Moving: Stay alert Remember: Passing a stopped school bus is against the law! Back to School! Wishing everyone ahappy and safeschool year! Be Patient Stay Alert Save a Life Source: ncbussafety org/
• All students should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk be hind the bus.
• Use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards.
• If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Slow down Drivers should slow down, especial ly in residential areas and school zones, and know what the yellow and red bus signals mean. Yellow flashing lights in dicate the bus is getting ready to stop, that motor ists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an ex tended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and chil dren are getting on or off. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or ap proaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Mo torists following or travel ing alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flash ing, the stop arm is with drawn and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways. If physical bar riers such as grassy medi ans, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the op posing lanes may proceed without stopping. Keep little ones safe Keeping all students safe is the primary concern for everyone, but there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those going to school for the first time:•Make sure the child knows their phone num ber, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to call 911.
Cooper said. “Our teach ers work so hard, and they shouldn’t have to dip into their pockets to cover the cost of classroom sup plies that their students need.”The Gover nor’s School Supply Drive will run through August 31, 2022. As in past years, the State Em ployees’ Credit Union (SECU) and Communi ties In Schools of North Carolina are partner ing to collect and deliver the school supplies. “We are happy to assist with this important effort to support North Caroli na teachers and students through the collection of much-needed class room supplies,” said Jim Hayes, SECU president and CEO. “Not only does our presence in all 100 counties make us a natu ral fit to serve as donation sites, the supply drive is a great demonstration of our credit union philos ophy of ‘People Helping People.’”“Imagine returning to school without the supplies you need to en gage in learning,” said Jill Cox, president and CEO of Communities In Schools of North Car olina. “Everyone can help ensure no student fac es this challenge by par ticipating in the Gover nor’s school supply drive and dropping off a few items, including items our teachers need like copy paper. Together, we can ensure NC students start the school year on the right Requestedfoot.” supplies include:•Paper – all types, in cluding copy paper • Pens and pencils • Crayons and markers
• Never cross the street while using an electronic device.•Donot walk with head phones in your ears.
• Board the bus only af ter it has come to a com plete stop and the driver or attendant instructs them to get on. They should on ly board their bus, never an alternate one.
• Cross the street at the corner, obeying traffic sig nals and staying in the crosswalk.•Neverrun out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• Everyone should al ways wear a seat belt.
• Dry erase markers • USB flash drives Spiral notebooks Sanitizing wipes • DonationTissues bins will be available in all State Em ployees’ Credit Union lo cations statewide. North Carolina residents can participate by dropping off supplies at a SECU location or by organiz ing a drive at their own workplace.Attheend of the drive, volunteers with Com munities In Schools of North Carolina and Vol unteerNC and Governor Cooper’s cabinet mem bers will help distrib ute the supplies to class rooms across the state. Governor Coo per’s School Supply Drive is offered in partnership between the North Car olina Governor’s Office, State Employees’ Cred it Union, Communities In Schools of North Car olina, TeachNC, North Carolina Business Com mittee for Education, the North Carolina PTA and VolunteerNC (the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Com munity Service).
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES 7B yourbehindtheWe’reteamteam. From labor & delivery and throughout a lifetime, including pediatric care, your community hospital is right here for you and your family. www.theobh.com | 252.449.4500 | Milepost 14 | | Nags Head The Outer Banks Hospital is part of Vidant Health and Chesapeake Regional Healthcare.
• 1 medium summer squash
chips, raisins, or dried fruit pieces Preheat
• 4 celery stalks (cleaned and cut into 3-inch long pieces)
1. Spread the peanut butter into the center of the celery pieces. 2. Place the pear chunks on top of the peanut butter. 3. Serve on a plate and enjoy with your friends.
• 2 teaspoons
to School WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES8B
Here are some fun and tasty recipe ideas just in time for the new school year for lunch boxes, afterschool snacks or anytime! The whole family can help with these – kids and adults alike. School is right around the corner and that means busy families may be in need of a few meal solutions that fit into their schedules — particularly items to grab on the way to school or work. Granola bars often fit the bill as nutritious options in portable packages. While store-bought granola bars are convenient, they tend to be made with nuts or oats, which are not ideal for those with food allergies or intolerances.Peoplecan easily whip up homemade granola bars that are chock-full of vita mins and minerals and can be custom ized to food preferences and tastes. This recipe for “Nut-Free Granola Bars” from “Eat What You Want” (Ten Speed Press) by Danielle Walker can be enhanced with raisins, chocolate chips or dried fruits. Granola chia unsweetened raw pepitas raw sunflower seeds unsweetened coconut sesame seeds pure chocolate the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease the short sides of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet with ghee or coconut oil. Line the bottom and long sides of the pan with parchment pa per so the ends hang over the sides. Whisk the warm water and chia seeds in a small bowl and set aside. Melt the honey in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Turn the heat to medium and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until a candy thermometer reads 225 F. Stir in the oil and sunflower seed butter and remove the pan from the heat. Let cool for 10 minutes. Place the pepitas and sunflower seeds in a food processor and pulse once or twice until coarsely chopped. Add the coconut flakes, sesame seeds, vanilla, cinnamon and salt and pulse a few more times, until coarsely chopped and incor porated. Add the chia mixture and the honey mixture and stir by hand until just combined. Immediately spread the mix ture into the prepared baking dish. Place a piece of parchment paper on top and use a flat-bottomed measuring cup to press the mixture firmly and even ly into the pan. Remove the top piece of parchment and bake for 15 minutes, until golden. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Let cool in the pan for 30 min utes, then transfer the pan to the freezer for 1 hour, until set. Remove the pan from the freezer and lift the parchment flaps to remove the slab from the pan. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12 rectangular bars. Serve the barsStorechilled.inan airtight container in the re frigerator for two weeks or in the freez er for sox months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
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Back Village Realty vrobx.com snacks beyond
3.
• 3 4 cup
• 1 cup
Let kids build these mini pizzas. Top wholegrain pita with sauce and criss-cross of lowfat mozzarella cheese and vegetables for a quick, fun dinner. This recipe from Produce for Better Health Foundation via USDA’s MyPlate makes four servings.
Creamy peanut butter, crunchy celery and juicy pears make the perfect snack for kids and adults. This recipe from USA Pears, Pear Bureau Northwest makes four servings.
• 2 pears (cored and cut into chunks)
• 1 2 cup creamy peanut butter
This fun treat is from Colorado State Univer sity and University of California at Davis Eat ing Smart Being Active Recipes via the USDA MyPlate website. It can be made with kids in the morning, then fro zen for an afterschool snack. Makes four servings. 1 4 cup peanut butter 1 4 cup crushed nuts
Recipes for lunch,
• 3 4 cup reduced-sodi um pasta sauce
seeds • 1 3 cup light-colored raw honey • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil • 2 tablespoons
• 4 sticks reduced-fat string mozzarella string cheese
• Place rack in middle of oven and pre-heat oven to 400° F. • For Xs, cut carrot and bell pepper into small sticks about 2 inches long. For Os, cut sum mer squash into 12 slices. For grid, pull apart each cheese stick to make four strips.•Place pita rounds on baking sheet and spread pasta sauce on each.
flakes • 2 tablespoons
Peanut Butter Bananas — a healthy treat for after school, or anytime Veggies take center stage in this Tic Tac Toe Veggie Pizza Pears in a Pod a crunchy treat
• Let kids build tic tac toe pizzas with cheese and vegetables. • Bake about 10 min utes or until cheese is bubbling.
vanilla extract • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 1 2 teaspoon fine sea salt • 1 4 cup
sunflower seed butter • 3 4 cup
• 4 whole wheat pi ta rounds (about 6” diameter)
Bars Makes 12 • 2 tablespoons warm water • 1 tablespoon
Nut-Free
COURTESY USDA COURTESY USDA
Pack breakfast or lunch with these homemade granola bars
• bananas •
1. Peel bananas. Spread the entire outside of each banana with pea nut butter. 2. Roll the bananas in crushed nuts, sprinkles or other items. Cut the bananas in one inch slices. 4. Store in the refrig erator or freezer until ready to serve.
and
• 1 medium carrot • 1 2 red bell pepper
• 2
Notes: Be creative! Add washed, chopped fresh cilantro or spices like cumin and chili powder in step #2.
2.
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Vegetable pinwheels a tasty addition to a lunchbox or for a snack
WEDNESDAY,
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Designed with kids in mind, this recipe puts a new spin on snack time. Try different veg etables or dried fruit for a dif ferent looking “butterfly.” This recipe from Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University System, Expanded Nutrition Program via USDA’s MyPlate makes six servings. celery (stalks) twist pretzels (large, 3 ring) 6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons raisins Wash hands with soap and water. Clean celery with vegeta ble brush under cool running water.3.Cut celery in half cross wise.4.Fill center of each celery stick with one tablespoon of peanut butter. This is the body of the butterfly 5. Add two pretzels to form the butterfly’s wings. 6. Use extra pretzel piec es for antenna and raisins for decoration.
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Back to School AUGUST 24, 2022 THE COASTLAND TIMES 9B A fun recipe to make with kids. Use your favorite fruit and whole grain tor tillas and enjoy! This recipe from the Kansas State University Cooperative Ex tension via USDA’s MyPlate makes four servings. flour tortillas (8 inch) peaches, pears or apples (medium) 4 teaspoon cinnamon (ground) 6 teaspoons brown sugar, packed 8 teaspoon nutmeg (ground) 2 tablespoons milk (fat-free) sugar (optional) Warm tortillas in microwave or oven to make them easier to handle. 2. Peel and chop fruit into pieces. Place a quarter of the fruit on half of each tortilla. 4. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle over fruit. 5. Roll up the tortillas, starting at the end with the fruit. 6. Place on a greased baking sheet and make small slashes to allow steam to es cape. Brush with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar, if desired. 7. Back at 350 degree in oven for 8-12 minutes or until lightly brown. 8. Serve warm or cool. ThisNotes:easy snack helps work fruit into a daily diet. Tortillas, with a variety of top pings, make great snack builders. Safety Tip: Allow pie to cool slightly before tasting - the steam and sugar can burn.
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Have kids help mix the ingredients and spread the cream cheese mixture on the tortillas for this fun and flavorful snack or lunch box addition. This recipe from Eating Smart, Being Active – Col orado State University and University of California at Davis via USDA’s MyPlate makes six servings. 2 ounces cream cheese, softened (3 ⁄2 Tablespoons) 1 8 cup canned corn, drained (2 Tablespoons) 2 tablespoons chopped green chilies, drained 2 3 tablespoon chopped onion (2 teaspoons) 2 tablespoons salsa 3 large flour tortillas (10 inch) Wash hands with soap and water. Drain the corn and green chilis. Collect, chop and measure all ingredients before starting to prepare the recipe. Mix cream cheese, corn, green chilies, onions and salsa togeth er in a bowl. Spread mixture on tortillas, roll up tightly, and wrap in plas tic wrap. Cut in 1-inch slices and serve immediately or store in the refrig erator until ready to serve.
Pocket Fruit Pies helps work fruit into daily diet
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COURTESY USDA COURTESY USDA
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Butterfly bites put a new spin on snack time
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